The One After the Break

I'm still here.  Still teaching.

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last blogged.

Time flies!

I feel like I'm doing everything I can just to keep my head above water this year.

Adjusting to change is hard for me.  

I feel like I did a 180 turn last week.  After a long heart to heart with our math coach I began feeling much more confident.

I have felt like a first year teacher all over again this year.  I'm having to regain my confidence and remember that I am a good teacher.

I'm remembering that there are things I enjoy about teaching Math.  

When you have a student who claims to always have been bad math tell you they like it this year and they are successful... That's when you love it the most.

Lately...

My fifth graders are knee deep in division.  They spend their days solving story problems and sharing strategies.  

Sixth grade is still in the world of ratios and proportions.  They are currently practicing their conversion skills.  How many seconds are in one month and so forth.  I'm learning they do better with time conversions than distance.  

My husband and I are closing on our new home Friday and moving this weekend.

Hopefully after we get moved and settled I will be back to blogging on a regular basis.

Until then I hope you all have a fabulous week!

The One With the New Home

I spent some time Tuesday and yesterday working in my new classroom.  Most of that time was spent simply taking inventory.  

Prior to this week I had seen my classroom briefly twice before.  I had snapped some pictures which I have been using for my planning.  This week allowed me to see which ideas would work and which ones were going to need to be revamped.

I was able to get my desk area set up and student desk arranged.  I was informed yesterday that they were planning to paint my room so we will see if everything is still arranged when I go back in a few weeks.  I was just thankful I hadn't put anything on the walls yet.

This is a new experience for me.  I have worked at two other schools.  I worked at a small private school my first year.  I was never really happy or settled there so leaving wasn't a big deal.  I was so excited to start my second job at HG - the school I recently left.

HG became home to me.  A BIG piece of my heart is still there.  Tuesday as I was taking care of paperwork and meeting new people, all I wanted to do was cry.  Everyone at my new school is incredibly nice & helpful.  I have nothing bad to say about QES.  It just isn't HG.  It isn't home yet.

Yesterday was better.  I know that soon enough it will be home.  My heart will be at QES.  

As I was taking inventory of everything I couldn't help but feel like I was stepping in on someone else's territory.

Everything has the previous teacher's name on it.  None of the things in the room are mine or even feel like mine.  

It is all foreign.  

I tried to make a few copies and almost had a breakdown.  The copier kept telling me to load paper, but it had paper.  I was stressed and couldn't figure it out.

Copies skipped.  I'll try again another day.  

Those of you who have left a school you loved, how did you make it feel like home?

I know it will take time.  What else can I do?

The One With New Beginnings

Yesterday was my last day at HG.

The past week has been hard.  I said good-bye to several students on Friday.  I love all my students.  They become my kids when they enter my classroom.  But there are a few who seem to worm their way a little deeper in my heart.  

I'm not going to lie.  There was some ugly crying going on.  I had two students write me the sweetest letters. They told me I was like a mom to them.  

BIGGEST COMPLIMENT EVER!!

Everything I did yesterday made me think about how it was the last time...

Last time I would pull into the HG parking lot.

Last time I would unlock my classroom door.

Last time I would turn out my classroom lights.

I had to find things to keep me busy all day.  Whenever I would stop and thinking about leaving I would cry.  

I did not want to ugly cry in front of my coworkers.

I have been blessed working at HG more than I could ever put into words.  For the past six years I have worked for the BEST principal and with some of the greatest coworkers.   One of those coworkers became my best friend.  The first real best friend - other than my husband- that I've had in a LONG time.

Saying goodbye to her yesterday was hard.  Very hard.  It was a quick hug and then jump into cars and speed away before the ugly crying started.  

Though I'm feeling completely lost knowing my time at HG is over, I'm also excited about the future.

It's new beginnings.  A new school, new students, new friends.  None of which will replace what I have now.  But new beginnings that will continue to grow me as a teacher and a person.

As part of the celebration of new beginnings, I have a new look here on the blog.  Faith did an excellent job. I absolutely love it.

The One With the Art Project

Since I'm teaching a new content next year I've been spending a lot of time on Pinterest lately looking for ideas.  Who am I kidding?  I dont' need a new content to spend too much time on Pinterest.

Hi.  I'm Mrs. Weaver and I'm addicted to Pinterest.

There I said it.  Funny thing is when I first heard about it, I refused to join.  It sounded pointless to me. HA!  

So anyway, a few weeks ago during one of my pinning frenzies, I found this little piece of art.

I love it!  Each student paints a popsicle stick.  Then they are arranged to make this cool piece of art.  I immediately wanted to do it with my students.  I thought it was perfect way for me to take a piece of HG with me to my knew school.

Yesterday we took a break from all the figurative language talk that we've been doing in English to have an art day.  The students LOVED.  

I was especially excited to see how some of my struggling students really shine in this area.  Some of my favorite sticks are done by those students who struggle with every day classwork.  

They dried pretty quickly.  I left the last class set at school to dry.

Today I arranged them in a frame.

I love it.  It is going to look fabulous in my new classroom.

The One With Random Thoughts!

Yay!  The party has started.  Michelle over at The Organized Senorita was our first guest.  Thank you Michelle for your order.  You are going to LOVE the organizing utility tote.  It makes the perfect school bag.   Don't let her have all the fun!  Come party with us!

Tomorrow is the last day before the big state test.  Thank goodness!  I'm so ready to be done with it.  I know my students are too.  They've worked hard all year long preparing for this week of test. They are ready!

I only have 38 days of school left.  It's bittersweet.  I'm so ready to move and live with my husband again.  I'm super excited to meet my new coworkers and see my new classroom.  But it also breaks my heart to think about leaving my friends at HG.  I'm going to miss them!

How many days do you have left?

I've been thinking about how nice it would be if next year I worked at a school where I could wear jeans every day.  Right now I can wear them on Friday, which I love.  I'm curious - Can you wear jeans every day, certain days of the week, never?  If you could wear jeans every day, would you?
I like dressing up.  But there are some days when I'd be happier in my jeans.

In 18 days, I leave with my friend/co-worker, two parents, and 32 7th-9th graders for California.  We are pumped!  Several are nervous about their first time flying.  They all hope to see someone famous in LA.  We are going to have a blast!!

The One With a Job

I have accepted a job offer to teach 5th and 6th grade Math next year.  I am super excited.  This will be something totally new for me.

So....

What websites can you not live without?
What manipulatives do you HAVE TO HAVE?

Status: Elementary Teacher seeking help.

The One With Change

When I interviewed for my current job six years ago my principal told me HG was the kind of school people come to and stay.  

I really believed that was going to be true for me.  I absolutely LOVE my school, my principal, and my co-workers.  

Turns out  - that isn't going to be me. My husband has accepted a new job with a different company.  This new job requires us to move.

Though I am very excited about this move, I do not look forward to leaving my current school.  It has become home and the people have become family over the past six years.

I definitely do not look forward to the interviewing process.  I do at least feel more prepared now than I did when I did this six years ago.  Now I have classroom experience to refer to.

I'm walking into interviews with three great letters of recommendation - one from my principal, one from a coworker, and one from a parent.

I feel fairly prepared, but I'm wondering if any one out there has some advice.  Maybe you interviewed for a new position recently?  Or maybe you have been on the interviewing committee at your school?

Though I have taught all four content areas in the past six years, I have only taught 7th and 8th grade.  I LOVE my 7th graders.  

I've been dreaming of what grade/subject God might lead me to teach at a new school.  Though it would definitely be a totally different world, I think I would like to teach 4th grade. Part of me would love to have the same kids all day.  My mind runs wild with ideas and possibilities.