End-of-the-Summer-is-Upon-Us Blues

So last night when I could NOT sleep, I created the inevitable before summer is over to-do list.  This year I gave it a sassy (and in my opinion: creative) title... "End of the Summer Blues".  As I brainstormed and pondered my blues grew deeper... longer... deeper... to the point that creating said list prevented me from sleeping peacefully.  After a wonderful Sunday - nothing has been crossed off!  

*Sidenote: I am a crosser-offer as opposed to a checker.  There is more pride in crossing it ALL out than a check mark.*  After church and lunch with the family, my mom and I took a nap and then hit the road to run some errands.  Our goal?  Curtains for my orphan room, master bedroom and bathroom.  End of the day result?  Curtains for my orphan room, master bedroom ordered! and bathroom trim was picked out!  Now I just need to officially decide on the design so my fabulous mother can sew it!  Hopefully by the end of the week I will have my orphan room finished (shelves hung and filled, accent wall color decided and painted, curtains hung and desk repainted).  Maybe?  Life will just feel so good if things in the house are settled and cleaned up once I go back to my classroom.  As of now, that day will be August 1 (ahhhhhhhh)!  The next week my church is having an amazing Creative Arts Camp and I will be helping teach all week.  The week after that is staff development... then.... the FIRST DAY!  Holy.  Smokes.

My classroom theme this year is candy shoppe/sweet shoppe.  I haven't quite decided my actual title.  I am working on it!  I do have adorable (and inexpensive) decorations that I have purchased that I will be setting up the week of the 1st.  I'll share pictures of my purchases and ideas as they progress.  Apparently "Candy Shoppe/Sweet Shoppe Classroom Theme" doesn't bring up many results via Google.  Helpful for bulletin board ideas... just not what I'm wanting!  I'm steering clear of Candyland so that has limited me a little bit too.  We will see how it goes!  I have faith it will come together nicely with the help of my mom and some friends & co-workers.

Adios bloggers! :)

<>< Laura - ilovesignlanguage

End of the First Day Certificate

Workstation Gum Machines 

(colored gum balls will "roll out" daily to tell each student where they are going during workstation time.

Hello Bloggin' World!

Hello Blogging World!
My name is Laura and I am a Deaf Education teacher.  I have become quite obsessed with blogs recently and incredibly grateful for the amazing ones that are out there!  I have found advice, ideas, and some similar frustrations with different situations in the classroom/education world.  Okay.  I feel like I am getting ahead of myself......

I am about to begin my third year of teaching (seriously?!?!... when did I become a grown up?!?!?) and have yet to consistently teach the same grade level year-to-year.  Why you might ask?  Deaf Ed classrooms often combine grade levels due to the smaller class sizes.  I have had some of the same students since starting teaching and will have ONE that has been in my class from the beginning and TWO from last year.

NOW!  Last year I taught kindergarten.... and LOVED IT (pre-k was my first year)!!!!  I mean I really, really loved it!  This coming August I will have first and second grade (and a 3 year old).  SO!  I have been blog-stalking some of you first and second grade bloggers out there... THANK YOU FOR BEING AMAZING!  As I was thinking about all of the adaptations I am making with "hearing" curriculum and ideas, I started to think that it would be super amazing if a couple of these blogs were Deaf Ed teachers.  Such blogs do not exist (that I can find).  If you know of one... help a homey out! :)

As I figure out the specifics and the focus/direction of my blog.... I will be updating!  I am currently finishing up organizing my "orphan room" at my house.  Once it is officially a work space (I may have to change it's nickname to show the room a little more love), I will be able to go full speed ahead with school documents and decorations to make as the BIG DAY approaches.... but we shall take things one at a time!!

Adios, bloggers!  Are you a stalker like me?!  ;-)

<>< Laura - iLOVEsignlanguage