An Inside Kind of Day

Today was another inside kind of day (and not inside school). I decided that I would do some work in my "craft room" and get it to where I could start working on finishing it up to be a usable space. So, I put a few things away (ironing board, ebay stuff, bags, etc.) and put the sewing machine up on it's desk. Then I thought I'd take the two boxes of memory box stuff that I took from Mom/Dad's attic up into my attic...what was I thinking?! It was probably over 100 degrees up there. I tried to hurry, but found some children's books that I had left for some reason, some more clothes for the garage sale, and shoes I had been looking for. When I came down I was dripping sweat! So, as soon as I closed the attic stairs I began stripping and hit the shower (maybe TMI). So, all that to say, I'm excited to get to see the floor in my craft room again. And I'm taking a trip to IKEA this weekend!! I'm soooooo excited to see what cool things I can find for both the craft room and my classroom!

Well, here are pics of the craft room "before". Hopefully there will be some "after" pics soon...anyone have a husband you are willing to share for a weekend???

It's going to be all khaki and white, with a bit of the blue (like the garbage can) to pop some color. Also, those letters, C..R..A..F..T will be hung on a wall soon. And that big, long white thing is a countertop looking for a home atop some sort of cupboards.

I've Been Waiting for this Day!!

Today was a day I have been anxiously awaiting for close to 10 months. This afternoon the expander was removed from the roof of my mouth!! Now, if you have never had the pleasure of wearing this medieval torture device in your mouth, first count your blessings, and then view this picture (they let me have it--you know, for show and tell).
Imagine that thing affixed to the roof of your mouth and cranked open gradually, to expand my jaw. Yes, I know what you may be thinking, but no, my mouth was not big enough. Some of you might disagree with Dr. Bussick, but he said I have a very small mouth. So, after several months of expanding, and then 6 more months of just wearing it to hold the new position, it's out!
I was thinking that my mouth could start to get back to normal, but no. Alas, I was wrong. I now have to wear new rubber bands from top to bottom 24/7. And if I'm not talking (basically during sleep hours), I can double up those tiny rubber bands and basically tie my mouth shut. Sounds like fun! But, the good news is that after looking at a new x-ray today, and asking Emily, his asst. where in my treatment I was (10 out of 33 months), he patted me on the shoulder and said, "You won't be in these for 33 months." YEA!! Less than 2 years to go...AND I can touch the roof of my mouth. What a day!

I Can't Stay Away

For some reason, after setting up the basic arrangement of my classroom I have had that on my mind all weekend. Saturday night I went to bed and woke up at 2am (due to a phone call), and couldn't get back to sleep for thinking of all that still needs to be done. I got up and made a list--for almost 2 hours. So today, despite the heat and humidity, I braved the upstairs non-air conditioned room and worked for about 7 hours. I am feeling so excited about my classroom and how it looks. Today I got several bulletin boards moved or redone (because of the rearranging). I laminated some things. I checked the connections on my student computers. I arranged some things on my desk. I filled my new paper rack, which I'm SO excited about. My writing workstation is going to ROCK! I even got as far as putting some books on student desks. When I have a more up to date class list I will need to begin making labels for folders for students.

Ok, that brings me to a tangent/rant! I get very frustrated at having to buy everything for my classroom. I am only given the following items for each student: a supply of pencils, two folders, colored pencils, and lined paper (there might be something else, but I can't think of it). Everything else I either need to provide for them on my own, or ask them to bring on a supply list. This year I was told that I'm not allowed to ask them to bring scissors or folders because we "supply" those items...really?! the two folders (black and green) are enough for fourth graders?? And I was given 18 pairs of scissors three years ago...now I have 20 students, and I wonder how many of those 18 pairs were not stolen, lost, or damaged. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't want to buy anything for my kids...it just gets frustrating to spend so much of my own money on things like supplies, when I'd much rather be buying books for my kids to enjoy, or other things that would benefit them. So many people think that we have this endless supply of money given to us to buy things. My PTA gives each teacher $50 for the entire year to spend on whatever we want. Trust me, if you've ever been to the teacher store, you know that $50 won't go far.

