The Nitty Gritty

We just finished our third week of school. By "we" I mean me and the boys. Isaac started school yesterday. The past three weeks have been filled with good and bad days. Mostly good. I have to put a LOT more time into this job than I ever have before in my teaching career. Taking care of myself can be a struggle amid everything else on my plate. However, I am doing my best and that's all that matters.  I have much to be grateful for, like: An awesome class. It's small-21 students- and they are so bright and lovable. I work 5 min from home.  I have the most supportive husband. Isaac is so good to take care of things when I am bogged down with teaching stuff. William attends my school where I teach. It has been so fun seeing him and hearing all the funny things he does from the classroom aide, Miss Kathy, who is also my aide. A job! William's teacher is from Pennsylvania but the only job offer she got was the one in Tempe. I realized the fact that I have a full time ...

I met my students tonight. They are so teeny and adorable. On the way to Meet the Teacher Night, Isaac suggested a family prayer. Sine he was driving, I said the prayer. The first thing I asked was, "help me to fall madly in love with my students since I will be spending 180 days with them."  As I met 16 of the 23, I could tell right away who would need some extra TLC and who was going to lift my spirits on the hard days. I really want my students to enjoy school. With the new direction education is going, I feel like it's sucking the life out of our kids and learning isn't fun anymore. We are just too focused on data. I really want to be a positive force and make school fun for my students... and colleagues! In order to do that, I have had this strong impression to take better care of myself. Last year about did me in and I don't want to repeat that again. So, these are my goals for the upcoming year to help me survive: Exercise daily. Meditate daily--I've be...