Miss Kindergarten: Scotch Expressions Tape {organization ideas!}

Just wanted to share this neat blog post about using tape to help with classroom decor. What she created is super cute!

Miss Kindergarten: Scotch Expressions Tape {organization ideas!}: I love crafting and I love organizing so when Scotch Expressions Tape asked me to review their new line of tape, just in time for the back...

Classroom Prep: Part Dos

Hello There! I am very excited to be able to post blog post twice in one week! I decided to wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to purchase my own personal laptop. I also decided not to get a MacBook for the time being but this could all change before November because I am that indecisive about big purchases. Before I share an update about my personal life, I would like to share some pictures of my classroom. I plan to add more things, as my finances increase, don't judge me, lol!!

Welcome to Ms. Smith’s room!

Word Wall and its framed with teal border:)

First Bulletin Board of the year! Whooray for Kindergarten!

Calendar, voice levels, and weather.

My motivation board includes pics of some family and friends!

The view of the room from the door. I love my table numbers, I used thread to hang those!

Those banners were made from scrapbook paper and ribbon.

I painted the sign on my door and I got the Owl picture off of Google.

I am very passionate about reading, so I took extra time to plan my library. I plan to hang a hoola hoop chandelier.

Its okay not to know but its not okay, not to try! That's my 2013 mantra for my kiddies and the "No opt out" policy:)

I love it so far but I'm trying to add more color because let’s face it, bright colors make me happy! I think I am just a little, tincy, wincy bit obsessed with chevron print and the color teal. I need more, I tell ya, more!!

Last night was my first ever parent orientation at school and it was awesome, awesome, awesome! The kids and parents loved the room, so all of that hard work was worth it!#Winning

They also commented on my love of Owls,lol. Great conversation starter!

Before I leave, I just wanted to share that this weekend is dedicated to lesson planning and car shopping! Whoot, whoot!!!! Today was staff orientation---> Love! Monday is Professional Development and Tuesday the kiddies come!!! I am excited and nervous at the same time but mostly excited!!!

Until the next time that life has checked me!
-T

P.S. Special shout out to the staff at Maupin, I feel very welcomed and can tell that this is a school dedicated to their students. Which is the reason that I wanted to be there. I have an AMAZINGLY AWESOME Kindergarten teaching team.

Classroom Prep: Part Uno

The time has come for me to start preparing my classroom for the upcoming year. I am very excited to start this school year and can’t wait for my official first day of school. I have spent three days setting up my classroom and I am still not done. I just dropped in to show you, the pictures of some cute milk crate seats that I completed for my classroom library. Peep, the pictures and tutorials below.

Milk Crate Seats

Materials:

Milk Crates

Fabric (1yd = 4 crates)

Plywood

Staple Gun

Ribbon

Foam Mattress Padding 

• Pick out your fabric and purchase the correct amount to complete your seats. Hobby Lobby has great prices on fabric ( shameless plug)
• Purchase milk crates to match your fabric. I purchased the milk crates that are used for filing, from Wal-Mart.
• Purchase your plywood. Make sure to take your milk crate into the hardware store with you. This will allow the wood cutter to cut your wood down to the perfect size. 
• (Keep your wood scraps! They can come in handy for future craft purchases.) 

Directions:

• Trace the outline of your plywood rectangles onto the mattress padding. You want two pieces for each crate
• Cut your fabric into 4 rectangles. The rectangles should be about 3 inches bigger than the plywood rectangles.
• Spread 1 fabric rectangle out and place your two mattress cutouts on top of the fabric. I purchased a mattress pad that had grooves in it, so I just placed the two grooved sides together leaving a smooth surface on top.
• Place the plywood rectangle on top of the mattress padding.
• Pull the fabric over the mattress padding and staple it to the plywood. 
• Pull the fabric as tight as you can. I had to staple around the cushion two times to get the fabric, as tight as I wanted.
• Optional: I made a loop with some ribbon and stapled it to the corner of each cushion, to create a pull tab. The pull tab makes opening the milk crate storage ottoman easier.
• Revel in your success and complete the remainder of your chairs.
• Make sure that you complete each ottoman by placing your fabric the same way, each time.

I love these things and they were super easy to make. I plan to make more and will be sure to post those when I am finished. Stay tuned pictures of my completed classroom; I can’t wait to share it with you!

Until the next time that life has checked me.

-T

The Black Man's Guide to Graduate School

As I devote more time to my blog, I want to branch out and discuss inspirational stories that I find and connect it back to my teaching career, if those connections can be made. As an Educator I believe in being a lifelong learner and being passionate about it. One of the major concerns that I have as a teacher is being able to connect with and teach all of my students. Classrooms today are very diverse; represent a variety of children,learning styles, abilities, talents, struggles,Etc. 

The recent verdict of the Trayvon Martin case has shed light for many on the struggles that face African American men in the US, on a daily basis. This burden may be a crutch for many but it is our duty to not let this be so. There are many ways that we can help,encourage and support minority men by taking steps to "whack" away at the "stigma" that has been placed upon them. Today, I present to you, The Black Man's Guide to Graduate School.

"Six Black men frustrated with the stereotypes associated with being a Black male and the perpetual "only" syndrome they experienced in their graduate programs have come together to provide a much needed voice to encourage more Black men to go to graduate school. In this effort, these men created "The Black Man's Guide to Graduate School." This text covers all the information that a Black male would need to successfully navigate the graduate school experience. From selecting and applying to a graduate program to dealing with stereotype threats and the importance of mentorship, this book provides a comprehensive guide to successfully entering and matriculating through a graduate program by Brothers who have completed the process from a wide range of programs (PhD, PsyD, PharmD, DPT, MBA, MHC)." Source: (http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mans-Guide-Graduate-School/dp/1490524304)

This is powerful beyond measure!!! Purchase this book; pass it on to your friends, family, colleagues. Etc. Show all young men that it can be done! "It" being anything that any young man dreams and wishes to accomplish in their life, let it be known, that nothing is impossible or unattainable! We have to step up to the plate and start encouraging our youth and showing them success stories because otherwise, many will see these accomplishments as unattainable.

I am a kindergarten teacher and I witness the innocence of my students yearly. They are bright, full of promise, and have a genuine love for school and learning. They truly believe in themselves and have the greatest amounts of self-esteem, self-love, and will. Somewhere in the hustle, as we become older, we slowly lose sight of this innocence. Things start happening, life starts happening and we get discouraged or fall victim to what this world says we can become or do. If we encourage our children to stay as eager and full of promise, just as they were as kindergartners, there is no telling how many “success stories” we would have. I challenge you today, to pass along your story, and to encourage someone else. Kudos to the authors of, The Black Man’s Guide to Graduate School.

Until the next time that life has checked me.

-Tia