Uninterrupted Small Group Instructional Center Time!

Two Math Divas and the Reading Coach!

I know, it sounds like a bad novel, but after all these years I've learned a wonderful new trick that I want to share with you! First, the picture, Andrea is on the left, I called her Mrs. O, in my previous posts. She and I teach Math and Science to all our third graders. We plan together so every child gets the same quality education preparing them for the FCAT and 4th grade. In the middle is Megan, young, cute, Reading Coach Megan. Then I'm on the right. 

Megan was telling us one day about how she wore a crown during small group reading instruction when she was a classroom teacher. She called herself the Reading Diva and the boys and girls knew they could not interrupt her during that time. When you only have 15 to 20 minutes per small group, you have to cram a lot into that time!! 

Well, I do the same thing, only all these years I've said, "Mrs. Smith is like the mall, when I'm in small group, I'm closed." Hmmmmm...Reading Diva or the Mall...no choice, I would rather be a princess! :) So, as Bridget Jones would say, I knew right then and there that Andrea and I needed some crowns!

As fate would have it, that VERY SAME NIGHT, a bunch of us were at a Dave and Buster's kind of place and Megan went to town on Skeetball. What a winner, she racked up the tickets and before we knew it, Andrea and I have our crowns that Megan bought with her tickets! They even light up! 

The kids ♥LOVE it. Of course they cracked up the first time I wore it, but that's the point, to bring as much fun and joy into the classroom! Now they know to follow our CHAMPS procedures when I'm wearing it, SEE THREE, THEN ME!

I have linked up at TBA's Open House Week with his post, so I'm going to add a little more for my new followers. 

This is my second year full time at a Title I school 5 miles from my new home, our retirement home. Navy wife happy to now be married to a RETIRED Navy guy, thus the retirement home. I would have gone to my elementary school that I teach at, but my parents moved to the neighborhood at the start of my 7th grade year. I love telling the kids that I am from there and I went to college and made a good life for myself now that the area is so poor. I teach Math and Science to 3rd grade and I am also the team leader. I am my school's Teacher of the Year, not too bad for my first year back! ;) But will be losing my beloved parking spot soon when we vote on this year's TOY! I love in-services and taking classes, because I don't want to become that "Old Mrs. Smith" who is stuck in her ways. I am currently taking an Intel Math class that we had a grant for and a 'hole bunch of homework that came with the grant! I am also taking Reading Comp 1 to finish off my Reading Endorsement. Next week I have the privileged of going to Orlando to a big workshop about data and turning a school around, will know more about it later, just happy that I'm going with three of my friends, I know, I'm sooooo Junior High sometimes!

I have two teenagers who attend the terrific high school that we moved back here for them to graduate from, it will give them many opportunities that my hubby and I didn't have back in the 80s!  I am also the proud Mom of 6 pitts, we rescued one from being abused in a fighting ring in Texas and she surprised us with 13 healthy puppies shortly there after. We kept 5 and life has been wonderful ever since!! These dogs are well trained and loyal to a fault, thus the bad rap as fighters. Ours are air-conditioning doggies even with our 1/2 acre. I show pictures of them on my blog much more that my children, who would rather die first then be on Mom's blog. 

I am so excited to share my ideas with you and learn from your comments. You help me stay positive in the day to day grind of teaching! I feel that God called me to be a teacher, but some days sure are longer than others!! 

So Thank You For Being Here For Me!

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