The Chronicles Of Nay

Happy Tuesday! I hope that everyone is having a good week! We have 2 more days with the kids… Just 2. It is crazy to think that I am about to complete my 14th year of teaching! 14 years!? Can you believe I am that old? It’s crazy to think about that.

As any year comes to end there is a lot of reflection and pondering that takes place. I look at the policies I had in place, the ones that I implemented later in the year and the ones I thought I should have had in place. I look at some of my assignments, my supplies, seating arrangements and types of seating options. I look for themes for next year, ways to improve my classroom management or teaching. I really think back to some students. What worked, what didn’t work, why did that work, why did that not work? I think I have a plan for next years theme. I am pretty excited about it already! haha More to come on that in the next couple of months.

This was the first year that I got to see my students again after they leave 6th grade. It was strange! haha Being a sixth grade center had it’s pros and cons. I do miss it from time to time. Like when I tell a 7th grader to go to class and they tell me whatever it ain’t that serious or worse he ignores me and just continues to do what he was doing. My sixth graders stayed innocent a little bit longer when they didn’t have the 7th grade influence. We were a smaller campus and I felt like we all liked each other. There are a lot more people at this campus and for the most part people are nice and welcoming and friendly but… There are still people that I am struggling to get to know. I am working at navigating it but I miss my little safety and comfort cocoon! haha Some of the positives are for instance despite it all I have made some great friends and I am working at getting to know more people. I might be friendly and welcoming and enjoy talking to people but sometimes people are… lame! haha

I am working on cleaning up my room and getting ready for next year. I have a little list of things that need to be done. I need to repaint my tables. I might have to invite Lexington and offer her some dinner to repaint my tables! haha my kids have drawn some penises they have written very foul things on them. If anyone hears of a booth or a church pew that someone is getting rid of please let me know.

So this is the 14th time that I have closed down a classroom. Some things that I have learned if there are any first year teachers out there. Other veteran teachers if you have ideas that I left off let me know!

• Students love to do the stupidest things! Yes they will walk that to the counselors office, yes they will take that to the trash
• go through your pens and dry erase markers (use students) I have a container of pens I put out for kids to use, I have the kids test them. If they aren’t good throw them away!
• Throw things away! I promise if you are like “egh should I keep it” no… the answer is no! Throw it away! (Or take it to the welman project if it is still good and working!)
• Put things where you will know where they are. I put my desk stuff together and the student station stuff together.
• Label everything! That sounds so pessimistic of me but trust me, label anything that you would be sad that it accidently got put in someone else’s room. This might include chairs, trashcans, lamps.
• Do not leave anything with the mentality of”I’ll deal with that when I get back”. If you are going to take that bulletin board down in August… Just do it now! Future you will appreciate that!
• Don’t take home all that curriculum stuff. Will you really work on it? or will it just sit there all summer and you keep looking at it thinking “man I should work on that”

Man these last few days are always exhausting! I don’t know how you people with year round jobs do it! I am ready for a break from getting up early, a break from kids, a break from adults, a break from being the decision maker. If you intend to hang out with me this summer be prepared to be the one that makes most of the decisions, I am taking the summer off!! haha

So some goals I have for this summer are new and some are to help me reach the goals that I set since January. My goal is to read 10 books! That seems like such a large number now that I write it down! haha but I think I can do it. One of my friends wants to start a book club. So if you are local and want to get in on that for the summer let me know! I want to meet at like a brewery or a coffee shop! haha I also started Shameless last weekend. So I plan on finishing that. If you have any other shows I should watch let me know. I have 5 more documentaries to watch to finish that goal on my dayzeroproject so if you have any suggestions in that category. I am pretty excited the Duggar family from 19 kids and counting has a documentary coming out early June called Shiny happy people. So that will be one I watch! haha

Sorry I got carried away there! I am headed to have some girl time at Bunco! Hopefully I win, or at least lose the most to get my money back! haha my teacher friends: we are so close! My parent friends: I promise we love your kids but we are ready for the break! Have a good evening!