Crazy? Why Yes, I Think I Am

I am going to get my MEd (Masters of Education). I just got accepted into the program at Weber State. I will be starting in January. I am excited. But I am also wondering what I am getting myself into. I know it will be a good thing. I just have to remember I am doing what is best for me and for my teaching.

Contest!

My friend, Becky, is doing a contest for a free blog design. Click on the button to sign up.

Sarcasm

Sarcasm sometimes seems to be the center of my humor. I've tried really hard to not be too sarcastic this school year. . . the kids just don't get it. Well, today I slipped. My kids have a few things I check everyday to see if they have got them finished. I had a line of students trying to get me to check their work. I was looking at one of the student's work and the next one in line noticed I was looking at a page he hadn't done. "Oh, we were supposed to do that page?" He started to walk back to his desk when I said,"No, you aren't. I'm just looking at it just for the fun of it." "Oh, okay," he starts to get back in line. A few of my kids who have much older siblings are laughing. "Sorry! I forgot sarcasm doesn't work here. You really do have to do it."
3rd grade DOES NOT equal sarcasm. I just need to tell my dumb random stories and jokes and then I won't have very confused kids everyday.

Messy Desk

Anyone who has known me for any period of time, knows that I have a hard time keeping things clean. If you ever walk into my classroom you realize my desk is dumping ground. It isn't at its worst. I actually have a picture from last year when my desk was at its worst and it is BAD. Anyway, I was talking to one of our special ed teachers. We had to do the IOWA testing and she was doing my make-ups last week. One of my girls looked at her desk and said, "Wow! Your desk is so clean. My teacher's desk has stuff stacked up to here. (hand up showing where it is stacked to) You should go see it sometime." To which the special ed teacher responded, "I already have." Maybe it is time to clean that desk and get more organized.

Our State Fair is Great State Fair. . . Hard Day's Night

I entered three pictures at the fair. None of them got a ribbon, but I have been told that photography is the hardest thing to enter. When I picked up the pictures the lady looked at me and said, "I hope you enter next year. You really are a good photographer." I am so glad she said that because I was starting to doubt a little bit and wondering if this is really the hobby for me. I will just need to be better prepared next year, and have everything ready in time for the Weber County Fair. Then I will enter the State Fair. Here are my pictures:




I bought Beatle's Rockband. The End.

The Parable of the Pennies

This is a long time coming. . . but I hope you get it and understand what I am thinking. So, it starts from a bunch of conversations I have had with my bishop and my friends. My bishop's favorite thing to say to me is, "I don't have to worry about you. You are one of the ninety and nine." And for a while it really bugged me. Because, even though I am one of the ninety and nine I still have hard times and I still need to be worried about now and again. But, as I have thought about this concept and where I am. I don't think it is that bad anymore to be part of the ninety and nine. I started to think about how I could apply this to my calling, compassionate service leader, and I realized I could be the one to reach out to the ninety and nine when their lives are hard. Hopefully, this will give the leaders of the ward time to focus on "the one."
So, about 2 weeks ago I had a dream. In the dream I was in a car with another girl and a guy. The guy was driving and as he started to back out he almost ran into this other guy walking down the street with a jar of pennies. The jar wasn't completely full but there were a lot of pennies in it. The guy drops his jar and most of the pennies fall out. We then jump out of the car and help him gather up the pennies. While we are finishing up the penny guy looks at the jar and says, "There are some missing." The girl says, "Sometimes we may feel like the Lord has lost us." and I reply, "But, that is why we are here. To help find and get the pennies back."
I loved the fact that the guy could just look at the jar and see that some of the pennies weren't in there. Then he kept looking. The Lord really does know where we are no matter what we are doing. Whether we are in the jar buried by all the other pennies or out of the jar waiting to be noticed. He really knows each of us. Then I heard the song, "Ninety and Nine" by Michael McLean. And it all came full circle for me. I am happy to be numbered along with the ninety and nine. I am happy to be a penny in the jar. I hope you are too. The Lord really does love each of us for who we are.

3rd Grade Stories

First lets start with my transient class. At the beginning of the summer I had 26 kids in my class. Then I got my class list in August. I was down to 22. I added 3 and lost 1 all before back to school night (24 for those of you keeping track.) Then on back to school night I lost 2 (22.) Two days after school started I gained 1 (23.) I then had the one student who never showed up taken off my rolls (22.) Then this week one that left on back to school night came back (23.) Am I done with the changes. At least for a little while. We have 101 in our grade, and right now I think I am the lowest or tied for it. If there are any move ins or if my one who never showed up comes to the school, I will be at 24 again.
Notes: I was pretty good at catching 6th graders catch notes. I know that some of them still passed through the cracks. . . apparently my surprise party was all planned in notes. Imagine. . . sitting in my classroom. I am reading aloud to my class when I see a note pass from the back of the room to the front. I go to the student stick out my hand they hand it to me. What they don't realize, you crumple it up I really want to know what you didn't want me to read. You don't I still am curious but I don't have to read it. I have intercepted such gems as, "You should tell ___________ that you LOVE her." "Do you like me or my bruther?" (Spelling is exact.) "You stol it. You should give it back!" He, He, He.
Casanova, is the one who needs to tell one girl he loves her, while asking another girl if she likes him or his brother. I've been watching this boy flirt for 4 weeks now. Honestly, it is kind of funny. I don't want to ban flirting in my class, but for heaven's sake they are EIGHT! At least most of them are. They don't need to worry about boy and girl stuff. But, then I think about me at that age, and the boys I liked and I realize it goes with the territory. What is the most that can happen. . . they play with each other at recess, and I intercept notes. I'll have to keep you updated on this kid. You can't but help to like him. He is a cutie and there is a reason why all of the girls flock around him.
The question everyone keeps asking me, "How are you liking 3rd grade." It wasn't until about a week ago I said I liked it without the explanation of, "It is good. But totally different from 6th. My class is really cute. I'm not used to it yet." I am still not used to it, but the kids are REALLY CUTE. The best part. They listen to me and follow my directions when I tell them something. It isn't a fight to get it done. I still miss the 6th grade attitude. But, I'm enjoying what I am doing and my kids are so much fun.
Okay. I know this was longer than 24 hours. And I haven't finished the rest. But, I need to go to bed. I will finish all the non-school stuff later.