First week of teaching

This is an old blog I typed up on the way home to Louisiana from Nicks graduation and never posted!

So my first week as an educator has come to an end. I have had some funny moments this week and some very frustrating times. Some of the kids love me, and tell me constantly and one child has set out to make my life miserable. I have decided to take it one day at a time. When I think I can’t put up with him anymore I will remind myself that he is just a child and that he needs my help and probably more love than the others in class. I REFUSE TO LET A SIX-YEAR-OLD MAKE A FOOL OF ME. So hopefully this week will go well. I had a sub on Friday and there is no telling what I will be walking back into. We start our real instruction this week and I am excited to teach them something. I will try to remember to post some of the funny things that I hear. You would be surprised what comes out of six-year-old mouths. My first day some of the kids were telling me that they loved me and that I was the best teacher they have ever had. I have one baby named Marcus who is just a sweet pea. He started to cry when he had trouble with a worksheet. He said, “Ms. Row, I’m so sad”. He is just such an emotional one. That’s another thing, my name! They CANT say it. It is sooo funny. So far this week I have been called: Ms. Row (quite popular), Ms. Tootsie roll, Ms. Cereal, Ms. Sereo. I just answer to anything. My main goal this week is to really get my classroom management together. It is going to be a long year and some of them REALLY have a lot to learn. Hopefully I wont let them or their parents down.

I flew in to Florida on Friday for Nick’s graduation. I was soooo excited. It was really good to see him. It seems like whenever we are together I’m home. It doesn’t matter where we are. Saturday was GREAT! I had a manicure, pedicure and eyebrow wax. Then I went to Five Guys with Nick. For any of you who have not been there, GO! It is really good. His graduation was awesome. Hopefully I can post pics soon enough. My eyes welled up with tears about four times. Not just because he was graduating and I was so proud of him. I was also proud of some of his classmates and their accomplishments. We all had our own little battles to fight and everyone did it. Also thinking about all of the good times we had. They all worked so hard. I have never been so proud of him. I know first hand how much work he put into his program, he came a long way and he did awesome! Just seeing him in his little cap and gown with the bars on the sleeves getting “hooded” (I guess that is what is called) meant so much. He deserved every bit of the night. After the graduation we took some pictures and went to Columbia’s. We went through I think three pitchers of Sangria and had a good time. We went and met some of his friends out at the White Lion after. There were a lot of people there. I think Nick had a good time. My feet were killing me in the four-inch heels I was wearing but I had a good time anyways.... and Nick liked my dress so I sucked it up! :o). Now I guess I will have to call him Dr. Cicero. CRAZY! It was nice that my parents got to go, Brian and Alecia, Jonathan and Nicks parents. Hopefully we will get to go back to St. Augustine one day to visit. It really was fun while it lasted and I appreciate the time we had there. We learned a lot about ourselves and each other and what we could do. It is bittersweet leaving but I am soo glad to bring him home. Today we went by mom and dad’s condo to pick up some stuff and visit with them before driving home. They looked so relaxed. I asked mom when was the last time they went on vacation by themselves. She thought for a second and said “never”. I am glad they got to get away and relax a little bit. They both deserve it for all they do. We have been driving all day now. I talked Nick in to stopping at Mellow Mushroom (he hates to sit down and eat when we are on the road all day) but it was really good. I am ready to get home already though. I think we have a few hours left.

So overall, this weekend was pretty awesome. My husband is awesome, our families are awesome. Life is so good. We have so much to look forward to and we are excited to begin the new journey that is our life. That’s all I have for now.

first day in first grade!

So my first day of first grade.  I have probably already told all of the people that actually read this blog but I am mainly doing it for myself.  In my classes they tell us to keep a diary of our first year as educators... so here it is!  This morning I woke up at 5am and got to school by 5:50.  I prepared the last details and made my way over to the gym.  I watched all of the kids walk in all shinny and new with their nice clothes on and their cute little hair dos.  I even saw a lot of parents that I went to school with which was really bizarre.  I just cant imagine having a child old enough to be in school.  The oldest I saw was fourth grade. It was nice to see people I haven't seen since high school though.  When I first got into my class everything seemed to be going ok.  A parent knocked my coffee cup and it spilled ALL OVER my desk and papers... but no worries!  Jordin brought me a towel the day before so that saved the day.  I cleaned it up and went on with business.  I have a few children who will be quite......challenging. :)  One in particular, I have never met a kid so defiant in all my life.  But others who were so sweet.  One little boy whispered a "secret" in my hear.  He said that I was his best friend.  It was so cute.  I do love that about first graders.  After I would yell at them in my mean voice they would tell me that they loved me and how happy they were to be in "Ms. Row's" class.  (They cant say my name :))  Today wasn't perfect but it wasn't awful either.  I know I have a lot to learn and I am thankful for a great mentor teacher.  Hopefully  I wont have to bug her too much.  I think I will continue to grow and get better.  The kids made me laugh several times today.  There are many jobs out there where employees get to say that.  The kids are so cute and funny.  I'm excited to get to know them more.  And hopefully my little challenges will turn into great successes.... only time will tell.

