The real reason

I decided to become a teacher...........

Pajama Day!

I took full advantage.

My new best friend......

The dreaded copy machine.

I took over the "hoolagins" this week.

I taught all day every day!

Besides, my sweaty armpits (tmi), my huge laundry pile and the fact that I'm eating my stress.

It was fun.......and I really like it.

I miss my Annie though.

She meets me at the door, and we cuddle.

My first week......

of my illustrious career - over!

Teaching (more like observing) 5th grade was actually a blast.

I really liked it.....and I think - when I get more used to things, I'm really gonna like it!

Yeah!........it would not be good at this point if I hated it.

1st day - I did an activity based on my science unit - traits, and I learned everybody's name.

I now know ALL of them......and I am so glad. It is hard to teach when you don't know anybody's name, I did that last quarter, way too many times.

2nd day - I taught science. I always get assigned science. Does any regular teacher like to teach science? Twice, I've been introduced to a mentor teacher , who immediately asked ........."uuuuh - how would you feel about teaching a month long science unit, and how'bout starting on Monday ?" I gulp - and say okay (do I look like a scientist?).

My science lesson went great, and I learned how to use the elmo, and I KNEW everybody's name.

3rd day - My mentor teacher had "something come up" (she really did), and had to leave me alone with the class. No warning. I just told myself that I was a 43 year old mother of five - and I knew exactly what I was doing - hmm. I went ahead and did the spelling bee that was scheduled for 11:30 - fun. My "use the word in a sentence " sentences, were exactly like the one I just wrote. Luckily, no one seemed to care.

Next, - I taught gym. LHM!!! 6th graders and 5th graders - at least 40 of them.......sliding all over and paying no attention to me - whatsoever!
I screamed my guts out for 40 minutes straight.

Hint: Don't ever take on this project your 3rd day of student teaching - bad idea for self esteem and positive thinking, and "love of the game".

4th day - I taught another science lesson with well behaved 5th graders. Who knew? I also discovered the teacher salad bar. I'm not really good at preparing my lunch in the morning and , school lunch is really "quite yucky" - but I love a good salad - so that will work for me. Too bad, I had already eaten shrimp poppers and......I can't remember. I also learned to bring my own crushed ice - it reminds of my old life and by 12:20, I need a diet coke.

5th day - No teaching. Just preparation for my school meeting that afternoon. I really like my supervisor and my group. I cannot complain!

6th day - Today. Saturday Jan 9, 2010. I had to take the Praxis test for elementary school teachers (7:30 am). I am pretty sure I flunked. If I would have just asked Olivia what range, mean, mode, and median meant before taking the test......maybe I could have go that question correct......................... Are you smarter than a fifth grader?

Oh well.......I'm on my way.

Annie has a little problem.....

she is suffering from "holiday schedule".

Yesterday morning when I carried her downstairs (7:45 am) to contine her slumber on grandma's couch; she stayed up. Grandma had to take Lily to get her haircut.

Well, Annie is used to "holiday schedule" and 7:45 am is practically the middle of the night. Morning begins at 10:30 or 11:00!

So, last night while doing errands, Annie took a much needed nap in the car (6:30pm - 9:30pm).
At 9:30 she woke up (well rested), and ate a huge bowl of macaroni and cheese. She then watched her nightly movie, Cinderalla, which ended around 11:30 p.m. Annie was in full "play mode". She stayed in her room and played ponies. I was still up but needed to go to bed, because of my new full-time working status. I left Annie in her room talking to herself. I heard her close the door, turn out the light, and tuck herself in at 1:00 am (during the "holiday" we tucked each other in around this same time - my bad).

Do we have a problem? (Don't answer that)

This morning, Annie slept in until 10:30, and grandma reported she was sleepy until school - which starts at 12:30.

"Holiday schedule" is serious business.