Monday, September 5, 2011

Less Labor for Labor Day Weekend

Phew, teaching is hard. The work NEVER ends. I'm so happy to have a day off today even though I've been working most of the day! I'm finding peace in the knowledge that the first year of teaching is the toughest as I keep trucking though lesson plans, grading papers, creating powerpoints, calling/emailing parents, tracking data, and planning for the Art Club and the class trip to Little Rock.

These things are helping me to stay sane:
Drawing from students (NOTE: the protein shake bottle)
 Homemade crafts by my friend Callie
and a quick road trip to visit this pretty lady! 

And - during Advisory last week, my homeroom scholars shared prank stories. It was a great community building conversation. The best story was about one of my scholar's putting a hamster up his brother's pant leg while he was sleeping (and then held the bottom of his pants so the hamster couldn't get out). Love it.





Saturday, August 20, 2011

Star-Spangled Start to School

The first day of school (which was in the sanctuary of the church next to our portables) our principal played the saxophone to start the day. It is just one of his many talents.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Legit First Week

The first week of my first year of teaching is complete. (and two more days now that I am publishing this post) There are just a few things I want to document and share.

First, I have the best students. Overall they are very engaged and eager to learn. I may need a reminder of how wonderful they are frequently as the year goes on, but they truly are special. And they constantly make my laugh.

The first day I knew the scholars in my homeroom were awesome. One of my students was disappointed that he didn't have homework and told me that he needed homework because he was going to college. I just want to box up that enthusiasm for him and me when we all get tired and frustrated this year.

Last Tuesday, I taught all my students our restroom expectations, which are incredibly important since the bathrooms are in our rooms in the portables. One of my slides for my boy classes said, "Please, for the love of Pete, put down the seat." First, one scholar asked who Pete was. The next asked if he was my boyfriend.... and I did my homework that night to find out that the expression is actually another way of saying, "For the love of Christ" and Pete is representing St. Peter. So the next day I told that class I had some more news about Pete for them and would tell them at the end of class. They were not so impressed to know that my "boyfriend" was a saint.

And last for this installment I have some really honest responses to "How do you use math outside of school?" In addition to money, time, cooking, etc., I had answers such as changing the channel on the remote, dialing the phone, and counting how many kills you get in a video game. I love it!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Mac Virgin

Last week I started my big girl job and just happen to have a school MacBook to use this year.
This is one of the less productive things I've learned:)

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Oh My God They're Back Again

A few weeks ago Kristi and I traveled back to the 1990s by attending the New Kids on the Block / Backstreet Boys concert.
= PURE JOY
(especially after we held hands with Donnie Wahlberg)




Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Paint Party

As part of my 25th birthday celebration, I wanted to go to a paint party. Art Jamn is in Cooper Young and provides all the supplies and help you need to create a masterpiece. You just bring wine and snacks!
Kristi, Callie, and I were in our element. Martha was expecting paint by number...
But she had a couple of "assistants," so we all ended with something we were proud of. 
Definitely a fun girls night activity!

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy 4th!

Note: Despite the less than thrilled faces in this picture we all enjoyed the Redbirds fireworks on Saturday night. (When you sit on the Bluff it is hard to pay much attention to the game.)

Note to self: Get some sun on those legs!