All Things New

I am so thankful for the One who makes all things new. I started my day with prayer, coffee, and {very loud} NEEDTOBREATHE. I tried very hard to push away negative thoughts about early duty (not that I think early duty is bad...just the EARLY part!). And, overall things are off to a good start this second full week of school. We are so blessed that
♡we have a NEW room
♡my assistants' positions were reNEWed
♡we have a NEW principal
♡we have 2 {darling} NEWish  kiddos this year and parents who are eager to help and serve

This is my 4th year in my position as my school's "behavior teacher," and I really can't get over how much all the newness is already helping us.

I'll try to post some more photos later of our classroom, but these are some projects I finally finished up today...with a lot of assistance from my girls and my munchkins.

{Can you tell that I love all things chalkboard right now? And I'm a huge fan of David Shannon!}

Pack & Stack: From Around the Kampfire 

Stop, Think, Act: adapted from a form given to me by our (awesome) assistant principal

The Debug System: I found this on Pinterest last year, and now I can't find it again. 

3 Steps to Apologize:Squarehead Teachers Blog

David: David Shannon, of course! Did I mention that I LOVE the David books?)

Wreath: One of my super awesome students! I plan on changing the quote on the little chalkboard every month or so.

Philosophy

When you go to "teachin' school, " you have to write this little paper known as "The Philosophy of Teaching." I'm pretty sure that mine said things like "I believe every child can learn. " (and I do IF they want to). And, probably it said, "Fair does not mean equal," (and it doesn't. If you didn't know, it means everyone gets what they need to be successful...it's an individual thing). But, honestly, I don't know how any of us can truly have a real philosophy of teaching until we've actually been in the classroom.  Also, no one has ever actually asked me about my philosophy of teaching, but today, I started thinking about it. I had a long, serious "sit down" with my kids, and I looked up to see two of them seriously engrossed in what I had to say. One nodded along and even had little tears and the other openly said that he wants to do better than what he's been doing. I was completely floored by their responses.  We talked about that you don't have to be right all the time, you just have to try to do what's right. You don't have to be better than the kid next to you or down the hall, you just have to be better than you were the day before.  Learning to read and write and do math and what not is so important,  but it doesn't amount to a whole lot if you don't do everything you can every day to be a better person than you were before. That's when I realized whatever I wrote 3-4ish years ago wasn't exactly it. No one will probably ever ask, but if they did,  I think I'd tell them that my philosophy of teaching is to help children become better people than they were yesterday and to endeavor to do what they know is right every day, even when it's difficult. I am so incredibly moved and proud of my two kids who opened up and worked hard today to make the right choices. It took a lot of chocolate,  but it was actually a pretty good Monday. :)