Now I think I'm ready

Just last week I was complaining about how quickly the new school year was approaching, but today I started to get excited about it. Don't get me wrong, I love not having any responsibilities, but it's time to get back to work. I spent some time with a former student today and I realized how much I miss being around the kids everyday.

I heard a rumor last week that this student was seriously missing me this summer. I also heard that she was going to be playing in a USFA Nationals Softball tournament this week in Mesquite. And, I also knew that yesterday was her birthday. So, I text (because I don't call people) her Mom to tell her that I wanted to surprise Kadyn at one of her games. Well, today was the day. I arrived just as the team was finishing warming up before their "official" on-the-field warm up. Kadyn had her back turned and I walked up right behind her and started tapping on her shoulder. I tapped for at least a minute before she finally turned around, but it was well worth it. She gasped, gave me a huge hug, and couldn't speak. It was pretty funny, I don't think I've ever experienced her speechless before!

During the game, her Mom told me a story that helped me put to rest some questions I've been wrestling with for the last month or so. A couple days ago they were out shopping and the lady at the cash register asked Kadyn if she was ready to go back to school. Kadyn very enthusiastically replied that she was very excited about returning to school. The lady was surprised to get such a positive response and asked her why she was so excited. Kadyn says, "My Mom told me that on the first day of school I can go see my fourth grade teacher."

Then it was my turn to be speechless! Another thing that I love about Kadyn is that she is a Baylor Bear fan through and through. Her parents are big time TCU fans and I totally saved her from the frog world! :) Over Spring Break we took a little trip to Waco to see Baylor and check out the softball team. Even though the game got rained out, Kadyn apparently had the best time. She came home that night and did this to her TCU Rocking Chair she has had in her room forever:


Today was a great day. And, I'm especially thankful for the reminder that I may just be exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Anything for the kids

The day I have been dreading for about a month now has come and gone. Tomorrow begins Round 2 of the beloved TAKS testing at my school and someone thought that the teachers acting like loons was a good way to get the kids motivated. So, we spent this morning performing in our very own version of "TAKS Idol." I'm not really sure what I was supposed to be, but Mrs. Sykes and I performed "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang. Apparently the judges didn't like it because we didn't make it through to Hollywood.

My favorite part was that I was so nervous I was like frozen in place, I couldn't move. And, I couldn't really see out of my sunglasses. The whole three minutes was a bit of a blur! It cracks me up just thinking about how silly that is! Oh well, I survived, and some of my good friends were so willing to be there and take pictures! Thanks guys, you're the best, really! :)


I think my favorite act of the day had to be "GEM." They rocked the house and made it to Hollywood! Way to go Marcy!

That was easy!

A couple weeks ago I confessed how bad I am about entering grades into the online gradebook. I usually have to spend a couple hours the night they are due making sure everything is entered and posted. Well, I also mentioned that I was trying really hard this semester to stay on top of that task so that I wouldn't have to do it all at the last minute.

Tonight all my hard work paid off. I completely forgot that my grades had to be posted by midnight tonight until I sat down to watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (I love this show) and it popped in my head! It's a miracle that I remembered at all! So, after the show I came to the computer and I am happy to report that it took approximately 9 minutes to log in and post all the grades for all my classes. I don't know what I was thinking before, this go around was so easy I think I'll keep up the trend! Why it has taken me two and half years to learn this, I have no idea! There's really no telling what I could do with about ten years experience! :)

Sometimes I get too excited

Now that I have this cool-looking blog I can't think of anything to write about. Something pretty funny did happen at school this week and I thought I would share.

My favorite subject to teach is Social Studies, I've discovered that I'm kind of a history nerd. In fourth grade we teach all about Texas, and it's kind of ironic that I love teaching about a place that I was determined I was going to hate when I first arrived about 18 years ago. Nonetheless, the history of Texas is exciting, unique, and continues to have an impact on life as we know it.

On Tuesday, I introduced the kids to the American Revolution (as a way to lay the foundation for what was to come for Texas). We talked about the Intolerable Acts, the Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party. I was very into what we were talking about. The kids were totally engaged and we were rolling right along. I like to read out of the book and then stop and explain in my own words, this is usually when I get really excited and animated in my talking.

So, I just finished telling my version of what ever it was we had read and we were going back to the book to see what happened next.

This is what the book said: The fighting began...

This is what I said: The farting began...

Much laughter and rolling on the floor ensued. I often find myself getting overly excited and mis-speak a lot, but I think that this is by far the funniest example yet!

Look, Mom!!

We had a guy come to school today with all different kinds of reptiles to show us. He had lots of different snake species, a couple of huge turtles, and even some alligators. All the kids got to "pet" both a giant snake and a little alligator. It was pretty interesting.

