We had a great week in Wisconsin with family and friends. After two weeks of vacation, it's back to school in the morning. I've gotten used to sleeping in (also known as sleeping until 7am) for the past two weeks, so it's off to bed for me. 5am will be here before I know it. Enjoy a few pictures from winter break:

Visiting friends in Madison.

California Pups.

The igloo in my classroom is complete! Thanks for constructing it, aj.

Oh yeah. And Tucker turned 4.

Fall in Prescott

We decided to make good use of our four-day weekend, and headed up to Prescott for a few days. Prescott is a great little college town and I'm sure we'll be back.

Our cozy cabin. Only you Office lovers out there will understand, but we basically stayed at Shrute Farm.

Resident donkey at the ranch.

Tucker was curious.

Chilly Arizona

You probably want to laugh at me, but it gets downright chilly here. And by chilly, I do mean 50 degrees. Perfect weather to sit by the chiminea and roast marshmallows.

Letter

Dear Papa,

Please come home soon.

Reason #1:

Reason #2:

Reason #3:
Reason #4:

Reason 9,457: I miss you!

Love, Tucker

Fall Break

Warning: This post is basically a pep-talk for the next 10 weeks of school, so move on if you are not interested. :)

After experiencing the joys of a two week fall break, I'm not sure I could ever switch to a school district without one (or a classroom without a smart board while I am being greedy). Sure, we're basically a year round school, but two weeks off at the end of each quarter is glorious! I'm still not loving life in the classroom, but I have had two weeks to prepare for the next 10 weeks before Winter Break. Which is approximately two more weeks of preparation than I had at the beginning of the school year. So, I think it's safe to say it will be a better quarter than last. Let's be honest, could it really get any worse?

Okay, maybe I'm being a little dramatic. :)

Actually, I'm feeling hopeful and determined for the rest of the school year. I am going to make the best of my situation, and stop feeling frustrated with how the first grade classrooms were divided (someone decided to throw the new teacher all the known students with a) behavior problems or b) high energy). Luckily, I have a few gems who remind me daily why I love teaching.

Sadly I have a handful of students who come with a lot of baggage, and need so much more than just academics. I have one boy who leaves me exhausted by the end of the morning day because I feel like I am constantly putting out fires. By the end of the week I start to see glimmers of progress. Unfortunately everything we worked on gets undone over the weekend and the cycle begins again on Monday. All of his (FOUR!!) suspensions have happened on Mondays, and I find myself making positive calls home on Fridays. Oh how I wish I could just bring him home with me, instead of sending him "home" for the weekend.

My new goal is to Keep Calm and Teach On, even if a certain someone in the back of the room is tipping his desk over to get attention or shouting "NO!!!!!!!!! I HATE READING!!!!!!!! I AM NOT GOING TO DO THIS. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

So, any takers to come volunteer in my classroom?? :)

Visitors

My pants are hemmed, the car is clean, the windows are washed, the pool has been scrubbed, the freezer is stocked with ice cream, the bathroom drain is fixed, and my classroom library has been organized. That must mean the Jewett's have been in town! :)

We had a great week showing off our new state, but it's pretty lonely and quiet in our house now that they are gone. Come back soon!

A few pictures from the week:

One of the perks of having a librarian for a mom: my classroom library has FINALLY been labeled and organized! Thanks mom! Now if only she could get me out of my $30.00 fine at the Chandler library.

Vegas

A weekend in Vegas with friends was just what the doctor ordered. Conferences came and went without much excitement, and I'm currently enjoying my TWO WEEK fall break. And to make things better, the air conditioning has been turned OFF and the windows are open! :)