I've survived!
To all the other teachers out there: Congratulations!! I hope you made it to the end of Friday!!
So, I don't know where I heard it, but it's true.... There's just no tired like first day/week of school teacher tired! I get home, put on the pajamas, fall asleep, wake up, take care of dinner, clean the kitchen, shower, go to bed. All before 9 or 9:30! I know it's not just me, other teachers feel the same way! I know I'll eventually get my teaching stamina back, but WOW! It's a kick in the head right now!
This week with kids has really been amazing! I'm loving my kids and am learning their names. THAT'S always a challenge. I remind them that I have 126 names to learn, but they only have SEVEN! This year there are quite a few Jakes/Jacobs, Graces/Gracies, Elles/Ellies. The names.... ALL the Names. But I'm getting them! I can name them while they're in my room. The true test will be on Monday to see if I can remember the names!
It's the middle of my teaching day, and I'm in the library with my 4th period. Some are writing in their writer's notebook, some are reading, some are looking for books, some are talking about their books, but they're all involved!! I hope ALL of my kids are this into it!
In other news:
**My kid officially starts COLLEGE on Monday.
**My in-laws are celebrating their 50th (YES, FIFTIETH) wedding anniversary tomorrow!! That is the most amazing thing to me! My husband and I are in year 25, and I find this amazing, as well!
I'm ending this abruptly, which I know I shouldn't do, so I'll use this as a "what not to do" conclusion!
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Reluctant Writer
Monday, August 29, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Catching Up and Readers/Writers Workshop
Long time, no write! I can't believe it's been over a week!
My aunt came to visit for a week, so we did a few things, while I still spent a bit of time working. We went to the Sixth Floor Museum and went to TopGolf, among other things. I've been to the museum several times, because people like to go there. I had never been to Top Golf before! That was so much fun! And watching my aunt and son was pretty good entertainment.
I went in last Monday to school to work on my room and managed to straighten tables, chairs, and other furniture. I spent a few hours on Thursday and pretty much emptied my cabinet and spread the contents on the tables. I spent ALL DAY Friday tossing and recycling, and organized my work area (shelves, table, etc). Went in Saturday and took things off the walls, added things to the walls. Im almost ready.
This week has started the REAL work. Meetings. Yesterday was a campus day, meaning we spent the day on our home campus reviewing information and learning about the new appraisal system. The days are long, but they're spent with people I like and enjoy being around!
Next week, I get to meet MY NEW KIDS!! I am SO excited to meet these new 7th graders!! HOWEVER, I'm trying out something new with Mel at Mollick's Lit Mix: readers/writers workshop. It's a much bigger process than I imagined, but she and I have worked well together, I think! I hope I've contributed as much as I think I have!! Mel is amazing, and I love working with her!! Sometimes, I think I'm a big picture person and can tell you what I think, but getting down the itty bitty details throws me. Mel can take my thinking and put it into words and calendars.
I'm to the point now, as far as planning, where I need to sit down and spread my stuff out to look at calendars and resources, so I can fill out my calendar!
Back to my meeting! I hope y'all are enjoying what's left of summer!!
Sincerely,
Reluctant Writer
My aunt came to visit for a week, so we did a few things, while I still spent a bit of time working. We went to the Sixth Floor Museum and went to TopGolf, among other things. I've been to the museum several times, because people like to go there. I had never been to Top Golf before! That was so much fun! And watching my aunt and son was pretty good entertainment.
I went in last Monday to school to work on my room and managed to straighten tables, chairs, and other furniture. I spent a few hours on Thursday and pretty much emptied my cabinet and spread the contents on the tables. I spent ALL DAY Friday tossing and recycling, and organized my work area (shelves, table, etc). Went in Saturday and took things off the walls, added things to the walls. Im almost ready.
This week has started the REAL work. Meetings. Yesterday was a campus day, meaning we spent the day on our home campus reviewing information and learning about the new appraisal system. The days are long, but they're spent with people I like and enjoy being around!
Next week, I get to meet MY NEW KIDS!! I am SO excited to meet these new 7th graders!! HOWEVER, I'm trying out something new with Mel at Mollick's Lit Mix: readers/writers workshop. It's a much bigger process than I imagined, but she and I have worked well together, I think! I hope I've contributed as much as I think I have!! Mel is amazing, and I love working with her!! Sometimes, I think I'm a big picture person and can tell you what I think, but getting down the itty bitty details throws me. Mel can take my thinking and put it into words and calendars.
I'm to the point now, as far as planning, where I need to sit down and spread my stuff out to look at calendars and resources, so I can fill out my calendar!
Back to my meeting! I hope y'all are enjoying what's left of summer!!
Sincerely,
Reluctant Writer
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Life Happens!
I had gotten into a routine in July: wake up - feed the dog - make coffee - grab the remote and computer.
Then I'd catch up with the shows I DVRed and read/work-on Teachers Write blogs and writing.
It was still dark outside, and everyone was asleep so I could focus on my stuff.
THEN I went to Mom's - vacation - 9 days! The first day or two I did pretty well. I got up, grabbed my computer, sat at the table, and got to work on school stuff, Teachers Write, and blog reading.
Mom was asleep. Dad was already at work. No dog to feed. Well....not one I needed to feed.
Day 3.
I laid in bed and looked at the trees - identifying each one - lemon - mandarin - banana.
I listened to the birds.
Finally, dragged myself out of bed. Played with the cats. Looked at Mom's books. Played on the computer. Meandered around her living room, backyard and front yard trying to name the different plants and trees. Despite my not-so-green thumb, I could name quite a few - ponytail plant, artichoke, tomato, bromeliad, airplane plant, lime, lemon, mandarin, banana, weeds, and roses.
Then play with the dog, let the cats out, then watch some tv.
The rest of my visit, my mornings went pretty much the same!
I may not have stayed on top of blog reading and writing, but I left Mom's totally rested and looking forward to my next visit in September!
This break from my usual routine made me realize that if I'm going to blog the way I want to, I need to keep a routine of sorts. I need to have a place and time to write. That might mean getting up a little earlier or staying up a little later on weekends. Hopefully, during school, that will mean, working during the kids writing workshop time, so I can model writing for my kids.
Sincerely,
Reluctant Writer
Then I'd catch up with the shows I DVRed and read/work-on Teachers Write blogs and writing.
It was still dark outside, and everyone was asleep so I could focus on my stuff.
THEN I went to Mom's - vacation - 9 days! The first day or two I did pretty well. I got up, grabbed my computer, sat at the table, and got to work on school stuff, Teachers Write, and blog reading.
Mom was asleep. Dad was already at work. No dog to feed. Well....not one I needed to feed.
Day 3.
I laid in bed and looked at the trees - identifying each one - lemon - mandarin - banana.
I listened to the birds.
Finally, dragged myself out of bed. Played with the cats. Looked at Mom's books. Played on the computer. Meandered around her living room, backyard and front yard trying to name the different plants and trees. Despite my not-so-green thumb, I could name quite a few - ponytail plant, artichoke, tomato, bromeliad, airplane plant, lime, lemon, mandarin, banana, weeds, and roses.
Then play with the dog, let the cats out, then watch some tv.
The rest of my visit, my mornings went pretty much the same!
I may not have stayed on top of blog reading and writing, but I left Mom's totally rested and looking forward to my next visit in September!
This break from my usual routine made me realize that if I'm going to blog the way I want to, I need to keep a routine of sorts. I need to have a place and time to write. That might mean getting up a little earlier or staying up a little later on weekends. Hopefully, during school, that will mean, working during the kids writing workshop time, so I can model writing for my kids.
Sincerely,
Reluctant Writer
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