5/6 Combo

I have a love hate relationship with subbing students while their teacher is still in the classroom. I feel like I step on toes if I am teaching while the teacher is still in there or like I am taking up space if she/he is teaching. At the same time, though, I like seeing how the teacher interacts with their students because it helps me get a feel for how I should work with students and what they are used to.

Today I subbed for a fifth grade/ sixth grade combo class. They are a fun group of kids. Every time I work with them math gets pretty crazy. I really have to gear up and put my thinking cap on for them. I drown with questions from both grade levels and math is totally not my thing. Thank goodness for answer keys because I can work backwards and figure out how to complete the problem.

After I was there for a little while today I took the students to the library. When I attended that school, the library was where the teacher's lounge currently is and now the library is where a first grade class used to be. I remember that class because in sixth grade one of my classmates, Steven, fell into the pool and drown right before the mailman found him and tried to save him. Steven's little brother was in that first grade classroom. I used to go in every day during lunch and help the teacher organize and grade. I think that year I realized that I wanted to help kids when I grew up. Up until a couple years ago I wanted to be a counselor, but with the budget cuts, I chose teaching (I know, like that is any better.). One day I hope to get my counseling credential and I know it has a lot to do with me wanting to help families like Steven's.

It is crazy the things I remember from that year. I had just moved to my town and switched schools. I didn't know who the boy in my class really was, but I remember seeing the pain in his mother's eyes after he died. I wrote a story about a magical kite who went up in the sky and didn't want anyone to be sad for him. When my classmate's mom read the story she brought me a pink guardian angel statue and gave me a hug. I still have that statue. I hope I can one day put it in my daughter's room as a sort of guardian angel.

PS

An event on Friday could possibly change my life and pick things up for me.

Please say prayers that things turn out for the best. If you don't pray, please send good vibes my way.

And before you ask, No I am not moving, getting engaged, getting married, or pregnant.

Thanks friends!

5th Grade

I subbed 5th grade today. They were less than cooperative. I had a kid who honestly had no idea how rude he was being and a girl who followed me around ALL day long. Dang girl, take a seat! I survived though, and tomorrow I am subbing at my old elementary school for a fifth/sixth grade combo class that I subbed for a few weeks ago. They were a fun class so I am excited to see them again.


I have been going to the gym lately and today I feel like I cannot move. I am pretty proud of myself because I haven't been this sore in a long time and usually it takes someone to force me to work out to become sore... so hopefully I will start to get fit again. We will see though. I hope I can get out of bed for work tomorrow morning.

A kid asked me if I was Taylor Swift today (I had curly hair today). I wasn't sure if I should have been flattered or embarrassed by that question.

Kindergarten

The truth of the matter is Letty has the cutest kinders ever this year. There really isn't much to say. Yes, they get quite chatty and are still most definitely little babies, but their comments make it all worth it. Today the new little boy in class started to cry right after we finished with journals. I felt a little strange because I was trying to figure out what was wrong with him but he just kept crying and starting at me and then he hugged me and cried some more. Poor baby. In the next ten minutes he was fine though, thank goodness.

Quote of the day:

(Student was eating flaming hot cheetos)
Student: Man, some women are hotter than cheetos!

PE

If you knew me in high school then you already know that I am the most uncoordinated person on the place of the earth and I HATE running with the passion. At 2:30 this morning I couldn't sleep and still didn't have a job for today (which is probably why I couldn't sleep) so I checked online and found an open job at a middle school in Glendora. I noticed that it was a half day sub job as a PE teacher. I figured half day is better than no day and even though it was PE I desperately need the money, so I snagged the job and fell back into a peaceful slumber.

The day really wasn't bad at all. I have never subbed PE in my life so I had no idea what to expect. After years of being away from a locker room, I was quickly reminded of how it smelled of gross feet and sweat. It really isn't the best feeling in the world but the kids were nice so it was ok. I guess the 7th graders have been having pantsing each other so the principal had a big meeting with each period about sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. It was actually pretty funny to watch. As soon as the principal mentioned pantsing, all of the students eyes popped out of their head and a nervous laughter filled the gym. It brought me back to times when some of my friends and I nervously laughed our way through Jr. High. Poor kiddos are just so awkward.

