Teacher Appreciation Week

I only have this week left of student teaching! Oh my goodness gracious! Luckily, my last week is also Teacher Appreciation Week so there are lots of goodies coming my way! =)

Today the PTA provided breakfast to the teachers and staff, so I thought that was very nice of them. Students were also supposed to bring in cards for their teacher. I didn't think I would get any because I am a student teacher, but four of my students gave me a card. SO CUTE! I even received a little note from one of my third graders! LOVE IT!

Something bittersweet happened today. Judy came and observed me for the last time. She is such an amazing woman. I love being able to chit chat with her. She has really been a rock for me. My friend Cherlynn and I love having her as our fieldwork supervisor.... we made a fan club for her. I am the president (of course) and she is the VP ;). I am sure we will keep in touch.

Here are some pictures of the cards I received:

Quote of the Day:

Student: Superman liked me so much that he wanted to take a picture with me!!!
Me: How cool!
Student: Yeah but my mom didn't have any cash so I couldn't take a picture with him after-all...

Comments on Blog

Several people have been telling me that they are having trouble leaving comments on my blog. I went in and changed the settings, so you should be able to leave comments now. Please let me know if you are still having trouble.

Shoot me an email at cassie.hobbs@laverne.edu if you should have any problems.

Sorry about that!

Freaky Friday

Today was interesting. I started my morning off a little bumpy, but thanks to my helpful friends at Solorio, everything turned out golden!

Letty and I went to Panera as usual, then we went to Target. We got a little bit out of control in the store and ended up buying three bags of candy. But man oh man they were all so delicious! Thanks Letty!

I know my followers have patiently been waiting the verdict on whether or not we will be going to Arizona to teach next year. After much contemplation and discussion, Matt and I have decided that we will not be moving to Arizona. As much as I liked the area, I did not feel that the school was a good fit for me. So, back to the job search we go. Something better will come up eventually, we just need to remember to try to be patient. Thank you to everyone who has been keeping us in your thoughts.

Week 9 Day 4

I survived Thursday! Today a little girl wet herself, a boy hit another kid, and someone got whacked in the face playing basketball. I think the kids are ready for summer.

A little boy likes to follow me around during snack time and teach me his dance moves. He is a chubby kid, but the way he dances is a real workout. Phew. I was exhausted.

I am applying for jobs locally but having a really hard time. My degree needs to be posted, and since I still have to wait a few weeks, I am having a really hard time finding jobs. Just hurry up and give me my degree already, La Verne!

Quote of the day:

I feel like kindergarten is often Sunday School at Solorio...here's why...
Student: I trust in the fact that God is alive!!!!

Cookie Monster

I have a few weaknesses in life: cookies, sushi, my grammy's banana pudding and her peach cobbler, and my stepmom's texas sheet cake. All of those foods can turn anyone's day into a slice of heaven. Kristine's cookies are like biting into happiness. And it just so happens that today she gave me some cookies. Oh em gee... I wanted to die with joy.

This morning I observed the upper grade special education class. When I walked in I felt like I was in a zen garden. Everything was so peaceful, the teacher was relaxed and calm towards students. I loved watching how well she was able to work with students. It made me almost wish I went into special ed... ALMOST. I still don't think I'd have the patience for it.

Other than that, my day was slightly out of control. The kinders get to observe caterpillars and watch them turn into butterflies. Today we received the caterpillars and the kids went nuts!!! I let them look at the little guys and then write a journal about what the caterpillars looked like. I think that allowing them to look at them at the beginning of the day was a bad idea. For the rest of the day they were super riled up. Even one of my best students stole a pencil right out of a girl's hand. Next time I know not to show the kids something so exciting right at the start of our day. Other than the kids being super hyper, everything went just fine.

Quote of the day:
Student: Ms. Hobbs he said the "w" word
Me: (Trying to think really hard about what the "w" word might be)
Student: You know.... what the he-- with a "ck" at the end

Donuts!

I may have promoted childhood obesity today by bringing in donuts for my kids, but just for today I am ok with that. I'll be sure to have kids run around the playground for a few extra minutes tomorrow ;)

Yesterday I had a bad day, so today I made it a point to have a better day, and what is better than having donuts for the kids and my fun teacher friends? It was one of the parent volunteer's birthday today also, and she brought in chocolate covered strawberries for the kids. They were so good! The fact that I had a donut AND a chocolate covered strawberry made today a million times better than yesterday.

I subbed for my kinders today and this morning before going to centers I visited my 3rd grade class. Observing them made me realize just how much they have grown since October when I was their student teacher. They are all giants compared to when I had them and they are more mature than they were. I know the fact that they are different now than they were in October is an obvious observation, but it is still weird to witness. I don't want them to grow up and go to 4th grade. Stay little babies!!!

On the news this morning President Obama gave an award to the best teacher in America. She is from LA. As Obama was introducing her and describing her qualities, she sounded like the teachers I have worked with during both rounds of student teaching. Both Kristine and Letty are creative in how they teach information, have great parent-teacher communication, have effective classroom procedures, and are easily able to find ways to connect to their students. If they were nominated for the awards I think there would be a tie for the greatest teacher in the United States. I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with the both of them and I love the fact that I can call them both my friends. I look forward to seeing them everyday at school. Both Kristine and Letty have been rocks for me and I couldn't have asked for better master teachers to have. I am gracious to have had the opportunity to work with them and I hope I can teach like them when I have my own classroom.

Yesterday a little girl told me that she forgot my rock. I thought she meant that she went into the dirt in her backyard and pulled a rock out. However, this morning when she came to the classroom she handed me a beautifully decorated white rock with a flower on it. She told me that she made the rock just for me. I think that this rock will make its way in my classroom throughout all of my years teaching. I love it so much.

Monday Funday

I only have two more weeks left of student teaching!!!

I know that I am the type of person that would love to teach upper grades, but I can honestly say that I am going to miss my kids in a couple of weeks. I think this experience has helped me grow a lot and I am glad to have had the opportunity to work with them. Something they say or do makes me smile everyday, and smiling is certainly the best medicine if you ask me.

Quote of the Day:

Student: "I'm strong enough to eat chili, Miss. Hobbs."