My Classroom .... Finally!

My third grade classroom ~ Polka dots

View when walking in the classroom door. The majority of the color in my room is blue and green. Since the theme is polka dots, I thought I'd use blue and green to neutralize the setting for both boys and girls. Each curtain is tied off with blue polka dot ribbon.

Amber Storm gave me the idea of hanging round lanterns from the ceiling. Polka dots! She's so smart.

This is my About Miss Rhodes board. I have pictures of Molly (of course), family, and my beautiful friends. It also has items I enjoy such as my favorite piece of art, pictures of some of my paintings, an owl for my favorite animal, french fries and strawberry ice cream for my favorite food, a beach for my favorite place, a record along with pictures of jazz instruments for my favorite music, and pictures of the A&M campus.

My guided reading area. Kidney tables....O how they take up so much room. And the orange bulletin is not finished ( I created it by hand and hot glued to the wall :)...Ive hot glued nearly everything to wall, lol ). We will add to it as the North America unit progresses. The orange bulletin board will change every month to two months. We study each continent throughout the year, so it will rotate as the continent we are studying changes.

The yellow bulletin board (one i also created, along with the purple - its just wood beneath it) is Our Class Album. I'll use it to put pictures of the students throughout the year.

Look What We Did bulletin board is purely for the kiddos. Each student has a distinct area where they can display anything they would like to. Good grades. Writing. Pieces of art. It's their contribution to the room and makes them feel like they are part of the decorating process. Plus, others get to see their accomplishments and talents.

Below the board is my class library and reading chair.

View of my desk. All the bright yellow, pink, and orange pieces of paper on the back of my file cabinets are for Class Jobs. They are magnetic so I can move the student's names on a weekly basis.

I have 19 students...makes it hard for arranging the desks. Next year I will ask for tables. As for now, this is how they are arranged. I'm sure it will change once I have the kiddos in there. It's hard to see - but I took inch thick polka dot ribbon and lined my white board. (The metal was scratched and boring) One is puple polka dots and the other is green. I have an alphabet strand across the top of the classroom - it's in green polka dots. Even the name plates on their desks have polka dots :)

I have pictures of the room before decorating took place if you scroll down my blog.

My Blank Room ..Color Coming!

I have my things scattered everywhere, but this is my basic layout and what I have to work with. I have lots of color coming soon. I can't wait to finish and spice it up. More pictures to come next week!!!

Tuesday July 28, 2009 - Busy week

Finally got my contract signed and turned in. What a relief! *Sigh* I'm still in the process of decorating the classroom. Putting things up. Hanging things on the wall. Etc. It's an exciting and nerve-racking process. I wish I had someone to just tell me where to put everything. That would just be too easy though. I need one of those easy buttons :)

Big garage sale this weekend. Def not ready for it to start, but ready for it to be over with. They are so much work! After this weekend summer will nearly be over with. How sad? I feel like it flew by and I didn't have the chance to really celebrate graduating college and having a free summer. Guess I celebrated by sleeping in everyday.

Monday, July 20, 2009 School Supplies

Of course, when I return home I find my contract in the mailbox. “Sign and return by June 30, 2009” HA! Good thing I have another one in the mail.

Mom and I spent Sunday morning school supply shopping…for the third time. I love it. There is nothing better than the smell of a newly opened box of crayons. My classroom will be decked out head to toe in crayola products, utensils, crates and baskets, and one pretty awesome treasure chest!

“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a newly sharpened bouquet of pencils if I knew your name and address.” – You’ve Got Mail

Thursday, July 16, 2009 My contract is running from me.

My future principal called three weeks ago to notify me I was approved by the school district and my contract would be in the mail very soon. I was elated at the thought of receiving my first contract, especially one that would rename me as an adult. A fully employed, money making adult. I needed this contract more than anything to prove I was actually taking the next logical step in life.

A week goes by and no contract. That’s okay. Sometimes these things take a while. It’s not like any ole letter. Second week passes and still nothing. Several emails and phone calls later, I found it was sent to my prior collegiate address. One I would be moving out of in just a week. Phew! So I really was hired and I’m not dreaming. I, Morgan Rhodes, am still a future third grade teacher. As mom and I pulled into my apartment parking lot today, I nearly stumbled to get out of the car and into my mailbox. This simple piece of paper had been like a lost treasure to me and I was finally at the end of my hunt. My sneaker-covered feet had reached the metal treasure box and I had the golden key to get in.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

Have you ever expected something to be sitting under the Christmas tree and woke up Christmas morning to find it missing? Literally missing, because you knew it belonged there and some tragic mistake must have occurred. That is how I felt at this particular moment. Nothing, there was absolutely nothing in my treasure box. Not even ads or super market coupons. When I returned to my mother and told her my contract was yet again on the run and my mailbox awkwardly empty, she reminded me of the Change of Address I had recently filled out at the post office.

