Thursday, February 18, 2010

Week One Report

So I've officially been back teaching for a week now.

I LOVE IT!!!! Seriously.

Most of my kids are coming to me with D's and F's. Lots of them come from broken families. A handful of them are the "troubled" kids. I don't have any Honors kids, in fact, most of them don't even try to pass. These kids are already drinking, smoking, and doing drugs (not all of them, but some of them are). They've been passed over and ignored.

These kids need to be loved on and I'm so blessed to be the one to do it. They're respecting my rules, trying their best to refrain from potty mouth syndrome, and they are turning in their work--which means they are DOING their work. They even volunteer in class and participate.

I have learned that I have to keep them busy and give them a logical reason for why they are doing something. If I give them any down time, they get crazy. Some of them are still testing me a little but most of them just do what I ask.

The hardest part of all of it is rushing out of school to go pick up Ansleigh, coming home, starting dinner, cleaning up, doing laundry and taking some time to "play cook" and "play color." We eat, she gets a bath, she goes to bed. Then I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to wear the next day and does it need to be ironed? Gotta get in the shower and then dry my hair. There isn't quite as much time for facebook and tv shows anymore. Quite frankly, the time I do have, I don't want to be on facebook or watching tv; mostly I want to just go to bed.

I didn't realize what a mess our closet was until I started using it. If you'll recall, I've been wearing pajamas and jeans and tshirts for 3 years now. The only time I really used the closet was for Sundays or to put away hubs' clothes. I've already determined that during Spring Break, I will battle it out with that closet and get rid of a lot of junk. Mark my words.

My buggy-boo has been doing great with this! She begs to go play with Carrie friend's little girl all the way to their house. Half the time, she doesn't want to leave when I go pick her up. One thing I've noticed is that the little things that used to annoy me (excessive whining, bossing around, repetitive tv shows) don't bother me as much anymore. I cherish the time I have with her.

I do have some pretty good student stories but it is already past my bedtime. I know some of you have been worried and thinking about us and praying for us (and we appreciate it!!!) and I just wanted to let you know how we're doing in this big change.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Confessions: Teacher Edition


  • 6:45 AM is way early. Way earlier than I'm used to seeing.
  • I forgot how much I miss being around kids all day.
  • I have the very best, most up-to-date technology in my classroom, which kind of makes me want to pee my pants.
  • I've been asked 456 times, "Are you nice?"
  • I respond with, "I can be, but not usually." which is a complete and total lie....most of the time.
  • I need new shoes. Comfortable ones.
  • I also need some brown earrings for the days when I wear brown.
  • The past two days I've been wearing my pearls because that's what a southern girl does.
  • Some of these kids think I'm from a foreign county because of the way I talk.
  • Speaking of foreign countries, I have two kids that don't speak English. Awesome.
  • My kids (and almost all the kids there) have FILTHY mouths.
  • For example, I said "nice" and they thought I said a-double-dollar-signs.
  • I had to make one of my class rules "NO PROFANITY" which is slightly ridiculous.
  • Despite that fact, I'm completely excited.
  • The dramatic change in lifestyle has left me exhausted. And my house is a hot mess. And the sink is full of dishes. And we aren't even going to talk about the laundry.
  • Did I mention that Monday I did a full house super clean?
  • Also, I need a nap. In a real bad way.
  • I need to see a chiropractor and have a full-body massage too.
  • Yesterday, the kids were reading a Black History month newspaper insert when a black girl said out loud, "I didn't know black people even went into space."

Ok. I must go fix my hair and put on my face now so I don't scare the children. Peace out, Yo.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Back in the Saddle Again


In a previous life...before the child, I was a an English teacher. I taught 7th grade English in rural Alabama.

I loved it and hated it all at the same time. I loved my kids, but I hated how some of them behaved. I loved seeing them learn, but I hated the stress of coming up with all my own stuff.

Teaching was perfect for someone like me...an overachieving, compulsive, people-pleaser. Before the school year even started, I had the entire year outlined and planned out. I made up all my own vocabulary and tests based off of what we were reading or learning. I did all my own handouts, chose all my own books.

I also spent hours working at school and at home. Hours grading tests and projects and writing.

I loved coming home everyday and telling Hubs all the stupid things kids said or did. It was hilarious because they were hilarious. They also never thought before they spoke.

I spent hours upon hours during the summer up at the school getting my classroom ready. It was the bomb, yo. Ok, well...at least it was cutesy. And bright. See?

This morning I got confirmation and got everything started to go back to work.



Teaching.



10th grade.


Guess when I start?


Tomorrow. Yep. I'm slightly baffled too.

I'm excited that I get another go at it and nervous about the kids. You know, I sound funny to all these people down here. :) I cannot tell you how excited I am to get a paycheck again. I'm sad about leaving my Bug, but I think this is the best thing for her. She needs some time with people other than Mommy.

[Just FYI: she's going to be staying with Carrie Friend during the day]

Hopefully, if I get 10 spare seconds to get my classroom fixed up, I'll share some pics.

And I definitely plan on sharing any stupid things the kids say, changing the names, of course.

Say some prayers for me and stay posted.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Some Days Are Better

Some days are better than other days.

Some days I wake up and and want to go back to sleep and sleep for the rest of eternity.Some days I'm bored out of my mind and totally lazy. And then, there are days like today.

