First day...we paint umbrellas! Perhaps I lost my marbles?!

Today we painted umbrellas!  Yes, on the first day of school!  Have I lost my marbles?  Perhaps, but we did it anyway and the kids loved it!!!  Umbrellas for Peace parade will take place September 11 at 9am beginning on 7th & Main, up Main to 3rd and loop back up Reed Street.

It's going to be a fabulous year!  Some kinders and first graders might tell you I sometimes am their PE teacher as well.  It's true!  I wear many hats at Pecatonica Elementary!

Getting the studio ready!

Did you know your teachers spend weeks setting up their classrooms before school starts?  It's true!  This teacher is no exception!

Workday 2

I am tweaking some of the studios this year to provide easier student access and movement within the studio.  I added SLO (Student Learning Objectives) to one of the whiteboards through our "I Can" statements.

Have you tried chalkboard paint?  I LOVE IT!  I painted the back of two big metal cabinets to use as menu boards.  Next up was my dreary original 1930s slate chalkboard behind the student computers.  It had definitely seen better days, but I was concerned with the paint adhering to the slate.  After a response from Rustoleum, I went to town priming and painting.  This will be our word wall!

Before

Primed

After

I can't wait to write on it!  There are some steps to conditioning the paint after it dries, but wow!  It looks so much better!

Hope everyone is enjoying these last couple of weeks!  We are going to squeeze a last minute trip with my mom and brother to Chicago!  I have never been to Millennium Park!  What have been your favorite summer memories?