Spaghetti Night

I love Spaghetti... not sure why I don't make it more often. It is even better in the next couple of days. Yummy. In our monthly lunch menu it drives me batty that Spaghetti is misspelled every time. Speghetti. Yep Speghetti. If my students remember it is Spaghetti day at school they try not to miss it. Then we have to practice saying Spaghetti, because you get the "basghetti, Pasghetti, skagetti, and other variations.

 I managed to get a lot accomplished this weekend which was a good feeling. I worked on some of the areas in my classroom I didn't get to before school started. Three more garbage bags out the door. Woot Woot. I kind of skimmed the surface because some things I wasn't sure about. So maybe when I have a better grasp of what I need/don't need more will go out the door. Some of it is soooo dated but until I have something of quality to replace it I will keep it. I also got a few of those time-consuming tasks done. Those tasks that require a quiet room and a little time to finish them. I also did some more laundry and cleaned house.

 In about 9 days I have the school board presentation. I am NOT looking forward to this. When that is done I will feel sooooo much better. Before that meeting we are having a maintenance meeting to look at some of those things that need to be worked on. They are probably going to repave our entire parking lot. It needs it pretty badly. Part of this is where the kids play on the playground. It would be fun to see their sidewalk chalk art on new black top. If they do that I will paint hopscotch courts for them. Another thing they are talking about doing is replacing all the carpeted classrooms with vinyl flooring. I would LOVE to say goodbye to my stinky, ripped, taped, smelling, stained, messy, putrid, old, carpet. What I am NOT excited about is emptying my whole classroom so they can accomplish this. This will definitely inspire me getting rid of more old stuff from my classroom. I would love to go through the whole school and get rid of the textbooks from 1975. I am so not kidding about that date. I think my school secretary is a hoarder. I have a tendency to save to much but I eventually hit my wall and get rid of a lot. Hopefully when we have to clear out rooms to replace them w/ flooring it will inspire getting rid of stuff! UGGH I have to ignore it most of the time even though it drives me crazy! Well... I'd better get myself to sleep

Visitors

Well... when you hop in the shower and turn the fan on you never know who will come knocking! And the worse part is you won't even hear them knocking! I was sooo bummed out. I missed seeing some friends from home! I thought they were joking when they told me they stopped by. Today was another crazy busy day. The superintendent stopped by and we discussed some of the needs/issues at our school. He has been down to visit our school many times and since he is new to the area I think he is getting more and more aware of what the whole district is dealing with. He's very personable to talk with so that is nice! The more I learn about certain things the more frustrated I get. People are not doing things in the correct way or the honest way. I think because we are isolated there is sometimes a lack of oversight. Which is a blessing and a curse. I just have to keep my focus on doing right and help others who are also trying to do the same. It sounds like I may be losing my carpeted classroom and be switching to vinyl floors! That would be WONDERFUL!! The carpet is so old, torn, taped, and stinky. When my class has been closed for the weekend I walk in and it smells like used kitty litter. Nice eh? Some positive change I am seeing is that more people from the community are willing to get involved with different activities. I am glad to see this because it takes a lot of pressure off of me. I feel like I've been the instigator most of the time on getting things going. Having the community get things going is much much better! We have a school board presentation coming up with all teachers doing about a 2 minute talk. UGGH.. the Principal keeps saying talk about this or that... and so far I'm like hmmmm not impressed w/ you suggestions. Anyhow, there is a solar eclipse occurring on May 20th, 2012. Our area of the state is in the right alignment to have a great view of this. A local person asked me to help host an eclipse viewing event. So I am helping with that. To view it safely you need the protective glasses... so we are ordering them. We are also having the event on a nearby mountainside over looking a valley and facing west. Afterwards we are cooking up S'mores... so that on Monday I will have students crashing from sugar!! YAY!! ahem. I have forgotten to tell you about the Dangers of Tobacco. We had students from the larger town in our district come teach our students about the dangers of Tobacco use. One of my first graders became more and more upset by the presentation. She clinged to me more and more. I finally asked her if anyone she new smoked, or chewed. Nope she didn't but her soft little heart was sad for all the people who died from cancer etc. caused by tobacco use. They also had 2 pairs of pig lungs. One pair healthy and pink and breathing correctly (on a machine), another pair that was damaged to recreate the idea of what a smoker's lungs would look like. This was very very upsetting to her. I reminded her of "Little Britches" by Ralph Moody. I said what was the purpose of the life of a pig? "To be food for us", I said "well the rest of this pig was made into food for us" "but the lungs were saved to teach us about why not to use tobacco" "so these pigs purpose was to teach us, which is pretty neat if you think about it". She agreed that these pigs got to do a little more for us than feed us but she still thought it was scary and gross. Well there you go! Anyhow I talked with her parents later and they said she was very upset for the rest of the night. I don't think they have to worry about her smoking. Well in a previous blog I told you about teaching my students to "toot". Well this has become a really fun stretching activity. Thank you mom for bringing me that bottle of "Febreeze" we needed it. On spring break I bought a Cd for my students called "Horse Tunes For Kids"... they are loving it but I had one of the songs rolling through my brain as I was trying to fall asleep last night. I finally turned it off and the wind picked up and was gusting against the side of my apartment. It finally slowed down and I feel back asleep. Welll that's all for now

