Kagan

This week has been so amazing! I have been at a Kagan Cooperative Learning training every day provided my my district. We received free materials (which, let's face it, is awesome!) and a TON of first hand experience working with "structures" to help students work with and learn from each other. It is going to be hard work to implement everything into my classroom, but I'm excited to see the results. I have met some great teachers and learned a lot from each of them.

Barry has started his first year teacher training, BEGIN and has a male mentor teacher. He has his new hire orientation tomorrow and then we both head to our schools on Monday for meetings and time in our classrooms. I think I have more still to do than he does!

I'm excited to be working with a new principal and one new teammate this year. And of course, I'm looking forward to meeting my new set of kids, fingers crossed my roster stays at 28 and doesn't soar to the projected 35. I've heard the group coming into fourth grade is a challenge, but with everything I've learned this week, I can't wait to start!!!

I'll keep you posted!!! And pictures to come, eventually.

Here is a link to the Kagan website and the book I got free...notice it's a $44 value!

Kagan page
Free book

Hi!

Well, I'm completely new to the blogging world. I figured this would be a good way to remember and share what goes on in my classroom daily. I have wanted to share the funny/witty/interesting comments that my students articulate for the last 2 years, but have not gotten around to it. Hopefully I will be able to keep this up and actually post. Every day I'm amazed at what I hear from 10 year olds. I truly learn something new every day.

This week I will be taking a class offered by my district to help me with classroom management and building a classroom community; things I have struggled with my first 2 years. I'm excited to be able to share what I learn with my team and fellow teachers. Another plus will be helping Barry in his first year. I will probably share stories from his classroom, too!

School starts August 9th, so until then, I will try to figure out this blogging stuff and maybe get some pictures of our rooms up. Then I'm sure I will have a lot to say after the first day!