11 in 2011!

Join this great Linky Party, I am!

11. Favorite Movie You Watched:
By far, the movie Courageous. Best movie ever, from the makers of Fireproof and Facing The Giants. This movie will make you laugh and cry and really think about life. I recommend this to everyone!

10. Favorite TV Series:
My husband and I love watching The Biggest Loser. It helps us get motivated in staying healthy and working out. I can't wait for the new season to start back up again!

9. Favorite Restaurant:

I love Texas Roadhouse! Delicious food...I could definitely gain 10 pounds in one sitting here!

8. Favorite New Thing You Tried:

I am now officially addicted to Pinterest! It is the greatest thing! My best friend (a photographer) introduced me to Pinterest and I have been on it probably everyday since! There are so many great teaching, organizing, style, etc. ideas on here it blows my mind! LOVE!

 7. Favorite Gift You Got:

I actually ordered these for myself for Christmas! ha! Merry Christmas to me! New Reebok Realflex running shoes. I absolutely love them! They are soooo comfy! Definitely recommend these shoes to any runners out there!

6. Favorite Thing You Pinned:

My  husband and I have been trying to get back into working out and staying healthy. I found this on Pinterest and have been trying to do it everyday. It is the One Month Challenge. I think I will definitely see results if I do this religiously everyday for a month! Great kick start to the new year!

5. Favorite Blog Post:

Oh My! I have way too many favorites for this one! I love at the beginning of the school year when everybody starts posting pictures of their rooms. It is so inspiring to see. I am not yet a teacher (I am a Title 1 aide) and I love getting inspired by your classrooms! Keep posting! :)

4. Best Accomplishment:

This may seem to be a weird accomplishment but, quitting my 1st ever job to take a (believe it or not) better job as an aide. The school that I was going to have my 1st teaching job was a school of 50 kids (k-8, and no it was not private). It was a small country school. I would have been teaching 1st/2nd grade with no benefits (at all!). I now am working at an amazing, well recognized school in my town as a title 1 aide. With the hopes of getting a teaching job at the next retirement. Can't wait! It was a hard decision to make but in the end I call it an accomplishment!
3. Favorite Picture:

I absolutely love this picture that my best friend took! She does amazing work! Check out her website that is listed on the photo or just click my photo! :) Thank you
R & G Photography!

2. Favorite Memory:

Celebrating my 1 year anniversary with my husband. The weekend of our anniversary we went to St. Louis to the Melting Pot, a Cardinals game, shopping, and stayed the night. We had a great time. Love you babe!

He was trying to put our cake topper in my face! Ah!

1. Goal for 2012:

- To get fit and healthy (like always!)
- To learn more about God and get closer to Him
- To not be discouraged about not having a teaching job yet
- AND to love life!!

Thank you for stopping by,
{Mrs. Crouse}

Merry Christmas!

I am so excited for Christmas! I get to spend it with all of my family. It will be so much fun watching my niece (who just turned 3) open all of her presents. Also, this is my nephew's first Christmas (he is only 4 months old, so he won't have any clue what is going on!). I have all of my Christmas shopping done, and I can't believe it! I've had it done for about two weeks now! 

School has been great (can't wait for break though!) We go on break next Thursday and are off until the day after New Years. How long is your Christmas break? 

The picture below  is of my first "creative" bulletin board! I got the idea from the website bulletin board ideas this is a great website for all types of bulletin boards! I think my bulletin board turned out pretty good (I am proud of myself! ha!)

Thank you bulletinboardideas.org for this great winter bulletin board idea!

 This picture was taken by my best friend at R & G Photography. Check her website out, she does amazing work!!

Merry Christmas from The Crouses!

 

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Turkey Day fellow Bloggers!

Hope you are enjoying your days off from school! :)

{Mrs. Crouse}

Let's Hear It For The CARDS!

David Freese at game 6, winning home run

Yadier Molina, after they won the whole thing!

THEY WON!!!

Woo Hoo! The Cardinals won the World Series 2011!
I can't believe it! They came from so far behind and proved to everybody
that they could do it!
Let's hear it for the boys! :)

What a Night

Tonight my husband is at work. So my night is consisting of making
Power Towers (courtesy of Teacher Tipster) AND
watching the Cardinals whoop the Rangers!! :)


To learn more about the Power Towers, watch this video by the Teacher Tipster!

Well hello Mr. Blogspot, haven't seen you in awhile!

LIFE UPDATE!

Wow! has it been a while since I have been on here! Sorry about that! Lately, I have been working, working, working, and loving it! I love my job, it's not a "teaching job" if you will but it is pretty darn close. AND I am getting my foot in the door. I have been doing a lot of Title 1 work and RtI work with K-4th grades. A lot of math and reading.

