I Still Can't Believe This Happened!

Remember in my very first blog post when I said my next post would be about bringing money management to second graders? That was the plan... until I got an email from the Media Coordinator at DonorsChoose.org and a producer from the NBC Nightly News!

I don't even know where to start... first off I am humbled by the experience and support I've received. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine myself being of any significant importance to anyone other than my students, but it is true... my students and I will be featured in a segment on the NBC Nightly News on Thursday!

Here's what happened...

Last Thursday I received an email discussing opportunities for participation in the segment. After a whirlwind first few days of school, I sat down with my principal and discussed the opportunity. With her support, and that of our school district (and after securing the appropriate releases for my little ones), we proceeded with NBC and on this past Thursday morning a producer and correspondent flew in from New York and showed up at school with a camera man and a sound guy. Crazy I tell you... a giant camera, a boom mic, a wired mic on me all day... the whole works!

For five hours they shadowed me with that huge camera, capturing every move I made, every lesson I taught, every eager hand-raise, smile, and excited response from my students. They surely were not camera shy... I thought they'd be nervous but they were not. I thought they'd shy away from talking directly with Ms. Ellis by the end they were raising their hands to be interviewed. I'm so proud of my little people! It was day 4 of school... they are still learning policies and procedures and yet they were able to conduct themselves as if they'd been with me all year. I'm amazed!

While I'm still in disbelief that this has happened, I am eager to see the story air. DonorsChoose has been an integral part of my teaching since I started my career in 2009. Without their support and that of generous donations from family, friends, strangers, corporations and other teachers, my students have been able to learn beyond the means of the district provided materials. $22,600+ later in donations for my classroom, I am at a loss for words - for the donations, the recognition, the outpouring of support from my administration, colleagues, family and friends. I am still questioning why me... there are thousands of amazing teachers all over the country who are making a difference with their students each and every day. I simply do what I feel is best for my kiddos and try my hardest to make their time with me more fun! The whole experience is humbling. I can't wait to see the segment... for the nation to see the segment! My students are so excited, hopefully they all get to see themselves representing our amazing school and our district.

We've been told that the segment will air during the NBC Nightly News on Thursday! AHHH! I might just have to figure out to put it on a DVD and have a viewing party with my kids on Friday!

Here's a few snapshots the producer took of our interview session. For my students' privacy, I've covered their sweet little faces but the picture is too cute not to share! Imagine the look of pure excitement, astonishment and eagerness between each circle :)

Holy cow... I'm pretty sure I won't be able to top this for my students in terms of excitement! This will surely be a year to remember!

Stay tuned... I promise I'll tell you about money management with my little ones soon!

Welcome to MY World

                             Welcome to MY World

 
After 8 years of teaching I’ve decided to take the plunge and invite people into my world! Blogging isn’t something I’ve chosen to do frivolously; I’ve thought about it for a while but never really shared that with anyone… until my coworker expressed that she thought I should start a blog. (Be sure to check her out at Shepherd's Shining Stars) Erica sort of pushed me over the edge. I’d wondered if anyone would read it, would I be wasting my time, would anybody even care. Then I messaged my past two student teachers who gave me a resounding yes and with Erica’s encouragement and their enthusiasm (and promise to read…) I have decided to welcome you all to Primarily Pelafigue.

That’s me – Ashleigh (J Hi!) And yes, this picture truly encapsulates my personality. There really is no such thing as a shy person around me. I’m a nearly-30 wife and teacher of all little things! With no children of my own (except for my fur-baby…) I pour the vast majority of my energy into the twenty-something little ones I get to spend ten months with each year! I love my job – like seriously, LOVE my job! There is no other profession in the world that I can say I am eager to try… or where I can say I get to play with kids, make a difference in their lives and impact the future of our community all in my work day! And I get to do it over and over again each day! Teaching and learning is my passion – so much that I am still working on my own education. With 4 classes and a dissertation to go part of my blogging adventure will be documenting this final leg of my personal education journey as I finish my Ph.D. Then this might just turn into Primarily Dr. Pelafigue.

Now, to the important things… in order to get to know me, I figured I’d start with introducing you to my home away from home. My primary workshop full of primary colors for students in primary grades (second to be more specific but I bet you see what I’m doing there… right?)… my classroom!

My space... I really don't like a desk. My table is my little personal classroom sanctuary!

My data wall and first set of desks... see those rolls on the shelf... that's another post - my love affair with Anchor Charts!

Spinning to the right comes our Play for Pay board and more desks!

File folder games on the wall, Leadership Based Jobs on the cabinet and "my" desk...
the kids will be using my desk this week as a reward! (Who doesn't want to sit in the teacher's desk!)

More desks, student library and my materials stashed behind my
beautiful new custom curtains!

Ahh... now the good stuff... my teaching space! So thankful for technology!

View from the back

Entrance to the room: tiered weekly words, a Discussion Train for conversation
building that another colleague and I developed, and space for classroom rules.

One last picture! Now you've come full circle :)

I love primary colors (and teal...) so rather than a theme, I stick with a color palette. Like all the colors of a palette... and this year I'm implementing lots of new things I've discovered through reading teacher message boards, blogs, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, etc. We're venturing into the Leadership Based Classroom for our classroom jobs and responsibilities, beginning a modified Classroom Economy plan in conjunction with my classroom management, and learning money management and saving skills by bringing these new ideas together while the children learn to count and save money well before I need to teach it to them!

Now that you've seen all that is Primarily Pelafigue, I'll end this for now... next up, I'll introduce you to my plans for bringing money management to second graders! We'll see how this works! Maybe I'll show you our Discussion Train, too!  Encourages the students to talk to each other and helps them to remember appropriate academic conversation! (And it's a lifesaver for teacher evaluations... reminds the teacher what to encourage and model and is a pictorial representation for students to use and adapt for conversation!)