First Day Jitters Blog Hop

We all know that feeling. It's super early on the the first day of school (or the night before), and you are double checking everything on your list (and frankly remembering all the things not on your list if you are anything like me!) and your stomach is doing somersaults. Your throat tightens slightly and you look around and realize,

"Oh goodness! It's really the first day of school!"

In less than half and hour you will be bombarded with children, parents, school supplies, and paper work.

Are you ever completely ready for the first day of school?

Never. I have done first days of school for 7 years (I missed one due to changing jobs) and I have never seen it as just another day. Have you?

I am joining up with Ashley at Fierce in Fourth to add my two cents to her First Day Jitters Blog Hop and give the top three things that make me extra jittery for the beginning of this school year.

Here are my Top Three Jitters!


ONE -  Last year I had 28 students for almost have the year and very little assistance (I teach kindergarten mind you and they still need so much support, so I saw the situation as ridiculous) and I am afraid that the same thing will happen again. Frankly, I am still burnt out from last year's crop I don't know if I will handle it as well as I did last year.

TWO -  That I will never get my centers running in a way that truly works. I had so many issues with centers last year (the kids hated them, there were so many of them and I did not have enough materials, I had to fulfill certain criteria for centers imposed by my region, etc.) Everything that could make centers complicated happened to me last year.

THREE - That I will over do everything. I love extras! I am the queen of too much when it comes to decorating, planning, and expectations. This year I am hoping to curb that instead of enhacing it.


If anyone has any advice to calm my jitters please add it below! :/ 

Don't forget to join this excellent blog hop!

My Favorite Picture Books Linky Party!!

I LOVE books. I especially LOVE picture books.  Lindsey at The Teacher Wife has a linky party related just to your MUST have picture books and since I love books sooo much I just had to add my two cents.

 Most of my favorites are right in the shelfari widget right next to my blog but I like a bunch more that I have not had the time to put up there right now.


Number 1: The Dot - I love the uplifting message this book gives about believing in your own power to create and have something worth looking at. I think this book allows children to see themselves as powerful. All just because of a little dot.

Number 2: It's a Book - With all the iPads and Nooks and Kindles and PS3s children have the uncanny ability to escape reading actual books and I love how this pokes fun at that fact while also creating the idea that books are interesting and more exciting than any handheld electronic device (though I am also guilty of loving some of these devices abotu as much as the kids ;).

Number 3: You're Finally Here! - This book is such a great beginning to the day or the school year and makes kids as excited to be there as you are. Fell in love with it when I first read it.

 

Number 4: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus - I have read this book so many times that I have it memorized but no matter how many times I read it I still love it. My kiddos this year loved it so much that for some it was the only book they learned to read that year. It's also great for persuasive writing or teaching arguments.

Number 5: Elemenopee - This maybe the most appropriate book on this list for kindergarten since it focuses on the alphabet. It is my favorite alphabet book and it is a pop-up book! It teaches my little ones the importance of not rushing through the alphabet and skipping over L, M, N, O and P. Love the illustrations and of course the pop-ups!!

I could continue to add books but then I would never get started with any of my projects for the day. I <3 Books!