Song: "Fall For You"- Secondhand Serenade

Mood: Exhausted

So I officially survived my first year in North Carolina teaching 4th grade at a year round school. It was the longest year of teaching that I've ever had in my eight years as a teacher. I literally was with them from the beginning of July through the end of June. Fortunately, I had an outstanding class and it was a pleasure 99% of the time.

Last Sunday Steve and I met 12 of my kids at the Durham Bulls stadium for a game. They played the Norfolk Tides. It rained and rained and eventually we had to leave because the rain was coming down too hard. However, we had a really great time and the parents really seemed to enjoy themselves. There were 52 people there and like I said, 12 kids. That's more than half my class!! I think it'll be something I do each year, like I did in Michigan with the Tigers.

The last week of school was more stressful than anything I've ever experienced at work. There was so much due by Friday and I just didn't have time. Each night after work I worked on getting the end of the year DVDs ready for the kids. That took so much time and thankfully Steve was there to help me. If Steve had not helped, there's no way I could have finished them by Friday.

The fourth grade teachers decided to have spirit week for the last week of school. Not sure why the administration didn't do it for the whole school and we were waiting for it to be announced, but it never did. We decided to take it upon ourselves and as a result only the 4th graders participated. Monday was wacky hair day (there's a picture at the top of my wacky hair). Tuesday was backwards day, Wednesday was Wacky Wednesday (student choice) and most of my kids dressed up like twins. Thursday was mismatched socks and shoes and then Friday was celebrity day. All the fourth grade teachers (except Katie) dressed up as beauty pagent queens. I was "Miss Steak," Jen was "Miss Tury," Lisa was "Miss Spelled" and Laura was "Miss Understood." It was funny and the kids really liked it. We each wore a tiarra and then because it was the last day, Thomas gave me a dozen roses so I carried them with me. The roses made the outfit complete. Ms. Jarman introduced me and Jen as celebrities for the track out ceremony and we each gave the pagent wave. LOL.

My kids had a fantastic party on Friday. Chick-fil-A donated nuggets and then they had pizza, chips, grapes, watermelon and veggies and dip. Then they went outside and we did a bunch of water games that they LOVED! After that we came back inside and had ice cream sundaes. It was really nice. My parents gave me a really nice personalized frame and then a $75 gift card to DSW, a $25 gift card to Sonic and $20 cash. I got $25 from one student to Stones (teacher's store) and then I also got some nice earrings from one, a $30 gift certificate to this place that's only open for breakfast (supposed to be really good). I also got a nice frame (apple) with a picture of one of my girls and then three bags of personalized M&Ms. They say "Thanks Mrs. Walker" and then "You Rock Luv Emily." I thought they were awesome!!

Tomorrow I have to go back to work and it's a workday. It'll be Katie's last day (tear). Then Tuesday will be the first day of the year with our new team. There's three new people. Laura is going to 3rd grade and so a different Lisa is taking her place. Then a woman named Amy is taking Katie's place and then there's a new girl (not sure of her name-- we call her Barbie because she looks like a damn Barbie doll) but she's from EMU (weird right?). She's a brand new teacher... I told Jen she looks like a tri-Sigma. LOL.

Anyway-- I'll write again soon.

Until next time...

>^..^<

Song: "Let's Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas
Mood: Exhausted

Okay... so the EOGs are over and I am totally stressed. I feel like a complete failure. As I walked around the room yesterday and today (math), I saw so many things that I KNEW my kids probably didn't know. I held after school EOG clinics for two days a week for more than four weeks. The kids that came to the EOG clinics probably did AWESOME because everything that I reviewed in the clinics were on the EOGs. However... they didn't all come, and I have my doubts about how well they did. Which totally sucks.

My principal still doesn't know what's happening for next year. No idea about numbers or classrooms or anything. I have no idea if I'm going to be moving out of my room each time I track out or every other time like it has been. The good news about that whole deal is that one of the resource room teachers that's on track three said I could store my stuff in her room during track out. WHICH IS AWESOME because I was freaking out about where I'd put my stuff. Sadly, I was going to have to take home all of my books.

