Yep, I was a sock monkey for Halloween. It worked out well for many reasons. 1. The costume was essentially footie pajamas which means all day comfort. 2. It was just chilly enough to make it a nice, warm, cozy costume. 3. I could whack people with my tail. 4. Everyone smiled, laughed, giggled, or chuckled upon spotting me! 5. I could stand to wear it all day long!
So there ya go... 5 reasons why a Sock Monkey Costume is worthwhile! Anyhow It was such a busy day. All the kiddos could think about was "Halloween" all day long. Nothing was quite as important as that. We had an art project, a snack, and an episode of the "Munsters" for our party.
Now the sock monkey hears her pillow calling her name. The sugar crash that will come to the students tomorrow will make the day interesting. Yay for teachers trying to teach the day after Halloween!
October 31, 2012
October 27, 2012
Bread Junkie
I ordered some home-made bread from a local Bread-Making genius. Dad looked at that bread like a Junkie looks at Crack. I knew he liked bread but I was a little surprised by his reaction. Then I found out mom has been buying gluten-free bread. He really really likes it (ahem).
The 'rent helped me complete a few chores I haven't had time to do so that was great. They also helped at the Halloween Carnival. Dad took tickets and handed kids a "fishing" pole and mom was behind the scenes clipping prizes on the pole!
I ran around getting our volunteers needed supplies, cleaning up, chatting, and trying to keep track of it all. The high-school seniors had their annual Pie-in-the-face auction. The seniors are auctioned off to take the pie-in-the-face. It is a great fundraiser. The price is generally paid by the parents! The students are amazing sports about this annual tradition. It was great to see how many little kiddo's were running around. I may have a lot of them in a couple of years if I stay here. I don't know if I will love them as much as I love the current group of kiddos though! They are phenomenal. It was a large turn-out for the carnival. It was worth the effort we put into it.
Dad has been torturing me with RFDTV a "rural" television station with things like AG Reports, pig training, and country western music. Okay maybe I exaggerated on the second item but you get the idea that it is RURAL TV at its finest. Luckily we "forgot" to turn on the Duck Game or I would've had to suffer through that as well. We got some cooking done and some things put away in the freezer. I didn't have much butter left but didn't really think about it. I ran to my favorite mini-mart to buy some butter but they didn't have any. I knew the Mini-Mart Cashier (our english teacher). He called his wife so I drove up to their house and she gave me a pound of butter. Note to self: When the 'rents visit stock up on ketchup and BUTTER! I rarely use butter. If I do use it it is for baking. I just don't use it very often. Which is a good thing! It did shock the 'rents that I could forget to stock up on butter!
We were just discussing a song. Ma and Pa went to watch the Artist and brought me the children's c.d. by this artist. Dad thought the song was "Stand and Burp" Mom thought it was something about dirt. I read the c.d. cover and it is a song about "Stan and Bert". I like the 'rents versions better! Well I think I do I haven't listened to the c.d. yet. We listen to a lot of music in my classroom. The kiddos are listening to a lot of classical music and they don't know it. If I forget to turn on the classical station it doesn't take long for a student to remind me to do it. They all enjoy it which is awesome. I also play children's tunes. Sometimes the older kids or other teachers walk by when we are working and smile at me. If I can make a musical connection to what we are learning it clicks. We have the "a-e-i-o-u sometimes y" song. We also have "silent e is a ninja" song we sing on a daily basis. I also have some math tunes that help with counting by 2's, 5's, 10's. It makes it so much more fun and the students remember it which is the goal!
Next week we will start practice for our Christmas Program. The kids have been listening to the songs a little bit and are quite excited. I keep trying to encourage my colleague to make sure the little guys have lines in the play. After all it really is for them. I thought she'd be a little more receptive since her children are in my class. We'll see what happens. They are pretty excited to get going on that and my STEM project. So.... that's all I can think of for now!
Update: Tonight I asked Dad if he would like some "Chamomile Tea" He thought I asked him If He'd like some "Camel-Milk Tea"!
The 'rent helped me complete a few chores I haven't had time to do so that was great. They also helped at the Halloween Carnival. Dad took tickets and handed kids a "fishing" pole and mom was behind the scenes clipping prizes on the pole!
I ran around getting our volunteers needed supplies, cleaning up, chatting, and trying to keep track of it all. The high-school seniors had their annual Pie-in-the-face auction. The seniors are auctioned off to take the pie-in-the-face. It is a great fundraiser. The price is generally paid by the parents! The students are amazing sports about this annual tradition. It was great to see how many little kiddo's were running around. I may have a lot of them in a couple of years if I stay here. I don't know if I will love them as much as I love the current group of kiddos though! They are phenomenal. It was a large turn-out for the carnival. It was worth the effort we put into it.
Dad has been torturing me with RFDTV a "rural" television station with things like AG Reports, pig training, and country western music. Okay maybe I exaggerated on the second item but you get the idea that it is RURAL TV at its finest. Luckily we "forgot" to turn on the Duck Game or I would've had to suffer through that as well. We got some cooking done and some things put away in the freezer. I didn't have much butter left but didn't really think about it. I ran to my favorite mini-mart to buy some butter but they didn't have any. I knew the Mini-Mart Cashier (our english teacher). He called his wife so I drove up to their house and she gave me a pound of butter. Note to self: When the 'rents visit stock up on ketchup and BUTTER! I rarely use butter. If I do use it it is for baking. I just don't use it very often. Which is a good thing! It did shock the 'rents that I could forget to stock up on butter!
We were just discussing a song. Ma and Pa went to watch the Artist and brought me the children's c.d. by this artist. Dad thought the song was "Stand and Burp" Mom thought it was something about dirt. I read the c.d. cover and it is a song about "Stan and Bert". I like the 'rents versions better! Well I think I do I haven't listened to the c.d. yet. We listen to a lot of music in my classroom. The kiddos are listening to a lot of classical music and they don't know it. If I forget to turn on the classical station it doesn't take long for a student to remind me to do it. They all enjoy it which is awesome. I also play children's tunes. Sometimes the older kids or other teachers walk by when we are working and smile at me. If I can make a musical connection to what we are learning it clicks. We have the "a-e-i-o-u sometimes y" song. We also have "silent e is a ninja" song we sing on a daily basis. I also have some math tunes that help with counting by 2's, 5's, 10's. It makes it so much more fun and the students remember it which is the goal!
Next week we will start practice for our Christmas Program. The kids have been listening to the songs a little bit and are quite excited. I keep trying to encourage my colleague to make sure the little guys have lines in the play. After all it really is for them. I thought she'd be a little more receptive since her children are in my class. We'll see what happens. They are pretty excited to get going on that and my STEM project. So.... that's all I can think of for now!
Update: Tonight I asked Dad if he would like some "Chamomile Tea" He thought I asked him If He'd like some "Camel-Milk Tea"!
October 24, 2012
Halloween Madness
Awww man delegating IS NOT always the best idea. For instance you ask for help making a tri-fold stand alone plywood "divider" to use as a fish pond. Then they make it so short you have to have a oompa loompa sitting behind it on a really short chair to be hidden while hooking the prizes on. Then the smooth side that you would paint to look like a pond.... they put the hinges on. So it folds in the wrong direction. UGGH! Then you ask teenagers to help you paint it. Usually not a bad idea. Ummm it looks kind of like a pond. I will be repainting it for next year. It still looks better than what we had last year though. So there ya go. I am grateful an effort was made. The teenagers did run home to get a drill to put the hinges on the correct side... so They are problem solvers!
