Friday Photo

**For some reason this didn't post on Friday like it was supposed to. Just found it in my drafts. Boooo. So pretend it's Friday for a minute.**

This could be my favorite picture from this week. Which technically isn't saying much since I didn't take very many... but still.

This is from the journal of one of my kids. :)

First day and she writes about me. She did yesterday too. This girl should be my kid. She's so girly and ALSO wrote "I love me" in her journal yesterday. I mean seriously, when your kids love you this much how can you NOT love your job?

Ready for day three today. REALLY ready for some sleeping in tomorrow. And some lesson planning, because I'll let you know something: there is ALWAYS more for a teacher to do.

Happy Friday! And have a great weekend! I don't see myself being around much. :)

**Also, happy 19th to all my fellow DT junkies!**

First

I meant to post today. I did. But I kinda got caught up getting ready for school.

And now you don't get an interesting post because my head has been threatening to explode since I got home. Seriously, worst headache in recent memory. I think it's a combo of allergies, tiredness, and possibly not eating enough.

But school was good. So there's that. The kids were EXHAUSTED by the end of the day. It was kinda funny to watch them slowly wind down like toys losing their battery power. It's crazy how much my second graders (who were my first graders last year, I teach a combo) grew! They came in and my jaw dropped a couple times! Where did my babies go?

Two more days to wear them (and myself!) out then we get a weekend. I can handle that. :)

Monday Manicure

It's still technically Monday! And I just finished my manicure. So here's this week's...

I'm hoping to keep up the weekly manicures. Because they're fun. And who doesn't like having fun nails?? Obviously (well, obvious to me) I went for the school theme. Note how the ring finger looks like notebook paper. I love. The color is actually a little off. It's true notebook paper colors. And the other nails are actually more of a coral than pink.

Someday I will share my amazing nail polish that's only two bucks a bottle. But that post would be a lot more work so it'll have to wait...

Wow

Last day of school already.

Here's hoping my kiddos don't make me cry.

Let's Stir Up the Pot

Okay, actually it won't be a mess of pot stirring. But I had to throw in my two cents with this article I saw on Sunday morning.

California lawmakers (a.k.a. professional time-wasters) want to make some changes to textbooks used in public schools. Specifically, they want to "require state schools to teach about the contributions of gay, lesbian and transgender Americans."

Now I've spoken out before about my "stance" (I guess you would call it that) on homosexuality. But this just seems unnecessary. For plenty of reasons.

One, you know taxpayers are footing the bill for these "improved" textbooks if they happen. And that's fair to the people who are raised with completely opposite beliefs because... oh wait. It's not. A person with passionate beliefs against anything at all should NOT be forced to help fund the teaching of those beliefs to children. There's a reason you can't get a Christian education in public schools.

Two, this is just a waste of time and resources at the moment. California is in a stupid amount of budget trouble. A STUPID amount. Why don't we spend our time fixing something like that? Maybe teaching our lawmakers basic math? What you don't have you can't spend? I would much rather see that fixed than have more trouble stirred up for my fellow educators. Because let me just tell you that my friends in the public school systems have some serious STUFF to deal with already. If these "improved" texts happen, parents will blame principals and teachers because that's just how it happens.

Three, why does it even need to happen? Lawmakers are saying that it will help with the bullying problem we've seen as of late. That it will give teenagers with that lifestyle/identity positive role models. I call malarkey. Kids are punks. Reading that a particular politician/inventor/scientist is homosexual will not change that. At least half of these kids are too shallow to care. And the role model thing? Well... isn't that where families are supposed to help out? Maybe I'm outdated, but my parents and other grown family members WERE my role models. Or they at least provided me with positive ones. I'm aware that we have some less than stellar parenting skills out there today. But as a teacher right now, I can honestly tell you we have so much else we're required to do during the day that we should NOT have to list "positive influences" for your child because you can't do it. It's called being a parent, don't procreate if you can't follow through.

I'm extremely fortunate to be teaching at a private school. Blessed beyond words. I am thankful on a daily basis and more so when I come across articles about the state butting in with public schools. At this point, I would happily take the pay cut that comes with a private school for the foreseeable future (and YES, private school teachers tend to make far LESS money despite rumors and misconceptions) in order to avoid the state forcing other peoples' ideas on me and my class.

So, now that I've had my piece, what say you? Especially my friends with school-age children. Has California over-stepped their boundaries? Have they BEEN over-stepping? Gimme your two cents.

Friday Non Photo

Yeah, you get one more day of me not trying. I really will try to be back to normal next week. Or at least close to normal.

So you wanna hear how the first day went?

I was tired. I was tired enough that all I wanted to do was come home and take a nap. The kids were tired by the end of the day. I don't remember being that tired as a kid. I think my parents were pretty good about having me trained for early bedtimes again before school started. I don't think all of mine were ready.

I thought I had enough prepared. I'm not so sure. I felt like the end of the day was dragging a little. So this weekend will be spent OVER preparing for next week. And no matter how hard I hoped, I DON'T have a classroom full of Tads. :)

I took pictures of my room. Let's hope I get the time to pull them off my camera this weekend. For now, happy Friday. I'll be celebrating the weekend with the meteor shower and a bottle of champagne in my driveway.

