'Twas the Night Before The First Day of School

Well, here goes nothing. Sitting here writing my first blog, or post, or whatever you wanna call this thing (unless you count those silly sample blogs we made in ed tech classes in college), the night before the 1st day of school and a million things are running through my head. Wow! I cannot believe what a difference a year makes! Seems like just yesterday, I was laying in bed the night before the first day, completely sick to my stomach. I was so nervous, yet extremely excited at the same time. I didn't have a clue what my first year was going to be like, especially with 7th graders instead of my usual high school kids. Then came year 1, faced with tons of challenges and according to veteran teachers, the toughest group of kids they have seen in years. But hey, I'm here now, so I obviously made it through, and I can say that my only emotion is utter excitement.  I'm not nervous at all, and my head is about to explode with all these new ideas I have been finding this summer. My classroom is all decorated in my favorite colors (bright blue and neon green) and I have visions of INBs and foldables dancing in my head!! I took an amazing class called Hands on Math this summer, which completely changed how I am going to teach concepts to my little 7th grade chickadees. My collection of manipulatives has grown exponentially in the past few weeks and I can't wait to have my kids use them! I got my kids to pass the OAA last year and they met AYP and then some, I adore my intervention specialist, I have a fantastic group of 7th grade teachers to work with, the kids seeemed awesome at open house last night (one even came bearing cookies!!), and at the moment, I have no papers to grade! Feeling pretty lucky with my life at the moment! :)

~Q.E.D.