Meet Caya!

Today and yesterday was fab! I would have posted about my day yesterday, but after reading this post you will know why I didn't update the blog.

I was a roving sub yesterday and went to two different schools. My first class had me a little worried because the teacher told me that her class is totally crazy this year and she had to leave early yesterday because they were so awful. Luckily, the class was amazing for me, so I was totally thrilled.

At the second school, the kids were a little crazy but it was still ok. I probably would have turned mega mean on them if I hadn't checked my phone and noticed that I had two text messages waiting for me. While the students were taking their multiplication test, I checked my phone and noticed it was from Matt's cousin and Matt's aunt. If you don't know, Matt's cousin was expecting a baby. The texts told me that the baby was coming!!! Oh gosh, I'm not even technically related to this kid but I almost peed my pants with excitement right there in the classroom. I got to thinking and thought that Rachel and Jo were playing a trick on me because I kept bugging her and we kept joking back through text message about if the baby was coming. Well, they weren't joking! As soon as the kids were done taking the test, I couldn't hold in my excitement any longer so I told my class that I was going to be an auntie in a couple of hours! The girls all said ooooh and ahhhh and the boys all cheered. In actuality, I doubt they cared and just wanted an excuse to make noise, but I didn't care.I know I am not technically the auntie, but when Rachel first found out that she was pregnant her and Brian said I would be Auntie Cass, and I gladly take on that role. I have always wanted to be an auntie.

Caya didn't come until this morning at 10:59. Matt and I got there right before she was born. I really am truly so in love with this little girl already. She is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. I swear when I held her for the first time and I looked at her puffy little lips, I almost cried. Such an emotional day and it wasn't even my kid! I can't wait to see her again on Monday.

I'm such a lucky auntie!

Beautiful isn't she??

Make Changes

I was able to get to know the first graders a little bit better today. They are so fantastic and ready to learn. Seriously, the cutest kids ever. I really cannot wait to teach them!

I think one of the things I need to work on most as a teacher are things I say to them. Last year when I was student teaching, I was able to joke around with my students and call them goofy names which was fine. This year I feel like students are very sensitive. Today I was joking with a third grader and I said "Stop making such weirdo noises!" The student got realllly upset. I know this is something I need to work on and I have been doing much better with it but today it just slipped out! I still feel so bad because it was clear that the student was taken off guard and I hurt his feelings. I apologized and was able to talk to the student about it, but I am still aware that I need to think about how I present things before I speak. Ughhh. I feel so bad, I want to cry. I guess all I can do is keep trying to be aware of the things that I say and how I say them. I am such a worry wart. I hate making kids feel upset. That was totally not my intention

Quotes of the Day:

1.
Me: Great job buddy!
First grader: Thanks, I am good at math because my daddy is too.

2.
Third grader: Wow, you have the same key chain as a lady I know but she's old so it's not as cool.

Kindle

I subbed sixth grade middle school language and social studies today. It was a really good day for the most part. The students I worked with during three of the five periods were really good but the class I had in the middle of the day were out of control. Whatever though, I made it through and didn't let them ruin my day. I saw several sixth graders that went to the school I did my student teaching at last year. It was crazy because they all knew my name and I had no idea who they were... Bad Miss. Hobbs.

I have a small little confession to make. I, Cassie Hobbs, ordered a Kindle with my graduation money and giftcards today. The confession isn't that I bought a Kindle, it is the reason I bought one. I have been reading The Hunger Games trilogy, but I have a long list of books I want to read. Some of them (such as Fifty Shades of Grey) probably shouldn't be flashed at students during SSR time, so I figured I could get a kindle and read all of my books without feeling embarrassed or awkward or inappropriate.You can make fun of me all you want, but I am quite excited about my Kindle. Thanks to those of you who gave me giftcards or cha-ching for graduation. =)

RSP

I was supposed to sub for RSP today and I guess I technically did, but I was sent to a second grade class to take over while the teacher tested her students. Weird right? I thought it was a strange day.

The class I covered for was so LOUDDDD! I wanted to poke my brain out at 9:00. I had a student who started crying because someone told her to pass the paper down. Then when she stopped crying she just sat there for the rest of the day and did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I felt weird disciplining the student with her teacher sitting right around the corner. It was really quite a weird day. Earlier that day I told a student to sit down and stop talking and he started to bang his head against his chair. CRAZY LITTLE DUDE! After school I went and bought a whistle because a kid threw a rock at someone else today and I couldn't get his attention quick enough to let him know that he was in deeeeeeep poo poo. Hopefully a whistle will help in the future.

