That's a wrap!!!

So - another year down! 12 to be exact - where did the time go? I remember my first year in Melba - teaching special education and preschool - it was 2001 and I was fresh out of college and ready to change the world. The next year I was lucky enough to teach 3rd grade and then the next year I taught 4th and that is where I stayed for the next 6 years. Then in 2008 my son Rhett was born and with him was an extreme desire to stay at home but financially it was not possible. So - I took a part-time kindergarten position and taught kinder for two years. I LOVED the part-time gig! Then, went back full time and taught 2nd grade for two years.

Ahhhh - NOW I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and embarking on a new adventure. I get to stay at home next year and just be a mom. My son has one more year before kindergarten and since we have concluded that he will be our last child I was overcome with extreme sadness that I would miss the opportunity to be at home full-time with him while he was young. And this was my last chance, so I took it. I know that in ten years I will look back on this decision and NEVER regret it. However, the decision was a difficult one - and some of my friends don't quite understand why. Why didn't I jump at the opportunity? Why didn't I throw up my hands a long time ago and choose to stay home?

The answer:

#1 - I LOVE teaching! I never woke up and dreaded going to school. I was always excited to spend my day with my class.

#2 - I LOVE Melba! I grew up in Grangeville and wanted my children to grow up in a rural school district.

#3 - My son was able to spend time with my mom while I worked. They formed a bond that I know would not have been able to be formed if I was at home and for that I will be forever grateful.

#4 - I LOVE the people that I work with. My job is made so much easier because of the fantastic staff at my school. These people are my other "home" and I can count on them for a shoulder to cry on, a prayer, a word of encouragement and a laugh when I need it most. Some of my best friends are out there and it will be very difficult to not have an active role in the educational community.

#5 - I've worked ever since high school and the thought of not having a job makes me uncomfortable.

#6 - The amount of money I got paid!!! :) - just kidding! According to a recent study Idaho teachers are number 50 on the list of States who have the lowest teacher salaries. So, you are telling me that 49 states have higher teacher salaries than Idaho? YEP!!!! And don't pull the "the cost of living in Idaho is so much lower than in other states" crap - I may just punch you in the throat! :)

Among many other little reasons the decision to stay at home was an extremely difficult one. But - I need to invest in my children, be a mom, take a few classes to further my education, take a year to reflect and relax and READ!!!!

My daughter Addison will be in third grade next year and I've chosen to keep her in Melba. She is familiar with the students and the teachers and she is comfortable there. I will get the opportunity to work in the classroom and maybe be her art mom. I'm super excited for that! I will also get the opportunity to check up on my former students.

And then - - - - -

With my fingers crossed - I will be back in Melba teaching again the following year. I was not promised anything or guaranteed a position the following year, but, I have hope that a position will become available - a position that I would be well-suited for. I am well aware of the risk - but the benefits of staying at home for a year well out-weighed the risk.

I will miss teaching! But I am excited for this new adventure!

Have a great summer~~~~~~~~~~~...

Field Day!

What a fun day! We spent the morning at the track doing races, ball throws and long jumps. Then we spent a few hours in the afternoon rotating through different stations and playing fun games like dodge ball, fort knox, tug-o-war and mission impossible. It was a fun day to just spent with the kids!

Field Trip

This year the second graders took a field trip to Wilson Ponds in Nampa. They were able to fish, explore the fish hatchery and feed the fish, hike around the ponds and look at the natural wildlife as well as hunt for bugs.  I thought it was a great field trip - we had fun!

 

I love this group of kids!

NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!

We have successfully completed the IRI and the results are in! My class did an amazing job and I am so proud of their efforts and your efforts at home to make sure your child is successful on these important tests. Thank you! Thank you ! Thank you!

Also - Field trip coming up on Tuesday. We will be heading to Wilson Ponds in Nampa to explore the natural habitat of many wildlife native to Idaho. We will also be exploring the fish hatchery. The children are very excited. Please make sure that you have dressed your child appropriately for that day - I think it will be warm.

As the end of the year wraps up please be aware of various notes and information that will be sent home in homework folders.

Only 12 days of school left in the year - WHAT???? Where did the year go?

Tom O'Malley the Leprechaun visits the classroom

Each year around St. Patrick's Day Tom O'Malley - a small, redheaded leprechaun visits the classroom and messes things up. And in the past I have let him get away with it - However, the last few years we have attempted to trap him. (I need to give him a piece of my mind!). Last year was unsuccessful and this year we failed yet again! He always leaves us a nice note, mocking our attempts. But, it wasn't for a lack of ingenuity mind you - My classroom came up with some pretty good traps. So - for your enjoyment - here are the traps - and the messed up classroom!

The Luck of the Irish has yet to be with me on St. Patrick's Day! Regardless of the fact that my great, great, great, great, a lot more greats - came from there (according to Ancestry.com ) :)

Valentines

 

For Valentines we made monster boxes. They turned out really cute! They also wrote what they thought love was and we made a mobile out of them and hung them on our tree. I LOVE the way it looks!!!

 

4 eyed monster - Brilliant!

Love the hearts!

Here's the Valentine Tree!!!

My Valentines to the kids - Genius I know!!! (pinterest!!!)

 

Hope your Valentine's Day was extra special!!!!

Unit 3 - wrapped up!

We just finished our 3rd Unit "Around the Town" and will spend the next week reviewing and testing. Then we are on to Unit 4 - "Look Again" which is a science unit for animal camouflage - it's my favorite unit and the kids seem to enjoy it. I look forward to the discoveries we will make together and the fun things we will do.

IRI's are in.....and the results are....

Amazing!!!! I am so proud of my 22 hard workers. They are amazing readers I tell ya! All but two of my students gained at least 25 or more words on their IRI - what? So proud of them! More than half of my class is already reading 100+ words per minute. I know I still have a lot of work to do to get the rest of my class up to reach their goals but it is nice to see hard work and perseverance paying off. Thank you parents for all that you do at home to make sure that your child is a successful reader. It makes all the difference!

I am going to try and get your child's IRI results to you as soon as I can. Hopefully this week!

Way to go KIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! You Rock!

New Years Resolutions

One of my New Year's Resolutions for 2013 was to keep up on my blogs. AND - on Jan. 3rd our internet conveniently quit working. We had to replace the modem and waited a week to receive it in the mail. Then, we got the modem on Monday and it didn't work! SO - here I sit FINALLY able to post something on my blog.

We are into the swing of things again and the kids have taken their Winter IRI. I'm anxious to see their results to know how well they did.

I just sent home the 2nd Quarter report cards and you will find that many of your children might have seen an A go to a B or a B go to a C. I like to call this time of year the mid-year slump. The students begin to get too comfortable, begin to slack off on their schoolwork, do not give me their best and therefore I see a slight drop in grades. It usually picks back up again but sometimes now until 4th quarter. If I saw a major concern with any of their grades I would have called or discussed it with you.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and I wish you the best of times in 2013!