02 August 2014

The verdict is in...No Prep Center Ideas Freebie

Well, my interview went great. I pretty much knew I had it in the bag when the principal took one look at my my test scores and his eyes got all big and said, "I think that's all we need to see." HAHA

The positions were orginally for a 0.6 third grade teaching only reading and a full time fourth grade teaching reading and writing. I was scared about that part time thing, not gonna lie. I told him I just didn't think that was an option with a baby on the way, but that I felt more comfortable teaching third because that's where I've been for the last four years. 

So, he walked me out and said, "I didn't tell any other candidate this, but I could probably make that part time position 0.8." That made me feel confident.

I went home and within hours my principal called me and said that she just spoke with the principal that I had interviewed with and said that he was trying to make me a full time third grade position! She told me that if they offered it to me, I should take it. 

So, the next morning the principal called me and offered me a third grade full time position teaching only Math and Reading! My heart skipped a beat! He even moved a teacher out of the grade level just to accomodate my new position.

I am seriously still in shock that he went through all that just to hire me. I have to say it felt so good and reassuring to hear how they couldn't believe I hadn't already been snagged up by some other school! I'm on cloud nine right now. 

My position doesn't become official with the new district until the 11th, but in the meantime I'm able to begin moving into my new room Monday and I couldn't be more ecstatic for this exciting new change. 

Yes, it kind of sucks that I have to move classrooms for the second time in a year and I probably won't have access the amount of technology that I'm used to being in Title I, but I think I will love this new school. 

I am considering writing a Donor's Choose grant to purchase some tablets for my classroom. Does anyone recommend ones that work great and run around 100 dollars?

With all of that being said, I feel like there will be so many changes in the way I organize and do things in my classroom since I'll have two classes that switch. 

If anyone departmentalizes and has any words of wisdom or suggestions for organizing supplies and materials, I would love to hear them! =)

In other news, I have been working on a little something when I thought I was going to be teaching 2nd grade. They do centers during their guided reading time and so I came up with a little document compiling some ideas for little to no prep center ideas in each subject area. Just click the picture below to head on over to my TPT shop to download it for FREE! 


I am sure these are all ideas that everyone has thought of or used before, but sometimes my brain doesn't work right and I just need a list to choose from! So I hope this is helpful!

And, don't forget that TPT will be having their big back to school sale and you don't want to miss out!



12 comments:

  1. That is so awesome Ginger!! Congrats! You are a rock star!

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  2. Congrats on your new position! It sounds like it will be a fun.

    :) Kaitlyn
    Smiles and Sunshine

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  3. Congrats!! I bet it feels awesome to be wanted like that!! I am going into my 2nd year of being departmentalized! I love it and couldn't imagine going back to self contained! My teaching partner and I color coded our classes. My class was blue and her class was green! Everything they had was color coded! It helped so much!!

    Rachel
    A Tall Drink of Water

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  4. Congrats on your new position! They are lucky to have you!
    Jamie
    Thrills in Third Grade

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  5. That is so amazing! Congrats!

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  6. Congrats on the new position!

    I loved departmentalizing but I definitely had to rethink some things. I found a couple blog posts about how I organized things. I hope they help spark some ideas for you.

    http://www.surfingtosuccess.org/2012/09/paper-organization.html

    http://www.surfingtosuccess.org/2012/08/portable-behavior-clip-charts.html

    http://www.surfingtosuccess.org/2012/08/homework-procedures.html

    Mercedes
    Surging to Success

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  7. Glad they made the position full-time for you! Enjoy!!

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  8. Congratulations on your new position!!! All of us second grade teachers will miss all the wonderful things you have been creating!

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  9. Congratulations! Looks like it all worked out perfectly!

    Little In Betweens

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