2nd Day

        Today I had the 4th grade for the first time.  I love working in a small school because it allows me to know all of the students by the time they are in my class.  What a wonderful group!   We played kickball again today and it went much better than yesterday.  Yesterday, many of the students were nervous about playing and today everyone was excited to play.  We will play again tomorrow if the weather is nice.
        Yesterday and today the students had a chance to choose one or two books that they will be able to keep.  This is the book (if it's at their reading level) that your child should be reading tonight and into next week.  We will learn how to choose books from our classroom library next week.  If you think the book is too hard for your child, send me an email and I will match him or her with a better book tomorrow or next Tuesday.
         Next Tuesday, we will start assigning homework.  Our homework is the same every night, Monday through Thursday.  They will have a Grammar Minute, math practice, and reading from the self-selected books they choose.  Students will receive a homework sheet every Monday for the week.  We will continue to slowly learn how to work in our classroom.  I will not ask students to do something until I am sure they are able to do it.
Here are some pictures of the 5th grade doing the name game so Miss MaryAnne and Ms. Maynard could learn their names today.

Introducing themselves....

Ask your son or daughter who
Jackie O. is!

Success!

First Day Success!
I can't tell you how great it was to have the kids back today!  Summer is fun and all, but I do love what I do.  We will spend the first few days/weeks reviewing expectations and routines so the students really know and understand how to work in our rooms.  Extra time spent on this up front saves a lot of time later in the year.  Today we worked in the garden and played kickball as a 4/5 team.  We will play kickball again tomorrow.   4th grade has P.E. on Wednesdays and Fridays and 5th grade has it on Mondays and Thursdays.

Reading on the first day!

What a difference a week makes!

Last week the room was in summer mode.  Today.... it's ready for the kids.

Last week, we were at school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for in-service. We introduced "circles" to the staff. This is an important component of Restorative Communication that I learned about this summer when I was at Killington for PBiS.  Here is a poster of the values we want to bring to our school this year.    On Friday, the Maple Run District joined together at Collins Perley. Here is a picture of our Maple Leaf......all staff!

Maple Run Unified School District
Convocation-2017

Important Values for Fairfield!

Almost there!!!

Spent the day Monday  getting the classroom ready. 

Sophomore Year

It doesn't get any easier!!! Erin' second year and she had to go back early for soccer. 

Vacation-Day Three

Bethesda Fountain

Day three was our trip to NYC!  One of my favorite spots in the world!  Shopped, ate, and enjoyed the sites!!!

The Boat House in Central Park

Bethesda Terrace Central Park

There are fairs in Central Park!

Inside Bethesda Terrace

Mrs. and Miss Tully

My father in law always told me to look up!!!

Playground in Central Park!

Vacation-Day Two!!

Cousins

Second day we visited our relatives out in Northport, Long Island.  

Northport, Long Island

Miss Tully being a good, big cousin!

Vacation~Day One!!

Now I know where the Botanical Gardens are!

I've done the drive to Long Island many, many times!  I have never, ever ended up actually in the Bronx, although I driven on the parkways through the Bronx! There's a first time for everything! Just a half hour accidental detour!

Anyone want to go to the Zoo?

I know where I am now!

Summer Project

Finally cleaned out my gym bag!!

So I finally finished a couple of projects that have been hanging over my head. The deck! And my gym bag!

Not stained

Stained

Stained

Camp Fire at home!!

Nothing like having your morning coffee by the fire in your back yard. I could sit by a fire all day long!

Apple Crisp???

No apples in these trees last year. Looks like we will be able to make Apple Crisp this year from Mrs. Tully's Apple trees. 

Perseverance

Yesterday I needed to dust and vacuum.  I hate to dust and vacuum.  I do love moving furniture, and when you move furniture you need to dust and vacuum.  I moved our dining room into the same area as our family room and the extra couch in our family room to the kitchen for an extra seating area.  I ran to some tough spots, but it worked in the end!

Stuck...

So close, I took that piece of wood off to make room.

Got it!

Seating area

Room for Benny (his space is on the blanket!)

Success!

Everyday.........

When I enter my classroom each day I read two different signs that are by my door and at my desk.
I remind myself daily that I don't just have students to teach with me all day.  I have sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, nieces and nephews, friends, and most importantly human beings.  I love them, protect them, and want the very best for them.  They are on loan to me and I will take good care of them and treat them as my own.  Please feel free to reach out to me if you ever need to share a concern.

This one is by Dr. Haim Ginott

I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a student's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a student humanized or de-humanized.

Haim Ginott

I am not sure of the author of this second one.