Pippi

I've been trying to play an audio book for my students but for some reason I can't get the audio settings correct. Now that we are running the Fan's and AC it is really hard for the students to hear. So I had to stop it for now. I had to go to the shelf and pick something quickly. Sometimes this works out better than when you have a lot of time to pick out a book. The first one I grabbed was Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. This was one of my favorite characters as a child. I even "helped" wash a kitchen floor a few times "Pippi" style. I started reading it and felt the same thrill as when I first read it. My students got into the story very quickly. It is really fun when you reel them in with a good story. We have a school board presentation on the 9th of next month. I am in charge of decorating the foyer and creating a 2-3 minute presentation for the board. I am a little stressed about what I have to accomplish in a short time. Anyhow, my students and I have finished our Important Book, inspired by a book called "The Important Book" by Margaret Wise Brown. I really want to have it done and together to share with the school board. I think they would enjoy it. My internet went from completely dead to barely functioning. We'll keep making phone calls until we get so annoying they want to come fix it. Of course people sent me some lovely videos and interesting texts that I can't open. I also got a card in the mail from an "old" friend today just to say hi. That was a nice finish to the day. I have been teasing a couple of my students all year long about being adopted by their family. Purely based on their homemade school lunches. Fresh homemade bread, spaghetti, brownies, and more. Today they came in and said "Miss C, Miss C, Mom said she'd adopt you!" It was so cute. So I am invited out to their place this weekend learn how to make bread. I have gotten a couple of recipes from their Mom she is an amazing cook. She even makes her kids homemade "fruit leather" from fresh fruit. Yummy! So I'm adopted... I'll let you know how that goes :)

