March 11-21 (High School Weeks 2 & 3)

Monday, March 11

Tuesday, March 12

Wednesday, March 13

Thursday, March 14

Monday, March 18

Tuesday, March 19

Wednesday, March 20

Thursday, March 21

I realized today it had been two weeks since my last posting.  Have been staying too busy and having too much fun to remember to post anything!

Last week we spent lots of time preparing for our District Assessments.  This past Thursday, we traveled to Moody Middle School (my alma mater!) to perform.  Our five choirs performed very well.  Four choirs achieved a I-Superior rating, and one choir received a II-Excellent rating.

Has been really great seeing them grow as they have prepared the last few days for this assessment, but has been even more fun acting as a sight-reading coach for many of the choirs.

Have already started to pick out music for the spring concert with my cooperating teacher and look forward to working with them the coming weeks.  

Only one more week 'til Spring Break, and after that only four weeks until graduation!

Day 4: March 7, 2013

Finishing up the first week at Deep Run was fun and exhausting.  Spent my first 12-hour day at school as we prepared for our Pre-Assessment concert.  The students performed very well and our mock judges provided plenty of good feedback.  I got a great shot a working the technical side of a concert (designing the program, running the lights & sound, etc.)

Today was a TWO TIE DAY!  Because of the concert, I decided to take a wardrobe change.  The first tie is a favorite of mine (lifejackets and ring buoys).  The second is a new tie that had its debut at the Deep Run concert.  I chose this purple and blue tie to represent both my JMU Dukes (who are playing for the CAA Men's BBall Championship Monday night!) and the Deep Run Wildcats.

Starting back up with week 2 at Deep Run and a whole new load of ties this coming week.  Keep your eyes out for a post that spans the whole week.

Thursday, March 7, 2013:
During the school day

Thursday, March 7, 2013:
Concert attire

Day 3 (March 6, 2013) - SNOW DAY!

Today, woke up, got in the shower, turned on the water, only to be told it was a snow day!

Got back in my pajamas and caught up on NCIS.  :-)

After this first week I will return to posting WEEKLY instead of DAILY.

Day 2 (March 5, 2013)

Today, I wrote two sight-readings for our choirs and worked with them through this process.  It was incredible to see students help lead their groups through this exercise, and also have the opportunity to help them find some more structure as they went through it.  Really cool getting back into my "composing" and "arranging days" even if it is as simple as a 8-bar sight-reading.

In honor of such, I wore my NEW music tie!  Happy Straight Tie Tuesday!

Placement 2: High School: Day 1 (March 4, 2013)

Today I started high school and had so much fun!  They are on a modified block schedule, so I was able to meet every choir.  Immediately immersing myself in the day to day of the classroom routine, I was doing attendance duty, photocopying, and preparing packets for our district assessment!  Definitely going to enjoy this experience!

Day 1: "First Day of School"

(Forgive the double-chin and slightly askew bow...) 

End of Placement 1 (i.e. The Time Mr. Tickle's Ties Fell Off The Face of The Earth)

In some semblance of an order...

First... The bow ties...

Next... The Straight Ties (a la Straight Tie Tuesday)... The Spongebob was a HUGE hit!!

 

Now that I have updated these, I will be back in the swing of things for placement two!  Off to high school!

Day 18-21 (February 4-7, 2013)

What a week!  Second week of recorders and second week using my own lesson plans and being lead teacher.  Started feeling poorly towards the middle of the week and left early Thursday afternoon.  A Friday morning trip to the doctor confirmed it: first unofficial "gift" from a student... strep throat!!

Have had a good time hanging out on the couch today and recovering, but definitely missed spending time with the kids at school.

Cannot believe how much fun it has been so far.  Looking forward to the last couple weeks of elementary, and then on to high school!  What a transition that will be!!

And without further ado... This weeks TIES!

Monday - Day 18 (February 4, 2013)

Straight Tie Tuesday - Day 19 (February 5, 2013)

Wednesday - Day 20 (February 6, 2013)

Thursday - Day 21 (February 7, 2013)

Day 16 (January 31, 2013)

This past week was very exciting as I debuted my first full length lesson plan AND began recorders with our 3rd graders!  Embarrassed myself with an under-prepared first lesson plan.  However, it is wonderful working with such supportive and experienced teachers.  My cooperating teacher and I were able to talk and work together to adjust my lesson plan and prepare to teach the rest of the classes for the week.

Really enjoying student teaching, and hard to believe my first placement is halfway done... Only 3.5 more weeks of elementary, then I'm off to high school.

ALSO... Got my second piece of fan mail this past week.  Photo forthcoming...

