Lessons learned...at the copier

You make think the copy machine is there for convenience. That is a good generalization however, there is more to the copier than you know. You learn patience at the copier. You will have successfully copied 21 copies for your class of 23 and it will run out of paper. Sometimes it will jam  then you must seek out which of the 32 possible jam sites it could be in. Then it could be a false jam. No jam there it just felt like being opened up and investigated.  Some copiers are set up to be your printer. So you go to pick up what you'd printed and it has disappeared. Did the copy elf take it? Did it not print? Is it in the printing queue and you just have to wait?

The copier is a lesson in determination. Do you have not only the skill set to run the copier but to not give up when your two sided copy prints one sided AGAIN? Can you withstand the heat of the copy room to make your copies for the week? Can you wait patiently behind a person who is making copies for a weekend party they are having? (Also known as unauthorized use, and wasted resources). I want to talk to them when we run out of paper in a month.  There is pressure put on you when someone comes in behind you ready to use it. Can you ignores the sighs, the hinting shuffling of papers, the small talk that is really asking you how much longer?

The copier is a lesson in skill building. Do you know how to do a double sided, folded, collated, stapled, book of learning? Well, neither do I? if you've mastered that I need a lesson. I usually figure it out by trial and error but then never remember what the error side was.  Why don't they have instructions in copy rooms. Also, sometimes I can magically choose to hole punch those pages and sometimes not.  So yes it takes skill. Mastery of this skill takes time. More time than I want to allow for making copies.  As teachers we must be life-long learners. I guarantee once I get the hang of this copy machine it will die a terrible over-heated death and we'll get  a new one.

You also learn discretion at the copier. You must think before you print. You never know who is in the copy room that is going to review your copy!

For Granny...

I know a lot of wonderful things about my granny. However, last week I remembered another thing. I had went to the grocery store. Impulsively I bought a bottle of Concord Grape Juice. I had a little when I got home but there was a missing ingredient.  I had some Lemon/Lime Soda in the fridge and added a little to it. Yep, that's the way it is supposed to be. We called it Kick-a-poo while growing up. Not sure why... but there ya go! You can also make your own Kick-a-poo! Thanks Granny :)

Ants, Laundry, School, etc...

Whew! Made it through the second week of school!  There is a bit of a learning curve. In a new building you aren't certain of the routines, procedures, what's going to pop up that needs to be done. It seems like there is something daily. My team is really trying to make sure all of us newbies are well informed. They are probably overwhelmed having such a new team.

Last night I was tuckered out, but felt wired. So I started doing laundry until I could get my mind to rest. I was able to get quite a bit of laundry done. I have an extensive "To-Do" list for school next week. However, my first goal is getting my house clean.  I didn't accomplish a lot during the week other than a couple loads of  dishes. So I have some picking up, vacuuming, and general cleaning to do. If I don't get distracted that shouldn't take too long.

My landlord hired a company from the big city to come and look at the ant situation. I haven't seen any since the beginning of the week. However, as I was doing laundry last night I noticed that I had ant carcasses all over the floor next to the dryer. I never noticed they were in there. I missed that lovely entrance. I don't know if the dryer heat killed them or what? I don't even know how they got in there...! I am glad I haven't seen any live bodies! A couple of times I last weekend I did see ants carrying the carcasses of their pals across the floor. That was creepy.

I had a "Growth Mindset" class on Tuesday night after work. It was an enjoyable class. Then the next day after school was our planning day. Only we were missing three of our colleagues. We had agreed we would stay on Wednesday until we got it done! That did NOT happen.  So I made sure I stayed and helped however I could.  I was VERY tired when I got home that night. So the last couple days of school this week  I know I wasn't well rested. I will just have to make sure I have a good plan for the end of the week.

I am attempting a new Math Curriculum. The only reason I am attempting it, is because the District is most likely going to adopt it next year. I hate it. It is wrong for all kinds of reasons. One I believe students need a lot of concrete practice. This means they do math hands on with manipulatives before attempting equations. Some kids will get it without the hands on, but in my school experience the more they can see it, and touch it, the better their understanding is. There is VERY LITTLE hands on with this program. The second thing WRONG with it is the pictorial aspect. If kids can see it in a picture in a real world way it makes more sense. There is NONE of that with this program. It is mostly abstract. Which means it is just the numbers and symbols. This program expects students to understand at a very deep level mental math strategies but gives them very little visual or hands on activities to help them build that skill. Third it spirals in a very strange way. The curriculum is based on an researched high quality curriculum but they warped it. In really ugly ways they warped it and turned it into something it should not be. So WHAT am I going to do? I know the philosophy of the curriculum on which it was based. I was advised to teach it with that philosophy. Unfortunately for me that is going to take some time for me to read each lesson, figure out the "meat" of that lesson, and then adapt it to what I know is right.  Why our district is choosing this. Well it's "free". Free is better than spending money. So "free" it is. Sigh. I have some work to do.  I know it's the right thing to do.

The Camponotus Consobrinus Battle

If you've been reading my blog recently you know that I've been engaged in a battle. I am still engaged and feel like I am losing. I came home from school to discover a few ants here and there in my guest bathroom. AAARRRGGGH. I didn't want to call my landlord and have the nasty spray sprayed again. So I went online to search out some "home-made" ant killers. I discovered the Borax, Sugar, Water solution. I didn't have cotton balls so I used a napkin. I couldn't tell where the ants were coming from so I just left it where I saw the most walking about.  I left it and checked in the middle of the night. The napkin was covered with ants. They were coming from under the door trim. Then by this evening I didn't see any more live ants in my bathroom.  Then I decided I needed to run to the grocery store. I put on my shoes and walked out to the living room. In front of my door I noticed something black. Yep, MORE ANTS. So this is a new location. The borax solution I had left in a jar in case I needed more. I heated it up for a few seconds in the microwave and shook it up to make sure it was well mixed again. I soaked another napkin and set it down. It appears to be working. I can only hope!

When I went to the grocery store I bought cotton balls to place some more "bait" out.  I don't know why the ants are invading this year but they are out in force. I get one area covered and they pop up somewhere else.

I completed my first week back to school.  It has been a very different back to school experience.  I have the most thoughtful and kind colleagues. I received several welcome gifts including a very nice one from my principal. I have just been made to feel so welcomed. It is a very different working environment from my experience. Then there are the kids. I had a parent at Back-To-School Night that notified me their son went only by the first letter of his name.   I am simply not from the inner city.  I never spoke like that. I can't call you by your first initial.  I find myself wanting to say "Yo" in front of that initial and speak gangster. That's just inappropriate coming from a teacher so I call him by his name. No complaints have been filed as of yet. 

I also have a little beaver in my class. There as been crayons chewed through and eaten. The yellow from the pencil completely removed.  Hair chewed on and the ends of hoodie drawstrings. If all else fails the fingers go into the mouth or the nose. It's a toss up which one of those two orifices they will go in but they will be found there.  So I need to get this kiddo some appropriate chewy things. I don't know that crayons and yellow paint do much for ones digestive system. 

At the grocery store this evening I was unloading my cart and next to me a couple was unloading groceries into their car. They had a baby sitting in the seat and a little girl standing in their cart. She looked at me and said "You are ca-ca" I gave her my best disapproving teacher face and she said "You not ca-ca."  Her parents had been talking to each other the entire time and I don't think they heard her words at all. Her dad was smoking a cigarette that was blowing smoke into his babies faces. I heard him complaining about the cost of groceries, then complaining they couldn't get benefits because he made too much money.  If you're struggling and you have babies to feed you can't give up cigarettes? Anyhow, I think tonight won't be the first time that little girl sees disapproving teacher face. However, at least she understands that we may have to change our words. 

I have quite a bruise on my arm from my bloodletting last week.  I hope they run the tests I asked them to run. I have little confidence. 

Well, I am off to do some laundry. Tomorrow I am going to school for awhile then probably hanging with my little buddy for awhile! He wanted to come over but had a list of demands. He wanted my I-pad, two trains, and some tracks. His mom said we'd have to pull some out of his box and sneak them over. What he really wants is "Sha" to buy some trains for her house.  I have a caboose and every time he sees it he tells me to buy the rest of the train.  Have a good night....

1st Day

First Day of Kids! I survived and so did they! Have some procedures to get a little better on. Need to do some desk rearranging. Have a lot of chatters. I can't believe how quickly the day went by. It was crazy. Many parents are willing to volunteer so I need to set some jobs up for them that will be a help. Need to nail down my schedule a little better as well. Tomorrow we have Music. The music room is currently a classroom until the portable classrooms can be set up. We have ten portables which is twenty classrooms. Really that could be another school. It's crazy.  I was impressed by the number sense the majority of my students came into my classroom with. I think we are going to be able to make some great strides.

In our teacher's lounge this morning we had popcorn, m&m's, peanut m&m's, Reese's Pieces, and bottled water. It was so very warm in my classroom I was thankful for the water.  Afterschool, I pretty much cleaned up and got ready for tomorrow. It was amazing. No meeting, No interruptions. I was able to accomplish so much. The next thing I knew it was 5p.m. The day went by so quickly. On my way home I stopped at Office Max to pick up some labels I had forgotten to purchase.  The line of mostly middle and high school students with harried parents was strung down the aisles. I couldn't believe how quickly they checked them out and sent them on their way. Amazing.

