StrawBearie.com

I have made it through 1 1/2 weeks of school being back in session and it feels more like a lifetime.  Hopefully, the routine will kick in soon and things will be more settled.  Marshall started high school this year.  Garrett is in 7th grade.  Both aren't thrilled with school, but what kid is?  I'm teaching 2nd grade.  I've been asked to help pilot a school class blog.  The education blog site that I am suppose to use is driving me crazy.  It is soooo limited.  I didn't realize how easy blogger was until now. Ok, this is a short update cuz I need to get back to work, or go to sleep (still trying to decide that one.) 

 Just a short update.  School started this week and I wore a poodle skirt on the first day as I greeted my kiddos in front of the "Drive In" sign that I made for outside my door.  The Rocket Math bulletin board is an incentive chart.  Each child has a rocket with their name on it and when they move up a level with their math facts, they will move their rocket up. 

 I am so lucky that I get to teach at a private Christian school.  This is the front of my room.  I wanted to find a Bible verse that fit with my fifties theme so I picked, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday & today & forever."  Hebrews 13:8 My discipline chart is based on the color system.  If you are behaving you stay on green, if you get a warning you move to yellow, blue - timeout, red - you're in big trouble.  So, to fit with the 50's, I have Space Alien Invaders.  Each child picked an alien in an UFO that have magnets on the back.  This is set up on my filing cabinet.  We don't want the aliens to invade and take over their bodies and send them to red.  I have 10 students and I set up their desks in a horseshoe.   Each child has a homemade nametag on their desk in cursive since I'll be teaching it this year. At "Meet the Teacher" I dressed up each child in 50's clothes and took their picture.  They are now hanging above the te

Two weeks ago, I decided to do my 2nd grade classroom in a theme.  I decided on the 50's.  This meant no generic teacher posters from the teacher supply store.  I wanted everything to match my theme.  So, then began a bunch of work.  But first, I asked for permission to paint one wall a bright color.  I got permission and decided on a deep teal chalkboard paint.  That paint took 4 coats!!!!!  I love the color!  Tonight my son and I tested out the chalkboard part of the wall.  I went to a party store and got some decorations (the guitars and the rock & roll sign).  The music notes and records were cut out with my cricut.  These ice cream sundaes for a birthday wall each have 6 layers of paper!  Wow! The room is mostly done.  I'll try to post some more tomorrow when I'm not working on lesson plans.  I can't believe school is starting Monday!