THE Question....

... until tonight, I had made it unscathed through every parent-teacher opportunity of the year. THE question had not been asked. The one I'm asked every year. Do you know THE question?

It comes in two forms, and it goes a little something like this:

(nonchalantly) So, how long have you been teaching?
(not subtle at all) Is this your FIRST year teaching?

Either way, the parent is getting at one real question and one only: How old ARE you?? i.e. Are you old enough to each my child?

I made it all the way to TODAY without that question. I was so excited thinking I had turned a corner. That I was no longer the totally baby-faced teacher. I thought too soon.

Tonight at open house someone lowered the boom and asked, "So, is this your first year teaching?"

My response, "No, actually it's my 4th year at this school."

silence

"Oh."


.... Oh well, there's always next year!

It's Been Awhile....

..whew ! August 23 was my last post. Eek!

I guess you could say things have been pretty busy around here. I haven't been able to do any more embroidering or sewing since TS Fay came through and I had those 2 days off for the storms. But I am hoping to this weekend, especially because I have some more gifts to make. :) And the fabric is already picked out, so that helps a LOT!

It has been SUPER busy at school. On top of keeping a team of 6 (3 brand new to our school) going, I have my own classroom things to keep running. Tomorrow night is open house, so that adds a whole other element to the current stress level. And then Monday is our last day to enter progress report grades. In the past, we've done them by hand (on carbon copy forms). But this year we have a fancy schmancy new program that we have to use. I need to grade some reading and writing assignments, and then I should be good to go. We had a slow start with reading since we didn't have our whole kids (just TEs and student books). And the pace I think is just a lot faster than lots of my new-to-my-school students are used to. I was trying to give them a chance to complete their folder work, so I wouldn't have to enter incompletes for assignments. And then writing has been delayed because we JUST got the writing criteria finalized/approved yesterday afternoon! Ay ay ay!

Last night I got home at 6, and tonight I got home at 6:30. While I have a GREAT class (really, I do!), it's still a long day when the alarm goes off at 5:30, you chase 8 year-olds around all day, and then stay in your room until 6:30. Matt is oh-so-sweetly picking up our favorite Chinese on his way home tonight. Yum!

It's amazing the things that fall by the wayside when your day is filled up with work. You know, things like:

• laundry (especially ironing... but really, it's not AWFUL... yet)
• **depositing my paycheck that I received Sept. 1**
• vacuuming (and getting a replacement belt for the vacuum, because I think mine will wear through ANY day now)
• grocery shopping/meal planning
• walking the dog
• sleep

You get the idea. ;) Then you add the WONDERFUL addition of our newest niece, Isabella Rose, to the mix, and you have a FULL plate! On top of all that, we drove to SC last weekend to meet Isabella. :) We wouldn't have wanted it any other way, but I didn't get anything done around the house. I was "lucky" do get my grading done in the car and figure out what I was teaching for Monday on Sunday night!

So, I think you have a snapshot of our life right now. There have been some other confounding factors that makes it seem like that balls we're trying to juggle are actually dropping left and right, but we know Who's really catching them--and we're unspeakably thankful to know Who really has it all in control (we'd be in SO much trouble if I was truly in control, as I'm so apt to think I am). Hopefully those things will settle out in the next couple weeks and with that will go a huge load we've been carrying.

Thanks to everyone who's been praying and encouraging us through this absolutely crazy time!

Love,
Becca

On your mark....

... the school year is about to begin and we are SWAMPED!

I started getting my classroom ready the week before preplanning (actually, the Friday before that !). With 2 teachers on my team who are new to my school, one of whom is a first year teacher and the other hasn't been a homeroom teacher before, I thought it best to get my room as ready as possible to be available to help them and answer questions. Boy, am I glad I did! They are both GREAT, and I'm really excited to have them on the team, but I was running around getting answers to lots of questions and working on things for the writing committee that came up. I cannot imagine where I would be if I hadn't already put most of my room in order, because I was still at school 12 hours yesterday--8 to 8! Whew! Then we stopped by again today (Matt came with me) and we stayed for probably 2-3 more hours, I think.

