class pet adventures

Meet Turtle

Last weekend I picked up a turtle for my class pet.  Turtle is his name and he's five years old.  My students absolutely love him.  He's made his home on the counter in our room and is fed by a student each day.  Every morning I walk into my room, drop my bag at my desk, and head over to Turtle tell him, "Good Morning!"  This morning, however, I took my walk across the room to greet him and looked into his tank and . . . he was nowhere to be found!  The lid was just as I'd left it and there wasn't a single sign of where he might be.

Once I'd searched my classroom and I ran to my neighbors to search theirs for this little reptile.  When we were all unsuccessful finding Turtle, I came to the conclusion that he'd been kidnapped turtlenapped.  After an hour of looking for the little guy I was sure he was a goner.  When he hadn't showed up by lunch time, I'd lost my hopes for sure.  How do I tell my class? I thought. 

We began our Writing Block by reading Miss Nelson is Missing and talked about all the places her students thought she was and how worried they were.  Then I told them that someone was missing in our classroom, too.  And it was Turtle.  Some students reacted in disbelief, thinking I was tricking them, while others were trying to tell me all the places he might be hiding.  Once they'd come to terms with Turtle's MIA status, they began to write on the prompt 'Our Turtle Is Missing.'   

Just as we went to line up at the door for recess, I hear cries from my neighbor Kelli.  Screaming my name and pointing to the ground, I ran towards her in panic, thinking there was an emergency in her room.  I looked, and

there

he

was.

Scurrying across her floor in the direction of my classroom.  I scooped him up and carried him back to my cheering students.

Beginning my day on the verge of tears because of a turtle was not how I want to start any day ever again, so I will make sure he is more securely tucked-in for the nights.  And, I think Turtle has rightfully earned himself a last name: Houdini.

first days in first grade

1st day in 1st grade:  I got an apple from a neighboring teacher & thought my Dove message was fitting.

Holy cow, how have we already been in school for 2 weeks?!!  It has been busy and crazy, but great at the same time.  I have a sweet group of 17-first graders and they've already nestled their ways into my heart.

I love, love, love my job.  Although it is exhausting and I leave school most days with swollen, tired feet, but there's nothing else I would want to do, or that I feel God's calling me to do [at least for the time being!].  One thing's for sure, though: if I didn't have the support and encouragement that I have, I wouldn't have the energy to spend my days in a classroom full of kiddos.

I think 'Husbands of Teachers' should be some sort of support group for the sweet men who choose to marry, and stay married to educators!  I mean, let's be honest -- my husband always puts up with me loves me, listens to my crazy stories, cuts lamination...I could go on.  And, thankfully Byron was blessed with a stronger immune system than I was, so I don't always share the germs with him that the children generously give me!

There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord intentionally placed me in first grade with an incredible team of teachers.  My head would've spun off into another galaxy by now if I didn't have these women, and after only a few weeks of working together I already feel like there are no words I could speak or write to express how much I appreciate all they've done for me.

Work hard and cheerfully in all that you do as though working for the Lord.

Colossians 3:23

I know it's going to be a great year, especially with the amazing people God's placed in my life.  It's truly a reminder that He won't give me anything I can't handle, and that He's blessed me with relationships with friends who are more supportive than I could've asked for.

1 day down, 179 to go!

It is quite unfortunate that the 1^st day of school and last day of summer go hand-in-hand.  I love summer – warm, sunny days playing in the lake, taking long walks with the dogs after dinner.  Today one of my students even said, “It seems like each year summer gets shorter and shorter,” to which I agreed.  

@ Oconee

Before I kissed summer good-bye, though, I enjoyed some time on the lake and a relaxing weekend with Byron [yay!].  I’m blessed to have had a relaxing summer as a newlywed, and even more blessed to have an end to my summer – because that means I have a job!!  

A night of shopping for wakeboards, followed by a stop in the Lego store,
and finally to TBM for dinner... great date :)

This morning I greeted the school year with a big mug of coffee and a smile.  In the midst of greeting students, sorting school supplies, and trying to lead lessons, I mixed up my twins … which allowed the perfect opportunity for them to further trick/confuse me.  Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky.  There were no major mishaps for the day; all of my students made it safely to their bus or car in one piece, whew!

I'm incredibly excited to see what this year will bring.  God's blessed me with such an incredible team of teachers and some very special students.  It will be a new experience -- fun, challenging, rewarding, and exhausting.  I'm not sure if when my head will stop spinning.  Life's about to get crazy -- here's to the new school year!  Cheers.

april - what a month.

I can't believe April is almost over, holy moly. I anticipated it to be a quick month [since it IS the month before I get married!!], but whoa.  It's funny though, because every day still had 24 hours, just like every day in every other month.  Time does fly by when you're busy making last minute to-do lists, but even in the midst of all the wedding craziness, April has been an outstanding month.

