Sappy

 I feel like I should be voted off the island for not writing in so long. I don't know what's wrong with me, oh wait, I'm constantly exhausted! 

 I'm totally loving teaching this year but I'm also just worn out! The amount of effort and energy that it takes to run a classroom is unexplainable. I can see it all paying off though. Despite all the effort and late nights, my to do list is still long! Teachers never really clock out! 

 Walk through shave started happening, I've had two so far with good remarks. I'm excited about all the positive feed back I've been getting, it's such a change from last year. 

 To all my future teachers out there: your first year of teaching will most likely drain you of everything you have. It will likely break your heart and your spirit. I am here to say that you've just got to suck that first year so you can grow into the kind of teacher you want to be. Every tear I cried last year, every crazy thing that happened, all helped me to know how to handle this year! 

What day is it?

 An entire week since I've posted? My passion for writing is totally unsurpassed! Last week was just crazy with the bugs and the washing and the nit picking. I don't want to press my luck so I won't set it in stone, but I think I'm done with those cotton-headed ninny muggins for now. What an exhausting process. Not that your asking, but my advice would be to not get lice! 

 The days are seeming to get longer, or maybe it's just my work load is getting larger. I either need more hours in a day or less work, preferably the latter. The amount of paper work is overwhelming! And the acronyms!!! They never end! PLC's, SLT's, PGP's, IEP's, RTI...I could keep going here. I know it's all part of the job but man it would be nice to just teach! 

 Even with the extra work this year, I'm still having a better year than last year! PRAISE HIM! I did have a "Jesus take the wheel" moment when my nuggets were having difficulty following oral directions for Math. No doubt, I was saying something in a way that they misunderstood, but we were late for nap and I just needed them to put four cubes on the paper! 

 On the subject, math stations are for the birds. There I said it, "smite me of mighty smiter" is probably a better phrase. I'm sure it'll get better with time. It's just the figuring out how to make things work thing that gets me. Give me another year and I'll be a math stations guru! 

 But I do have to give myself a high five for staying after school today with two cowokers to workout. Yay us! 

No pockets today friends! Sorry!

Couldn't make it up if I tried.

 Well folks, I debated about writing about this topic, but I figured you're all loyal readers. And if you haven't judged me by now then you probably won't ever. 

 It has happened, every teachers nightmare, lice. I woke up this morning and just knew it. I woke my mom out of a dead sleep at 4:30 in the morning and made her go through my hair, she saw nothing but I knew better. 

 I was the first person in the Walmart, getting the treatment. After washing my hair and having my mom go through my hair again she found those angel of death bastards. I was naturally mortified and cried like I had been shot in the arm. 

 The crying basically continued for like three hours. I couldn't go to school, I was worried about my nuggets, disgusted by my mane and exhausted from doing all of the above. I cleaned my room, my car, washed anything that would fit in the washer and sprayed everything else. Spent a little too much time on Google, which in turn lead to more crying. I tried remedies I found, viniger and water, pillows in trash bags and head in grocery bags, combing my hair every three minutes, everything short of pulling a Britney and completely shaving my hair. Don't think I wasn't tempted  though! 

 Here is my question about these God-awful creatures: are they preggers before they get in your hair and just drop the kids off on their way somewhere, or are they doing the nasty there? If the latter: were they married, dating, legally old enough? I mean these are all legimate questions. I figured I had to find the funny in this situation or I'd still be crying. 

 Oh look, it's only been 12 minutes since I last had someone pick through my hair like a gorilla, better get on that.

Here's to a better and less itchy tomorrow!

Better late...

 Slackerrrrrr! This week has just been so wearing that I fall into bed when I get home and just don't get out again! 

 By no means am I having a bad week, just an exhausting one! Yesterday was testing though, and my nuggets and I didn't go to Brain Break. 

 You may think brain break or recess is for the kids, but it's just as much for the teachers too! We all need breaks. But my nuggets devices to not follow directions during our math lesson. I knew if I let them slide this one time, then they would think it was okay to repeat this behavior, so I put my foot down. I told them that I knew not everyone was talking but that we were a team, and if your team shoots at the wrong goal, you'll never win the game. 

 Was my analogy lost on them? Most likey, but they sure did understand not going play on the big play set. I also told them that yesterday was the first day they decided to talk so much, and it would be the last day. Lets hope this sticks! 

