After about thirty applications, I interviewed for a job in APS two days before the school year began. The interview went well. The principal submitted my name to HR, then found out the next morning that APS was on a hiring freeze. She decided to put me in as a long-term substitute for the first four weeks of school in the class I had interviewed for. It was such a blessing to be starting off the school year, with promising prospects for a full time job. At the end of the first week, HR called, on a Saturday, to hire me.
I am a happily hired 5th grade teacher at Governor Bent Elementary School. (My name is even on the website now. :)
What a ride the first two weeks of the semester brought. Now we are in the middle of our sixth week of school. I have 23 awesome students, who make me smile each day as we learn together. I am getting better at keeping a routine, staying organized and being confident while teaching. The learning process will never end and I LOVE this journey as it begins.
Some pictures of my classroom for curious minds...
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| Classroom Culture Quilt - Students were asked to make a picture describing their culture and family. Many students made flags of their heritage country. Below the quilt are some of our leveled book baskets and the shelves with our reading and math textbooks. |
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| Classroom Word Wall. Thanks Mom for helping get my headers together! Below the word wall are more leveled book baskets and my large blue book shelf with math manipulatives. |
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| Behavior chart and CAFE reading board. My beautiful red chair as well, thanks Mom and Dad! |
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| The front of my room. To the left of the picture is a sink, to the right, my desk and a window. |
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| Door to the classroom, covered with Miss Gnerich's Super Star students. To the right of the fire extinguisher is the Mail Box job chart, below are the individual book boxes for my students when they Read to Self and Read to Someone. |
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| My desk...looking mostly organized. :) Some days it looks much better but often it is quite messy...still a work in progress. |
Graduate school is going well too. I am taking one online class and spend a little time every couple of days doing my own homework.
I am also beading like a crazy person...soon to be knitting like a machine again too. My new favorite piece...
Love
Julie