I know this sounds kind of crazy coming from me, but I really think I am starting to form a love for the younger grades. Yes, they make me want to pull my hair out at times, but I look forward to subbing for Letty and Kari's class and last week when I subbed for kindergarten I had a really fun time. Today I had to pick up the kindergarteners and walk them to the bus. When I walked into the classroom, I felt at home. I don't know what has changed from within, but something definitely has. I am not saying that I only want to teach younger grades (because believe me, I really enjoy my time with upper grades), but now I am more open to teaching any grade. I am hanging out with the first grade kids I am long terming for on Thursday morning. I am so darn excited! I have already gotten to know the third graders, so getting to know the first graders will be fun for me. WOOO!

On a side note, if you like my blog, please pass the website address on to your friends and family. I am trying to get as many followers as I can to read about my journey as a teacher. I know sometimes I don't always have funny stories, but every now and again you and your friends might laugh or have an ah-ha moment. Plus, I always enjoy hearing your feedback and suggestions to becoming a better teacher. =)

Kindergarten

I subbed half day kindergarten today. I always get a little nervous when I sub kindergarten at schools I didn't do my student teaching at. Everyone has a partner teacher and when I don't know people very well I tend to be a little shy. Today wasn't too bad though. The kids were super psycho but it ended up working out just fine. I think it is really sad to see a student just starting out in kindergarten and he already refuses to do any work or interact with other students. I asked him to color a picture and he refused. I asked him to cut out his animal and he refused. It stinks to realize that a five year old already hates school. What is the rest of his academic career going to be like?

At the end of the day when I was about to leave the teachers turned to me and said, "You're so young... you remind us of what a real kindergarten teacher is... Us 20 years ago!" Hahaha I thought it was a funny comment to give someone. Anyway, TGIF!

Super Sub

What a DAY! I felt like I was back in college running around from place to place! Don't get me wrong though, I am glad today was busy.

I started out at my old elementary school from when I was a kid. It is always fun to go back there. There is a teacher on campus who taught sixth grade when I was there. You can just tell that she is the leader of the pack at that school. She is always so vibrant and helpful. Every time she sees me she yells "Boys and girls, we have a SYCAMORE ALUMNI teaching with us today!" It is super cute. The school has smart classrooms in every room. I love it but sometimes I feel really incompetent. I think I am semi-tech savvy but I am still not used to all of the different types of fun things smart boards can do. Today I could not get the sound on the computer to work for me at all! Luckily, that teacher came in and helped me get the sound to work. I just love her and she doesn't even know it. I hope I can become the kind of leader she is.

At my old school I subbed a 5th/6th combo class. I feel like kids just won't be quiet these days! The kids were super sweet which made everything go fast. We watched Cinderella which is my all time favorite Disney movie so it worked in my favor =). I love subbing at that school.

I had fifteen minutes to jet from my school in Upland to the school in Fontana. Luckily, I was only 5 minutes late and my kids were at lunch. I subbed for the third grade class I am going to be long terming for. They are a chatty bunch, and a couple kids like to push my buttons but I am already starting to love them. No one will be able to replace my third graders from last year, but I am excited to start building relationships with this new bunch. Today when the kids saw me they all ran up and gave me a huge group hug. It reminded me of last year when my third graders did that to me. I felt like I was in a mosh pit... but instead of hardcore rockers, they are little munchkins. Such fun kids.

I want to start spending time with my first graders, too, so hopefully next week I can sneak in there and help out for a while.

After work I had to speed over to tutor my kid from last year. I tutored him all summer long, three days a week, for two hours a day. I just love him and his mom. They are so fun to be around and talk to. He is such a smart kid. Seeing him today for the first time in about a month reminded me of how much I missed him.

Overall today was a great day but I am so pooped out! Tomorrow I am doing a half day kindergarten sub job. It starts a little later than usual so I can get an hour more of rest. Woohoo!

I just got off the phone with Matt. He had his first back to school night tonight and said it was a success! I am so proud of him. He can go on for hours about his day and how much he loves his job.

I am so thankful for this wonderful life of mine.

RSP

I was so scared for my day today! I subbed an RSP class at a middle school. I thought I was going to die when I got there. I was seriously dreading the students I had to work with, and I always feel a little weird as a sub when I work with aides. BUT the kids were amazing and the day went quite well. I had a few autistic kids that came in and needed help, but it was no problem. I enjoyed being able to talk to students about how they liked sixth grade and I enjoyed working with the kids in such a small group setting.

For part of my day I had to go into a math class and help out. I know that I am no genius at math, but I can understand sixth grade math. The substitute that was in there was even confusing me! She was older, probably retired, and kept telling the students that she had a special way of teaching math. Ughhh, it just confused them! There were at least 5 RSP kids in the class who were totally lost the entire class period. I was so frustrated but I didn't want to tell her that kids didn't understand how she was teaching it because I would have felt like I was stepping on her toes.

Overall, it was a very good day.