End of First School Year and Reflection

   Today was officially the last school day for teachers and yesterday was the last day with the students. I seriously can not believe how fast the school year went by. I feel like it was only yesterday that I first found out that I got the position. It felt really weird walking around my bare and semi empty classroom. 

   I will always have a special place in my heart for my first class (don't all teachers), though at the same time most of them are ready to go to first grade. It may be weird,but I am excited for next school year because I have all these new ideas that I want to use. I know that I will also be busy creating things this summer for next school year too. 

   When I think back over the course of the whole school year I am proud of my first year and thing that overall things went very smoothly. I didn't have issues with any of the other teachers and most importantly the parents. My principal evened mentioned how she was kind of surprise that she didn't get any complaints about me which she thought she would since I was late coming in, new to the school, and a first year teacher. It felt really good to hear that from her. 

Goals for next School Year:

- Planning - There was a brand new curriculum and not just for me, but for the whole county. I went through it once, so I know second time will be slightly easier. I want to be able to plan ahead and not just try making it day by day sometimes.

- Guided Math - I feel really comfortable with guided reading, but I don't feel that at all with guided math. I am going to be reading up about it from other teachers and see what will work best for me. 

- Games, Activities, and Centers - I plan for next school year to get rid of seatwork/independent work during guided reading. It was just a lot of work trying to find/create work for all my students and I don't want to do that next year. My students like doing it and I didn't like grading it. So next year they will get to choose two center options during that time. That means I need to find lots of fun game and activities for that to do. Luckily we have an amazing place called TPT with lots of wonderful creations.