Find the Sunshine and Rainbows!!

All summer I have been thinking about what I want on my back wall and how I was going to decorate it.  I love having something encouraging on that board.  No, the students don't know what it says at first, but I tell them, and it reminds me during the year that we are in this together, and we can do our best.

I came up with the name Sunshine and Rainbows in Teaching for a couple of reasons.  Obviously one is that I like sunshine and rainbows!  They are beautiful!!!  Rainbows are a vision of hope and remind me of God's love and faithfulness.

Another reason is that there is good in every day.  Some days we can name so many things that were great that day.  There are also days that it may seem really hard to find the good, but it is there.  ALWAYS!  We begin to appreciate and feel gratitude in the good AND the challenging days.  As a teacher, it is important to find the positives and to stay positive because it impacts the children!  They react to us and how we feel.  I want them to enjoy learning and want to be at school!  Nothing is sweeter than big smiles as they come in the classroom each morning because they are excited to be there!  I like to start our morning with everyone sharing one thing they are grateful for, and they love hearing what each other has to say.  Start each day with a grateful heart and find the sunshine and rainbows every day!

Soooo.... here is the bulletin board!!  It came out just as I had envisioned!  I LOVE it!!!  The borders are from Schoolgirl Style (which are absolutely AMAZING)!!  The letters are on my TPT.  I printed all the letters on white and colored cardstock, so it was pretty simple to make!  The poms are mostly from Hobby Lobby.  I have also created this look using more poms to make a larger rainbow. 

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Back to school- Here it comes!

How is it already August??  Time for Back to School??  I feel like this summer flew by!  This is always such a crazy time of year.  Getting all the appointments in, getting my kids ready for school, getting my classroom finished, all the things to do before school starts- kind of is EXHAUSTING!! 

In all the years of teaching and starting a new year, my biggest goal is teaching routines and procedures!  Classroom management is EVERYTHING!  And I do not remember having a class on that when I got my certification.  That for me was the hardest thing to learn and put into practice.  We spend the first 2 weeks learning and practicing routines and more practice and more practice.  Especially in Kindergarten!  It takes so much practice, but it is worth every second when everything begins to fall into place and runs on its own.  It is like heaven on earth!  :D

I will admit I spend a lot of time (and sometimes money) to get my room the way I want it.  It is my way to express myself, make it inviting and home for my school family, and create our happy place.  There are so many cute activities to do on the first days, but really - we never get it all done.  I tend to overprepare for the just in case moments, but it all comes down to routines, procedures, and getting to know each other. 

My job is to teach and prepare them for the next grade, but mostly - my job is to help them feel loved and know that they are loved.  That's what it's ALL about!!  I love teaching Kindergarten because this is their first year of school for most of them.  We get to set the foundation and help them LOVE learning!!!  We get to take them on adventures through books!  Nothing is more precious than seeing little faces eager and excited to see what will happen next!  We build relationships and teach them how to love one another and care for each other.  We help them see the world in a new, exciting way! 

So in all the hard work and preparations made-  a little one awaits the first day of school nervous and unsure of what it will be like.  What a gift we can give them by making them feel welcomed and assured that they are loved, and that we believe in them!  I want them to be excited to come to school.  So, Kindergarten, here we come!!! 

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