First Day of School Time Capsule

I have been trying to be a little bit proactive with my planning, especially in regards to the first few days. I hear (from my practicum teachers) that the first week of school is usually the hardest week to plan for. Therefore, I am attempting to start my career off on the right foot by exploring different options for the first week of school.

Here is an idea that I have LOVED so far and thought I would share, not only for you all to read and enjoy, but also so that I hold myself accountable. 

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TIME CAPSULE

Although I do believe that I will be in Year 5 when I get to England, I am not quite 100% sure. I wanted to make sure that I planned activities that would be easy enough to make accommodations for a younger or older year to accomplish.

I also wanted an activity that would great for classroom community (and that I could read to get to know the students a little bit better).

On the first day of school I will have the students fill out a worksheet about themselves in the present. It will give me the opportunity to assess their writing abilities and styles (by having them write a message to themselves on the back of the paper. 

Here is a rough idea of what I am thinking I will ask the students to put in the capsule:

I will, of course, have to do some more accommodations for ELL (English Language Learners) perhaps adding in pictures and such, but I just wanted to get a copy of this up. 

As for the time capsule itself, I plan on using an old Pringles container and use Mod Podge and scrapbook paper to decorate it (of course I will seal it with pretty tape). Special Thank-You to "All Things Crafty"  for teaching me how to decorate Pringles containers! 

Let me know what you think and if I can improve in any way!

B.

A Year of Many Firsts

Hello,

That's right. I am a teacher. After all of these years, I can finally say that. It's overwhelming and emotional.With that being said, there were many people who tried to discourage me from reaching my goals. I had people say different things starting with "teaching is the lazy way out" extending all the way to "do something else, you'll never get a teaching job." Even after all of these people had told me it was impossible to get a job, I pursued my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. The people that insisted I would not get a job didn't get much of a rise out of me. Instead I just looked at them, smiled and politely said "anyone who wants to become a teacher WILL become a teacher. I will do whatever it takes to get myself a classroom... just watch." They still had their doubts but I seriously believe that if a person has the true heart of a teacher then s/he will find a way. No matter what.

Needless to say (as you can see by the title of my blog) I did get a job. One week after I graduated I secured a job in the UK. I will be 22 years old with my own classroom. In just a few months I will be doing what all the nay-sayers insisted I wouldn't be able to do for 10-15 years. TAKE THAT.HOWEVER, the intensity of my hardcore determination to prove EVERYONE wrong has blinded me from what is actually about to happen. I now find myself freaking out a little bit trying to figure out what to plan. My contract will be sent to me in the next few days so I will know for sure which grade (or year, as they call it in the UK) I will be teaching which I think will ease my mind a little bit!

For now, I am enjoying my time looking through blogs from fellow teachers to decide how to organize my classroom and essentially how to organize my LIFE.

This is going to be an adventure.

B.