Approaching the finish line -- or not?

My principal says all the time that you never really get to the finish line. You only have completed one leg of the marathon. Perhaps this is true. But I am still going to celebrate making it to this first finish--or benchmark, I guess I should say.

This first year has been really great. There have been a couple of low points (mainly revolving around my insecurities as a 1st year teacher), but overall it has been happy. I am so thankful for my little bees and all the fantastic people I work with. I find myself also getting more and more excited for next year. I am still nervous, but I have some great ideas.

It is Tuesday, and we dismiss for a half-day on Thursday. So really, after today, I have 1 and 1/2 days left in this school year. It's really crazy. Now, don't think I will be gone for a longgg summer break. Oh no--at my school, we report back for PD July 1st and summer term begins the 12th. Really I just have June (and all the weddings!!) to be off, and I plan on beginning my vacay Monday, May 31st. I will not think about school until at least June 15th. That's my goal anyway. That gets me through SJ's wedding, which will be the most stressful.

I do still have a couple stresses, mainly involving where I'm going to live next year. I am in a really happy place that's pretty cheap. However, two of my roommates are ready for a change, and one has asked me to move with her. No idea what I am going to do, but I need to decide pretty quickly. It's almost June, and our lease ends June 30. Hmmm...

So tomorrow we have school and Thursday involves farewells and an Awards Ceremony. Tonight I have an End of the Year party, too! The end of the year is happy, and even if it is not THE finish line--it is still A finish line. I think we should celebrate. :)

Hope you're having a lurrvely day wherever you are!

6.5 DAYS LEFT!

As I'm sitting here across from one of my most difficult little bees, I am reminded of why I am here. This little bee epitomizes disrespect, frequently asking me "Can I go now?" "Do I have to?" He has also taken stickers and colored on my folders without permission. Mainly, he has just been a little ridiculous this 4th quarter since I have worked with him. He struggles with respect for women in general.

Anyway, we are doing our end-of-year testing. He has been reading for the last 20 minutes. This test involves listening to him read aloud, silent reading, and then comprehension questions. I didn't really think he cared what his level was--I thought he just wanted to get it over with. He came in and had to wipe his hands off on his pants. Then, he had to go to the bathroom. He was so nervous--he asked me a GAZILLION questions about what he should do. He read much more carefully than I have ever heard him read and has moved up a level. He is now attempting to move up another. He has unlimited time to do the silent reading (this was one of his first questions) and is reading each 2-3 page passage (about 7 regular book pages) 3 times! He wants to make sure he is ready for my questions.

This obviously means much more to him than I thought. It just goes to show that you never really know. I know most of my kids are invested, but this week has shown me how important reading has become to them. I have had countless requests to call parents, put names on my Reading Club posters, and make signs (!!!) for them to wear around for the day. They are precious, and I am so thankful.

This week of testing has been a blessing! Hope you have had a good week so far!

Welp...FLOOD 2010

We were out of school all last week. On Thursday and Friday, the teachers had to report, but the kids missed ALL WEEK! And, crazily, we don't have to make it up because we were in a state of emergency. Isn't that insane? This has been the craziest weather year EVERRR! Thankfully, everyone is back in the swing of things. My poor, bedraggled high school teaching friends got their EOCs given (or are in the process), so we are moving forward.

Somehow, it is all ready Wednesday, and I feel like I just got back to Nashville. This past weekend SJ graduated with her Masters from UK. Woot woot. She is super pumped, bc now she can focus on the wedding. She also got a JOB for her 25th birthday, so she can rest easy and get pumped for the nuptials. Sunday was a wonderful Mother's Day, complete with the whole fam (plus some extended fam visiting from HONG KONG!). It was perfect, and my cousins brought presents from their recent trip to Europe. I got a precious Harrod's apron (must write that Thank you note!).

This week has been a little lackluster. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I am definitely a little down. I just feel like I haven't really improved that much since the beginning of the year. I still have kids just act crazo, and it makes me sad. Mostly, I think I've been worrying about next year and realizing that my own classroom will soon be a reality. I try to psych myself up and pray a LOT, but I still worry. What if I am just awful and they don't learn anything? What if my kids hate me? Can I keep my school's high expectations? What if the classroom is chaos? Oh me, oh my. I just don't want to disappoint anyone. whoosh... breathe in, breathe out. It will all be okay. It will all be okay.

Hope you're having a good week and all ready looking towards the weekend. I have LL's prom and my first wedding of wedding season, so I'm super pumped. Have a good day!

Please pray!

I am safe in Brentwood/Nashville, but there are so many Tennesseans who are not today. Please pray that it will stop raining and that all who need help will receive it! I am completely awestruck at the complete destruction in some of Nashville's communities. I just thank God that I made it home safely yesterday (even though I had to ditch Granny the car) and that so far have water, electricity, etc.

If you are thinking of getting out and about today anywhere in central TN, go back home! It's insane out there! Say a prayer!