For my math students, I have been using a great website! It is Xtra Math  great website to help students increase their fluency in math facts. This week I started working with a small group of first graders in spelling and writing. And I am actually getting to use stuff that I did in student teaching! (I student taught in 1st grade).

So, as for work, it is going great. On the personal side...my husband and I rescued a cat from our local humane society.

Meet Frank, he likes to help with laundry

Also, other great news, I am an aunt (again!) To a handsome baby nephew!

Welcome baby Izaiah!

Last life update: My CARDINALS made it to the World Series! Go Cards!

Our Rally Squirrel! :)

Lastly, here are some pictures of some updates of my classroom!

My alphabet wall, where I feature the letter of the week for my Kindergarten students

The front of my classroom.
-Calendar time
-Numbers
-Star words

My lovely attempt at decorating my door! haha
A little pathetic, but hey I didn't have many materials!
Happy Fall!

Great Reading Resource!

This year I have been introduced to a great reading resource. A lot of you may already use it, but for those of you who are new to teaching, you will love this!

The Florida Center for Reading Research is a great tool to use. You can find individualized lesson plans for specific reading lessons.

Here are the steps to find the specific lessons:
1. go to http://fcrr.org/

2. on the right hand side click "Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading" (FAIR)

3. scroll to the bottom and click the last choice "FAIR student activities search tool"

4. click on what category you want
5. select your grade level
6. click show results

Hope you enjoyed my little piece of information!
Mrs. Crouse :)

Whew!

What a week it has been!
I have experienced my first "AIMSWeb" testing week. I am testing all the kids in our school {K-8} and I am tired! I still have 2 more days worth of testing. It has been a great learning experience though. I have been learning the names of all the kids (not that I can still remember them!).

Tonight was open house and I got to meet a lot a parents. It was so nice to really feel a part of the school. I really love my school. I am very hopeful that I will get a teaching job there sooner than later. As a reminder, I am a title 1 aide. Although I get my own classroom with this, it is still not the same as being a classroom teacher. I am excited to get my own classroom and my own group of kids! :) I just can't wait. But for now I will just be patient and wait for the Lord's time to place me in the perfect grade/class/school.

Thanks for listening!
{Mrs. Crouse}

I added a little more to my classroom. The months of the year and touch math numbers

Here is the rest of my room (which I obviously don't use or have a need for)
Any suggestions of how to cover all this stuff?

Kids Say The Darnedest Things!

Hey All!

How is everybody? Hopefully you are all enjoying your first weeks back at school. I know I am. I love my new school that I am working at. The kids are great, teachers are great, and the staff is great! Couldn't have picked (well I guess they picked me) a better school to be at!

So some funny stories: kids say the darnedest things! In the kindergarten class last week the teacher was explaining that they would be going to the computer lab later that week and that the computer teachers name is Mrs. Phillips. So later that week when they went down to computers this little boy came up to Mrs. Phillips and said "Hello Mrs. Screwdriver". How clever is he?! He works with his grandpa a lot with tools and handiwork that he put two and two together and remember a "Phillips screwdriver" and associated her last name to the screwdriver! How cute is that!

Another cute story came from a girl in first grade. She told her teacher that one of the boys in class was bugging her. She said "This boy is bugging me, he is just all up in my grill!" Isn't that funny! Kids remember the craziest phrases don't they? She also told us later that day that the boy was like a shrimp because she just really doesn't like shrimp. Because when she was 4 years old she tried a shrimp and hated it. So she wants to cook this boy like a shrimp because she just doesn't care for him that much! Ha!

Oh my! I can't wait to share more stories with you! Please share with me some of your funny stories!

Have a great week,
Mrs. Crouse

Where It All Goes Down Wednesday!

Well, it's a work in progress! haha I just got in this room yesterday! This is about all I have done. I work with kids one on one in this room. It is a HUMONGOUS room but I only use about 1/3 of it...maybe!

Today was my first day to actually use this space. I don't have any bulletin boards. But I have two white boards and a smart board. I am still waiting on a computer to hook up to the smart board though! Oh well, I'm just excited that I even have a space to call my own! :)

Teacher Talk Tuesday!

Well, I know I'm not "technically" a teacher yet. BUT I am an aide who is waiting for God to place me in the teaching job that is right for me. So I can not give you all advice as a teacher. But I can give you advice that others have passed on to me.

1. My mom always told me to stay on good terms with the secretary. She is the eyes and ears of the school. She knows everything that is going on! :)

2. Always be a role model to your students...no matter where you are! Just like our Superintendent said, we are always role models so we need to act, dress, and be the part of a role model.

3. I was told by a fellow teacher that it is okay to not know all the answers to the questions our students asks. What she does is say "Well I'm not sure but let's find out and google it!". I think that is a great way of learning together as a class and showing the kids that you are human and you don't have to know everything!

4. Through student teaching and being an aide, I have learned that it is always better to OVERPLAN! You never want to give your kids too much free time! Always have a plan and backup plan.