It has been such a roller coaster lately. I have been feeling pretty discouraged. Today I had an observer come from the state. It was so wonderful. I heard about so many things I was doing right. I got so much positive feedback I almost didn't know what to do! I can't even tell you how much I needed that. I feel like this class I am taking has done so much positive for me on so many levels. I am soooooo glad I signed up for it! The observer was very impressed by how eager to learn my students are as well. They are awesome. If anything they get upset when they don't feel like they are getting to participate or share their thoughts. I have awesome students. They are seriously AMAZING!
Tomorrow is our Halloween Carnival. Ready or not here it comes. I also have to get the clean clothes off the guestroom bed so my parents have a place to sleep. :) Aww laundry... never ever ends.
It has been such a roller coaster lately. I have been feeling pretty discouraged. Today I had an observer come from the state. It was so wonderful. I heard about so many things I was doing right. I got so much positive feedback I almost didn't know what to do! I can't even tell you how much I needed that. I feel like this class I am taking has done so much positive for me on so many levels. I am soooooo glad I signed up for it! The observer was very impressed by how eager to learn my students are as well. They are awesome. If anything they get upset when they don't feel like they are getting to participate or share their thoughts. I have awesome students. They are seriously AMAZING!
Tomorrow is our Halloween Carnival. Ready or not here it comes. I also have to get the clean clothes off the guestroom bed so my parents have a place to sleep. :) Aww laundry... never ever ends.
October 20, 2012
2 Months
Almost two months into school and I still haven't received my handwriting books. The kids are perpetually bugging me for them. I don't know why they aren't here yet and I am tired of asking the question. It is great the kids want to work on their writing though. Sigh.
I look back on last week and talk about a busy one. I was fighting getting sick and didn't really know it till Thursday afternoon when vomiting seemed like the best idea ever. I never managed it but I did manage to get a low fever and have the chills. I went to bed early which was good because the next day I had to get up early to leave for a training.
What I see happening here is the same I have seen in other districts. Administration gets stressed about test scores. So they decide a million trainings is the best idea. So you go to all the trainings and become a master of none of the strategies. I wish they would focus on one area. Give you tons of support on improving in that area and then move on to another. The brain gets overloaded.
I talk with a good friend quite often and we dream of our "dream school" when we when the lottery and build it. LOL. I know if I gave my students that many different strategies in one sitting. They'd be wandering out to recess with glazed over eyes much like I left the meeting. It is also a problem that some people are so resistant to the changes and insist they already teach this way they don't listen at all. They already know it. Oh dear. They predict with the changes to the Common Core Standards a lot of teachers will go into retirement. Change is hard.
I started painting our "fish pond" for the Halloween Carnival. I only have a coat of primer down. I need to get it done before Thursday so wish me luck! I also have an observer from the state coming to my classroom on Wednesday! Oh me oh my!
I had the joy of talking with a former colleague this week. It was so good and so encouraging to chat with her. She even e-mailed me some of her wonderful ideas and lessons I remembered from her class. I now wish I had spent more time in her classroom. She ran into one of the parents of my students and heard a glowing report. It was nice to hear because the past few weeks have been decidedly discouraging. It is all a tad overwhelming right now. I have hope this week will be a good one. If not the parents are coming down to see me. Wait till they meet my list of chores. :)
I look back on last week and talk about a busy one. I was fighting getting sick and didn't really know it till Thursday afternoon when vomiting seemed like the best idea ever. I never managed it but I did manage to get a low fever and have the chills. I went to bed early which was good because the next day I had to get up early to leave for a training.
What I see happening here is the same I have seen in other districts. Administration gets stressed about test scores. So they decide a million trainings is the best idea. So you go to all the trainings and become a master of none of the strategies. I wish they would focus on one area. Give you tons of support on improving in that area and then move on to another. The brain gets overloaded.
I talk with a good friend quite often and we dream of our "dream school" when we when the lottery and build it. LOL. I know if I gave my students that many different strategies in one sitting. They'd be wandering out to recess with glazed over eyes much like I left the meeting. It is also a problem that some people are so resistant to the changes and insist they already teach this way they don't listen at all. They already know it. Oh dear. They predict with the changes to the Common Core Standards a lot of teachers will go into retirement. Change is hard.
I started painting our "fish pond" for the Halloween Carnival. I only have a coat of primer down. I need to get it done before Thursday so wish me luck! I also have an observer from the state coming to my classroom on Wednesday! Oh me oh my!
I had the joy of talking with a former colleague this week. It was so good and so encouraging to chat with her. She even e-mailed me some of her wonderful ideas and lessons I remembered from her class. I now wish I had spent more time in her classroom. She ran into one of the parents of my students and heard a glowing report. It was nice to hear because the past few weeks have been decidedly discouraging. It is all a tad overwhelming right now. I have hope this week will be a good one. If not the parents are coming down to see me. Wait till they meet my list of chores. :)
October 16, 2012
The Jack Rabbit Hour
So I left at prime time to class and came back during prime time. Prime time for RABBITS that is! I only clipped one I think. So that went well. I had a wonderful class. We had a professor from Colorado School of Mines lead us through another PBL. It was fun. I could see a lot of us teacher have had a stressful fall. It made me feel better that I wasn't alone. What all of us in this class have in common is we really, genuinely care about our students. We want to do better for them. I've been feeling like the joy is being sucked from a job I truly love. I think changes are needed in the Education System but I think government goes about it allllllll wrong. I need to when the Lottery so I can open up a private school and hire motivated happy people.
I have had a serious job offer in another county. It would start after Christmas break. I love where I am at in so many ways but I feel like I have to seriously consider this offer. We'll see there are a lot of pros and cons. I think the stress I've been experiencing is making me look at it closer than perhaps I usually would.
Back to class. IT was great! I left it feeling up beat encouraged and like I could tackle some good stuff. I AM SOOOOOO glad I signed up for this class last year. I had no idea how much I would need it when I signed up for it. It gets me "off the island" so to speak and broadens my point of view a little. I really, really, really, need to stimulate my brain with things outside of work more. It is just that I care and love my job so much I can't turn it off.
I bought two pumpkins today to decorate for our Halloween Carnival Pumpkin Raffle. I don't know how I will decorate them yet but that will be fun In my oodles and oodles of Spare TIME! HA! I sold some raffle tickets for our "lamb raffle" today. For our field trip fund. I have a big idea for our field trip this year. So hopefully we can raise enough money to make it happen.
The parents are coming down in a week. This means I will have to remove the mountain of clean clothes from the guest bed before they come. :) Hey at least it's clean clothes :)
I have had a serious job offer in another county. It would start after Christmas break. I love where I am at in so many ways but I feel like I have to seriously consider this offer. We'll see there are a lot of pros and cons. I think the stress I've been experiencing is making me look at it closer than perhaps I usually would.
Back to class. IT was great! I left it feeling up beat encouraged and like I could tackle some good stuff. I AM SOOOOOO glad I signed up for this class last year. I had no idea how much I would need it when I signed up for it. It gets me "off the island" so to speak and broadens my point of view a little. I really, really, really, need to stimulate my brain with things outside of work more. It is just that I care and love my job so much I can't turn it off.
I bought two pumpkins today to decorate for our Halloween Carnival Pumpkin Raffle. I don't know how I will decorate them yet but that will be fun In my oodles and oodles of Spare TIME! HA! I sold some raffle tickets for our "lamb raffle" today. For our field trip fund. I have a big idea for our field trip this year. So hopefully we can raise enough money to make it happen.
The parents are coming down in a week. This means I will have to remove the mountain of clean clothes from the guest bed before they come. :) Hey at least it's clean clothes :)
October 15, 2012
one of those
This is one of those times when you just have to let go and hope it works out okay. I am absent tomorrow for my class and I have a sub. The sub said she will sit back and let the aide do the work. Ummm Okay... I said I'm not sure that will work. Oh my .... I don't ever want this sub again. We have a new sub but my colleague is gone for 2 days and so they put her in there. I have another person who just got her sub license but now has to wait for the paperwork to go through the county. I can't wait for that to happen. Having a good sub here is just the BEST THING EVER! I just try to be glad for progress.
