This week started off my marathon of Professional Development workshops. I literally have something to do/somewhere to be every day before school starts. I know a lot of y'all are in the same boat. I am absolutely thrilled to be given so many opportunities to advance my knowledge in a variety of areas before I even step foot into my first day of teaching!!

Right now, I'm in a two week MSP Project workshop that focuses on 8th grade math activities that correspond with the CCSSs we will be implementing. I have to admit, it was pretty surprising to see the variety of knowledge the teachers have in terms of technology. I understand now how blessed I am to be a young teacher who grew up in a school district that incorporated technology when it became available as well as attending a university that put a high focus on technology integration in all aspects of life. 

On a side note, our school times have been changed: we start at 7:10 and end at 2:50. This is going to take A LOT of getting used to. And working a part time job for at least the first 1.5 months (5-9 pm) is not going to make it any easier. If I can do this though, I believe that the rest of the year will seem like nothing!

Started moving some things into my classroom yesterday. More like dump and run it seemed lol. Actually got my new (to me) podium in the room today thanks to my amazing parents and it looks GREAT! Before and after pics below:

BEFORE

 AFTER 

I am a HUGE fan of free things and I think this podium is one of the best pieces I've ever been given!!!!!! So excited about it and the bright colors I'm using all over my room!

The 10 drawer rolling cart was bought at Office Depot and is where students will turn in their assignments for me to grade (tests, activities, etc.). Each class will have a designated drawer that will be labeled (whenever I have the time).

Well, it's bedtime for this girl! Up and at 'em bright and early tomorrow.

Y'all Enjoy!

Ok so I just need to start this post of with...YYYAAAAYYY!!!! Today was definitely a great day! After my part time job calling to tell me that I didn't have to come in, mom and I decided to hit the town and try to knock some of my items off my "To Get" list. And boy did we get some stuff!!

Before I graduated, we ordered a poster set from NCTM. Well, today became laminating day for those intriguing gems! They look amazing and I really hope my students enjoy them since they are not the typical boring math posters. Below are pictures of the finished products :)

I cannot begin to describe how much I love them!!!!

For my "Bearkit 411" bulletin board, I found these 2 borders (I'm not sure which I'll be using) and these adorable paw prints. I feel like this part of my room is coming together nicely!

For my "Look WHO's Top 5 for 5" I plan to use these cute owls (not too many so it doesn't look kiddie). I love these colors though and with the bookshelf I intend to put on the back wall, the bright colors will POP. The adorable pennant borders will be used on my Word Wall bulletin board to pull all of the bright colors from my Top 5 for 5 area, along with the few other owl items I have, together. The little frames will be used to house the picture of each student who goes on the Top 5 for 5 wall. I think it will make a really cute border around each student's face and will help to make them feel even more special.

The blank poster below will have my classroom rules written on it. After rummaging through all of the elementary school type posters, I finally found something I can use and look how awesome! Gotta love dear Aunt Sally!! And Days of the Week binder clips?? Hello organization when running copies!!!

Overall.....IT WAS AN AMAZING DAY!!!

Y'all Enjoy

So, living in a college town post-graduation has it's ups and downs. Right now, the number of people I know in town is slightly limited due to everyone being at home/internships during the summer. I am so ready for the university to start classes again in the fall so some of my good friends who are a year behind me, and graduate in May, will be back.

On a side note, I will not sign my new hire paperwork until August and this kinda bothers me. I know I have the position but it doesn't seem set in stone yet. I am a worry wart and things like this keep me up at night because I always think of the worst case scenario...each and every time. Anyone else do that?

One thing, and the only thing so far, that I am looking forward to this summer is a workshop in late July/early August. It's given by the Summer Institute and will focus on 8th grade math Common Core activities. I am so excited to learn things that I can implement in my lessons! Another plus is that it will be led by one of my old college math professors! Super exciting!!

Does anyone else feel like they are not getting anywhere with planning for the upcoming year. I look around at all these blogs that I follow and see so many things being decorated/made/decided on. I feel like I am stuck in a rut with no ideas. It would probably help to have an actual curriculum...but that hasn't happened yet. Tips please!!!!

What all do I need to figure out? What should I be making? What should I be focusing on? Can you tell I am a little stressed about this?!?

I know that things will fall together but I am trying to limit the amount of stress I'll be experiencing when school starts because, get this, I'll still have to be working at least 1 part time job for the first couple months. Joy!

Y'all Enjoy!

Ms. McCown

The Summer Before

This is the summer before my first year of teaching. As many of you may know, and may even be experiencing right now, I am excited, anxious, stressed, and nervous...all at the same time. There is so much to do that I find myself daydreaming about bulletin board ideas and what's the first thing you say on the first day of school (suggestions would be nice).

Let me introduce myself. My name is Erin McCown and I graduated this May from Louisiana Tech University with a B.S. degree in 6-12 grade Mathematics Education (with a second concentration in Physics). It's a mouth full but I am so excited!!! I want to show students how math is something to be loved, not feared.

So far this summer, I have bought some teaching supplies as well as classroom decor, decided on how I want to decorate one of my 2 bulletin boards, decided on how to incorporate the owl items I have bought, decided on how I want my Top 5 for 5 wall to look, and decided on how I want to check homework. I feel like I've done a good bit of brainstorming but then I worry because I have not put much into motion. I am so ready to be able to start moving into my classroom...hopefully then things will start rolling!!