Where I Teach AND Therapeutic Thursday

Where I Teach

I was finally able to get into my new school yesterday.  I took a couple picture of the classroom, BUT I can't start setting it up, because I share it with another teacher.  We share a classroom and an office.. so set up will have to wait until next week!  So below are some *before* picture of my classroom!

*sorry for the blurry iPhone pics*

Therapeutic Thursday

When I've had a really long or hard day there are a few things that I make me feel better!

• NAP!!!  Having an hour long nap after school can TOTALLY turn around my mood!
• My husband and my dog!!  cuddling on the couch and watching TV!
• a COLD BEER!!  Grasshopper is my favourite!

Technology Tip Tuesday (a little late..)

• One of my favorite apps out there for the iPad is Puffin Browser.  The reason I like it so much is it allows FLASH content webpages to work on the iPad!!!  Check it out on the app store!

• Bookshare.  This is an awesome place to get digital books in Daisy format for kiddos with print disabilities... Actually only kiddos with print disabilities qualify for these books and you must prove the disability, but they have thousands, upon thousand of title for kids.  They even have textbooks available.  They are also available in Canada (which doesn't always happen) but there is only around 20 000 titles available in Canada!

• TumbleBooks, Bookflix, storyline online, any webpage that has digital books!  The kiddos love seeing digital books on the smartboard.  Just something different than paper books!

• Text-to-Speech software.  This software is awesome for kiddos that have difficulty reading.  They are able to access the information just like their peers!

• ATIA.  This is one of the best, if not the best technology conference I have ever been to!  Bonus - it takes place in Florida in January (last year I left Calgary in -35 Celsius weather and it was +30 there... AWESOME!)

Must Have Monday

1. Coffee!!!  On my way to school I would stop for a Timmies coffee almost everyday.  This year I have NO coffee shop on my way to school, so my husband bought us a Keurig!  I'm super excited for this!  I know that September will be a HUGE learning curve, which means many long days, so coffee is a must!!!!

2. Technology!!!  I love technology and I LOVE to teach with it!!! iPads, Mac, SMARTboards!!  These tools are great!

3.Supportive family!  My husband is also a teacher, so he understands what it is like.  Are converstaions at the end of the night are always interesting and so different!  Also I'm very lucky to have a wonderful puppy to come home each night!  She is always so EXCITED to see me at the end of the day!!!  She always puts a smile on my face!!

Don't forget to check out everyone else's Must Haves!

Good-bye Summer!!!

I can't believe that summer is coming to an end.  It feels like it just started!!!  I don't officially go back to work until August 278th, but I plan on going into my classroom next week.  I am also still finishing up my last 2 papers for one of my masters courses this summer (I think taking 3 courses is why it feels like the summer has flown by!!!).  In the spirit of end of summer, back to school I am linking up with Peterson's Pad for Good-Bye Summer Linking Party!

Here are the rules: Share four things about your summer!

1. A place you visited

2. A book you read (for school or fun)

3. Something you did or made for your school class

4. Something fun you did

Then comment on the two links before you and one after you!

1. This summer I had an opportunity to go on 2 camping trips with my family.  The first trip I went on an annual camping trip with my dads family (my grandparents, my dad's 7 siblings and many of my cousins).  This year there was more than 50 of us there!  We go camping to an area of Alberta called Kootenay Plains near Nordegg Alberta!  It is so pretty there!  The second camping trip I am going on is this weekend.  We are heading to Sylvan Lake with my family again!  Below are some pictures from the first camping trip!

2.  This summer I read:

3. I haven't really made anything for my class this summer, as I'm starting a new job and Im not sure what I need!  I did however take 3 grad courses that will be helpful with my future students!!

4.  Fun things I did this summer include RELAXING, road trip to Saskatoon and went to Heritage Days in Edmonton!

Happy End of Summer!

Back to School Jitters

I'm linking up with "A Turn to Learn" for:

Music help!!!!

When I took my new position I was told there was a chance that I might have to teach 1 block of gr.6 music.  I was really hoping that this music block would turn into art or something else, as I have NO IDEA where to start when teaching music!!!!  I chatted with my principal today and she reminded me about the music.. I'm guessing I'm stuck teaching it!!  That's ok as I'm always up for a new challenge!!!

So... I need some help!

1. has anyone taught music before?  where do I start?
2. does anyone know of any great music teacher blogs?
3. does anyone know of any great music teacher resources?

Thanks in advance!!!!

