Funny Teacher Story

Ok, I admit it, I'm in waaaay over my head. Teaching summer school for the district, taking a doc class (with a 20 pg. paper due in a couple of weeks), and teaching a college class. Not only that, grading papers, answering emails.....yeah.

This morning, I'm in line at the water fountain with my class (K-1st grade). I always count when kids are getting a drink or they tend to stay there for 20 minutes while the people in line behind them wither away. So, I'm counting backwards from ten. And this kid says, "You're counting backwards!" I said, "Yep, and it's your turn, do you want me to count forwards or backwards?" He says "I want you to count in Spanish!"

Ents

Apparently, we teach Ents at my school.

I am Alive!

Hi all! Or should I say the two of you that are still here!
This has been one crazy semester! I had my last class this evening. It was my hardest class yet, but I learned a lot! We had to design and implement a research project. It was fun! I did mine on sign language vs. PowerPoint on the effect of learning sight words. As it turns out, neither worked better than the other. I wanted sign language to win! Oh well. I didn't have a lot of time, I think one intervention would have proven more effective had I done it longer.
My last class for this semester is tomorrow night. I'm ready for the break before summer classes start.

Three more weeks of school. June will be rough...I'm teaching ESY, taking a class, and teaching a class. But July....going to see my sister and her family and my dad.

Hope you all are well.

Another Teacher Story

Sorry I've been MIA lately. I am stressed this semester. The classes I have are really challenging. The sun hasn't been out much, and blah, blah, blah.
Anyway, today I was working with my third graders and one of them said, "How much more time until lunch?" I said, "I think you can tell time by now, you tell me." She said, "I know, but it's hard and takes effort." I said, "Welcome to the rest of your life."

Teacher Story

I had my Kindergarten group in with me today, and one of them pointed up to a sign hanging from the ceiling and said "What's that?" I said, "It's a sign, it says Happy Valentine's Day." Another kid says "And the baby shoots the arrow." ha!

Stuff

Wow. I just can't keep it all up! I guess I'm just going to have to post once a week and make it a good one! I started classes again last week. This semester I am taking Small-N Design and Language and Literacy Development.
I *finally* finished the quilt to hang in the doorway of my classroom. It's been a hit. My first self-designed quilt. The flowers could have used some leaves, but it didn't happen.
I thought this was a cute self-portrait of one of my students. The blue line around his ear is his cochlear implant! :)
Here are some things I bought at the quilt show a couple of weeks ago. These fat quarters will be used for my Dear Jane quilt. Which should be finished in approximately 2030.
This was a cool pattern that looks kinda like circles, but it's not. It came with the triangle ruler to help out.
The pictures are from my camera, so the color's not so good, but these fabrics will make a cute bag to hold groceries or stuff. I have lots of stuff.
Random beads/sequins. I may do a crazy quilt someday....any advice?
This will be something new. It is a felted wool penny pincushion. (Not the bear, he's just there to look cute)

Funny Kid Story

We gave out surveys to all the teachers, parents, and students at our school. One little boy in the third grade class I go into had a novel idea. In response to the question "What would you change about our school if you could?" he said "I would change all the people into dinosaurs."

Catching Up

Hi! Yep, still alive. A dear friend called last night and in the course of the conversation apologized for not calling much, but said that she reads my blog to keep up with us. Oops! I've been so delinquent here she's way behind, and so are you! One of the problems (excuses?) is that I love to put pictures. Well, with the moving and the wayward child moving back in, classes, new job, yada, yada, I just haven't been as diligent. This will be a catch up post, nice and random, just like you like 'em!

Here is some delicious new fabric I got to make a quilt for a Christmas present. At the rate I'm going, it will be for *next* Christmas.

Yesterday, we decorated pumpkins at school. We used pipe cleaners, yarn, sequins, fabric, googly eyes, markers, and hot glue. Ouch. I think they turned out really cute.

We did our dress up/fall parties last week. Michael Jackson showed up.

A friend of mine gave me this series of books a looong time ago. I finally dug one out a couple of weeks ago and devoured it. If you like quilting, you might like these books. Harmless, easy-to-read. Thanks, Sherilyn!

My son is taking art this year. He recently completed a drawing of the Kool-Aid guy. The bottom is the original, the top is his version. Nice job!

Hubby showing his dark side.

I found a pretty mushroom in one of my plants.

We found a snake in the yard.

Earlier this summer hubs taught me how to put up a fan. Boy, were my arms tired, but it's always fun learning something new. Thanks, honey!

I also have been teaching one of my classes. I love it. By the end of this semester I'll have 21 hours. Only 500 more to go. Kidding, but it feels like it.

We've also used our fireplace. It's so much fun, I love it!

My job is getting better. Don't think I'm cut out for it, I like the babies with more severe disabilities, but I do love my hearing impaired kiddos.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!!

Joke in the Bus Line

The running/current joke with the kids in my bus line is:

Kid: Why were you under there?
Me: Under where?
Kid: You said Underwear!!

Elementary school humor. Gotta love it.

Funny Sign

There's a sign at a local liquor store....100% alcohol, no gas.
I think it's so funny and clever. I smile every time I drive by. I keep meaning to take a picture, but I never do, so the words will have to suffice.

I did, however take some pictures of my kids at school today with my phone. Can't put them on here, but they looked so cute! I have these plastic Harry Potter 'glasses' that we read with. I call them our reading classes, they help us read better. One kid was having trouble today, and he said "I think I need to wear the glasses!"

