where I'm from

Where I'm From

I am from 'Oh yah' and 'fer sure'
From knee deep in snow on Halloween
and everything on a stick

I am from stick-to-your-ribs dinners
and black coffee after
From the whole family every Saturday
knocking elbows at the table

I am from life a little slower
a little nicer
I am from deep love and great freedom
my gift

(inspired by George Ella Lynn)

the perfect storm.

Every three weeks, a new group of students prepares to leave for vacation and a new group prepares to come back to school. Those transitions are, very apparently, difficult times. Last Thursday, the year-round school thing bit us all in the butt. It was the last day before students left for vacation, the last day before a long weekend for all, all the 5th grade teachers were sub-ed out for a workshop and the day of a full moon (scientifically proven by teachers and psychiatric clinics everywhere to turn people into crazies). Or as I refer to it, The Perfect Storm. Each classroom, even those with the best classroom management turned into a den of chaos students were sent to the office in droves and multiple students were sent home.

I keep trying to apologize for my student's behavior, but then I realized I can only control my behavior (which, ironically, is what I am constantly telling them...). So if my class decides to transform itself into the looney there is really only so much that I can do.

I fled to Phoenix. I prefer it here. They have coffee shops at which I can blog. It's pretty much like heaven.

A

as promised.

I here are more pictures. These are from when Thomas was here--we went to Red Rock Canyon and the Bellagio Fountains--the most opposite experiences Vegas has to offer.

This is the city as seen from Red Rock Canyon. Seriously more impressive in person.

This is why they call it Red Rock. Genius in action.

Thomas and me--self-portrait (Thomas took charge of this one, thankfully)

The Bellagio, er, Fountains. Pre-fountainness.

This was a cool accident down on the Strip.

Back at Red Rock--Hey Valpo! Check it out, Sand Dunes in Vegas.

A really nice couple took our picture and they didn't even take our camera, golly!

I'm thinking about contacting Pontiac with this picture--my little Sweet Tomato (that's what I'm calling her)

This is my classroom before the students got into it too much. It's changed already to groups of four. We're making it work.

and so it goes.

The visit with Tyler and Thomas was really fun. I have pictures to post, but clearly you'll have to wait as my timeliness is not a skill I excel at yet. Tyler, Karen, Ben and I went on another hike to Mount Charleston which I think is Vegas' redeeming quality. Thomas and I went to Red Rock which is a hike for people who don't like to hike. No hills, just pretty.

Thomas' surprise was that Karen and I got tickets to go see the Producers. That was fun, I didn't really like the show (Tony Danza should quickly end his singing career) but I do like the people I went with.

School, needless to say, has consumed my life. I am annoyed by that fact although I anticipated it. I just feel like I don't have enough time for me or any other relationships. So today I'm making time for some and not thinking about school, well, except to blog about it(?). I failed. Oh well. I also read a book today, "The 7 Secrets of Teaching" (or something like that, it's on the other couch and I'm not about to get up to look at it). Overall, it was really helpful and informative but mostly I enjoy telling people that I read an entire book today. I think that's neat. It's makes me feel terribly productive and intelligent even though it really means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

I think one of the biggest lessons that I've learned over the past three months is that while you are starting your first year of teaching you need to cling to the successes in you life and forgive yourself for your failures. There will be both, but understand the difference between the two and using them to improve your teaching will keep you from frustration and burn out. Well, that and taking Midol at appropriate times. (That might be another story...)

Late September and October are the best months to be in Vegas (I'm sure March, April and May will be similar). The temps have stayed a pleasant 75-85 degrees with a good cool down at night. We don't have our AC on because it's such a dry heat, it stays really comfortable (and even a tiny bit chilly a night so you can really snuggle in your comforter). If you ever decide to take a trip to Vegas, definitely do it in the Fall.

Time to do laundry....the fun never stops here!

A