Mingos in the Watah! What in the Wuhld?

[vamassey1]

Wow MeMom your class is totally awesome! It's a tropical paradise. I'm like everyone else and wish I had had a teacher that loved Disney.

Jill I love the pictures especially the one of Bella trying to get away from Tigger. I have one of Danielle in a high chair at Chef Mickeys doing the same thing. They really are limited to how far away they can move. The picture of Steamboat Mickey is great too. You really got some great up close shots.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Oh MeMom, I LOVE LOVE your classroom!! How did you make the ocean scenes with the sky? It's gorgeous!

The girls were looking at the pictures with me and Miren says "I want to be in her class" (she IS going into 2nd grade this year ) and Nerea says "I want go there!" Then Miren says, "but we don't live in Alabama..." so then I explained to her how you live in Tennessee but Jill and the girls live in Alabama and she's like, "oh, do you have their number? Maybe we can go visit them."

 

[pooksma]

From one to another I have to say you have a fantastic classroom.
Maybe while I am at Disney, you could come and decorate mine? Mine? mine?

 

[MeMom]

Your classroom looks absolutely fantastic!!! I adore the dock with the seagulls. And yes, that totally looks like coral!!!

I wanted to put some more coral out, but so far, I haven't had time. I've been in and out of meetings all day.

What a FUN classroom!!! Awesome!! I'm enrolling in the 2nd grade today - I'll be there with my school supplies the first day of class Save me a seat!

I have twenty desks, and they're telling me I have twenty-three on roll. You'll have to sit at the Reading table, I guess.

I'm finally joining in!

I am going to try very hard to catch up now...

You're too busy wandering out Europe to come out and play with your DIS friends any more. The least you could do is send us some kind of awesome bakery goods or something to make us feel better.

Great classroom MeMom!! I know how hard it is to be a teacher. Jason and my MIL are both teachers and I have close friends that are teachers also. It is not a glamorous job at all. Jason had really considered not going back, but he really wants to coach again. He loves to teach, but does not like dealing with administration woes (he had horrible leadership at his last school).

Definitely not glamorous! Trent would have enjoyed coaching, but he didn't want to be a teacher to be able to do that. NCLB has put unattainable goals out for teachers. Administrators and teachers are under extreme pressure. I can't imagine anyone starting out these days wanting to be a teacher, but maybe they will get lucky and things will change for the better. We lose a huge % of teachers within the first five years when they get into the trenches and see what it is really like.

Wow, your room looks amazing.

Caitlin starts 2nd grade at the end of the month. I hope she has a teacher like you.

I hope she has a teacher who is much better than me. I was really trying to be refreshed and renewed about this year and look at things positively, but after two days of negativism in meetings, I can already feel myself longing for the year to be over. These people have got to learn to talk to teachers in a factual but more positive way. The constant 'beatings' are doing no good. The turnover rate at our school is high because of it.

Your room looks fantastic!!! I'm so impressed. I don't remember having a cool 2nd grade classroom like that! You are too cool for school.

Funny. I just want to try to make teaching and learning enjoyable for all of us.

Do you have a seat for my second grader? Someday I will Disney my room--- but when you share it just does not get to happen!

Anita did her section of her shared classroom. The other two teachers went with another theme. Do you job share or room share? Sneak a little touch of Disney in for yourself.

I'm really impressed by your classroom MeMom! It looks fantastic! I wish I could decorate my 'cube' like that!

Maybe you could put a little tiny dose of Disney in your cube.

MeMom, I would like to go back to second grade and be in your classroom please. Can you make that happen?

I especially like to bulletin board outside with the obvious colorful coral at the bottom. Nice touch.

Jill, awesome pictures! I love the one of Bella where she can't get far enough from Tigger! And the perfect pose from Brooklynn waiting for Fantasmic! So adorable! I hope her other loose tooth comes out soon!

You will have to talk to Sorceror Mickey about performing any Disney magic. That's way out of my league!

That was a cute picture. She wasn't going to let any of those fellas get her or her food!

 

[MeMom]

I'm thinking of reworking our schedule to include Fantasmic because I think I'm the only one in my family who has seen it live. We have been watching it on Youtube the past couple of days and DD4 seems to like it alot. But I know DH would HATE a line like that. Hmmm, what to do? What to do?