Good Idea!

I was in one of my Kindergarten room yesterday and the teacher was giving the procedure for the stamping center. She has large washable stamp pads, paper with words printed on it, and alphabet stamps. She was explaining that you need to find the correct letter to match each word, dab it in the stamp pad, and stamp it onto the paper to spell each word. This little kid yells "Yeah! And don't lick it!"

Labor Day Weekend

It's been a great long weekend. We had some new friends over for dinner on Friday night, some of Hubby's friends from high school Saturday and Sunday, and slept in today! I've been working on a quilt for my classroom doorway. There is a doorway but no door, and people put curtains up. Well my dumb self decides to make a quilt instead of just buying some curtains, so I still have nothing up there. Between all the food and brownies and cake I think I gained back the two pounds I lost during the week.
I've also been working diligently on homework, and have more to do this evening.
I'm glad my sister has joined us in the computer age because I get to see pictures of my nephews more frequently!

Funny Teacher Story

We were making paper stars at school the other day. A 'getting to know you' activity since I am new at the school. I had them write their names in the middle, and on each point of the star, a different fact about themselves: favorite color, brothers and sisters, favorite food, what they wanted to be when they grow up, and if they had any pets. So, this one boy gets to the What do you want to be when you grow up? question and says he doesn't know. I said, well, just think about it, I know you can come up with something. So he finally says: "I know!! I want to grow up and be married to a woman and not be gay like my uncle."
Um...
This is one of those moments when you pray your face will remain motionless. He finally decided he'll work in a fish store.

On another note, I am taking three classes this semester. I am pretty excited about it, too! It may kill me, but at least I'll go happily! Ha.

Before and After

This is my son's room before. You can't tell, but it's sponge painted a light pink.
We made a black stripe around the top and the rest is blue. Add a black fan, and it's perfect. his room actually turned out the best. His sheets are the same blue and his comforter is black, so he's all coordinating now. He likes it.Here's the kitchen/dining room area, it was all white.

We used a dark tan color in the kitchen, which we also used in the entry way. The living room is a linen color now, you can't tell in the picture.

This is the main bath. It was already this color and we liked it so we left it!

We have all the furniture in now, so of course it all looks different, but we also still have lots of boxes and no pictures hung, so those will have to wait.

I also got bit by one of my students today. Wowza.

House

We're off to close on our new to us house!! Then I'm off to check out at school and then back to the house to paint. A especially doesn't want a pink room. He chose a fade of black to blue, I'm doing the guest/craft room a light Mocha color and the living room will be Linen. We also get to get a new refrigerator and dishwasher.

Woeful Wednesday

I've been packing. And packing. I am reminded why it is so lovely to have the Navy move you. They would have this time except we are "breaking our lease," even though they told us we could move out whenever. Who knows. (I'm sure all you other military wives are just shaking your heads...I know.)
I am also packing up my classroom. It is always a sad thing, but again, we're usually moving because of the Navy, and this time it's by choice. A choice that is logical and best, but difficult nonetheless. I haven't told many of my co-workers or kids, but the word is getting around. I've been at this school in this classroom for three years, so it's been a lot of weeding out what's mine and what belongs to the school. Each book, folder, or game brings back memories of when I read it or played it....
Hubby's been out of town, his grandmother passed away. He'll be back tonight, and then crunch time begins. We close on our new house Friday!

Special Olympics, Part Deux

Well, we survived! Three days of keeping track of 14 Special Olympians, miles of walking, and a sunburned face and neck later, we're home.
We had a fabulous time!! We arrived on Wednesday and some of our kiddos did their events and then we were off to Mexico Joe's for dinner. That evening, we attended the Opening Ceremonies.

Our group was seated pretty high up in the arena, and one of our little guys was scared, so we got to move to the floor. How about this guy's ride, huh?

True to Oklahoma weather, we had to move to the lobby (we were up too high) due to severe weather. They told us we could go back in, but it was more trouble than it was worth.

Thursday morning it rained on us a bit, but then cleared up for the races. Everyone completed their events and got their medals and ribbons. Very exciting. Then we were off to Hideaway Pizza for dinner! Yum...

Couldn't forget the ice cream at Marble Slab. We watched Wall-E, which the kids all loved.

Friday we got up, packed, cleaned, and headed to Eskimo Joe's. All our friends back home got to see us on the web cam. I think everyone was happy to get home. We had a great time, and the OSU campus was beautiful!

Special Olympics

Hi all! I'm off to Special Olympics in Stillwater tomorrow through Friday. Should be a great time, I think we're going to have to change the events to slip and slide and mud wrestling if the rain doesn't stop.

I get quotes in my email everyday and here's the one I got today. Kind of thought provoking.
The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors; that which it loves, and also that which it
fears. ~James Allen

Have a great rest of the week, hopefully I'll have some pictures with no people to show you!

Wordless Wednesday

Area Special Olympics

We just returned from our area Special Olympics. I am exhausted, sun and windburned, but happy. My kiddos ran, threw, wheeled, and walked their little hearts out, all with the biggest smiles on their faces! It is quite an event. I was even interviewed for the news....hopefully it won't make it. :) I got tons of great pictures, wish I could post some here. We will be going to State in Stillwater in May.

We have made a counter-offer on the house, the guy didn't accept our first offer, so we're still waiting for that news.

I am ready for my comfy couch and some TV or Kindle time, but I'm off to class to present this evening...I hope my addled brain can remember everything I need to say.