Teacher Fashion

I'm linking up with From Blood to Books for:

So here are the rules:

Here are the guidelines...

1. Tell me your favorite store(s) that you like to get your "teacher's fashion".

2. What are some of your favorite accessories?

3. What type of shoes do you teach in? (i.e. heels, flats, wedges, etc.)

4. Do you have a "go-to" item in your closet? (i.e. sweater you wear weekly, shoes you wear daily, etc.)

5. Have you ever had a fashion "uh-oh" at school? (i.e. heel broke, button popped off of blouse)

So....

1. My favorite stores to purchase "teacher" clothes would have to be from Ricki's, Smart Set and Banana Republic.  I normally can be caught in black dress pants and they are almost always from Ricki's.  

I like to shop both Banana Republic and Smart Set for tops.  Recently, I also have become a fan of H&M for camisoles!

                              

2.  Accessories: Well what can I say, I'm kinda a plain Jane type of girl.  For jewellery I wear a plain DKNY watch, a diamond pendant and my wedding ring.  I'm not really into scarfs and other accessories... however, I do love my Guess purses.  Every time I go to the states I always get a new one!

3.  Shoes:  At my old school we were only allowed to wear closed toe shoes with at least a strap around the heel.  I hardly ever wear heels to teach in (my feet kill at the end of the day if I do!).  I mostly wear flats in the classroom and sometimes boots in the winter.  I recently purchased a cute pair of TOMS ballet flats that I'm super excited to wear!

4.  Go-to-Item:  Anything black.  I feel most comfortable in black and I am often wearing it!

5. "Uh-oh" moment:  This past year I wore a white cotton cardigan to school.  While I was bringing paint from the art room to my class I go PURPLE paint dust on my left boob!  I tried my best to get it out at school, but all I did was make it worse.  It went from a spot the size of a dime to a spot the size of my fist!  It was horrible!

Make sure you check out what others are wearing!!!

Back to School Shopping

I don't officially go back to work until August 28th, but I have been itching to start to get my classroom together....However, there is a problem.... I don't know what my classroom will look like.  When I went for my interview for my new position I didn't get a chance to look around the school.  My principal isn't in until August 20th, so I won't know what my classroom will look like till then!

I did however go to Staples' Teacher Appreciation sale today and bought something things that I know I will need!  I will base my classroom colours this year off of the stuff I bought today!!!

(Left-Right: Plan Binder, Sub Folder, Meeting Notebook, Below: is my new day timer)

(my new lunch bag)

I also was inspired by many Teacher Tool Boxes that I had seen on Pinterest, so I decided that I would give making one a try.  I went to Lowes and bought the stackable 22 drawer storage container.  I then went to HomeSense and bought a package of scrapbook paper ( 60 sheets for $3) and went to work.  I created a template for the big and small drawers.  Click on the "DONE" picture below and it will take you to the template!

(Before)

(Done)

Anyways, when I get to see my new classroom I will take some pictures!  Until then.... Happy Thursday!

It's been awhile...

Wow, it's been almost a month since my last blog post.. and what a crazy month it has been!

Last September I started my masters in Special Education at the University of Alberta.  This summer I was determined to take 3 courses (on paper it didn't seem like to much).  Well I just finished all 3 (minus 2 papers).  I took them all in the course of 4 WEEKS... It was crazy.  The last 2 weeks I took a course in the morning on Learning Disabilities and in the afternoon I took a course on Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)!  I LOVED my PBS class!!!  Actually it was amazing!  My professor (Brenda Fossett) was one of the best professors I have ever had.  The U of A is lucky to have her.  We spent 2 weeks learning about Functional Behavior Assessments (indirect assessments and direct assessments), creating competing pathway diagrams, building PBS plans, setting event strategies, antecedent strategies, teaching desired behaviour strategies, and consequence strategies.  AMAZING!!!  She taught the course as we would teach in our classrooms (direct instruction, lots of examples, lots of time to practice the skills and lots of feedback).  If anyone in Canada is interested in learning more about PBS, take a course from her!!!

This is a book that many of parts of the course were based off of!

Also... I can now announce that I have a new job in September.. I've known for a little while, but I wasn't able to announce it until my former employer knew and everything was settled.  I will be a learning support teacher at a middle school.  My new school board is a completely inclusive school board (which I'm super excited about).  I will be supporting my kiddos by doing some pull out as well as working with their regular classroom teachers.  This will be a VERY different role for me, but I am super excited about it!  If anyone has any advice on this new role I would love to hear it!!!

Happy Wednesday!