Now, for as long as I can remember my Mom has hated snakes. I'm not even talking like just a little bit. If there is a snake on TV, she has to turn her head. I can only imagine what she might do if she were to actually run across one. Since I had the opportunity to get my hands on a snake today I thought it might be funny to give my Mom a special Christmas gift this year. I was going to frame a big picture of me holding the giant snake. I just know she would love it. :) I won't do it now, because she is probably reading this and I don't want to get coal for Christmas! But, I thought the picture turned out funny.


I was actually looking at the camera and smiling, but then the lady shoved the snake's head right at my face, and that is the moment that was captured! It was just a bit frightening!

Four calling birds

I've never really given much thought to the words of the Christmas classic, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Never before this year anyway. A week ago today, I received a Christmas Tree candle as a gift from a student. My first thought was, Wow - it's early to be getting gifts! Then, the next day, from the same student I received 2 Christmas ornaments. It took me awhile but I finally got it. I was experiencing my very own twelve days of Christmas. The third day was three gift bags, the fourth was four pieces of fudge, the fifth was a $5 Sonic Card, and today I got six bows. It has been very fun to receive a gift each day.

The experience got even better when on Monday another student began their very own daily gift-giving. Monday I received a Starbucks card, Tuesday I got two Dove chocolate bars, Wednesday I received three candy cane pens, and today was the funniest thing ever. I opened up the little package and found four bird ornaments:



Do you get it? It's four calling birds! Well, two of the four calling birds. They're on the telephone. I think this might be one of the best gifts I've ever been given. It obviously doesn't take much to make me happy!

Kids are funny

One of my favorite parts of my job is having conversations with kids. They say the funniest stuff without even realizing it.

Wednesday I was eating lunch in the cafeteria with my class and we were all enjoying our chicken nuggets. I think every single one of my students bought lunch that day. Here are a couple conversations I had at the lunch table:

Me: (speaking to the boy on my left) I need to remember to bring my lunch tomorrow! We are going to have fish sticks. (I do not enjoy the fish sticks, from my own oven or anyone elses).

Boy: Me too! I only like regular fish, the kind without the sticks.

So, I'm not sure what kind of fish sticks he's been eating, but I don't remember the fish sticks I ate as a child actually having sticks in them.


Just a few moments later I had this conversation with the girl sitting on my right:

Girl: Can you write with your left hand?

Me: Sort of. I mean, I can do it, it just doesn't look very good.

Girl: I can write with both hands. I've been practicing a lot with my left hand. I just feel it's important to be able to write with my left hand because you never know when your right hand will stop working.

Me: That's a really good point. Way to be prepared!

She said it as if your hands have some sort of writing limit, once you reach it, that hand is no longer of any use to you. As long as I can read her work, I don't care which hand she uses, but I wonder what she'll do if both her hands reach their limit?

It could've been Ed McMahon

We had a little excitement today at Camp Learnalot. I was right in the middle of teaching Social Studies to one of my classes. I was very passionately convincing my students that they too could leave an impact on the world like Christopher Columbus. And maybe, just maybe 500 years from now kids would be reading about them in a history book. It really blows their minds to know that Columbus discovered North America by mistake!! So, anyway I'm teaching this truly life-changing lesson and we begin to hear bells out in the hallway, and they kept getting louder and louder. We seriously thought Santa had come a few weeks early. My door is thrown open and the bell-ringing people pile into my classroom. These aren't the kind of people that you normally have in your classroom; the Superintendent, school board members, important business people, the Principal, Assistant Principal. To say that I was a little nervous and shaking a little bit would be an understatement, hopefully I covered it well. They were there to tell me that I was receiving a grant that I applied for about a month ago. They had balloons, bells, and a very big check. It was pretty cool, the kids all thought I'd won millions for my own personal use and maybe even a car to go along with it. In reality, it was $283.65 to spend on a new Science project.

My friend Shellee came to school to eat lunch with her daughter Abbee today, and she (who is in a class right next door) convinced Shellee that the Publisher's Clearing House people came to school to give me a bunch of money. It was pretty funny. While this money means that I've created a bit more work for myself, it made for a very exciting day. Even if Ed McMahon and the Publisher's Clearing House people had shown up with a check for Ten Million Dollars, after taxes I probably would have ended up with about $283.65. So really it's just as great!

Multiple Personality Disorder

Today, I finally got to teach Science for the first time this year! I really love teaching Science because it's fun and the kids love it so much. Well, before we can get to the good stuff we have to know the Science Lab Safety Rules and the steps to the Scientific Method. In the middle of the night during my first year of teaching I had a brainstorm. I thought it would be fun to dress up as a "scientist," and be a guest speaker for my class to teach them the basics. The first year all I could pull together was a white lab coat and some glasses. Last year I traded in the normal glasses for the big fake nose disguise glasses. This year though, I took it to a whole new level. I added some crazy hair. This other personality of mine, Dr. Experimenta, has truly evolved! I didn't actually see myself until the end of the day when I had someone take a picture of me. It made me laugh so maybe it will make you laugh too!

It was nice.

