2020-2021 School Year...A Year Like No Other!

 Wow, I knew it had been awhile since I had blogged,
but I didn't realize it had been over a YEAR!

I think it is safe to say a lot has happened over the
last year. So much!

Anyway...the point of this post is to remember a school
year that wasn't like any other.
One that should be unforgettable...
but just in case, 

I wanted to make sure I documented it here. ;)

We started the year...
completely on Zoom!

That's right!

Try teaching, and connecting, 

with 27 second and third graders...

through a computer screen!

Believe it or not...

we made it work.

We were able to connect, learn, have fun,

and so much more...

all through a computer screen.

Did I mention that my own children were in my classroom...

on Zoom with their teachers...

at the same time I was teaching?

Yup.

It was an adventure.

It is funny how when I started writing this I had honestly forgotten about

this aspect of the year.

You know they say, no two kids are alike...

even if they come from the same parents...

same house.

Yup.

It is true.

Here's your proof!

Good times I tell you!

We made it to November...

and students were FINALLY able to come back...

some of them. ;)

I still remember literally tearing up as I looked

out at my classroom...WITH STUDENTS!!!

This transition meant that part of my class

stayed online,

and the other part came in-person in the afternoons.

Digital lessons.

In person lessons.

Google Classroom.

Zoom.

Copies.

Masks.

Socially distancing.

All the things.

We did all of the things virtually...

and in person.

We learned about cultures around the world that

are represented in our community.

We did independent S.T.E.M. activities...

pretended to be archaeologists!

While we had lots of fun learning...

and created a bond unlike one I have ever had with

a class before...

it was hard.

Really hard.

By January I was ready to break.

I was ready to wave the white flag.

I spent practically every moment away from 

my classroom planning and prepping lessons

for both in-person and virtual instruction...

for second graders...

and third graders.

I felt like no matter the amount of time I worked,

it still wasn't enough.

I felt like not only was I failing my students,

but that I was failing Lexie and Landry as well.

I was completely overwhelmed trying to

keep everything going.

Then February came.

And finally...I got a bit of relief.

ALL of my students came back to school

in-person!!!

One of my favorite aspects of the year was our guest readers!

One of the positives of Zoom was that parents could 

volunteer to ready some fantastic stories for our class!

In March I was completely caught off guard when I

received a phone call,

letting me know that my principal had nominated

me for an award,

and I was one of seven finalists

for the California League of Elementary Schools

Teacher of the Year Award

for the Central Valley.

The award ended up going to a fellow teacher

at a neighboring school,

but I was still so touched to have been

nominated and then a finalist.

The year continued on as

we celebrated Rodeo Days...

made jam...

and had some fun with states of matter!

By the end of the year we were able to get a little bit closer...

physically...

and competed in our Standards Olympics!

I have never been so sad to say

good-bye to a group of students before.

Even though, this was hands down my most 

challenging year...

it was also my most rewarding.

Something about this whole experience brought us

so close together.

Each of these kids will forever hold

such a special place in my heart!

During a year when I spent so many

hours after school and at home crying...

feeling completely overwhelmed...

I knew that when I got back to class,

I'd be smiling and laughing with them again.

I made a slide show for my students

on the last day of school.

I think we all cried while we watched it,

looking back at all that we had been through together.

I told them, 

"You made me smile and laugh every single day!

No matter what...we will always be a family...

and I will always be here for you."

So, before we start a new year tomorrow...

as late as it might seem...

I had to make sure I took the time

to reflect on one of the biggest years of my career!

Bearcat Kindergarten!!!

Yup...you read that right...

KINDERGARTEN!!!!

All summer Landry was super excited about kindergarten

and coming to Oraze with me...

and then he got to spend the week with his beloved Tammy...

and he decided that he no longer wanted to go to kindergarten.

Uggh.

Thankfully, after going by school on Friday,

stopping by his classroom, and his sweet teacher popping out to say, "hi,"

he was back to being excited about it...

so much so that he had to draw a picture...

(Mrs. McFarland and him)

and write a note to Mrs. McFarland to attach to his gift for her.

Last night of sleep before the big day!

Backpack all ready to go...

Funny side-story...

that I am sharing so I don't forget it down the road.

While we were at the grocery store I asked Landry is he

wanted some other lunch meat besides turkey.

He turned to me and said,

 "Salmon."

"I'd like salmon for my sandwiches."

What? Where does he get this stuff?

He woke up this morning...ready to go!

He was quite nervous before we left the house

and even asked me if I was scared.

I told him that yup, I was a little scared, but that was ok because

everyone is a little scared on the first day.

First time as a Bearcat!

Can you tell that we was getting tired of taking pictures?

He and Mrs. Erickson...

our wonderful principal!

Chad was able to escape work for a bit

to come walk Handsome to class with me!

My handsome little man...oh how I love him!

Landry and his sweet new friend, Hailey...

part of the Bearcat Kindergarten Posse. :)

Walking in to his classroom...

and saying, "Good-morning" to Mrs. McFarland.

She had their name tags on a chart and they needed to find their name

and then choose their very own desk!

Landry and another buddy from the Bearcat Kindergarten Posse, Asher.

After all of the talks, tears, his attempt to talk me out of

making him go to kindergarten...I was nervous about how drop-off

was going to go. He was a champ! He sat right down, got to coloring,

and I was left standing there not really knowing what to do with myself. :)

I got to see him a few times during the day and he only saw me once.

He was so super sweet and gave me a big smile, a sweet little wave, 

blew me a kiss and did our sign language, "I love you."

At the end of the day I COULD NOT wait to go get 

him from Campus Club and find out how his day went.

This picture says it all...

He was so excited to show me his packet...

which included this picture that he drew.

It is him in front of the school office.

So...we had to follow through on our previous

negotiation deal...

and McDonald's was dinner!!!

What gets better than a great first day, no tears...from Landry, 

and McDonald's for dinner?

Getting the SWEETEST voicemail from his teacher

telling us how he was such a good listener, followed directions,

participated in class, and was always doing what he was supposed to.

Seriously...so sweet...and his face lit up as he listened to it.

Needless to say...we are so SUPER proud of our

Landry-man!

WILD About Learning!

If you follow me on Facebook then you know that I spent most of last Sunday turning my classroom into the Amazon rain forest.

Here is the before...

 

and the after!

 

You may remember my post from last year...so a lot of this is going to look the same. :)

 

Rain Forest Animals A-Z

 

 

Layers of the rain forest

 

Monkeys and sloths galore!

 

Math fun...

 

 

Products from the rain forest

 

If I Ran the Rain Forest...

 

Tree frog alliteration

The view from the back of my room!

Each child did research on a specific animal from the rain forst. They were also in responsible for creating their animal at home...

 

 

There were sloths...

Anacondas...

 

 Jaguars..

 

and more sloths...

 

 

Another Open House has come and gone...that means one thing...summer is almost here! :)