I woke up to quietness, not, "WAH! WAH! Mommy!!! Mommy!!!" I even laid there and enjoyed it for a few minutes before the "WAH! WAH! Mommy!!! Mommy!!!" even started. I was happy to be awake (which, might I add, is rare).

I was so chipper I even let the Bug have chocolate milk [insert GASP here] with her pop tart. I had my usual 100 calorie granola bar and tiny-sized Minute Maid mixed berry juice.

We watched a little Playhouse Disney and then got dressed and went somewhere. Not because we had to, but because I wanted to.

We met Nessa friend, and Ansleigh's friend at the Mall and had lunch. Now usually when we're out some where and I pay for food for Ansleigh, it is almost always a guarantee she won't eat any of it, but today, she did! She ate almost all of it and I got a super delicious smoothie out of the deal.

We had some play time, I returned some shorts, Ansleigh went down the slide by herself and pushed a little boy who was taking too long (atta girl). We strolled around the mall and then came home.

She napped, I accidentally napped. We watched 101 Dalmatians and I giggled as Ansleigh kept referring to Cruela as "keen, keen" (aka: Evil Queen).

Then the most amazing, monumental thing happened:

I cooked.

Now don't get me wrong, I cook most days, but not like this. Usually it is something frozen, pre-prepared, or totally microwaveable, and almost NEVER chicken.

I used some boneless skinless chicken and dipped it in egg then a combo of bread crumbs, crushed up corn flakes, Parmesan, and some mozzarella. I used some EVOO (look at me, going all Rachael Ray on you) and cooked the chicken in the skillet. Then I made some "Easy Rissoto." Except, I wouldn't say it was so easy.

The recipe was a Pampered Chef recipe but I tweaked it. Everything was fat free, and low sodium, whole wheat (bread crumbs and rice), and totally good for you. I made it into a low calorie dinner. I even used fat free soy milk instead of the regular two percent organic I usually cook with. Hubs didn't know that part....and now I've blown my secret.

Now this may not sound like such a big deal to most people, but for me, it is. I have never cooked chicken before. No. Seriously. Never. It totally grosses me out. I even had to 911 Mom a few times but everything turned out good.

Now since I'm known for my honesty, I will say that I did learn a few things along the way.

  1. Don't buy giant hunks of chicken. Go for the smaller pieces. They cook faster.
  2. Don't cook something that needs to have it's temperature checked when you have no means of doing so.
  3. Double check to make sure the rice is actually done before you serve up dinner.
  4. Be sure to thoroughly mix the cream cheese.
In my defense, I didn't really know about meat thermometers and therefore CLEARLY did not have one, but I have ordered one and it shall be here in two days, thank you Amazon Prime. Part of Anthony's chicken was still pink but he just ate around it and only ate the white part. But he had a HUGE piece. Also, Mom said it was probably done, so I blame her. :)

Only a little bit of the rice was still crunchy and we really enjoy cream cheese so neither of us was upset that there was still big hunks in it.

Anyway, today was one of the better days. It was a day where I enjoyed being at home and having a clean house and appreciated that I'm blessed enough to be able to be home and keep my house clean (when I try), and that I can take my Bug to the mall for a lunch date/play date. I was glad to have the time to try to cook something delicious and healthy for my family.

Most of my days aren't like that, but today was, and it was great. :)

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Censorship


As a former (and likely future) English teacher, I have very strong opinions on censorship. Especially when it comes to parents who come in or call saying, "I don't want my child to read this book because I heard..." I understand wanting to protect your child, but at the same time, you should come in armed with information, not hear-say. Also, don't tell say your child can't read something until you've read it yourself and have firm reasons why your child shouldn't be exposed to it. Be wise about why you are choosing to keep your child from reading something. If you don't want them to read a classic book because it has the h-e-double-hockey-sticks word in it, get real. Your kids hear a LOT worse at school. Promise.

On the other hand, as a parent (especially a Christian parent) I completely understand wanting to protect your child from ideas you find ludicrous or language you don't want them exposed to yet. I constantly find myself telling kids at school to watch their mouths because there is a 2-year-old around.

Some censorship is done for good reason, other censorship is done for stupid reasons, and then some censorship is done with good intentions but maybe not so necessary.

That's what I want to write about today. I censor my blog--not because I worry about what other people are going to think about me, because frankly, if you don't like what I'm saying, don't read it. I censor it because certain people (MY HUSBAND) reads it and sometimes...he gets embarrassed by things I post. You know...like when I write about poop.

You see, he knows me. He knows I talk about poop. He knows sometimes I can be a bit too graphic or inappropriate when it comes to things that might make some people (other men) uncomfortable such as child birth stories, female issues, etc.

I could care less if people are uncomfortable about things that are the truth. Poop happens. Childbirth is GROSS. But...I do publish my blog (obviously) and I post it to facebook where people we are friends with see it. You know...guys he's friends with.

So out of love and respect for my hunny, I try to be a little cautious about what I say...sometimes. I had to giggle when he mentioned my poop post. I wish I had a picture of his face. It was priceless. But still, I feel a little guilty seeing him that embarrassed. You see, his job, as my better half, is to keep me from verbal vomit in front of people we don't know well, or people who won't care what I'm rambling about. I LOVE that he does this for me. It makes life easier. I think that's why he gets so "concerned" about what I post on here. He's just trying to protect me and the people who read this.

Do you want to be protected? Or do you want more "inappropriate" things? Just wondering as I aim to please. :)

Also, he's probably going to fuss at me about posting this. :)