3 hour, err more like 5 picture tour

And here it is, my room for the school year 2011-2012. The room is about double in square-footage from the old room. Good thing since I have about double the number of students!

Nervous

Why am I nervous?

This is my seventh year teaching - fourth at my school.

This will be my 2nd year in second grade, so I am familiar with the curriculum and don't have to "wing it" as I did last year.

And yet... I am nervous. Why?

It all comes down to the fact that I don't trust God.

I struggle to trust him:

-to provide patience for me.

-to guide me.

-to give me strength.

-to provide for my needs.

-to forgive my failures.

You name it and while intellectually I know I should trust, I struggle to do so.

Hmmm - you'd think after 10 years of following Christ, I'd have this stuff down a little better. Thankful that his mercies are new every morning and that his faithfulness never fails!

Mr. Sandman...

I usually don't dream, but when I do my dreams are usually quite memorable. This summer I have had five back-to-school dreams.

Dream #1 - I go in for my first day of inservice, receive my list of students to discover...it's my same darlings! I've been moved to 3rd grade!

Dream #2 - First day of school and who walks in??? My same darlings - again, I've been moved to 3rd grade!

Dream #3 - I go in to talk with my P who tells me I have to switch grades because the previous 2nd grade teacher is returning. Therefore, I get moved - this time, to Kindergarten!

Dream #4 - I am in my 2nd grade room with my soon-to-be 24 2nd graders. One of the students runs away. So what do I do? I leave during my break - walk to his house which is conveniently next door and drag his rear back to school.

Dream #5 - I am in my 2nd grade room with my soon-to-be 24 2nd graders and they.are.wild! It was "how not to do" classroom management.

Wonder what the first days will bring?

Shiny New Room

Wow it's been like 4 months since I've posted - oops! In the past four months I have:

• judged regional science fair where all three of my students participating received blue ribbons and one received the judges' award!
• closed out the school year.
• packed up my classroom for our big move to the new school.
• packed up my apartment for our big move to the new house.
• took two precious weeks off after school was out to organize and unpack at the house.
• worked part-time (12 hours a week) at the stationery store.
• traveled to Lake of the Ozarks, MO for a great week vacation.
• planned, prepared, created, etc.. for the new school.
• tried not to freak out that I have 24 students!
• freaked out about having 24 students.
• set up my classroom.
• hoping to do as little as possible these last two weeks of summer.

Enjoy these pictures of my classroom pre-set up: