I made it

Today was the first day of combining the two classes each block. So I decided we'd play team building games and I'd give out lots of candy. It was a rather pleasant day (in terms of student behavior). 

For the last hour of the day, my teammates took all my students so I could clean out my former partner's stuff. She's refusing to come back for anything so once again I'm stuck with the consequences of her poor choices. It took me about 2 hours but it's mostly done so hopefully the kids will come in Monday feeling like one class with one teacher. 

I'm trying to be really intentional every step of the way to set us all up to be successful and happy the rest of the year but at this point I have decision fatigue. Like you know that feeling when you are moving and you get to that point when you just spin around in the middle of the room and can't make even one more decision?  Like that. So I'm taking the weekend off. I'll make one or two decisions on Sunday afternoon.  Just keep taking it one day at a time. 

So sleepy

I couldn't fall asleep until after midnight and was wide awake by 5am. 

Today went about as well as could be expected. The highlight was the feelings circles I did with each of my new classes. I'm still getting really overwhelmed but trying to just take it one day at a time and remembering that I'll ask for a prep/planning day when I feel like it's too much. 

Jeans

I'm pretty sure that when your partner teacher walks out on you and you agree to do double the work, you get to wear jeans for the rest of the year. They didn't *say* it but I think it's implied. 

Up so late

I know I'm exhausted. I know I need to go to bed. And yet I just keep sitting on the couch. 

She just left

My partner teacher left today at about 9:45. Like left the building. Like quit. Without telling me or anyone. 

By noon admin asked me to take over teaching her classes for the rest of the year (in addition to my own). 

There's so many logistics to work out. I'm so mad and frustrated. But I'm also thankful for my student teacher and understand co-workers. 

Even in the midst of all this, while I was checking out at Publix after school the cashier asked me about the school Korra goes to and how I like it (she noticed the uniform). We talked for 5 minutes about all the things I love about this school and exchanged email addresses. 

Road Trip Memories

For Artful Thinking this week (that's when I put up a piece of art and the kids have to write about them), I'm using pieces up public art (statues, graffiti, etc) that I've personally seen in my travels.  Looking at the statue of Sacajawea or the Freemont Troll made me thankful for that amazing road trip we took a few years ago.  

4th Place

The results were finally released and our Reading Bowl team came in 4th place out of 34 teams!  I'm so proud!

Recharged

Sometimes I forget I'm an extrovert. Sometimes I forget that working with people is not the same as being with people I love. 

This weekend I was able to recharge. Last night we had dinner with friends. Today we had church and then I had chance to catch up with a friend over drinks and fries in the afternoon. I even took some time to exercise. I'm feeling very ready for the new week. 

Impressed

We won all 6 of our rounds. We scored 430 out of 600 total points and there were only 4 questions our kids didn't know (any other point we lost was because they didn't buzz in fast enough). For our first time in the competition, I was really impressed with these kids. Even with all this, we didn't win first or second place. They didn't tell us the points or ranking but I'm really hoping they'll share that information soon. 

Reading Bowl

Today is the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl!  Had to be at the school at 7am but these kids are so excited, it seems worth it 

Brennan on the Moor

Today was a good day. The meeting with my student teacher's supervisor went well and I feel more confident in how to move forward. My lesson on an old Irish ballad went so well the principal stayed for over 20 minutes to watch and was grinning the whole time. The weather was nice enough for a brisk walk to the library after school. The meal kit dinner was yummy. Nate and Korra went out to get us doughnuts for dessert. 

Time management

I'm having a really hard week with my student teacher. She's wonderful, enthusiastic, eager to learn... and also not great at time management and communication. This was supposed to be her first week of fully teaching my classes but it didn't really happen. And she's not as ready for next week as I would like (need) her to be. Figuring out how to be supportive but still hold onto deadlines and expectations is hard. I'm meeting one on one with one of her advisors tomorrow in the hope that I can figure out how to make this work better. 

Earrings!

Korra got her ears pierced today!

Before: (drinking hot cocoa for sustainance)

After (only a little crying right before and during the first ear- once she saw the first one she was happy):

Camping!

Today I registered for a overnight Girl Scout camping trip for Korra and me.  Then I bought a barely used 4 person tent (our 6-8 person tent is just too big for just Korra and me).  Finally, I booked 3 nights at a campground about an hour from home for Spring Break camping.  Yay, camping!

