In less than a week, our school will be starting the final quarter (nine weeks). Happy/sad!
Sad because:
~my class this year absolutely rocks. I am not having a "Snow White" year (where the woodland creatures follow us happily down the halls as we sing merrily) but they are responsible, respectful, and hard-working kiddos that I genuinely like.
~the kindergarten classes are way over-crowded, so our usually magic-making kinder teachers have not been able to help shape the group into first graders as much as play "whack-a-mole" at just about every opportunity
~a few of my students are not progressing academically as I would have hoped, and the time to make decisions that forcefully impact their school careers is quickly approaching (and what if I decide wrong?)
~my own kiddos will be either out of 1st grade (and thus, from MY grade) or out of elementary entirely. I am going to miss seeing them both every day like CRAZY.
Happy because:
~Duh! SUMMER.
~this job provides a do-over EVERY YEAR. Something didn't work? It might with a different group. Something could work better? Opportunity to tweak and refine.
~my teammate and friend will NOT be out on maternity leave next year like she is this year (I miss her!)
~super fun stuff (like butterflies and Ocean Week and Beach Towel Fridays) are coming up
"Yesterday was history; tomorrow is a mystery--> today is a GIFT. That's why it's called the PRESENT." --Alice Morse Earle
So even though our year is 75% over, I am going to enjoy my gift of today. Hope you do, too!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Teaching Blogs and Target: 2 of my Favorite Things!
http://lessonswithlaughter.blogspot.com/2012/03/giveaway-and-erin-bradley-surprise.html#more
How I wish I had time to be an awesome blogger like this!
How I wish I had time to be an awesome blogger like this!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Put me in, Coach!
Today the Rascal will try out for machine-pitch baseball. Trying out isn't really about anything except being able to balance the teams as much as possible, but I'm still a little anxious on his behalf.
I am also feeling nostalgic for tee ball. Yes, I know! Every kid gets to bat every inning; there are no "outs" or strikes; everyone scores and everyone wins and kumbayah! It's not REAL baseball! But I'm going to miss that a bit.
I'm going to miss the no-stakes dirt digging. I'm going to miss the free-wheeling monkeyshines of the four shortstops. I'm going to miss the sheepish grins that follow the 17 swings-and-misses, followed by the beam of pride when the bat FINALLY connects... "I'm AWESOME!"
Still, the kiddo has some true athletic ability (when he's not hitting himself in the head) and I am looking forward to watching him in a slightly more competitive arena. Many of his friends are also signing up, and I will enjoy cheering them all on no matter what team gets them. I am hopeful and confident that, with some practice, he will feel that beam of pride as his bat connects firmly with the ball that is NOT on a tee. He IS awesome! I can't wait!
I am also feeling nostalgic for tee ball. Yes, I know! Every kid gets to bat every inning; there are no "outs" or strikes; everyone scores and everyone wins and kumbayah! It's not REAL baseball! But I'm going to miss that a bit.
I'm going to miss the no-stakes dirt digging. I'm going to miss the free-wheeling monkeyshines of the four shortstops. I'm going to miss the sheepish grins that follow the 17 swings-and-misses, followed by the beam of pride when the bat FINALLY connects... "I'm AWESOME!"
Still, the kiddo has some true athletic ability (when he's not hitting himself in the head) and I am looking forward to watching him in a slightly more competitive arena. Many of his friends are also signing up, and I will enjoy cheering them all on no matter what team gets them. I am hopeful and confident that, with some practice, he will feel that beam of pride as his bat connects firmly with the ball that is NOT on a tee. He IS awesome! I can't wait!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Marie Christmas!
I’m going to start this post by complaining.
This year, my outside lights are sparse and intermittent. We've got to replace a post on our porch (a repair we can't currently afford) so hanging the wreaths from the 2nd story windows is unsafe. I used the strings that would normally wrap our banks of trees to line to top of our metal fence and it is—well, underwhelming..
Our attempt to have a live tree led to a cypress that can’t hold heavy (or really, anything but paper light) ornaments. Because we usually have a pre-lit tree, the only lights we have are the garden dragonfly lights, and they cover about 1/3 of the entire tree. So barren of bright lights and shiny ornaments, plus a noticeable lilt to one side, our tree looks more Charlie Brown than Griswold.
Our decision to make this year more about quality and quantity has also backfired, at least when you look at the pitiful few gifts wrapped under the crooked tree. And while I hope my kiddos appreciate how lucky they truly are, the idea that they might have that disappointed feeling of not getting the one thing they truly wanted is weighing heavily on me.
And the topper? Not 100% sure the Eldest truly “believes” anymore. And I am 100% sure I’m not ready for that.
But… and you knew I would have a big but :) … Rascal woke up this morning at 6AM, bounded into our room and exclaimed with sheer glee, “Merry Christmas!” Even when we explained it was merely Christmas Eve and not quite yet the big day, his only response was to be even more excited because he had additional anticipation time. Da Boyz are both looking forward to spending time with their grandparents and are delighted with the various baubles and trinkets of holiday cheer sprinkled around our home. And the other day, the Eldest gave me a big hug and said, “Mom, no matter what, it’s going to be a great Christmas.” He’s right.
Family, friends, love- what it’s all about. I hope you all have a “Marie Christmas”!
This year, my outside lights are sparse and intermittent. We've got to replace a post on our porch (a repair we can't currently afford) so hanging the wreaths from the 2nd story windows is unsafe. I used the strings that would normally wrap our banks of trees to line to top of our metal fence and it is—well, underwhelming..