I went to pick up a package and visit my little buddy for a minute. While he laid on my lap and stuck his stinky feet in my face(annoying me is fun) he told me about his school day. He ate lunch and rode bikes. That was pretty much it.  As I was leaving he said "Sha not go home." I said "Yes, I need to go to bed." He looks up at the sky and says "No Sha, the suns not down."  That fact didn't really bother me.

Last night was a short night. I had trouble going to sleep. Teachers are just as excited and nervous as the little turkeys in our class. Then at 3:30 a.m. a neighbor leaves to work then accidentally set off his car alarm. Then the neighbor above me  well I have no idea what happened. It sounded like he fell out of bed or dropped a heavy weight at 5 something in the morning. So I hope whatever survived the fall. It made my short night a little shorter.

So Now I need to get off to bed because another busy day awaits.
G'night

Phonograms

Well, busy first week back to work. A lot of training and getting ready for the first day on Monday. This afternoon I was attempting to get my SMART Board, Overhead Projector, and Document Camera to work. I was having technical difficulties. Whoever wired the room for these didn't really do a very good job. Actually, I take that back. The crazy teacher who asked them to wire the room that way had a few screws loose. I now have everything connected but I am being strangled by cords. So I have a couple of cords to get so that I am not injuring myself. I think I own both of them so I should be ready to go. The bad news is that because I had my desk all set up and bookshelves by it I had to move everything off the shelves. So I have to organize again. :( So it goes.

In the morning I am going to the Health Fair. I will have blood drawn and a couple other free health screenings. Then I plan to go work in my classroom for a couple of hours. A friend is coming tomorrow to shop for Back-To-School. So I will hang out with her for part of the day. Then probably back to work in my classroom. I don't really feel prepared yet for next week.

My head almost imploded today. A first grade teacher walked into my classroom giving me files related to last years students. She saw my "phonogram" wall and asked me "What are phonograms?" The average person I wouldn't think anything of explaining it to them. A teacher... SHOULD KNOW. So I explained it then she said "Oh I thought there were only 41 phonograms." I tried very hard not to shoot my mouth off. I just ended up staying silent. Silence is golden. Another teacher in there with me said after the she left said to me that most students come in reading so the  teachers are not as focused on that. She said the students already have that ability. I continued to keep quiet. Then she said when you are teaching students of poverty it is different. I stayed silent. We then switched topics. I cannot believe that you would get that lazy about teaching reading just because the students arrive with some skills. Improve their skills! Show them why our language works the way it does. Give them tools to sound out larger words, but DO NOT, NOT teach them.  Yeah I just yeah.... Head implosion. She also admitted that she didn't have her students write much last year. It just wasn't a priority. Okay then. I  will have some challenges ahead if all the first grade teachers had that attitude.  Well, I am off to bed so I can get up early for the health fair!

The day is done

Fastest Classroom Organizer in the West, or so I'm told. One of the teachers told me "I didn't think you were going to get it together, I thought we'd have to come in and help."  It looks great! Tuesday a friend came and helped me put up my bulletin boards. That's a two person job.  I just don't have the skills to staple and hang long sheets of paper while balanced on a step stool.  When my friend came we had it done lickety-split. Last weekend another new teacher friend I met at training helped me put together the horrible, awful, miserable, Wal-mart bookshelves. (do not purchase cheap bookshelves.)

The rest was up to me! It took me a little bit to find my vision or how I wanted things. Once I had that in my head I went for it. I'm sure a few things won't work  as the school year goes, but I can tweak it. I can also just write a note "don't do that next year." So many of my colleagues have "Pinterest Perfect" classrooms. I think though some of them forgot they had boys in the class. Some forgot if you cover every available wall space you can't post student work. They look beautiful. I went for a more simplistic approach. I like to create anchor charts as we learn together. I'm sure the janitors are relieved their is at least one classroom that isn't heavily decorated.  We have four full time janitors. They have quite the job to do keeping that whole building and all the portables going.

Tonight was back-to-school night. We had two separate times to accommodate the number of parents and students coming to school. The gym was full both times. I only had two students that didn't show up so I thought that was a good turnout. I definitely have kids from all walks of life. All that I met I could tell their parents were working people. There were a couple of stay-at-home moms. The majority though both parents were working. I have some challenges ahead and I hope I can rise to meet them.

I realized as I sit here writing this blog I have one eye shut while typing. The other is ready to join it. It might be time to hit the hay. As I changed out of my work clothes I started getting texts tonight from my new colleagues. They are so kind, generous, thoughtful, and just darned funny. I never know what they are going to be up to. They do find the laughter in all situations. Tonight, they were planning lunch for tomorrow. We are going as a crew to lunch. Hilarity ensued.

I am amazed and thankful for friends today. The grace some have, the strength, and kindness.

G'nite

Part 2

Ahhhh the relief of knowing this week of training is done. I learned a lot from great teachers. However, it was a long week. I am relieved it is done! Now I can focus on finishing the set up of my classroom. We also were paid today for our training. This is something they do for new teachers because of the cost of moving and all they know it helps their new hires. In my experience in this state you have to wait a whole month before your first paycheck. So that was very kind of them to set things up that way. There were ninety new hires in our district this year. In part a lot of retirements and in part class size  reduction.

Well I started this post and was involved with a lot of other activities. Mostly those which would get my classroom ready for the year! I have been down there trying to organize and put things away. I am getting closer every minute. I just want it to look together for Back-To-School Night on Thursday. As soon as I finish putting stuff away I can focus on making it "cute." It is the first time I've been at a school since student teaching that was so focused on "cute."  I think we were so busy with other things that "cute" wasn't our top concern. It tells me these teachers have time for the extras.

I arrived home to grab some lunch and was pulling things out of the fridge and doing my thing. I realized there was something dark on the floor. Those stinking ants are back. The ant invasion part two. They came out from under my dishwasher again and were even inside it. I ran a load of dishes and looked around to make sure I didn't have anything delicious lying around for them to eat.  Uggh now I feel itchy like they are crawling on me.  So I vacuumed them up and called the landlord.  She is coming to spray again but also called someone from the much bigger little city to come out and spray. Apparently I'm not the only tenant having trouble this year.  I strongly dislike those little devils.

I am gathering up some things I forgot to take to school and will head back in a bit. We are in training tomorrow all day. The other days we have some training and some classroom time. I wasn't sure what to do with some empty boxes, old curtains, and trash. I just left them in a pile in my classroom in the corner till I could ask someone. They had disappeared this morning. So I am going to assume the janitors worked their magic. I'm not going to assume I have a magic corner like this guy. Don't you be that guy!

3

Day three.
Today a lot was accomplished. I spent all morning in my classroom. Much of that was spent putting together a Wal-mart bookshelf. NEVER do this too yourself. Just pay someone to build some shelves. They will be sturdier and involve a lot less cursing. Even though my cursing was done in my head because I'm at work it still counts. So yeah there is that...and I have three more to set up! Waaaa!  Part of the afternoon was spent going over procedures, rules, and guidelines for our school. That was helpful because most of my school experience has been good luck and off you go.  It's nice to start with a lot of new people because we all have a lot of questions that were answered.   I am sitting here typing and my eyes keep drifting shut and I lose track of what I was saying. So yeah I'm a bit tired this evening.

We had some kind of hostage situation in town today and a large portion of town was blocked off. No idea of the results or actions taken but when i came home I didn't have to take another route.

II have more done today than I did yesterday. Tomorrow we are back at the training with all of teachers. I am going to hit the showers before I fall asleep. G'nite

Can't sleep?

Sometimes when I have a lot to get done my mind whirls around thinking about everything I need to get done. It's quite the time consumer. Its really effective at messing up sleep patterns. I was having a bout of insomnia tonight. I finally surrendered got up and started working on my schedule in my online lesson planning software.  I entered in the big important dates of the school year. I also put in the general parts of my daily schedule. That includes recesses, lunch, and specials. Specials are art, music, computers, library, and p.e.  It is amazing to be at a school where those areas have their own teacher and so I get to drop them off and go work or lesson plan. Or maybe even just go to the bathroom. Amazing. Anyhow, now that I have those all entered with their times into my daily plan. I can start looking at it and think about my lesson plans and when I want to do my math and language arts blocks. Exciting stuff!

 A couple of years ago I found this software. It made my day run so much smoother because I could visualize my schedule. I shared with the staff at my previous school and some were definitely on board. Some were extremely resistant. Some were relieved. It worked for me. The nice part is if grade level lesson plans are required you can collaborate with your colleagues. They can connect to the same lesson plan and add information etc. It's great!  It's easy to add information to for a substitute teacher. It is an effective tool for me.

Well, I think my eyes are drooping.... I have to run to WalMart in the a.m. and buy a mouse for my computer. It's amazing to even think running to WalMart to get something I need is even a possibility.  In the past I would've had to see if the hardware store had one, or wait for Amazon Prime to deliver one. The luxuries of the big city :).
G'nite

Realization

I just realized...
Today I realized I have paid off over half of my student loans. That was a happy little moment for me. Granted it took 7 years. However,  I think the last part will get paid off more quickly than that first part. YAY!  I look forward to the day I can say.... DONE!

Day 2

Day 2 of training....
Today's training made it feel like day 16 of training. The morning went fairly smooth. The afternoon was mind numbing and dull. We had a presenter as exciting as Ben Stein. Actually, Ben Stein with his monotone voice  would probably have still been a much better presenter.  So, yeah. BORING! It was things they had to be able to say they gave us an overview of, and they did. My colleague sent me a message "That's an hour of our life we can never get back"  I messaged back "I need to learn to sleep with my eyes open."  I won't go into any more detail because it is bad enough I had to experience it.

After we were done for the day I came back home and regrouped for awhile then went out to school. I met up withe one of my teammates and we helped each other with the new lesson plans and downloaded a document we need to be using. Then I worked on hanging up some curtains which ended up being a little more difficult than I thought. I have one more curtain to hang when I get back tomorrow. I arranged some things and my friend delivered a bookshelf I bought at a yard sale. I was working the whole time but still didn't seem to get  a lot accomplished.

Tomorrows training is supposedly what we need. We go to our own school site and meet our mentor. I don't know if  mentors are assigned to more than one new teacher or  what. I will find out tomorrow. We will go over how things run at our own school site. So that will be beneficial. I think most of the day we will be permitted to work in our own classroom. YAY!  They are also providing the new staff members and mentors with a  "Getting-to-know-you" staff lunch.

Well I need to drink some more water and hit the hay! G'nite

1st Day... of training

First Day of training for my new district today. We started with an activity. We were given a set number of straws, 18 inches of tape, and a golf ball. We were told that a wildfire was encroaching on our city. The golf ball was fire retardant. To save our city we had to use our straws and tape to make sure the fire retardant hit the hottest part of the fire saving the city. Well, clearly my group did not drink enough coffee this morning and was not into this activity at all.  So that made it difficult. We had to stand on a chair and drop the golf ball, if it rolled or bounced out of the landing zone it failed. So sorry the city is aflame :)!

We discussed our Educators Framework which is what is used to evaluate teachers in this state. I've been to soooo many trainings for it at this point it just makes me tired. We discussed starting the year with procedures, and a couple other things I cannot recall right now. Then we had an hour lunch which was nice. We drove down to a Basque Deli that makes really delicious sandwiches, salads, and wraps.  Then the afternoon was torture. It was a training I've also been too many times about sexual harassment, bullying, and discrimination in the workplace. We looked at federal and state laws regarding those.

Then an hour later we dived in to Health Insurance. Now this is an important but extremely dull topic as well. They do an overview for you, people ask questions, and you end up feeling like you need a lawyer to interpret whatever information you just received. Okay maybe not quite that bad...but bad. So the good news is I have health insurance effective immediately and my plan from my last district doesn't expire till the 31st. We also get paid for this week of training by the end of the week. Our checks will be awaiting us on Friday. Such efficiency!  In other health insurance related news it pays for us to have 24/7 online doctoring. So if my sinus infection hits after hours or I can't get an appointment in a timely manner I can consult with a Dr. online and they can give me a prescription.  This isn't for long term health care but those temporary infections we can get.  I can sit in my pajamas and cough for the online Dr.  AMAZING!  There isn't even a co-pay required. So that one was new to me. It is very nice though because there just aren't enough health care providers to support this whole community.

Then we have the upcoming health fair. As soon as I get my insurance card I can set up a time to go get blood work done. If we go it lowers our deductible by $200. Most of the blood work is free. I will only pay $30 to have my Vitamin D levels checked again this year.

Okay maybe there was a couple of interesting facts about the insurance. Other than that, it was incredibly dull. They have to do the overview. but it is so much at once that I always think by the time I need this will I remember?

There was a room full of new to the district teachers. It was fascinating. At my table there was one who moved out from Connecticut, one from Montana, and two from this area. Thirteen teachers had been hired from Montana. Two of the teachers at my table were first year teachers. I was impressed by how much they were paying attention, taking notes, and trying to make sure they have a good plan in place. They talked sometime during the presentation but it was related to work so I didn't mind so much. Normally, it irritates the heck out of me when the newbies do that because it is just goofing around.

One other thing we discussed and read articles about today was technology in the classroom. It was mostly about how students in low achieving schools, with low socioeconomic status, and of races other than white, were only exposed to technology for remediation and drills (practice). Where students outside of that were using technology to create and innovate. It was a eye opener to me. This has been completely true in my experience. The highest need students were given more access to technology but only to practice and review skills. If they could do that, but in a way that created something to share, it would be way more meaningful.  At the last place I worked so much of the staff was resistant to learning the technology. They learned just enough to do what was required of them but no more.  Another teacher went on and on about what technology they don't have.  I am sure that is why we have to get creative and think of how we can utilize what we do have. Think outside of the box. So I must think on this and get something together.

I spent a little time in my classroom this evening. I have my general layout done. I have some shelving I brought but forgot my tools to put together. I also forgot my curtains at home that I want to hang. Once I have everything in its place I can start putting all my teaching "stuff" away. Then I will feel like it is a little more put together. I really need to sit down and focus on lesson planning. After my classroom is back together and I can find my resources, I can do that easily. The first couple of weeks are a lot of procedures and practice, practice, practice! My classroom is on the west side of the building so the sun just beats down and heats it up. They haven't turned on the a.c. yet. I was melting in their tonight. I will like it in the winter because I will have lots of sun exposure.

I babysat my friends two month old baby while she went to work on her classroom for several hours on Sunday. It's been awhile since I was in charge of a small baby. He was super good and easy to care for.  Eat, Burp, Poop, Sleep, Repeat!  I was more concerned about him being fussy but he wasn't at all. So yay!  This young mom asked what I thought of her hanging her deer head in her classroom. I said "why not?"  She said that people told her some parents might be offended. She is teaching social studies this fall.(update: 6th grade) I told her to turn it into a social studies lesson. She could discuss hunting and gathering. The culture she comes from is a hunting and ranching culture. Why can't she represent her culture in her classroom?    If the delicate little snowflakes are offended by her deer head they should avoid grocery stores. She did seek her principals permission before she did anything and he said she could. Our students want to know who we are as people. This is part of who she is. So hang it up! Dad I don't need ducks to hang from my ceiling :)!

Well that's all I have for now... G'nite

Yard Sale...Ant Invasion

Got up early this a.m. to go yard-sales with a friend. I was hoping to find some shelves for my classroom. I did find one. It isn't anything very purty lol but it's sturdy and should work. My friends are going to have a yard sale tomorrow so I am going to try to get some more boxes unpacked so I can get rid of some things.

I started seeing a few little ants when I arrived back from up north. It seems to be the year of the ants. The house I lived in before I moved had a gazillion ant piles in the driveway this spring/summer. Up north I was helping Mom to stop the invasion at her house. Now I come back to MORE ANTS! Makes me itch.  So yesterday I caught my landlord before she left for the day. She gave me some ant bait and said she'd come look tomorrow. I had been vacuuming up every time I went to the kitchen. They appear to be coming from under my dishwasher. So after setting out the ant bait I waited a bit and then went to look. The whole container was flowing with ants. There were some on the way in some on the way out. By this morning they had pretty much emptied the ant bait container. I sent my landlord a picture last night of these invaders. She said she'd send the maintenance guy by this a.m. to spray.  I don't know how these boogers find a way in but they do!

I forgot to drop off one of my transcripts at our district office so I ran in to do that today! I couldn't believe I forgot one. There were two transcripts from different schools and they have similar identifying traits and colors so I missed one! Thank goodness I had a copy. So I think I am prepared there. I submitted all my other paperwork so I can start getting a paycheck! Whooo hooo!

I found out some retired teachers are having a yard sale tomorrow. So a teacher friend and I are running out there tomorrow morning. Hopefully I can find some "good" stuff there!  Outfitting a classroom takes time. There are so many new staff members and not enough furniture etc to go around. Some of my colleagues got a little obsessed with making things look "cute." I just want to start off organized. "Cute" can be an expensive little trap that doesn't give you any function.

When I was up north mom and I picked up some nightlights so when they visit they wouldn't trip on there way to the bathroom. I have them plugged in now.

Our District Health Fair is coming up soon. I can get blood work done for free or a low price. That reminds me I need to schedule that.... ! I don't know if this county has a health fair like my previous one but I am glad the school district has one!   Well I best get to it!

End of Summer is Nigh...

I have been asked a few times recently if I wanted to come back to my home state. The last time I was asked I realized my answer was a little harsh but definitly emphatic. I gave a resounding "NO!" It kind of startles people I've realized. Many think I am crazy for living in my desert environment with snowcapped peaks and lots of winter snow. I love it most of the time. It is a rare day that you don't have sunshine. Others see brown, sand, dirt, and sage. I can see the beauty in all of that. We have spectacular sunsets and I can go outside almost every night and see the stars. That is the physical environment.

 I have been working in a tough school environment the past few years. I've had 5 principals in 6 years. This means an ever changing plan, a lack of consistency, a learning curve, and a perpetual cycle of change. That is exhausting. So finally I sucked it up and moved. It was taking a toll on me. So I am hopefull things will be different. I think they are for several reasons. When speaking about the principal my colleagues are usually positive. When I walk in the building their is a different feeling a lightness, a sense of purpose, clear goals,  and direction. When I speak with my colleagues they are highly motivated and wanting to read, grow, and learn. They have been working on lesson plans the last couple of months and pacing guides.

I was discussing with a friend tonight how I am excited for the new year and stressed about learning and adapting to a new school. I don't have that feeling of dread. That feeling I get when there either isn't a plan, the plan changes, or the plan changes at least a dozen times and I have no idea what is going on.  It made it very difficult to prepare when you knew the plan probably wouldn't be the plan. The communication of the New Improved Plan rarely happened.  Anyhow, we were both feeling so positive about this new school year.  I am glad I made the change.

I had a much shorter journey back to my new place. It was a beautiful day for a drive. Partly cloudy, a little windy, and sunny. I unloaded most of my car when I got here. I had to drop off paperwork  at the district office today. After filling in my name, address, and phone number a gazillion times I ran down there. It's about five minutes away. I walked into the office and couldn't see a soul. I could hear  something going on but couldn't see anybody.  There was a bell to ring so I rang the bell after waiting a bit. Noone came. So I waited and waited some more. Finally someone entered through the door I came in through. It was the person I needed to pass off the paperwork to. So that worked out well. Next week I have new teacher training. Some of it will be old news as I am not a brand new teacher in this state. Some will be new to this district though.

My friends invited me over tonight for dinner. Which was great because I never made it to the grocery store today.  I was able to spend some time with my buddy. He had a lot he wanted to show me and tell me. It was nice to spend time with them.

I had a great time with my family and friends up north. The time flew by!

Addiction

Teachers have addictions they are pretty simple but annoying to most non-teaching folks.  Let me give you a few examples.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: We hate that they start arriving at Walmart in July because it reminds us time is running short and we need to be planning for the next school year. After a little bit of denial that summer will end we are secretly glad they are out in July because it gives us MORE Shopping days before S.S. (School Starts).  Amongst school supplies are categories and some of these categories we get more excited about than your first grader does.

We have the markers yea  yea markers always must buy extra because they dry out. Then there are MARKERS big fat Mr. Sketch and Sharpie Markers that you can make the most beautiful Anchor Charts* with.  Then their are pens and pencils. We always buy extra pencils because second graders are addicted to pencil sharpening. This is simply a fact. If you allowed them they would sharpen all their pencils down to a nub in one day.  Other than the challenge of keeping students in pencils they just arn't too exciting. Then their are PENS. Now if you're in Staples or the like and see a flash of greedy excitement come over a face of an individual as they gaze at the 247 colors in a gel pen pack they might be a teacher. They could also be a meth addict but you should be able to tell the difference by general hygene and their nerdy teacher bag.  Then you have erasers  which students love to poke holes in with their freshly sharpened pencils.

There are rulers, glue (please don't buy Elmer's School Glue it doesn't stick), colored pencils, three ring binders, plastic bags, and Kleenex. Why every year we say bring one LARGE box of Kleenex you think that means a small box that you let your kid pick out because it as cute _____ on the box. UGGH. Please do the classroom a favor save them from booger infestations and dripping noses with a proper box of Kleenex.(Thank you this public service announcement is over).

Then we have the notepads and Post-it Notes. Most teachers have a ridiculous collection of both. You know why? Because when we need them they arn't where we need them so we tuck them in every possible corner. The need to take notes can occur at anytime. We give our whole brain to our students then after school we are jammed with facts and information. To retain this we MUST take notes.

In general Staples, Office Max, WalMarts office section, and Amazon, are teachers shiny beacons in the dark. They help us to outfit a whole classroom for a year and beyond.  You can make your childs teacher a cute little thing you saw on Pinterest, give them another mug (uggh),  alcohol (welcomed by many but not permitted on school grounds), chocolate (always welcome), or give them a Gift Certificate for something they will actually use to buy what they need. We spend A LOT of money on your students to have a large book selection, be in a welcoming friendly place, to fill gaps in our curriculum, to teach them in a fun way so that it will stick. We are reimbursed 250$ from the Federal Government every year. Think about your last grocery bill. How quickly does $250  dissapear. It is the same with classroom supplies.  Some schools provide their teachers with a stipend and some do not. It is usually not enough to cover a tenth of what is needed. So it goes.

Lastly we have an addiction to what non-teachers probably have never heard discussed. It is a website called Teachers-Pay-Teachers. They create items you can purchase, download, and print. You can find things specific to your grade, your curriculum, your topic and more much much more. They are Teacher created and so they have a good idea of what you are looking for. Its absolutely addicting. It is also a wonderful resource but it is good when a teacher is too busy to be looking for something on their because chances are....they will find twenty other things. Anyhow you can give gift certificates from them too.

We have a few other addiction such as Sticky-Tabs to mark the pages of that brilliant book we just read in professional development, bookshelves, crates, file folders, plastic sheet protectors, highlighters, dry erase board markers, and card stock. In general I think I have highlighted the most troubling areas. If you need me though... I'll probably be visiting our most concerning and expensive addiction.... The Book Store.




*Anchor Chart: Noun. outlines or describes procedures, processes, and strategies on a particular theme or topic and is posted in the classroom for reference by students.

busy blogger...

I haven't blogged much since the big move up north. I got moved, moved in, and mostly set up. Still trying to find my measuring cups though! Was able to meet my new teammates also known as other 2nd grade teachers at my new school. They all seem like nice, motivated, kind people. I hope that holds true. There are seven second grade classes at our school. I was able to see my new classroom and get the keys so that I can go in and set up my room for the year. Exciting!!

Had a great time going to the coast with my Granny, Aunt Kathy, and mom. The weather was beautiful and the air refreshing. We also visited Shore Acres which I had never been too before. Very nice trip. We did run into a lot of road construction on the way home but at least the view was nice. It wasn't sagebrush and brown grass!

I spent almost a day baking bread zucchini bread, banana bread, and strawberry bread. I hadn't made the latter before and I haven't tasted it yet so I will share my review later. My dad's comment was given with undisguised disgust "zucchini bread?" I haven't discovered a better use of zucchini yet😀! Mom and I ate some but much went in the freezer for a cold January day. Yummy!

I have a stack of books I've been intending to read this summer. I realized time is slipping away. These books are all teaching related but I realized I have seven of them. So yesterday I prioritized them. I hope I gain some quality teaching strategies from them.

It is so strange to live somewhere with options. Four grocery stores, two movie theatres, lots of shopping. It's weird to think "I need a ______" and not have to wait two or more days for it to be shipped. That's exciting!

Soo my eyes are wanting to close G'nite!

Moved

Moving. Every move gets to a point in time where whatever is left is thrown in a box. So after unloading I was missing my box of spices and charger cords for various electronic devices. I find these items are very important to my daily life. Today I finally discovered both boxes. Whew. I was able to unpack and put a lot away today. I took a lot out to the trash. Some wrapping of fragile items and some "why in the heck to I have this?." I also have a growing donation pile. I thought I'd gotten rid of a lot before. There is always something else that needs to go. I went to yard sales with a friend this a.m. I just rode a long as I need to have my own sale not purchase others junk. There has been a "motorcycle jamboree." This week and it finishes on Sunday. It has meant a lot of extra people in down and a closed main road. Also lots of officers on patrol. Every time I went out for an errand I saw at least one car pulled over and at least 3 patrol cars. Interesting. I apologize for errors I am typing on my iPad and it isn't easy to fix a missed capital. I like my new apartment a lot. It is very quiet and comfortable.

pour me a cuppa!

Okay more caffeine is needed! I keep plugging away. I must get a bed made for my parents who are on their way. I assume these picky people will want a place to rest their head after traveling all day. I was going to play the classic rock station again but it was a disappointment. I am going to try "Malt Shop Oldies." That might work. Ohhh kaaaayyyy I must get back to it!

Ringing

If there is anything I dislike it is being put on hold for extended periods of time. I am attempting to set up power and gas service for my new place. It's a Monday. They probably have a lot of calls. They gave me their website and said that I could set up service there. It didn't recognize my address. So that didn't work. I think my phone is going to run out of battery before they answer.  So yeah.... sitting on hold. Listening to  a repeating message and not a fun song I could sing along to. Boring...

I am trying to finish up my packing today. I got a lot done yesterday. Oooh its ringing

Update: After entering in a ton of information to the automated service and about 5 "I don't understand can you repeat that please." I was connected to a real live person. Then it only took a few minutes. Why must they make us suffer with the first part. UGGH

So I have my Gas and Power connected. I have a few other things like this to change addresses for and get set up and then I am ready to go!

"Thank you for your patience a representative will be with you shortly!" Yea right!  I am going to need a nap after all of this!

Keep on Trucking!

Okay...what have I accomplished? My laundry pile is about half of the mountain it once was. I have two rooms almost cleared. The kitchen is almost boxed up. Have some to run through the dishwasher. Took a lot of boxes out to the garage. I have a growing pile to run to the donation center. I've sold a few large things I have no place for anymore. I found some help to move the piano.  My only problem right now is to keep on trucking! I have classic rock on...only classic rock now extended into  un-classic Rock now in my humble opinion.  Okay back to it..l

It continues...

Yes Packing Continues! You know I am getting down to the nitty gritty of it when I am getting rid of (GASP!!!!)... books. Most of them are teaching related materials I have not used or they have served their purpose. I have a large donation pile of odds and ends.  I've filled a few trash bags. Then a box to go to the used book store. I am accomplishing things and getting rid of things which is good. Since I am going through "stuff" packing takes a little longer than it should.

I have been staying up late and working while it is cool because the days have been quite warm. It is much easier to work on this in the cooler weather. I left the T.V. on for background noise and came out to get a snack. My timing was poor because I ended up listening/watching a program about eating "exotic" foods from around the world. I quickly turned it off before I messed up my snack. Yuck.

It was very nice two of my new team members contacted me and would like to meet up this summer. I had another friend who moved away who offered to help me move or unpack or whatever I needed. It thought this was great. I am really looking forward to working at my new school. There is always a learning curve but they seem to be well organized.

I am also excited about my new apartment. Especially since the weather has turned hot. It has a heating AND cooling system. This just brings me joy!  I have the U-haul scheduled. I am mostly packed. I have A LOT of laundry still to put away and the cleaning to do.  I somehow, someway always manage to get it done!

I have been hearing there are a lot of snakes out and about in our state this year. Most of them people are seeing are bull snakes which is good because they eat rattlers. Still need to watch your little critters because they do kill their prey with strangulation and they get quite large. They look so similar to rattle snakes you have to pay attention. Quite exciting.


 Well I am going to get back to it. G'nite

🔥

Moving during a heat wave. Not one of my better ideas. We have had these beautiful thunderclouds every day and they just blow right over the top of us. Such a bummer. I am waiting now for the house to cool down to get back to work. Sold my old couch today! One less heavy thing to move! I was able to conquer a little of my laundry pile today.  I've got to get this done so I can pack up everything I won't need for awhile.  It's hot...😅

packing cont.

If you find yourself up late packing boxes you may find yourself watching the 10 o'clock new twice. You will will eventually find yourself listening to some infomercial selling some kitchen product you have no intention of buying, but the longer you listen the better it sounds. I have many boxes in my garage and a huge pile for the garbage man in the a.m. I have actually been looking for things to throw away so that I don't have to wait to take it to the dump or for the next moving day. I have made a lot of progress today. What I haven't made progress on is my humongous clean laundry pile. It is growing and growing. Hopefully, I can get to that soon. It's pretty impressive.  I have a teenager coming to mow my lawn  tomorrow and a chiropracter appointment. I decided with all this box moving I had better get an adjustment.  Well I am going to look for a few more things for the trash pile and hit the hay!  Gnite

Boxes

You might be moving if you find yourself looking up how to fold a wardrobe box or how to replace tape in a packing tape gun. It's been pretty warm weather and a lot to get done. I go down to our district office tomorrow to sign some paperwork. Other than packing and cleaning I don't think mum is new!

Packing

The good news is the more packing I do the more ruthless I become in getting rid of stuff! The bad news is I am tired. So I must keep on keeping on. I am riding up north tomorrow with a friend with a pickup truck. This means I can make a bigger load. This also means I have more packing to do to fill the truck.  So I have been trying to stay motivated today despite really wanting to just stop. I have gotten a little laundry done as well. I am soo excited to move. I just hate the packing part. The weather has turned to summer weather so it is hot. Not the greatest moving boxes type of weather. My landlord finally turned on the outside water so I can water the grass before it is crispy. I hired a teenager to come mow my lawn since I am busy with packing and moving. Well I am off to continue even though I want to stop 😀.

Packing... and things

Well, things are moving quickly! I finished my classroom and turned in my keys today. There was a bit of a kerfluffle because my administration didn't have the paperwork required to sign me out. This was interesting because I know there have been others that have signed out. It was a bit nit-picky. I was very calm, nice, and understanding. I knew there was an attempt to "yank my chain" so to speak. I talked with a colleague and they told me don't worry administration is just upset you are leaving and doesn't know how to handle it.  For me it was more confirmation I have made the right decision. I hope that they get the paperwork soon or I will be on my way.

In other news I found an apartment up north. I am super excited to make this move and call a new place home. It is close to my friends and about a 15 minute commute to work. That is an unacceptable commute to many locals. It always cracks me up that they complain about driving 15 minutes to another little town but will drive 4 hours to grocery shop. Yea, we're strange like that down here. So I should be moving into the new place in a couple of weeks.  It all seems to be falling into place.

I just have to keep focusing on packing those boxes!

Books, bits, bobbles, and things

Well I didn't get my classroom completed today but I made a lot of progress! I also got my first bit of paperwork completed and sent to my new employer. I have a carload of classroom books, bits, bobbles, and things. I decided since I will have to move it from storage to my new classroom, I would save one moving step. Instead of bringing it to the house then having to load it again I may as well drive it all up north. So I am heading up there tomorrow. I don't know if I will have time to get much other than that done.

Moving isn't super fun. I've had enough practice though I am pretty good at it. what is good about moving is you shed many things you don't really need anymore. I just washed away the dust of the day so to sleep I shall go! G'nite

Yay!

Just signed and submitted my acceptance letter for a job up north in the big city (ahem). Well it is big compared to where I currently live. They have multiple grocery stores and some are even open BEFORE 7 a.m.   I  will share more later. I have a classroom to finish cleaning and pack up. Every year here we are required to pack up our entire classroom even emptying our desk. Which isn't too bad this year since I am moving but it does take time and a lot of boxes. I am pretty close, I think,  I hope I can get it done today.

ttfn

So Close...

Waiting is not my forte, as I think I've mentioned before. Especially when it is something important. I still think there are lessons to be learned during the wait. We  are often in a hurry and waiting forces reflection and acceptance. Waiting is good...even when it is hard.

Our administration forgot to mention that the software we use for grading expires the week before school is out. So I have been madly finishing grades and trying to get them done. Hence my late night tonight.  I think (knock on wood) I am at the point I can print them at school in the morning. I also had a few unexpected interruptions such as an I.E.P. I was informed of the day before the I.E.P. It takes a significant amount of time to get through these and finding out the day before was a little annoying.  The secretary asked me if I was counting down the days and I said "I am just going hour by hour right now." It is true. There have been so many unexpected additions to our days and week that I've had to just take it a little at a time and go on.

My allergies are pretty awful right now. The good news is I do feel better every day. I can tell my lungs have cleared. Now I just need to get through allergy season. Lilacs...in part it's the lilacs. They are pretty and hardy. They are awful for allergies. I was actually talking with a parent about it. She said when they moved here they were looking up what to plant would survive. She said under lilacs it recommended asking your neighbors before planting them because such a high number of people are allergic to them. They are intense. I usually clip the buds off before they have a chance to bloom. I didn't get that done this year. I am not sure that would've mattered though as they've been planted in just about every single yard here. In my mystery story if I were to be murdered... it would be "Death by Lilacs" :)    Yeah...

Well ONE MORE DAY THIS WEEK and 2 and 1/2 days of kids next week! I can do this!!!  Well coca-cola, vitamins, and I can do this! :)

Breathe...

I am pretty sure the new 2nd grade team, the great outdoors, and the janitors were trying to kill me today. Through the wind, the grass cutting, and the scentsy candle burning.  I had to use my inhaler A LOT. So that wasn't great.

It was a long day and I had to just chill and go with the flow even when I thought they were jumping on a crazy train! It is done.

Now I can focus on packing, getting well, and finishing my year!

A lovely lady brought my mom some tulips today. It meant so much to my mom. Happy Mother's Day Weekend!!

cough, wheeze,

Trip to the dentist round 2. I wasn't as sore or numb when I got home this time. I have one more visit in a couple of weeks and I am good to go. Woot.

I am waiting for my cough medicine to get busy. Every time I lay down I start hacking. So in a few minutes I shall try again. The wind blew today and I am sure it was irritating my already irritated system.

We have our make up snow day tomorrow. The first hour and a half I have to sit through a training that has nothing to do with me. I wonder if I can read an education book discreetly. Hmm

It has been such a mixed up week I keep forgetting what day it is. One more day and I hope to have a little down time.

Should be...

I should be packing boxes, grading papers, doing laundry. I should be doing something, but I'm not. I'm just focusing on getting well. The next two days I have to work. So today I am resting and ignoring my huge to do list.  It isn't easy to lay my head down and ignore it.  My neighbor is bringing me turkey, mashed potatoes, and green beans for dinner. If that doesn't make me feel great nothing will work :)! It's my all time favorite dinner. I could have Thanksgiving Dinner once a month and love it.  The neighbor is emptying her freezer before their big move this weekend.

I was contacted by a principal again and told a job I was interviewing for changed to a different grade level. Even better it is the grade level that I want to teach. I have a phone interview Monday evening. So I am hopeful.

My antibiotics are doing their job. I won't say more. I did get some great sleep this morning and I am going to attempt an early bed time.   I am breathing easier and coughing less. I am glad about that.

Sometimes accomplishments are little unacknowledged happenings. I am patting myself on the back for remembering to take the trash out to the curb this a.m. It's a little thing that makes a lot of difference :)!   I will have new neighbors after this weekend so that is a bummer. I will miss having my little buddy right next door. Change is in the air!  So I am going to go and rest some more.
Have a good night!

Middle of the Night Revelation

yep..it's 1:30 a.m. and I am working on lesson plans. I realized every time I lay down I cough and cough. I thought I could tough it out and work tomorrow. Yeah....that's not happening. I don't even know if a sub is available. I tried.... I want to sleep. I hope once I get a little more medicine in me I will be ready to go again. Sigh

Glasses...

I forgot to share my funny of the week.
I have a cute brown eyed little girl that wears glasses. She forgets them often but needs to wear them daily. A couple mornings a week I have to send her down to call her mom for her glasses. Her mom must  be VERY patient because she always brings them. Her mom messaged me and said I looked and I can't find them anywhere. I can't figure out where she left them. So I call the little girl to me and she thinks about it and says "I left them in a tree."  "A tree?"  I answer, "A tree where?"  " A tree in my yard." she says matter of fact.  "Is there more than one tree in your yard?" I ask. "Yes, I left it in the tree kind of on the side near the bush."   You can imagine the picture I created in my mind of this scenario. So I message her mom and share the information. About thirty minutes later her mom shows up with her glasses. She and I shared a laugh over the glasses in the tree.  Thank goodness for Mom's!

News

Welll... Where to begin. No news to much news.

We had our observations today where we go and evaluate one another on our teaching. It was the last day of this. Giving feedback and receiving feedback. It was another torture session. If I had amazing colleagues I would sooo be into observing and learning from them.  One did a good job. I myself really shouldn't point any fingers about quality of lesson plans. Because...


I woke up this morning feeling pretty awful. I went to bed at seven the night before and slept intermittently till about 4 a.m. I woke up with a terrible cough. I've been battling a cough for weeks but this was a whole new level. I new we had our observations today so I told myself to suck-it-up! I talked with my principal this a.m. and said I was going to try to get into the clinic if they would work me in. They did work me in and told me come "NOW." Well going right "NOW" is difficult when their admissions system is slower than  molasses on a December morning. So I went through that then they took me back. They got me in to a room immediately. I had to chuckle. They must've thought I was depressed because next thing I knew I had a suicide checklist handed to me. I joked with the lady if there is a vacation on here I could use one of those.  I wanted to say I just don't feel well. I want to go to bed. This is what a person looks like when they want their pajamas a cup of tea and some strong medicine. You can give me the medicine. So after that they the Dr. started listening to my lungs etc. You guessed it. Bronchitis AGAIN! Sigh. The Dr. sent in my prescriptions I thanked him profusely for working me in to his schedule and went back to work. I was there for the end of my colleagues observation and for mine. Then we met and chatted. It was good. I went to pick up my prescriptions two hours later  dreaming of pajamas and well it wasn't ready yet. Sigh. So I am trying to stay in my clothing until it is time to pick them up. The Dr. told me if I still have a cough after this treatment he wants to see me again. I hope that this works. I am tired.

I missed our teacher appreciation dinner last night. I went to bed instead. I made the right choice. The award I received was the "Kit Kat" award "Most in Need of a Break".  I'll take one. I also was given an engraved apple stating their appreciation for my hard work and that I would be missed. I thought that was nice. I was home though... taking a break!

In other news in the space of three days I have scheduled three interviews for next week.  I am excited about that. Another reason to get HEALTHY! I don't know  much about the positions but I am excited. So that is the NEW news! I am so glad the pharmacy is literally only a couple of minutes away. I can do this! Getting some medicine in my system should make all the difference. I'll make some delicious smoothies and get in some good vitamins.  

winds

Ohh what a week. Some things occurred this week that were very difficult. I thought I did a fair job of not taking someone's anger and bitterness and owning it. It isn't easy though. When I moved here a retired teacher told me " keep your eye on the purpose." I have to keep reminding myself I am there for my students. I finally made a breakthrough with a student. This child has been taught to lie. I realized that every time I would question a behavior the response would be a lie. So my reaction to this was negative. I pulled him aside and told him I noticed these things you are good at. I  really like you. Sometimes your actions I do not like. I told him what he did that was upsetting. Then I told him why I would get upset when he lied. I was very specific. He totally got it. I think before he thought I was just getting mad because I didn't like him. He couldn't connect his behavior being the catalyst. I will have to have many more conversations with him because his first instinct is to lie and deny. I am sure it has helped him survive a difficult life. I hope he remembers something from this.

Friday we had 50mph winds. It just Howells over my roof. It kicked up so much dust that the valley had a haze and you couldn't see the mountains to the north. This kicked off my spring allergies even worse. I am borderline asthmatic. I have been taking my air filter from room to room with me. You could smell and taste the dust in the air. In the night it began tosnow so that helped the outdoor air quality. Indoors though it didn't seem to clear as well. I have my inhaler, my air purifier, hot steamy showers, so I hope my lungs are better before Monday. I had dinner with a friend and she said she could hear it. If they don't clear I will head to the dr. It sure drains me of energy.

As I had dinner with the friend tonight it was a reminder to keep good people close. They remind you of what is important and help keep your eyes in the right direction.  Well I had to drink a little caffeine to help my lungs now I am wide awake when I should be sleeping. I am going to drink more water move my air filter again and hit the hay!

Weekend R and R

ahhh the weekend. It is almost long enough to recoup from a hectic week. We've had enough warm weather, moisture, and sunshine for things to grow, bloom, and pollinate. You guessed it Allergy Season is in session. Itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing has began.  My little buddy and I have been suffering congestion together. He has been over almost every evening lately. His mom has been fighting an illness for weeks now. So he usually comes to visit me before dinner so she can make dinner and get a few things done.  He has come over a couple of times and said "LAUNDRY SHA" he wants to do laundry. Even if I DON'T want to do laundry. I am grateful his attention span is short :). I folded a little, put a little away, put a load in and he was over it. He has also climbed up squished in as close to me as he could get then ordered and I mean ordered "SNUGGLE 'SHA." This means I have to pull him in close and if possible throw a blanket on him.

I went down to school to plan my week a little more. I don't like going when there are a lot of teachers to interrupt my planning. Luckily no one but the janitors were there. Which was unusual because they are usually NOT there this day of the week. So I mentioned something. Well that was kind of a mistake they had to come back today because they hadn't done a very good job cleaning Friday.

I managed to get quite a bit done for my week. I still have more to do but most of it is ready to go. As I was making copies I was thinking about the poetry I have been reading to my students. So as the copier worked its magic I decided to peruse the shelves for some more poetry. Yes, this was a mistake. I got a little lost in the poetry section. I spent an hour there. The copies were done and I was reading poetry. As I read some of the old poetry books I was thinking of how lazy we have become in our language. I teach so much vocabulary in my classroom but that can only make up for so much lost vocabulary in the home. If parents do not read to their children from a variety of sources their vocabulary is lacking in a significant way. Poetry is a really fun way to introduce new vocabulary to kids. They love the rhyme and the rhythm. The old poetry books didn't hesitate to publish poems honoring god's work in nature, the world, people, etc. It's kind of amazing these old poetry books are still on the shelves.

I haven't accomplished a lot this weekend. I've done some laundry, some dishes, some school work, and just relaxing. I finally went to the grocery store last night. I hadn't been to the store in weeks and my refrigerator was pretty grim.  I now am stocked and ready to go for a few more weeks. I made a lovely grocery list and realized when I walked in the store I had forgotten it. Of course! I did pretty well remembering what was on my list. My buddy had helped a little with my list so I forgot a couple of items like chocolate chips, toy cars, and ice cream. I did get what I needed to make potato kale soup. Maybe after my afternoon nap I will make it. As soon as my little buddy leaves for his nap I am going to take one myself.

I am being observed tomorrow for during Math. I am hoping the weather is warm enough we can do this outside. It is our introduction to capacity. We find the capacity of different containers. This involves water. You can imagine why I might want to start this activity outside. Hopefully it will work. It was a beautiful sunny, but cold day today.  Hopefully there is enough sunshine in the morning.

I SURVIVED :)

Yes it was torture. Observation day was TORTURE! The chaos of a colleagues classroom. Okay maybe torture is a strong word. It did make me feel like the students in her class; lets play with my shoelaces, throw something in the air, spin a round, play with my hair, poke my neighbor, talk to my neighbor,  plan recess in my head. Yeah... anything but learn. It was a learning experience. I have a great example of what NOT to do.

I also had the privilege of hearing how "sniff-sniff" difficult it is to teach our Math Curriculum and we have to supplement so much and this and that. ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH If you think you have to do it that much then you need to modify your teaching methods. I do supplement a little. However it completely compliments the curriculum ANNND it is practicing it in a really fun way. I am not attempting to NOT teach it because I can't use my pea-size brain to figure out how to teach it.  I am tired of the delicate little flowers who don't want to do it! Just do it and LEARN! Okay rant over.

A very good decision I made (pat myself on the back here) was to make an agenda for our planning time. We accomplished all but one item on our list and added one that we forgot we needed to accomplish. So it was focused and productive. I can almost manage next time. I think maybe I can. I think I can....! I will purchase chocolate now. :)

We've had some nice cool rainy weather. It has been intermittent so enough dry in between raindrops to still have outside recess. We can handle snow here, but rain we melt. (AHEM) Indoor recess creates monster children with cabin fever. I feel like I just jinked myself. (knocking-on-wood).

I was asked to be on the Math Team they are putting together in June to really look at the Math Curriculum and what to do with it. I thought about it because it would be some extra money. Then I thought do I really need to beat my head against that wall again and again? I've probably lost that argument and I am moving on. You can go ahead and lower your expectations and see what that does for you. I did consider it because I would get paid for that time. I just don't think I need that headache on top of moving. I hope there are enough wise people on that team to make good decisions.

FYI I am proud of North Carolina. If you don't think creepy men are going to abuse the idea they can go into any bathroom they want you are delusional. I would hesitate to ever use a public bathroom. I would actually probably be willing to PAY to go to the bathroom in a place with an attendant and locking doors. I would be more nervous on Field Trips etc to protect my students from potential abuse. This concept is a BAD idea. So good job North Carolina for not caving under the pressure.