Yeah, be jealous.

Oh Boy...

Today is my little man's last day of Kindergarten. His LAST DAY. Next year he'll be a first grader. My baby. In first grade.

Remember what he looked like in August? On his first day? Go ahead and go take a look. I'll wait.

Didn't he look so young? I can't believe how much he's grown. I just took this picture Monday to put on a gift for his teacher.

He looks like a MAN!!! I'm really bothered by this. When did my baby grow up? He's also gotten taller. I think he may be in the middle of a spurt right now. *sigh*

His teacher loves him by the way. She told me she's going to miss him. And his little smirk. I'm telling you, I don't think anyone who meets the kid could NOT like him. He's amazing.

So I'm off to watch my baby finish Kindergarten today. I'll of course take lots of pictures and some video. And I'll try not to cry.

Little Man

Yup, pictures of the first day of school. You know you've been waiting.

Brand new pimpin' Hurley shirt and Etnies. How cute is he???

And showing off the Transformers backpack (and lunchbox!) that grandma Jocelyn bought for him.

I had to take a quick self-portrait with him. He was pretty excited to go to school.

His school mascot is a lion, so we had to pose with the statue at school.

And here he is waiting to go in. He was so much smaller than a lot of the kids in his class. Michael (his soon-to-be step dad) and I were talking about it. He may have been small, but he was easily the cutest.

The kids shook hands with the teacher before putting their backpacks down. Hench the delay in his handshake. He was already taking off his backpack.

And getting his name tag for the first day! He was pretty excited about that too.

You can barely see him behind the little girl's backpack, but here he is leaving class. He came out with a smile, that's always good!

And with mommy (who will probably kill me if she sees that I posted this picture).

I haven't talked to him since Monday, so I don't know how the rest of his week has gone. I'm hoping to talk to him or even see him this weekend. Tuesday they got a visit from a fire truck, so I'm guessing he'll have lots to tell me.

Happy Friday friends! Hope everyone's week (whether it was at school or not) was great!

Maybe...

... just maybe the universe doesn't hate me.

I finally got an email confirming...

THAT I AM A CREDENTIALED TEACHER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

It's not quite as exciting as I was imagining, I don't even get a paper copy, just a link to my online copy (printable). But I'm officially done. No more waiting on the state to give me everything I need for my job.

No celebrations or anything, it's not quite the same as a graduation, therefore I don't think a party is justified. Maybe if I'm lucky hubby will get me flowers though.

FINALLY!

I got an email last night saying that my credential request was submitted and I can finally pay for it.

I'M FINALLY GOING TO GET MY STINKING CREDENTIAL!!!

Only... *checks calendar* two weeks after they told us we were going to get it. Whatever, I can finally work! Which means I may actually be able to get something good for hubby's birthday! And I might actually be able to buy a cute spring dress or two!

Maybe I should get hired first...

Break

I know, I owe you guys a Friday photo, but I don't know what I want to take a picture of. I could take a picture of my teaching bag, but even that would require work that I'm not sure I want to put into this right now.

Can you tell I'm a little lazy right now?

Actually, it's not laziness. My brain hurts. I'm studying for my RICA tomorrow (Reading Instruction Competence Assessment). I have to pass it to get my credential. No pressure or anything... It's my own fault I waited to take it.

Anywho, just wanted to take a break to say that I just love everyone in my life right now. I went to mom's yesterday and was unloading everything that I have to do before we go to Disneyland (this test, another one, a rationale, pick up paperwork for the district, schedule a fingerprint test) and she just went on about how she knows I can do it. That's always nice to hear. Tim's been telling me the same thing about this test. My friend Lauren has been telling me she knows I'll pass. And now my friend Lucy (who's also taking it tomorrow) is telling me she's positive I can do it.

I just love my friends and family. It's nice to know that they all believe in me. And they aren't afraid to say so.

So forgive me if I don't get a photo up today. Studying is getting top priority.

That, and Plant Tycoon. It's such a low-maintenance game that I can play it while I study. Gotta have some fun...

I did

I cried.

Only for about a minute. Probably less. And it wasn't ugly crying, just some tears. I tried not to, I swear.

My master teacher had planned this whole thing all week without me knowing. The kids brought treats and we had a party this afternoon. And as the kids are sitting there asking me a million questions, my master teacher comes in with this bag that one of the kids brings up to me. She made me a book bag with little apples on it, and the kids each signed an apple. So I take one look at it and started crying. The kids had FILLED it with stuff that I can use as a teacher: paper, folders, note cards, pens, highlighters... it's overflowing. And I just couldn't take it.

So I had a great day. I feel super loved. Got hugs as they left. And reassured them that I will be back in two weeks to go on their field trip with them.

I love those kids. And my teacher. And that school. If I could stay I so would. But I do have to get a real job.

Today just made me feel awesome.

Yuck

There's something going around right now. My cousins have all been sick over the last week. The school nurse has had three kids come in with a temp over 100 this week (that's three kids in two days). Everyone's catching this crap.

