A Day in My Shoes...

It’s another linky party! A Day in the Life of a 6^th Grade Teacher is asking us to link up and tell what a day Is like in our shoes!

So, here goes:

 

4:55 – alarm goes off. I stay in bed 5 more minutes before getting up and letting the dogs out. Then I ring breakfast up to my room and eat while reading for about 20 minutes – it helps to wake me up! Then I start changing into my clothes, and usually three oufits later I am finally in what I will wear for the rest of the day!

6:00ish – leave for work

7:00 – I get to school and start getting ready for the day. This involves putting any grades into my electronic grade-book on my computer, copying, putting out morning work, and getting all computers and the smart board turned on.

 

7:55 – students start coming into the room. I am usually in the hall talking with my old teamie across the hall. Students come in and take off all their snow clothes, and go about their morning routine which includes signing up for lunch, handing in any money or notes, and starting their morning work.

 

8:00 – announcements begin with a 6^th grade students leading the school in the pledge. Then the principal gets on and announces lunch, birthdays, and anything else needed. While this is going on my students are *supposed* to be working quietly, however I am busy getting them to stop talking, taking milk and lunch count, and taking care of the million or so papers that seemed to have been thrown on my desk since the kiddos arrived! In a few minutes I will have also taken attendance, checked my email, taken lunch count, and sent the cafeteria and office helpers on their errands.

8:20 – ELA whole group starts. We begin the day on the rug (not usual in 3^rd grade but a left over from my days as a 2^nd grade teacher). We go over our focus skill and any other review skills. Then we move to our seats and read from our reading books.

9:15 – Grammar. We begin with our daily language, and then move on to the week’s focus.

 

9:40 – Special (PE, Computers, Art, or Music depending on the day) This is when I run around like crazy! I stop and talk to one of my friends for a few minutes before getting to work! When I get back to my room I do some grading and then run downstairs to copy any papers that should be filed (for RTI backup). Then I walk to down to check in with my teammates.

10:20 – pick the kiddos up and start spelling.

10:45 – lunch – I know, how unreal is this?!  I walk them down to the cafeteria and then wait with them till they are through the kitchen line. The aides stay with them in the cafeteria and then to the playground. I wish I could say that I take this time to sit and relax, but of course I don’t. I read the news on my phone for the whole 10 minutes it takes me to eat, and spend the rest of the time working. Why do we do this to ourselves??

11:30 – Math. We start by going over our daily math. Then we move on to a quick graded review, whether it is a fact test, a problem solving sheet, or general skills review. Then they take out their math practice books and do the page that reviews what we did the previous day. At 12:00 I start the new lesson for the day.

12:45 – snack! It has been a big adjustment for us eating snack in the afternoon, but with such an early lunch, it’s a necessity! I would rather do it a bit later, but can’t because of other scheduling. We usually eat and play a math smart board game at the same time (the kids actually beg to do this – makes me so happy)

 

1:00 – AIS reading. I have two groups of students that go to AIS. They rotate every other day. While they are gone I hold my ELA small groups. They love this time of day, because they get more attention in the small groups, and I like getting the chance to interact with them.  

 

1:40 – writing – this is anything from a journal prompt to a new process lesson.

2:00 – science/social/math lab – depending on the day, my class rotates between myself and my other two teammates. I teach social studies to the whole grade level, another teaches science, and the third provides an extra hit in math with centers and games in the math lab. They feel so grown up, since this is their first experience in switching classes!

2:30 – get ready for dismissal

2:35 – send walkers into hall – another teacher is assigned to walk them downstairs

2:40 – walk bus students to their buses  - then I go back to my room and clean the whirlwind that is left behind! I do some more copying, planning, and whatever else needs to be done in the room.

 

3:25 – teacher dismissal. If I don’t have practice, I will practically run out the door at this time J However, I have practice 1 or 2 times a week. On those days, I stay till practice at 6:00 and work around the room, pausing for a quick dinner around 5:30. Sometimes I’m lucky and my other coach will pick me up around 4 and we will run cheerleading errands before practice!

If I have practice, it is over at 8, and I don’t get home till 8:30, which leave me exhausted! Just typing all this, and I am glad I have one more day off today! And, what makes it better is that I have a 3 day work week! I am taking Friday off, since I am going to a Kelly Clarkson concert Thursday night and won’t be home till late! I can’t wait!

So – what is a day in your shoes like?

+ Laura +