Fall Break

This year our school district changed our calender to a continious learning calendar. It's not quite year around, but I think I am really going to like it. We started school on August 1 and then we have 2 weeks for fall break, 3 weeks for winter break and 2 weeks for spring break.

So far the only problem I have seen at least for me is getting used to where I am at in the year. I'm having to remind myself that we are farther along in the year than we were at this point last year so if I have students who are struggling, I need to get with it to get them some extra help.

I had surgery on Monday, but I am feeling good enough to sit at the computer. I have been getting lots of ideas from all of the wonderful blogs.

At our school there are only 2 first grade teachers and sad to say, we don't plan together. We are very opposite in our teaching styles. I miss having someone to plan with and get ideas from. When I used to teach kindergarten, I used all of my own themes and then used to basals for the skills taught. I am having trouble doing that in first grade because all of our first grade benchmark tests come directly from the Treasures basal so it's hard to get away from the basal to teach apples in September and make sure I am hitting asll of the skill that they need for the benchmark. I have been trying to make the best of theings by coming up with fun and interesting social studies and science projects to go with the stories in the basal.  The kids have enjoyed the things I have come up with, but I would still rather be able to teach fire saftey, apples, pumpkins, etc...  I spend so much time on the things I am doingfor the kids right now, without a teaching partner I just can't see venturing out that far away from the basal. Any suggestions?