i'll follow the sun

I went back to school today.

It was surprisingly easy to get up at 5:30 this morning (considering I couldn't go to sleep until after midnight), but once I got to school, I found myself in a funk that lasted until lunchtime. I'd been having SUCH a great vacation - spending time with Robbie, my mom, & my very best friends in the world, watching Harry Potter & reading - plus all of my 7th grade classes got mixed around because they switch electives every 10 weeks (and the schedules were all screwed up, I had a ton of kids that I don't usually have, but I won't have them tomorrow because everything was sorted out today). And I basically hate my new schedule. Which is ridiculous, because it's literally the same, except for the fact that my new homeroom (1st period) used to be my 3rd period class, my new 3rd period class used to be my 4th period class, and my new 4th period class used to be my homeroom (and let me say, I liked those kids first thing in the morning a WHOLE lot better than right before lunch). I am such a creature of habit that major changes throw me, and I was definitely thrown today. But by 7th period, I was fine, mostly because it was the end of a ridiculously long day.

I think it's going to rain tomorrow, which majorly sucks. Bad weather = kid crazy-maker. At least I don't have yard duty.




But tomorrow may rain, so, I'll follow the sun...how long until summer?

you really got a hold on me

Things I'm currently excited about...

1) only 15 days until Christmas break (I have a countdown on the whiteboard in my classroom).

2) getting a Christmas tree this weekend, & decorating it. it doesn't feel like Christmas until there's a tree in my dining room.

3) writing out & mailing my Christmas cards this weekend.

4) getting my save-the-dates, and booking a florist for the wedding.

5) Robbie's been home for a week! Hallelujah!

lady madonna

Newsflash: I love my job.

A year ago, I couldn't have predicted how happy I'd be teaching 7th & 8th graders. Six months ago, I was questioning my career choice, and felt absolutely terrible about myself all the time. Now, I am so, so happy with my decision to give teaching one more try & take my current job.

From about 7:30am every morning, to at least 4pm every afternoon, I have more fun than I bet anyone else does at their job. I have about 150 12 & 13 year olds for 51-minute periods throughout the day, and I look forward to each period for a different reason. Sure, there are the kids in every class that are a challenge, but the majority of them are so great that they make it easy to deal with the others. I have a hugely supportive staff, who go out of their way to make me feel comfortable, good about myself & my teaching, and just plain not crazy.

Looking back on the hellacious year that was my student teaching, I'm glad that it's over, but still thankful I went through it. It made me see what an educator should not be like, how negativity can bring others down, and that I really can get through anything.

Now, with teaching every day, having a blast with my BTSA support provider, and planning my wedding to my best friend in the world, I really can't see how my life could get better. But somehow, I'm sure it will.

getting better

Things I am looking forward to this summer:

1. sleeping in
2. reading the 7th (& final...sniff) Harry Potter
3. planning my wedding
4. going to other peoples' weddings, including my cousin's and Robbie's aunt's
5. swimming in my pool/attempting to get tan
6. working out (I'll finally have time)
7. figuring out my life

she loves you

Damn you, OC, for making an awesome 4th season, having me buy it on DVD & watch it, fall back in love with you, and then be cancelled.