Fun things to note in my life:
1) I have the most amazing support system by way of family, friends, and co-workers.
2) MOMMY is visiting soooooon!
3) I work in one of the best school districts in Alaska and at one of the most beautiful village sites in that school district
4) Even on my worst feeling days, my kids are able to make my day and make me smile just by being themselves.
Life is good...
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
End of my first month in Alaska
Hello Everyone! Just got back from my week of in service in Bethel, OH WOW was that an adventure. Made a lot of new friends and learned some fun new stuff I'll be implementing in my classroom asap!
Photo Update!
Photo Update!
I caught a Devil Fish, they never die! Even after I chop their heads off lol
View just before I start berry picking
Nap while berry picking lol
Yummy Back Berries
Making Eskimo Ice Cream for the first time!
First taste of Eskimo Ice Cream...not enough sugar lol
The Ice Cream making crew!
Ride out to Toksook across the tundra!
Playing catan while making soup!
Potato and Leak soup, freaking YUMMY!
Pot Luck with the group :)
Friday, August 30, 2013
Classroom Website
At my school, all teachers are required to fill out two Individual Development Plans (IDP) to improve our teaching. Essentially, this means we are defining two goals, listing strategies we can use to meet our goal, and evaluation tools for administration to track our progress.
One of my goals was to improve parent and student communication. Specifically, I want to keep everyone informed with what is happening in my classroom. To do this, I will be posting the daily objectives for each class on my board everyday. This will enable the students to have an understanding of what needs to be accomplished before the lesson is complete and homework is assigned. On the parent side, I have made a website to post assignments, a calendar, and news for each class.
Feel free to check it out here and make sure to give me some feedback!
One of my goals was to improve parent and student communication. Specifically, I want to keep everyone informed with what is happening in my classroom. To do this, I will be posting the daily objectives for each class on my board everyday. This will enable the students to have an understanding of what needs to be accomplished before the lesson is complete and homework is assigned. On the parent side, I have made a website to post assignments, a calendar, and news for each class.
Feel free to check it out here and make sure to give me some feedback!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Classroom Set Up
Friday the 23rd was my last day as the Head Lifeguard for the City of Marquette!
Therefore, I was able to start setting up my classroom at Watersmeet this week - this is my favorite part! Organizing, cleaning, rearranging, and decorating... all super exciting things. This week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), we have professional development from 8am - 3pm, so I am planning to arrive at school by 6:15am central time in order to get everything accomplished that needs to be done before students arrive next Tuesday for the first day of school.
When I arrived on Monday, the desks were in a grid (which I usually hate). My phone, computer, and desk were in three different corners of the room. The last Math teacher appeared not to have cleaned out the desk in the three years she was there, so I found some interesting things. For example, these were in the back of one of the drawers:
They expired in 1988. Kinda gross. Don't worry, they landed safely in the garbage can right after the picture was taken! I went through and consolidated half empty boxes of supplies and managed to get rid of two garbage cans worth of stuff just from the area behind my desk. By the end of the day, I had the desks separated into four columns with a wide walkway in the middle and a basic layout for the rest of the room.
Today, I finished getting the classroom layout all set up. I had the technology guy move my phone and computer to the corner with my desk. One of the random empty tables was pushed up against the wall in my back corner so I could have a computer table and a grading desk. I like to keep things separated so that I don't feel overwhelmed with too many things on a tiny desk. This afternoon, I laminated all of my new posters and had them hanging in place. I went through all of the extra supplies (80 extra dry erase markers, 300 pencils, and numerous office supplies) into three small storage tubs. One of the maintenance guys, Harry, even found me a new chair that doesn't groan and squeal every time I move! A final set up of the room:
Therefore, I was able to start setting up my classroom at Watersmeet this week - this is my favorite part! Organizing, cleaning, rearranging, and decorating... all super exciting things. This week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), we have professional development from 8am - 3pm, so I am planning to arrive at school by 6:15am central time in order to get everything accomplished that needs to be done before students arrive next Tuesday for the first day of school.
When I arrived on Monday, the desks were in a grid (which I usually hate). My phone, computer, and desk were in three different corners of the room. The last Math teacher appeared not to have cleaned out the desk in the three years she was there, so I found some interesting things. For example, these were in the back of one of the drawers:
They expired in 1988. Kinda gross. Don't worry, they landed safely in the garbage can right after the picture was taken! I went through and consolidated half empty boxes of supplies and managed to get rid of two garbage cans worth of stuff just from the area behind my desk. By the end of the day, I had the desks separated into four columns with a wide walkway in the middle and a basic layout for the rest of the room.
Today, I finished getting the classroom layout all set up. I had the technology guy move my phone and computer to the corner with my desk. One of the random empty tables was pushed up against the wall in my back corner so I could have a computer table and a grading desk. I like to keep things separated so that I don't feel overwhelmed with too many things on a tiny desk. This afternoon, I laminated all of my new posters and had them hanging in place. I went through all of the extra supplies (80 extra dry erase markers, 300 pencils, and numerous office supplies) into three small storage tubs. One of the maintenance guys, Harry, even found me a new chair that doesn't groan and squeal every time I move! A final set up of the room:
The view from my area.
The view from the doorway.
A close up of some of my favorite posters.
The view from my front teaching zone.
For the rest of this week, I am planning to clean out and organize the back room (you can kind of see the doorway on the left side of the last picture) as well as start planning my lessons. Luckily, I was able to meet with the last Math teacher and she was wonderful enough to show me the files where she kept all of her lessons and projects, so I'm not feeling overwhelmed anymore.
I am so excited to finally have a job that I love doing and enjoy going to every day!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Tununak's School Newsletter
Hello from Tununak!
Finished my first full week teaching at a school of 130 kids grades K-12. I am teaching 7th Math, 7th/8th Science, and High School Brit Lit, Alg. 1, Biology, and Physical Education. Its been a crazy experience :D
Here's a newsletter my principal made today!
Finished my first full week teaching at a school of 130 kids grades K-12. I am teaching 7th Math, 7th/8th Science, and High School Brit Lit, Alg. 1, Biology, and Physical Education. Its been a crazy experience :D
Here's a newsletter my principal made today!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Laura's first day of school!
First day of school is done. Wow was it crazy fun. I basically got a whole new class schedule yesterday so had to "wing it" with most of my classes. We played a "puzzle" game using index cards as the pieces of me: One card read "My favorite sport" and another read "Wrestling". They had to work together as a group and figure out which index cards matched each other, it went very well!!
Also made some yummy Mexican Rice for everyone, it was sooooo yummy. Tasted just like Border Grill in Marquette. More to come!
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