Nick is done with school.  He graduates on Friday... HOLY CRAP!  I cant wait.  I really don't think it gets any better than this.  We totally have the world at our fingertips and nothing is holding us back.  I'm so excited all of our goals are turning into reality.  

I'm exhausted so I need to go to bed.  Hopefully my throat will feel better by tomorrow!  Goodnight all!

First grade, here I come!

So it hit me today....in about a week and a half I will be responsible for teaching 1st graders how to read!!! Oh my!  I am quite anxious and nervous about the whole teaching thing.  Nick took the job at Physician's Choice and I am excited that he will be working closely with me.  Everything is changing, it is so crazy to think about!  I have never been so proud of my honey.  I am so glad he will be doing something that he loves so much.  Hopefully I wont still be peeling for his graduation!  I got SO sunburnt when I went to visit him that I have been peeling ever since.  I really look nasty!  I have been wearing stuff to cover it up.  

Kali came to school with me Friday to help set up my classroom.  The older teacher next door to me was trying to set me up with her son which I thought was funny.  Kali told her that I was married to her uncle Nick!  This should be an interesting year.  They are still renovating the school and they have a lot of work to do!  I don't know how they will finish it.  I don't know how I will finish setting up my classroom!  I chose to do a Dr. Seuss theme.  I am excites about it!  I have a lot to do but I have been mainly concentrating on organizing everything.  I have spent more money on those plastic shoe box things!  I am excited to start this year though!

Jenn, Michael, and Eli came into town yest.  Eli is possibly the cutest baby I have ever seen (besides Kali and Sara)  I cant get over how happy and pleasant he is.  This kid hardly ever cries.  I am lucky to be the aunt of some awesome kids.  Today we went to Nana's house and I used a hedge trimmer!  I felt so strong... it was way funner than it looks!  I might have to do it again some time. :)  I'm glad I didn't cut off a limb!  Hopefully we will have a nice day tomorrow too.

I am really missing Nick tonight.  I cant wait to see him.  It is funny how when you get to the end it gets so much worse.  It feels like the time is going by sooo slowly.  Soon enough!

Goodnight world!

I need to beg, borrow and steal ideas!

So I am sitting in my husband's apartment while he is at school. The story of my life! I haven't posted in a while, I have been a bit busy. I flew here to visit Nick on Monday. When Hayley and I got to the airport the boys were there holding a neon orange sign that said "Welcome ladies". It cracked me up! I thought, only my husband. Nick only has about three weeks of school left which is just crazy! It almost doesn't seem real! I spoke to my principal and asked her if I could take off for his graduation... the first Friday of school! She said that would be OK, so that was a huge relief! I do not think I could be any more proud of him. Last night we were up until about 2:30 talking about everything. Growing up i really something. I feel so luck to have met him so young and to be able to watch him turn from an 18 year old boy to a great husband and one day father. We talked about having babies, where we will live, just about everything. It is so nice sometimes to just take time out a talk. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the day-to-day grind and forget to sit down and really talk. I love that I met him, I love that he picked me, I'm so lucky to be married to my best friend. I will stop with all the cheesy stuff now :)...
I think we are going out to eat tonight. I had a great lunch with one of my very best MHRC friend today. I am meeting a group tomorrow. I still have not made it to the beach but I have done a lot of shopping! We are going to the outlet tomorrow. Nick wants an outfit for graduation.
I meant to blog last week when I was hanging out with the girls a lot. they were sooo funny. Those kids crack me up! I will try to blog more often and remember what they do that cracks me up.
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I start working on my classroom and having meetings when I get back. I want to kind of do a theme of "Oh, The Places You'll Go"... I obviously like that book as it is also the title of my blog but I figure I can tie in almost anything to that. I really like hot air balloons and would like to tie that in also. Anyhow... I'm losing sleep over this stuff so if anyone has any ideas I would appreciate them! Thanks!

