First Day Back

Yesterday was my school's first day back. It was rough - my roughest one so far. It was more my issue than the group of kids I have. They seem really good and I am looking forward to the year with them. The day felt so disjointed and I was trying to incorporate some of the stuff I learned over the summer that is now required and it just felt awkward. And then two previous students had some major problems getting home. The bus routes have all changed and everything was a mess. Ugh.

I have one kiddo who doesn't speak a lick of English. I had the class fill out a form about last year, the good and the bad to prep for a goal activity for today. I translated it for kiddo and he was so funny. On the question - "What is one thing you would change about last year", he wrote I wish they had taught me English. :) I did have him logged on to the computers and working on some English programs before lunch. That is huge because in past years it has taken me a month or two to even get my computers up and running.

I get so emotionally vested with my students. I truly love them all so much. It was a great day to see so many of them come find me - even ones who are now in 5th grade. I end up being an advocate for so many of them, even after they leave my class.

I was absolutely exhausted after school. I had to drive to pick up Ryan from Tim and I was so tired I had to stop at a rest stop and sleep for 20 mins. We came home and both crashed.

But I am feeling much better this morning. I love my kids, I love teaching, and I am looking forward to today.

Only Me

I am the only person on the planet that can give myself a goose egg loading a case of copy paper onto a dolly.

Lots of long days at school right now. Meetings, meetings and more meetings liberally peppered with presentations that I have had to do and long nights getting my classroom ready. But things are looking sooooo much better than they ever have. The peaceful feeling that comes with decluttered, organized, and clean is worth all of the late weekends and nights over the last two years!

Meet the teacher is this afternoon and then school starts tomorrow!

School Update

So, Ry has finished his first full week of school and I have finished my 3rd. We are both alive. Each day has been better than the last. Ry has decided that he wants to join the orchestra (we will find out what instrument this next week) and much to his chagrin, he made the 5th grade Honor Choir. He is not too sure that choir is cool enough for him, but he did perk up when he found out that the choir gets free tickets to the High School football games when they sing. So, he has decided to give it a try. Baseball practice also started this past weekend and his first game is Tues. Between choir, orchestra, scouts, & baseball I don't think that he will have much time to get into trouble.

For me- I really love my class. The kids are so good. And some of them have really hard lives. At least two are in the foster care system. But they are so much fun. We have been memorizing poems and listening to Mozart. We learned a cute song about the continents & where they go on a map. We practice skip counting to the mac arena. They have been learning how to use a dictionary, make & read maps, read clocks & thermometers, the history of the Olympics and I am currently reading a biography of Helen Keller to them. It has been so fun to see them learning & having so much fun. I am a bit sad that next week some of them will go to other classrooms for one hour a day. I am feeling a bit possessive of my kids.

Life still has its challenges. Public school red tape makes teaching almost impossible. It is very frustrating but I am learning the ropes and squeezing in as much as I can. I am still putting in around 60 - 70 hours a week, but I have been getting to bed earlier and I am working harder to balance everything. All in all, life is good.