My Blessed Little Life

Our first full week is done and I have to be honest and say that it has kicked my butt!  Between my 7th and 8th grade classes of language arts, being a committee leader, and coaching volleyball--not to mention my own kids and their activities--I have just been exhausted all week.  I love getting back into routine, but I forgot how hard it is to do so!  My body is already back to the 4:30 wake up call...even today, when I just wanted to sleep in!  It has meant some 9 pm bed times, though, because I just had to crash. I think that my classes are already better than last year, and so far (knock on wood!) the kids are much more receptive to our writing activities.  Attitude is everything!  We are switching to common core standards this year, which is really causing me to think about the level of teaching I'm using this year, which is great! Time to get busy with all the things around the house that have been neglected this week...have a fabulous weekend!

My oldest and I participated in the Kansas City Race for the Cure this morning.  It was such a beautiful walk and I am always amazed to see all the people that come out to support breast cancer survivors and their families.  It makes me feel like I am a part of something so important to see the wave of pink and white. Now to get into my school mode so I can get some work done for tomorrow.  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and hate the fact that I have so much still on my to-do list and not much to cross off...ugh. Time to get busy! Ready for 3.1 miles! I love seeing the crowd! H is still in a good mood here. :) We made it!

Tomorrow starts another new school year.  While I'm excited to get back into routine and meet with kids, I have to be honest and say that I'm not excited to sit through meeting after meeting for the next three days. Any one else every feel this way?  I've been at school this week trying to get my room ready.  It is almost there, but it isn't where I want it to be yet.  It will get there, but for some reason, I sat in the room and just couldn't decide what to do or where to start. I'm not really overwhelmed, but I didn't have my head in the right place either.  I think a summer that was just too fast played a big part of that. Summer school took a lot out of me...more than I had expected really.  It is time to get back into the swing of things though.  Enjoy your year if you start soon too!

This is where I'd rather be...sigh.  It's that time again...the calm before the storm so to speak.  Back to school displays are up and the sales fliers are in the mailbox...ugh.  I'm not really excited this year.  I usually love to stock up for things for my classroom, but this year, I'm not feeling it. I don't know if it is because my co-teacher left to try reading instead of language arts with me, or because it means I'll have to start a new co-teaching relationship.  Maybe it's a little  lot of both. I totally understand the need for change.  We grade a lot...all the time.  I can't fault her for that...we just had a great partnership that is going to be hard to reestablish again. But it will be done because I can do that or have a long year... and I don't want that! My kids are at grandma's house for the week, so it is a good time for me to get things done around here before the craziness starts in again.  Two kids in middle schoo...

Yeah! School officially was finished yesterday.  This has been such an exhausting week.  We have 1 1/2 days with kids, then I had CPR training Wednesday afternoon after setting up our staff BBQ to celebrate another school year.  Thursday was supposed to be our last teacher work day, but I spent it listening to Dr. Rick McGuire from the University of Missouri speak about Positive Coaching.  His message was great, but I think the 8 hour PD session could have been accomplished in 2, so the repetitiveness just dragged on and on.  Today I started my work for summer school.  Today was all about unpacking boxes and planning lessons.  I feel like I have a good start any way.  23 days of summer school will go by quickly right?  I will miss having the extra days to work around the house, but the extra money will hopefully make up for it! So summer for me will really start in July.  School work will start back up for PD days and curriculum writin...

It is the end of the school year for us and the craziness has definitely begun.  I feel like we are trying to get those last objectives taught and still trying to make it fun and engaging.  It seems that the kids believe MAP testing to be the official end of the school year, even though we had another month left to go.  Trying to get ourselves in a happy place is also hard right now...teachers are tired. Kids are tired.  Rinse and repeat. I'm scheduled to teach summer school.  This will be the first time in a long time. I taught it 12 years ago.  I'm looking at the next two weeks of school and longing to be done, but there is four more weeks after that.  It will be an experience for sure. I am hoping that the four weeks go fast and I can make it a fun and enjoyable time in the classroom. I pick up my materials tomorrow, so I get to find out what I'll be doing then. I am looking forward to having time to spend at home with my kids as well, so come o...

So you may have noticed that I have taken a few days away from this little blog.  Life in April has been a little crazy around the homestead here.  End of the year activities are definitely kicking in full gear.  Band contests, choir concerts, meeting, meeting, meetings...and then there is MAP testing too. We will soon be getting ready for state testing at school. Two weeks of testing might just do me in!  I'm hoping it goes by quickly and with as few headaches as possible! On a positive note, my son will be competing in a state math contest this weekend...I'm excited for him.  He is very excited to show what he can do!  It will be good to have a little family vaca away from town, if only for one night! Hope your month has been going well.  I'm just hoping to see spring come sometime soon...so tired of the cold!