Internet, Lightening, Visits, etc

Getting on the internet has become almost an unbreakable habit. For me it is a way to have a little social contact when I live so isolated. I reach for my computer and then realize for about the 15th time that I can get on the computer but not the internet. So of course I have to stop at the gas station to get the “local news.” The internet isn’t just down for me but most the town. Unless they have satellite internet, which costs way more money than I am willing to spend. It is also just as unreliable. I don’t know what will bring us into the modern age, but it doesn’t look like it is going to happen anytime soon. I had a somewhat productive weekend. I spent most of my Friday catching up on laundry. I didn’t completely conquer it but I was definitely winning the war. Saturday I got a series of texts inviting me out to the ranch of one of my students. I say a series of texts because well… when the internet is down…the cell phones are also unreliable. So we send, resend, get it a day later, or never get a text. Anyhow we are used to this situation, so I accepted the invite a few times then gave up and called. I ended up spending Saturday afternoon and evening out at this ranch. It is in a beautiful location surrounded by mountains . They were practicing their roping skills. They had a “playpen” for the little kids which was more like a small fenced corral. It definitely worked for keeping them safe from cows and horses. It did make me laugh though. They had the typical old rock buildings and many newer ones. They’d built a lot of fence and corral out of old pipes they had to remove and replace. On the way back home after dark… millions of jackrabbits played chicken with my car. Okay maybe not millions but so many you can’t believe it. It is like they see the headlights of the car and that is their cue to CROSS THE ROAD! I think I only took one out. Which is seriously amazing. Driving back over the summit lightening was striking way off in the distance. A flash of yellow briefly highlighting the clouds above at the peaks of the mountains. It seems tonight we are having more lightening. I’ve seen sprinkles off in the distance and once in a while a flash of light. It seems it is spring. There are finally daffodils blooming, buds on the trees, songbirds, butterflies, flies, moths, barflies, motorcycles, and an abundance of tourists. Yep spring has sprung.

Tootie Toot Toot

Today was Spring Picture Day and I will do what it takes to get my kids to smile. I have a couple who are determined not to smile. These are the boys of course...so we get to the first boy and I say... Oh NO " So & So TOOTED" of course laughter ensued! Boys and Tooting go hand in hand. The Tooting Discussion did not end there of course because well... as I mentioned Boys and Tooting go together, like peanut-butter and jelly. So we get back to the classroom and their Teacher teaches them a yoga move that will induce Tooting if you are desperate to TOOT. It can also help them to POO! Ahh mass hysteria. It took awhile to come back to Mathematics when Toots and Poo have been brought up. I am not sure if I will get any notes from home about Tooting on Monday. I may get some comments when they see me. :) I like yoga as a stretching exercise, not as a system of belief, and EVERYBODY needs to TOOT Sometimes! HA HA

Your best...

Sometimes your best doesn't look like much to anyone else. Sometimes your best at a particular moment on a particular day is pretty pathetic. We all have those times where we aren't our best. Those times when you think your are trying really hard, but someone outside might think you weren't trying at all. I realized that sometimes I need to take a step back. Maybe a person IS capable of more, but is having a bad day. I am grateful to the folks who can overlook those days and realize that it wasn't my best, but the best I could do at the time.

It has been great to be back with my students. They make me laugh every single day. I truly never know what they are going to say or do. It makes it really fun. It will be fun to see how much they grow and change over the summer. My aide and I were talking about how we/I could change around my classroom this summer. I need to move some things around but I am not sure how yet. I will have more time to wiggle things around to my satisfaction this summer. I have started to make a list of what I want to accomplish this summer. I'm afraid I will forget something I really wanted to change up for next year. I finally got an evaluation from my principal. It was very good. Her criticisms were ones that I expected, and am still frustrated by. They are related to curriculum and you know... If you can't give me the right resources... you can't really beat that horse. I am hoping the class I will take this summer and throughout next year will help me with that. I think it will be beneficial.

I got news on the grant I applied for. Didn't get it. UGGH. Their reasons made me want to beat my head against a wall...but there ya go. On the upside of things another grant I applied for went through. They are sending our school the money... so this makes me nervous. It seems like once it gets into the vacuum of our school...it takes a ridiculously long time. I am going to be speaking with the person who is giving us the money again.. they usually place orders themselves. I am hoping I can just have them do that. It would be less of a headache. We shall see. I heard more news about the computers we are supposed to be getting next year... I am wondering how it is all going to go. We've been told one thing, the tech people are saying another thing. I don't know but hopefully they get us closer to the modern age. I am going to have to look into more software based online. I have a feeling that a couple of things we use, we won't be able to. It seems like we do a lot of waiting to see what or how things really will be.

Okay well... I am going to read a dumb book and take a hot bath and reeeeeeeeelllllllaaaaxxxxxxxxxxxxx!

Doing Right..

