Favorite Things About August

Is August over already?!?

That means, I have only 6 more days until my first break!

Here are a few of my favorite things from the month of August:

1. Finding the 10 Day You Challenge link up. This has been such a fun link up because it changes every week and it helps you get to know others better. You also have to do a little bit of "soul searching" to come up with your own post.

2. Being given a massage gift card from my fellow 4th grade teachers. I definitely look forward to using it during my break from school!

3. Using Scholastic Book Clubs again. I used Scholastic all the time my first year teaching. I was able to get tons of books for FREE! You earn points and money and books just by having your students order books. I moved to a new school last year and never got around to using it last year. I used it again this year and got really excited when I picked out my free books.

4. Seeing the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie. You can tell I'm a teacher. I have read all the books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and I've seen all the movies. Lee and I love them. They're so funny and they're good, clean fun-which is hard to come by these days. 

5. This quote I found on Pinterest. This definitely encouraged me in my life right now.

What are your favorite things from this month?

What is a Multi-Track Year Round School?

I've mentioned on here before that I work at a year round school. 

When I say that to people, I usually get a reaction like "I could not go to school all year!" or "I would not like that!"

I feel that way too when they say that.

Because....I love it!

I would have a hard time going back to traditional school.

I thought I would explain what year round school looks like and why I love it.

This is what our school calendar looks like.

Sorry if you can't see this too well. If you're interested in seeing the calendar better, you can click here.

 
Our school has 4 tracks. Each track is made up of 1 or 2 classes on each grade level. Each track has a different schedule. On the calendar, each track is represented by a different color. My track is red.

It sounds more confusing than it is.

Basically, one track is coming back while another one is going on break every 3 weeks. So, in a year round school, you think of things in 3 week increments. On the calendar, each color represents when that track is in school. So, you will notice that there are always 3 colors in school and then the white is showing that that particular track is on break. Orange means a holiday and no one is in school.

Most of the time, teachers also have to pack up their room and move out because the teacher coming back will be moving into their room.

Say what?!?

It's not as bad as it sounds. It keeps you from accumulating too much stuff. You have a rolling cabinet that moves with you, so most of your stuff has to fit in it. We also have things that the school provides that stay in each room. 

I love my schedule because I work 9 weeks and then get 3 weeks off. When my break falls during a holiday, I get even more time off. For example, I have the whole month of December off! I love getting a break after every quarter. It helps me to reevaluate how things are going. It provides a time to plan and change things if I need to. I don't get nearly as burnt out as I did when I worked at a traditional school.

A burnt out teacher isn't good for anyone.

Plus research shows that children retain more of what they learn with this type of school schedule.


I know most teachers say they love their summers and couldn't give them up. It doesn't really bother me that much. I get bored if I am off too much. I like routine. My 3 week break is usually just enough to give me a break to destress and do some things I enjoy, but not too much for me to get bored.

So, while most traditional schools have just started in the past couple of weeks, I've been in school for 8 weeks now. Which means....I'm one week away from a break!!!

Can you tell I'm ready?

Pinteresting Laughs

Pinterest can often put a smile on my face with the humorous pins people pin and repin.

So, I'm sure we all need a laugh in the middle of the week to get through (halfway to the holiday weekend!). 

Here are some of my favorite pins from my Random Fun board:

How cool would this be to do to your child (if they're a Harry Potter fan of course)?

 

haha...Miley, what are you thinking? Better yet, Liam, what are you thinking?!?

This one made me giggle when I saw it. :)

So true!

These were my exact thought when watching the movie!

Haha...good ole' Napoleon Dynamite...always good for a laugh

Right? Mine was constantly being rearranged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Wednesday everyone!

8 Fears

This is my third week linking up with The Austin Family Diary and Life. Love. Lauren. for the 10 Day You Challenge.

This link up has been so much fun! I am loving reading everyone else's posts. This week is
8 fears.

1. My biggest fear is someone I love dying too soon.
(I hate to even type that out or say it).

2. My second biggest fear is not being able to have children.

3. The fear I can remember having the longest is a fear of bad weather. When I was younger, bad weather terrified me. Now, I can control myself, but I still don't like it. I've found that it helps me to have access to the internet or a TV where I can be informed of what's going on rather than wondering.

4. I'm afraid of being home alone in a house. For some reason, it doesn't bother me to be home alone in our apartment, but when we lived in a house or when I lived with my parents, I refused to stay home alone for long periods of time and never at night.

