Here I Go Again

I realize that I'm starting to sound like a broken record.  I post about once a week (I'm going to go ahead and give myself more credit than I deserve here) and swear that THIS week, I'll post every day.  Each time I think about this blog, I think about all of the bloggers that really do this every single day.  Teachers, nonetheless!  In the midst of everything I'm doing for my kids at school, my kids at the daycare, and for myself, I feel like I have no time.  It's even a struggle to get myself to the grocery store and the bank.  I shudder to think about what I'll do when I have real responsibilities- like a husband or pets or babies or bills- to worry about.  Whew.  Hopefully my time management skills will improve by then.  It doesn't help that I've been in a rush to complete my e-portfolio in order to receive my "Verification of Program Completion" from the School of Education.  I have made phone calls and written e-mails to people in multiple departments of UW to try and get this done as soon as possible.  Alas, after several days of trying, I found out nothing can be submitted to DPI until my student teaching time is officially over next Friday.  At least I can say that my undergraduate degree requirements are complete.  

As I type this, I have five school days left with my students.  It's really incredible to me that my 18 weeks with them has almost expired.  They are so bright, so funny, and so loving.  I am amazed all the time with the things that they say and do.  I've been jotting down some of my favorite conversations with them over the last couple of weeks.  One of these nights I'll write them all in a post. 

Though I am done with my requirements at UW, at school we are in the midst of report card season.  I had no idea how in depth report cards have gotten.  I think it can be powerful for parents and teachers to have such detailed records of student performance, but it takes so much teacher time.  From assessing students to writing report cards, this is a crazy time of year.  I have done much of the writing instruction during my student teaching time, so my CT decided to have me write that portion of the report card.  Each student is assigned a score for each of the writing standards in either 2nd or 3rd grade.  There is also a box for commentary on each of the standards.  I've been taking notes throughout the week and plan on getting that done when I get home tonight.  A teacher's job is never done!

PS. When I left our closing circle today, C said, "I'm just gonna hang on to your leg and never let you go.  Yep, that's what I'm gonna do.  I'm just gonna hang on to your leg.  Wherever you go, I'll always be hangin' on to you."  Oh, sweet boy, I'll always be hangin' on to you, too. 

Love,
Ms. T

Hiatus

Oh my word.  It's been almost three weeks since I posted on this blog!  A man very dear to my heart said to me a short time ago, "So the blog thing is kind of done for now, huh?"  I responded with a prompt, "No!" and then realized that my actions were certainly speaking louder than my words.  I need to work on that! 

Alas, it's been a crazy couple of weeks.  On our last week before winter break, we had a crazy snowstorm (I'm talking blizzard, here) that caused a double snow day on Thursday and Friday.  I was painfully disappointed that I wouldn't get to see my kids before our long two weeks off.  I joked that I knew I was a novice teacher when my bleeding heart took over my common sense.  I certainly made use of those two days off!  I was able to finish my entire TPA assignment and get it officially turned in.  What a weight off of my shoulders!  I also finished up my six non-TPA standards for my eportfolio.  To keep my mind occupied while I was feverishly typing away and snowed into my apartment, I took breaks away from screens to scrub every surface in my kitchen and bathroom.  To quote Blink-182, "I guess this is growing up." 

I had an amazing ten days at home with my loved ones!  The holidays are always a combination of bliss, stress, overeating, and complete joy for me.  My crazy family is really huge and absolutely wonderful.  I didn't have much downtime but I wouldn't have it any other way!  I was fortunate enough to see my immediate family for several days, as well as both sides of my extended family.  We had some wonderful gatherings.  I came back to Madison and worked Thursday and Friday at the daycare.  The six hour shifts were longer than I've ever had, but it was great to see my kids again.

 

My niece and nephew playing beauty shop on their live model... Auntie B!

Today was my first day back at school!  Immediately when the kids walked into the hallway, my CT and I got lots of big hugs and even more big smiles.  It is crazy that we had so much time off but fortunately, everyone seemed happy to be back.  We had a short day, as Mondays always are, and the kids did really well.  They were relaxed and happy- we couldn't ask for more.  There was certainly an adjustment period where we had to figure out where we'd left off with reading and math groups, but we got it worked out.   The kids brought up my leaving several times.  They seem almost anxious for me to go, always asking when it is going to happen and if I'll be there the next day.  It breaks my heart!  Big C even said to me, "I am going to miss you a hundred-thousand percent!"  As the conversation continued, he just shook his head and said, "Nope.  I'm just gonna go with you to your new place.  That's it.  I'm just gonna go with."  Love that sweet boy! 

I have my final student teaching observation on Wednesday.  My hope is that by Thursday morning, I can have my entire eportfolio complete.  That way, my supervisor can alert UW that I have completed my program requirements and get the ball rolling on some potential long-term sub positions in the Eau Claire School District.  It's all starting to feel so real! 

That's all for now.  I'm happy to be back and I hope I remember to update this for my last 13 days of student teaching.  I don't want to miss a thing!

Love,
Ms. T