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Monday, August 22, 2011

Meet the Teacher

It's Teacher Week over at Blog Hoppin'!

I just started this blog earlier this month, so this is a perfect first link up for me. I'm really excited to make some new blogging friends, so if you're reading this, please leave a comment and introduce yourself!

Tell us a little something about you...
I'm Kristin. I have a ridiculously generic last name, but I still prefer some online anonymity, so I'm going with the moniker Mrs. Smith. :) I just finished writing my About Me page, so please click on over!

How long have you been teaching?
This year will be my fourth year teaching. I've always taught 5th grade. I was lucky enough to get a job at the same school where I did my student teaching on the same team as one of my mentor teachers. When I was little, I loved playing school with my stuffed animals and little sister. Of course, I was always the teacher! I also remember sitting in classrooms as a student and tucking away fun ideas to use "someday when I'm a teacher." I don't think I ever imagined how much work teaching is, or how much paperwork and bureaucracy is involved in the public school system! I do enjoy my job, though, and I'm looking forward to getting back to work (a week from today) and starting a new year with a new group of kids (two weeks from tomorrow)!

You might not know...
I guess you hardly know anything about me! Hmmm... where to start? Growing up, I lived in 7 different states and spent two years of high school in Germany since my dad was in the military. That means I attended 6 schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. I used to think that was a lot until I had some very transient fifth grade students who already had me beat! I loved living in Germany, and I ended up majoring in German in college and studying in Austria for a semester.

What are you looking most forward to this school year?
I am looking forward to a fresh start. I had a bit of a rough year last year with a group of kids who were 10 going on 16. I've heard that I have a younger group of kids coming up to me this year, and I'm ready for a different set of challenges. I'm also super excited about a new approach to language arts...

What do you need to improve?
I teach science, math, and language arts. Math was my master's specialization, and I've developed a LOVE for science inquiry since I started teaching. I have not, however, been confident in teaching language arts, and I've felt like I haven't received as much support in that area from my school. This summer, I read up on Daily 5 and CAFE, and I can't wait to start individual conferences and giving students more choice in their reading and writing!

What teaching supplies can you *not* live without?
Fat Mr. Sketch markers for writing on chart paper, Paper Mate Flair pens for grading, and fun sticky notes just because!

6 comments:

  1. Hi Kristen,
    Thanks for coming by my blog and following:) I am now a follower of yours. I know what you mean about fresh starts...I had a tough year last year too but this year has been awesome so far:))))

    4th Grade Frolics

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  2. Great post! This was my first time doing a linkyparty. I love reading all these different blogs. I start back teaching grade 5 soon as well. I'm hoping to use Daily5 and Cafe too. Enjoy blogging!

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  3. I know what you mean about 10 going on 16. :-) Hope you really enjoy your group this year.

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  4. I am so glad to find another upper elementary blog! I teach 6th grade but am on the middle school campus. I was also lucky enough to find a job at the campus where I student taught. I would really love to find a way to integrate Cafe and Daily 5 in my room, but just haven't figured out how to do it yet!

    missklohnsclassroom.blogspot.com

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  5. So glad to find another 5th grade blog! I will certainly be coming to you for advice bc it's my first year! Come visit at gracefallslikerain1@blogspot.com

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  6. Teacher Week is finally bringing out the fifth grade blogs! :) Hope this year is a good one!

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