I have one thing left to do for prep that really needs to be done for Monday. The other things I want to do can wait until the second week of school. And I need to finish deciding on plans for the rest of the week after Monday. Add to that a tropical storm that is projected to hit the gulf side of Florida near Orlando as a hurricane and then basically cut right up through us--the first week of school--and it makes for one CRAZY week coming up!

So, we're about to make the 2 week spring to Labor Day weekend, at which point we catch a little breather before diving in again. I really think I have a *fantastic* group this year, and I am very excited to get started with them. I have 19 in my homeroom, I keep all of them for reading, writing, science, and social studies, but I'm currently slotted with 4 (count 'em, FOUR) students for math. Amazing, huh? I can only imagine the things we'll get to do with only FOUR! At most, I might end up with 3 additional students.... that's still only 7!!! WOW!

I need to head for bed--our church is starting back up with 2 services again for the fall beginning tomorrow and we are on for ushering. We hope this finds you well, and please be patient as the first weeks of school are hectic. I'll be back to more regular posting soon, I hope. :)

Love,
Becca

One More Day!

Tomorrow is the LAST day of school!! I can hardly believe it!


I can't wait to join Sammy as we recently found her.... sleeping in, here I come!

Out of My Mind!

• 2 half days left with the kids (where has the time gone??)
• the kids did so well with our "picture pet show" today
• they were GREAT during the end of the year party and class awards ceremony
• I am officially (kinda sorta... it goes into effect the coming school year, but I have the contract!) tenured! Woo hoo! I am on "professional services contract" (i.e. tenure) as of the 08-09 school year! What a cool blessing! :)
• I am so out of my mind with end of school stuff that I cannot for the life of me find our tax refund check--great, huh? Thankfully, if I can't find it after some more hunting, the IRS is kind enough to issue a replacement check so we can still get our money back. Whew!
• I can't wait for next week when this year will be over and I can feel sane again (no wise-cracks about my sanity, please)! ;)
  

Woo hoo!

Grades are in the computer! It's only a matter of days at this point... WILD!

8 and counting....

There are now EIGHT days of school left. And we have no more full weeks. This coming week is only 4 days (Monday off for Memorial Day), and the following week has only one full day (Monday) with three early release days (T-Th). After that, I have only 2 days of inservice (Fri. and Mon.), followed by a two week break, and then one week of summer institute.

I cannot BELIEVE this school year is winding down to a close. It's probably been my hardest year, but not for any "how to teach" reasons. More for "other hats teachers have to wear" and my-heart-breaking-over-things-some-students-go-through reasons. So, it's been emotionally exhausting although very rewarding. I feel guilty for saying I'm looking forward to summer vacation--I don't want to be the kind of teacher who counts down and can't wait to be rid of her students. It's not that I can't wait to be rid of them... my counting down is more like counting down to sleeping in and moreso to my heart hopefully having a bit of a respite so I can do it all again next year just as whole-heartedly and without holding back. These kids NEED to be loved fiercely, and I need a refill before I can do that again.

So, we're off for a mini "heart filling up" Memorial Day weekend, mostly just relaxing here in town ($4/gallon for gas?!?!) . But we are REALLY looking forward to it. We both made it through big weeks (big meeting for Matt Friday, last full week of school--with lots of testing and FCAT scores released and catching up from being gone 3 days for the wedding--for me), and we are ready to celebrate. :)

Have a great long weekend!

2 Important Announcements

1. My birthday twin and dear friend is now a MRS!!!
We had the distinct pleasure of traveling home for Ruthie and Eric's wedding. It was such a sweet time of celebration and just reveling in God's goodness, faithfulness, and provision. It was SO, SO, SO good to be with family and friends this past weekend. Oh, how my heart is at rest there and surrounded by loved ones. We love you, the new Mrs. V, and we can't wait to see you in July!

I have to say, I'm amazed at how long my hair is here compared to the profile picture here on the blog (above and to the right)! Wow!