I feel like poo, but can I stay home? Nope. TPA today (wish me luck on that), class tonight (blah), and I'd like to be able to suck it up enough for Thursday. Sometime before Friday I have to churn out a couple lesson plans and three rationales.

At least I can look forward to next week. We have the whole week off! I can sleep. Or whatever else I feel like doing. Yay! I am so looking forward to it. Anyone want to come join me for a day of movies or something?

Attention Please

*ahem* I only have ten days of student teaching left. The week after I'm done I submit my big test that we've been working on.

Then I go to Disneyland.

I can't believe I'm almost done. This is so weird to me. It feels like I've been in school forever! Now I have to have a job. I'm not going to be a student anymore!

So bizarre to me. Just had to share that with y'all.

Today

Today wasn't too bad. Pretty decent actually. I got a donut this morning. Donuts make me happy. And we watched It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown at lunch. Because as a reward for our winning groups last week they got to eat lunch in the classroom and watch a movie. I got my mid-term evaluation. Top marks all the way across. The principal even happened to stop by during the evaluation and basically told my mentor I rock.

Then I come home and Tim has been watching SciFi all day. What was on? The Leprechaun movies. Top quality stuff. I had to laugh at that. I couldn't even attempt to sit through all of them. Especially some of the more recent ones. Apparently the Leprechaun went to space for a movie??? Wow... I can't even string together a sentence that appropriately describes my feelings on that.

So that was my day. I'm still pretty tired, but at least I feel like my brain is working again.

Yay!

So it was a good day. I blogged about what I was worried about earlier this week. So I was stressed last night and this morning. But it was a great day.

I looked nice for picture day. Which is always good.

But the highlight... I'm all but guaranteed a job in Fresno Unified when I graduate now. And we're talking as soon as I graduate. I met our area assistant supernintendo. Seemed nice enough. I talked to him a bit while I was out getting the kids this morning. Then he happened to visit our classroom while I was up doing a lesson. It wasn't anything fancy. I was just reviewing our reading for the week and explaining the kids' worksheet to them. But he liked what he saw. So did the principal and vice principal. Yay!

So before he left he got my number and email from Lori (my master teacher) and said he wants updates on how I'm doing and when I pass other tests. Lori filled me in and said, "So welcome to Fresno Unified."

EEEEE!!!

So...

I have to look all "teacherly" tomorrow. The area super nintendo (hello Simpsons reference) will be at my student teaching school. And I've been told that if I make a good impression I can pretty much be handed a job when I graduate.

Score.

So now I have to find my most capable looking outfit. Hmmm... that's tough. I need one outfit that's more grown up than all the others. This is some serious pressure here! Not to mention the fact that it's picture day and I think I'm part of the class picture. So double pressure!

*sigh* Wish me luck with the super nintendo thing. I definitely want a job ASAP when I graduate. At least, I think I do. I may just sub for a semester. We'll see. More on that plan another day though... so for now just wish me luck!

Hmmm

If you know me, you know I love ballroom dancing. And if you didn't know that, then now you do.

I totally want to teach dance to my students right now. Not just because I love dance, but also to gross them out by making them *gasp* dance with a member of the opposite sex.

Does that make me evil?

A little something from class

So everyone knows I started school this week. I have sixth grade. I love them. My master teacher has all these awesome projects and stuff planned for them already. So one of the assignments they have been working on throughout the week is their "Autobiopoem." It's exactly what it sounds like. So here's one about me. I left out the last line (my last name) because who knows about some of you weirdos reading this...

Ashley

Procrastinator, overthinker, creative, and sarcastic

Wife of Tim, daughter of the best parents in the world

Lover of baking, decorating, quiet mornings, and the rain

Who feels children should have fun, gas should be cheaper, and teens should be reigned in

Who needs a good massage, some time for herself, and money for groceries

Who fears the loss of loved ones, failure, and being alone at night

Who gives a shoulder to friends, love to family, and time to her students

Who would like to see Spain, a tornado, and many more movies

Resident of sunny California

So that's just some of what my kids have been doing. I liked it so I thought I'd do my own here. Feeling brave or poetic? Do your own. The format is there. Name, traits, relative, loves, feelings, needs, fears, what you give, what you want to see, residence... and last name if you trust the crazy interwebz (knot term).

First Day of School

... I'm tired. And my feet hurt. I totally wore the wrong shoes today.

But it was still a good day. I love my master teacher. She's awesome. So cute, so nice, and I already got a ton of ideas from her for my classroom one day. We only have 29 students (for now) but when you're used to 33 or 34 (hello last two semesters) it feels small.

I have sixth grade. I don't remember being that small in sixth grade. Some of them look just like the fourth graders I had last year. They're... little. My sixth graders from after school program a few years ago seemed older. I don't mind it. At least I don't have any towering over me.

Funniest moment of the day: the teacher let the kids ask about what they were going to be doing during the year. One girl busted out with this deadly serious tone and expression, "Are we watching that sex video this year?" The two boys next to her turned bright red when they tried to not to die laughing. What sixth grader feels comfortable asking about the "sex video."