The 1st Day of 8th Grade

Today was Madison's first day of 8th grade.

 

She wore an outfit she chose herself.  Dress (Hollister on clearance... she begged for it and it ended up being less than $12) and sweater and flip flops (Old Navy).

 

She wasn't too amused by the chalkboard sign I made her stand by... but I sure did love it.

 

She came home all smiles...had a great day... but was starving and promptly ate a grilled cheese, banana, and carrots and dip. 

 

Now she is at cheerleading practice.

 

I cannot believe next year she will be going to high school.

 

 

We have an 8th Grader!!

This school year has FLOWN by... I am not sure why this year seemed faster than the others... maybe it was because it was the first year since Madison has been in school that I haven't been teaching.  We celebrated her last day (Monday June 18, 2012) by letting her pick a place for dinner.  She chose Outback Steakhouse.  Afterwards we went to Target and she chose some new shorts, a few items from the $1 section, and a new book she had been wanting to read.

Here she is --- the first day of 7th grade is on the left and the last day of 7th grade is on the right.

An Amazing New School

Before our big move to Rhode Island this summer I was a teacher.  I was an overwhelmed, tired, and burnt out teacher.  I was so excited to move so I could stop teaching. 

This morning I went in and volunteered in Madison's 7th grade English class for two hours.  I found myself eating the words I recently muttered of "I WILL NEVER TEACH AGAIN". 

I loved the classroom.  I loved the atmosphere.  I loved sitting down in the library and conferencing one on one with several students about books they had recently read.  I loved being in the classroom and while the teacher was working with one table I noticed another table of three boys who seemed distracted.  I sat down with them and got them motivated to work.  We started their assignment together.  I gave each one of them individual attention.  I started to remember why I went into teaching.  I started to remember what my job had been like before it made me cold and angry and bitter. 

The middle school here in Rhode Island is like night and day from the one I worked at in Virginia.  I am so thankful that my Madison has been given the opportunity to go to this amazing school.

Guess what? I am going back next Friday to volunteer again.  I am also seriously considering taking a part-time or temporary teaching position for this great school system.

No First Day of School for Me

The 2002-2003 school year was my first year as a classroom teacher.  I taught 6th grade English in an urban school and it was one tough year.  I came home many days with a horrible headache and just cried.

The 2010-2011 school year was hopefully my last year as a classroom teacher.  Today is the first day since 2002 where I haven't had a first day of school.

Let me just say it feels great.

I was run down and burnt out.  I left most days right at 3.... right when the kids left.  I didn't do any work at home.  I had lost my passion for teaching.   I had given all I had to give to the school I was at and I was just done.  I was done way before I resigned... which is terrible...and it is not something I am proud of.  

Working at my school had moved far from being children based.   I was sick of teaching to the test.  I was sick of not being backed up with behavior issues.  I was sick of a lack of parental support.  I was sick of rudeness from both students and parents.  I was sick of having kids sit in my class who I couldn't get to pass a test... no matter how hard I once tried.  Because really... if that child is reading on  3rd grade reading level... they probably aren't going to pass my 6th grade test.  I was sick of the dog and pony show when we had a bunch of kids who couldn't read and write... and an administration who didn't care about children... she just wanted things to look great and the kids to pass a test.  Who cares if you don't really have relationships with your students?  Can they pass the test? 

I got burnt out because I missed what teaching once was to me.  I missed designing fun and meaningful lessons.  I missed a time when everything did not have to be multiple choice.  I missed my relationships with my students and their families. 

Maybe one day I will return to teaching... hopefully in a school system that values students, families, and teachers. 

I Have a 7th Grader

This morning we were all up at 6 am.  I don't think Maddie and I have been up that early all summer.

{She has a quilt that matches...but insists on sleeping with this old Waverly comforter I used on my bed in college}

She got dressed in the new outfit she selected last night.

I made her a hot breakfast - scrambled eggs and a toasted bagel with veggie cream cheese.  My poor husband lucked out too and I made him an egg and cheese bagel sandwich to take to work.  I never get up and make him breakfast.

Then I made her pose for a photo with her dad.

Then I did her hair in a high pony tail like she asked.

Then I made her pose for photos in the yard.