I've been under a lot of stress lately. One of my friends said I don't know how you are handling this so well. I don't know either. I know part of it is having good people to talk to. Wise people who give good advice. I know I am flawed, imperfect, and all. But I know my priorities are in the right place. I did a lot of thinking this weekend to prepare my mind for another week. I could step back and look inward. I realized I just need to remain true to what I know is right. If I can do this and still be kind it will all come out okay.
Tomorrow I drive about 3 1/2 hours for my STEM class. I am so glad to have this to attend right now. It gets me around people who are excited and motivated and working to be better at their job. I came back energized and revived last time. I hope it does the same for me again. I really the refreshment.
I got a lot done this weekend but little was work related. I focused on projects at home for a nice change. I got a lot done and felt good about it. Part of me felt guilty that I might be neglecting work. It was good for my brain to move elsewhere for awhile.
My former aide and amazing person made a great suggestion to me. She said next time I have to be absent assign an Junior Substitute. She knows my students well and they LOVE to be bossy and in charge. I could give them a task list and have them help the sub in anyway they can. I think it is a great idea. They know the routine better than anyone. I will have to put that into action next time.
I've been making Tin Can Jack-O-Lanterns. At first I just looked at the picture and made the assumption that I could make them without directions. Wrong. Try to punch holes in a tin can without a solid surface behind it and well NOPE! So I went back and read the directions (bummer)! LOL So Freeze them full of water and then hammer nails or punches into them. It works. I have about 6 more to do. Then I will paint them.
I've been under a lot of stress lately. One of my friends said I don't know how you are handling this so well. I don't know either. I know part of it is having good people to talk to. Wise people who give good advice. I know I am flawed, imperfect, and all. But I know my priorities are in the right place. I did a lot of thinking this weekend to prepare my mind for another week. I could step back and look inward. I realized I just need to remain true to what I know is right. If I can do this and still be kind it will all come out okay.
Tomorrow I drive about 3 1/2 hours for my STEM class. I am so glad to have this to attend right now. It gets me around people who are excited and motivated and working to be better at their job. I came back energized and revived last time. I hope it does the same for me again. I really the refreshment.
I got a lot done this weekend but little was work related. I focused on projects at home for a nice change. I got a lot done and felt good about it. Part of me felt guilty that I might be neglecting work. It was good for my brain to move elsewhere for awhile.
My former aide and amazing person made a great suggestion to me. She said next time I have to be absent assign an Junior Substitute. She knows my students well and they LOVE to be bossy and in charge. I could give them a task list and have them help the sub in anyway they can. I think it is a great idea. They know the routine better than anyone. I will have to put that into action next time.
I've been making Tin Can Jack-O-Lanterns. At first I just looked at the picture and made the assumption that I could make them without directions. Wrong. Try to punch holes in a tin can without a solid surface behind it and well NOPE! So I went back and read the directions (bummer)! LOL So Freeze them full of water and then hammer nails or punches into them. It works. I have about 6 more to do. Then I will paint them.
October 9, 2012
Gas!
Welllllll..... Internet died, decided to work again, died again, is working again! (knock on wood). Luckily I have access at work or I wouldn't have worked on my online class, paid bills, and a variety of other exciting things. So I'm behind on the news. I probably forgot some of the news...bummer.
Over the weekend as a truck was going up the road and I was taking my trash to my car I heard a yell " That's MY Miss C" the truck pulled over a child jumped out and gave me a huge hug. Then they took my trash and drove off. That worked out well for me! :) So don't argue with a 1st graders ownership of their teacher or you may end up taking the teachers trash to the dump.
I drove the cross country team and the day after they ran 13 miles 2 of them beat their personal records. That is awesome! We took them out for Mexican food where I broke my own rule and ordered a Hamburger. I just didn't want to drive kids home in a van after eating beans. It was a delicious Hamburger but you know what.... next time I am having the beans anyway. That's why they put roll down windows in cars right?
Ummm it is Hunting Season which means a lot of hunters driving through with trailers, atvs, and camouflage gear! It is interesting to watch. You can tell "city" folks because they park their trailer right next to whatever highway and then drive their ATV's miles up to the mountains. The locals camp in the mountains, or at least well off the highway. Interesting. Dad was excited to hear about a 4 x 6 Mule Deer. Although the nagging has become incessant about me getting my hunting license. Sheesh!
A parent with their Agriculture Ed. degree came in this afternoon planted herbs with my students and discussed what things need to grow and where they grow best. It is great. She went home and her husband said "You look awful"! She really appreciates how much hard work teaching is! It is really nice to get that respect. It takes a lot of energy.
Speaking of that. I know that there is a lot of talk about teachers their vacations, not working much etc. I will be the first to say their are a lot of teachers abusing the system that are in it for the wrong reasons and aren't doing what they should be doing!....... Tonight I go to the gas station... the owner keeps asking me if I want to work there. He's had good luck hiring teachers. He's desperate for help. 1 day a week he says. How hard is it to get help, and how poor is your help, when you are recruiting teachers to work at the gas station? Not that we aren't capable... it just amazes me that people are so unwilling to work! The Math teacher works there on weekends at least a couple of shifts. Anyhow, I just had to shake my head, If I need a 2nd job....look for me at Chevron :)!
Over the weekend as a truck was going up the road and I was taking my trash to my car I heard a yell " That's MY Miss C" the truck pulled over a child jumped out and gave me a huge hug. Then they took my trash and drove off. That worked out well for me! :) So don't argue with a 1st graders ownership of their teacher or you may end up taking the teachers trash to the dump.
I drove the cross country team and the day after they ran 13 miles 2 of them beat their personal records. That is awesome! We took them out for Mexican food where I broke my own rule and ordered a Hamburger. I just didn't want to drive kids home in a van after eating beans. It was a delicious Hamburger but you know what.... next time I am having the beans anyway. That's why they put roll down windows in cars right?
Ummm it is Hunting Season which means a lot of hunters driving through with trailers, atvs, and camouflage gear! It is interesting to watch. You can tell "city" folks because they park their trailer right next to whatever highway and then drive their ATV's miles up to the mountains. The locals camp in the mountains, or at least well off the highway. Interesting. Dad was excited to hear about a 4 x 6 Mule Deer. Although the nagging has become incessant about me getting my hunting license. Sheesh!
A parent with their Agriculture Ed. degree came in this afternoon planted herbs with my students and discussed what things need to grow and where they grow best. It is great. She went home and her husband said "You look awful"! She really appreciates how much hard work teaching is! It is really nice to get that respect. It takes a lot of energy.
Speaking of that. I know that there is a lot of talk about teachers their vacations, not working much etc. I will be the first to say their are a lot of teachers abusing the system that are in it for the wrong reasons and aren't doing what they should be doing!....... Tonight I go to the gas station... the owner keeps asking me if I want to work there. He's had good luck hiring teachers. He's desperate for help. 1 day a week he says. How hard is it to get help, and how poor is your help, when you are recruiting teachers to work at the gas station? Not that we aren't capable... it just amazes me that people are so unwilling to work! The Math teacher works there on weekends at least a couple of shifts. Anyhow, I just had to shake my head, If I need a 2nd job....look for me at Chevron :)!
October 2, 2012
How did I???
Today was one of those days that when I got home I thought to myself... "How did I do all of that in one day?" I don't know but I did! Taking my vitamins to get through the rest of the week. I had no classroom aide this week which made more work for me but was a lot more peaceful. We worked on the Halloween Carnival after school, the big run coming up, and then our girls had a home volleyball game. I heard one of our girls after the game telling her mom off for not getting there on time. She kept telling her she was there (she wasn't) but the girl kept telling her you weren't I didn't see you and I couldn't hear you cheering for me. The kids notice people! They know when you show up. They may act like they don't notice but they do! So show up!