Anyway, during my last period of the day I was taking scores of people running and all of the sudden I felt a warm drop land on my arm. A BIRD POOPED ON MY ARM! I was freaking out on the inside and I'm pretty sure my eyes popped out of my head but I remained calm. Matt's grandma's house is right down the street and if I hadn't been responsible for 43 kids, I probably would have ran to my car and driven to her house to shower. I was so grossed out. The worst part is the school has three levels. I was on the second field level where there was no water or soap so I had to wipe my arm on a fence to get it off. You can bet your bottom dollar that I was the first person to get in the locker room and apply generous amounts of soap and water to my arm. As soon as I was able to leave I jumped in my car and sped home. I swear I must have washed my arm like 30 times today fearing I would forever have bird poop germs on me.

Tomorrow I am subbing for Letty's kindergarten class. I have already subbed in there several times, and tomorrow is fun Friday which is always a hoot. I wish that Fontana was closer to Chino Hills though because I was supposed to watch baby Caya after work for a little while but I won't be able to make it in time to head over there. I watched her on Monday and yesterday though. That newborn is the most beautiful thing on the planet. She fell asleep in my arms yesterday and I just about melted.

Student Teacher

I subbed for Matt's aunt's sister today. I have subbed for this class before and they are totally amazing. I love going in there. Much to my surprise, today was a short day which was totally awesome! We got out of school at 12:30 so I was able to come home and do some much needed laundry. I felt kind of bad because there was a student teacher who took over everything all day. I felt like dead weight... I didn't want to step on her toes by helping too much but I didn't want her to think I was totally lazy by just sitting in there doing nothing. I hope I wasn't too annoying. The kids were great.

I really hope that jobs for teachers turn around soon. I got another denial email today about a teaching job. It is really discouraging. Yes, people are saying that there are older teachers who are going to retire, however, the packages for retirement really aren't in anyone's favor right now so teachers aren't retiring. I just want a job already! I feel like I would be able to do all of the things I am ready for if I was able to have a full time teaching job. I know everyone has said that things take time, but I really am one of the most impatient people on the planet. I like for things to go according to plan and right now they are not. I mean, I sped through college and fast tracked not only my undergraduate degree but my master's degree as well so that I could get a job and start a life BUT this economy is failing me and my plans for the future. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely thankful for the long term sub jobs that are in the near future and for the friendships and relationships I have built with staff members at the schools I am working at, but I just wish things were more stable for me. It is very hard to plan a life when you have no idea what tomorrow is going to bring. A miracle will happen someday, I am just getting tired of waiting for that someday.

Slacker

Hi Friends,I apologize for taking so long to update my blog. I have been a tad occupied with my new Kindle! I was talking to my stepmom about my lifelong distaste for reading but can honestly say that I read the 50 Shades of Grey Trilogy in a little over a week. Clearly the kindle was the best buy I have ever made, and the books were totally worth the read... if you like those kind of books. I must say that while reading the books I have officially been found guilty of being very sheltered in all things pertaining to "romance" and I am perfectly ok with that. That is about as far as I will discuss this topic. I recommend the book and cried at the end because I became so attached to the characters... I didn't want it to end!

Anyway, enough of my ranting about that. Today I subbed for a first grade class. Cute kids, I must say. They were chatty but honestly, who isn't chatty anymore? I have decided that this school year is just full of extremely chatty classes. It is sad, but I must get over it and just have fun with the kids. Today a kid went on and on and on about how he was going to go to Tokyo with his family and will have to miss school. Sadly, I had to turn down the invitation to go on the trip with him and his family.

I never understood why teachers tell me that they have to plan their pregnancies to be just in time for the summer months until today. I watched Caya today after work and am in total awe in regards to how attached I am to her. When I have kids it will have to be around summer time so that I don't take 2 months off for maternity leave and then have to go back to work right away. I will need to plan it just right so I can take the two months off and have all of summer with the new kid. I doubt this plan will work, because most of my plans end up being a bust, but a girl can dream. Don't worry, babies are a very long ways away for me.

Quote of the day:

Me: Finish your coloring, Buddy.
Student: ...But you're just so beautiful!