Roller Skates

Korra saved up her allowance and tooth fairy money for the past 3-4 months to buy herself a pair of roller skates. 

Bridal Shower

Korra, Mom, and I traveled into the northern suburbs for a bridal shower for a girl I used to babysit for when she was even younger than Korra. It was held at a neighborhood club house where those same church ladies threw me a baby shower for Korra seven and a half years ago. 

Walmart Cremation Urn

Do yourself a favor and Google "Walmart Cremation Urn" right now.

This is what my mom and I get up to when left alone with our laptops.

Movie day

Turns out all of Atlanta also had the idea to go see a movie on this rainy cold Saturday afternoon. The line to get tickets was at least 50 people long so we turned around and went home where we popped popcorn and watched Troop Zero on Prime. Other rainy day activities have included puzzles and board games (though unfortunately not naps). 

Cursors

My students are practically obsessed with changing their cursors on their Chromebooks. I don't even know what/who half of them are (rapper's faces, video game characters, etc), but I do know they're enormous and make it impossible to tell what you're clicking on. Self-expression over practicality. 

Nate and Mom

Nate left yesterday for his long weekend in Texas playing board games. My mom arrived yesterday for a long weekend of crafts and a wedding shower. 

Half day

Took the morning off for a doctor's appointment. I used the extra time to catch up on grading papers, folding laundry, and watching Anne with an E. 

Bonus: my student teacher did really well without me (though there is a sub). 

Hair Salon

Korra and I played hair salon this afternoon. 

College Reunion

This weekend was a little bit magical. 8 of my best friends from college all got together in one place. We haven't all been together since December 2008. We talked and laughed and ate and had professional photos done. We also drank wine and played a game in the dark (in a hallway) when the power went out for 5 hours during a bad storm. It was so good to be with them. I am exhausted but also refreshed. 

Baby Oliver

On the way to my college friends reunion, I stopped by Danny's girlfriend's house to meet my "grandson" (as they both keep calling him). He is do tiny!  4lb 13 oz and 19 inches long, he was born 4 weeks early but is perfectly healthy. It was also wonderful to be able to meet Danny's girlfriend. I really hope this was the first of many times together. 

Happy Thoughts

My partner teacher is out and they're not a sub. It's not the worst thing but it makes the day a bit more exhausting. To help make it through, I'm thinking these happy thoughts:

• This evening I'm going to Columbus, Georgia to be with many of my dearest friends from college.  It's been SO long since we've all be together.
• I'm going to go see baby Oliver on my way to Columbus.  
• I made salted caramel pretzel brownies for dessert tonight.

Friendly Letters

Today for social emotional learning class, I had the students write letters to a classmate to tell them something nice.  I got two letters from students.  One said "Thank you for being the best ELA teacher ever... You got shoe game and your earrings are the bomb."  The other said, "You do so much for everyone and I'm glad that I get to be in your homeroom. You always do your best to make a good learning environment where everyone feels safe and comfortable."  That definitely made my day.

New Baby!

Danny's son was born this morning!  Long and skinny and perfect.  Danny's already texted 5 pictures and asked if babies always cry so much :) 

One less tooth

Korra knocked one of her baby teeth out at recess today when she got pushed (accidentally) off the playground today.  She also busted her lip pretty good.  The promise of ice cream for snack and cheese grits for dinner cheered her up pretty quickly.

Surprisingly Pleasant

Today was a surprisingly pleasant first day back at school. The kids were engaged. I introduced our new novel. I did some planning with my student teacher. Definitely helped to ease back into the swing of things. 

140

Between church yesterday and the teacher work day today, Korra has sold 140 boxes of girl scout cookies.

Make that Six

Spent my last day of Christmas break reading. Finished one more novel: Thirteen Doorways Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby. It was excellent. 

Skating and sewing

We went roller skating with friends and Korra sewed a stuffed animal. 

I've been reading

Over the break I've read 5 novels.

Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Rebel by Beverly Jenkins

Inventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden

The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead 

Errands

Started our early this morning (7am)- first a trip to the tire shop to get our flat repaired. Thankfully it's still under warranty. Then groceries. After that, dentist, haircut, and UPS. All before 2:00!

Rain

A flat tire had Korra and me walking in the rain yesterday. First to lunch with a friend and then to the library. 

Girl Scouts Cookies!

I think Korra's cookie sales are really going to suffer this year due to the deleting my Facebook account. 

Here's the link to her cookie website just in case. 

https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/korra793699