I LOVE your classroom! It definitely looks like coral beneath the sign. The dock looks awesome and I especially love the "Dory does not forget homework" sign

Maybe the line won't be as bad on your night. You could always get him some ice cream to eat while he is standing in line. We do that sometimes. We have also gotten food and sat to eat on the rock wall, but you have to get there pretty early for that. Sitting makes the wait a lot better, though.

MeMom,your classroom looks awesome!!! or in the words of our good friend Crush...you so totally rock dude!!! or in this case dudette! When do the kids come back??? We leave tomorrow so this will be me signing off until we return!!!! I hope to bring back lots of pictures if you'd like I would love to send you some picture messages, if you want just inbox me your number! Have a good rest of the week and weekend!!!!

Dude. Maybe I should get my kids to listen better if I talked like Crush all day!

You leave tomorrow! That's the best thing I have heard today!

Your classroom is great! You're so creative.

I think you're going to get a stampede of DISers signing up to be in 2nd grade at your school!

I steal ideas from Disney. I should probably be paying them some kind of fee.

We already have three portables out back. I don't think we can handle any more. However, I would love to have a room full of DIS kids! We really could learn and have fun together!

What a fun classroom! It looks fantastic MeMom!

Thanks. I hope it is enough to keep me smiling through this year.

Wow what a great classroom. I wish you taught at my kids school. It seems after 1st they get very serious and no fun classrooms. Love yours!


This is unfortunately true for my classes and I teach at a university. sigh.

Congrats to Brooklynn! My DD lost her first tooth at test track and tinkerbelle had to be called. She cleaned up that time. Tooth fairy $, tinkerbelle present plus a few magical moment certificates from the different castmembers she told (all day/everywhere she told lol) plus a test track pin to remember.

It's probably not the teachers' faults that it's not fun any more. Things above have zapped so much of the fun out of teaching, and teachers are just worn out.

For all of those cool prizes, Brooklynn might be willing to knock a tooth out on purpose!!!

Your classroom looks awesome! If my child was going into your class I would be a very happy parent! I think Nemo is my very favorite Disney movie. I just love everything about it. You did a great job with the theme! I love it all!

I can't believe it is already time for you to be decorating your room though! I remember those days well. It was exciting starting a new year and getting your room fresh and clean and all fancied up, but it was a dreadful feeling too knowing that summer break was almost over.

Yep, break is over.
I will say, I like the new fall break thing that they are doing here now. It already feels good to know that after nine weeks, we will get a free one.

loved the classroom pictures. Your fantasmic pictures makes me wanna see it again. Its been a couple yrs.

We don't see Fantasmic every time, but almost every time. Jill had not seen it in several trips, as we have been going back for earlier bedtimes. I had gone alone once after they were already down for the night, so it hadn't been too long since I had seen it. I never get tired of it, though.

 

[Happy Elf]

MeMom, I love your classroom! It looks awesome! And I think it definitely looks like coral! Your students will be so excited! I've worked in my room the last couple of days. It's starting to come together, but it's not really Disneyfied. I will have some Disney animals sitting on the bookshelf, but that is about it. My special ed. director brought me list of new students that moved in over the summer and I am getting 12 new ones on top of the 7 or 8 that are returning from last year! I didn't even have that many students all year last year! Could be an interesting year!

Jill I love your Mickey pictures from Fantasmic. They turned out awesome!

 

[MeMom]

Totally Awesome Job on your classroom!

Every year I look forward to seeing what theme you do in your class...this year's blew me away!

Very cool and creative details! Your students are going to love it!

I'm sure it will make you smile .... when you need it.

I'll have to show Lexi, she will love it. She will spot some beanies that she has too!

Love the Fantasmic pics! Awww..the boat is the best part.
Belle and Beast are two of my favorites.

Just 42 sleeps left til I can see spectacular show again...

I have been so busy lately, I miss spending time on here.
My DMom is away so I'm doing everything by myself. (I miss her company )

In Disney trip news I booked the Candlelight dinner pkg at Coral Reef. We are very excitted about that.
I ordered some custom air brush tees for me & Mom to wear to the MNSSHP.
Lexi will be wearing her Jack Skellington tee & ears.
When we went to the Disney Store last week I got her the Jack & Sally dolls, she was so excitted to find them.
She has her bag all ready for trick or treating too.
We got new "hot pink" luggage for all of us....we wanted something that would stand out and we found it.
Booked our flights for September!!!! Yipee! no long drive for me this year!!!
It's a direct flight so we will be there in the morning two days ahead of schedule.