Oh the torture... and Poetry!

Ohhh dear... the torture begins again tomorrow. Observing my colleagues. I can't even begin to explain how painful this is! I don't know how trainers and coaches go in to classrooms all the time and not go home and cry. It is awesome if they are really phenomenal teachers. It is torture if they are not so hot and then have poor classroom management. Oh my patience is taxed by this process. What I did to alleviate some of the torture is create an agenda for our planning time. The part of the day we aren't observing we are supposed to be doing planning. Last time didn't work out because the plan wasn't clear and our colleague changed her mind on what she wanted from it. So this time I asked for some advice and thought of a few things we need to accomplish and made an agenda. We can completely ignore it but it is there to fall back on if we spin into chaos again.

We had several things added to an already busy week. I am just trying to keep my head above water. This is the time of year things usually wind down. Not this year. Speaking of schedules... I am sooo glad I am moving on the schedule they adopted for next year while it does have a Spring Break they shortened Christmas Break. Someone is determined to get out of school before Memorial Day. I just don't understand why this is that important to someone.

It is National Poetry Month so I have been reading a lot of Poetry to my students. They absolutely love it. I have one poetry book where the poems are read by the authors (on c.d.) That is really fun to hear it that way as well. They keep asking me for another poem. I had prepared one a day but quickly realized I needed to have more for them. There is something about poetry that really engage kids. That's all I know for now!
G'nite

It's the Weekend WOOT!

Ahhhh it's the beginning of the weekend. My goals are to pack boxes and grade papers. In no particular order. Maybe switch it up between the two. Oh...and go to the dentist. I don't know if I'll feel like much packing or grading before then.

So the rounds of observations went about as well as I expected. I part torture, 2 parts hurt feelings, 5 parts total boredom, and 10 parts waste of time. We have another one that is rescheduled for this week. My class is NOT going to be happy. So this time I asked for some advice from trusted colleagues and created a bit of an agenda. So with our planning time at least after hurt feelings we can move on to a PLAN! Yeah... I don't know how teaching coaches do it. That is just plain ole torture. I would have different expectations of a new teacher but if you've been at it awhile what's the deal folks?

Today was a day I kicked myself out of bed, drug myself into work, and desired a nap off and on most of the day. Luckily I remembered I had chocolate in my classroom. Whew!  Tonight I ordered dinner from a local diner, hung out with my little buddy from next door, and relaxed. My little buddy came over and we "Played Cars." I got out the blue painters tape made a "road" and "garage" on my carpet and that kept him going for awhile. Then he wanted a "toon" (cartoon) and a snuggle.  I was ordered to SNUGGLE! Cracked me up! So we watched a bit of a cartoon and he went home for dinner. Mom's dinners lately must be more acceptable because it has been quite awhile since he raided my fridge or freezer. I am glad she's stepped up her game :).

Well I am going to greet my pj's and rest so I can begin another day.

Sunday Evening Denial

I feel like every teacher goes through this and perhaps folks who have a 5 day a week job. Sunday evening all the signs the weekend is over have arrived. You don't want it to be over! You want to stretch out the weekend just a few minutes longer. What this means is I usually stay up a little too late on Sunday evenings.  It is the last moments to savor the freedom.

I went to school today. Since I had completed my lesson plans and had almost everything prepared for next week I thought "well this shouldn't take long." Famous last words. Two hours later I was thinking I guess I'll go home and deal with the rest in the a.m. There are just a couple of things to complete in the morning so I think (knock-on-wood) I am ready. It takes soo much preparation to truly be prepared for a school week. I keep thinking this will get easier or faster and it hasn't yet. I always end up adding something or taking away something. One thing that has helped is I use a website called planbook.edu. It is wonderful because I can get on anytime anywhere and add to or tweak my lesson plans. It also helped me to really schedule my day efficiently. You can put in your school calendar with any days off etc. We used to design our own lesson plan template. So on there I have my personal lesson plans and our grade level lesson plans. It has really been beneficial in staying organized. On our grade level lesson plans anyone on our team can edit them so that is helpful.

I have a few favorite British shows. A couple of them added new shows to Netflix the last couple of weeks. It is delightful because I enjoy them so much and I can grade papers while I watch. I have A LOT of grading to catch up on. This weekend I have a dentist appointment and I hope to grade papers, and pack more boxes. My neighbors are having a yard sale so I may want to throw a few things in that.

"Culture of Trust"

In our training yesterday building a Culture of Trust was discussed after reading  a document about it. I turned to my neighbor a high-quality professional teacher and said if you were on my grade level team would you trust your colleagues. Without one hesitation she said "NO!" You can tell us we need to develop this all you want but until administration holds people accountable  and quits listening to every little whine it isn't going to happen. It did discuss what an administrator needs to do to build a "Culture-of-Trust" a lot is on them to build and develop. We have had a new administrator every year for awhile. Our current one is very inexperienced. Until she starts to have some insight I just do not see this happening.

I am working on packing up some boxes today. I need to go to school this evening and re-plan the plan. My schedule was changed AGAIN so I have to reconfigure. We are required to go observe our team-mates teach and rate them on our Educators Assessment. Yes, that also builds a culture of trust. Our administrator wants us to be honest...! So I am trying to think carefully of how to achieve this without hurting feelings. I just HATE this idea. There is a reason we are not responsible for evaluating our peers.  Observing, discussing, and learning from them is one thing. So I just think well.... another reason it is time for me to move on. So on Tuesday we do this meet together to discuss, then meet with the principal. We had to schedule a substitute for the day. Here is what I don't quite understand. I know and I mean I KNOW who the experts are at my school. I would LOVE to go observe them and learn from them in an area I need to grow in. Nope I have to go observe someone on my grade level team. I just hope it goes welll....

Bark, Bark Bark...Bark bark... Bark BARK BARK!

I haven't mentioned it for awhile but my neighbors have a Blue Heeler. She is a sweet likable dog. However, she is bored. She is meant to have a job and be working. For them she is just a pet. Her bark is fantastically annoying. It is high pitched and non-stop. While my parents were here I noticed they kept her inside a lot so she wasn't barking right outside their window. She barks A LOT. It is getting more and more annoying. I am over it. I feel like when you get a dog it really should match your lifestyle and if you have a Blue Heeler it needs something to herd and work to do. It shouldn't be in a backyard all day wanting you to give it something to do. I have been woken up many a morning by the barking. Now that the weather warmed up since our last snowstorm I have been opening my door a lot to let fresh air in and all I hear is barking. I finally had to decide that barking was better than cigarette smoke.  UGGH

A day!!

Where to begin. Yesterday ended up being a snow day due to the 13 inches of snow we had and people traveling back from Easter. I go in the office this a.m. and a sheriff walks in. I hear enough of the conversation to know that a threat had been made via phone. The detective was there to listen to the call. I walked out before I heard more. We were then called down for a staff meeting. We were told we had to stay in our classrooms on lockdown. We could go to bathrooms with escorts. The students even had to go to lunchroom to pick up there lunch with escorts.  So we ate lunch and had every recess in our classrooms. This was torture. Anyhow they let us know after school that they identified the person and hope to make an arrest today. They must have because they just called and said school would proceed as normal tomorrow.  So it was a long day. Also....my mystery pooper struck again. Sigh. I had to call the janitor down. How can you poop and shake it out. Uuggh. So there you go...more than enough for one day. I came home and immediately put on my pj's. What a doozy!

The Common Cold (HACK, COUGH and repeat)

This is the tale of a cold, a cold that clung on like ticks on deer hide. It is getting better by small degrees. I wish for leaps and bounds but it is not so. So I continue to eat my homemade chicken noodle soup, drink my tea, drink my lemon and honey. I have restless nights and early mornings. I had a spurt on my medicine where I accomplished a lot. I think it might have been a bad idea to go so hard because now I am exhausted. So  I hope they are right about how many weeks this lasts because next week will be my fourth week. I hope it is coming to a close.

The next few months are overbooked, over-scheduled, and overwhelming. That is just for school. My own life will have to happen one way or another. So hopefully I can get well and reboot. This is why teachers need breaks. I am telling you. The janitors need us to go away for awhile so they can sanitize the nasty germs. The students need a break so they can come back refreshed. Learning new things every day is difficult.  I am almost afraid to read my e-mail lately because it is usually something MORE.  I don't know how our district can take another million dollar budget shortfall. You know what is ridiculously frustrating about this. We can get funds. Do you think those funds can be spent on anything we actually need? NOPE!  We just got a grant the grant cannot be used for salaries, supplies, technology, capital improvements and more. Capital improvements are improvements to your building or environment so say we wanted to buy new chairs because none have been purchased since the 70's and we don't have enough NOPE!  So it goes. The government makes everything a little more painful don't they?  

I had the question about Common Core again! AGAIN! The people who are so anti-Common Core just please go read the Common Core Standards.  They are just a set of concepts that need to be taught. NOT a curriculum. I am not saying they are all that and a bag of chips with extra yummy salsa. I'm just saying what you are calling "Common Core" may be something else entirely. Just read them for yourself.  Our state adopted them but promptly changed their name. They changed their name in part to make any adjustments they thought they might need to, but also to encompass all the standards our state requires. For instance Common Core Standards do not tell what is taught in Social Studies each state adopts their own standards for Social Studies, Science, and the Arts. So there ya go! Read them for yourself.

