finally back

Happy 2012 everyone!

So……it’s been almost a year since my last blog post.  Things in my life kinda spiraled out of control shortly after valentines day (personally not professionally)…and when everything finally settled down and a sense of normalcy returned, I was exhausted and adjusting to my new students.  So, blogging got put on the back burner for even longer.

I’m ready for a new year, the last one pretty much sucked for me.  I promise I’ll try to post at least a couple times a week…if anyone is still out there to read it!  Haha!

it’s been a long time

I haven’t abandoned my blog – although it may seem that way.  It’s been well over 2 months (almost 3?) since my last post and I’m well aware that many of my readers may have given up on my eventual return.  There has been a lot of upheaval in my life (both professionally and privately) and I haven’t been in the right state of mind to blog.  The most notable change at work has been the loss of my co-teacher.  Ms. Bennet quit to pursue other job opportunities and that caused a big change for both the children and myself!  As much as I’m going to miss her I wish her well!

So, now that things have calmed down in my life I plan on making time once again for blogging.  I will be teaching alone next year (which is an exciting new adventure for me) and I plan on switching up my curriculum a bit.  I plan on working on next years lesson plans this summer and prepping my room for my next class.  I’m not one who likes change, so I’m trying to stay positive and keep reminding myself that change can be a good thing!  Sorry for the long absence (I know you’ve read this before) but bear with me as I transition into the changes that have occurred in my life – I look forward to life getting back to normal!

happy easter!

total surprise!

I checked my blog e-mail yesterday (it’s different from my personal e-mail and I don’t check it as much as I should) and in it I found the following email:

“Hi,

My name is Carol from (Onlinedegrees.net). We wanted to let you know that we featured your blog in one of our recent articles on our own blog. (50 Best Blogs for Early Childhood Educators), is linked below and could be a fun way to share this announcement with your readers.

http://www.onlinedegrees.net/blog/2010/50-best-blogs-for-early-childhood-educators/

Thanks again for your time, and keep up the good work!

Carol Brown”

This came as a total shock and a great surprise!  I never, in my wildest dreams would have thought that my little blog would EVER be featured on a list like this!  So thank you!

I’ve found some familiar blogs/websites on this list and a bunch of new ones….so feel free to check it out! 🙂

to you and yours

it’s my anniversay!

It’s hard to believe that one year ago today I started my blog.  This has been a very interesting experience for me.  It’s given me the opportunity to step back from my teaching and look at it from another angle.  It’s also allowed me to reflect on what I do and how I teach in my classroom.  Having a blog has exposed me to a multitude of other preschool classrooms as well – thus giving me even more ideas a perspectives about what I do in my class.

It’s funny – I didn’t think that something as insignificant as a blog could impact my teaching so much.  I didn’t think it would cause me to look at what I did from so many different angles.  But I’m happy about that aspect!  I think it’s very important as a teacher to reflect upon what you do and see if it can be improved!

So, I look forward to seeing what continuing this blog will bring me in the future.  And I thank those of you who read what I have to say – I hope you continue to get what you need out of it!  🙂

random acts of reading

This is a post I’ve been meaning to write for about a week now.  One of the blogs I really enjoy following is My Montessori Journey – I’m not a Montessori teacher but I have incorporated many of her activities into our classroom and the children love them!  If you haven’t read her preschool blog – I recommend you check it out!

At the beginning of the month, she started a new blog, entitled Our Random Acts Of Reading.  When I first read about this, I have to admit I was greatly intrigued.  Her basic concept is the “idea of anonymously leaving children’s books with corresponding activities in public locations for people to discover”.   In this post, she explains where the idea of this blog came from and what she hopes to accomplish.  I must admit, I really admire her for creating and taking on this task.  In this post, she talks a about how to assemble and organize the book packs and activities.  She even has labels to print out of you want to participate (how cool is that?!).  🙂

I really like this idea!  I’m considering making a few book packs and leaving them for people to find!  I also want to bring this to the attention of my co-workers!  I’m a big advocate of reading to children and expanding their interest in the book into an activity!  I encourage all of you out there to check this out and, if possible, get involved!

happy 2010 everyone!

A New Year Blessing

May the road you walk be a smooth one,

May your troubles be few — if any,

May the days and years that lie ahead

Be healthy, happy, and many,

May you have friends in abundance,

May the sun shine bright around you.

May the world be a wonderful place to live,

And may God’s love always surround you.