Tonight was the big ribbon-cutting/meet the teacher night at my school. I'm guessing the fact that it was raining and most of us have already met all of our student's parents was the reason for the low turnout. There were still lots of people there, just not as many as usual. Well, the highlight of the evening for me was when all my former students came to my room to say hello. The cool thing was they didn't just come say hello, they came in and got comfortable, like they belonged there. At one point there were 6 kids from last year in there at one time, all just talking, relaxing, and maybe having a little too much fun. I loved that they felt so comfortable and wanted to stay awhile. It was nice.

1 down, 35 to go

The first week of the brand new school year is officially done. I really feel good about my classes and enjoyed getting to know a whole bunch more kids. It has been a week of mixed emotions for sure. I am excited to finally be back in the swing of things at school. I really do like my class, it is full of a bunch of fun kids. It's just that I miss last year's class so much!! I've mentioned before that it was a great year, but, really that is an understatement. It was something that I couldn't plan for or create, it just happened, and it was special (to me at least). I got an email tonight from one of those former students telling me how awesome her new school is. This is great news and I am SO glad my students are doing so well there. It just makes me miss the good ol' days. :)

On a happier note, we had an all warm and fuzzy moment at school today. I have been using the four principles of the FISH! Philosophy in my classroom. They are Play, Be There, Choose Your Attitude, and Make Their Day. It is great because the "principles" are simple enough that the kids already get it without a lot of explanation. My class is loving it and they are using the "language" all day long. It's really kind of cute. Anyway, I told them this morning that today was FISH Friday and we were going to have a special "Campfire Time" this afternoon.

So, right before recess once we were all packed up to go home, I summoned everyone to the campfire (sadly there isn't a campfire in sight). I asked the kids to think back on this week and share with us either something they loved about school so far, or, an example of someone making their day. Immediately hands shot up. The majority was just loving everything about school and they were sad that it was Friday and we weren't coming to school on Monday. Then a girl raised her hand and shared about how another girl made her day by asking her to play on her volleyball team. Then a boy shared that it made his day that another boy played some emperor something or other game with him at recess. Then a new boy to the school shared that everyone made his day by being his friend. It went on and on for several minutes. I was amazed. I even think I heard some kind of nice music playing in the background. They get it more than I ever could have imagined. I can't wait to hear what they have to say next week!!

Mark that one off my to-do list

Well, the first day of school has officially come and gone. Overall, it was a pretty good day. I am pleased with the way my students bought into everything I told them today and I think we may be off to another great year!

I was just looking at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram website because, well, I'm too cheap to actually pay for the paper. I also know that if I paid for it, I wouldn't read it. Anyway, they had several pictures of the "First Day of School" from lots of local districts. As I was looking at the pictures I was reminded of something that I think everyone should remember. It was the picture of a mother crying as she said goodbye to her kindergarten student that got me. Honestly, my first thought was why in the world is she crying? School is such a good thing! I know it's a big day and everything, I just didn't see it from her perspective. Then I started thinking, parents don't bring their kids to school all dressed up with new school supplies because they think school is such a wonderful place. They bring them because they have to, it's the law. They bring their kids to school and trust us to do something they themselves can't do (not that they can't, it's just not feasible for most). They basically say, here is my most prized possession please take care of it and return it to me better than when you got it.

I find this level of trust very humbling. Most of the eighteen sets of parents that sent their kids to me this morning don't really have any idea who I am or what kind of person I am, but still they sent me their very best. They trust me to take care of them for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. They trust me to fill their minds, make sure their stomachs get fed, and to develop their character. It is an incredible responsibility and in some round about way God has made it clear to me that this is what I was made for.

It is finished

Well, I must say that it is much easier to blog when you aren't working. The last couple days have been absolutely crazy but I can finally say that my classroom is finished and I'm ready for school!! It is a personal rule of mine not to count the hours or money that I spend on school stuff the week before school starts. I can say with some level of certainty that the hours would be the highest ever for my three beginnings of the school year. I can also say with absolute certainty that my classroom would look ugly, cluttered, and chaotic if it weren't for the help of a few people. They have unpacked boxes, moved desks, cut tons of stuff, painted tons of stuff, sewed, cleaned, and most importantly remained patient with my right-before-school-starts self. So, thanks Kristy, thanks Ashleigh, and thanks Mom. I'm pretty sure I'll be owing you all for a really long time. :)

Happy First Day of School everyone!!

Inspiration found

I've also spent a lot of time this summer thinking about the next school year. Every year I try to "start over" in a way that will make each class feel like they are getting something brand new. Well, my classroom theme last year was "Camp Learnalot," and I loved it. The kids really seemed to get into it and it was just fun for everyone. It was really hard to think of something new for this year because I liked Camp Learnalot so much. I finally decided I would just add fishing to the already established camping theme. So, while we are still eager to learn s'more, this year we are going to be "hooked on learning." I have been looking all over the internet for pictures to use and I've even tried drawing some of my own, but, today I finally found what I was looking for. I did have to actually pay for this clip art but I think it is going to be perfect.