School Rules

I can't even begin to explain the amazing challenge of teaching at my new school. It really is an amazing challenge. I don't even think those two words do this school and my experience thus far any justice. I can tell you that I am in love with teaching! Each day is like Christmas morning. Every class period is a new package, wrapped so very nicely just for me. Some presents are good and some presents aren't that good...you wouldn't want to re-gift the bad presents!Just like Christmas, sometimes it all goes exactly the way your family hopes and sometimes it doesn't. I literally take each day as it comes.
Today I am staying late to get ahead...can you tell I'm really getting ahead?


After typing that sentence, I returned to my school work and did not complete the blog. I guess I snapped out of it. It is all I can do to keep my head above water these days. Fortunately, my time staying late on Tuesday allowed me to be able to finish my post this morning. Thursday. Nonetheless, I am caught up with my lesson plans for the week and this makes me so, so happy. I don't think I realized that I would be teaching FOUR different preps when school started. I was too focused on the fact that I got the job!! Two weeks into school, It became so clear to me, as if it were slapping me in the face every 5 minutes, how far behind I really was!
An establish teacher can go to their millions upon millions (slight exaggeration) of lesson plans, make a few copies and be set for the week. Not this gal. Nope. Everyday is a new day! I am so happy that I am ahead, even if it is only by one day!

On the Move and into Everything

These pictures were taken about a month ago!







He is our big boy!

By the way....

In the past two and a half weeks, Jack has sprouted two bottom teeth!!! He is my growing baby boy and we are sooooo proud of him!!

Monday

I am well rested and ready for the start of this week. Brian and I had an amazing family weekend. Brian was invited to sing at a church in Guntersville this weekend. We were able to visit our church, which we are going to join next Sunday, and then we went to HillCrest for a "singing." And let me tell you, if you have never been to a "singin" on Sand Mountain, I recommend you go! It will awaken your soul and quench your thirst for Jesus. It was just what this tired ole gal needed...A fresh reminder that God is right here always waiting for me. Jesus will always speak to you when you are in need. With the challenge of this new job, I began to quickly assume responsibility for EVERYTHING that went wrong. I don't have the answers to my student's discipline problems, nor do I have all of the materials required to teach my classes, and I have no clue what to do with middle school age kids but I was reminded this weekend that my small battles can be given to God and He will take care of them. Amen
I hope that everyone has an amazing week. Give it all to Him!!
Pictures of Jack will be posted soon!

School Starts Soon

I have a feeling that my blogs are going to be very sparse for a month or so. School will begin on Monday and I am so excited. Soon my newly decorated classroom will be filled with 7Th and 8Th graders eager to learn English!! (yeah right) It is more likely that I will have my hands full with seventh and eighth grade students who will be climbing the walls! It is going to be great. I have been in a million and one workshops this week and I have been completely covered in filth from cleaning up and arranging my classroom. The faculty are all so welcoming and have really made me feel at ease. It is funny that a few months ago, during my very dark days, that I wanted nothing to do with teaching, or anything else for that matter except for Jack, and now that I am back in the classroom, I don't know how I even left.
On the home front - Brian and I are playing a little role reversal and it is really strange. As I leave for work in the mornings and kiss my two boys goodbye, I realize that I won't change 3 stinky diapers, I will not find dried baby food on my legs and face, and I won't be able to sleep during Jack's morning nap. It is tough to not be around my baby all day. I sometimes feel like I am a bad mother for not nurturing and taking care of him 24/7 like I use to. It is so odd. Instead, Brian takes care of Jack during the day while I am at work and then I take care of him in the evenings when Brian goes into D1. Brian really enjoys being home with him. The father/son bonding time is really great and I can already tell how much Jack loves it and this makes me happy. There are times when I get so wrapped up in whatever it is that I am doing, that I completely forget about my two boys at home. This is a good thing. Jackson is growing so fast. He is now on all fours...crawling everywhere! He can pull himself up, but still has no clue how to get back down...until he falls! He is refusing to eat baby food! He loves real people food! He is such a mess and we love him sooo much! I will post pictures soon! Enjoy the weekend!

YES!

I got the JOB!!!!!! The Principal called me Wednesday evening to tell me about the great news!! I get to see my classroom on Monday and then I start working on Tuesday!!! We are SO very excited. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support. I am so very thankful that the Lord has placed me in this particular school. It is not the type of school that I thought I would start teaching at, but I knew the minute I walked through the doors that this was the place for me. I could feel it in my bones. I am so thankful that the Lord sends us little whispers to let us know to be patient and trust in His plan. I can't wait to get lost in the halls of a school again and fight with the xerox machines, and give myself 5 paper cuts in one day, and accrue stains on my shirts because of the white board markers, and say out loud, "okay, let's get quite" five hundred times!!! I am so very thrilled. I will fill you in on more details as they come my way. By the way, I was so excited about the fact that Mrs. Alexander had called to tell me that they were extending the position to me, that I have no clue what grades I will be teaching! It will either be 6 and 7 grade language arts or 7 and 8 grade language arts. Oh, I can't wait!! Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.

Just an Update

The interview was held on Monday morning with the principal, assistant principal, guidance counselor, and the head of the English department. I don't think I could have asked for a better interview. I had no clue I would be interviewing with a group of people, so I didn't have time to work myself up about it and become nervous. It was great to just walk into blindly. The principal told me that they would be interviewing candidates all day long and that they would make a decision by the afternoon. Well, 5:00 p.m. rolled around and I hadn't heard anything. I was very disappointed because I thought they really enjoyed what I had to offer as a teacher.(I even brought visual aids and examples of lessons.) I lost sleep Monday evening. Thankfully, the principal called in the morning to let me know that they had to interview two more people, which is required from the system office, and that they should reach a decision by Tuesday afternoon. I felt pretty positive that there could still be a chance...considering she told me that they still were interested in me filling the position. Again, the evening came and went and I hadn't heard anything. This morning, still hopeful, I called the school and the secretary informed me that the principal will be in a workshop until Friday and I should call back then. So, please keep those prayers coming! There is still a chance!!
On a mommy note, I have started to make Jack's baby food in order to pinch a few pennies. So far, he has loved the corn and sweet potato mixture, as well as, the banana and peach combo! It is a lot of fun and so easy to do! If anyone has any good baby food ideas, let me know!!