I was furious about this decision! Haha!!! I arrived at school all huffy and late (after 7am) compared to my normal arrival time. We were allowed to wear jeans with whatever shirt we wanted and I chose a TC tshirt :) When we got to school I found out that we had an early release day...better than nothing. But I still didn't get home until 2 and I was soaked from the bus line. But it sure felt good to take a Friday afternoon nap while it poured outside. I'll admit the wind was scary (my umbrella almost snapped in half)!
When I finally got over having a bad attitude, I actually had a really good day with my students. They were all there...even the sick ones. I was sick too, my throat hurt so bad! We did a lot of Fun Friday activities and I got all of the weekly work sent home and my newsletter was complete (I didn't write my newsletter until the mroning b/c I didn't want to do it if school was out).
We talked about the TS and I brought in some articles that I cut out of the newspaper with pictures of what the storm was doing. We looked out the window and watched the clouds! We read the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom earlier in the week, so we made a coconut tree snack. And I cracked open two coconuts with a hammer. I actually had an audience. I was nervous to do it because I've never cracked one open before..well one of our speech teachers came in to get one of my students and ended up staying and watching..haha!! One had milk in it and the other didn't. We made a big chart and used descriptive words to describe how the coconut looked, felt, smelled, sounded, and tasted. FUN!
Since we couldn't go out to PE they set up a parachute in one of the front hallways! I haven't played with one of those since elementary school and I remember that it was my favorite. It slowly came back to me and Ms. Derikia and we raised it up, ran under it, sat under it, walked different ways with it, put a ball on top of it, and just went crazy!! Highlight of my day!
The other thing that I love about Hand-In-Hand is that every teacher owns a pair of rainboots. It is a sight to see...we have plain,polka dot, plaid, and animal print out there on the bus line! Everyone also own awesome raincoats. We have all learned from experience and that bus line is HIGH and rain blows right under it! So we finally got all of our busses home and then had to stay up front until car riders left. Then Jeanna ordered us to go home and rest this weekend.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Let it Rain...
I feel refreshed! My sweet principal picked me and six other teachers at my school to go to an AIMS Science training in Pelham, GA. On the 2nd week of school...we thought she was crazy! I was dreading leaving my wild group for the 7th and 8th days of school..haha! However, it was just what I needed. We didn't have to be at the bus garage until 8am. Then we rode together in a van to Pelham in the rain..which I love..both days! We had a lunch break for an hour and ended at 3...slice of heaven. During our lunch breaks we shopped. Downtown Pelham is super cute! They have the polka dot spot..which is pretty well known in Tville, everything was 50% off in the entire store due to new shipments coming in. But there were several other cute shops and restaurants as well. Our training was hands on and we got lots of cool science blacklines and ideas!! Most of all I liked the talks that our group had througout the day and ride back to Thomasville. K teachers: Laren, Alacia, Joanna, Gail, and I. PreK: Carole and Donna. Then our math coach went: Toni! I just feel ready to go back to school tomorrow. I feel like I have some new ideas and a stronger support system. I really needed to be encouraged and I feel like I got that from the girls in my school family. I also got to see some of my GP family Tues. after school for an early supper! I feel very blessed!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Busy as a Bee
Well, I've survived!!! At least the first week of school and a day! Friday and today (Monday) went really well, considering how HARD the first few were. I have 20 babies. 10 boys and 10 girls..I love even numbers :) Anyway, I am actually going to be attending a science workshop out of town for the next two days, so I have a pretty nice break from my kids already. I think I will actually miss most of them. I thought I'd explain my daily school schedule.
6:15am Drive to School
6:25am Sign in then listen to Christian music and pray for my kids and work in my classroom. I usually turn on all the lamps, set everything out that I'm going to teach with, write a morning message, and read my Ribbit Report from Jeanna! I love my mornings.
7:30 My kids come in the room and eat breakfast, I always greet them at the door and remind them to put bring their folders in, to put up their bus buttons, and to grab their clipboard. I always give hugs and big smiles in the morning, as this is the most important part of my day..to make each student in my class feel like they are my favorite student in the world, and that they can trust me, and feel safe, in a warm caring environment...then they sign in, and start their jobs: counting jar, making a pattern, counting money, writing the date, estimation station, write a sentence, rhyming words, and have-a-go word.
