Week of January 18th

Longest Four Day Week Ever.
Monday: Rain but No School, so it's okay.
Tuesday: Rain
Wednesday: Rain
Thursday: Rain
Friday: Rain

By the end of the week EVERYONE, even the quiet, shy kids were losing it. I appreciate the rain, and recognize the need for it, but it is so hard to keep 26 5th graders inside all day, for four days straight.

We got most of what we wanted to accomplish done this week. We had a lot of planning/practicing to do for next week.

Wednesday is our Walk through the Revolution Presentation. Students have been memorizing Expert Cards, Definition Cards, and Battle Scenes. Praying that they are prepared.

Thursday is our class's Chapel Presentation. The timing is terrible, but Oh Well. The students are spelling out the name of our school, and each letter represents something we love about the school. It's an easy Chapel overall, but we have not practiced it at all. And I think the first time we will practice it will be Wednesday after the WTR Presentation. So that is kind of scary.

And the cherry on top of this fabulous week, is the announcement that observations need to be done in the next two weeks. Normally observations are stressful only in the good kind of stress way, because you wanna do a good job and all. But the timing of these make for a bad kind of stress too.

Breathe. One day at a time. And wouldn't you know I keep hearing, "God doesn't give you anything you can't handle."

Okay. Well we will see about that.

Week of January 11th

Crazy January: Week 2
This week: My son's birthday, my 30th birthday, State Reports, grumbling parents, homework excuses, field trip to the Zoo, birthday parties, Bible studies, looong, unnecessary meetings.

In working on our State Reports, I notice that some students are unable to work independently. Their parents cannot/will not allow them to do the research and writing on their own. Some of these students are being handicapped by their parents. These students will be in middle school next year, and I have serious concerns over their abilities to work w/o their parents holding their hand the whole way? When is "helping" too much? The parents seem frustrated by my desire to have this be a Report completed by the students w/o so much parent input. I would think parents would be happy knowing their child is doing research and writing a report on their own. Alas, some are not.

Monday is a holiday so that is awesome.

Praying for wisdom.

Week of January 4th

Back to school already. :( January is such a busy month. I feel like if I get through this month it will be smooth sailing to June. We start our State Report, State Project, have a Walk through the Revolution War Field Trip, and our Chapel presentation all this month. Grades are due, reports for ESLR's, students leaving on vacation (didn't we just get back from vacation?) who need their work prepared. In-services, Spell-a-thon's, Speech Meets and Box Tops. Where does my instructional time go? Praying for endurance.

Week of December 14th

This week we have three minimum days. I never thought I would be complaining about minimum days and yet here I am. It seems impossible to get through anything. As we are approaching Christmas break, I am wondering how I am going to complete a Unit in one subject and try not to get too far ahead in another. I don't want to start a new unit, only to have the kids go on break for two weeks, and have to re-teach everything. And is it just me or are the kids WILD!? Praying for peace.

Blog Slacker

Hello! I have neglected my blog. I have been keeping a journal or sorts over the weeks of this course and will attempt to transfer over my journal thoughts into this blog. For many different reasons, I never made a big enough effort to transfer over my journal thoughts onto the blog. As the class is ending, I am afraid I have run out of time. Thanks for your patience and bear with the next several entries. Thanks!