Hope you aren't too bummed about starting back at school this week.

I did the kids back to school shopping last week. Only problem is we misplaced Lex's class list of supplies so we had to wing it.
I love that the schools in the States all display thier school list in the Walmart/ Targets for parents. Very cool idea! Makes it so easy, we should catch on to that.

Have a great day! I am off to do some grocery shopping.

First of all, I am glad you don't have to drive all that way!

Hot pink luggage is perfect for being able to spot easily.

We have never eaten at Coral Reef, so get lots of good pictures for us.

It's sweet that you miss your mom.

42 sleeps is sooooo close!!!

Love your classroom!

The picture of Bella with Tigger is so cute!

She's looking at him like he's crazy. He was good to stay back, so at least we could get a picture with both of them in it.

The Fantasmic are awesome! Jill, I loved the one of Steamboat Mickey...with the fog from the sparklers on the boat it almost looks like the whole thing was in black and white!

MeMom, my goodness I wish you had been my 2nd grade teacher!! I would have love going to class!! Such amazing work and I hope those kids appreciate it!

For October, my facebook is facebook.com/jillybeaner21, we can try and make plans over there.

I just hope the kids come to school wanting to learn. We can't teach if they don't open themselves up to learning.

We will stay in touch and arrange to meet. That's our departure/your arrival day, correct?

Wow MeMom your class is totally awesome! It's a tropical paradise. I'm like everyone else and wish I had had a teacher that loved Disney.

Jill I love the pictures especially the one of Bella trying to get away from Tigger. I have one of Danielle in a high chair at Chef Mickeys doing the same thing. They really are limited to how far away they can move. The picture of Steamboat Mickey is great too. You really got some great up close shots.

That's a good reason to get a high chair - they can't escape!

Oh MeMom, I LOVE LOVE your classroom!! How did you make the ocean scenes with the sky? It's gorgeous!

The girls were looking at the pictures with me and Miren says "I want to be in her class" (she IS going into 2nd grade this year ) and Nerea says "I want go there!" Then Miren says, "but we don't live in Alabama..." so then I explained to her how you live in Tennessee but Jill and the girls live in Alabama and she's like, "oh, do you have their number? Maybe we can go visit them."

I bought roll out sky and roll out sea.

Tell Miren I will take her and a dozen others just like her in my class.

If you ever get to Nashville or Huntsville, we will have a fun Disney meal together.

From one to another I have to say you have a fantastic classroom.
Maybe while I am at Disney, you could come and decorate mine? Mine? mine?

While you are playing the days away at Disney World, I get to be decorating a classroom. Hmmmm....not exactly a fair trade, but decorating your room would be more fun than teaching in mine. Or testing rather. We start testing Aug. 22nd. That's always fun. We have a week to get into a routine, and then we break it for two weeks of testing.

 

[MeMom]

MeMom, I love your classroom! It looks awesome! And I think it definitely looks like coral! Your students will be so excited! I've worked in my room the last couple of days. It's starting to come together, but it's not really Disneyfied. I will have some Disney animals sitting on the bookshelf, but that is about it. My special ed. director brought me list of new students that moved in over the summer and I am getting 12 new ones on top of the 7 or 8 that are returning from last year! I didn't even have that many students all year last year! Could be an interesting year!

Jill I love your Mickey pictures from Fantasmic. They turned out awesome!

Sounds like you are going to have a very busy year! Special Ed students = lots of extra meetings and paperwork, too. I don't envy all the extra meetings our resource people have to attend.

What ages do you work with?

 

[nowellsl]

I think you should tell the kids to answer the roll every morning by saying "mine". Can't you just picture it the whole room of kids, mine, mine, mine .......

 

[sunny_stace]

Thanks for sharing your video of Fantasmic Jill! I love that show....And I love the picture of Bella trying to get away from Tigger at CP! Poor girl!

MeMom, your classroom looks AMAZING! I just said to my cousin, "look at MeMom's classroom! She would have been my dream teacher!!" I bet your kids will have a blast! Makes me want to repeat second grade!