5. From working in a school for two years and doing my field experiences and student teaching, I have learned that teachers need to be flexible! You never know what surprise guest, assembly, fire drill, etc. you are going to have that day! So don't stress or worry (too much!)

6. My last and final advice for today is to not get caught up in the gossip! Remain friends with everyone and remember you are there to teach and inspire children! :)

Meet The Teacher Monday!

Tell us a little something about yourself:
My name is Mrs. Crouse and I am actually don't have my "own" classroom  yet. But I am working as a Title 1 aide at a great school, that I will eventually have my own classroom in. I actually do have a classroom as an aide where I will be working with kids individually and in small groups in reading and math. I will be working with grades K-4. I actually turned down a teaching position for the current aide position that I am in. (Crazy right?) Well the reason I did so was to get my foot in the door at a school that I have always wanted to work at. The other school was very tiny, low pay, I would have been teaching two grades, and had no benefits (not cool!)
I was just married a year and two months ago to my amazing husband! God couldn't have found a more perfect match for me! :) I enjoy working out, swimming, and taking walks. I love LOVE working with kids, especially the younger ones (they are just so darn cute!).

How long have you been teaching?:
Obviously no years :(. This will be my second year as an aide. BUT, I am gaining some great knowledge for when I get my own classroom.

You might not know:
Probably most everything! haha I absolutely LOVE twizzlers and diet cherry Dr. Pepper. :) Can't live without those two things in my life :). Also you might not know that I live in a very small town in southern Illinois (an no, it is no where near Chicago!).

What are you looking forward to most this school year?:
I am looking forward to meeting all the staff and kids at my new school. I have been in school for 3 days now and I already love it there! Also, I am looking forward to having my own classroom (well, not all mine but for the majority of the day it will be!

How do you need to improve?:
I think that I need to improve my creativity! haha I have ideas in my head, but it is so hard for me to express them!

What teaching supplies can you NOT live without?:
POST-ITS! and paper-mate flair pens!
AND I can't live without my Diet Dr. Pepper! YUM :)

Teacher Week 2011!

This next week is teacher week!! Each day of the week is dedicated to a post related to all things educational. To find out more information go to
Blog Hoppin' (<--- just click that link)

Enjoy your week teachers!
Mrs. Crouse

I Think I'm Gonna Love This Place!

Well Guys...

Today was my first day with kids at my new school! We only went till 10:30, but hey, it was a great start! I got to meet a lot of the kids this morning. I hung out with the Title teacher for the morning. I colored file folder games while she put up some decorations in her room and worked on the schedule. 

Rumor has it that I might get my own room with my own desk, computer, and smart board! Yay, since I quit my teaching job for an aide job (refer to earlier posts) I can at least pretend I'm a teacher! Ha Ha

All in all, today was a great day! Tomorrow is our first full day, let's see what it brings!

God Bless,
Mrs. Crouse :)

Day One of My New Job

Hello Everyone!

I hope all of you who are back to school are having a great week! Today was my first day at my new school. No students today, just staff. We all met with the Superintendent in the morning and he went over the handbook and things of that matter. For lunch I went out with some of the ladies and had a great time with all of them! Everyone is so nice and welcoming there. I definitely did not feel like an outsider for very long! :)

After lunch my Super met with me and the Title 1 teacher about what we will be doing this year. My aide position is new this year and Title 1 has never had an aide, so I think we will all be learning together! The title 1 room is very small so I don't think I will be set up in there. The Title teacher told me that I might have my own room (which I'm sure I will have to share) but the Super didn't say anything about that today, so I guess I will find out tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the first day with students! The students only come till 10:30am. Then Friday will be everyone's first full day! Oh Boy! :) I think I am really going to like it at this school. I really hope that a teaching job (whether full time or part time) comes up sooner than later! I just want to teach so bad! But I know God is just testing my patience so I need to just relax and enjoy everyday (which I learned a lot about this weekend).

F Y I:
This weekend my husband's Grandpa passed away in a farming accident. It was very hard for the whole family. He was a loved husband, dad, grandpa, person, etc. We had his visitation on Monday night (never have I seen a visitation so large). The funeral was then held on Tuesday. Please pray for me and my husbands family (especially for his grandma). I don't think she has gone a day without him since high school :(.

Just remember to never take something or someone for granted. Life is short and we never know what is going to happen the next day. Live life by your faith.

God Bless,

Mrs. Crouse

Oh How I Wish I Were Creative!

Well, last night I spent a lot of time on the ipad (which I love) looking at all different types of blogs. I am a new blogger, as well as a new teacher and am still learning a lot! But a lot of you bloggers are SO creative! I have to admit, I am a little jealous!

