Meet the Teacher Monday - Blog Hoppin'

We are linking up to I'm Blog Hoppin for Meet The Teachers.


About Us:
We searched everywhere for a picture of the two of us together.  We finally found this one from a couple of years ago.  Jess is in the middle with her oldest. Pam is on the right with her daughter.  We're at the Harry Potter Exhibit at the Museum of Science.  We met 14 years ago.  Jess was in her second year of teaching fifth grade and Pam was starting in fourth grade.  Two years later, Pam looped to fifth grade.  We had a tight team.  We began planning together every week and got really close.  We began hanging out outside of school.  Our daughters play together nicely.  Pam is Jess's youngest's godmother.  Our husbands get along great.  We are Vacation Buddies.  We've been to Sesame Place, Hershey Park, Disney World, and some overnight trips together.  

Jessica - I teach Kindergarten. This is my fourth year with Kinders and I love it. I have a wonderful husband, we've been together since middle school (26 yrs., wow!) and two beautiful girls, Alexandra, 9, and Lauren, 4.

Pam- This my third year in kindergarten.  I also have taught first, fourth and fifth.  I am married and have an adorable daughter, Madison, 8.  

How long have you been teaching?

Jessica - We live up here in NH. I'm going into my 15th year of teaching. I taught 11 years in fifth grade, and when the district decided to start a Kindergarten program, I knew I had to do it. This will be my 4th year and I can't imagine doing anything else. I love how the children are excited about learning and everything is new and magical to them.
Pam-This is my 14 the year teaching. Although, unofficially I have been teaching since I started kindergarten!  I used to play school and force my brother and any other children in the neighborhood to be my students.  My friend and I would go to the library and take out the same books so we would have "multiple copies" for reading groups.  We would spend hours coloring a paper with black crayon so that we could make copies of our worksheets.

What are you looking forward to?

Jessica - This year we will be have both full and 1/2 day programs for Kindergarten. I can't wait to see how that all goes down and my new group of kiddos. I am also going to be trying Debbie Diller's math and LA stations and am excited about all the new independent learning that will be going on.
Pam-This year I am looking forward to teaching kindergarten FULL DAY.  I bounce between being excited to have the kiddos for a couple of extra hours, to thinking how am I going to keep them entertained for the entire day those first couple of weeks!

What I need to improve on?

Jessica - I am always trying to improve on my communication between home and school and trying to find systems that are easy to keep up with and effective. I also can always use help trying to balance the mommy, work, wife, and amount of time to be the best me juggling act that starts back up in September.
Pam-I want to improve my workstations.  Jess and I read Debbie Diller's books and spent countless hours this summer trying to fine tune our ideas. 

What I can't live without?

Jessica - 1. Target dollar spot 2. Exercise/listening to my ipod time 3. My best friend, Pam to keep me sane 4. Mountain Dew 5. My cricut
Pam-It goes without saying-Jess.  We can finish each other's sentences or sometimes not even have to say it out loud!  It is nice to have someone who has the same values and beliefs to share so much with!  I cannot live without my laptop, color printer, and laminator.  I am on the laptop constantly to check my Google Reader or to Skype with Jess.  I need the printer and laminator for all the ideas I find out here in Blogland.   For instructional purposes, I love my ipod.  We sing and dance our day along!