8:00 Plege and Patriotic Song
8:10 Calendar: We sing songs and dance, practice our months of year, days of week,colors, shapes, numbers, money, place value, greater than and less than, even and odd, we graph our weather, the amount of teeth that we've lost, etc.
8:30 I choose a lucky leader of the day and we Write their name, we work on letters, letter sounds, vowels, syllables, using punctuation and quotation marks, and lots and lots of other things. It's pretty cool :)
9:00 We do math. We sort, graph, make patterns, add, subtract, and do word problems. I have lots of manipulatives and a cool big book that provides lots of student interaction.
9:20-10:20 Centers They have to come to my table and Ms. Derikia's table. The rest of the time is free choice unless they haven't finished their jobs.
10:20-10:45 Learning Focused Unit. We do scinece and social studies. Really cool activities, fun snacks on Fun Friday, and lots of themes. I always d0o a few read alouds during this time.
10:45-11:15 P.E.
11:15-11:35 Writer's Workshop
11:35-12:05 Recess
12:10-12:40 Lunch (It's not duty free)
12:45-1:00 I read a chapter book aloud to them. One of my favorite times of the day.
1:00-1:45 Rest time (Praise the Lord) It is very relaxing in my room. I have lots of lamps and soothing music on. I plan during this time or have Better Seeking Team Meetings or Wing Meetings.
1:45-2:30 Snack and Daily Recap. We celebrate good behavior and good work!! We revieew our work and then they file their sheets.
2:30-3:30 Dismissal
3:30-5:00 I clean up my desk, which always gets covered in all sorts of notes and papers, set up for the next day, plan , write newsletters, catch up on emails, write notes to parents, call parents, make copies, chat with fellow co-workers and laminate. Then I go home and as I walk out I watch football practice right on the field right outside my classroom. I love that fall is coming. I love hearing the whistles blowing and all the parents watching their kids. I always feel blessed and proud to be a Yellow Jacket!! I love my school system and my two schools :)
I usually have a long to-do list when I get home too. I make things on my computer, run to Publix to grab supplies, and study my lessons. It is especially crazy when I add Grad school out of town two nights a week! Bible study, GA's, and most important time with Matty and Blakely. I love my busy life, and I definitely sleep well at night! I really don't know how people with kids work full time and go to grad school! AMAZING!
I'm excited about this week! I am going to meet up with some old Garrison friends tomorrow after my workshop at Grandaddy's!!!! Can't wait. Then on Wed. Lynn Burton and mabye Becky Jense and I are going for our weekly coffee (we haven't done this since April, b/c we don't have Wed. night activites in the summer) Then on Thursday I'm meeting Betsy, Carrie Beth, and maybe Michelle at Coyacan in Quitman for some really good mexican and margaritas!! :)Betsy and I live in Thomasville and CBD and Michelle live in Valdosta, so it's a halfway point!
Well it's time for Jon and Kate plus 8..YEAH! Carrie, it's your turn to blog now. I think I'm caught up!
6:15am Drive to School
6:25am Sign in then listen to Christian music and pray for my kids and work in my classroom. I usually turn on all the lamps, set everything out that I'm going to teach with, write a morning message, and read my Ribbit Report from Jeanna! I love my mornings.
7:30 My kids come in the room and eat breakfast, I always greet them at the door and remind them to put bring their folders in, to put up their bus buttons, and to grab their clipboard. I always give hugs and big smiles in the morning, as this is the most important part of my day..to make each student in my class feel like they are my favorite student in the world, and that they can trust me, and feel safe, in a warm caring environment...then they sign in, and start their jobs: counting jar, making a pattern, counting money, writing the date, estimation station, write a sentence, rhyming words, and have-a-go word.
8:00 Plege and Patriotic Song
8:10 Calendar: We sing songs and dance, practice our months of year, days of week,colors, shapes, numbers, money, place value, greater than and less than, even and odd, we graph our weather, the amount of teeth that we've lost, etc.
8:30 I choose a lucky leader of the day and we Write their name, we work on letters, letter sounds, vowels, syllables, using punctuation and quotation marks, and lots and lots of other things. It's pretty cool :)
9:00 We do math. We sort, graph, make patterns, add, subtract, and do word problems. I have lots of manipulatives and a cool big book that provides lots of student interaction.
9:20-10:20 Centers They have to come to my table and Ms. Derikia's table. The rest of the time is free choice unless they haven't finished their jobs.
