Politics… and indifference.

I wonder how wrong it really is to see both sides of the story and not fully agree with anyone. I guess I need to attend a “town hall” style debate… so I can remain indifferent. =)  I do “sway” Obama, but I’m just not passionate at all about this presidential race. All I know is we need help, stability, and change. Whoever gets elected has a huge undertaking ahead of them (thanks, Bush). End communication.

Awww… Thanks, babe

I cannot change…

…the fact that I am a procrastinator. I always have been, always will be. I left the planning for next week until the absolute last minute (it’s my week to plan for all three of the third grade teachers) and now I’m feeling very overwhelmed. I guess I have no right to complain.

What makes this confusing is that we missed two days this week: one for a pupil-free day, and one because of the fire. Every week, we focus on a new story in our book and have a test on Friday. Well, I was told to “stretch this week’s story to next week and we will test next Friday”. Well, hello, I’m a NEW teacher and have no idea how to “stretch” out anything…. I have enough trouble just straight planning a week! Oh, and I’m supposed to plan for science, social studies, and math too, which they always COPY from LAST YEAR’S schedule!!! Apparently they wanna see if mine matches theirs. BS!!!!! Ugh. Someone shoot me.

Fires

I was not expecting my school to be closed, as the Sesnon fire is based in Porter Ranch, which is NE of us. I got a call around 7:15 from my vice-principal telling me the school is closed and to begin calling my parents. Well, turns out I keep my roster at school… so no help there from the new responsible teacher. =P I ended up caling the school and told administration I do not have my phone numbers and to e-mail them to me, to which they replied that they are calling and not to worry about it. Whew!

Anyhow, I took a picture from my balcony facing toward the fire… the pic is a bit blurry, but you can see smoke approaching, slowly. According to the news, the flames are heading South and East…. right down Topanga Cyn Blvd toward the 101 (which is right where I live). Aaaah!

Luckily it’s not too close (yet.. knock on wood). It is incredibly windy out here, and it smells like bonfire! Cough cough.

I’m still trying to decide what to do with my day off… Steve has a meeting later so he’s no help, and everyone else I know has “normal” work schedules! I’m VERY tempted to visit Disneyland on my own, as I have an annual pass. =) Someone come with!

New Post!

I was just reading my last post from about this time last year and so many aspects of my life have changed. I’m now making a salary, living on my own, have moved to a new city, and am truly loving life. I feel so much more complete and independent; where I’ve always known I would eventually be. Woodland Hills is great, my job as a third grade teacher is great (I have such a loving and… spirited… class!), and my relationship with Steve feels stronger than ever. Everything seems like it has come together. Plus I looove my new one bedroom… it’s spacious, quiet, and has its own gym which is convenient.

Look at the messages my kids left for me on the whiteboard to find this morning (I was in the room when they wrote them on Friday but they didn’t want me to see! How cute!).

They are very sweet kids, but full of energy! I spend a lot of my day focused on classroom management, something I excelled in during student teaching. The kids get tickets for doing something to help another, and for getting their planner signed each day. On Friday, I pick two tickets and those students get to pick a prize from the prize box. Along with positive reinforcement, I can definitely be strict! If a student talks out of turn or blurts out answers, they owe me three minutes of recess. We also have table points and I am working on getting them to work more collaboratively. I think a lot of people don’t realize how difficult and draining teaching can be, but it is so incredibly worth it. Most people see the hours and summers off… it is SO much more than what it seems. Today we had an all-day workshop and the kids got the day off. Lucky them! I remember sitting there bored out of my mind, hoping to god that my kids don’t feel that way when I’m teaching!

Anyhow, I love my life! More posts soon.