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It’s a New Year

January 5, 2015 By Rachel

Happy New Year, Friends!
It seems so crazy to me that it’s 2015!
2015 People!
It seems like yesterday we were all freaked out about Y2K!
Remember that?!
I spent a quiet evening at home on New Year’s Eve.
I really enjoyed it!
I’m happy to be blogging again!
I can’t say that I’m sad to see 2014 go.
I wasn’t the best year for me.
This school year has been tough for me.
There’s been a lot of changes this year.
Most of these changes are out of my control, but
I have allowed these changes to steal my joy of teaching.
Which is why I’ve neglected this little blog of mine.
My students require more care this year than in years past.
Most nights this fall, I didn’t leave school until 6.
I had no interest in blogging or sharing what was happening in my classroom.
I cried before having to go back after Thanksgiving break, because my heart was broken.
It was broken over things that are out of my control.
It was broken because the one thing I had dreamed of doing as a little girl, was no longer enjoyable.
After Christmas, I did some praying and soul searching.
I knew I couldn’t start a new year with such a heavy heart.
I don’t want 2015 to be more of how 2014 ended.
I want JOY!
My one little word for 2015 is Joy!
I am choosing to find joy in the little things.
I am choosing to find joy in my students.
I am choosing to find joy in everything!

  • Rachel
  • Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: About Me, Life

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda Schreiber says

      January 6, 2015 at 12:33 AM

      Such a great reminder… as a person who does stress quite often about things that are not in my control, I need to learn to choose to be happy about things that are in my control. Right now, I'm finding my joy by FINALLY catching up on some blog reading 🙂

      Happy New Year!
      Amanda
      My Shoe String Life

    2. Brandi says

      January 6, 2015 at 4:55 AM

      Joy is such a big thing that we need to look for and dwell on. It's so easy to dwell on the negative and the things that bring us down. Great job of finding your joy and focusing on it. Here's to a great 2015!

      Brandi
      Swinging for Success

    3. Elementary Engagement says

      January 6, 2015 at 3:09 PM

      This post touched my heart! I hope you have a great 2015. I know some years can be rough, and I really like your quote about choosing joy. Wishing you the best!

      Mary
      Fit to be Fourth

    4. Rachel Joanne says

      January 19, 2015 at 2:07 AM

      I was just thinking of you and wondering how these first few weeks of 2015 have been. I've been in your position before and it breaks my heart that so many of us are worn down to this in a career where we care so much. I'm hoping that the new year has started off with the joy that you seek. I'm here if you need to vent at any time. You've been such a wonderful support of me, and I'm happy to do that for you too!

      Smiles,
      Rachel
      Mrs O Knows

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    msrachelvincent

    Rachel | 4th Grade Teacher
    How long is your students’ attention spans? I o How long is your students’ attention spans?
I only have about 10 minutes before I lose them! 🤪
And I don’t know about you but my lessons are typically longer…so I try to mix it up every 10 minutes with a Think-Pair-Share or some kind of movement
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#teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteach4th #iteach456 #teachersofinstagram #teachingelementary #attentionspan #minilessons #thinkpairshare
    6 ways to get your students participating in your 6 ways to get your students participating in your lessons!
1️⃣ Think Time - giving your students time to think about the answer keeps your over achievers from answering all the questions 
2️⃣ Movement - Stand/Sit if this is your answer
3️⃣ Turn & Talk - Everyone shares their answer with a partner
4️⃣ Hand Signals - Perfect for multiple choice questions
5️⃣ Think-Pair-Share - Combines the think time with turn & talk 
6️⃣ Repetition - repeat important information to help it stick
🗣🗣Which number are you trying this week?!
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#teachersfollowteachers #igteachers #iteach #teachergram #iteachfourth #iteach345 #teachingstrategies #studentparticipation
    Do you have these 4 teacher goals?! 1️⃣ Instr Do you have these 4 teacher goals?!
1️⃣ Instructional Goal - How are you improving your instruction?
2️⃣ Relationship Goal - How are you building relationships with students or coworkers?
3️⃣ Balance Goal - How are you trying to have a better work-life balance?
4️⃣ Non Instructional Goal - What other area are you trying to improve?
Here’s my 4 goals!
1. Vocabulary Instruction 
2. 2 Positive Notes a Week
3. Leave by 3:00 3 out 5 days
4. Clean off back counter once a week
What are your goals?
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#teachersfollowteachers #igteachers #iteach #teachergram #iteachfourth #iteach345 #teachergoals #teachergoals🍎
    Coming back from break is a lot easier than the fi Coming back from break is a lot easier than the first day of school!
Less teacher talk 🗣
More student talk 👥
1️⃣ Give your students time to catch up with each other. Even adults like to chit chat about what we did during break!
2️⃣ Review procedures by playing a fun game. Charades is a great way to act out procedures to see if other students can guess what they’re doing!
3️⃣ The halfway point of the school year is a great time for students to set goals!
What’s your favorite thing to do after a break?!
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#teachersfollowteachers #igteachers #iteach #teachergram #iteachfourth #iteach345 #studentgoals #classroomprocedures #classroomideas
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