10:20-10:45 Learning Focused Unit. We do scinece and social studies. Really cool activities, fun snacks on Fun Friday, and lots of themes. I always d0o a few read alouds during this time.
10:45-11:15 P.E.
11:15-11:35 Writer's Workshop
11:35-12:05 Recess
12:10-12:40 Lunch (It's not duty free)
12:45-1:00 I read a chapter book aloud to them. One of my favorite times of the day.
1:00-1:45 Rest time (Praise the Lord) It is very relaxing in my room. I have lots of lamps and soothing music on. I plan during this time or have Better Seeking Team Meetings or Wing Meetings.
1:45-2:30 Snack and Daily Recap. We celebrate good behavior and good work!! We revieew our work and then they file their sheets.
2:30-3:30 Dismissal
3:30-5:00 I clean up my desk, which always gets covered in all sorts of notes and papers, set up for the next day, plan , write newsletters, catch up on emails, write notes to parents, call parents, make copies, chat with fellow co-workers and laminate. Then I go home and as I walk out I watch football practice right on the field right outside my classroom. I love that fall is coming. I love hearing the whistles blowing and all the parents watching their kids. I always feel blessed and proud to be a Yellow Jacket!! I love my school system and my two schools :)
I usually have a long to-do list when I get home too. I make things on my computer, run to Publix to grab supplies, and study my lessons. It is especially crazy when I add Grad school out of town two nights a week! Bible study, GA's, and most important time with Matty and Blakely. I love my busy life, and I definitely sleep well at night! I really don't know how people with kids work full time and go to grad school! AMAZING!
I'm excited about this week! I am going to meet up with some old Garrison friends tomorrow after my workshop at Grandaddy's!!!! Can't wait. Then on Wed. Lynn Burton and mabye Becky Jense and I are going for our weekly coffee (we haven't done this since April, b/c we don't have Wed. night activites in the summer) Then on Thursday I'm meeting Betsy, Carrie Beth, and maybe Michelle at Coyacan in Quitman for some really good mexican and margaritas!! :)Betsy and I live in Thomasville and CBD and Michelle live in Valdosta, so it's a halfway point!
Well it's time for Jon and Kate plus 8..YEAH! Carrie, it's your turn to blog now. I think I'm caught up!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Where has the time gone???
It's been forever since I've written anything and CBD reminds me often :) This is the first time I've actually felt like writing or had time. Warning: I am very tired so there will probably be a TON of errors and won't make much sense. I am just going to write random thoughts or events that happend.
Let me recap my July! I loved July, even though it went on and on. I just love my grad school girls. Let me name a few...Carrie Beth, Bridgett, Betsy, Michelle, Jennifer, Mandy, Crystal, Melanie..and the list goes on and on. Even though our classes were ridicoulously hard and time consuming I loved going every Tues. and Thurs. I loved going to Las Banderas on Tuesday to use our VSU coupons and laughing and sharing deep dark secrets (or at least things that aren't usually discussed), and drinking peach and strawberry margaritas (with sugar) haha! I loved going to the Bistro lunch buffet (amazing!) every Thursday and meeting Dr. Dixey!! Love her! I loved the frienships that were made, the random shopping trips in the afternoons, and the book craziness that we all take part in. Lake Park is one of my favorite memories. Carrie, Bridgett, and I bought so many cheap books one day!!! These girls have my heart and I'm sad some are graduating. But, I am thankful that we are starting a book club and a bible study..Coyacan in the fall here we come!!
On my off days from grad school I would go up to Hand-In-Hand and work in my classroom. It was fun at first, but then right befofre preplanning started...combined with tons of projects for grad school it became a real chore. I had quite a scare one Saturday at Hnh...I thought I set off the alarm and had to call my principal at home and the police department. Great way to start things off right?? haha! But I am thankful that I was able to get so much of my room finished before hand. I am also grateful to all the people from Garrison and just other teachers around HnH that came to my room to make me feel welcome.
To end the summer, after a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, Carrie came to Thomasville and we went shopping in Tallahassee. We spent about 3 hours in Dillards (Carrie :)) and had a great time, especially in Talbots! I found out later on that Mrs. Ward and Jeanna had both been in Dillards and ran into each other. Two very influential women in my life :)
Last Friday after Open House, I was really down. I was feeling a lot of pressure from a lot of things going on in my life. I didn't know how I'd ever be ready to teach my kids on Monday.
