Break over?

Spent most of this spring break sick. Which quite frankly, sucks. I had hoped to do more. More of everything, truthfully. I wanted to do more with K, wanted to do more with the kids, wanted to do more with my school stuff, so just - MORE.

I am not looking forward to going back to school so soon. I know I have the weekend, but I also know that the weekend is going to go by too fast. Way too fast. I had hoped to do some things around the house, but haven't felt well enough to do it.

The one positive thing I have in my thoughts right now is that my student teacher is going to begin teaching more of my classes and this will allow me to begin doing more of my own planning and organizing. I full plan on taking advantage of it. I will begin organizing all of my files, trashing things I don't need, begin compiling stuff for next year, and the biggest thing - get my website stuff up and ready to go. I want to get as much stuff up and online as possible. Lets see how far I get.

Still a teacher?

According to my paycheck and where I go everyday, yes I am still a teacher. But there have been many times this school year where I have questioned if I really am a good teacher.

I really do enjoy my career choice, but this year has been a very tough year for me. It doesn't feel like I have really taught this year, not like I have wanted or like I expect of myself. I know that I am my harshest critic, but this year I haven't thrown enough energy into the classroom That is my opinion. I ave had so many thins going on outside the classroom I really wonder if I am doing my students justice.

Ok, I know I am not. Now I have fix that, but how? I have been pulled in so many different directions that I don't ever feel like I have the energy to do everything it takes. I want to work smarter, not harder. I want the students to think n a deeper level and not be bored. I want to incorporate more technology in m teaching. I want to teach again. Truly teach.

Today I sat down and thought about lesson planning. My first thought, honestly, was where do I start? I couldn't believe it, but I felt at a total loss as to where to begin. I know, maybe I am feeling overwhelmed. I have been doing a great deal outside the classroom and my mind hasn't been focused just on the class.

I have taught so many different subjects that I have been going through first year teacher issues my entire career. Maybe I am suffering burnout because of it. How do I fix it?

Galveston for the New Year

K and I are in Galveston. We decided to spend the last week of 2011 here and ring in 2012.

It has been an interesting week for the end of a long year. This year was a year of firsts and a year of loss. The hope is that 2012 brings  sense of renewal with it. Maybe a sense of purpose or a sense of belonging.

The view from our hotel balcony.

K and I have been talking that we both feel unsettled where we are. It can be summed up that we are where we are for now, but it doesn't feel like it is the right place. We aren't in a horrible place, it just not where we feel we fully fit. Sound strange? I know. It makes us both feel a bit awkward, but it helped to talk about it. The school I teach at is great about us. Fully accepting and all, but the state we are in doesn't allow us to feel relaxed about being open. We are in a bubble and the fear of going outside that bubble to find a place we really want to be is something we are both wrestling with.

We have a senior and junior in college, a senior and freshman in high school, and then our youngest is n 5th grade. We have realized there is never a right time to uproot and move, but how long do we have to wait to feel home? To enjoy our surroundings even when we aren't vacationing? Is that possible?

I guess it can be summed up that we are going to be looking for our place in the world this year. Where we fit into the puzzle and aren't trying to figure the puzzle out. I plan to be healthier at the end of the year than the beginning of the year.

Merry Christmas!

It is hard to believe that it s already Christmas 2011. This year seems to have flown by. However, I know at times it crept by.


This year brought the loss of a good friend. I had known her since high school. She was taken fast and unexpectedly. She is missed by many.

I have had some good moments this year as well. I have been very lucky in terms of getting supplies provided to my classroom. I feel very fortunate for that. We are in the process of selling our house. We had hoped it would be finished by now, but due to some problems with the buyers, it has been dragged out for some time now. Our realtor hopes to have it done by the end of January. We can only hope.

As I look back on this year I have many things I can say I have been blessed with. I was very blessed to have such a good friend in my life for as long as I did. Her passing has had an impact on my life that has yet to be truly measured. I know life is much shorter than any of us want it to be. I don't take it for granted. I spend as much time with my family as I can and make sure to tell them I love them often.

I love you guy!!

Another flood claim, great.

Back in October we learned that the slope of the driveway here at our rental is not conducive to rain. I know, sounds a bit strange, but it turns out that the drive slopes, well the concrete pad that is in front of the garage, slopes in the wrong direction. When it rains it sends the rain toward the garage instead of towards the street and drainage openings. Great right? No, not really.

The first heavy rain we get guess what we learn, all about this sloping issue. When does this rain occur? While I am at work. What is in the garage? What isn't? So many things got wet and ruined. Things we hadn't been ablt to put up yet or decide where to put them. The worst part is the appliances. Our washer and dryer is there and so is the deep freezer. I am glad we don't own the hot water heater.

We are now in the process of putting in a claim for these things. I didn't think the water had destroyed to many things, but now our washer is having some electrical glitches. Not cool. Have to put a list of things together that were destroyed and prepare the paperwork and hope to get reimbursed quickly. Must admit we are fortunate that our insurance company is pretty decent about this stuff.

Holiday Vacation Begins

I have the next full work week off. What will I do? Honestly, I don't know what I will actually get done. I am hoping to get the grading I brought home done and some small projects around the house done as well. We want to get the decorating done, so that is on the list for sure.

I would also like to get some lesson planning done. Hoping to get a few weeks of lessons put into the system so that I have less to be concerned with later.

Relax? What is that?

Classroom Changes

I have been very fortunate to come across a website that is helping teachers in their classrooms. Yesterday I received 30 brand new desks, that really make my classroom pop. Every single student smiles when they walked into the room and saw them. I heard many students say woah, what the, and oh wow. They definitely notice a difference in the feel and look of the room.

Thank you to anyone who take the time to help out teachers. Spend a dollar... it helps. www.donorschoose.org