Thank you to my Uncle M... for reminding me there are still people doing what is right. They just are quietly going about doing it. Without talking about it, without trumpets, and fanfare they quietly go about doing what is right. Sometimes I look around and wonder hmmmm is anyone attempting to hold onto values, it gets a bit discouraging.

It was good to come home for a short visit and mourn my friend Sylvia. She meant so much to me and it was good to be around people who knew her and loved her as well. She had a strong faith and belief in Christ. I don't think a day will pass that I will not think of her and what I learned from her. Thinking of her made me think of all the family and friends I have learned from. Remember when you are going through something tough others are taking note and remembering you made it. You might have had some bumps, scrapes, bruises, and pain, but we see that you made it. It helps us to know we can make it through the hard stuff too.

It has been a tough week, but a good remembrance. Sylvia was ready for the end of life. It is us left behind that were not ready. I head back south tomorrow, and will get to see some old friends on the way. It will be good to see my students again, and get back in the groove. Only 30 school days left this year. It has flown by.

It has begun to sink in...

I have had the distractions of travel and being with friends. It seemed appropriate that I would find out we lost her in Bryce Canyon. She often talked about the trip she made with family there and how beautiful it was. At almost every stop there was an "old" lady who didn't know a stranger talking to me and telling me about herself and asking me questions about me. That was Sylvia, she made a friend on every train ride, every trip to the grocery store, in every town, and every place. She never met a stranger. Tonight it really sunk in just how much I am going to miss her. I didn't send her a postcard from my trip, I won't hear her voice saying "come in, come in", on my next visit home. I think of the can of pineapple she always kept in the cupboard because during the Great Depression it was a very rare and precious treat to have pineapple. I think of all the recipes she shared and taught me how to make. I think of her always open door. Even when it was locked it was open to me. I couldn't figure out why she thought Rhett Butler was soooo handsome. We laughed over that one many times. We celebrated and enjoyed the generation gap between us. She taught me how to make a quilt and tie squares. She was at my graduations and celebrated my accomplishments. She was stubborn pure stubborn and not afraid to admit it. She refused to embrace the technological age but was quick to forget phone numbers when they were programmed into her phone. Fruit could cure every single ache, pain, and ailment. We watched many a storm, and night sky from her back yard. I feel like all of us who knew her were the luckiest people on the planet.

R.I.P.

One of my most favorite people on the planet passed away last night. I knew that whenever she went I would not be ready. She was my neighbor, my friend, my confidant, and a grandma figure. She was right next door, always ready with some fresh fruit and something baked. If she didn't have a chance to feed you she didn't feel she was doing her job. I am going to miss walking between the yards and straight in the back door, Hollering "knock knock" as I walk in the door. She had a strength of character and conviction that you do not find very often these days. She taught me so much I am sure the lessons will come back to me again and again. I don't remember who adopted who maybe we adopted each other but I am glad that she was such a huge part of my life. From child, to teenager, to adult, my friend next door was there for all my ups and downs. She could be brutally honest, kindly honest, but always honest. You could count on her for the truth. She introduced me to "musicals" whether I liked them or not. Shared some great authors, and stories I'd never read. I heard about what life was like for her as a child, where she grew up, and how she always wanted a pair of rubber boots. ( I got her a pair). I knew exactly what she didn't like from M & M's, to Frank Sinatra (She was not a fan), She didn't like Johnny Carson, or Cats. She really didn't like cats but didn't mind them catching mice in the fields behind us. She was always there... I don't know how I am going to go home and not make that walk next door...

