A new school year

I finished my first week of teaching!! Yay me! I have grown to really love 5th grade and how cute and fun these kids can be.

I have been a little apprehensive about this year partly because there is only 2 5th grade classes which means large class sizes, and the other part is that I was going to be including an autistic child into my classroom full time. This child came to me for reading last year and really flourished in my class, so the principal and special ed decided to place him back in my room with only minimal help from special ed. Much to my surprise he has been doing great, the things that would normally send him into a state of panic and then lead to crying on the floor, is just shrugged off and he moves on to the next task. The thing that we are working on now is not always telling me every time he gets something wrong on his paper. ha ha

Even though my class is large I have loved these kids from the moment they walked into my room. They are so eager to learn and just make me laugh! I am so blessed to have a job that makes me laugh and watch them learn. I hope they can see how much I care for them and how much I want them to grow in my classroom.

"Vintage"

I had a conversation with my sister-in-law about what makes something vintage. After having this conversation I kept thinking about this because I hear so many people say that their cloths or accessories are "vintage". I decided to look up the definition to maybe get a better idea of the word.

Vintage- representing the high quality of a past time: vintage cars;vintage movies. old-fashioned.

Here is what I think about this topic, if you buy something at the thrift store it does not mean that it is "vintage" it just means that you bought it at the thrift store. I know someone that bought shoes at the thrift store and keeps telling everyone that they are "vintage" when I was out shopping this weekend I saw the same shoes at a department store. So I guess if you buy it at the thrift store it is automatically "vintage".

Maybe I should start buying everything at the thrift store because that means that all my cloths will be "vintage". ha ha Now if it's from the 1950 then I would consider that item to be vintage because it is actually "vintage".

Sorry about the rant but I just needed to put it out there.

Finish Strong!

I feel like I say the statement "Finish Strong" to my students everyday the last month of school. I say this to keep the students motivated and to keep myself motivated as well. Every year the last month is jammed packed with activities, plays, programs, and guest speakers. I was proud of my student this year, they have been an inspiring group of kids. I am not saying that this year has been perfect, but you move past the frustrations and focus on making the class a fun and exiting place to learn.

This was my first year teaching 5th grade, it was a challenge but I loved every minute of it.

Other then teaching life has been moving a long like always, I will admit that I have not been as busy as normal, but I have been having some fun when I can. I had a Nerd party, I made my friends dress up as nerds, Les Miserables with my friend Shauna, and Wild life World Zoo with Bree-N. Oh and the family went to Disneyland for spring break which was a lot of fun. I am glad that summer is here so that I regenerate and get ready for the new school year, but hopefully having some fun before I go back to teaching.

Pat Benatar

If you where to ask me about some of my favorite concerts that I have been to over the years Pat Benatar would not be a concert that you would expect on my list. Especially people in my age range, but I would have to say that she puts on an amazing show!

Last Saturday my friend Shauna called me with the news that she won 2 free tickets to the Pat Benatar concert. At first I was a little skeptical but I thought, why not what else do I have to do tonight. My friends Rachel, Bree-N, Shauna, and I where some of the youngest people at the concert but, Pat Benatar Rocks the house!

It was an amazing show! The music was great, she chatted with the audience and added cute personal stories that go along with all of her songs. Word of advice if PAT BENATAR comes into town you must go!

Much has happened!

The past few months have been super busy with work and life. Here are some of the things that have been going on.

Grandma Elli at Christmas Eve dinner. Isn't my grandmother a beautiful lady!

I got really sick on my birthday so a week later we made other plans. So we had a Birthday Dinner with some of my friends Bree-N, Stephanie, and Joe, we went to BJ's to eat dinner which was oh so yummy and I even got a free dessert with out being sung to. After that we went to Jester'Z comedy club it was such a funny show and a great night!

Roses for my Birthday from my co-workers. They decorated the workroom with all kinds of goodies and these beautiful flowers.

My dad also took me out to dinner for my birthday, we went to Flemings. This has been a tradition since I was 4 I get to pick a place to eat and it's just the two of us! Flemings is amazing in every way and such a wonderful tradition that I look forward to every year.

The Heart Center with my 5th graders. This place is amazing it teaches the kids all about the heart, how to eat right, how to exercise, and how the heart works. It is all hands on and they have great people running the center. The students had a great time at the center and it was a great day to sit back and watch my students learn and have fun at the same time. Also the great parent helpers that take over for the day!

My students make me laugh!

After lunch I like to read aloud to my students, one to calm them down and two I think it is very important for the kids to hear you read to them. I try to pick books that have good morals or has a main character that has some type of "problem".

I have been reading When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, It is about a girl that is receiving anonymous letters that seem to be coming from the future. It has some good twists and turns and I really enjoy reading it. The conversation that took place after I finished reading went like this.

Teacher: Okay who can tell me what important things we learned about the book?

Student 1: That Miranda's friend has some problem that makes her body shake all crazy like.

Teacher: Do you mean Epilepsy?

Student 1: Oh yeah that thingy.

Teacher: Okay what else?

Student 2: (In a I am so board I am going to fall asleep voice)We learned about a thing, with a note, bread in a bag, weird 6th grade love triangle, time travel, and some girl that thinks you can time travel on diamonds.

Teacher: (Laughing) Thank you D that was the best summary that I have heard all day!

Student 2: I know I am awesomely amazing!

This year I have some really funny students that keep me on my toes and keep me laughing!

Other great books I have read this year to my students!

Al Capone Does My Shirts. By gennifer choldenko (Who doesn't love a book about gangsters)

The graveyard book. By neil gaiman (boys love this book, and great around halloween)

Freak The Mighty. By rodman philbrick (Fantastic no other way to describe it)

Bud Not Buddy. By christopher paul curtis (A great book if you need a laugh)

Star Girl By. Jerry Spinelli (being different is a good thing)