Back To School

The first week of school went well. Zachary and Chase like their teachers and are adjusting to switching classes for the first time. Garett was excited to see Mrs. Amy again and his friends in prek. This is the best picture I could get of the boys on the first day. Garett did not like the flash and I think they all were having a hard time getting up early.
All 22 of my 1st graders showed up ready to learn. I have 11 boys and 11 girls. I am ready for week 2 and getting everyone into a routine. I have already tested my students on their ability to read. I was happy with how well most of them could read. I am also looking to forward to the challenges that lay ahead.
I really enjoyed my summer but realized how much I had missed teaching! It is such a rewarding job. But its more then just a job its my passion to help students reach their FULL potential. I am ready to watch them grow and mature right in front of my eyes!
I was very happy this week to get an email from a second grade teacher at my school thanking us 1st grade teachers for sending a smart group to them. I was glad to know that my students had retained what they had learned over summer break. It reminded me that I can help my students succeed. Its those little things that I find so rewarding!
I have already signed my class up for some online projects at http://jenuinetech.com/. The first project we will be completing is the Oreo stacking project. My classes in the past have loved this. We get a package of oreos and estimate how many they can each stack before it tips over. We use a excel graph to compare and contrast our results. We then track our results against other schools across the US. It helps with our math skills and its fun.
Week 2 here I come! I hope everyone has a great week.
Kristi

Teachingheart give away

One of books on today's give away is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I love to read this story with my kiddos. After reading it we make our own trees. I dia-cut lettes and make leaves for the students. They then have to use the letters to spell their name on the leaves. Then place the leaves on our classroom tree. Its a great beginning of the year activity. Check out the blog at: www.teachingheartmom.blogspot.com and check at the website at: http://www.teachingheart.net/chickaboom.html.
Happy blogging!
Kristi

Teachingheartmom.blogspot.com give away

Well today is a new day of give aways on www.teachingheartmom.blogspot.com
Today is a basket of goodies and you get to pick a cdrom from teachingheart.net. The CDroms are great I have purchased some for my classroom in the past. They have GREAT items. One of the cd's I have is the graphing cd. you can print the items to use with your students a great way to help them graph and have fun at the same time. They are VERY reasonable in prize. Check out the blog and her website.
Thanks,
Kristi

Teachigheartmom give away

I am excited to be blogging about teachingheartmom.blogspot.com. I am gearing up for back to school. Only one more week of summer left. I would love to win the gift card to help buy supplies for my students that can not afford to purchase supplies. My favorite thing about back to school is getting my classroom ready and buying more items to use. I love getting to know my students and the 1st few weeks of learning is such an exciting time. I also enjoy a tradition of taking my boys to buy their new lunchboxes and backpacks. We usually grab lunch and then head out to shop. I am looking forward to a great year and hopefully winning a gift card!
If you are a parent or teacher check out this great blog: http://teachingheartmom.blogspot.com/
Thanks,
Kristi

Baseball and Masters!!

The Lewis' had an excited week!! Our middle child Chase played in the machine pitch state baseball tournament in Rusk, TX. I was so proud of him. He made it to the state championship. We were playing a team we had blow out 17 to 5 two nights before. Our kiddos had an off night and they ended up second place. It was bittersweet. The boys were very disappointed but they played their little hearts out. I have never been more proud of my Chase. I hated to see him so sad and wanted him to realize what he and his team had accomplished. There were 13 teams that were the BEST in there districts from other parts of Texas and Chase's team the BULLDOGS got second! WOW!! Chase did a great job he played 3rd base and batted very well.

Life in a hotel for 6 days in a little town was not that exciting. Garett thought it was cool getting to stay as he called it in a big bedroom and he has asked several times if we could go back. He wants to go to the hotel to swim. I think he liked having all of us together and daddy not having to work. Zachary was a very supportive big brother and was there cheering Chase on and yelling for the team. In 2007 Zachary and Chase played on the same team and went to state together they made to like 6th place. Zachary was excited for Chase. I think it made him miss baseball a little bit but He is gearing up for fall soccer which is right around the corner. After the championship we headed to Dallas to visit my nana and papa who were babysitting our dog Bella. On Saturday my neighbor called to let me know my LONG awaited letter from Texas A&M-T had come. I was a little afraid for her to open it. I think she was a little scared to have to tell me my results as well. She was very sweet and said a little prayer for me before she opened it. I am excited to say I PASSED my comps and now officially have my MASTERS!!! Alot of hard work has finally paid off. My masters in in curriculum and a certification as a Reading Specialist. I will now be looking for a new job for the 2010 school year. I am even thinking about going back and adding the hours to be an administrator. Who knows I might change my mind. I am at least taking a year off before I start.

This past week as been a great end to our summer. I return to work in 8 days. I have been busy getting my room set back up before 22 1st grades come busting into my classroom ready to learn to read. 1st grade is an exciting year they really want to learn and most are eager to please. I have already been saying prayers for my new students God knows their personalities and mine and I believe each student is placed in my room for a reason. Either for me to learn something from them or for me to make a impact on their lives. I believe its a little of both. This school year will be a bittersweet one for me. It will be the last year my oldest Zachary will be on the same campus with me. He will be in 5th grade and heading to the middle school for 6th. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry. I am looking forward to a GREAT year!!

God Bless,

Kristi