Here is what I've learned so far.

I have just completed my fourth week of student teaching full time. I have learned a few things:

1. Wear comfortable shoes. No matter how cute they may be, your feet will punish you if they are not comfortable. My shoe of choice? Red Chuck Taylors. Love them and they let me express my personality in a fun way. 
   
2. Don't stay up late! Even if you are a victim of a Netflix addition, don't give in on school nights. Morning comes way to early and you will regret it all day.
   
3. Enter grades as you go. Don't wait until the end of the term. Luckily I took this advice at the begining of each term and I have not had loads of grades to enter right before report cards are due. With that said, so record things on paper as well. I was witness to a breakdown by another teacher because all the grades he had entered disappeared. 
    
   
   
4. Plan, plan, plan and then be ready to change everything! Things don't always go the way to want them to and that's OK but if you don't plan you will be floundering in the water. I created my own plan book because the one I got from the teacher store was just not OCD enough for me. I needed it to be exactly how I wanted it to be and not a generic calendar.
   
    I found a really cute lines journal and transformed it into a personalized teacher planner.
   
   
   
   I created monthly pages that show only school days, that way I had more room for the days I would be using the planner for. I assigned different color washi tape for different activities. Pink is for teaching requirements, yellow is for university assignments, and so on. 
   
   
   
    Just like the generic teacher planner, I included a weekly view broken into time slots. This is for a quick and easy look at the week, but not a lot of room for details. (That is what is wrong with the generic teacher planners).
   
   
   
    I also included a detailed section of before and after class "to do" sections. This gives me a place to plan out m time before and after school, so I know when I can get things done. Turns out this is a little redundant and I probably wont include this in my next planner. 
   
   
    
   Lastly, I have the daily page. This is exactly what I wanted for each day of the week. I have a page with the day broken into time slots with room for more detail but I also have a place for daily reminders, notes about the lessons of the day as well as a section to plan my centers, tech and homework. 
   
   
   The planner took me all of winter break to make and I know that it is unpractical to make one like this for an entire school year, so for next year I plan on making it digitally and then printing it out. But this is PERFECT for right now. I have had so many complements on it from other student teachers as well as in-service teachers. Maybe when I perfect my layout, I can offer it to others. :) 
   
   
5. Correct homework each night. I know that sounds like a lot but if you wait and let it pile up you will kick yourself, hard. Be forewarned. A little every night is better than an entire weekend.  
    
   I found a grade article on homework and have implemented into the classroom, so I don't have so much homework to correct. Check it out here. 
6. And lastly, take time for non-school related stuff, like your family. I love being in the classroom and all that entails but I love my son so much more and the time I spend with him is priceless. Make time to have fun and do what you like. I spend time with my chickens and I can't wait until the weather allows me to play in the garden and spend more time outside. 

Take the time for yourself. You deserve it!!

Mrs. H.