 Friday is finally here! Ready to start the day and get to the weekend, that is of course booked. Hopefully I can squeeze in a nap or two and catch up on sleep! 

I didn't photograph my pockets, but I bought my wig for my Romona wig! I'm like overly excited about this!

Friday Fail

 I woke up today, after snoozing for an hour, smiling to myself because it was Friday.....FAIL, it's only Tuesday!

 This was like being 7 and finding out that Hannah Montana was really Miley Cyrus, tragic! 

 My Tuesday wasn't too bad though, and neither was my Monday! I was exhausted yesterday, like going to bed before 8 exhausted. So excuse the missed blog! 

 My little nuggets did very well on their DIBLES testing (it's a little dumb)! I'm a proud mama. But now I have to keep the bar high! 

 I'm trying to put together math stations by Friday. Jesus take the wheel! I feel like this could be dangerous! I'm excited about making the kids look forward to math but  not looking forward to training them in something new. 

 Each time you add something to their day, they go a little crazy. Totally understandable, they already have so much on their plates! It's just hard to change a routine that's already in place. 

Today's pockets:

Pens on pens on pens

Dove chocolate wrapper

Paper clips 

Today is almost yesterday.

 Oh happy day! My Romona books came in today! This year, I started reading Beezus and Romona by Beverly Cleary at naptime. I loved these books when i was a kid! Just a little each day, even when I really have 4,000 things to get done, we read about Romona! 

 I'm in love with how much the nuggets love reading the book together. The ask about it everyday, and talk about what we read afterwards. I've been reading off of a website, but today my actual books came!  I'm so excited to show the nuggets tomorrow! 

 I had my first friend move a clothespin today. It made me so sad, but I have to be consistent or I'll be a doormat again, no thank you! I gave two fair warnings, and my friend still decided to talk to his neighbor when they were suppose to be working. Tis life I suppose! 

 Tomorrow is my first Grandparent's Day. I'm anticipating a mess! Things rarely go as planned, so I'm not over stressing myself. 

 Today I played soccer with my boys at brain brake, exhausting but so fun. They made me feel like I was Usain Bolt! "Oh man, Ms. Amanda is super fast". I probably actually looked like a penguin trying to run! 

 My pocket contents are on the bathroom counter, and I'm in bed. So I leave you with our project for tomorrow! 

The three S's.

 Today I got snotted on, scratched and high fived (aka slapped) in my arm by my nuggets. And I can still say that it was a pretty good day! All in the life of a kindergarten teacher. 

 The snot was from a crying nugget who didn't feel good and wanted to go home. The scratch was from a nugget tantrum, totally accidental, the scratch not the tantrum. And the high five slap was from an end of the day over excited nugget. 

 The heat is unbearable these past few days. Just walking from place to place in our courtyard is uncomfortable. Yesterday I had a nugget crying because no one wanted to play duck, duck, goose at brain break because they were all too hot. Come at me, fall weather!! 

 Yesterday I had a Mrs.Peaches moment.  Let me tell you about Mrs. Peaches, what a perfect name right? She was my very own kindergarten teacher and she made a huge impact on my five year old self. 

 At the time, I couldn't think of anyone greater, still she's a top contender. She pulled all of my baby teeth. She tauhht me how to tie my shoes. She always welcomed me into her classroom, wven when I was well out of Kindergarten. When I was in swimming lessons and got to pick a friend to bring for our last lesson, I picked Mrs. Peaches, and she came. 

 Having your teacher cometo swimming lessons is a big deal people! Of course she had a family to take of, errands to run and things to scratch off her to-do list , but despite all that, she suited up and jumped in! I've never forgotten that experience or how Mrs. Peaches made me feel. 

 When I got the position as kindergarten teacher, I called her to tell her that very same day. "Oh my girl, you were made for this" is what she told me, and I'm starting to believe it a little more. Essentially, Mrs. Peaches is the teacher you want to be. 

 Last night I got a message from one of my parents from last year who just moved away. Her son was allowed to invite two friends to his siblings' birthday party and he chose another first grade boy and myself. 

 I could have burst with love! Obviously I accepted without hesitation. I can't wait to see my little nugget! This is why I became a teacher! :) 

Today's pockets:

Raveled string from a school bag

Writing tools galore! 

Scissors: how I don't have a hole in my pocket, I'm not sure