Bureaucracy Logic

So if you read my last post you would've read about the budget and money you have to spend or lose. When you lose it I'm not sure where it goes. I think I asked that question before and the answer was so ridiculous that I did a brain dump. Anyhow, we came up with orders so we could purchase things we need. Guess what?! Much of it we couldn't get because we would be using it next year. We only can purchase things we are using this year for this years budget. Does this sound illogical? It is difficult to even explain. So what do you purchase? Copy paper... file folders... How do you prove or disprove you are not using it this year?? I don't know what they ended up ordering I was too irritated to ask more questions. Whatever they ordered...I am sure it is not really anything I need immediately. Nor will it be anything I'd like to study and start implementing in my classroom. So there ya go, this is how your government works. Makes you proud doesn't it? Instead of putting the money away for when you need it... you end up buying reams of construction paper you may or may not need....because you have to spend the money. Yep that is why your local schools "paper room" is full. When you have extra money at the end of the budget... you buy consumable items. Sigghhh

Tis TIME!

We are allllll ready for Spring Break. Brains have turned to mush, patience is thin, and spring fever has arrived. Out on recess with my students they spotted a butterfly. With little optimism I thought they were wrong and that they had only spotted a moth. However, it was a butterfly. A sign of spring. I think I saw a robin sitting on a electric wire the other day as well. Other than that there hasn't been a sign of spring. Not much is green, nothing is budding or blooming. So if you are enjoying some spring bulbs right now really appreciate them. Our other sign of spring is the tourists coming through by bicycle, by motor-home, and by motorcycle. Bicycle season is my least favorite. They really slow things down. Another more obvious sign of spring is my least favorite. The weather is nice for the "bar-stoolers" to drink their beers on the sidewalk and talk trash. Last night I could hear one talking to his girlfriend. If a man spoke to me that way his heiney would now be festering with lead shot.

Once in awhile a rumor turns out to be true. The technical support guys were rumored to be visiting our school this week. Five of them showed up today. It is funny to watch how socially challenged they are.. but that is another story. My students tolerate some very frustrating technology. I would love to round up many of these aging computers and place them on the shooting range. Apparently they will be recycled...which isn't as satisfying. Okay so the first computer guy comes in my room and my kids lay it on thick (I had them prepped and loaded). He a little nervously says to wait until the rest of them come. So I said save it for his boss. So the other four come in a little later and they pour it on with the appropriate amount of whine! IT was fantastic. Later one of them said tell your students we fixed it... your student's are a little scary :)! So I had my kids give them a cheer and an applause. I didn't test whether their "fixes" were "fixes". So hopefully their cheers weren't premature. The school district has said we are getting a new wireless server and all we will have are screens and keyboards. I shall believe it when I see it. The money is there...and apparently the order is going through... but these things seem to come to my town last of all. We spend the first few months of the school year at war with technology. Hmmm I don't even think that is accurate...we've been battling our ancient technology all year. One of the computer guys tried to convince me that they weren't that old. Over 10 years old in computer land puts it in the dark ages doesn't it? Not that old ...whatever.

School districts have this fascinating event every year...where budget money must be spent or you lose it. I don't understand this, I can't explain it, but I'm telling you it is everywhere. Well I had been creating a need list with all the appropriate websites etc. Luckily I was prepared because we had to have orders in by today. So I whipped them out and had them ready to go! Whew. This should get me some much needed materials. How long it will take to see the results of this...who knows...I will be thrilled to get them though! 2 more days till spring break! YEE HAW! I am so ready for my friends to come and visit, hang out, have some laughs, etc etc.

Today my boss told me she didn't want to lose me and strongly emphasized that she wanted me to stay. I appreciated it because there have been many times I've felt pretty beaten down lately. I hope this comment came from the realization that she can't allow some of the things going on to continue. During parent teacher conferences a parent (who I love and respect) asked me some pointed questions. I think she was very concerned that I would move on, and had seen not what was causing the stress, but that I was under stress. She comes in my class and volunteers quite often. I really appreciated her support. I learned sooooo much this year. I think next year I will be a significantly better teacher than I was this year. I am very, very, thankful I have had the opportunity to teach in this community.

PT conferences

So far so good. I don't know if anything was quite as scary as my first one P/T conference at the beginning of the year. Now I am much more relaxed. I think I feel more confident, but I also see the progress my students have made and it is fantastic. So that helps. Tomorrow they continue. I will be glad when it is done just so that I can get a little rest. I am still getting over my cold and my energy is still low. I just need enough time to really rest and get healthy.