Tomorrow after school I go post the miles for the run, and work on other set up details. I have a lot of community volunteers as well as parent volunteers. So hopefully it all goes smoothly. It also sounds like I will be driving the cross country kids to their next meet this time it is about 2 1/2 hour drive away. I will probably do it just so they can attend. Saturday I am hosting a "painting party" at school to paint hopscotch, and four square on the playground! WHAT WAS I THINKING? I have to get ready for my STEM class, and work on my online class this weekend. Oh and Laundry so I can wear clothes to school. Anyone want to come be my chef, maid, organizer etc? I don't pay well but you won't be bored!!
Tomorrow after school I go post the miles for the run, and work on other set up details. I have a lot of community volunteers as well as parent volunteers. So hopefully it all goes smoothly. It also sounds like I will be driving the cross country kids to their next meet this time it is about 2 1/2 hour drive away. I will probably do it just so they can attend. Saturday I am hosting a "painting party" at school to paint hopscotch, and four square on the playground! WHAT WAS I THINKING? I have to get ready for my STEM class, and work on my online class this weekend. Oh and Laundry so I can wear clothes to school. Anyone want to come be my chef, maid, organizer etc? I don't pay well but you won't be bored!!
September 29, 2012
Almost a Full Moon!
I had a four hour training on SMART Board technology yesterday. It was one of the rare trainings set up by the school district that actually held a lot of value for me. I was quite excited to finally get my hands dirty with this technology and learn more about how to navigate it. I also feel like I can start creating some of my own lessons on there which was my goal! What was even better is we had a lot of fun while learning. That is huge. At first I was worried because most of the application was about high school and a program they use that we don't in elementary. Then they switched and got down to the brass tacks of it. It was pretty fun. We also got some access to some lessons already created. YAY!! So that was good to attend a training that didn't make me say " why did we attend that if no one intends to implement it?" or "why did we attend that if we have to beg for the supplies to make it work?" or "why did we attend that when there are way better programs out there?". Those are the most common questions I ask. Luckily this time it was about practical application of technology we have.
After training I had a quick lunch attempted a quick nap and then went back to school to make sure they had what they needed for a home game. Then I hid in my classroom and worked on things until it was time to leave for our field trip. It was a cute play. The Missoula Children's Theatre came down to a local town auditioned students and helped them put on a play. We had a few giggles. The town asked us to audition next year. I am not sure what that would look like so I will need to gather more information. It was fun for the kids though. On the drive bag home near the top of a mountain summit our lights started flickering. If I had more confidence in the bus driver (age 73) I probably would have experienced a little less anxiety. Unfortunately just the act of riding on the bus is anxiety inducing. We managed to pull off and figure out that for some reason his overuse of the dimmer switch was making the connection not work. So he had to with a virtually full moon in a vast desert, not use his "brights". So we made it home again. The excitement on the bus rides is a little too much for me. It is always something that makes you dream of a younger bus driver say maybe 60 years old :)!
We got in late last night and i quickly greeted my pillow. I am waiting to find out from some parents if they are going to the big city. I hope they are we need some supplies for our 13 mile run and I really don't want to make the drive to town. Especially since I need to buy new tires. I just don't want to tempt fate.
After training I had a quick lunch attempted a quick nap and then went back to school to make sure they had what they needed for a home game. Then I hid in my classroom and worked on things until it was time to leave for our field trip. It was a cute play. The Missoula Children's Theatre came down to a local town auditioned students and helped them put on a play. We had a few giggles. The town asked us to audition next year. I am not sure what that would look like so I will need to gather more information. It was fun for the kids though. On the drive bag home near the top of a mountain summit our lights started flickering. If I had more confidence in the bus driver (age 73) I probably would have experienced a little less anxiety. Unfortunately just the act of riding on the bus is anxiety inducing. We managed to pull off and figure out that for some reason his overuse of the dimmer switch was making the connection not work. So he had to with a virtually full moon in a vast desert, not use his "brights". So we made it home again. The excitement on the bus rides is a little too much for me. It is always something that makes you dream of a younger bus driver say maybe 60 years old :)!
We got in late last night and i quickly greeted my pillow. I am waiting to find out from some parents if they are going to the big city. I hope they are we need some supplies for our 13 mile run and I really don't want to make the drive to town. Especially since I need to buy new tires. I just don't want to tempt fate.
September 27, 2012
Another Day of Controlled Chaos!
It was such a busy day I really am not completely sure how I got through it! The kids have been so excited about participating in a run we are having next week they are begging me to train. The high school students are running 13 miles, the middle school 3.1, and the elementary 1mile. They are amazing. Seriously, do you know any elementary school kids (let alone a whole class) who beg you to train for the mile run??? So we've been practicing when possible at the end of the day. They are quite motivated! I just love my students. We also have been preparing to go on a field trip tomorrow. It is about 1 1/2 hours away, by bus add 1/2 hour and some nausea. Oh man I forgot to buy ginger! Okay so we are going to see "The Tortoise vs. The Hare" play. It really went hand in hand with preparing for this race. I read them the story and then we watched a couple of Tortoise and the Hare videos online. I wanted them to see the different versions and realize they all have the same message. After watching these they really started to strategically plan their run.
Today our cross country team left for a meet. They one 1st and 2nd in our Division. I was so proud of them. They have really pushed themselves to make this happen. They were pretty proud of themselves as well. After school today our volleyball team had their first home game. They lost all three games but the first and third were very very close. It is the first year in awhile they've been pushed to do well. I've seen so much improvement in them so that is good. Only a couple of them are super competitive. One of them has NEVER played before. I think living where we do can be a good thing because they really have to learn to overcome obstacles.
Ummm what else is new? I have a training tomorrow morning, will attend the beginning of tomorrows volleyball game, and then leave for the field trip. Sometime this weekend I have to get ready for next week. I am sure there is more but honestly... I can't remember..
G'nite
Today our cross country team left for a meet. They one 1st and 2nd in our Division. I was so proud of them. They have really pushed themselves to make this happen. They were pretty proud of themselves as well. After school today our volleyball team had their first home game. They lost all three games but the first and third were very very close. It is the first year in awhile they've been pushed to do well. I've seen so much improvement in them so that is good. Only a couple of them are super competitive. One of them has NEVER played before. I think living where we do can be a good thing because they really have to learn to overcome obstacles.
Ummm what else is new? I have a training tomorrow morning, will attend the beginning of tomorrows volleyball game, and then leave for the field trip. Sometime this weekend I have to get ready for next week. I am sure there is more but honestly... I can't remember..
G'nite
September 23, 2012
Singing the Procrastination Song...
I am taking a 4 week class this fall. It isn't that it is boring just dry. Reading the laws and cases. It is a good thing I decided against law school. Not that I even considered it. I am learning quite a bit from this class. It is interesting to find out what laws have possibly been violated, or not. I have just been procrastinating on my homework for this class! I got it done in time though. I will drum up some motivation and try to get ahead in it because the next several weeks are going to be nuts!
I was looking through my "to-do" list and everything that is coming up in the next few weeks. It gets a bit overwhelming quite quickly. I found out today something that surprised me. Another teacher who rarely says anything was frustrated by some of the speed bumps thrown in front of us. I don't know how we can overcome this issue. I was surprised because normally this teacher is a little wishy-washy. When you don't get the basics taken care of you just get sooo frustrated. It really impedes progress!
I knew we were short of substitutes but until paperwork goes through I am not sure what will happen. It is crazy. It makes a teacher nervous to leave when their is nobody remotely competent to oversee a class. Well I think I will hit the showers and look forward to a new day.