While home we also squeezed a game of Catan in with Brad and Joy (and I had my WORST game EVER), WE played WII with Brad and Joy--including old school Tecmo Bowl and Double Dribble, a visit to McKay's (where, of course, some teaching books were procured), play time with Charis and Cai, and even a family-famous birthday party for Joy. We are sorry we missed Matt, Ariana, and Sam, but hopefully we'll see them in July! And the wedding festivities allowed us time with some of my favorite ladies from my old Bible study and especially our favorite D.C.-bound couple, Jessica and Eric. :)


2. My class totally ROCKED the FCAT! Praise the Lord!! :)
Sigh of relief.

Are you in that?

I know I should be in bed, but I just took a couple pictures of my latest sewing project and remembered a funny story from today.

We were watching a Brain Pop! video (educational, humorous cartoons) while the class ate some treats to celebrate a birthday (yes, an April Fool's birthday!). The birthday girl chose one on broken bones, and toward the end it talked about bones becoming more brittle and easily broken as people age. At one point it said something to the effect of, "Women are especially susceptible to broken bones due to osteoporosis," and mentioned something about that becoming more of a problem after menopause. One of the kids turned to me and said, "Mrs. K____, are YOU in that (menopause)?"

Wow. What do I even say to that? I just smiled, replied, "No," and wondered if the birthday girl's mom heard that question.

Gosh, I thought I'd been really fun lately, and I'm cold all the time, not hot.... Hmmmmm..... :)

BAM! WHAP! ZOW! ZOINK!

My class is currently using the software Comic Life to create comics about an animal they researched. There are specific guidelines (including some choice--I'm all about building the autonomy) they followed, and one group is finished with the other 7 *right* behind them. I just HAD to share one with you though. Theirs are a little different than this, but here's an example I made to post on my class's blog for the parents to see until the kids are done. I think it's so fun!!

you simply MUST click it to see it enlarged and read the comments!

oops, Matt pointed out a typo to me in the lower, right box.... please overlook that for now ;)
I have a fever.... does that excuse it?

Kid Quotes

The third grade team at my school has "poetry tea parties" a couple times a year (usually 3 times) at which the students read poems they have selected or written and their parents are invited to come hear the poems, enjoy some "tea" and treats, etc. It's a fun time, and I love being able to recognize my students as authors and give them an opportunity to have the full attention of the rest of the class and several adults. It's a neat experience.

We all usually try to dress up for the poetry teas. As such, and because I had a little extra time that morning, I wore a *little* bit of make up. Normally, I do not wear any. I know, I know, I look like I'm 16 and it might help. But, I just don't... unless I remember it's picture day or there's some type of open house.

Anyway, so I had on the lightest, most subtle smidge of a brownish-gray eyeshadow on Friday for the tea party, and the thinnest line of eyeliner. No mascara, some foundation, that's it. I even did a sweep of eyeshadow the same tone as my skin over my eyelids at the end to make sure it was really subtle.

Well, the kids noticed. It was the talk of the day on Friday. "Did you see Mrs. K's eyes?" "She has on the eye goop." You would have thought I had on clown make up, seriously. Come on, now.

The best "line" came as I was filling tea cups at one table (with warmed apple juice):

"What's with the scary eyes?"

"Pardon me?"

"What's with the scary eyes?"

"What scary eyes?"

"Yours."

"What do you mean?"

"You have all that dark stuff on your eyes."

At that point I was starting to wonder if the lighting in our bathroom at home was way off and my make up wasn't as subtle as I thought. I checked in my room's bathroom after the tea party. Nope--hardly noticeable... unless you're 8 and your teacher NEVER wears make up.

Matt says if I look frustrated or upset, from now on he's going to say, "What's with the scary eyes?"

Picture Tidbits

Matt definitely decided I picked the right profession when a student brought HIM a gift, too--his own bag of cookies!

Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwiches I made for Matt to take to work.

Pinecone Christmas trees we're working on at school.

Nigella fabric from jcaroline.com It's normally $14/yd
I got it for $1.50!!! :) I'm thinking handbag.

The extra quarter flat included in my Sew, Mama, Sew order. :)

Adorable carolers a student made--one for every student (plus resource teachers and principals). They are filled with candy. :)

Class Christmas tree with ornaments my students made.