Tomorrow we're going out to dinner for Katie... she'll be going to the new school and we're having a farewell dinner for her. Lisa isn't going. It's so weird how close they were all year and then in February it all changed. Not sure exactly what caused it but they pretty much hate each other. Sigh...

Anyway- I'll get my scores for math on Friday (hopefully) and then we won't get the reading scores until October/November. I'll write with my info when I get it. Say a prayer for me and my kids that we did well!! I'm going to feel like shit if they don't do well. I'll feel like a failure. :(

Heavy sigh...
Until next time...
>^..^<

Music: "Don't Turn Off the Lights"- Enrique Ingesias
Mood: Happy

Today I had my all-day training for new teachers to Wake County. It wasn't required, but suggested that I go. I am glad that I went! I got up early (6:15) and left the house by 7am so that I'd have more than enough time to get to Leesville Rd. High School in north Raleigh.

I was about five minutes into my commute when I hit MAJOR traffic on 55. I was a little nervous because I thought that the majority of the traffic would be going to US-1 (which is where I was going) but I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were all staying on 55!

Once I was on North US-1 I had smooth driving! No traffic problems at all. I arrived at Leesville Rd. High School at 7:45 and I had until 8:30 before the day began.

I went inside and found the registration table and was given directions to the room where the 4th and 5th grade teachers were being trained. When I got to the room I saw Julie Cuttler (the IRT from Oak Grove)! I was excited to see someone that I knew!

The training was excellent. They went through all the required curriculum for reading, writing, math, social studies and science. They even went through both grades (4th and 5th) so that each grade could see what the grade above/below would be teaching.

After the training for 4th/5th we were given a small break and told to go to the cafeteria for a session on classroom management. I met a girl in the 4th/5th session that was also from Michigan (Traverse City and then Livonia). She also teaches 4th grade and was teaching in Durham last year. Her name was Laura and she and I sat together at the classroom management session.

Even though I've been teaching for a while, I learned a lot from the presenter. She was very funny and explained things according to Harry Wong (educational genius). I loved hearing all the things that I do being reinforced!

After the session we were able to meet the Wake County Teacher of the Year (she's from Fuquay-Varina HS). She gave some words of advice and welcomed us to Wake County. Then we were released for lunch.

Laura and I went to Panera Bread and it was good. We got back at 1:00 for the next session. The second part of the day was rather boring. We were told about growth of the district (which was interesting for the first 30 minutes... but an hour and a half into graphs and demographic data I was checked out). Then we heard about the assessments given by grade and then we learned about staff/professional development. All good stuff.

The best part was the year-round lady. She basically talked about what to expect and how year-round works. I am so glad I picked Oak Grove because they've been doing year-round for 15 years and have it perfected. All the other year-round schools just switched and July 2nd will be their first run.

The superintendent was the last person to come and speak to us. He was very nice and very friendly. It was weird that for such a HUGE district he'd be there to talk to us, but he was very positive and welcoming and professional.

There were only seven people in my morning training... weird to think that there are only seven new hires for the entire county for 4th and 5th grade. Today's session was ONLY for year-round people. Which means that the rest must be traditional calendar. Anyway, the afternoon session had all grades represented and there were only about 45 people. Very small compared to the 2,500 new teachers that they said they hired for 2007-2008. Maybe they didn't know about the training.

I got home and Steve was already here. Not too long after I got home we had a visitor come to our door. It was the "welcome wagon" coming to greet us and welcome us to Holly Springs! It was very nice! She brought all kinds of info and had a lot of handouts for dentist offices, doctors, nail places (that are not in shopping plazas) and hair salons. We were excited and touched that someone actually came to our house to welcome us!!

I'm telling you... the south is wonderful! Everyone has been SO warm and friendly. We couldn't be happier (unless my parents were here)!!

Tomorrow I have another training-- for math. Should be fun. I hate math so much, so maybe this will help me to embrace it!!

Until next time...
>^..^<