Soul Writer

So school is just around the corner...well 1 week to be exact, at least for the kiddos....I am officially back on Monday (although I have been into my room many times already...they only give us one day..officially... to set up our rooms which is so NOT enough time to create the 'right' environment that promotes learning AND is fun!)  I have been busy getting my room set up for the new school year.  This year our building wide theme is Dr. Seuss.....so many fun ideas for decorating ....which I hope to upload pictures of my room by next week after open house.

Yesterday while at my daughter's dance class I was talking to one of the other moms there.  Within this conservation she made a comment that I just can't get out of my head.  She said 'we', (fill in the blank...teacher, friend, parent, etc.) are writing on the souls of these kids and even though I have always had a passion for teaching and inspiring my students.. this statement really made me reflect on myself, not just as a parent, but as a teacher.  WOW...what an important job we have!!!   Really....being a teacher is probably the most important job in the world...right next to being a parent.  Teachers spend sooo much time with their students...often more than the parents get to spend with their children..for whatever reason.....that we truly influence a child's thinking, not just in academics, but in just about everything that we model.  We are writing on their souls and will leave a stamp forever.  As I begin this new school year I feel that I have such an important job....yes......even more important than getting them to pass those standardized tests!!  Dr. Seuss made the statement..."Why fit in when you were born to stand out"...So if I am going to write on the souls of my students.... first, let it be feelings of acceptance, security and the confidence of who they are no matter where they are. Then let the learning begin...... :)

The Beginning.....

Hello fellow educators and all those third grade teachers!!  This is my first attempt of blogging!!  I must admit if it weren't for my student teacher, Sarah Witting, I may have never attempted to create a blog!  After student teaching with me she left for South Africa and she created a blog to stay connected with me and the students.  So....here I am, attempting to use a blog to keep not only my families updated about what is going on in the classroom, but also this is an attempt to network and share ideas with other fellow educators out there, especially those third grade teachers like myself.  I am always seeking new ideas so I hope that I am also able to share ideas with others as well!!! 
Anyhow....my name is Nicole Miles and I am a third grade teacher with Claymont City Schools, which is a small rural community, and I also teach early childhood courses to pre-service teachers at Kent State University at Tuscarawas.  My 3rd grade classroom is a self contained classroom, which I love because I can connect so many objectives to other content areas based on a theme, story, or learning objective, making learning more relevant to the students.  I am beginning my 7th year as a third grade teacher.  Prior to teaching at this level I taught preschool for 5 years, which is on the opposite end of the spectrum.  I must admit, I love teaching third grade!!  Students can work independently, already have a strong understanding of the school rules and expectations, and participate in such great literature studies BUT they are still young enough to be silly, sing songs, and they are not yet judgemental when I am being silly or singing...haha.  I hope as I begin this blogging journey at the start of the school year I can bring new ideas to your classroom!!! Please feel free to share your ideas!  After all, teachers, beg, borrow, and steal :)