Feeling a bit overwhelmed...

Wow, I can't believe it is almost Christmas time! Where has the time gone? I'm not sure, but I'm glad that it is going by quickly! I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. With it being my first year teaching, and my first time ever in the Jr. High setting (I never did any observing in the Jr. High age group), I have been feeling a bit stressed. I never realized how much lesson planning, grading, RtI work there was involved. Oh, and did I mention all the grading? By far my least favorite part!

I am really hoping that this is just a first year teacher problem. Hopefully next year I will feel a bit less stressed and overwhelmed with everything. Oh, and did I tell you that I got observed last Tuesday? Haven't gotten my "results" back yet...hopefully I will get them tomorrow. I am a little nervous to get those back, to say the least!

Anyway, I just thought I would vent to my blogger friends. Hopefully I'm not on this boat alone! It is just so hard planning for 6 different classes a day (geometry, science, history, spelling, reading, and english). How does one handle it all? Plus all the grading, and the contacting of parents, and the RtI work, and trying to stay on top of everything! I just feel like I can never stay caught up.

I have been wondering, do the lower grades (K-3) teachers feel this way as well? I know they probably don't have as much homework...I don't know!

Oh, the joys of being a first year teacher!

Mummys!!! oh, and currently

For the past few weeks we have been studying Ancient Egypt in History class. A few weeks ago we did a mummifying experiment. I found the lesson plan here. Check it out! My kids loved it. I intertwined History with Science in the activity.

I introduced the Scientific Method. 

Before we started I had them write down their predictions and questions of what they thought the apple would look like after a week. Then after a week was up we got to look at our apples. Before we looked at our apples I had them write down step 2 and 3 of the Scientific Method. After we looked at the mummified apples we finished by writing steps 4 and 5. Here are some pictures!

(This picture is great!!)

I had so much fun with my kids during this activity! I think they really enjoyed it too!


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A little late, but here is my currently!




We haven't listened to much music in my class. I should really change that. I think music is very calming. If we were to listen to the radio it would be our town's local country station. What music do you listen to in your classroom?