Settling In to my New Position

Hey there!

Have any of you missed me? I know I have popped in a couple times for Wisdom posts, but I haven't "just posted" in awhile. You might remember my new position, the Title I teacher, and honestly that has not been what has kept me away. This time of year volleyball consumes a large amount of my time--after school for practice, Tuesday (and sometimes Thursday) game nights, and all day tournaments on Saturday. This, along with the crazy notion I had to start working on my Masters Degree as a Reading Specialist has been...well...kicking my tail (you might say).

I've wanted to post about my new position for awhile and just hadn't found the time. Every spare moment has been used on homework (at which point I ask my hubby to remind me again what I was thinking...).

Anyway, I absolutely LOVE my new job. My schedule is jam packed meeting with kids one-on-one, two-by-two, and in small groups. Right now I'm working with K-2 students until 1:00 and then I head to the Intermediate building (20 minutes away) for the remainder of the day. That has been a bit of a challenge...many days I forget things at the other building or wish I had something that was at the other building. Even that is getting better...although on Tuesday I had a mini panic attack when I got to work without my computer and wondered what I had done with it. Thankfully, it was safe---in my other office!

As a classroom teacher, there were days when I felt like a rock star teacher and days I wondered if I had successfully taught anything. 

I know you know what I mean! 

I've come to realize that as a Title teacher that feeling can change every 10-15 minutes when I grab a new kiddo for another lesson. ;-)

I do love that I am able to individualize instruction so much more than I could as a classroom teacher, and my students are becoming "my kiddos" just like before. That was something I was worried I would miss about not being in the classroom!

Now for a look at some of the things that have helped me jump right into teaching "my kiddos."

Six Minute Solutions - I have eSolutions for the older grades. You're also seeing a picture of one of my kiddos' data folders, something I was excited to continue from days in the classroom. The rings in the baggie are for sight words (I'll explain in another post).

This product has been a lifesaver for working with my K students. So easy to use. The hardest part was putting the pages in plastic sleeves so we could use dry erase markers on them. 

Pathways to Reading, of course. Absolutely love this program.

Now for a couple of things I have figured out on my own...

I needed a way to jot notes about each of my kiddos. This is what I came up with. So far I am liking it!

I also figured out right away that some of my students needed a little motivation either to follow my STAR rules or to work hard.

My second graders earn a star sticker for following these rules:

Sit up straight.

Take turns.

Attentive listening.

Respect others.

My Kinders earn a sticker for working hard and/or completing a "Be a STAR!" chart I make for them with the letters we are working on.

So far the kiddos I see form the other grades haven't needed a STAR chart. I'll just have to give them a "fun day" or something. I still don't know what we will do when the others get their charts filled up...one of my 2nd graders is getting so close. He has been giving me some ideas. :-)

Hope you're having a great week!