I was looking through my "to-do" list and everything that is coming up in the next few weeks. It gets a bit overwhelming quite quickly. I found out today something that surprised me. Another teacher who rarely says anything was frustrated by some of the speed bumps thrown in front of us. I don't know how we can overcome this issue. I was surprised because normally this teacher is a little wishy-washy. When you don't get the basics taken care of you just get sooo frustrated. It really impedes progress!
I knew we were short of substitutes but until paperwork goes through I am not sure what will happen. It is crazy. It makes a teacher nervous to leave when their is nobody remotely competent to oversee a class. Well I think I will hit the showers and look forward to a new day.
September 21, 2012
Orange Cones
This state has a unique gift of distributing orange cones generously for miles, and miles down the highway. It is really great because it lowers the speed limit 20 mph. Such torture! I don't understand their methodology for road construction.
I drove the kids 4 hours away for a cross country meet. It was fun to see them compete and find out more about this sport. I am thinking I may need to organize a meet in this town if we have kids competing next year. It was a very long day though. I also found out if you eat at a buffet on friday, it might be a seafood buffet. YACK! Check it out first. Yep yep.
The negativity is wearing me out around here. I have been turning around and walking away. I sometimes think if they could see themselves, what would they think. It is sooooo frustrating to want better for students when everyone around them is like "why bother?". UGGH! It is a obstacle for sure. At the beginning of this year we got this story about we're all pushing the same wheel and to move it forward we all have to be pushing it. Well I think there has been some speed bumps and some folks throwing obstacles in front of the wheel.
On the way home from the meet this evening I took out two jackrabbits, spotted one coyote, and a few hundred bugs. Stinking jackrabbits. Seriously you need to drive through here just after twilight. It is like the signal went on to run into the road. Then in the morning the vultures and hawks are sitting in the road eating the carcasses. Yummy!
I had a tire issue this week. It needed to get changed till I can get to town and buy new tires, get an alignment, etc. Thank goodness for teenagers that live in the boonies. I set out the spare tire, and came out after school the tire was changed! Awesome!
I am sooo sleepy so I will sign off for now... G'nite
I drove the kids 4 hours away for a cross country meet. It was fun to see them compete and find out more about this sport. I am thinking I may need to organize a meet in this town if we have kids competing next year. It was a very long day though. I also found out if you eat at a buffet on friday, it might be a seafood buffet. YACK! Check it out first. Yep yep.
The negativity is wearing me out around here. I have been turning around and walking away. I sometimes think if they could see themselves, what would they think. It is sooooo frustrating to want better for students when everyone around them is like "why bother?". UGGH! It is a obstacle for sure. At the beginning of this year we got this story about we're all pushing the same wheel and to move it forward we all have to be pushing it. Well I think there has been some speed bumps and some folks throwing obstacles in front of the wheel.
On the way home from the meet this evening I took out two jackrabbits, spotted one coyote, and a few hundred bugs. Stinking jackrabbits. Seriously you need to drive through here just after twilight. It is like the signal went on to run into the road. Then in the morning the vultures and hawks are sitting in the road eating the carcasses. Yummy!
I had a tire issue this week. It needed to get changed till I can get to town and buy new tires, get an alignment, etc. Thank goodness for teenagers that live in the boonies. I set out the spare tire, and came out after school the tire was changed! Awesome!
I am sooo sleepy so I will sign off for now... G'nite
September 19, 2012
Reflections..
If I reflect back on the past few weeks I can pretty much sum it up like this. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
Yep yep! I've made it though. Some things were a serious pain in my behind. (Sarcasm alert) I LOVE how this town embraces incompetence. Yep drives a soul batty. It is nice to get verification from other people once in awhile.... "Have I lost my compass for what is normal .... or does this sound nuts to you too?".
Tonight I met the other teachers and high-school students on the mountain side to paint the first letter of our towns name. It hadn't gotten a refresher for a couple of years so it was definitely needed. The kids were fairly controlled in their painting. Not too much paint on one another. They demonstrated a bit of self control.
In other news I found out our cross-country coaches paper work had not gone through. Somehow I think it was one of those deliberately lost files. It happens once in awhile. So I am driving the team 208 miles one way to their meet on Friday. What I do so they can compete.
I had a parent volunteer in the classroom today. She is awesome because she dives right in. I don't have to ask her and she comprehends what the students are doing. It is absolutely fabulous. YAY... then our principal, school counselor, and a interventionist came it. The counselor I had invited to do a "good touch bad touch" lesson with the kids. Of course the student I wanted to have this lesson the most was pulled from school. OF COURSE! Sigh! Then this is irony. Playing soccer out at recess one girl gets a soccer ball kicked at her and she has an amazing shiner. Then another one slips and slams her forehead into a bookshelf. Big bruise in the middle of her forehead. So I have this lesson and send them home bruised and banged up! Sheesh!
I started my school law and constitution class this week. I will have a lot of homework every weekend but it will only last 4 weeks. So hopefully I can get this all done without too much headaches. I found out about a new teacher that moved to a community south of here from the other side of our country. I am going to try to meet her because I think she left the green green grass of home for the sagebrush sagebrush land of sagebrush. Well my pillow is shouting at me...
G'nite
Yep yep! I've made it though. Some things were a serious pain in my behind. (Sarcasm alert) I LOVE how this town embraces incompetence. Yep drives a soul batty. It is nice to get verification from other people once in awhile.... "Have I lost my compass for what is normal .... or does this sound nuts to you too?".
Tonight I met the other teachers and high-school students on the mountain side to paint the first letter of our towns name. It hadn't gotten a refresher for a couple of years so it was definitely needed. The kids were fairly controlled in their painting. Not too much paint on one another. They demonstrated a bit of self control.
In other news I found out our cross-country coaches paper work had not gone through. Somehow I think it was one of those deliberately lost files. It happens once in awhile. So I am driving the team 208 miles one way to their meet on Friday. What I do so they can compete.
I had a parent volunteer in the classroom today. She is awesome because she dives right in. I don't have to ask her and she comprehends what the students are doing. It is absolutely fabulous. YAY... then our principal, school counselor, and a interventionist came it. The counselor I had invited to do a "good touch bad touch" lesson with the kids. Of course the student I wanted to have this lesson the most was pulled from school. OF COURSE! Sigh! Then this is irony. Playing soccer out at recess one girl gets a soccer ball kicked at her and she has an amazing shiner. Then another one slips and slams her forehead into a bookshelf. Big bruise in the middle of her forehead. So I have this lesson and send them home bruised and banged up! Sheesh!
I started my school law and constitution class this week. I will have a lot of homework every weekend but it will only last 4 weeks. So hopefully I can get this all done without too much headaches. I found out about a new teacher that moved to a community south of here from the other side of our country. I am going to try to meet her because I think she left the green green grass of home for the sagebrush sagebrush land of sagebrush. Well my pillow is shouting at me...
G'nite
September 16, 2012
Happy Birthday TO ME!!!
It has been a lovely weekend! I got to hang out with some friends in the country and breathe some fresher air. Every time I go out that way I think I need to find a place to rent out here. It is a longer drive to school but is so peaceful out there. At nighttime the stargazing is just beyond what you imagine. Most nights you can even see the Milky Way. I love how peaceful it is out there. There are a couple of places for rent and I am going to seriously consider it.
I was feeling soooo much stress the end of last week I really had to consider how to let it go. With a lot of prayers and getting out of town it made a huge difference. I really want to start my week off with a positive attitude and a smile. So that is the plan. If it gets to me I need to go and watch the stars for awhile! I spent some time with some great people this weekend which was really beneficial.