Missing my little man

So the last few weeks have not been easy. I finished up student teaching which was pretty good. I only have three days left of school. Nick booked e a flight today to go out to see him for a week. Hayley and me and flying together. So there are some things to look forward to.

This past week the most horrible thing happened. I got hoe from a movie with Jo and called for Duncan for what seemed like a really long time. I started to get really worried so I walked around the house to look for him. I went to the road and saw him laying there. I went up to him and he had no scratches on him. He looked like he was just sleeping. I pet his head and realized that he wasn't moving. I ran in the house to get dad. Dad tried to shake him a little but he was gone. I immediately broke down and thought he was hit by a car. I called Nick to tell him. We were both really devastated. He was definitely a part of our family. I loved him so much. I told dad the next day how Duncan was sick and threw up the day before. I said I had to give him a bath because he got sick in his kennel (which almost never happens). Dad said that he really didn't think Duncan was hit because he didn't have a scratch on him. He also said that Duncan was on the couch and dad asked him if he wanted to go out and he was moving really slowly. It breaks my heart to think there might have been something I could do to save him. He really loved Nick and me. He got me through moving to FL when I knew no one and Nick was in school or studying constantly. I think about him all the time.

On a much happier note... Ella's baptism was yesterday. It was so nice and she looked beautiful in her little lace dress and booties. We went to Nichole and Jeremy's house after and they cooked and had a water slide for the kids. It was hot but fun. I worked at the bar last night. It turned out to be a good night. It is funny how we have such a variety of people that come through those doors. It makes me a little proud. Some of the people who I probably would not even talk to in a different setting are actually the nicest people I have ever met. You really should never judge a book by its cover.

I hope everyone had a nice fourth of July. I wish I could have spent it with Nick. This is the second Fourth in a row that we have been in different states. Maybe next year. We are in the home stretch!! I wish Duncan was around in the end. We always talked about the kind of yard we would have for him. Im so sad he will not be around to enjoy it.

Nick found a job and got a pretty good offer. I will hopefully still be working at Iberville Elementary next year in first grade. It seems like things are falling in to place. This year will definitely be a year to remember.

EMPLOYMENT!!!

So I started student teaching...it has not been very fun lately. I have to wake up at 5:30 in the morning and and I get off at 2:30/ All day we teach ONE SUBJECT. It makes for a really long day I must say. Anyways, yesterday I went to Mr. Arthur's funeral. I was disappointed with the amount of people that did not show up. I felt like it was disrespectful. I guess people are just people and you cant change some things. It was a nice service though... Jason Palermo (sp?), used to be his neighbor and knew him well. That always helps when speaking about someone. We will really miss him.

After the funeral I got a call from the principal of Iberville Elementary. Ms. Thibadeaux seemed to really like me. I interviewed with her for about an hour and 15 minutes. I felt very comfortable with her. She offered me a job teaching first grade. She told me when she saw my resume and picture "all she was was a first grade teacher". I hope she was was right! I talked with Nick and although the drive will stink, I am going to take it. Also the nice paycheck wont hurt! I am really excited now about the future. It feels like things are finally moving along. Nick comes home this weekend for two weeks to do another interview with Health South. I hope it goes well. I have my job, Nick graduates in August!!! I am ready to get started! Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers.

I must go to bed now because I will have to be up shortly!

new experiences...teaching and box color

So my first few days as an educator have gone as well as expected. I have to wake up at 5:30 in the morning to get to Saint Amant Primary by 7:20/ That part really sucks. Yesterday I didn't do much teaching. I just sat back and watched. Today I was with a math teacher as we alternate every other day. The second I walked in one of the kids said that I did not look old enough to be a teacher and all of them thought I was in high school! Too bad. I was also going over some word problems with them and got one completely wrong. I made it way more complicated than it was supposed to be. I felt really stupid when the teacher overheard me. She walked over and handed me the book and said "here's the answer key". This is fourth grade math were talking about people! Then one of the kids said that I am supposed to know everything because I am the teacher. I felt stupid but it was funny. At least I got the other ones right! After I left work I went and dropped off paperwork at the west baton rouge school board. I am sick of applications! I wish I just had a job already! Anyways... I must go because I am dieing my hair tonight and I have to go to bed early these days! Wish me luck. I hope my hair doesn't turn out crazy... I have never used the box before! Maybe mom can remember some of her old tricks and not jack me up ;)