I think you should tell the kids to answer the roll every morning by saying "mine". Can't you just picture it the whole room of kids, mine, mine, mine .......

That was amazing! I would pay to see that!

 

[Happy Elf]

Sounds like you are going to have a very busy year! Special Ed students = lots of extra meetings and paperwork, too. I don't envy all the extra meetings our resource people have to attend.

What ages do you work with?

I teach the special ed preschool for our district. I have ages 3-5. Luckily, I have an awesome assistant!

 

[Poolrat]

I think you should tell the kids to answer the roll every morning by saying "mine". Can't you just picture it the whole room of kids, mine, mine, mine .......

I laughed so hard I had to run and get my inhaler.

That would at least make the start to every day something to smile about.

 

[hollisterluva92]

The question is: Will you pour the syrup over Mickey's face, or will you dip body parts, like the girls do?

I will definitely be dipping And then eating one ear at a time

The resort refillable mugs were selling at $13.49. I believe.
The parks mugs are $5.75, but they are not refillable.

Thanks so much! I've been dying to get one of those little pink mugs in my dorm room

How I paid for our next Disney trip

Wow! I am stunned! I think I need to start rolling some change

-I think your fantasmic photos are perfectly fine! I was so angry at myself on my last trip because I had brought both my dslr camera and my point-and-shoot and my dslr died I had to take photos with my point-and-shoot and needless to say, they didn't turn out to well Oh well! There's always next time!
-The fantasmic boat is my favorite boat too!
-The stuff at the bottom totally looks like coral!!!!
-I wanna be a 2nd grader in your classroom! You did an AMAZING job! I love the theme!
-I love the picture of Tigger and Bella! She's so frightened!
-The picture of steamboat willie is great!

 

[CandleontheWater]

I was a little behind but I'm all caught up now!

Congrats to Brooklynn on her first lost tooth! I never wanted to pull my teeth, and I'm not looking forward to Everett getting loose teeth. I don't know what it is, but it just grosses me out. I can't handle just about anything else, but loose teeth- eeewww!

Those fantasmic pics rock! I love the show and I really hope they keep up with the every day schedule going forward. Its just so tough to catch, but definitely worth it!

Your classroom looks awesome! I am so impressed with your creativity! I know your students are just going to love it, and I hope you have a wonderful year ahead.

 

[MeMom]

I think you should tell the kids to answer the roll every morning by saying "mine". Can't you just picture it the whole room of kids, mine, mine, mine .......

How fun would that be?!?!?

Thanks for sharing your video of Fantasmic Jill! I love that show....And I love the picture of Bella trying to get away from Tigger at CP! Poor girl!

MeMom, your classroom looks AMAZING! I just said to my cousin, "look at MeMom's classroom! She would have been my dream teacher!!" I bet your kids will have a blast! Makes me want to repeat second grade!

That was amazing! I would pay to see that!

A dream teacher I am not, but you are kind. I hope we will have lots of learning going on with as much fun as we possibly can sneak in.

I teach the special ed preschool for our district. I have ages 3-5. Luckily, I have an awesome assistant!

Good for you. I would like to move down to the younger ones sometimes. I am glad you give your assistant credit.

I laughed so hard I had to run and get my inhaler.
That would at least make the start to every day something to smile about.

Yes, it sure would!

I will definitely be dipping And then eating one ear at a time


Thanks so much! I've been dying to get one of those little pink mugs in my dorm room


Wow! I am stunned! I think I need to start rolling some change

-I think your fantasmic photos are perfectly fine! I was so angry at myself on my last trip because I had brought both my dslr camera and my point-and-shoot and my dslr died I had to take photos with my point-and-shoot and needless to say, they didn't turn out to well Oh well! There's always next time!
-The fantasmic boat is my favorite boat too!
-The stuff at the bottom totally looks like coral!!!!
-I wanna be a 2nd grader in your classroom! You did an AMAZING job! I love the theme!
-I love the picture of Tigger and Bella! She's so frightened!
-The picture of steamboat willie is great!

Hope you have a good college year!

Hope that change adds up to big bucks.

 

[MeMom]

I was a little behind but I'm all caught up now!

