Check Out My Offices...or Classrooms!

I call them offices. I guess they could be considered tiny classrooms. Either way, here is a peek at my work spaces for this year.

Before we get into that, here is my first day of school picture. A selfie--which I'm not great at--because my husband had already left for work. This is the first year I have no kids in my picture! I had just left them in Oklahoma for college on Sunday.

I wanted to take it in front of my new "inspirational" arrangement--turns out I would need those phrases!

This one too.

My first day was actually miserable. It had nothing to do with school though. Without unnecessary details, let's just say we had money stolen and feared our identities and accounts were compromised. It made for a busy week of closing accounts, opening new ones, etc. All is well now.

These pics are of my K-2 office/classroom: 

My daughter made the wall files for me out of pine 1x3's and 1x2's for the depth. I always get questions, so thought I'd try to help you out even though I'm probably not explaining it well. 

I love my brain poster. :-)

Segment and Write boards from Pathways to Reading. 

It took me all week to get this counter cleaned off! :-)

New cart...no idea yet what I will use it for. Thoughts?

Two main rules of time with Mrs. Ratcliff. 

These next few pictures are of things I helped put together in the teachers' lounge and/or office. 

A couple of other teachers and I formed a P.O.P. (Power of Prayer) group a couple of years ago. We are a small district, so we divide the entire staff and board members into a weekly prayer list and cycle through it 3 times a year. We also display a verse of the week. At each building we have a weekly prayer meeting open to any staff that wants to join us. 

Finding time to meet as a staff is a challenge, so we have this calendar in the lounge to try and keep everyone updated on what is going on.  

I put together one of these in both buildings for staff to recognize staff. These are from Staff Morale Boosters pack on TPT. The pack included some other fun things as well. Looking forward to spreading some "cheer" this year!

Everyday at 1:30, I drive 20 minutes to the 3-12 building. This is my office/classroom where I work with 3rd-5th graders. I haven't made it as homey (other than the futon), but maybe some day.  

Excuse the mess on the table. Getting ready to plan/prep for MTSS groups.

Brain poster again! I'm planning to add the words: What's Happening in your Brain while you are Reading...

I have to admit, my first full week was extra long. I'm thankful it was also revival week at my church even though it made for late nights. The services helped keep my focus on the eternal after going through that first awful day, especially this sermon: Are you fixated on the right thing? I highly recommend it!

I'm rested up and ready to get back to it tomorrow! We're hoping to finish up testing this week, so I can start working with kids next week. Woohoo!

Wisdom for Wednesday - Power of Prayer

Hello there! I hope you are having a wonderful week. I'm glad you stopped by for this week's Wisdom post. 

You may remember that I went through my Bible study, There's a Fly in my Tea (aff. link), with some ladies online this summer. It was a great opportunity for spiritual growth--especially for me. 

I found myself praying for those ladies and that study more than I had prayed over anything before. This need to pray was motivated by the weight of responsibility I felt for the ladies and the things that I was teaching them. I wanted to represent the Lord and His Word in a way that was pleasing to Him.

Believing in the power of prayer is what led me to share this quote with you today...

I wanted to take a minute to share something that a group of us have started at our school this year. We are calling ourselves the P.O.P. (Power of Prayer) group. Our group desires to joyfully share the love of Christ through prayer and small gestures of support for our staff this year. We kicked off the year by giving out cans of pop and letting the staff know who we are with a little note that said, "Pop, pop. Fizz, fizz. What a great team member you is." 

Each week, we have between 6-8 staff members that we are especially praying for and we will cycle through these names three times during the year. These names, along with a verse of the week, are posted and we encourage others to join in praying for them. This time around, we are giving out a bag of popcorn and letting them know we are praying for them. We have some other fun things planned for the year...many of which include inviting staff to "pop" in for a treat of some kind in the teacher's lounges. 

It has been fun to get involved in a positive group at our school this way, and I know that the focus on praying for our school and staff is changing me (just like the quote above says)! :-)

Wisdom for Wednesday - Prayer

Good morning!

I hope you're having a great week! 

My computer problems are partially fixed, so things are going much better than last time I checked in with you.

I have internet again in my classroom! Woohoo!

I can print, open documents online, and even check e-mail. My kids can do MobyMax--which they love. And we're going to start Book Adventure this week. Yippee!

My projector problem is going to be fixed soon. They had to order a part. I teased about having it the next day…but I'm hopeful that I'll be up and going next week. I literally use my projector ALL day so not having it (or it not working reliably) has been tough! How spoiled I am! I can't imagine teaching before all this "nifty" technology. ;-)

Okay, on to the reason you're really here today.

I know I have done many quotes on prayer, but that is because I know it is an area of my life that continuously needs work. Take a look:

I don't want to be a woman of little prayer, but there are days…

I usually start the day with my Bible study and prayer time, but sometimes I don't "take it with me."

I go throughout the day--busy and distracted--with little or no thought of what I studied. I "forget" to talk to God throughout the day. I make my own decisions. I go with the flow. Maybe something frustrates me and I talk to a friend instead of talking to The Friend. 

You get the idea...

At the end of the day, I think back and realize that I hadn't talked to God any during my busy day (and usually it has been an awful day if that is the case--just saying).

Our pastor just finished a series of messages from the book of Ephesians. In the final chapter, we read about the armour of God and the importance of prayer. It truly does "fasten" the armour. We can't fight the battles we face in life without prayer--and not little prayer, but big prayer. 

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:18

Wishing you a prayer-filled day!

Wisdom for Wednesday - Keep Praying

Hi there! 

Thanks for stopping by for:

I'm going to admit what I feel is one of my biggest spiritual weaknesses to you today...prayer. 

I try to pray according to God's Will. I want to desire what the Lord wants for me. But then there are those times when I'm praying over a situation and just don't feel like I'm getting an answer...maybe even that I'm not being heard. Of course, I know that I can't base my relationship with the Lord on feelings, but...it is a battle that I have (hoping I'm not alone).

Anyway, I found this quote and thought it was perfect for me.

I'm praying.

 Not getting an answer. 

Maybe feeling like I'm not being heard.

What should I do?

Keep praying. 

Not for an answer.

But instead to know God more.

To gain a better understanding of Who He is.

Keep praying, friends!

Wisdom for Wednesday - Prayer Rights

Have you ever gotten used to seeing something hanging in your home or classroom and rarely gave it much thought anymore? That is what inspired this week's...

 

 

 

This quote has been on a piece of scrap paper posted on my husband's desk for at least a year. He wrote it down as a reminder.

 

 

I remember reading it when he first posted it, but over time I had stopped considering what it meant.

 

All that changed as I recently sat at his desk to do my morning devotions. I was seeking peace in a situation that I had been praying about and my eyes fell on the quote with new interest.

 

All I could think was PRAISE THE LORD!

I'm so thankful that answered prayer is based on God's grace, mercy and unfailing love! It would be a very scary thing if my prayers were answered based on my "rights" and what I actually deserved. I'd much rather trust in Him and His Goodness for my answers to prayer!

 

Have a blessed day!