Our attempt to have a live tree led to a cypress that can’t hold heavy (or really, anything but paper light) ornaments. Because we usually have a pre-lit tree, the only lights we have are the garden dragonfly lights, and they cover about 1/3 of the entire tree. So barren of bright lights and shiny ornaments, plus a noticeable lilt to one side, our tree looks more Charlie Brown than Griswold.
Our decision to make this year more about quality and quantity has also backfired, at least when you look at the pitiful few gifts wrapped under the crooked tree. And while I hope my kiddos appreciate how lucky they truly are, the idea that they might have that disappointed feeling of not getting the one thing they truly wanted is weighing heavily on me.
And the topper? Not 100% sure the Eldest truly “believes” anymore. And I am 100% sure I’m not ready for that.
But… and you knew I would have a big but :) … Rascal woke up this morning at 6AM, bounded into our room and exclaimed with sheer glee, “Merry Christmas!” Even when we explained it was merely Christmas Eve and not quite yet the big day, his only response was to be even more excited because he had additional anticipation time. Da Boyz are both looking forward to spending time with their grandparents and are delighted with the various baubles and trinkets of holiday cheer sprinkled around our home. And the other day, the Eldest gave me a big hug and said, “Mom, no matter what, it’s going to be a great Christmas.” He’s right.
Family, friends, love- what it’s all about. I hope you all have a “Marie Christmas”!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Love some giveaways!
http://gradeonederful.blogspot.com/2011/11/25-giveaway.html
$25 to Amazon or Starbucks? What's not to like?
$25 to Amazon or Starbucks? What's not to like?
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
the conundrum of being a teacher
While my Mister and I enjoy many aspects of our life, having a lot of disposable income is not something we know anything about. We are both teachers, and that means our total household monies are in the 5 figure range. Think about that for a minute. We, TOGETHER, make less than many "businessmen" make alone. By about a third (or more). (MUCH more.) (SO MUCH MORE.) Why am I not complaining?
Mostly because there are days when I realize, "They PAY me to do this!" And I don't mean weekends, summers, and holidays off (anyone who knows a teacher knows-- there really ain't no such thing as "off" time to a teacher!)-- I mean that the joy I get on a daily basis from my job is so great that it can be hard to remember it's not a volunteer activity.
Sure, there are days when I realize, "They don't pay me ENOUGH for this." And there are days when I realize, "They paid me, but that plus more was spent on things for my classroom." There are days when I feel like I must apologize to my own kids because they came second to my students when the decisions about where the "extra" money would go that month. Days when I hope my teacher husband doesn't tally how much I spent on my room; days when I resent how much he spent on his.
But today? And most days? They PAY me for this. You may not have any idea how that feels. Your salary may be aMAZing, but I know how it feels to realize that they PAY me... for THIS. It's fantastic.
Mostly because there are days when I realize, "They PAY me to do this!" And I don't mean weekends, summers, and holidays off (anyone who knows a teacher knows-- there really ain't no such thing as "off" time to a teacher!)-- I mean that the joy I get on a daily basis from my job is so great that it can be hard to remember it's not a volunteer activity.
Sure, there are days when I realize, "They don't pay me ENOUGH for this." And there are days when I realize, "They paid me, but that plus more was spent on things for my classroom." There are days when I feel like I must apologize to my own kids because they came second to my students when the decisions about where the "extra" money would go that month. Days when I hope my teacher husband doesn't tally how much I spent on my room; days when I resent how much he spent on his.
But today? And most days? They PAY me for this. You may not have any idea how that feels. Your salary may be aMAZing, but I know how it feels to realize that they PAY me... for THIS. It's fantastic.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
It's quiet... TOO quiet...
I just realized that I am home by myself. Mister went to get some plants from a teacher colleague and since it's Rascal's former kinder teacher, he went along too. Thankfully not "pants optional"*. And, although I didn't hear the exchange, Elder jumped in the car, too. So here I am, in my Home Alone.
Assuming Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern don't come crashing through the back door, I am going to enjoy these few precious moments of solitude and quiet... but not too much. Turns out that I like having my family around me! I can't count how many times we reach out for each other; for hugs, pats, just little brushes of togetherness. How my heart squeezes when I see Da Boyz look at each other, really LOOK eye to eye, and smile for what seems to be no reason at all. The freely spoken "I love you"s that weave in the air around us All. The. Time.
They will all be back soon. There will be bickering over Wii strategies, debates over whose turn it is to feed the pooches, complaints about the dish pile and dog fur tumbleweeds... the usual. And I can't wait.
*"pants optional"= summer clothing mode. Don't ask. :)
Assuming Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern don't come crashing through the back door, I am going to enjoy these few precious moments of solitude and quiet... but not too much. Turns out that I like having my family around me! I can't count how many times we reach out for each other; for hugs, pats, just little brushes of togetherness. How my heart squeezes when I see Da Boyz look at each other, really LOOK eye to eye, and smile for what seems to be no reason at all. The freely spoken "I love you"s that weave in the air around us All. The. Time.
They will all be back soon. There will be bickering over Wii strategies, debates over whose turn it is to feed the pooches, complaints about the dish pile and dog fur tumbleweeds... the usual. And I can't wait.
*"pants optional"= summer clothing mode. Don't ask. :)
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