Happy Days in First Grade

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August 17, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Starting My 9th Year…. at Home…

Back to School

As all my teacher friends are going back for inservice this week, I am starting my ninth year of teaching in bed with my sweet newborn as my maternity leave officially begins.  While I have waited and anticipated for this moment since I found out about my pregnancy, today has been both real and surreal for me.

Real because all the prepping and planning for my class before my leave are mostly done. While I had the majority of planning done before summer began, I still came up to my classroom a handful of times to set up my classroom, decorate, and made sure most things were in order leading up to this week.

Surreal because as my teacher friends were getting ready this morning, I was also getting my 3-year old son ready for his first day of his 3-year old class.  As I was putting on his clothes, it reminded me of how excited many students are at the beginning of every year as they enter their new schools or classrooms.  Also…how excited and nervous their parents are as they send them to their new teachers with so much hope and dreams for their own child.

I held onto my tears as I snapped a handful of pictures of my son with his backpack and as my husband and him pulled out from the garage.  Five years ago, if someone had told me that I would start my ninth year of teaching with a three-year old toddler going off to school and a newborn in my arms, I would probably not believe it at all.  But there I was, standing by the door holding onto my two-week old daughter and my once-was-a-newborn was sitting in his toddler chair heading off to school.

Later on this week, I will head back to my class briefly for Meet-the-Teacher Night, and I really can’t wait to see my new students, introduce them to my long-term sub, and of course, visit with my former students and their parents, who I know have been waiting to see pictures of our newborn.

Although I never thought in a million years I would miss the beginning of the school year, I know that I have done the best I could to prepare for my long-term sub and know that everything will be in God’s good hands.

I also know that as much as I want to be with my new students, my daughter needs me the most right now, and I am more than happy to spend these precious and pivotal weeks with her.

So while this teacher is not heading back to her classroom just yet, I am happy to say that she is joyfully settled in as a mommy at home for now in her new pencil socks.

Related posts:

10 Fun Activities for the First Week of Virtual School
Science Tools for K-2 with Center Ideas
Meet-the-Teacher Night
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Hello There!

My name is Ha. I am a Primary STEM teacher from Texas, a passionate educator of little ones, a teacher-author of interactive educational resources, a lover of Makerspace and STEM, a mother to two, a wife to my high school sweetheart and a forever learner. Welcome to my site!

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🚨FLASH SALE for 24 hours!!! 🚨 Get a head st 🚨FLASH SALE for 24 hours!!! 🚨

Get a head start by snagging up this EDITABLE Farmhouse Slideshow for your Meet-the-Teacher Night and Back to School!!! 🥳

It has all the slides you need to introduce yourself to your students and it’s EDITABLE!!!! Buy now, edit later!🪴 

Snag it up now while it’s on SALE!!!Link in bio! https://bit.ly/3uqvW5T
Are you planning on doing a photo op for your stud Are you planning on doing a photo op for your students on Meet-the-Teacher Night?! 🌟

📣If so, here’s a fun and easy hack! 📣

Turn your anchor chart rack to a cute and easy photo op for your students using a glue stick and streamers! 🍎🎉

Pair with these FREE Speech Bubble Props for PreK-5th Grade! Link in bio! https://bit.ly/3jNdpMl
May we always carry the ideals of what make Americ May we always carry the ideals of what make America loving, kind, generous, and inclusive with us wherever we go and pass it onto our future generations. 🇺🇸

For a more perfect union, we will continue to put in the work, stay informed, and vote for the future that ALL of our children deserve. ❤️🤍💙
I believe in a loving and generous America- the Am I believe in a loving and generous America- the America that opened her arms and provided refuge to my family and allowed us to start anew and build our own American dreams.

I believe in the freedom that is the cornerstone of our democracy and the belief that we are all born FREE to make our own choices, walk our own path, and choose our own destiny wherever it may lead us.

I believe we are better when we are together, UNITED, and accepting of all Americans. 

I believe in these ideals that built our great country and the belief that ALL are welcome.

May all of our students always feel this way in our classroom and and in our schools. 

These activities can be found in the link in bio as part of the Back to School Activities currently on SALE. https://bit.ly/2TfR0w5
This activity right here is one of my favorite act This activity right here is one of my favorite activities for the beginning of the year! 🌟

I make a BIG speech bubble out of black butcher paper and cut out yellow circles for Emojis. ☺️😀😍🥳🤩😟😫

As one of the things on our class Scavenger Hunt during Meet-the-Teacher Night, the kids are asked to take one of the yellow circles and draw the face of an emoji that best describes how they feel about being a first grader. 

This activity is so simple and fun but gives me such information on how the kids are all feeling even before the first day of school!

Using this simple tool, I am able to address any anxiety or stress that they may have during our FIRST Morning Meeting! It’s so powerful to know even before school begins what I need to do to help ease them into first grade! 💕 

We also use the data collected for a graphing activity and then discuss what we can do to help make everyone feel happy and better. 

I love this activity and will definitely be doing this again this year! Swipe to see the before picture.

For the more Back-to-School activities, you can click to the link in bio to grab them on SALE for a limited time! https://bit.ly/2TfR0w5
One of the best things I did a couple summers ago One of the best things I did a couple summers ago was that I made these privacy folders before school started! 🎉

The kids absolutely love the positive sayings and I love that it allows them space to focus on their own work. 

Swipe to see the full tutorial then click to the link in profile to grab the posters on SALE for 24 hours! https://bit.ly/2TfR0w5 😊📚
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HAPPY DAYS IN FIRST GRADE