Thank You

Thank you for all of your comments and private emails. I know most of you liked number 1. I was going to use it, but then my new Director told me that she is spending thousands of dollars to build an outside classroom. She is paying for the staff to have Gardening Professional Development. She has worms and a compost for inside the classes and is putting plants and live animals everywhere.

After taking a tour of the classrooms, I see many classes have tree stumps for circle area to sit on. I just knew what I had to do. I had to make an executive decision. I figure most of my pictures will be of a nature theme anyway, so, as some of you liked Buggalicious, I went with that one!

It isn't totally done yet, but it is coming along. If any of you know how to expand the middle section so my sidebar is not cut off, please share.

Also, I love comments, so please let me know what you think so far. I will be adding more clipart soon too.

Possibly Moving Up

Ok, so when I originally went on my first job interview in forever, I expressed an interest in working with the 4's and 5's that will be going off to kindergarten the following year. However, when the Director got back to me, she mentioned that she was overloaded with 2 year olds and wondered if I would be willing to take on that age leveled class. It would be 3 days a week and I would be a co-teacher with a veteran teacher at this preschool.

Today I went in to meet with my possible co-teacher placement buddy. The Director wanted to see if we felt we could work together. After we met for awhile, the Director and I were talking. She was hoping I would consider teaching 5 days a week instead of just 3. Then she told me that they have had such an influx of kids registering that they have an opening in the 4 year old class as a co-teacher with a newbie teacher (only 1 year experience). I told her that I would be willing to work 5 days a week if I can work with the 4's or I need to stick with 3 days a week to work with the 2's (let's face it, 2's are draining. Three days are enough!)

It looks like I will probably get to work with the 4's. YAY!! So excited. Hope to be able to show you my classroom next week after they assign me one!

Linky Must Have Picture Books

There are just so many books I love. Here are my top 5:

1.  Of course The Giving Tree: by Shel Silverstein. A classic tender story of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.

2.    Strega Nona.  In his Caldecott Honor book, Tomie dePaolo tells the story of Strega Nona, who is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian town. When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

3.    I Like Me! is a great book by Nancy Carlson. It teaches kids to feel good about themselves. We can all find something that we like about ourselves or feel good about something we can do.

4.    Where the Sidewalk Ends is another classic Shel Silverstein book of silly poems. When we have spare time between lessons or before the end of the day, I call on children to give me a number randomly and then I go to that page and read out the poem. The kids really get a kick out of them.

5.  Here's a wonderfully written and illustrated story by Judith and Ron Barrett. This book skillfully and subtly blends funny storytelling and full-color illustrations with a very real twist about how weather can affect people's environments.It is a great lead-in to a unit on weather and of course for Imaginary writing. Kids of all ages love it. The first time I read it, my cooperating teacher for student teaching had given it to me to read to the class. I didn't pre-read it, so I was laughing along with the kids at each part. Love, love, love it.