The new job...

Many of you have asked about my new teaching job....  I am about to start my 4th week and I already can't see how I'm going to get through the whole year ha ha.  Let's start with some of the "issues" I've had to deal with:

- I am in a brand new charter school... (A lot of the following issues are directly related to this.)
- My classroom is tiny.
- I have 28 students.
- I don't have a rug for "carpet time" OR space for a rug for that matter...  Right now we have tape on the floor outlining where they can sit.
- They didn't order any wide lined paper for my kids so I have to "make" all my paper using the copy machine.
- My school is a technology based school so they expect the kids to be on the computer for most of the day.  However, I teach first grade and that is just not possible when they need to learn to read and write and speak correctly.  ALSO, they didn't provide K-3 with enough computers.  SO we have to share 25 (yes not enough for everyone in my class) computers amongst all 4 classes.  I get the computers for about 1 hour a day. 
- I was not given any math program because it was supposedly supposed to be on the computers...  I spend about 3 hours a night on average trying to figure out the best way to teach certain concepts in math.
- I am the only first grade teacher at my school so I have no one to collaborate with.
- I was given a full time aide.  Who was then made into a half-time aide.  Who is now only a "1 hour in my classroom" aide.  It changes daily.
- My kids don't really have specialty classes so I almost never get a break.  (We are thankfully now starting art this week...)
- I have about 10 minutes for lunch.
- I don't have functional cubbies in my classroom.
- I don't have desks where kids can put their stuff - we have tables instead.
- Basically, we're lacking tremendously in the supplies department.  It takes quite a bit of money on my end and/or creative thinking.
- I have to be at school by 7:20 in order to have enough time to plan.  And at the moment, I live 40 minutes away from school.  So I say goodbye to my house at 6:40 every morning.
- I'm constantly exhausted.  Weekends have become not much more than just a time for sleeping and relaxing to reboot for the next week.

Now all these things make it seem like my job is really hard.... And frankly, it is.  It's the hardest thing I've ever done.  One day goes really well and I'm very satisfied with my life.  The next day the kids have to have indoor recess because it starts pouring rain while we're outside, the aide gets taken away from me, and I learn that my school is running out of money so I'm on my own to get materials I need. 

HOWEVER, let's end on a good note.  These are the things that make it all worth it:
- 28 adorable 6-year-olds
- I have my very own classroom.
- I am busy.  I like being busy.  I like having things to do.
- No more sleep problems!  I've never slept better in my life - I'm so exhausted by 9:30 that I fall asleep in about 5 minutes every night.
- My team is amazing!  The faculty at my school is incredible (especially K-3.)  We've gotten really close and we really support each other.
- All the teachers are feeling the same stresses that I am so I have people who understand my situation.
- Even the teachers who have been teaching for 15 years are almost in tears on some days because of how hard it is.  So I don't feel as horrible about feeling overwhelmed.
- I have a wonderful mentor who lets me come into her room any time and just vent and cry if I need to.
- My director (aka principal) is wonderful.  She feels like one of us and I'm never afraid to talk to her about anything. She truly cares about us as human beings instead of just as teachers.
- The inside of the school looks very nice because it was completely gutted and redone.  We're lucky.  The other location looks terrible and depressing.
- I have started looking for help from my wonderful friend, Lyric, who's also a first grade teacher.  She has eased a lot of last week's stress.  I love her.
- The parents have been very supportive and so far, we've only had a couple minor issues that were resolved quickly.
- My kids are adorable and despite what I may think some days, are quite well-behaved for first graders.  They aren't disrespectful and I can tell that they are trying to figure out how to behave at school.
- We have kidney tables.  I love these.
- I now get paid for teaching (unlike student teaching...)
- And last but not least, I HAVE A JOB. I know I am so lucky to have gotten a job so quickly after graduating from college.  I remind myself about this daily. 

So there you go!  I have heard from all teachers that the first year is the hardest but then I tell them about my situation, and they say I've got it even worse.... Comforting eh??  Well as my mom tells me every time I have a bad day, "Just think, if you can get through this year, every year after that will seem like a vacation!"  Let's hope she's right... :)

-Madi

My classroom!

So I finally got into my classroom!  Yesterday....... And I start on Monday... But hey it worked out!!  Here are some pictures of it... :)  I love it.

Yes that bear is from Costco... It's almost bigger than me.
And it was only $30!!  Couldn't resist.  He's our class pet :)

I got kidney tables!!  I am very excited about this :)

Do you like the animals on the wall?  My mom made them for girl's camp one year and we decided to use them for my classroom because my theme is "The Zoo!"  Perfect!

Bulletin board where the "Zookeeper of the Week's" poster will be hung :)

Me in my corner.... 

My mostly empty shelves.... They'll fill up fast I'm thinking...

The carpet area!  With my empty bookcase....
I thought I had a lot of books until I put them in there...

The first day's schedule...

Yes I made my own calendar/weather poster.... Took me forever but it was worth it! :)

The behavior management poster (every kid has their own envelope).

Anyway... It's not too exciting but I love it :)  I start teaching on Monday!  And the kids are adorable :)  Let's hope it goes well!  

Summer 2011...

Soooo I'm thinking it's about time that I wrote another blog post... I go through stages when I'm super good at blogging and then I forget about it for a while... Here ya go!

1.  I finished the Harry Potter series!!  I read all 7 in about a month.... I was addicted!  I could've read them faster if I had dedicated my entire life to them of course.  As I read them I also watched all the movies in order (Except I had to skip 6.... I just couldn't wait to see 7.2!!)  I have officially jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon... Never thought THAT would happen!

2.  We went to Lake Powell and had a blast!  Here are some pictures from our adventure (thanks to Sarah actually bringing a camera and documenting our trip...)

Isn't this an awesome picture of the houseboat at night?  Good job Ster!

The ski boat..

Sarah took some great pictures of Powell!

Beautiful Powell...

Will LOVED going boating!

with Uncle Ben.....

In his sailor's hat....

He especially loved driving!

When he wasn't driving the boat, he always fell asleep right away.
This time in Grandpa's lap.  He loves Grandpa :)

I LOVE boating :)

Gotta stay out of the sun!  That hat is the best thing I ever bought! I love it :)

Our new friends - Levi and Spencer

Hiking to Rainbow Bridge (for the millionth time...)

cute syds.

Will wasn't too sure about the water... It took him a while to get used to it each time.
But Ster looks hot in this picture!  

I couldn't love this little guy more....

Cute ol' syd.

Again, not too sure about the water...

And Ster had to shave his legs of course..... For the first and last time ever ha ha

Will may not have been happy about the water... But he couldn't get enough of the sand!  This is him placed next to mama's beautiful sand castle!

Bug eye sunglasses.... Biddy let me use them so they would cover my cheeks from the sun :)

I love her... Lots.

Quality time with Grandpa..... Love this.

Will would be perfectly happy playing with someone else and the moment Grandpa walked in, he would quickly crawl over to him, begging to be picked up.  He seriously LOVES him.

Will's first Sea-doo ride!

Will sure does come from a line of some good-looking men!

Favorite picture of the trip...

Sooooo happy :)

Well... That's our Lake Powell trip for ya!  Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

3.  Sarah loves to take pictures of me and Biddy.  She wanted to add pictures to her "portfolio" and asked us to model for her.... This is what she got ha ha.

This is one of my favorites.

Love my papa :)

Favorite.

Here's Biddy's.... She's so gorgeous!  Always!

My favorite one of Biddy.... :)

"Fierce"

So hot.

Love you Syds!

Well this is a long post.... So I'll end here :)  Goodbye!