Then I insisted I walk her to the bus stop.  Yes... you can see the bus stop from our front door.  However after reading the Jaycee Dugard book this summer... she is never walking to the bus stop alone.  Ever.  Never.  Ever. Ever.  I was happy when two twin boys arrived at the bus stop with their mom...and her huge camera.

She kept telling me to hide in a bush, to go back home, she was fine, etc...  I stood there until the bus came, she got on it, and the bus driver looked at me like I was nutso because I was still standing there after he waved and told me to have a nice day.

Then I came home and felt sick.  What if she didn't make it to school?  I had told her to text me when the bus pulled into school.  She didn't.  My husband tried to tell me she had no intention on ever doing it. 

So then I climbed into bed and watched Sunday's episode of True Blood...which by the way I am not sure if I am loving this season.

Then I played some Words with Friends.

Then I made myself a bagel... 1/2 with a slice of melted cheese and 1/2 with chunky peanut butter.  The cheese 1/2 was better.

I drank a diet wild cherry Pepsi.

I applied for a tutoring job on the Internet.

Here it is 10:35.... bored outta my mind.

But I have a house to finish unpacking because my parents will be here tomorrow for their first visit to Rhode Island.

I am hoping like crazy she loved it, she had a great day, and she met tons of awesome people.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

It's been a few days since I have blogged and ever longer since I've linked up to one of my favorite linky parties...so today I am linking up over at This Kind of Love for What I'm Loving Wednesday.

1. I am loving that my Madison didn't start school today (because of Hurricane Irene) so we get an extra day at home together.  Tomorrow...she starts 7th grade.  Wow.  I am kinda bummed... I thought since I wasn't working I would get to take her to school on her first day (I never have before because I was always teaching and had to be at my school)...but she wants to ride the bus.

2. I am loving that I let her choose tomorrow night's dinner and she chose Subway and a jello cake.  I will be making the cake tonight. 

{Source}

3. I am loving that I am not teaching this fall.  It really was killing me.  I am missing my super fun co-workers and daily adult interaction.

4. I am loving my new house and our little town.  I'm loving my mom's awesome family who is about a 90 minute drive away who let us come hang out for the day when we didn't have power because of Hurricane Irene.  We had good food, good conversation, and I even got to use one of those neat front loading washers to get caught up on my laundry. We will be going back there this weekend for a family cookout for the Labor Day holiday and I am going to be making some of my fabulous baked goodies to share.

5. I am loving today... because it has been a good day so far... and the good days have been few and far between this month.  August has been a SUCKY SUCKY month...and I am hoping like cray September is amazing for our family.



What a Day...

Today was my last teaching.  I hope its a forever sort of thing.  I have no desire to ever go back to full time teaching.  I finished packing up my room and headed out.  I didn't feel sad at all.  I have known for awhile I was ready to leave...that I needed to leave teaching.  I actually felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  I had to go downtown to turn in my badge, do an exit interview, and to turn in my resignation form.

Then I took Madison to the book store for two new books and then lunch at Moes (which is her favorite).

Then we headed over to Target.  We are visiting my parents' this weekend and I wanted to bake some yummy Father's Day treats for my dad.  I plan on making my Peanut Butter Blondies as well as Snickerdoodles (his favorite).   The one by Moes has a grocery section...so I figured it would be more fun than a trip to the grocery store.  I told Madison since we were going out of town she needed to choose something for dinner.  She chose Bagel Bites and I chose this yummy looking salad that has dried cherries, goat cheese, grilled chicken, and walnuts...which was only $4.  I cannot wait to try it.

When I got home I remember that my friend, Dennis, from work had given me a card before I left.  This was my first year with Dennis on my 6th grade cluster even though he has worked at the school longer than me.  I had a fabulous cluster this year and we all got along great and were always joking around and laughing...trying to keep our sanity.  Well you know when I said earlier I wasn't sad AT ALL today...well when I read the card from Dennis and saw the generous gift card inside...I cried simpy because it was heartwarming to read the kind words he had to say to me.

I am anxious to see what the future brings for my family and I.