One of the folks I visited with was getting ready for a sermon this Sunday. He was asking me about my thoughts on forgiveness. Here I've been going through this situation and forgiveness wasn't at the top of my list. We discussed it for quite awhile. One thing that we have a tendency to do is judge others for their lack of forgiveness. It is such a process and needs to be done in peoples own time. You can't push anyone to forgive. Sometimes someone else doesn't know they've done something, or need forgiven. Also, sometimes you think you have forgiven, but all you've gained is a little distance. Then when confronted with it again all those feelings come back and you know forgiveness hasn't been achieved. Then when you think about God's capability of forgiveness and the breadth and width of what or who he has forgiven. That is too phenomenal to big for words. We finished our conversation with the fact that we know we've forgiven when there is peace. It was a great conversation.
This very peaceful weekend allowed me to take several steps back and breathe and let go. I really think it will give me the opportunity to start off a new week with a good attitude! This weekend I also met a young lady who just moved here to be with her husband. She finished her teaching degree this summer and wants to volunteer. I had a long talk with her and she was soo excited and asked me a lot of questions about education and school. It was refreshing and rejuvenating for me to chat with her. It brought me back to why I really love me job. It is those little faces that greet me every morning ready to go. It is awesome! She is going to volunteer at least a couple of days a week and then will be subbing for us sometimes. So things are moving in a positive direction.
So Happy Independence Day to Mexico hopefully, you can find some Independence from the strong arms of Drug Cartels! And Happy Birthday to ME!! Thanks for all the phone calls and messages! It has been a great birthday!
P.s. the saloon got a little noisy this weekend for a coyote roundup! I don't know what is more scary that I am learning to sleep through it or that I think it's normal!
p.p.s a good friend of mine had a healthy baby today so that is my best Birthday Present yet! Congrats to them!
I was feeling soooo much stress the end of last week I really had to consider how to let it go. With a lot of prayers and getting out of town it made a huge difference. I really want to start my week off with a positive attitude and a smile. So that is the plan. If it gets to me I need to go and watch the stars for awhile! I spent some time with some great people this weekend which was really beneficial.
One of the folks I visited with was getting ready for a sermon this Sunday. He was asking me about my thoughts on forgiveness. Here I've been going through this situation and forgiveness wasn't at the top of my list. We discussed it for quite awhile. One thing that we have a tendency to do is judge others for their lack of forgiveness. It is such a process and needs to be done in peoples own time. You can't push anyone to forgive. Sometimes someone else doesn't know they've done something, or need forgiven. Also, sometimes you think you have forgiven, but all you've gained is a little distance. Then when confronted with it again all those feelings come back and you know forgiveness hasn't been achieved. Then when you think about God's capability of forgiveness and the breadth and width of what or who he has forgiven. That is too phenomenal to big for words. We finished our conversation with the fact that we know we've forgiven when there is peace. It was a great conversation.
This very peaceful weekend allowed me to take several steps back and breathe and let go. I really think it will give me the opportunity to start off a new week with a good attitude! This weekend I also met a young lady who just moved here to be with her husband. She finished her teaching degree this summer and wants to volunteer. I had a long talk with her and she was soo excited and asked me a lot of questions about education and school. It was refreshing and rejuvenating for me to chat with her. It brought me back to why I really love me job. It is those little faces that greet me every morning ready to go. It is awesome! She is going to volunteer at least a couple of days a week and then will be subbing for us sometimes. So things are moving in a positive direction.
So Happy Independence Day to Mexico hopefully, you can find some Independence from the strong arms of Drug Cartels! And Happy Birthday to ME!! Thanks for all the phone calls and messages! It has been a great birthday!
P.s. the saloon got a little noisy this weekend for a coyote roundup! I don't know what is more scary that I am learning to sleep through it or that I think it's normal!
p.p.s a good friend of mine had a healthy baby today so that is my best Birthday Present yet! Congrats to them!
September 11, 2012
Bats, JackRabbits, Coyotes
I've noticed this fall especially a lot of bats flying in the evening around the lights eating bugs! One night at the gas station I thought good thing Mom isn't here she wouldn't have exited the car and probably wouldn't let me either! I kind of like watching them.
I had a class in 142 mile away town today! It was such a good class. So engaging and fun. It was really great to hang around some positivity and learn some great stuff. It was a busy fun day.
I left long before sunup for my class which is at prime Jackrabbit time. I nailed a couple, saw a coyote slinking away, saw mice running across the road, and an owl catching something. The stinking jackrabbits though! You might be surprised at what those buggers can do to a car. Anyhow I get to the town my class is in driving my school car. Lights flashing behind me pulling me over. Yikes getting pulled over in my work car! "do you know why I pulled you over?" Classic officer question., I was thinking did I do something wrong, I was a little lost, maybe I missed a stop sign or something? I said "no". " you have some plastic hanging under your car". I got out to look and sure enough the jackrabbit had not only taken his life but the life of the plastic air flow thing-a-ma-jigger under the car. He told me to just drive to my destination because I was just a couple blocks away and have them help me. I got there they had me go into the school bus shop and one of the mechanics rolled under there and removed it. Had a little rabbit fur and a lot of blood spray on it. Those stinking jackrabbits!
I hadn't been grocery shopping for a month so after class I did the grocery run. I probably should've gotten two carts but I managed with the leaning tower of groceries and made through checkout and to the car without losing anything. I feel like I can go another month now!
On the way home a coyote was in the middle of my lane eating the jackrabbit roadkill dinner special. I had to come to almost a complete stop before he decided it wasn't worth it and ran off the road! Yikes! I got home and had to unload all of those groceries. That is always the worst part. I apparently wasn't unloading them with a lot of grace or silence because one of the barflies offered to help me unload! I took him up on that offer. Just to get them to the top of my stairs! I appreciated it. He is a barfly that respects my boundaries so I was okay with it! Then I had to find a spot in my fridge for everything. Somehow that isn't a factor when I am buying the groceries :)!
My mistake of having such a great learning day was to check my e-mail when I got home! Don't do that! Seriously! If you've had just a day that made you smile and you feel good about it. Don't get on that FB, don't check your e -mail! I had a e-mail requesting I attend another meeting with the staff member who doesn't want to work! Seriously! WHY DID I CHECK MY E-MAIL! I don't know how I am going to handle this yet! I am sooooo done with this situation! If I made as many excuses I would be in huge trouble. UGGH.
For a little while today I forgot the significance of today's date. It wasn't that I forgot completely. it just went to the background for awhile. Which I think was a good thing. When I saw all of the postings I remembered so much of where I was, and all the emotions I felt. I was too close at that time for it to ever be surreal, it was far far to real.
Anyhow, it was a great day for learning had a professor with a degree in physics and civil engineering teach us today. It was engaging and fun!
I had a class in 142 mile away town today! It was such a good class. So engaging and fun. It was really great to hang around some positivity and learn some great stuff. It was a busy fun day.
I left long before sunup for my class which is at prime Jackrabbit time. I nailed a couple, saw a coyote slinking away, saw mice running across the road, and an owl catching something. The stinking jackrabbits though! You might be surprised at what those buggers can do to a car. Anyhow I get to the town my class is in driving my school car. Lights flashing behind me pulling me over. Yikes getting pulled over in my work car! "do you know why I pulled you over?" Classic officer question., I was thinking did I do something wrong, I was a little lost, maybe I missed a stop sign or something? I said "no". " you have some plastic hanging under your car". I got out to look and sure enough the jackrabbit had not only taken his life but the life of the plastic air flow thing-a-ma-jigger under the car. He told me to just drive to my destination because I was just a couple blocks away and have them help me. I got there they had me go into the school bus shop and one of the mechanics rolled under there and removed it. Had a little rabbit fur and a lot of blood spray on it. Those stinking jackrabbits!
