The Sunrise Story

I'm sitting here preparing for the first day of school. On my list is to write a note to the teacher I'm mentoring. It's her first "First Day of School" as a teacher. As I think about what to say to her, I reflect on my first "First Day" and I think about what I'd tell my "first year teacher self" on this First Day Eve. Here's some tips on your First "First Day" as a Teacher... 1. You are ready. It may not feel like it. You will check and re-check your plans a million times, but you've prepared for this moment. You got it! 2. Smile. Enjoy yourself! You set the tone in your classroom, so make it a positive and joy-filled place to be.  3. Breathe. There's so much to do and I know you want to do it all perfectly. Those students deserve the best teacher you can be! Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. What doesn't get done today, will get done tomorrow! 4. You are not perfect and that's ok! Be authentic, not perfect....

Thank you to Ruth Ayres for the opportunity to focus on celebrations every week! September 19 will mark our 100th celebration! Please join us! I'm writing this blog post on my phone because I'm in Massachusetts this weekend celebrating my cousin's wedding. I'm attending an "I Do BBQ" with family and friends.  Spending the weekend before school begins four hundred miles away was stressing me out, but now that I'm here...it's perfect! Yesterday I took my sister and niece and nephew for ice cream. We played games and built Legos!  We played in my notebook when we were out at dinner. Last night, I got to be the one to read bedtime stories!  Today, a morning with just me and the kids to some fun places. I love getting to spend time together and spoil them! The BBQ is this afternoon. Lots of family to visit and relax and have fun! I celebrate my wonderful, loving, beautiful, crazy family today! 

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, Anna, Kathleen & Deb for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at Two Writing Teachers . We are in the middle of teacher workdays. Monday I presented and facilitated for most of the day. This morning I am meeting my sixth graders for the first time at orientation. With a spinning head, I am here. Here is where I stop, breathe, think. Knowing you will forgive me for the simple post today, I showed up...and today I want to write a list...a gratitude list. In no particular order, I'm grateful for: my mom, my sister, Jack and Jillian, my whole wonderful family, Bella, my home, friends who love me, notebooks, a job I adore, writing, the look on a face when a student finally "gets it", Dairy Queen, good books, Netflix, quiet after a long day, my writing group, funky reading glasses, peppermint, a smile, thoughtful gift...

Join us at Margaret's blog for digital literacy posts every Sunday! Being a teacher is hard. I adore my job, but make no mistake...it's challenging. I'm grateful for those who make my job easier! Colleagues, strong administration, supportive parents...I'm blessed to have all of these. I also have a powerful PLN. Teachers from around the country (around the world) who share my passion and who share their expertise and ideas!  How do I connect with these teachers? It starts here, on the blog. I write and they read and comment. Relationships begin to develop. It continues on Twitter. We chat and share resources. We ask each other questions. Last year I was lucky enough to meet so many of these teachers at a national conference, NCTE.  How do we keep in touch? Currently, I am in an amazing online writing group that meets weekly via Google Hangout! It's the best way to begin a Saturday morning, by sharing our weeks and our writing.  Yesterday I enjo...

Thank you to Ruth Ayres for the opportunity to focus on celebrations every week! September 19 will mark our 100th celebration! Please join us! This week marks the return to work for me. There's a new feeling in the school...lots of energy and excitement! I see lots of smiles and I notice so much positivity. It's exhilarating!  Today, I celebrate those that are new to our school community! Your motivation and energy are contagious and I already see the impact you are making on our community! I celebrate the returning staff members who are pulling together to help and support those new to our building and our profession!  I celebrate the amazing and hard working custodian staff. Our building looks beautiful!! Thank you for all you've done to maintain this beautiful environment! I celebrate my classroom. After hours of work, I'm almost there. It's almost done...here's a peek inside... To fully appreciate...

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, Anna, Kathleen & Deb for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at Two Writing Teachers .  One of my favorite quotes is from the movie "Hope Floats"... "...momma always says...that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will, too..." Beginnings are scary. After twenty one years in the classroom, beginning are still scary!  I was so worried about getting everything done. I don't have any other time to set up my classroom library...what happens if it doesn't get done? How will I finish? Worries plagued me as I tried to sleep. At 7:30 I crept into room C10. I haven't stepped foot in school since last June. The hallways were dark, ...

Thank you to Ruth Ayres for the opportunity to focus on celebrations every week! September 19 will mark our 100th celebration! Please join us! Today I am celebrating small moments that make up my life! This upcoming week is a week of transition...from summer back to work...so I want to focus on the small moments that bring joy. Notebook writing! I have made a commitment to post a notebook page online everyday.  I want to make my writing open and model my life as a writer for my students. Join me!! I'm using the hashtag #sharingournotebooks right now. I may use another one...haven't decided yet. On the days when my writing is private and I don't want the world to see, I'll Waterlogue it.  I celebrate my notebook writing! I celebrate my Saturday morning writing group. Leigh Anne Eck and Jennifer Laffin and I meet Saturday mornings (via Google Hangout.) I love that we picked mornings because we aren't night people! We share struggles and ...

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, Anna, Kathleen & Deb for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at  Two Writing Teachers .  This week I get the opportunity to spend three days in training for PBL (project based learning). The trainer is excellent...she is knowledgeable and a good teacher. Learning about PBL is something I enjoy and I feel like fits easily into my teaching routine. I sat down ready to learn and to create an interesting and creative PBL unit, so why is it so hard? It wasn't long until I started thinking things like... I don't know what to do.  I am struggling with finding an idea.  I can't decide.  Nothing seems to fit.  I am getting confused. I can't find a clear answer to my problems. I don't undestand.  What do I do?  These are some of my thoughts from today. It devolved into... ...

Thank you to  Ruth Ayres  for the opportunity to focus on celebrations every week!  September 19 will mark our  100th celebration ! Please join us! As I prepare to return for my twenty-first year as a teacher, I am taking time to reflect. Twenty-one years ago, I walked into a third grade classroom, Room 110, excited and nervous and ready to teach. I walked into that room alone armed only with my ideas. Twenty-one years later, as I walk into Room C10, I walk in with a crowd of support. I am not alone... As I walk into my classroom, I walk with Stacey who reminds me that I am a writer when I wonder and question myself. Her unwavering faith in me pushes me to continue when I think I can’t. I walk with Lee Ann who inspires me to be more creative in my notebook and in my life. I walk with Margaret who shares her creativity and poetry and her kindness. I walk with Julieanne who always encourages me to think about things in a new way with her thoug...

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, Anna, Kathleen & Deb for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at  Two Writing Teachers .  I've been contemplating my motto. What is my motto? What words do I live by everyday? I discovered a new-to-me blogger, Carrie Wisehart. She writes the blog, Live Upside Down . On her about me page , she mentions mottos. On her about me page it says, "She loves to surprise attack her students with stamps that have her mottos written on them: Choose Joy & Best Day Ever!" I stopped and thought about it. "Do I have a motto? What is my motto? What words guide my life and my choices?" I reached out to friends on social media and asked others what their mottos were. Here are some mottos... "A grateful heart is a happy heart." "Live your life!" "Tomorrow is a new day, and we start ...

Thank you to  Ruth Ayres  for the opportunity to focus on celebrations every week!  September 19 will mark our  100th celebration ! Please join us! Today begins a new month. August. This week I celebrate... quiet mornings school supply sales laughter ice cream sparkly lights reflecting looking planning Hope this post finds you in a happy place!  What are you celebrating today?