PLC Conference

Professional Learning Communities have been a goal for our staff for a few years now. I can honestly say I don't feel like 'goal' is the right term anymore. We are on our way. I now consider PLC's a work in progress in our building.

Curt, my principal:

Ken, second grade teacher, and extraordinary trouble maker:

Diana, my brilliant teaching partner:

And myself:

went to Porland to attend a conference on PLC's. The first night there we went to The Kennedy School for dinner.

The burgers, beer and tater tots were delicious.

At the conference we learned a lot. (Including how NOT to open soda during presentations.) Now we all feel ready to get a fast start on our work in progress next year.

Karo Syrup Paintings...

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

I printed pictures of bricks off the internet and then laminated them.
I can use them again & again & again....

We painted the candle holders for our mantel with corn syrup and food coloring on foil.
They look just like stained glass.

For gift exchange the kids will each bring in 23 small items (stickers, bookmarks, etc) and then the elves will fill our stockings. If a student forgets, it is no big deal, none of the kids will take the time to count items. I will also get a supply of small items that I can add to the mix.

This little light of mine...
I'm gonna let it shine...
This little light of mine...
I'm gonna let it shine...
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
All the time!

The Best Lunch Ever...

A little guy in my first grade classroom was headed out to recess with his lunch in hand. Quickly about 20 other classmates told on him... I mean reminded him that his lunch was supposed to go in the lunch bucket.

I met him at the door and told him I would put his sack into the lunch bucket and he could pick it up in the cafeteria.

I don't know what made me peek into his lunch, but I did, and I could not believe my eyes!

His ENTIRE lunch consisted of one Diet Coke and 18 large marshmallows. Go figure.

Being the "mean" teacher I am, I told him he would need to purchase a hot lunch and that I would put his "snack" into his backpack for an after school snack.

9-9-09

As a 10 year veteran, but first year, first-grade teacher I was DELIGHTED a week ago to see this date on my plan book. It meant that for an entire day I could plan '9' activities. So we came up with 9 ways we played with 9's at the end of the day.

1. Sang 9 songs...
2. Stuck 9 stickers on a nine inch piece of paper...
3. Sat quiet for 9 seconds (and not one second longer)...
4. Wrote '9 or nine' for 9 minutes quietly (my favorite)...
5. Made 9 rhymes (they didn't get 'wine' but did get Frankenstein-wow)...
6. Fact families of 9...
7. Read Comet's Nine Lives by Jan Brett...
8. Read Girl Wonder: A Baseball Story in Nine Innings by Deborah Hopkinson...
9. Had a 9 min. recess (oops...should have be 15, but I can't get my schedule down)

Another bit of interest for the day was the lead story in the EO, our local newspaper. Yep, that is yours truly. Now, in the honor of 9-9-09 may I share these thoughts:

1. Thank you for leaving out the nose picking boy.
2. Thank you for not mentioning the farting that was taking place.
3. Thank you for not showing my roots that got colored/covered today.
4. Thank you for taking time to show a bit of extra effort we all do in education.
5. Thank you for sharing that we do our best to be resourceful.
6. Thank you for an article not about a teacher having sex with her students.
7. Mental note: Starch is better than a quick iron job.
   
8. Next time, let's not take the picture at that angle, please.
9. Next time, could you leave out the 'vultures on roadkill' comment?

And my final, too good to leave out Reagan-ism, overheard by dad as she and Grace were circling the catalogs for Christmas, (yes, already.)

Grace: I want this.
Reagan: I want this.
Grace: I want this.
Reagan: I want this - oh and this too. Because you know Grace, when Taryn moves out we are going to have a lot more room, and then Mom and Dad can spend all their money on us!

Oh, so that's how that works!

Mark your calendars everyone...the next time we can have this much fun on a school day will be 11-11-11. I can hardly wait! (It is a Friday, BTW)

First Grade

I have spent countless hours the past few weeks getting ready for my new adventures in teaching first grade. Here is a glimpse inside my classroom.

We will start with a caterpillar/butterfly/Eric Carle unit

My boards are cute, but they don't hold a candle to Mrs. Z.
She's untouchable.

She painted her own paper and free-hand cuts her letters.



I love-love the sun!

This shiny, organized, *empty* classroom gives me peace just like when I look at a sleeping child.



Tranquil, sweet, perfect, full of hope!

The top posters were created by the talented Queen Renee. I was delighted when she offered her services. I hope she does not regret opening that can of worms. The best part of Renee coming wasn't the posters, even though they are fantastic. While we were chit-chatting I mentioned being from Klamath Falls. She smiled and told me she was born there. Then we started the 'where did your family live, how long were you there, what schools did you attend' routine, when she stated, "My mom went to school in Bonanza."

My grandma was the sixth grade teacher in Bonanza forever. She was *only* a sixth grade teacher too. She never got a wild hair and decided she needed a change. She was a smart cookie.

It only took a quick phone call for Renee to confirm that her mom was a student in my grandma's classroom. It warmed my heart. It was so unlikely, unexpected for my grandma to show up today. Just like always, she has a knack for knowing when I need a little nudge. I'm going to be just fine in my new grade. There will be bumps, but I'll just pull myself up, dust myself off and try again. I know she would be tickled to see me teach. She's been gone for five years. Missing her sneaks up on me...today was one of those days, but in a good way!


************

Some things should never come out of the closet.

I want to keep it real here. No false illusions. This is my closet, it houses all that are NOT right in the world. Yes, things fall on me when I open this closet. Yes, this was on the to-do list.
Someday! The closet is closely related to the area 'behind my counter'.
I did not get a shot of that, but you get the idea.

This is what I brought home with me. I have vowed to spend the day at home on Sunday. I will make good on that, however some time needs to be spent reading teachers guides or I may be in big trouble come about Wednesday.

First Grade : Learning : Growing : Changing

I can't wait!

Dear Teacher,

I need to remember this ...

Even though I am a teacher and a mom, the teacher in me sometimes forgets what the mom in me knows!

Vodka Mom did a guest post here and I will read it again and again this year. I will also put it in the staff room.

Relay for Life

In honor of our friend Walt Johnson, the Sokoloski family hit the track on a beautiful summer's evening to do our part to Fight for a Cure! We were not alone in our support of Walt on the Buckaroo Track.

Team Sokoloski

Walt Johnson Cuts:

Reagan's little legs got tired.

Mine did too:

(How come he looks like he is in pain?)

Another smiling supporter:

Taryn can keep up with Marc's pace backwards!

Walt's lit Luminary:

Let's all remember PREVENTION:

Gal's that includes monthly self exams and annual pap smears! Boys - don't be lame...cough it up! It only takes a moment.

Walt:

I expect you on that track next year in your purple SURVIVOR shirt.

Maybe you can kick Marc's pace into high gear.

TEAM WASHINGTON WILDCATS!

Aside from being a proud member of TEAM JOHNSON, I was walking in support of all the wonderful FIGHTERS & SURVIVORS at Washington Elementary. You ladies are tough! You inspire me with your amazing strength and determination to never give up the fight!

Mrs. Sokoloski Portraits

Mrs. Sokoloski as seen by her third grade students.

Can you say:

• scary
• who needs braces, get a nose job?
• nice wrinkles

A penny thought: I know I look scary in many of these pictures. This was my favorite art project all year. Can you tell which students liked me...and which didn't? I can. I can see each little critter in my head by looking at how they SAW me this year. I do believe I probably looked this scary at times. I definitely had my share of 'days' this year. BUT I MADE IT...AND...I STILL LOVE TEACHING.