Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Just Some Pics of Me and the Kids





A New School Year Thoughts (Ramblings)

School started August 12, 2009. I'm teaching Reading/Writing to both 4th grade classes and Sci/Soc/Hlth and English to my 4th grade while my colleague teaches math to both classes. It's working well for us and we're glad.
The school isn't air conditioned (I've been there 9 years now and been waiting for air all that time!) We're getting remodeled this winter/spring (have to move bldgs) and will come back to air next year!!!! My room is supposedly air conditioned but it's not working well and I have no windows so it's still hotter than Hades (that's an idiom, simile, and hyperbole all in one!) I'm ready for a big Indiana cool down!!!!
We send home supply lists knowing that not all of our students and their families can afford supplies. But it's really sad/frustrating to have to provide all the notebooks/folders/pencils, etc. to the kids. Their parents can buy their cigarettes but not their kids' school supplies? So who gets to foot the bill? That would be me. Yes, we get reimbursed for some of it but it's still sad and aggravating.
HOW DO YOU STRESS A BUILDING FULL OF TEACHERS OUT?? (Yeah, I know, don't end a sentence with a preposition. Sorry!) Have 6 copiers and a risograph and have only 1 or 0 of them working since the day before school started. Yep, that will stress the teachers out. I'm not kidding, 6 copiers and most days one is working but some days none are working. Seriously, how are we supposed to meet our requirements and do the paperwork required of us if we're not able to make copies????
Ahhhhh, I only have 23 kids right now and I'm LOVING IT!!! I have 31 on my list and 30-33 is usual so this 23 is AWESOME!!!! But of course, there are other grades that are at like 26 and they are complaining to me. Um, 26 isn't bad compared to my usual 33 so just stuff it and let me enjoy my 23. Yes, I know what you're going through. I've been doing it for the last 8 years!!!
I wish I had a job like some of our "big wigs". They basically get paid big bucks to critique every single aspect of our room/teaching/etc and pile more and more mandates on us. I could do that for a 6 figure salary!
I'm so sad. I wish I was one of those people who had more money than they know what to do with it. I would SO TOTALLY USE IT FOR GOOD!!! First, after doing a few things for my family, I would buy my students new clothes. We wear uniforms and it's a sad thing for some. We started wearing these 2 years ago and I know some of my 4th graders are wearing shirts from 2nd grade. One boy has two shirts that are so short his belly shows. One boy is wearing a very obviously girl style uniform shirt. Many of them have shirts/pants that are stained or have holes. Many have one shirt/pants that they wear for 5 days with no guarantee of it getting washed on the weekend. I wish I could buy them all new uniforms. :(
I have a great group of kids this year. My homeroom/morning class is awesome! My afternoon class is much more wearisome but still a good group. I'm feeling good with this year so far. Now, if I could just get copies made and all my paperwork crap done, I could start to feel like I'm not drowning!! Oh, but I get a student teacher on the 24th so that will either make more work or make it easier. Or both. We shall see!
Here's to 175 more days!!!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

McLinky Blog Hop----Favorite Photo

Here's a recent favorite of mine. It was taken on my Grandma's front porch on one of our visits down home.




MckLinky Blog Hop

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

WHY????

Why??

Why do magazine articles state that I could easily get my child to eat whatever I offer her if only I 1) make it more flavorful, 2) cover it with cheese, 3) hide the good stuff under/in it, 4) cover it in sauce/dip???? NO! These things DON'T work with my child!!!! Stop making it sound like I'm an idiot who can't get my kid to eat new things!!! It's not as easy as calling broccoli, "dinosaur trees".

Why do the ads for "slimming jeans" use a size 2 model??? Um, yeah, it holds in HER tummy because she doesn't HAVE ONE!!! Put a size 16 girl (not that I wear that size, nope!) in those slimming jeans and lets see how great I (I mean, SHE) looks!! Yeah right!!!!

Why do the employees at McDs look at me like I'm crazy when I leave the drive thru with what's supposed to be COKE only to find it's DIET and then have to walk into the store and ask for actual COKE!?!?!?

Why does the power go out in a massive storm while I'm at school today?? I was planning on getting LOTS done but couldn't with no power!!!

What are your WHYS for today????

Did I Give You a "One Lovely Blog Award"????

Heather gave me a One Lovely Blog Award. Wasn't that nice? Check out her blog!

In accepting the award, you are asked to pass the award on to 15 other sites you love. I have visited so many new blogs recently, thanks to the MckLinky Blog Hop. Sadly, with school coming up, I haven't kept up with my blog or others' blogs as much as I would like. Here are SOME of the blogs I like and follow:


Jimmie's Miraculous Journey http://rachaelsupdateblog.blogspot.com/


Jenna's Journey http://jennasjourneyblog.blogspot.com/


Our Full Quiver http://rfullquiver.blogspot.com/

Seoul Searching For Our Daughter http://seoulsearchingforourdaughter.blogspot.com/

Surviving It all http://survivingfive.blogspot.com/

The Daniel Family http://beauandbrittanydaniel.blogspot.com/

To Write Their Names in the Sand http://namesinthesand.blogspot.com/

Two Bs and Me http://twobsandme.blogspot.com/

The Roeh Rundown http://roehfamily.blogspot.com/

The Drays Today http://thedraystoday.blogspot.com/

Growing Colin http://growingcolin.blogspot.com/

Joy Boy Joshua http://bohlmanfamily.blogspot.com/

More Love In Our House http://moreloveinourhouse.blogspot.com/



MckLinky Blog Hop

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13


There are so many Bible verses that comfort me and speak to me but this one is one of my very favorites!
Through ALL of the trials and tribulations in my life, most recently Grady's illness and all that came with it and from it, I know that GOD carries me through and that I can do anything he brings my way because (another favorite quote), "If God brings me to it, He will bring me through it."



MckLinky Blog Hop