God is Watching

After catching some 4th graders cheating, I had them write about "why cheating is a bad idea."  One came back today with this statement: Cheating is like lieing and if you lie, you will have a bad life because God is watching and it's like you are lieing to God and that is really bad.

I Hate Headaches

When I wake up with a headache, I know it's going to be with me all. day. long.

The Help

AL read The Help over the long weekend, so tonight we're watching the movie together.

Big Book Time of Year

It's the time of year when, suddenly, all the 3rd graders try to check out the biggest book they can find in the library.  When asked why, most respond with a statement about looking smart.  While I'm glad carrying around big books is a yearly trend, I wish the trend was actually reading those big books..

Beauty Queens

Over the long weekend I finished the book Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.  The basic plot is that a plane full of teen pageant contestants crashes on a deserted island, but it's a whole lot more than that.  Full of plenty of witty social commentary, this book was funny, thought provoking, and though a bit too mature for middle schoolers, thoroughly enjoyable.

After a Trip

The first day back at work after a trip, even a short 3 day one, is almost always rough.  I feel overwhelmed even though there's nothing to be particularly overwhelmed about and tired even though I had a very restful long weekend.

Bad Traffic Makes for Bad Mood

Got stuck in horrible traffic on the way back from Mobile (with no apparent reason!) which put me in a horrible mood. I don't want to do the housework that needs to be done. I don't want to go to school tomorrow. I don't want to do anything. Except maybe whine.

Pancakes!

My wonderful father-in-law is making me pancakes for breakfast!

VERY Rainy

It's a very, very rainy day here in Mobile.  Good thing we're here for the people and not the sight seeing!

Good Day

A teacher brought us doughnuts, my laptop didn't give me fits, 3 day weekend coming up... today's going to be a really good day.

Wilmer!

Directly after school today we're off to visit Nate's parents for the long weekend. I can hardly wait!

Nate on DVD

Nate delivered a sermon today for class and his professor recorded it. I'm enjoying the opportunity to watch it. I hate to brag, but my husband is really amazing.

Stringy

My lunch today has both string cheese AND Twizzlers Pull-and-Peel.  It's a very interactive lunch experience.

At Least There's That

You know how I'm THE WORST at getting off sales calls?  Well, it turns out that if you tell a sales person they're closing your school, it's much easier.  There's the added bonus of knowing they won't call again.

(insert pathetic sick sound here)

I woke up with a terrible headache.  I think it's going full-on nausea inducing migraine.  I might need to go home early.

My New Jump Drive

I bought a new jump drive.  Today I begin the long process of moving the last 6 years of lesson plans and documents off the school's server.

V-day Presents

My faculty meeting and Nate's last class both got cancelled!

For The Win

I spent all but $0.54 of my book account.  New books!

My Least Favorite Place

So on top of the whole closing my school, losing my job thing, Nate's laptop died as did the Cressida. Fantastic week, right? We had to go to Walmart, my least favorite place on earth, 3 TIMES today, but some good came out of it. The battery was dead but still under warranty. Now if only Nate's laptop could be fixed as easily (and cheaply)...

Book Fair Lady

Nearly made the representative from Scholastic cry when I told her I'd have to cancel the fairs for next year.  She's so nice.  She helped me come up with all sorts of ideas for the profits from next month's fair.

Feeling the Love

PTO bought lunch (southern style fried chicken, beans, and squash casserole) for all the teachers today.

What Else?

Doing what I do most Sundays- cleaning, taking a nap, baking.

Taxes

2011 taxes filed. Looking forward to that refund check.

Epiphany

I had an epiphany yesterday at the Ron Clark Academy (which was an awesome experience, by the way). I do not want to teach at a mediocre, standardized-test loving school. It's not me. In fact, I already knew this about myself, but I'd forgotten. The whole reason we stayed in this town after college was because I got a job at a fine arts magnet school. I want to teach at a school that is different. I want to be passionate and creative and have the freedom to do what I think is best for kids without constantly beating my head against restrictions placed on me by administrators who care more about efficiency or "measurable data" than they do about learning and children. And you know what? I don't have to. There are so many amazing schools in this country that are doing things I believe in. I don't have to put up with the status-quo. Maybe for the short term I'll have to, and of course I'll make the best of it. But I want more than the crap I see every day in most public schools. I want to live out my passion for teaching and I think I'm going to seek it out in less restrictive environments. So I'm seeing the silver lining. The closing of my school is the end of a dream and it's sad that all those kids will have to go back to the "real world" of public education. But through this I've been refocused. I'd forgotten what I really want, but now I'm free to go and get it.

Resume

Going to the Ron Clark Academy tomorrow... maybe I should bring my resume?