Counting Down

NINE WEEKS LEFT!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is weird to think that after this week (which is spring break) I will only have nine weeks of school left until summer break. I am excited to officially be done with my first year of teaching, but am also looking at my list of things I want to accomplish with my kids and wondering if I will be able to get it all done. I only get to see my kids 9-10 more times per class because of our four day rotation, so it will be difficult.

I look back at this year and think about how much I have grown as a teacher and hope that my kids have benefited from my presence. Of course there are a TON of things that I would do differently, but that is what next year is for. It really has gone so fast.

Sick, sick, sick

I just have to say that I HATE being sick....... I think that I've been sick all school year! I admit to a few good moments but more often than not I have had something wrong with me (other than the normal stuff :) ) Kids are so gross! I love em but they seriously have cooties and I keep catching them. I'm surprised that Talmage hasn't been sick more, lucky boy.
So that is my gripe for the day, hope everyone else is healthy.

Our new camera man

During Matt and Alicia's visit last week Wyatt discovered Talmage's
new tripod. He loved climbing on it and almost pulled it down a couple
of times!!! It seems we have a young photographer in the family :)

Middle Schoolers!!!

So middle schoolers are soooooooooooooooooooooo hard!! And yes all those extra "o"s are necessary :) Recently the principal at our school asked us to fill out "intent" forms for the next school year so that she could figure out staffing. They are not binding on either side, so that keeps one thinking.......... I circled "would like to stay at PBA", but after these last few days with y middle schoolers I'm not sure I'll be able to survive another year of them. I know that my students come from drastically different backgrounds and struggle with things I didn't even know about until college, but sheesh these kids are ruthless. They have no pity, and they attack like Purana's. Vicious little creatures. So I'm not quite sure what to do. Do I look for another position, or suffer another year to pad the resume?? 

Even though this post sounds gloomy I have to admit that some of these kids have really blossomed and been fun. The only problem is the good ones don't outweigh the bad ones.

We shall see how all this pans out.......................hopefully I survive!

Hi-larious!!!

As I was flipping through wedding pics (which are awesome!) I saw this
kissing one and noticed Grandma Neilson's face. I laughed out loud!!
Thought you might enjoy it too.

Back to School

Today is my first day back with kids after to AMAZING weeks of rest, relaxation, and family. It is amazing how much information kids lose in this short period of time! Behaviors, skills, and knowledge seem to fly out the window the moment they leave the school for break- which means I get to RE-TEACH my behavior expectations and do a ton of review before I can even start on the new stuff. SHEESH!!!!! I am glad to be back and excited for the rest of the year, but I wish we could pick up where we left off and not do so much back-tracking.

On the homefront, Talmage and I are really enjoying the married life. We had a great first holiday season together, and enjoyed our time with family. Plus I am now addicted to puzzles, after doing several with Joyce over Christmas :)

SUCCESS!!!!

This is purely just me bragging about....me, and my students of course, but I have to say that our school winter music program Thursday night was AMAZING!!!
Our ensembles did so well-especially since they were so nervous, and our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders wowed the crowd with their enthusiasm and sweet performance. We had a packed house (which is over 200 people) plus all the performers, so needless to say things got a little crazy, but that adds to the fun.
I am so proud of my kids and all their hard work, they have come so far. Now I get to push them really hard!!