Open House 2015

On Wednesday September 2, our classroom was ready to welcome our students and families to fourth grade.

our view as we enter the room

the back of our classroom

the front of the room

Our families ...

Ms. Leom with her children and her parents

Mr. Greninger with his family

We are off to a GREAT start!! It was so much fun meeting my students and their families!! Welcome to fourth grade!!

Joplin

I love being a teacher! I love when my professional world and personal life intersect!!

Today, I was in my classroom working. I had put one of my nine year olds to work, organizing the first book order. She showed me the new book being released in the popular "I Survived" series.

"I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011." 

What makes this SO exciting is TWO WEEKS ago, my family and I were IN Joplin, Missourri, visiting the tornado memorial. 

Cunningham Park, a memorial to the people who lost their lives and those who survived

Behind my nine year olds is the path of the tornado, now a park, and the stop light (there is one) is were the tornado was the strongest. 

The Joplin Tornado was an EF5 multiple vortex tornado that killed 158 and injured over a thousand people. It had a maximum width of a mile and was on the ground for 38 minutes on Sunday May 22, 2011. It was the deadliest tornado since 1947 (the seventh deadliest tornado in recorded US history).

I am not sure what part of me is more excited, the teacher who gets to share her excitement about this book with her students or the mom who was THERE with her children just TWO WEEKS ago!!! Don't get me wrong, the tragedy of this natural disaster and loss of life is not forgotten. I just appreciate the opportunity to travel. I have visited 48 of the 50 states, and I feel it is a benefit to share enthusiasm, excitement, and personal experiences with my students!!! Just another reason I am getting excited to start a new school year!!

July

So what is a teacher to do in July?

I am writing letters to students who wrote to me.

I just finished teaching ten days of summer school in Milaca.

I am spending time with my grandpa. He is sick.

I spent a day with my best friend at the beach

Since my grandpa is sick, I've been visiting my grandma too. One day that included my uncle, my parents, and my family.

I replanted plants.

I've been running at sunrise to take advantage of the cooler temperatures.

I continue to read, trying to catch up on those newer books that might interest my students. I will start, "Wonder" next.

I went to a youth baseball game as a mom, and ran into Mr. Greninger, the opposing coach, and these two fourth grade teaching teammates. 

And I've been spending three to six hours a day preparing for the new school year. There is a wire-bound notebook to keep track of my lists (things to do, make, the 23 places that need me to write names on, the measurements for bulletin boards and windows ... ). This notebook is in my purse, so I can record my latest and greatest thoughts.

So thankful for my mom, her best friend, and my grandma, who volunteer their time to help me with "cut outs", as they call them. Starting my 19th year of teaching, and every year, they share hours of their time helping me prepare!

My children are also put to work. The new cursive books arrived. They unpacked them, counted them out into classroom sets. They are sorting my classroom library books, shelving dictionaries, scanning books for the on-line information to determine reading levels, removing staples, cleaning, and more. 

My husband came and fixed my wire shelving for my classroom library. 

This was my room when I left late this afternoon. It is a work in progress. 

Do you want to know what else? I am not the only teacher working in the building! There are one or two in each hallway. There is often a spouse, friend, or helper in those rooms too. I meet people coming into the building to grab materials to bring home, and people leaving with their arms full. 

I am starting to get excited for school ... Don't get me wrong, I like spending time with my children and family! I am enjoying all those summer activities!! There is a lot that goes into a school year, a lot of people who share their time and talents to make it happen, and the process started. July. 

See you soon!!

In the Mail

It took two long afternoons, and two evenings to get the job completed, and today it is official! The letters are in the mail!! 

I am sending a letter to all 54 of my (now) fifth grade students. With the mail system in place at school, the letters should start arriving on Wednesday or Thuraday.

So excited, knowing how much fun it is to get friendly mail!!! 

the last day

Our last day of school was a big one ... filled with taking down the room and putting things away for the summer ... being invited to pick out a book donated by PTO ...

 Next, we visited Lost and Found. There were several students who insisted they had not lost anything ... (the mom in me was pleased when) items found their owners ...

After lunch, we were off to Trimble Park (aka "Tank Park"). There was so much energy and excitement about it being "the last day", and there were so many things to share with our friends, we put the energy to good use.

Thank you for a fabulous school year!! We are so proud of these students we call "our kids". They grew, matured, learned, and hold a piece of our hearts. Happy Summer and safe travels in all of your adventures!! With love always ...