What the Teacher Wants!: Don't hate me because...

Don't care that I'm teaching fourth grade this year, everyone should appreciate Dr. Seuss and celebrate his birthday.



What the Teacher Wants!: Don't hate me because...: I just posted my Dr. Seuss Math and Literacy Centers on TpT .  I'm just a little ahead of the game {insert a big pat on the back}. But don't...

What the Teacher Wants!: Science Fair Time!!

came across this post on this awesome blog, and had to share. I so could have used something like this two weeks ago, when our school started the science fair.


What the Teacher Wants!: Science Fair Time!!: I love the Science Fair and I love seeing my students come up with some amazing work! I have been absolutely blown away with some of the pro...

here we go...again...

Tomorrow I go back to work. I'm nervous, anxious and excited all at the same time. I've got all these ideas going through my mind about changing stuff around, mainly how we do our reading, but I just know. Hmm...what to do.

back to school

So Christmas vacation is slowly coming to an end. I report back to work on Tuesday morning, and students return Wednesday. I'm looking forward to it. I love my job, however, I am a bit anxious about the end of the school year. As soon as we get back we have the science fair, the kids do this on their own, but still, I'm anxious about it. We have to cover a butt load of math, scary fourth grade math, which means I have to teach myself this scary math. We also have to work on our writing, how I'm going to cram that into our already insane schedule, I'm not too sure. Then there's the IWOA test our school takes in March. It shows more or less where or what the kids can do. I've been told its NOT a reflection of me, its more of a reflection of what they know. Which sounds like it is a reflection of me as a teacher.
I've always considered myself to be a good teacher, but this is my first year teaching fourth grade, and my first year having to deal with this testing, science fair and a whole bunch of other things. I mainly don't want to let these kids down.

DoingTheDaily5: Using Computers for Daily 5

DoingTheDaily5: Using Computers for Daily 5: "Last night's #ellchat on twitter was focused on using technology to teach English Language Learners, which encouraged me to write a blogpost..."

First grade teacher no more...

It has been a good while since I've gotten around to posting anything. Sorry! It has just been crazy. In the past three months, my grandmother passed, I flew to Honduras to visit family and her grave, got news from my OB that my only hope for children is IVF, got more news from my RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) that my tubes and ovaries are doing okay and... I made the decision to move to fourth grade. Yep, Mrs. Gomez is no longer the first grade teacher, much to the kindergartner's, (and their parents), disappointment. I am moving to fourth. Sadly, my good friend and co-worker decided to move back home to NOLA, and took a position out there, which made it possible for me to make the move.

I am very excited. I am very nervous. I am very anxious. I am full of ideas...and doubt. Though, I am trying to rid myself of the doubt and just focus on the excitement of a new challenge. I've had the students before as first graders. They're very excited! As are the parents, a lot of them have told me how excited they are to have me again, I even had a few come into my end of school party and hug me and congratulate me on the move.

The math and science frighten me a little. I am trying to research to see if there are any math courses being offered in the Texas area during the summer. So far, just one, one day seminar. I hope I am able to come across at least one more I can attended. I do, however, have access the math and science online, so I'll be reviewing the material I'll be teaching!


That's all I have for now, gotta run and do last minute things in preparation for my sister's high school graduation tomorrow!

Dr. Suess!

Last week we celebrated Dr. Suess' birthday! I found this idea on another blog page and LOVED IT! We read different Dr. Suess books throughout the week, we read the Cat in the Hat and watched the video, via Youtube on Wednesday. Afterwards we each made our own Cat in the Hat. We also each wrote a story of what we could do if that Cat showed up at our house. Let me tell you, my first graders LOVED the creative, freewriting activity. I currently have the Cats and the stories displayed outside our classroom and have gotten many compliments on them all. I also got to sport my THING 1 shirt, which made my students Things 2-18, the loved being able to make their own THING signs. We wore them all day and were a complete hit!

 Awesome job, first graders! Keep it up!