So, back to the excitedness...I really am excited. Not about starting school (I could do summer break all year if I could figure out how to fund my life), but about my cool room. But it does start to get exciting. The beginning of the school year is like a fresh new start...new clean room, new kids, new supplies, new room decor, a new chance to do things differently or better than last year. I think that's my favorite thing. I get a brand new start at my job, and can try to do things better than last year.



p.s. Here's the picture I forgot to take on Saturday of my new reading corner. I love it and I hope my new kiddos will too!

New family?

Today I took a trip with the parents up to Auburn to meet Wilson, my possibly-in-the-near-future cousin. He is from the Philippines and is here for a 4 week "summer camp" to meet and stay with a possible adoptive family (my aunt and uncle). It's an interesting way to get to try out a kid before you decide to adopt. I'm sure it will be hard to say goodbye when the time is up, knowing it will probably be several months before they can get to adopt him and bring him home. He seems like a sweet kid, and is very close in age to Mikalyn, my cousin who was adopted from China. They already get along like brother and sister, and it is a big adjustment to Mikalyn who has been the only child (and only young grandchild).

Is it that time already???

Today I stopped at school to drop off some "furniture" I had bought...ok, pause that story. The furniture story is good, too.

My friend Rachael's mom works at a retail store and it's in the same shopping plaza as a scrapbooking store that has recently gone out of business. She happened to be leaving the other day as some guys were loading up some fixtures from the store onto a truck. She inquired about them (knowing that Rachael and I, as teachers, take anything we can for our classrooms, or for our craft rooms). The guy told her that he would give her any of it for $5 each. She called us and tried to describe the pieces over the phone. It was difficult, so we told her to just make her best judgement call. She bought several pieces. Well, long story short, we went today and the guys were there and we got to go inside the storage area and look around for more stuff. I got a bookshelf and a 30 slot paper holder. Rachael took a few cool things also. It was awesome!

So, back to the original story... I went to school today to drop those things off and felt very sad and overwhelmed by the current state of my room. There is MUCH to be done in two short weeks. After I got home I just kept feeling that I needed to get in there and at least start arranging furniture. So, I called one of my students who lives a block from school to see if he wanted to help, grabbed Lucy, got a pizza, and headed over for "Extreme Makeover 2007" (aka the setting up of Room 202).
I was feeling frustrated in trying to get things arranged. I was trying to figure out how I can maximize my space, and include all my new fixtures. I was having trouble coming up with a good arrangement. So...Heather to the rescue!! If you call her, she will come. This was the second time she had helped me out today (And remember, she has her own room to get ready!) We worked for over 3 hours, and got tons done! I was sooooo glad to have the help, and now feel really good about having that part of things completed. There's still much to be done, but that was a huge chunk of it.

Here are pics of before and after. Just so you know, the before looked worse at the real beginning, but I forgot to take a picture before we began uncovering and moving things around. Everything was basically covered up and piled on top of each other in one half of the room.





We changed several things, added my new pieces, and the room looks great! And I think they are both still my friends!

(Oh, and I realized I didn't get a shot of my favorite new spot...the reading corner. I'll take that one soon. It's very cool!)

What a Way to Relax!

After an unsuccessful trip to work in my classroom today (wet wax), Rachael and I decided to go to Target...is there anything better to do when you can't work?! After a hard day of shopping, we ended the evening by taking a relaxing pontoon boat ride with Coop and his family. Lucy went along, as she always does. She loves running in their HUGE backyard and feeling the wind on her face in the boat. Not much more to tell about that, except that I would one day like to have a pontoon boat, and obviously someplace to use it. It is one of the best ways I can think of to unwind and enjoy the great outdoors.

Whew!! (big sigh)

Today I am feeling very good! I have officially finished my IWU portfolio: a compilation of 15 months of hard work, lots of typing, late nights, study groups, tons of research, and close to 200 page protectors! (see a picture of the giant book below)

I finished the required assignments and met with my mentor today to have her check things and sign off on the last few sections. I still have to have to turn it in on Sept. 15, but as far as I'm concerned, it's done. And to think that a year ago April I was totally freaked out about doing this...ha!

And I only have 7, count them...7 Saturdays of class to go until I will be finished with my Masters Degree!!! Talk about feeling good...that will be an awesome day!