I put a much needed document in a "safe" place. I'm losing my mind looking for it. So it is time to go to bed and find the "safe" place tomorrow. I am definitely going to label a box "safe place". HA

End of Year

There are two and a half months of school left. No spring break. We have 4 scheduled professional development days on our days off. Our administrator applies for a grant that includes three more days on our days off. I am so overwhelmed I want to cry. The lack of understanding of what is required of our time is killing me. I just have to find some acceptance make it through to the end of the year. I just want to yell "WHY?" WHY are you making changes with so little school left. WHY? I feel like my time has so little value. It is why half of our teachers are sick. It's why they have good teachers resign every year. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!   We also have to go in and observe other teachers our colleagues and evaluate them. To go observe them teaching something they excel at teacher in which we could learn from them is one thing. To evaluate your colleagues... oh this is just a monster that is going to go down ugly. Please just let me finish the school year peacefully....

In the middle of the night....

Waking up in the middle of the night because of coughing what do you do? Its going to be a bit before you can settle in to rest. I paid a few bills. Watched a little TV., looked at Pinterest, but generally couldn't do much to alleviate the boredom. I  will have some Hot Lemon and Honey and attempt to go back to sleep. It wasn't completely wasted time I suppose. My cough has improved but something about lying down gets it going again.

I did a little reading about Reading. One thing I often tell parents is if they don't have "time" to read to please but an audio-book on in the car on long trips, or just play one in your home. I hear all the time "We don't have time." It drives me nuts that you can say you don't have time to sit down and read a book with your child?  The library will allow you to check out books, and audio-books. Its free! It just drives me crazy. What I truly hear is this isn't a priority. If the parents are perhaps illiterate that is why I suggest an audio-book. Just the exposure to the vocabulary and inflection of the reader improves students ability to read. So I have been looking into how to do a Reading center for my students on the cheap. There are a few ideas but truly by the time I had everything to implement it there would be nothing cheap about it. So it might be a Next Year idea.  I am such an avid reader. I always read to the students in my care as a nanny and I always made sure they had a library card. Small children if introduced to the library love it.  Also why can't you find an appropriate book that you could listen to as a family in the car or at home.  Read to your child! It makes a huge difference in their ability to read.

I've also been working on online applications and the like. I forgot how time consuming this process is. I remember spending hours online doing applications after leaving college. It is quite an ordeal. I have a couple more transcripts to order and a resume to update. It all takes time an I never feel like I have enough. Well...I am up at 2 in the morning. I will work on that!

I think my inhaler kicked in my coughing has lessened... G'nite

Whining...for a reason 🤓

Well I guess my whining was a little justified. I decided to go to the Dr. I have bronchitis. So now I am waiting for my three prescriptions to be filled. I am so excited to feel better. My lungs started to feel tight the last couple of days so I decided that was enough.

I hope to feel well by Monday our trainer is going to be there Monday and Tuesday and I know I have good things to learn from her! I don't want to miss it.  I bought a chicken to make homemade chicken noodle soup. Mom had made me egg noodles (gluten free) that I froze for such a time. I just haven't had the energy to cook. It is the weekend so I think I can throw it together between naps.  😜
So I need to run to the store to pick up my prescritions...I am soo looking forward to free and easy breathing!

Changes

This cold is kicking my arse. I've been sick going on two weeks now. Its been generously shared around our school and is lasting about four weeks. I've tried all the cures even when I started feeling like I might be getting one. It didn't keep it away. So I am drinking a lot of fluids, every evening drinking my lemon juice and honey, and lots  of tea. My muscles are sore from so much coughing. I finally caved and took a cough medicine just so I could get some sleep. I avoid taking them because they really knock me out to the point I don't function well.  I feel like the biggest wimp but this thing is just lingering on for way too long.

In other news I submitted my resignation to this school district. I am very excited about making a change. I've been doing a lot of research and figuring out schools that might be a good fit. I have options in part because we have a huge teacher shortage in our state. I visited a school last week up north and was impressed by some things they have going on there. I don't know where I will end up for sure but I am very excited by the options. I am not however excited to move. Moving is soooo not fun. I have started packing boxes and getting rid of some stuff.  Finding a place to live where ever I go could be a challenge.  So we shall see.

I know I have mentioned this before but the only and I mean THE ONLY tissue brand you should buy is Kleenex.  Puffs have so much fluff you end up  with lint  everywhere. Then their terrible lotion. I've accidentally grabbed a puffs and had an immediate allergic reaction. Puffs brand is terrible. Then there are generic brands that are like sandpaper covered cardboard. So yes It must be Kleenex and only Kleenex. Having had allergies all my life I've road tested a lot of tissue.  So that's my strong opinion on that :)! Kleenex.

My little buddy from next door came to check on me this evening. He brought me my newspaper and asked me "Okay Sha?" I said "yes I just have a bad cough." He then promptly took over the electronic devices in my house.  Typical male.  At least he checked to make sure I was still breathing first. :)
Every time I am about to take down my Christmas Tree he visits and ensures that I do not. Tonight I had it unplugged and was going to take it apart and put it away when he came over. He insisted I plug it in and  NOT put it away. I must time it a little better.  It will be a disappointment to him when he comes in and it is no longer there.

I always struggle when I move who to ask for a reference from. This time I asked people who have been in my classroom and observed me and coached me. There letters made me feel like  I am in the right profession. It was very encouraging. While I know I have a lot to learn  I have a desire to continue to learn. I really want to be part of a team that will help me grow in my profession. That just isn't happening at my current location. There are a lot of reasons why. I have had opportunities and I have learned so much from them.  It would be amazing to be somewhere they had their act together so I could really focus on improving my craft and not other things like my students receiving services. I have made a pact with myself to focus on my classroom. I have done much better with that this year. However, if  one person isn't doing their job it impacts a lot of other people.  If a few people aren't doing their job it impacts most of the school. It is exhausting. Anyhow, I'm moving on. Moving on does make me a little nervous, but the decision was surprisingly easy. It feels like the right thing to do for me.

Stealth

The stealth pooper struck again today. We couldn't find the culprit on camera again.  Luckily for the janitor and I it wasn't stepped on this time. So gross. Hopefully this ends or we successfully catch the culprit.

 I have been fighting a cold or allergies or something. All I know is I don't want it!

I had a to do list this evening. I haven't gotten far down the list. If you want to know how teachers spend their evenings it may be they are hot gluing plastic capsules with dice in them.

We use dice for all kinds of fun activities. Gluing the dice in capsules prevents flying dice. It's been known to happen with frequency. I also made enough that sharing is limited so arguing should be limited.   I may get really tired of the sound of shaking dice.

The challenge of a teacher is challenging the students who are having success. If they get bored well it is dangerous. It struck me today that a behavior that has been occurring the last couple of weeks has a lot to do with boredom. So I have been working on ways to change it up and challenge them a bit. Classrooms are interesting. You have a group that can't read the instructions and have barely learned the activity. You have a group that gets it but still needs the practice. Then the group that totally gets it and is now bored and trying to change it into something else to entertain themselves. Staying ahead of the last group is a challenge.

I was soo relieved to have hot water again last night I took a long hot shower. It was blissful. I hear it calling my name again tonight.  I have my Epsom salts with camphor and HOT WATER. G'nite

Poooo

It is apparent that I have been busy because of the long delay between posts. I am trying to think of all the events that have occurred and I think I have just been plugging away and getting it done. We had parent-teacher conferences. That is always interesting.  I never know who will or will not come. Sometimes you are pleasantly surprised. Sometimes you are just scared. Students lives are often so chaotic I am unsure how they survive.

I learned something new in second grade. If your students are complaining all morning that someone farted. Investigate! Your happy tooter may not be the guilty party. As I lined my students up in the hallway for recess I notice something on the floor in the corner. I go take a closer look. Yep it is poo. One larger deposit and several smaller ones that have been stepped on and ground into the carpet. So I go ask the office to watch the video. They say it isn't there one second and it is the next. What we speculate is that a student had the issue rolled down their pants leg and kicked it out. The poor janitor comes with carpet cleaner. Luckily my students are outside then in the computer lab. It gave him lots of time to take care of it. Then I have to think... Did I not let someone go to the bathroom that morning. Nope I let anyone go that asked. I have students with issues but I didn't ever think this was one I would deal with in 2nd grade. Yea....I need to make the janitor something. He was as horrified as I was.

Last night I help the neighbor with her kids so she can prepare for a training we have today. I came home ready to take a nice hot shower after a long day. No hot water. None. Not even a hint of warmth. Sigh. So I wait till morning and my kind neighbor lets me shower there. I had told my landlords a couple of times I thought it might be going out. They really never want to spend money fixing things correctly so nothing was done. Anyhow, I am clean and ready to go learn.

At a staff meeting on Wednesday we were told that they applied for a grant and if they get it it will change how we do professional development the rest of the year. Um okay...there are three months of school left and you want to change the plan again? I don't mind P.D., and I am usually the first to sign up for it. However, I am tired of lack of consistency. Make a plan if you need to tweak a little...tweak a little. Please do not keep making Major changes at this point in the year. Reboot and use what you learned to make a better plan next year. Seriously!