Me (aggravated): “So, they just take it all out and throw it away?”

Mom: “No, they remove it and mark it to be sent to the changed address.” Me (angry): “People aren’t suppose to mess with your mail. Isn’t that some sort of law?!”

Mom: “Yes, but when you fill out a change of address…”

Me (worried and becoming infuriated): “So you’re saying it’s been moving around and is in the process of being mailed back to my new address?”

Mom: “No, after this much time it was probably lost.”

Did she just say lost? Wow, I’m so going to be the new, completely aggravating, hard to deal with employee that can’t seem to get their crap together. Back to the annoying emails and phone calls. Lord, this totally isn’t funny right now. Let go of your piñata string, and let me actually make a few hits before you draw it back up, and I swing and miss completely, please!

Student Teaching Pictures :)

Only 9 days left of student teaching for me. It's so bittersweet.  I feel like I am ready for my own class, but can't stand the thought of leaving Mrs. Cade or all my babies.  I already have baseball games, birthdays, and talent shows I have promised to return for! I'm such a sucker :) 

P.S. If you click on the picture it gets really big and is much easier to see. Then just backspace to go back! :) 

Mrs. Cade and I 

Aggie Gig'em pose 
Strike a silly pose! My Miss Amanda and I - she's always attached to my hip. She's the first and last hug I receive everyday ...makes my heart smile!!!!Class pic! 
My kiddos and I 

Hello Old Friend

Strike a funny pose!

Fourth grade teachers: Me, Mrs. Cade, Kaitlyn, Mrs. Pierce, Lauren, and tiny Mrs. Landers in the front.

Student teachers ~ Visitng before the day starts!
Me- being silly. I attempted to look cute at school one day and made the mistake of wearing TERRIBLE heals.  I was letting my feet breathe :) 

Have I neglected my poor blog or what? Nearly a month....GEEZ! 

A lot has happened in the last month.  Let's see- Did my two weeks of full responsibility.  They went by oh-so-quickly, but were GREAT.  I actually start my second rotation next week.  

My supervisor came for my midpoint evaluation 2 weeks ago.  I had forgotten to email her twice letting her know I was in full responsibility (even though she has a calendar I hand wrote saying I was-and I replied immediately when she told me I forgot) so she said I was NOT DEPENDABLE  with me supervisor, co workers, and peers, and that I needed to work on that.  I wasn't a happy camper after that meeting.  She took off in several areas of my review for that - really can't stand the woman! Last week she came back to evaluate me.  I was teaching a math lesson and surprisingly, I got a really good evaluation.  I think that's something very hard for her to give- so I was grateful.  

Right now I am back to observing the class and teaching a few subjects a day.  I have no idea how teachers get through the day, week, month, or year without an aid.  Seems like Mrs. Cade and I have so much to do (especially paperwork) and we can never get it done- even with the two of us.  

I spent Valentines with Holly and Emily.  We saw Confessions of a Shopoholic-Super cute! Jacob sent me a bouquet of flowers and a sweet poem.  I can't get enough of his writing :) Only 11 days until I am finally in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Yippeee! Time really has sped by. 

Last weekend I was in Victoria for heart doctor apointments.  Everything has checked out ok- I'm just going to have to live with the fast heart beats again- something I'm not very happy about. O well! 

I took my final certification test last week too- found out today I passed - Praise Jesus! Now all I have left to do is apply for certification.  A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  BUT I jinxed myself- I had to lie to get the day off to take my test. I said I was sick and now I really am.  I finally, FINALLY, went out on the town Friday evening and came home with bad allergies. It has turned into a awful sinus infection.  I get to use this wonderful invention-the neti pot- where you pour water in one side of your nose and it comes out through the other side of your nose and mouth. YUCK!!! It's not pretty at all.  And very uncomfortable.  SO I missed school today, BUT will be going back tomorrow. The kids are taking their TAKS writing test. I get to act as an hall/bathroom monitor.  Basically, I get to read all day. Im okay with that!! Best part- we get to wear jeans or workout clothes :)