Orange and White candy cane from a student I had last year (!) :)

Oops!

We had another oops today. Well, a couple actually. The biggest were:

• I figured out today, the day grades are due, that my username wasn't working. Yes, we were supposed to check last week. Yes, I started to. No, I didn't finish. Not only was my username not working, somehow I was BOOTED FROM THE SYSTEM!! I had no anything. I have to resign up for a school board account (AGAIN) and they had to add me in so I could input my grades (which, as I said, were due TODAY). NUTS! The ladies at school who helped me were very kind, though. I appreciate it! And.... my grades are DONE!!!
• This OOPS was NOT mine. At about 3:40, I got called to the office for a flower delivery. I thought that was kind of odd. When I got there, I saw a birthday balloon. My birthday is next week, bu tthat is a week away. Something seemed off. Apparently, Mom ordered flowers to be delivered from her and Dad... ON MY BIRTHDAY (imagine that). Mom is coming to visit this weekend, and she has to go back the morning of my birthday. She specified for the flowers to be delivered early morning on November 6, so that I would have a happy surprise to cheer me up about her having to leave. But no, they delivered them after school hours today (?). She called (in her very hoarse voice) and they were apologetic. Someone new messed up. They said they will deliver a balloon on my birthday. I hate to sound like a brat, and obviously with the whole "lonely" thing I've been kind of emotional lately, but I almost cried when I found out they messed up. It felt like they took something special away, and now I wouldn't have something fun that my parents so sweetly planned to ease Mom going back. So, even though I'm now expecting it, at least there will be a fun something on my birthday. Here the "early" flowers...
  

The arrangement even has cute party blowers mixed in. :)

The vase has flowers painted onto it. :)

• Oh, and while we're talking about birthdays. Matt ordered something for me, and the company sent a postcard telling him that his gift (and what it was) has been shipped. I check the mail, so of course I came across it. That's ANOTHER birthday surprise ruined!
• And Brad and Joy ordered something off my Amazon wishlist. I thought that my wishlist address would change when I updated our mailing address after the move last summer. But no, it didn't. So my birthday present was delivered (or attempted to) to our old address. Who knows where it is.
• I'm beginning to wonder if 26 is not going to be a good year. :-(
  

Little Update

I'm here! I guess you can tell school has started. :) Sorry I've been missing so much. Today was the first day I've left before 5:00, and some days it's been more like 6 or later. Ugh. Just trying to get through tomorrow for some weekend relaxation.

I have a sweet group of 18 students. I add one to that group for reading instruction, and I go down to 9 (!!) for math. Well, that is I'll go down to 9 once the gifted teacher gets settled in a room. Right now I have hers and mine, because the room she WAS in is being transformed into a kindergarten (I think) classroom. We're adding at least one class at my school. Crazyness!

I really do like my little guys, but it IS also an adjustment from how my class was "humming along" at the end of last year. I have to keep reminding myself, "These guys JUST finished second grade.... it's only the FIRST week of school." It's NOT at ALL that they're "bad" in ANY shape, form, or fashion. Overall, I am delighted with them. It's just exhausting to be back at square one after having "trained" a class to a groove and rhythm that kept us clicking right along. We'll get there. We've also been out of routine as we've waited for various things (tech lab, resource--special area--classes, library, etc.) to start up for the year. Today was the first day we changed classes for reading and math and my first day with a resource (plan period). That might have something to do with me getting to leave almost an hour earlier than any other day this week! Reading is a big adjustment.... 9 kids last year, 19 this year. 14 in one group and 5 in the other. But we'll start centers next week. I just need to remember it'll take them some time. Math should be a DREAM though, once I'm down to my assigned 9 students. I can't WAIT to really dig in and do all kinds of extensions and stuff. NINE math students. Amazing!

I guess that's about all for now. Matt was so sweet and cooked dinner AND brought home a bouquet of flowers on my first day. They look and smell wonderful. I'll try to post a pic. I do think Samantha is still adjusting to me being gone all day, but she's getting the hang of it.

I hope you've had a good week! Sorry I've been so absent!

LOTS of love,
Becca :)