Something AMAZING happened today. Seriously AMAZING. My cousin sent me a video to watch. AND I WATCHED IT!!!!! Yes my internet worked well enough to watch a short video! It didn't even stop to reload, or freeze and never recover. I was very excited! The video was pretty funny too! Amazing... when all those workers came in the middle of the snow storm with the snow-cat to reach the cell-tower...whatever they did... WORKED! YAY!

I have a lot of baking to do this weekend. Some friends are coming to see me over spring break and If I don't greet them with a truckload of Special K bars... they may lock those 4 boxes of books in their truck. Then I'd cry and it would just be a bad scene. So to save all of us from this traumatic event... I will bake. I bought extra baking materials this weekend. I did NOT want to run out!

We have been doing a "Countdown" of school days till spring break.. 4 MORE DAYS! Woot WOOT!

No News...

The grant is still being decided. My principal called and asked for more information. I provided it... and then I talked with one of the board members today. This board member was helping me with a different online program for our school. They had bought permanent access to this Spelling and Language program. It is better than our current spelling program so I am trying to figure it all out. It isn't perfect or complete but it is better than what we have right now. I think it is a useful tool. Anyhow he asked me more questions regarding our grant application. He wanted to talk to the seller himself. I have spoken to our representative sooooo many times I knew he'd have no problem. So I believe he will be talking with him in the next couple of days. The board member did say he thought it would be a really good thing for our school. Maybe this way they will feel they have a more complete picture. This board member is very methodical and precise. So if it all comes together and we do get it... you can be sure they have considered every aspect of this product. :) I guess I am learning some patience again or still.

Testing Monday....

I was a little irritated to leave my class to administer the state test. I didn't have a choice so I did it. While waiting patiently for students to do their test after reading the directions, I caught up on some things I had fallen behind on. It was quiet and gave me the opportunity to work on those things. So that helped me to get over the fact I wasn't in my classroom. I had a mini-meltdown this morning. I realized I am tired. Not just physically tired, but tired. It is that point of the school year where everyone is tired, the kids, myself, everyone. We all need spring break. The cranky quotient is high!

I had some not so great news last week about a class I signed up for. They had so many applicants they weren't sure how many applications they would accept. I really, really wanted to take it. For one thing the collaboration with other teachers is really good for me. So I was trying to remain hopeful. Today I got the e-mail that I was one of the applicants selected! WOOT WOOT! I am sooo glad. I think it is really going to help me build some skills. So I was thrilled to get the e-mail. I responded with my acceptance Immediately. I wanted them to know I am serious about it and am looking forward to it.

I hope you had a good Monday.

Away!

Away means a long drive. Away means I catch up with friends and family on the phone. Away means ooh civilization. Away means I'm off the Island for a bit. I feel like I live on a very small island sometimes. Where the neighbors are all related and ticked off at each other. Unless they are united against the evil outsiders bringing them into the current century. They have a love hate relationship with progress. It can be a good thing...but sometimes it defies logic.

I went to the little/big town and am staying at my favorite hotel! Yay! Today was a very productive day in the class I've been taking. It gave me a chance to work with people who are very experienced and have been living and breathing mathematics and the standard changes. They have the experience and the knowledge to offer quality help and resources. Because I feel like I am on an island all by myself sometimes, it is great to meet these people. I can e-mail them and pick their brains anytime! YAY!