I hadn't been grocery shopping for a month so after class I did the grocery run. I probably should've gotten two carts but I managed with the leaning tower of groceries and made through checkout and to the car without losing anything. I feel like I can go another month now!
On the way home a coyote was in the middle of my lane eating the jackrabbit roadkill dinner special. I had to come to almost a complete stop before he decided it wasn't worth it and ran off the road! Yikes! I got home and had to unload all of those groceries. That is always the worst part. I apparently wasn't unloading them with a lot of grace or silence because one of the barflies offered to help me unload! I took him up on that offer. Just to get them to the top of my stairs! I appreciated it. He is a barfly that respects my boundaries so I was okay with it! Then I had to find a spot in my fridge for everything. Somehow that isn't a factor when I am buying the groceries :)!
My mistake of having such a great learning day was to check my e-mail when I got home! Don't do that! Seriously! If you've had just a day that made you smile and you feel good about it. Don't get on that FB, don't check your e -mail! I had a e-mail requesting I attend another meeting with the staff member who doesn't want to work! Seriously! WHY DID I CHECK MY E-MAIL! I don't know how I am going to handle this yet! I am sooooo done with this situation! If I made as many excuses I would be in huge trouble. UGGH.
For a little while today I forgot the significance of today's date. It wasn't that I forgot completely. it just went to the background for awhile. Which I think was a good thing. When I saw all of the postings I remembered so much of where I was, and all the emotions I felt. I was too close at that time for it to ever be surreal, it was far far to real.
Anyhow, it was a great day for learning had a professor with a degree in physics and civil engineering teach us today. It was engaging and fun!
September 10, 2012
We Couldn't Understand This Location
Alright Google Maps you've let me down. It isn't like I am going to a ranch in the boonies. Nope I'm going to an actual town with Grocery stores, multiple stoplights, Big R, fast food chains, casinos, boot barns, and more! I have to go near the Jr. High school, and Google maps says "We couldn't understand this location"! The map the school website had posted had 3 possibilities and none of them labeled. They also linked to google maps. Sigh....
Luckily I just got a text message with directions! If I can find East 4th Street in this booming metropolis I should be fine!
It was a busy day, and I had to get ready to be gone tomorrow for my class. I will have to get up about 4:30 to leave on time! I am driving the school car (a retired police car)! It is quite easy to speed in it. What is more fun is driving up on someone and have them slow wayyyyy down! A little entertaining! The police drive wayyyy nicer and newer cars than this one so I guess people are just playing it safe.
A local had a birthday party at the park today. So I went up for a little while before heading home. It was great for me because dinner was provided and tomorrow is grocery store day! It is getting pretty boring in my fridge! They had four kinds of homemade ice cream yummy. They also had a singing cowboy from one of the ranches. Honestly though I really was most excited about a dinner I didn't have to cook! I get so sick of my own cooking :)! That's why preparing some freezer dinners is a great idea. You aren't sick of it by the end of the pot! Almost every weekend I've been trying to cook a freezer meal. I have class tomorrow have to drive 142 miles one way to class. It will be a long day tomorrow. Hopefully, I've written a good list for the store because by the time I arrive I probably won't care!
I need to hop in the shower get my coolers and grocery bags by the door! We have a professor from a Colorado University coming tomorrow to teach us something about Asteroids! He sounds delightfully nerdy and passionate about his area of expertise! Should be fun.
G'nite
Luckily I just got a text message with directions! If I can find East 4th Street in this booming metropolis I should be fine!
It was a busy day, and I had to get ready to be gone tomorrow for my class. I will have to get up about 4:30 to leave on time! I am driving the school car (a retired police car)! It is quite easy to speed in it. What is more fun is driving up on someone and have them slow wayyyyy down! A little entertaining! The police drive wayyyy nicer and newer cars than this one so I guess people are just playing it safe.
A local had a birthday party at the park today. So I went up for a little while before heading home. It was great for me because dinner was provided and tomorrow is grocery store day! It is getting pretty boring in my fridge! They had four kinds of homemade ice cream yummy. They also had a singing cowboy from one of the ranches. Honestly though I really was most excited about a dinner I didn't have to cook! I get so sick of my own cooking :)! That's why preparing some freezer dinners is a great idea. You aren't sick of it by the end of the pot! Almost every weekend I've been trying to cook a freezer meal. I have class tomorrow have to drive 142 miles one way to class. It will be a long day tomorrow. Hopefully, I've written a good list for the store because by the time I arrive I probably won't care!
I need to hop in the shower get my coolers and grocery bags by the door! We have a professor from a Colorado University coming tomorrow to teach us something about Asteroids! He sounds delightfully nerdy and passionate about his area of expertise! Should be fun.
G'nite
September 8, 2012
Lazy Day
I spent was somewhat lazy today. Decided not to go in to school today, and got a few things done at home. I managed to wear my pajamas most of the day which was just what I needed! Then I got a phone call. One of my friends from the town I lived in before was driving through and wanted to meet me for dinner. So we had some good laughs, talked about movies, and more. It was a fun break! It was funny because I was just thinking I'd make a pot of Taco Soup..a little unenthusiastically, and he called to have me meet him for dinner. I really loved working with his wife a the year before last ! She is pregnant with their first boy and due in the next couple of weeks. So I expect to hear very soon that she had the baby! I often visit their family when I go back to that town. I really enjoy hanging out with them. He has pretty much gutted and remodeled their entire home. It is fun to see what he has done every time I visit. The funniest story he had to share was stopping at Wal-Mart in the town where I go grocery shopping. He said when he was going into Wally-fart a very attractive woman was setting up a "kissing booth" in front of the store. He was kind of surprised to see that at a store and was wondering how desperate for money she was that she would kiss Wally-fart customers! So he went in and came back out and the price for a kiss was 1.00$. However, the kiss recipient wasn't the attractive woman but a Great Dane. He said he giggled about that for many miles down the road.
Today the town had a "wine walk"! It was a good day for me to hide out. They don't really need an excuse to drink here! I heard sirens going a couple of times. I don't know if it was "wine walk" related but I will probably find out later. Tomorrow I have a lot to do at school but it was good to take a day to check out!
Today the town had a "wine walk"! It was a good day for me to hide out. They don't really need an excuse to drink here! I heard sirens going a couple of times. I don't know if it was "wine walk" related but I will probably find out later. Tomorrow I have a lot to do at school but it was good to take a day to check out!
September 7, 2012
Epiphany!
Had a realization today. Sometimes you need to stand back and let someone sink or swim. Time to get out of the way. I was attempting to control the outcome. It will probably be the same but I need to get out of the way and let it happen.What I will do is invite help to my classroom that care as much as I do about learning. I will use them for interventions, and areas of need. I feel better about these choices than the ones I was making before. I can't make someone else do their job, and if my boss won't take care of it, I really have no power. I was attempting in my own way to make sure something was done. It wasn't working, so I need to get out of the way and invite people in who are willing to make the work get done!
I went in to school for a few hours today and got quite a bit accomplished. I will probably go back this evening when it is cool and quiet and work some more. I have class next week so I have to prepare to be gone. We do not have any sub's right now. I am not sure who will end up subbing for me but I am fairly certain it will be the bus driver. Yikes! Seriously YIKES! I have asked a parent to come in and teach the morning lessons to the students! She is a little nervous I think, but I feel good about her coming in. She understands how animated you need to be and how to make it exciting. She also has healthy boundaries for student behavior. She is working on getting her sub license and it really can't happen soon enough! I have another parent coming in for the afternoon. I think this will help make sure everything gets done!