I was home, lying in bed with the lights off around 5pm, when my phone rang. It was Karen Kugelmann (my former principal at Garrison)! She was calling to chat and invite me to brunch. But she also gave me lots of really useful advice that I hold near to my heart. She said so many kind words about me and my teaching. She is very wise and I am thankful for her. Sometimes people at GP used to wonder why I was such good friends with my administrators. I don't know how I became so close to them. I never would've guessed that that would've happend..but it did. God brought us all together for a reason. We were asked to do a personal ministry project this summer at our church as our connect community challenge. Mine was very personal but it had to do with two very special women in my life. My former adminstrators. Let me just say, God used me and in turn, He has blesssed me with some very special friendships. Anyway, my spirits were uplifted and I ended the night by taking a bath and reading The Friday Night Knitting Club, which I've since finished. AMAZING!!! That was the first book in our book club and wow what a surprise for Carrie and Bridgett! I knew how it was going to end the entire time :)
Alright, I'm going to watch the rest of the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympics!! If you know me well, you know how much I look forward to the summer games. They feature some of my very favorite sports!!! And I'm a diehard team USA fan!!!!
My next post will about my first week of school! Stay tuned...and thank you Jesus!!!!
Let me recap my July! I loved July, even though it went on and on. I just love my grad school girls. Let me name a few...Carrie Beth, Bridgett, Betsy, Michelle, Jennifer, Mandy, Crystal, Melanie..and the list goes on and on. Even though our classes were ridicoulously hard and time consuming I loved going every Tues. and Thurs. I loved going to Las Banderas on Tuesday to use our VSU coupons and laughing and sharing deep dark secrets (or at least things that aren't usually discussed), and drinking peach and strawberry margaritas (with sugar) haha! I loved going to the Bistro lunch buffet (amazing!) every Thursday and meeting Dr. Dixey!! Love her! I loved the frienships that were made, the random shopping trips in the afternoons, and the book craziness that we all take part in. Lake Park is one of my favorite memories. Carrie, Bridgett, and I bought so many cheap books one day!!! These girls have my heart and I'm sad some are graduating. But, I am thankful that we are starting a book club and a bible study..Coyacan in the fall here we come!!
On my off days from grad school I would go up to Hand-In-Hand and work in my classroom. It was fun at first, but then right befofre preplanning started...combined with tons of projects for grad school it became a real chore. I had quite a scare one Saturday at Hnh...I thought I set off the alarm and had to call my principal at home and the police department. Great way to start things off right?? haha! But I am thankful that I was able to get so much of my room finished before hand. I am also grateful to all the people from Garrison and just other teachers around HnH that came to my room to make me feel welcome.
To end the summer, after a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, Carrie came to Thomasville and we went shopping in Tallahassee. We spent about 3 hours in Dillards (Carrie :)) and had a great time, especially in Talbots! I found out later on that Mrs. Ward and Jeanna had both been in Dillards and ran into each other. Two very influential women in my life :)
Last Friday after Open House, I was really down. I was feeling a lot of pressure from a lot of things going on in my life. I didn't know how I'd ever be ready to teach my kids on Monday.
I was home, lying in bed with the lights off around 5pm, when my phone rang. It was Karen Kugelmann (my former principal at Garrison)! She was calling to chat and invite me to brunch. But she also gave me lots of really useful advice that I hold near to my heart. She said so many kind words about me and my teaching. She is very wise and I am thankful for her. Sometimes people at GP used to wonder why I was such good friends with my administrators. I don't know how I became so close to them. I never would've guessed that that would've happend..but it did. God brought us all together for a reason. We were asked to do a personal ministry project this summer at our church as our connect community challenge. Mine was very personal but it had to do with two very special women in my life. My former adminstrators. Let me just say, God used me and in turn, He has blesssed me with some very special friendships. Anyway, my spirits were uplifted and I ended the night by taking a bath and reading The Friday Night Knitting Club, which I've since finished. AMAZING!!! That was the first book in our book club and wow what a surprise for Carrie and Bridgett! I knew how it was going to end the entire time :)
Alright, I'm going to watch the rest of the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympics!! If you know me well, you know how much I look forward to the summer games. They feature some of my very favorite sports!!! And I'm a diehard team USA fan!!!!
My next post will about my first week of school! Stay tuned...and thank you Jesus!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
