Making progress!!

It has been days since my last post...sorry about that! Between all of my prep at school and holding a rummage sale for two days last week, I had nothing left. Thankfully the rummage sale went off without a hitch and I made some decent money in the process!! (Always a good thing...I've had sales where I've made nothing...and that is depressing!)
I have been promising pictures, so here are a few of my set up to start the year. 

And I apologize the last picture is sideways...I have it saved as an vertical image, and it still shows up on here as it being sideways. When I learn how to switch that, I will...but for now I guess you will have to just tip your head. 

Tomorrow is orientation for the families. I am a little LOT nervous! I am sure it will go just fine...but I am not one to get up in front of adults, so this is a bit terrifying! I am super excited to meet all of my littles for the year! It is going to be so much fun! 

Since I last posted, we've lost both 4 yr. old families to the small class size and neither wanted to combine with the 3's. So we were forced to close our 4k program this year (unless we end up with a bunch of families who want back in...maybe the school district's program won't be what they expected...you never know!!) I am still optomistic that this year will be a great one!  

I better get back to planning for tomorrow!

Tick Tock

As the last minutes of today tick away, I'm reminded that in 2 weeks I will be starting my first day as a preschool teacher. I am SO nervous! And yet, I am super excited at the same time. Preschool is a fun age and the learning will happen along the way. A coworker of mine once told me--"Children will learn in spite of you!" That's the best teaching advice I have ever been given! It's comforting to know that even though I am not (nor will I ever be) a perfect teacher, kids will learn something from me each and every day. This is especially comforting as I look at my preschool class list...no matter what I do, right or wrong, those kids are going to grow and learn and succeed in my classroom. Now obviously, this doesn't mean I can just show up and sit back each day...I have A LOT of learning to do myself...but it does take the stress off a little bit. 

Today I created my daily schedule. Now, whether or not it will stay the same, I am not sure...we have a preschool board meeting on Thursday night. This will be very helpful...we are going to decide what to do with our preschool for the year. Our biggest dilemma is that the area school district opened "free" 4k this year. So our 4 year old program is struggling big time! We have 2 four year olds enrolled as of now. Our 3 year old program is doing well. We are capped at 10 kids and do not currently have a waiting list. In past years, they have done 2 sessions of 3's and one session of 4's. We are going to be working out what will happen to the 4's session...since there are only 2 of them, I don't see it being a good use of their $ to pay me to be there 3 days a week (3 hours each day) for 2 kids. But I guess we will see what the preschool board has to say on Thursday. If you ask me, I think we need to do combined 3's and 4's. It just makes sense at this point. 

I don't have much for progress pictures yet...I am trying to figure out the crazy laminating machine...it has a LOCK on it, and no one knows where the key is...hopefully tomorrow that will be fixed! As soon as I finish the walls and my laminating, I will be posting some more pictures! 

The "teacher store"

My favorite part of being a teacher.....the TEACHER STORE!!! I could get lost in that store for literally HOURS! I picked up a few items for my classroom today...it's a totally different experience shopping for preschool as opposed to 1st and 2nd grade. I don't need reproducible maps anymore (sad face...I LOVE maps!). Even though there is lots I passed by today...there is a LOT of things for preschool. It's just a matter of figuring out how I will incorporate them. And I have a bunch of new ideas of items to create myself.

One of the best websites I have ever come across as a teacher, is www.teacherspayteachers.com or as I like to call it...TpT. It's all product made by teachers, for teachers. It is just as bad for me as the "teacher store." I can spend hours looking at items for my classroom. And the best part...they have tons of FREEBIES! I don't know about you...but I can't pass up freebies. (That's probably why I have a storage shed full of stuff...hehe!) For all of you who have never been to TpT...there's a button on the right side of this page that will take you directly to my store. Now, I haven't been real faithful in creating materials but that is about to change. I have a bit more time on my hands this school year with which to create lots more materials. I am not sure what ages I will be working on in the near future. My current store is a series of products that I created for my personal use and decided to attempt to sell. To all of you overachieving teachers out there--sell your work! I have not spent tons of time creating my products and have made over $200 to date...without any extra effort! Imagine what I could do when I put my mind to creating new material!! 

I am eager to get my classroom set up so I can share it with you all here! I did some more work but it isn't there yet...definitely not picture worthy! Also, I have to learn how to use the lamination machine here. :( I was a pro with the one at my old school...but here's to learning something new! 

That is all for today...but I wanted to pop in and leave a note. It takes 17 days (or something like that!) to build a habit so I am making myself do this every day so I don't get lazy! 

Day 1

Ok, as I said earlier...today was my first day as the teacher/director of PRESCHOOL! (I promise...I'll stop writing it in caps as soon as I'm used to saying it...hehe)
I got my keys and got right to work. Here are my before pictures--most of which are taken from my desk.

I am almost done rearranging everything...and I will post pictures as soon as I am done with that! I am SO excited--my brain is swimming. I've got an ever lengthening to do list running through my head...things I need to buy, things I need to make, things I need to dig out of our storage unit....the list goes on. 

I guess that's all for today...back at it again tomorrow (as well as get ready for a rummage sale next week...pricing=yuck!). 

New Adventures!

Here I am...starting my job as a preschool teacher and director at a small Lutheran church. They do not have a full school, just a 3 yr. old and 4 yr. old preschool. How'd I get here? Well, I graduated from "teacher school" in 2009. I did not have a job initially and worked as a Bridal Consultant for 1 year (& LOVED it!!). In 2010, I received my very first teaching job--Kindergarten-2nd grade was the job description, again-a small Lutheran school. I ended up with 1st and 2nd grade that year. The 2011-2012 school year brought me my 1st and 2nd graders, as well as Kindergarten in the AM's. That was a challenge. And this past year, I was back to my 1st and 2nd graders. In July of this year, my husband, Jon, was offered a position at another store. He is a zone supervisor for Gander Mountain--need camping gear??? Go see him :) So as a result of my husband's job change, mine also changed...we moved 4 states over, back to Wisconsin--our true home. (We both were born and raised here.) 

Now that the "get to know me" portion is complete, if you are still reading....THANK YOU! I am excited to begin my new adventure in PRESCHOOL! Still a little nervous :/ Considering I've never had a class that couldn't read (or at least sort of read...), I'm VERY nervous to go to a group that may not even know their letters. As I start this adventure, I decided to become a  "blogger" so I can see my progress, as well as theirs! So as I learn the blogging world, cut me a little slack :) I am hoping to get into my classroom in the next few days and figure out what I am working with. I will post pictures soon! 

Until next time, blog world--Sarah