To end this on an upper I did some assessments on my students to check for growth. Every single one of them have made significant progress. Most are way above grade level, and the rest are on grade level. It felt so good after feeling pretty beaten up a week ago. If I'm doing soo much sooo wrong why am I seeing these results with my students? I have to be doing something right! Right? I had a nice visit with a friend who has taught in multi-grade classrooms from Alaska to Nevada. She is a great resource because she really understands the challenges associated with it. She also gives me great ideas to implement. I'll say I got this broad suggestion/order but no real information on how to implement it. She immediately has several specific suggestions. I am glad she's around because I'd probably cry a lot more often without her. I think what frustrates me the most as a teacher is having a student that I feel like I am not helping. When I feel I should be doing more but I don't know what that is. Many times I feel like I am climbing a steep mountain all alone while people are throwing rocks at my head from the top preventing me from getting real help. I just keep asking and asking and asking and I will get one little strategy here or there which really helps! I asked for some help in a very specific area and I was told to go observe some teachers. This situation requires some very specific strategies. Am I supposed to go observe and pull a strategy out of a hat and hope there is one that works? I am sure I'd learn something that would benefit my class. When I ask a specific question and get a broad answer ...I think that suggests the knowledge of the person answering the question. If not their knowledge then their experience.

Anyhow, I am glad to be away this weekend. Even with my stack of papers to put in my gradebook, lesson plans to write, and shopping to do. I also get to see one of my cousins. So It is good to have a change of scenery! I can't hear anyone playing pool and talking trash in the room below me! Ahhhhhhh
G'nite

Head spinning

We had a successful fundraiser. Despite the snow coming down fast and furious, and despite the heater being turned off. It was successful. They didn't turn the power off and give me a heart attack.. it was close but didn't happen. I was fighting a cold that got perpetually worse throughout the weekend. I was sooo glad I had Carmen and the 'rents help. I scalded my hands but must've gotten them under cold water soon enough because by Sunday I'd forgotten I burnt them. We had a lot of students gone sick from the fundraiser and from school. Anyhow, I discovered exactly how crazy this town is over BINGO! WOW! I don't feel old enough to appreciate bingo... or maybe I need significantly more grey hair. Whatever it is...I am lacking something regarding appreciation for bingo. I do appreciate that others are willing to play and pay. So we raised quite a bit of money. I am trying to remember all the excitement. It was an impressive amount of snow coming down. It is hard to imagine today as that almost 2 feet of snow mostly melted away.

I started running a fever Sunday. I crawled into bed with flannel pj's, a hoodie, thick socks and my electric mattress pad turned up. Even with all that I had goosebumps. I stayed home Monday and my fever broke yesterday. I shared my germs with my guests so hopefully they stayed healthy. This weekend is a "coyote roundup" where they go and get as many coyotes as possible and the winner is king of the saloon. Well I don't really know what the winner gets but I do know that I am leaving town. The saloon is opening for the event which for me means smoke and lots of noise. I don't know what big/little town I am going to yet but I will be leaving. I have class on Friday up north so I will leave from there. The brain is mush so I shall sign off for now.

ACCKK!!!

Oh yes panic has set in. Thinking of everything I need to do before Saturday! I am cleaning house tonight so that nobody has to sleep on a pile of my clean clothes. Although that's better than sleeping on dirty clothes ha ha! My students and I have decorated the lobby. We've done some fabulous art projects. I am so scared about how many people will come. Cross your fingers for me. I am very nervous!

This has been a crazy busy week. Next week is state testing. Which I have 2 students testing for. I have another PLC tomorrow. Hopefully, it is good. I am riding up with the H.S. humanities teacher. So the school is paying for the gas, that's a bonus. Since it is $4.25 a gallon right now. There's more to say and not enough time...
G'nite

Not a PLC a PBC

Today was one of the worst days. Those days that make your heart hurt. Those days which you can't believe your eyes, or your ears. A day of disappointment. A day in which you lose confidence in others. Not just a little.... but a complete loss of confidence. Is this something I have to learn? I have had to use my tongue as a chew toy. I listen to the excuses, the lies, the craziness. I can't believe..just can't believe. I guess I will leave it at that. I am beyond frustration and am just feeling sad. I am going to find a way past this situation.

