First Day Done

So my first day of teaching is done. I have a really great class. They are fun. Maybe a little chatty, but fun none the less. It was actually a pretty easy day. Once we start getting into actualy work though things may get a little tougher. I'm struggling a little. Ok a lot. This whole, splitting classes and having one group work while the other is being taught is a little overwhelming. Especially considering some of this stuff I've never taught or seen taught before. I think science is scaring me the most because every class combined. I want to do so much hands one but I also need work for students to do on their own. I don't want this feeling for the whole year. This stumbling around feeling like I don't know what I'm doing and that I'm not really teaching but just keeping students busy and that no one is benefiting from my being there and that the stuff I'm doing is stupid. I love these kids. I just want them to have the teacher they deserve. I don't feel like that right now. (geez louise and it's only the first day)
cheers

The Night Before

It's the night before classes. I gotta say I don't feel a nervousness about tomorrow. I just feel this great heavy weight on me. It is the expectations of the year that loom over me waiting to smother me underneath it. Wow, it's daunting. I did have some encouragement the other day though. A student told me she was pumped for the start of the year. That makes me feel good. I don't know. I just don't feel ready. Maybe if we could start the school year in December? I'm trying to stay even keel right now. The thing is, when I get a little stressed I start overreacting to change. It's not good. Anyway, I think things will get better once the kids are at school. Then I can remember why I'm doing this.
Here goes nothing.
cheers

Five More Days

Wow, it's coming up so fast. I've been working hard getting the classroom ready. There was a bunch of stuff to move around and throw away and then get some materials for the walls. I'm now working on an opening day ppt and starting to get some lesson plans together. I also will be looking for mimio lesson plans 'cause on Thursday I got a little present from the tech department. And I didn't even request it! I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed right now but I have to keep telling myself. "I'm a first year teacher, I will not be perfect." Anyway, here are some pictures from my classroom.
cheers

Getting Closer

Wow. It's 9 days till the first day of students. I've been spending a lot of time lately getting my classroom (MY classroom, that sounds so cool) ready for the upcoming year. It felt a little overwhelming at first because I was starting from scratch. But, as I've been going through materials that were left from the previous teacher, adding my own and getting bulletin boards ready is starting to look like my own space. And feel like it too. The school is still a bit of a mess because there is a lot of work still going on but that will end soon as well. Today as I was putting the finishing touches on the timetable poster I was starting to feel like I might actually get this classroom ready for students. So, the classroom is ready. Unfortunately I'm not quite there yet. Maybe next August I will be. Or August 2014. We'll see. I haven't got heavy into lesson planning yet. The amount of work in that respect is a little intimidating. Oh well. I think the students may be in for a little bit of a culture shock. I am a different person from their last teacher. Note better, maybe worse. But mainly different. I hope they enjoy the changes.

I'm looking forward to finally getting started. I pray for patience and persistence and love and graciousness and humility. But maily love. I'm tired. I have new teacher orientation tomorrow.  I should maybe get some sleep.
cheers

Distractions

My Title is probably not the most representative of what this week has been like. I haven't got a lot of work done on school stuff this week because it has been very busy with my brother and his family coming out. We spent three days and two nights in Landmark this week and then had everyone out at our new house yesterday. It's been a great week.

My nephews Lukas and Jakob are very cute. (And loud at times) This is a picture of them in the awesome cardboard fort my mom built for the kids. It's really cool and they had a lot of fun in there. It's been a while since we'd seen them. Christmas to be exact. They have grown a lot. The last time I saw Jakob he wasn't even crawling and now he's walking everywhere. Yesterday when they came out here he was actually getting used to us and not being so shy. And now they are back at my Mom and Dad's and on their way home tomorrow. What a gip. I think the kids had a lot of fun with their little cousins. I know they were very excited about seeing them.

I think one of their favourite activities was Griffin pulling Emi and Lukas behind grandpa's lawnmower. Griffin is getting so big. Grandpa taught him how to use the mower the last time he was there. They would just drive around the park space my parents have. They really liked it.

So this has meant very little work done for me. I did go to school on Wednesday to get a bit of work done. It was good because there were some other people there that I could talk to about the upcoming year. I've got some ideas but right now I need to get my classroom ready. After that some lesson planning. Yes, I KNOW!!! I've haven't got to lesson planning. ugh. So much work. First year though, keep expectations reasonable for yourself. Crazy
cheers

Oh Yeah! I'm Teaching this Fall

We've mostly settled into our new place and life is kind of begninning again. Tina's holidays are over and she was back at work again. For myself, I've spent part of the last few days preparing for the South Central Regional Library Wind-up. That's another story unto itself. I've also started to get more anxious about the start of the school year. I feel like there is a lot to do and that too many things are coming up and getting in the way. (Note: Adam and Rhea's visit next week is very exciting and I am totally pumped about it. I in no way regret that interuption) But this week I've finally been able to sit down and spend a few hours in my classroom. It's been pretty exciting actually. I'm starting to get a better idea of what the year is going to be looking like. I've started some hard core planning for ELA. I think it should run really well. I've got some ideas and a tonne of support from other teachers in regards to materials and ideas. My math resource binders came in today which makes it feel a little like Christmas. It was pretty cool to get those. Even though Math takes up the second most amount of time I'm going to dive into Social Studies next. That class will be a little trickier because it's a split with the 5/6's and 7/8's.
I've got to admit. It seem a little overwhelming at times but it also feels pretty freakin' awesome too. I'm gonna be a teacher. I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be. And that's pretty cool.
cheers

Family Rocks

For a first year teacher I'm certainly not doing much musing. It's not for lack of caring. Life is just really busy right now. Two weeks ago we went camping. Last week we packed up our house. On the weekend we moved. And this past week has been spent cleaning up the old place. Boy have we accumulated a lot of crap. I've taken three truck loads to the dump already and have one more for tomorrow. I think the biggest thing I've noticed these past two weeks is the awesomeness of family.

Here are 10 Awesome things our family did for us over the past two weeks.

1. We were able to borrow a tent trailer from my brother in law and my parents Toyota to pull said trailer for our camping trip.

2. Did not get beat up by black belt brother in law after I told him I broke his tent trailer.

3. My mom called around and found out someone at my uncle's shop would look at it.

4. Uncle's shop fixed trailer.

5. Mom and Mom-in-law helped with packing.

6. Uncle (different one) lent us his 24 foot trailer for the week.

7. My dad pulled the trailer around.

8. All the people (mostly family) who came and helped us move on Saturday.

9. My brother and sister in law who lent me their truck on numerous occasions this week.

10 My two awesome nephews who have spent 8-10 hours this week helping me move stuff to our house and haul junk to the dump.

This doesn't even include the great time we had with my cousin and his family at Hecla.

All in all it's been a pretty hectic two weeks. Maybe next week I'll actually have time to start getting ready for school!!

ugh

cheers