1. Spring Break!!! What a way to welcome a month!

2. Passion Good Friday Incredible worship and a great reminder about why we really celebrate Easter.

3. Color Run!! So. Much. Fun.  I will definitely do it again.

4. Easter Sunrise Service at Stone Mountain with my wonderful fiancee', great family time, and some jelly beans, too.  [Easter IS the holiday with the best candy!]
5. Spring Flowers Have you noticed how long the flowers have been in bloom this Spring?  Incredible.  My favorite flowers [tulips] aren't in season in the late Spring/Summer, however they were on sale, so I bought some.  I discovered this year that we have roses hidden in our yard that have apparently been there for years.  Who knew?

6. Homemade Double Doozies Yes, I have the taste buds of a 5 year old -- no shame (both of my brothers and I share this love).  My favorite cookie is actually 2 sugar cookies, covered in sprinkles and stuck together with a heap of icing.  Mmmmmm.  Instead of making the trip to the mall [which would've resulted in spending money on clothing and cookies] I made them at home -- aren't I so frugal?!  Ha.  

These are worth the stomach ache.

7. Teacher Successes One of my students is a first grader whom I work with in reading one-on-one every day.  One month ago, she failed [with final averages of 0%] all of her word study and spelling tests.  Each day I spend 30 minutes teaching her strategies and working on phonics, and every Friday she takes a test with her class.  Her scores have been improving and SHE SCORED 100% on her test last Friday!!!!

8. Mid-week Surprise Dates with Byron He surprised me on Tuesday by coming into town unexpectedly and taking me on a date.  Yummy food, a good glass of wine, and my man . . . yes, please!

The flowers Byron brought me!

9. WE ARE GETTING MARRIED IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS!!!  and we have an apartment!  Whew.  Thanks for all the prayers -- God answered them and we won't be homeless!!  

10. God loves me.  I thought it was interesting that He gave me this verse last night since I'm on the homestretch to becoming a bride.  But it's so true.  

I celebrate and shout because of my Lord God.

His saving power and justice are the clothes I wear.

They are more beautiful than the jewelry worn by a bride or groom.

Isaiah 61:10 [CEV]

We finish up CRCT testing tomorrow [I'm more pumped than the kids are about that].  I have an incredible weekend to look forward to . . . and I'm sure it will be one for the record books. 

My Big Girl Job

My family's congratulatory surprise for me.

I'd been praying for a teaching job since wayyyy before I graduated last May -- I'd say I'd been praying for roughly a year and a half.  Since August I have been a substitute teacher in 3 elementary schools, all of which I love.  With each day I spent in these schools, I fell more and more in love with them, and continuously prayed for a position to open up next year.  Don't you love it when God answers prayers?!  And He REALLY outdid Himself this time.


About a week after the students returned from Christmas Break, the principal at one of the schools called me into her office.  She asked me if I would like to become an 'indefinitely permanent part-time sub' and teach my own classes.  Of course I said yes and was given a classroom and classes of students.  My job was to teach a Kindergarten Technology class, 2 math classes, and then to work with a second grade class during math. 


Last Tuesday, February 6th, I was given a permanent part-time teaching position!!!!  Although the event that allowed for my hire is quite unfortunate and sad, I am thankful for the amazing opportunity to work with such a supportive staff and to teach such wonderful students.  I begin each day teaching 10 fifth graders math for 30 minutes, when they come into my room during their lunch (it's a program called Lunch-and-Learn that is designed to give students extra Math practice to strengthen their skills).  Because there are only 10 of them, we can do some fun, interactive things.  Next, I teach the Kindergarten Technology Special.  As a 'Special' teacher, I see each Kindergarten class once a week and we do SMART Board activities and games.  Then, I work with another teacher to teach 4th grade Lunch and Learn for an hour.  We have 24 students--AHHH!!--so it gets kinda crazy.  Then I spend time in a 2nd grade class working in small groups teaching math.  


Although I was somewhat stressed at the start, I've begun to catch the hang of it, and I'm really enjoying everything about my job.  I could not ask for better administration--they are so helpful and encouraging.  The teachers I work with are incredible--and young, too (so I'm making some new friends!).  My students are sweet (especially the kindergarteners and 2nd graders) and eager to learn.  And, my school is only 10 minutes from home!  


I have always wished that I could teach in the school system I attended as a child, but I'm not sure I honestly thought it would ever happen.  God has blessed me with such a wonderful opportunity this year and answered my prayers for a job in ways I'd never imagined.  Words can't describe how thankful I am for where the Lord has so graciously placed me.