Daniel has started into his second year at USU-CEU, and to say the least is rather busy. He is taking Physics for Scientists and Engineers (I don't even want to think about all the hard stuff they are learning!) Calculus, Chemistry, and Intro to Film, with two different labs added on to that! He is still doing his best to keep working - I worry because there are some nights where he goes without any sleep, or only 3 or 4 hours at most. I've started dreaming of the day that we can function somewhat normally - meaning having schedules that allow us to see each other at night, cook/eat dinner together, and wake up at a normal time together. However, as it has been for the last 2.5 years (only seeing each other on weekends if we are lucky), it seems it is going to continue for many more at the rate we are going...
For me school has started - and I am loving teaching. There are a lot of stressors and things to remember for a first year teacher. It is a challenge to keep up with it all, but on the days when I get to have fun with my students, see them succeed, or even enjoy a sepcific lesson that was hard to grasp or teach - makes it worth all the work! I started out with 25 students, had one transfer to Cleveland Elem. and one move to St. George on Friday - so I am now down to 23, which is a good number. My kids are good listeners and work hard when asked. They are awesome. My emphasis is in Lang. Arts, but I have found that my love is more centered with the Arts. I knew that already, but I am intergrating them into all the other subjects that I teach. Just today, because the kids couldn't remember how to count by 3's, we learned a song that helps us count up to 33. I have also been teaching the kids music in the afternoon, we rotate with the other two 4th grade teachers, so I have been teaching ALL of the 4th graders music. We are currently learning about beat and rhythm - and have been doing different activities with those. Last week we played "Who Wants To Be A Musician?" and today we found the beat in music and illustrated it by using body percussion. What excites me most is that my kids are learning and remembering things :)
Below are a few pics I've had for a while, that I am just putting up. Enjoy! Hope all is going well with everyone else and the busy world that we live in. I have found that I can't get too busy to not notice and appreciate the little things such as: hugs from a student, giving encouragement to a student who needs it, Daniel straightening up the house when he has a few minutes between classes, my mom and dad inviting me over for dinner when I don't have time to cook during the week, all these little things make life easier, more enjoyable, and remind us of the blessings we have and the things that need to be important in our lives.
My Reading Corner, Classroom Library with books sorted by genre. Love the containers that I found at Dollar Tree.
My awesome hall passes that Daniel cut for me, I sanded, and he offered to wood burn for me. The kids love them, and so do I! If you can't tell I sort of went with an "outdoor" theme - Daniel also built me a stool out of wood. :)
This is the "Welcome" bulliten board I made and put up - It is a Twister board game, turned out cute, each circle had one of my students names on it.
A saying that I have heard about teachers is very true, everyone knows that teachers are not paid enough for the job that they do. Money is not everything - it is the students and their achievements, or the unconditional love that I have for them, and they for me, that makes it worth it!