Congrats to Brooklynn on her first lost tooth! I never wanted to pull my teeth, and I'm not looking forward to Everett getting loose teeth. I don't know what it is, but it just grosses me out. I can't handle just about anything else, but loose teeth- eeewww!

Those fantasmic pics rock! I love the show and I really hope they keep up with the every day schedule going forward. Its just so tough to catch, but definitely worth it!

Your classroom looks awesome! I am so impressed with your creativity! I know your students are just going to love it, and I hope you have a wonderful year ahead.

I am the same way about teeth. There's something that gets me about the blood, the slime and the roots sloshing around - yuck! I can do broken bones and stitches with no problem, but teeth gross me out, too.

I am hoping for a good year, too. I get very discouraged, because the expectations are so unreal. 100% mastery is just not going to happen, so we have an unattainable goal, and they just keep putting heavier and heavier weights on us when the kids don't score well. There is no accountability on the part of the adults raising the children. It would be like a doctor's job performance being graded on how out of shape I am. A doctor can tell me about nutrition and exercise and warn me and scare me and encourage me and praise me and everything else, but if I come home and don't follow his advice, there is nothing he can do. It does not make him a bad doctor, nor does it make his practice/hospital a bad one, but with teachers and education, that's what they do. Does that make sense?

 

[Poolrat]

It would be like a doctor's job performance being graded on how out of shape I am. A doctor can tell me about nutrition and exercise and warn me and scare me and encourage me and praise me and everything else, but if I come home and don't follow his advice, there is nothing he can do. It does not make him a bad doctor, nor does it make his practice/hospital a bad one, but with teachers and education, that's what they do. Does that make sense ?

Absolutely and I agree. There is not just one formula to teaching. Everyone learns a little differently and it seems like these *new* plans and expectations do not take into account any individuality, on the part of the teacher or the student.

Great teachers find ways to reach every student. What has happened is those teachers are not allowed to be "creative" anymore because you all have to teach to a test. It is hard on all of you and it limits what you can accomplish.

I have plenty of other "teacher friends" in our school district who went the private route or into another district because of the restrictions placed on teaching in our district. Sad really.

 

[Mic_n_Min]

My 2nd grader would love to be in your classroom! Heck, my older ones would love it too!!! It looks awesome! Your kids are going to love it!!

 

[MeMom]

Absolutely and I agree. There is not just one formula to teaching. Everyone learns a little differently and it seems like these *new* plans and expectations do not take into account any individuality, on the part of the teacher or the student.

Great teachers find ways to reach every student. What has happened is those teachers are not allowed to be "creative" anymore because you all have to teach to a test. It is hard on all of you and it limits what you can accomplish.

I have plenty of other "teacher friends" in our school district who went the private route or into another district because of the restrictions placed on teaching in our district. Sad really.

We have lost some incredibly good teachers to early retirement because they couldn't take the pressures and the paperwork any more. Our kids are losing out on those great people in their lives because of tests and mandates. Yes, it really is sad for everyone. I used to love teaching. I could hardly believe I was getting a paycheck for doing something I loved so much, although I gladly accepted it. The past few years have really worn on me, and it's not getting any better.

Our state is presently trying to find a way out of NCLB. You can't imagine how many boxes on charts we fill out on kids. I believe in observing teachers and being sure things are right in the classroom. I am fine with a Core Curriculum and guidelines to follow. It's the detailed, constant testing that gets to me. If you were to see what is involved in a Running Record and a DIBELS test, you wouldn't believe it. They stack this program on top of that one and think every kid is going to master. They have no leeway for home issues, language barriers, special needs, etc. Everybody loves numbers in boxes, yet all their numbers in all their boxes are not changing things for the kids. I have not seen any of these lawmakers in our classrooms, either, proving that they can accomplish what they are asking us to accomplish. So many of us are stuck in the middle, though - too far into it to change careers, yet many years away from retirement.

I still try to be a good teacher. I just wish I felt like it was possible to be a great teacher.

 

[Mic_n_Min]

DS has just discovered Vinylmation. I got him a few to trade for our upcoming trip. Our nearest Disney store is 45 minutes away so we buy them online.

Very cool! Ours is the Mall of America store about 30 minutes away, but there is a better variety of Vinyls online. I usually order mine online too! Just got 3 of the Bakery ones the other day!