I went in to school for a few hours today and got quite a bit accomplished. I will probably go back this evening when it is cool and quiet and work some more. I have class next week so I have to prepare to be gone. We do not have any sub's right now. I am not sure who will end up subbing for me but I am fairly certain it will be the bus driver. Yikes! Seriously YIKES! I have asked a parent to come in and teach the morning lessons to the students! She is a little nervous I think, but I feel good about her coming in. She understands how animated you need to be and how to make it exciting. She also has healthy boundaries for student behavior. She is working on getting her sub license and it really can't happen soon enough! I have another parent coming in for the afternoon. I think this will help make sure everything gets done!
September 4, 2012
Not so great day... but a nice ending!
What can you do when someone makes it okay for someone not to do their job? I don't have the answer! I hold myself and my students accountable. Why can't I hold my aide accountable. It is so annoying. I have learned a lot from this experience. I was going to change my plan..based on the horrible meeting today. Then I thought NO I'm NOT! Why am I being asked to make it okay for you not to do what I ask of you? Forget it! I am going to focus on the kids, and you're either with me, or not! If you're not don't expect me to make it okay for you and I won't be sitting down with you for a meeting again. GRRRRR
I came home pretty disgusted and frustrated. I talked to one of my students parent tonight. Most of my girls are way, way, tougher, stronger, and more independent than the boys in my class. They are amazing young ladies. Well this parent was telling me her daughter was out helping her Dad round up some cattle. Something broke and the Dad had to run back to the truck. When he got back she at 7 years of age had kept the herd together and drove them several miles closer to where they needed them to be! Isn't that awesome? Her mom told me I don't know where her future will take her but if it takes her to New York City at least I know she can castrate any perverts hassling her!
It was so great for me to chat with this mom. She's a strong, practical, independent woman raising a daughter with those same values! It was a great finish to a not so great day! It put my focus away from this other nonsense and back on these kids who are amazing! I have the privilege of being their teacher! It is awesome. It motivates me and excites me
Have a great Day, Night, Afternoon...
I came home pretty disgusted and frustrated. I talked to one of my students parent tonight. Most of my girls are way, way, tougher, stronger, and more independent than the boys in my class. They are amazing young ladies. Well this parent was telling me her daughter was out helping her Dad round up some cattle. Something broke and the Dad had to run back to the truck. When he got back she at 7 years of age had kept the herd together and drove them several miles closer to where they needed them to be! Isn't that awesome? Her mom told me I don't know where her future will take her but if it takes her to New York City at least I know she can castrate any perverts hassling her!
It was so great for me to chat with this mom. She's a strong, practical, independent woman raising a daughter with those same values! It was a great finish to a not so great day! It put my focus away from this other nonsense and back on these kids who are amazing! I have the privilege of being their teacher! It is awesome. It motivates me and excites me
Have a great Day, Night, Afternoon...
September 1, 2012
Question answered!
Awhile back I asked the question "If you fire someone when you're drunk, and don't remember firing them, are they still fired in the morning?" I found out that you're not fired, but your boss does have to call and ask you to come in to work! Also if you are wearing a very colorful multi-scarve turban upon your head. It may be because you believe aliens are trying to steal your thoughts. If there are aliens I truly hope they are looking for more worthy candidates to steal thoughts from.
My pregnant aid, who is making me crazy, had a good day the other day. Ahem. Our janitor who unlocks all of the school doors was unable to come in one morning. The first teacher who arrived just propped the front doors open with our heavy piece of old rail road track. It makes and excellent doorstop. So we went about our day. I took my students out to the bus and the wind was blowing so it was blowing the door closed even with that doorstop. I kicked it out of the way and went inside. Then I had to call one of my coaches. So to make sure I had service I went up by the windows at the front of our school. I saw the aid approaching the door and before she gives me a chance to get to the door she starts banging on it and yells at me to let her in literally it took maybe 20 seconds for me to walk over and open the door then she makes a comment about me not opening it quickly enough. I was still on the phone with the coach so I am not responding to her. She walks about 4 yards into the school and tells the janitor (who just got there) " you locked me out!" The janitors eyes are huge and she says "uh no I didn't I just got here", " You locked me out the door was locked.!" I had finished my call so I say " I'm not sure the door every got unlocked today". Then I start walking away (out of target range). I hear the janitor say " see it probably never got unlocked just propped open from the inside, I haven't been here today" I keep walking so I have no idea if there was more to this crazy conversation. I have been walking on eggshells around my classroom. I really hope she decides this is too much for her and decides to move on. Pray for me to have some patience, and wisdom in my words!
I had a great day today. I went out to one of the ranches and made a 6 loaf batch of homemade bread. Sooo yummy! It is one of those mom's who makes a fresh batch of bread every time they run out. They never buy bread. So then we had fresh from the oven bread with honey on it. Ohhhh yum. We also went out and picked beans from their garden. I also helped them move some furniture around. They had a flash flood that filled up their window-wells and ended up breaking a window and flowing into their basement. They had fans and humidifiers and were trying to clear it out. Then another flash flood came through. So they are still in process of cleaning up the mess.
I also had a nice time yesterday. Drove about an hour to have a good hamburger with one of my friends here. It is good food and was very relaxing. So I was able to get away from school for a bit. I did go to school on Friday morning and discovered one of my coaches left her keys in the door of the school when she left for the game. Luckily I was there in time to take care of it. The computer guy also came on Friday. I can only hope he took care of most of the issues. I know one he wasn't able to because I tried to get on the SMART exchange website and still couldn't. So I will submit another help ticket and hopefully this will get taken care of.
I have a mountain of laundry and dishes to do! Hope you are having a good Labor Day Weekend!
My pregnant aid, who is making me crazy, had a good day the other day. Ahem. Our janitor who unlocks all of the school doors was unable to come in one morning. The first teacher who arrived just propped the front doors open with our heavy piece of old rail road track. It makes and excellent doorstop. So we went about our day. I took my students out to the bus and the wind was blowing so it was blowing the door closed even with that doorstop. I kicked it out of the way and went inside. Then I had to call one of my coaches. So to make sure I had service I went up by the windows at the front of our school. I saw the aid approaching the door and before she gives me a chance to get to the door she starts banging on it and yells at me to let her in literally it took maybe 20 seconds for me to walk over and open the door then she makes a comment about me not opening it quickly enough. I was still on the phone with the coach so I am not responding to her. She walks about 4 yards into the school and tells the janitor (who just got there) " you locked me out!" The janitors eyes are huge and she says "uh no I didn't I just got here", " You locked me out the door was locked.!" I had finished my call so I say " I'm not sure the door every got unlocked today". Then I start walking away (out of target range). I hear the janitor say " see it probably never got unlocked just propped open from the inside, I haven't been here today" I keep walking so I have no idea if there was more to this crazy conversation. I have been walking on eggshells around my classroom. I really hope she decides this is too much for her and decides to move on. Pray for me to have some patience, and wisdom in my words!
I had a great day today. I went out to one of the ranches and made a 6 loaf batch of homemade bread. Sooo yummy! It is one of those mom's who makes a fresh batch of bread every time they run out. They never buy bread. So then we had fresh from the oven bread with honey on it. Ohhhh yum. We also went out and picked beans from their garden. I also helped them move some furniture around. They had a flash flood that filled up their window-wells and ended up breaking a window and flowing into their basement. They had fans and humidifiers and were trying to clear it out. Then another flash flood came through. So they are still in process of cleaning up the mess.
I also had a nice time yesterday. Drove about an hour to have a good hamburger with one of my friends here. It is good food and was very relaxing. So I was able to get away from school for a bit. I did go to school on Friday morning and discovered one of my coaches left her keys in the door of the school when she left for the game. Luckily I was there in time to take care of it. The computer guy also came on Friday. I can only hope he took care of most of the issues. I know one he wasn't able to because I tried to get on the SMART exchange website and still couldn't. So I will submit another help ticket and hopefully this will get taken care of.
I have a mountain of laundry and dishes to do! Hope you are having a good Labor Day Weekend!
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