Terrific Tuesday...oh, wait I mean Wonderful Wednesday

One of my students left a sweet gem of a note on my desk this morning and it made my day! So, I posted this picture on Facebook saying, A sweet note from a student and some Spark..it's going to be a terrific Tuesday, I do believe! #15years #stillloveit

Well, thank goodness, someone pointed out to me that yes, the note was sweet, but it was, in fact, Wednesday, not Tuesday! Haha! I can't keep up-I'm telling you! So, instead, it will be a Wonderful Wednesday!

Homecoming Week

Tourist Day

Camo Day 

Wacky Day 

New Room, New Theme

So, I was pretty unhappy at first about leaving my big, new room to move to an old, small room....But I decided to make the most of it and change themes. I love how it turned out and we will make the most of our small space. This is my room for 2015-2016.

His Own Room

Todd finally got his own classroom this year. He is teaching part time sped and part time social studies. Camden and I went to see his new room and I offered my decorating skills, but he kindly turned me down. Apparently, they don't use colored paper and border in the high school social studies department. :) 

Throwback Thursday

Tbt and Happy First Day of 2015-2016 to this guy! Even though he wouldn't let me use my mad hot glue gun and decorating skills on his new classroom. smile emoticon Can't wait to hear how his first day of teaching social studies went!

Friends and BoyMoms

I am so lucky to be friends with the girls I work with. Michelle and I took the boys to Tot Time at the new Lemay Park Pavilion. They had so much fun, but wore these mommies out!

Color Run 2015

Toilet Trouble Tuesday

So, we have had some trouble with the handle in one of our staff bathrooms for a while now. We have all even joked that someone was going to get stuck in there soon! Well.... it happened... to ME this afternoon!!!

Luckily, Camden had decided to walk with me through the bus line to drop off my kids and was right outside the door. I heard him saying to Schade and Schwartz, "I think my mom is stuck in the bathroom!" Sure enough, when I turned the handle to come out-it just kept turning. Our poor custodian Bill tried for 40 minuted to get me out. The door hinges wouldn't budge and he destroyed the handle trying to get it off!

Camden went and got my phone from my room and slid it under the door, so at least I had some entertainment. They finally had to call the fire department. They used a crow bar and within a minute I was out!

Side note: I just love the repair job they did-we didn't even get a new door!

A Portrait

Facebook post from today: Getting this portrait from one of my sweet students cheered me up on a bit of a stressful Monday! I love the highlights she drew in my hair, but thinking I should lay off the red lipstick. Ha!

My team

I am so thankful for these girls on my 3rd grade team-they make this job that I love, but can sometimes stress me out bearable each and every day!

Open House 2014-2015

A week in kindergarten=a new camera

Now, this may sound like an easy deal. But let me assure you, it was not! I have been wanting a new camera for a long time. After the camera fiasco at Camden's preschool graduation, I decided I wanted to start praying and saving money. Well, God works in amazing ways! My principal called and asked if I was interested in subbing a week in kindergarten during summer school. Anyone who knows me knows kindergarten is not my comfort zone. But subbing for those five days would be enough to buy a new camera. So, I thought-I have a degree and it is just summer school, yep I can do it! Here's a few things I learned this week:
1. I respond to, "Teacher, teacher, teacher" just as easily as "Mrs. Medley."
2. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes to take a class of pre-kindergarteners to the restroom.
3. Camden will NOT wear shoes that tie until HE is able to tie them.
4.  I was patted, tapped, groped, more than I ever have been in that week.
5. Kindergarteners tattle WAAAAAY more than 3rd graders.
6. I love teaching, no matter what the age.
7. You should use bottle glue with kindergarteners as little as possible.
8. Kindergarten teachers are amazing!

Triplets...well, kind of

They say great minds think alike-well apparently so. Schwartz, Schade and I all dressed the same yesterday. We cracked up when we saw each other. I am so thankful for a fun team of coworkers. It really does make life more fun! 

Polar Plunge

HHS Polar Plunge 2014

Meet the Teacher

Camden and I visited Daddy at Hillsboro's Meet the Teacher night this week. They don't get many visitors at the high school level. Todd has one history class he is teaching this year and he assigned the students to make shields. He was so impressed with their work that he hung them out in the hall. His fellow teachers say he is trying to show them up, but I love that he is proud of his student's effort. So, of course, I took pictures. :)

Teachable Moment

Moments like this are the reason I love doing what I do:
Our first unit in science is matter. We were talking this week about elements and that all matter is made up of elements. The science book showed them pictures of neon, gold, iron, silver, carbon and aluminum. We then read that water is made up of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. I walked over to the white board and wrote H2O. I asked the class how many of them had seen this before or heard of H2O. Many of them raised their hand. I asked what is H2O and they answered water. I explained that this was the scientific name for water. Then, I asked them to tell me what elements make up water and why would we use an H and O to name water. You should have seen their excitement as the "light bulbs" went off! I couldn't contain the grin on my face! My favorite part of teaching is seeing students make a connection between what they already know and the information we are learning. I believe that then is when the most meaningful instruction happens!

Reminders

Just a few reminders of why I love being a teacher:

Funny notes from parents

Sweet surprises from the kiddos

Visits from former student