I love looking at everyone's pictures of their classrooms! It is so inspiring. I unfortunately do not have my own classroom yet {hoping for one soon!}. You all have given me some great ideas for my future classroom.

Check out some of my favorite blogs that have posted classroom pictures!

• Mrs. Nation's Star Garden
• Funky First Grade
• Fabulous in First

Last night I got my own Pinterest site. I am super excited to start using it! Do any of you have a pinterest site? {if not, I recommend you to go check it out at www.pinterest.com }

Anywho, I am getting super excited for school to start. I met one of the teachers and board members of my new school last night. And they are amazing people! The teacher raved about how great our superintendent is, I can't wait to work for him! Getting very excited! Also, pray for more kids to enroll! I was told that if a few more kids enroll in either 6th, 7th, or 8th grade that he would split a class that way I can at least teach 1/2 time and aide the other half. I am praying! :)


? of the day: How many of you have Pinterest?

One More Week

Well, school starts in one week. I am starting to get pretty excited. After resigning from my first teaching position I was unsure about how excited I would be for starting my new aide position. To catch everyone up on my life....I quit my first teaching job because I was offered an aide job at one of the best schools in my town. I took the aide job because when it all comes down to it I was getting paid the same. At my old school I was driving thirty minutes to get there, had no benefits, would have been teaching a dual classroom, and they don't pay into your TRS. At my new school I will only be an aide...but Ive been told that I will get the next teaching opening that comes up, I will get benefits and I will only be driving ten minutes. This past week has really ensured me that I have made the right decision. I know a lot of people that work at my new school. One lady inparticular has been extremely excited that I am going to be working with her. She told me that she has been telling everyone that works there how excited she is that I will be working there. Then last night at my aqua zumba class (amazing workout btw!) I found out that the instructor is the title one teacher at my new school. She is the one that I will be working with this year. She was super excited when I told her that I wAs going to be working with her. She said that he has been nervous all summer long about not knowing who her aide was going to be! I am so happy that everyone is so excited about me being there. It really helps me feel that I have made the right decision. I know that this is where God wants me to be and I am excited to see where this journey will lead me.

Friday Freebie!

I am going to start Friday Freebies! This is my first one. A parent survey for the beginning of the school year. Send this out to the parents of your students so that you can get to know your students before the first day of school. Enjoy!


Beginning of the Year - Parent Survey

Organizing Your Websites

I have found so many great blogs that I needed to put them somewhere so I wouldn't forget them. I have found some great bookmarking websites where I can put all of my favorite blogs, websites, etc. in one place! My favorite to use so far is sqworl . It allows you to put your favorite websites in one place and label them as you please.
Visit my sqworl!

Other great bookmarking websites:

• diigo
• pinterest
• ikeepbookmarks

Organization

I have found a great website for all of you who are organization freaks like I am!

The web address is: www.theorganizedclassroomblog.com

Check it out I am sure you will love it!

{Mallory}

New Job

My car the day I resigned. Full of teaching stuff!

Well, the other day I resigned from my teaching position. It was a very bitter sweet moment. I was going to be teaching a dual classroom, 1st and 2nd grades at a very tiny country school about 30 minutes away. I got an offer a week or so ago from a great school in my town. They offered me a great aide position, with good pay and benefits with intentions of teaching down the road.

It was a very tough decision. I had to choose between teaching and being an aide again. I choose the aide position because it is a very well known and established school that I have always wanted to work at.  And this was a great way for me to get my foot in the door. The other school is a very small school with about 60 kids (on a good year).We all know how hard it is to get a teaching job (which was what made this decision so hard)! But I believe this is what God has planned for me and I think I have made the right decision.

I am going to miss everyone I worked with out there and I hope they understand why I choose this route. I love you all and will keep in contact with you! I am very excited to start my new journey at this school. Please wish me luck! :)

p.s. Thank you Rebecca for the rocking chair! :)

The Collecting Room

Here is my "Collecting Room". My second bedroom has become my temporary classroom setup. I am not able to move my stuff into my classroom yet because they are painting and waxing the floors. So everything I have been getting has been going into the 2nd bedroom! Here I have pictured my free easel that I got, and my rug that I got for an amazing deal! The rug is a little girly with all the pink, but I think the boys will all get over it when I put my comfy chairs on top of it for the "Reading Dugout". :) I can't wait to get all of this stuff into my classroom!

My First Blog Post!

Hello! This is my first blog post ever! I am getting ready to start my first year teaching and I am beyond excited! I graduated last may and started subbing. In November I was asked to be an RtI and title 1 aide. That position helped me to get my current position as the new 1st and 2nd grade teacher. I student taught in 1st grade so I am very familiar with this grade level.

As you can see I have posted a picture of children playing baseball and my blog site is called Mrs.Crouse's all-stars. My theme this year is going to be baseball themed. I can't wait to share all of my ideas.

Stay posted for pictures of my classroom!