We had a professional learning community today. Really nice string of words which means a meeting. A meeting. It was more of a professional bragging community today. I don't know who was learning something. I have a co-worker whose favorite past time is to criticize everything I do. It really gets discouraging. If someone is telling you how perfect they are and how well they are doing on everything... Do you believe them as a boss? I heard "you should" so many times I checked out. It is difficult to listen to someone who insults you whenever possible.

Today I should've thrown the pillow over my head and stayed home. I know there are people in this community fighting as hard as I am for the right things. However, it seems like we are seriously out-numbered by crazy. Once and awhile I have to call someone I know is living in a rational world to make sure that I don't drown in the crazy. It is interesting how crazy protects crazy. Actually it is frustrating how crazy protects crazy! How many weeks till Easter break? Too many. Thank goodness I am having some visitors this weekend. I really feel fried today. I am bummed....

Rotten Teeth

What a auspicious beginning. Anyhow, our janitor has this issue. It is terrible because you walk into the building and can smell the trail of rotten teeth. I have never met anyone who needed dentures more. I have flossed with more consistency than ever. Yep, It has been inspiring. I love my can of Lysol that kills pretty much every odor that invades the classroom, while at the same time killing germs. If you haven't read this cute book "Rotten Teeth" it is a cute one.

The kids had a little bit of trouble waking up this morning. I don't think they were too excited by the time change either. I really wish they would just leave it the same year round. It really doesn't seem to make a huge difference in my day. I don't know how you feel about it. We drew leprechaun hats today, and some of the students finished their hot air balloon pictures for art today. After school my aide helped me make a giant rainbow, cloud, and pot of gold to go around our lunch counter. It came out pretty cute. I just have to paint the gold for the pot.

I can't believe how little time is left in the school year. It has been crazy! I am hoping some people move so I can move to a more permanent situation. The parents are coming this weekend sooo
Ketchup..... check
Extra Ketchup.....check
Butter............check
Jam...............check
something to put the jam on.....ummm yes yes check
Hot Dogs..............UH OH
shhhhh don't tell him.

The Weekend!

I had class yesterday. It wasn't very exciting to get up yesterday to drive 90 miles for class. I talked myself into and out of doing it many times. It was a sunny day and no snow. I got there and the doors were locked and no one was around but rolling cart of stuff, a purse, and a chart sitting in front of the door. So I assumed class was still on based on that information. So I waited awhile and the person with keys showed up. It was a good class. I had told myself if you feel like this is a waste of time don't worry about it you don't have to go to the next session. It was worth it though. I did learn a lot. Mostly because it was the first time I have done a training on this particular subject that I didn't leave feeling completely burdened and overwhelmed by a huge amount of material. The teacher really broke it down to a manageable level and we focused on one particular area. I think doing it in this way actually made the whole area more understandable. Because of my being a multi-grade teacher she had me stick with one grade level. I think by learning one grade level really well, it will make it much easier to analyze the other grade levels later. I really appreciated her organization. Sometimes we are told you need to do this. Then you're given a mountain to make something out of. You don't know where to start. Anyhow, I was pretty happy that I went.

I then drove 50 more miles to pick up a prize for our bingo game and while I was there a Wal-mart run. Wal-mart uggh. Wal-mart on Friday afternoon quadruple uggh uggh uggh uggh! You get the idea. When you are near a grocery store, you go to the grocery store. It isn't optional. I then drove the 140 miles back home. I was pretty pooped when I arrived home. The brain had gone to mush long before that. I was late enough or it was cold enough the jack-rabbits were not playing chicken in the road. I did see about 3 owls out hunting. I did get some eye shine in my headlights which I am guessing was a coyote. My pillow looked especially wonderful last night. Today I have been working around the house and thinking about what I need to do the next couple of weeks. The Week after this one... I have state testing for my third grade students. All two of them. So they are getting a sub for three days so I can administer the tests for two students. So my other twelve students are going to have a sub which may or may not provide quality instruction so that I can administer a test for two students. Does this sound crazy to anyone else?