back from the lost

Edwin and I at South Padre Island on Saturday... where it was windy, the tide was high and the waves were huge, and everyone was coughing because of some weird algae in the air. Hence, we are sitting at Wanna Wanna, a little grass hut bar/restaurant. 

Pretty flowers I got from Edwin :) 

The wall around the Alamo. I was tempted to climb it- and wondered if this tree were around back then, maybe that's how the fort was invaded?! 

Good things

Good things:

1. I booked 2 flights to Wisconsin this weekend! 1 for Nikki's wedding and 1 for Thanksgiving (when I will be home for 8 days!!!!!) This is exciting stuff folks.

2. I am going to San Antonio next weekend with Edwin. Six Flags here we come!!

3. Next week is a 4 day week!!!!!!

4. I got new comfy teacher shoes that still manage to look cute. My feet like me.

5. Day is going well. Cross your fingers for the afternoon!

6. I am on a 3rd grade student's prayer list at church. She feels bad for me. Ha :)

7. I have an amazingly beautiful nephew and godson :)

love love

In other news...

I wanted to post something that wasn't a venting session. Thank you all for your encouragement and support, it truly helps! The end of last week was pretty good, and we are implementing a new behavior system this coming week (sending home notes, etc) which will hopefully help. I also bought a Spanish calendar poster set at the teacher store yesterday that I'm pretty excited about. I'm going to start a morning routine for K-1 where we do the weather, season, month, day, etc- every day. Even if they can't sit still, at least I'll have a sweet poster. I can rest with that. 

Yesterday was a great day. Edwin and I went to Target and I bought a bunch of new kitchen stuff, which I'm really excited to use. I now have pans, knives, spatulas, a griddle, cooking sheet, cooling rack, whisks, and all sorts of exciting things. Woo hoo! Last night we went to an art show in Mission, where the art teacher at our school had a few pieces displayed. The theme was Go green- and all the materials were supposed to be reused or recycled. There were some really creative ideas using coffee grounds, old tires, metal pieces, cans, etc. 

I'm off to make pancakes. Hope you all have had a restful and rejuvenating weekend. Lots of love!

Why am I a teacher.....

Sometimes (Often) I think back to when I applied for Teach For America........ and I wonder why. At the time, I was teaching part-time Spanish, and I did not like the kids. I have never liked kids. Why did I think it would be a good idea to become a teacher? This, my beloved family and friends, is what I ask myself.

We now have co=teachers in Kinder and 1st grade, which helps a great deal. 4th and 5th are chatty, but I manage. 2nd and 3rd grade are impossible. I want to scream at them and tell them how much they suck. Ay. Dios mio. I realllizzzzzzzeeeeeeeee that they are not bad kids, and that all kids have the potential to behave. I know this. I know all kids are precious, etc. But they make me go crazy, and I seriously dislike "teaching" (babysitting) them.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Is it June yet?

Day 2. Hope.

There is hope. It is lunch and I only half wish I could run out screaming.... which is a vast improvement from yesterday. I created a worksheet for the 4/5 graders where they had to figure out the message with a secret code. I think it helped. Our lines were a lot better........ there is hope.

This afternoon is Kinder, 1st, 2nd and 3rd in a row. I may be frazzled after that............ if the entire 1st grade class needs to go to the bathroom again, we are going to have problems.

Stay tuned. Thank you for the prayers and support :) for reals. Today is better.

1/2 way through Day 1

Oh. my. goodness. I'm on lunch break. Can I stay in my cube??? 2 classes down, 4 to go. 5th grade, first class. Teaching 8 high schoolers at Institute did not prepare me for 35 kids who don't understand the language I'm speaking. Chaos. Utter chaos. How do you manage 35 kids? There aren't even that many desks in the room! We were overflowing with children. It wasn't a total wreck........ but definitely not orderly.

4th grade was better. They comply. Still chaotic.

I have kindergarten after lunch. Then 1st grade. Then 2nd. Then 3rd.

Oh.

My.

Goodness.

Thanks for your support. I'll write more tonight.

IDEA Academy

Front of school... I think that's a high school building 

The Titan Boulevard- where students walk. The "IDEA 55" are hanging above- 

55 ideas to live by

courtyard- Primary building is in the background

Tim and Edwin enjoying the toys in my cube

SO this is a glimpse of my school!! It's a conglomeration of actual buildings and "temporary" buildings (trailers essentially). Not a bad place to work all in all!