1 Reason Why I Won't Miss Teaching

A few weeks ago one of my students pointed out there was something written about me on the back wall by the pencil sharpener.  I snapped a photo of it...and then put a poster over it.

Well today as I was packing up my classroom I had to remove the poster.  So I grabbed my phone and took a photo of the kind words written about me...  I think I am a little more pissed that one of them called me Miss instead or Mrs. and misspelled my last name...sigh...

Just Another Day as a Middle School Teacher -

Today at work...

• When I asked a kid to spit out his gum for the second time he yelled out I was a racist.  I have taught for nine years in an urban school setting.  I don't pretend to be a prefect teacher.  I am however...NOT a racist.  I am still not sure if I am more mad or more sad.  I hate when some of the kids are disciplined they claim its racism.

• Another girl had on an inappropriate dress.  We have a dress code.  I let the security guard know.  She was told to 'pull it down'.  Why do we have a dress code? I mean it was super short and she should not have had it on.  The kids are usually given something else to wear.  Then the three times she passed me later in the call she kept calling me a snitch.

• Another teacher on my team called me to let me know that the same student with the dress code violation blurted out in class "If I was going to smoke, I would smoke weed because it smells better".  How do you know what weed smells like in sixth grade?

• Then my daughter, who attends my school wasn't feeling well and we had to leave work early...which really was a huge blessing.  I got to come home and take a much needed nap.

I have 7 full days, 4 half days, and 1 teacher work day left....

A Friday Funny

 I had to laugh this afternoon when my co-worker, a male in his forties, came over to show me a note a student handed him in class.  He was blushing... I don't think he was expecting this note when he opened it up {I used a blue marker to cover the names}-

My Thursday via Blackberry Photos

After a very rough 90 minute class with my 5th bell I treated myself to to this yummy snack on my break.  A slice of the yummy homemade peanut butter banana bread I made last night.  I let Madison be in charge of the bananas.  Once I put the loaf in the oven and looked over where we keep the bananas, I realized she used 3 new organic (the store was out of the regular ones) bananas.  The 3 brown bananas I had intended for the bread were still on the counter.  By the way... I love Cherry Coke Zero.

I came home to find my new magazine subscription had arrived of Food Network Magazine.  I love cooking and baking and I love magazines...so I added this to my cart the last time I was ordering from Amazon.  I cannot wait to read it.

This morning I put this carnitas recipe into the crock pot.  I love this recipe because it requires just a few ingredients, cooks all day while I am at work, and my entire family enjoys it.  We use the filling to make soft tacos with all of the fixings with a side of Spanish rice.  My husband may or may not have had 5 soft tacos for dinner tonight...it was that good.  You should also make it because it is a recipe from Kelle Hampton - who is an amazing woman with a pretty fabulous blog.  If you have never read her blog, you must grab some tissues for some happy tears and start with this post .

A Day in the Life of a Middle School Teacher

I teach middle school.

This is my ninth and final year of teaching.

I am worn out. I am frustrated. It has nothing to do with the kids. I am ready for a change.

With that said,  today was a pretty good day. I had a fabulous descriptive writing lesson planned and my three classes today LOVED it. I gave the kids cheese balls and they filled out a 5 senses chart describing their cheese balls. Then they turned it into a descriptive paragraph. I think they were just happy to have the tiny snack. They all love any activity involving food. We had these cheese balls left over from a family gift exchange over Christmas and I thought they would be perfect for this activity.

{Here is a student participating in the activity}

Something funny happened at work today. One being I intercepted this note being passed from one student to another.

This was on the back -

A Terrific Tuesday

1. Two Hour Delay

They were calling for snow.  It never snowed.  We still ended up with a two hour delay.  I didn't have to be at work until 9:40am.

2. Library/Computer Lab Day

Then once I got there I immediately took my kids to lunch.  Then I only had two classes today.  The first one was in the library  The second one was in the computer lab. It was a pretty easy day.

3. Sonic Happy Hour

I stopped on the way home at Sonic Happy Hour.  I had a large diet cherry Coke.  My favorite.

 

4. A Yummy Dinner

I made these yummy Turkey Meatball Marinara Paninis.   Turkey meatballs, spaghetti sauce, white American cheese, on bakery bread.  Easy and fabulous.