The excitement is buidling!

Yeah...That kind of excitement. After returning from the glorious sun and waves of Hawaii, I've put my nose to the grind and have started preparing my class. I will post pictures of the before, clean, and finished classroom when they are ready. As for now, just imagine two nice white walls and two very ugly orange carpet walls that look like they've been taken straight from the floor of your aunt and uncle's old 70's beat up Winnebago that your parents occasionally used to take on family trips to go camping in Idaho. Admit it, you know what I'm talking about.

So I've been trying to think of cool things to do that the kids might find exciting or different than other classes they've been in. I want them to walk into my class knowing that each day will present them with something new and exciting. I like to think outside the box from time to time and be a little creative with "old" teaching strategies and ideas. One thing that every elementary teacher has in their repertoire of billboards and posters is a welcoming door poster. I'm all for this idea.

For those of you that don't know what a door poster is let me explain. It's a poster that teachers usually put on or next to their door that show either a picture of the student or their name and then they use a theme to tie everything in together. For example, one teacher used a cat theme every year (for over a quarter of a century) that said "So-and-so's class are cool cats." Then they had the students' pictures on the door with some cats and stuff. My brother and I always joked that we knew that school was soon approaching because the old orange cat cut-outs from 1980 were making their way into the school hallway. (maybe it's only funny to us.)

Anyway, my lovely mother told me she saw a really cool book with ideas of what to do with my door for the beginning of the year. She gave me some examples and I started to laugh immediately. They were all so cheesy and just...not me. My brother and I went to the drawing board to create something that we could call original and creative. So, with the few skills I have in Photoshop, this is what we came up with. I'm not at all pleased with slogan, but it works for now. If there are any other good ideas, I'm open for suggestions. Also, the symbol is a pen over a sword, indicating the theme that the pen is mightier than the sword. I'm also open for a change of...crest...I suppose.



*note - The kids' faces aren't really black splotches. I guess I have to worry about privacy rights now. And yes, the kids in the picture are my actual students.

Signing My Own Declaration

Tis the Season of Celebration. I was recently pondering upon the beauty of this great nation and state in which I am blessed to live. In Utah, we are happy to receive two days off of work; the 4th of July and the 24th of July. The first, of course, being the day on which our nations founding fathers signed our Declaration of Independence. The latter being the day the mormon pioneers walked into the valley of salty lakes. I found it fitting to receive my contract right around this time.

As I handed in my letter of resignation I was in turn handed my contract for my upcoming teaching job. I pondered this moment for a short time. I was able to compare the similarities I have with the pioneers. (Use your imagination with these comparisons.)Both of us forging our ways into unknown territory. Not knowing how hostile the locals may be, or if the ground would be fertile enough to accomplish our goals of permanent settlement. I could also feel how hesitant the founding fathers may have been before they signed the Declaration of Independence. I looked over my contract several times before my signature found its way onto the paper. The consequences of signing the Declaration of Independence could be seen as TREASON...punishable by DEATH!!! I faced not being able to get a job in Salt Lake, which may mean...SOCIAL DEATH!!! So I'm stretching that last one a bit (I think Logan is the most lovely of places to live...for a college student, or a married couple.)

I never really gave much thought to any of these comparisons to be honest with you. The thing that I actually thought fitting for the signing of my contract was the spirit of celebration this glorious month of July brings. In honor of the fierce battles that followed the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Also, the trials and hardships of migrating across the plains and mountains from Illinois into Utah, I decided to celebrate their sacrifice by sacrificing a little of my time...to take a vacation to Hawaii. Here's to those that made it possible for me to enjoy the warm waters and delicious pineapple of our 50th state.