HAPPY 100th DAY!

It's so hard to believe that we've already been in school 100 days this year! The 100th day of school is always a bitter-sweet day for me.  I love it because the kids get SO into it and the days a JAM PACKED with super fun activities...but it's always a reminder that I've only got 80 more days with my kiddos before I have to send them on.  Today, was no different.  We began the day with a first grade assembly to celebrate.  We had some special visitors make appearances, one you will see below.  Our head custodian and assisstant principals dressed up as the number 100 (super hero style, of course).  I didn't get a picture of them, but it was SO good! Then, Dr. Reavis transformed into a magician and performed a magic trick by turning 100 pennies into a $1.  I've never heard so many giggly 1st graders! They LOVED it!  Next, Mrs. Riddle read a story about teaching a dog to say 100 words.  We ended the celebration with a 100th day cake where all the students blew out 100 candles.  It's always a happy day when you have cake for breakfast :)

Waiting for the assembly to begin!

Enjoying the cake and juice for breakfast!

...and THE CAKE!

Next, we came back to the classroom and continued the fun! The kids completed 100th day rotations and had a BLAST! Each teacher in first grade had an estimation activity outside her door, so we walked up and down the first grade hall to complete each one. After lunch, one of our sweet Mamas came and read a 100th day book, then we made fruit-loop necklaces with 100 fruit loops.  My classroom still smells "fruity!"

It was a FUN day for everyone in Room 106!  We've had a GREAT 100 days so far and I'm excited for 80 more!!!

M&M Graphing and Buddy Reading

For the past week and a half we've been working on our "Data Unit."  To reward their hard work we had a fun day of M&M Graphing.  They LOVED it! 

Nothing makes me happier than listening to my sweet kids read to each other.  It really is music to my ears :) "Buddy Reading" is a very popular time in Room 106.

New Year, New Blog!

I can honestly say that I am SOOO embarrassed to be writing this post, but I'm going to just rip off the band-aid and make it quick. Confession: I have not been good about blogging this year.  I have taken lots of pictures this year and LOVED having my sweet kiddos, but actually uploading posts...not to successful.  Needless to say, my New Year's resolution is to post at least 1 blog per week (yes, I know I already missed a week, yikes!) So here is my post for this week, ENJOY!

Here are some pictures from our "Contraction Surgery" we had last week.  This is always one of my favorite lessons to teach because the kids LOVE it.  I have to say my favorite part was when I over heard some of the students communicating by saying "Dr. ________ (last name) how do you think we should fix our contraction?" I had to hold back tears I was so happy!

First, everyone got their "patient."

Next, we had to "prep" for surgery.  This is always the best part :)

...and the final project! 

It was such a fun day to be in first grade!!!  We've been talking about contractions again this week and I've heard so many references to our surgery :)

Recess Fun!

Last week, recess was a hit or miss thing due to all the rain.  We went outside early one day (trying to beat the rain) and our class was the only class outside.  I made the kids pause for a photo shoot before they could go play...I was NOT the popular person on the playground that day :)  I was also able to get some cute shots of the kids having fun.  Enjoy!

The whole "crew"

and of course a silly face :-P

 searching for sharks teeth!

 recess fun :)

First Day of School

Well...we all survived!  The first day is always the longest and hardest day of the year, but it's always so special at the same time.  First we spent our morning unpacking, practicing morning routines, and learning all about each other.

My favorite activity that we did (and the only one I managed to snap some pictures of) was our "First Day Jitters" activity.  We began the lesson by reading First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg. I always love watching the kids reactions when they realize at the end of the story that the main character is a teacher.  It's just one of those precious moments to watch a child realize that teachers are nervous the night before school too!  Below are some of the pictures that I managed to snap during all the chaos that is known as the first day of school.

 Oh...the jitter juice fun!

It was SO funny listening to them while they were drinking their jitter juice that was supposed to take care of those jitters in their tummies.  They were too exicted!  I think everybody was able to "feel the jitters going away." :)

It was a great first day and I'm excited for day 2! Now it's time for this tired teacher to get some sleep so I can do it all over again tomorrow!

WHEW, Finished! A Classroom Tour...

Well after lots and LOTS of work in my classroom, I think I can finally say I'm done!  All the desks are set-up, books leveled, and posters hung on the wall.  Scroll below for a tour of our NEW room!

This is the view from the door.  In 72 hours there will be lots of busy, energetic, and fun children ready to tave over!

These are their "Meet the Teacher" packets with lots and lots of information inside.

This is our reading corner.  In the colorful buckets are i-pod shuffle listening centers.  Kiddos can also grab a buddy (one of the stuffed animals) to listen to their awesome reading.

This is our back counter, please excuse the "Meet the Teacher" mess all over it.  This is where my sweet kids will choose their lunch each day.  There is also a "Data Center" that we will update throughout the year.

This spot is where we will post our Math Vocabulary and spend lots of time on the computers.  There are also fun math games in the colorful drawers.

This is the writing center.  Here my kiddos will have a chance to practice their writing skills each day.

(Again: excuse the "Meet the Teacher" mess!)

On this back wall I will showcase the students work and post reading word wall words.  There are also leveled book baskets that the kiddos will shop in each week to pick out their books.

This is my desk

Calendar, Schedule, and Daily Helper board

Our classroom rules so that we can play and learn safely

Our "Hollywood" themed clip chart.  I'm sure everyone will always be "On the Red Carpet" this year :)

So that's our classroom this year.  I just can't wait to meet my new "firsties" this afternoon!!!

Bye, Bye Summer...

Let's re-hash what Miss Waldrop has been up to this summer...

June: 

* Packed up and moved my classroom from my old school to my new school

* Celebrated another birthday and being another year wiser :)

* Had major sinus surgery <-- NO FUN!

* Started my Master's Degree in Classroom Leadership

July:

* Took 9 hours of summer school...bleh!

* Enjoyed some time at Hilton Head with my family

* Unpacked, reorganized, reorganized again, and finally set up my NEW classroom! :) :) :)

I don't know if my other teacher friends can relate, but at this time of the year I start to get really ANTSY! I spend way too much time in my classroom and when I'm not in my classroom I'm usually thinking about what I want to be doing in my classroom.  I also start to think about my new darlings that will be in my classroom within a couple of weeks! TALK ABOUT EXCITING!!! This year is especially exciting because not only will I get another group of fabulous firsties but I will be at a new school too! I wonder if they are as excited about coming back to school as I am?

Promise to post pictures of my new classroom soon! 15 days until the first day of school! EEEEEK!!! :-D

Random Pictures

There is no rhyme or reason to these next few pictures, but I thought that they were too cute not to share!  I am hoping to get better about taking pictures and actually posting blogs more than once a month when we get our new computers this week! YAY - I just can't begin to tell you how excited I am!!! :) :) :)

Buddy Reading their weekly story

"Scoop and Sort" game to practice regrouping ones to the tens place

Marshmallow Math to show numbers in the hundreds, tens, and ones places

I am ashamed to say that I only have 2 pictures from Valentine's Day activities :(  Below is a picture of one of my sweet students making her "Kiss-A-Gram."  We made kiss-a-grams (look-a-likes to Hershey Kisses) for the special people in our lives.

We made these "love bugs" that hung from the ceiling during the month of February