Day 15 (January 30, 2013)

Happy Wednesday!  Tomorrow = last tie of the week!  Friday = No Tie Friday!

Day 14 (January 29, 2013)

Welcome back!  Forgot to post Friday...but there are no ties lacking as it was No Tie Friday!  No school Monday also meant that today is the first tie of the week AND Straight Tie Tuesday!!!

Enjoy!

Day 12 (January 24, 2013)

So close to a snow day or delay... but Henrico decided to be the ONLY district in Richmond that didn't delay or close...

Had a great observation from my supervisor today and am working on crafting my own lesson plans now for the weeks to come!

Happy Thursday!  Tomorrow: No Tie Friday! AND the WEEKEND!!!

Day 11 (January 23, 2013)

Back to the bow ties!  Happy Wednesday everyone!  Tomorrow: last tie of the week.  Friday: No Tie Friday!

Oh, and had a YUMMY lunch from the PTA today!  Chili luncheon and had a delicious chicken and white bean chili.  Gotta love the parents who appreciate what we do for their children each day. :-)

Day 10 (January 22, 2013)

Well Henrico, and the snow, pulled through, and I enjoyed a lovely, relaxing SNOW DAY on Friday! Monday extended my time off into a 4-Day weekend.  Enjoyed watching the Inauguration festivities on television.

Today was back-to-school, and I celebrated the "start of the week" with Straight Tie Tuesday!  Looking forward to this shorter week and meeting with my university supervisor again this week.

Day 9 (January 17, 2013)

It's snowing outside...No school closing/delay yet...But C'MON HCPS!!!!!

Here is today's installment!

Tomorrow: No Tie Friday (or a day off!)

Day 8 (January 16, 2013)

Today was another great day at Shady Grove Elementary!  No cards today, but definitely a lot of fun.  Mr. Brady and I have lunch duty on Tuesday and Wednesday, and those kids are always super talkative  but really funny.  Today they had me review my times tables for them.  Second graders can't outsmart me!

Taking my VCLA test this weekend...the last major test I need to take before I finish student teaching and earn my VA Teaching Licensure!

Next up: Last bow tie of the week and No Tie Friday!

Day 7 (January 15, 2013)

Happy Straight Tie Tuesday!!

Today's tie was a gift from my parents from their 25th anniversary/50th birthday trip this past summer.  It is fine Italian silk with little owls on it :-)

I also received my first card from a student today! :-) I like his creative spelling of my last name ;-)

Day 6 (January 14, 2013)

Short post today... this teacher is tired... More info tomorrow...

Day 5 (January 11, 2013) - End of Week 1

Fridays are casual days for teachers at Shady Grove Elementary, so today I wore jeans and a red plaid button down in honor of their school mascot, the cardinal.

Happy Weekend Everyone!  Enjoying sleeping in tomorrow morning and then spending some "down time" moving out of my old apartment (with the help of my lovely girlfriend, Chelsea).  Then a nice "date" to the JMU football banquet with DHall's own Ms. Kathy!

Mr. Tickle's Ties will return bright and early Monday morning (or sometime during a planning period...)!

Day 4 (January 10, 2013)

Today's tie is a new addition to my collection from Christmas vacation.  I love purple and I love making money, so this tie is a new favorite.

Tomorrow: No Tie Friday!  Thinking either some JMU or Shady Grove colors!

Day 3 (January 9, 2013)

Starting this Wednesday with an early morning post of my outfit.  Headed out the door soon for some much needed Starbucks!

Branching out today with a non-white button down and plaid bow tie.

Coming up... Last bow tie of the week tomorrow... and No Tie Friday!

Day 2 (January 8, 2013)

Happy Straight Tie Tuesday!!!

Today's tie is an homage to my name, Mr. Tickle.  This tie depicts the character from the Little Men & Little Miss Series, Mr. Tickle, by Roger Hargreaves.

Mr. Tickle By Hargreaves, Roger (Google Affiliate Ad)

He is actually the original character from the series!  I got this tie two years ago on a trip to London with the JMU Marching Royal Dukes :-)

Day 1 (January 7, 2013)

Started at practicum placement number 1 today as an elementary school music teacher.  It is really fun being introduced as Mr. Tickle and having students smile and call you by name in the hallway.  Not loving the 6a.m. alarm clock and driving to work in the dark.

This first tie is a double-sided tie I just got over Christmas vacation.  Look for the other side, purple and gold stripes, to be making an appearance soon too.

Representing JMU proudly on my first day of student teaching.

(Preview for Tomorrow: Straight Tie Tuesday!!!)