My First Week as a Bush Teacher

This year, I began my fifth year of teaching, three of which have been spent in Alaska.  Last Wednesday marked my first official day as a teacher in the Alaskan bush though, which is something I've dreamt about for many years now.  On top of that, it also marked my first day as Head Teacher, a position that has already proven to be incredibly involved.

Sunrise views on the way to school. 

I spent countless days, many of which I worked 12+ hours, preparing for the first day of school.  My classroom needed a complete overhaul, the school itself needed a facelift - mostly an injection of cheer - and there was a mounting number of students I needed to individualize instruction for each day.  Luckily, it all started to fall into place on Tuesday night, much to my intense relief.

The entire certified teaching staff at Pilot Point School. 

Cody and Ben (the other teacher's husband) worked to do many little projects around the school while myself and Melissa (the other teacher) went to teacher inservice. That helped immensely in the general "get ready" of the school building and it's main rooms.  Cody helped do a lot of decorating projects for my classroom too, and it really came together into something I'm proud of, and I think the kids like it too. I've had many compliments from students and community members.

After doing all of the prep work, it was finally time for the first day. Our principal and the district curriculum director flew out to our school for a couple of days to help us organize and make it through the first week successfully. Their presence really helped kick the year off right, while putting us on a good track for academics in the school.

The kids were excited and super sweet. They are definitely different than the kids I've grown used to on Beaver Island and in Juneau, but different is just what I was looking for in a classroom experience, so I'm happy to have found it.  I'm adjusting to many little cultural things in the classroom, such as the quietness (classroom discussions take much prompting) and nonverbal communication (raised eyebrows is the equivalent of answering a question "yes").  As the week drew to a close though I felt more at ease with all of the little nuances.

View of the school, from across the lake. 

Overall, it's been a fun and wonderful adjustment so far, but it's also been the most work I've ever had to put into a job.  I'm working long hours during the week, and probably another 8-ish on the weekends. As the year goes on, I'm really anticipating the amount of outside work to decrease, it's just the initial adjustment that takes time. Until then, I'm still trucking along out here, making the most out of our little life in bush Alaska.

Your turn...What is your favorite part about your job? 
Currently listening to... Red River Valley - Woody Guthrie 

Apple Pizza

Mondays mean cooking class for all of the early elementary students (kindergarten-3rd grade) at my school.  We are very lucky that a wonderful retired teacher comes into our school once a week to cook with students from 2:00-3:15.  My class always looks forward to cooking and eating delicious treats. Some of the older students even beg to join from time to time, which means it must be a blast.

A couple of weeks ago the class tried a recipe sooooo delicious (yes, I stole a bite) that I had to recreate it at home. The recipe was for apple pizza.

Apple Pizza
1 package biscuit dough
5 small or 3 large apples
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 T cinnamon
2 T flour
3 T butter
Directions: Mix dry ingridients together. Roll biscuits flat on a cookie sheet. Cover with chopped apples. Sprinkle dry ingridients on top of apples. Dot with butter. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Hello, beautiful dessert! I actually added a little Asiago cheese on top of mine for a little added melt-y goodness. When my students made it at school they served it with vanilla ice cream, which was sheer amazing-ness. Both ways (cheese or ice cream) are super tasty!

Your turn...What are some of your favorite treats to cook?
Currently listening to...Mountain Sound - Of Monsters and Men

First Weeks of School

The 2013-2014 school year is officially underway! (For those of you just tuning in: I teach pre-k in a collaboration program between the tribe and the public school.)  I've been back at work for three weeks and I have had students for two weeks.  The days are certainly busy but I am having fun learning about my new, wonderful class of pre-k kiddos. I teach both a morning and afternoon session so I am learning about 32 new personalities as the school year begins and progresses.  Preschool really is the most fun "grade"!

Bench seats under the magnetic board in my classroom. 

Bulletin boards have been hung, sign-in is happening with ease, and we are happy as clams here in our little classroom.

The beginning of the year always brings about a unique set of challenges as you learn about new students, families, curriculums, and assessments.  The year is already going smoothly though and after we work out a few more kinks I anticipate the classroom will become a well-oiled machine…well, as well-oiled as any machine run by a group of pre-k students (haha).

Until then, we are enjoying our lasts gasps of summer/autumn.  The views from the playground and my classroom are spectacular.  We can even hear the fog horns blaring from the giant ships in Gastineau Channel.  The kids love it.  I'd say we are off to a successful start :)

Questions:
Teachers: How is the new school year going?!
Everyone else: What do you love about the back-to-school time of year? 

Reunited With Teaching

This week I started my new job and finally got to start teaching again!!

Heading to the classroom!! 

I am teaching Pre-K for a local elementary school, basically my dream job (although I do miss my kinders).  Here is how my basic day looks.

7:30am: Arrive at GV(Glacier Valley) and set up classroom for the day
8:00am: Get students off of the bus
8:10am: Student sign in, attendance, etc.
8:15am-8:30am: Morning Meeting
8:30am-9:00am: Breakfast
9:00am-10:30am: Curriculum & Centers
10:30am-11am: Snack
11am-11:30am: Recess & Bus

Then, a new group of kiddos comes at 11:30am and we repeat the process in the afternoon.  I have a great co-teacher and a great classroom aide.  We have a VERY staffed classroom, which makes life super easy.  I get to have so much one-on-one time with kids. The kiddos finally leave between 2:50pm-3:00pm.  We also only have students in attendance Tuesday-Friday and I get ALL DAY on Monday to prep and make my classroom pretty.  Ideal?  I thinks so.  Here are a few cool Pinterest ideas that I can't wait to incorporate in my new classroom!

Sub Tub: making it easy for days when I am gone. 

I really want to make this for those freezing cold/rainy days. 

Make these for their names, great way to teach letter recognition! 

Have you ever made a big job switch? 
Teachers: Do you ever use Pinterest ideas?