5. I'm scared of cows. They're creepy animals. I grew up with cows behind my house and I hated them. They just stare at you. We had a golf cart we rode around our property for fun and a few times it broke down in the middle of the pasture and I had to face my fear and walk by the scary cows to get home.

6. I'm also scared of bodies of water-unless it's a pool. I don't like to swim in the ocean, river, lakes, etc. If there are animals in it, I don't want to be in it too! One time Lee and I rented a jet ski to ride in the ocean and I was screaming at him the whole time that he better not throw me off. I didn't want to become shark food!

7. I have a fear of saying something wrong or sounding stupid. I am a quiet person. I speak when I have something to say. Unless I'm with someone I'm really comfortable with, I don't talk just for the sake of talking. I don't like to look or sound stupid so I always over-analyze things that I do say. I don't mind talking in front of people if I have time to prepare and think about what I'm going to say, but I panic if I have to talk without warning.

8. I'm a pretty paranoid person and watching certain TV shows or movies put ideas in my mind. I'm the person who is suspicious of people who seem to be "following" me or of riding in the elevator alone with someone or of trying to put groceries in my trunk when I'm by myself (because you know someone could come stuff you in it). These types of things are constantly going through my mind when I'm out and about, but I try to push those thoughts to the back of my mind.

Whew! That was a serious post! Glad it's over. :)

What are your biggest fears?

Holes Classroom Activities #1

One of my favorite children's books is Holes by Louis Sachar. 

I never read this book when I was a child. I actually saw the movie first. It's also a good movie-by the way.

Anyway...the first time I read this book was last year to my 4th grade class. I admit, I don't like to read books to my classes that they've made into movies. It's hard to discuss these types of books because the kids already know what's going to happen. I enjoy this book so much, though, that I read it anyway. And the kids love it!

This year, I decided to try some activities to go along with reading the book.

Holes has so many characters. So, I made a poster for each character and we filled it in with different descriptions of that character. This went right along with our standards for about 2 weeks where we were discussing different elements of characters.

We also discussed visualizing and making a mental image based off the description the author gives us. The author does a good job of describing things in this book. One of those things is the yellow spotted lizard. So, we used the description to draw a yellow spotted lizard. This class loves art so I try to incorporate it whenever possible.

We are almost finished reading this book. After we finish, we will be doing a choice board activity where the students will choose one activity to do with the setting, one to do with characters, and one to do with the plot. I will be updating with that project after they are finished. I am excited about it because it involves making a diorama of the setting.

What's your favorite children's book?

It's Not Goodbye, Just See You Later

Oh, Facebook....what were our lives like before you?

I got a Facebook my freshman year of college. During that time, you had to be a college student to even have a Facebook. I can't even remember what the first Facebook looked like. It has changed so much!

I am happy that Facebook expanded beyond college students. I think it is a great tool for keeping in touch with people. Some people like to share a little too much...but....

It has been especially helpful to me since I moved away from home 2 years ago. It has helped me keep in touch with my family and friends. It has also helped me feel like I don't completely miss out on everything because I can still see pictures.

I love seeing pictures and updates on everyone's life. However, right now at this point in my life with everything that has been going on with Lee, it's not helpful. It's actually causing me more pain and sadness. I don't want to go into the details of why exactly this is. I just know that it has been very difficult for me to deal with his health issues on top of trying to work and maintain our home while keeping my sanity.

Therefore, I will be taking a break from my personal Facebook page. It is going to be hard because sometimes I think I'm a little addicted I like to catch up with everyone. However, I think it is what is best for me. I still plan on blogging because blogging is a wonderful outlet for me-especially right now. I also hope to still use my blog's Facebook page to post when I have new blogs to keep my family and friends connected that are not on GFC. {So, if you're one of my family and friends reading this and want to stay updated, "like" my blog page on Facebook.}

So, I just thought I needed to explain that.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

"Sick" Day

I hate taking off work! Number one, I always feel like a bad employee. Number two, when you're a teacher...it's almost a bigger pain to take off than to go to work. You have to write a sub plan and then you are behind and have to try and catch up when you come back to work. Plus, your room is usually left in a big mess because kids seem to forget how to act when they have a sub.

Probably what my students thought this morning.

However, I took off today because we are still battling with Lee's functional abdominal pain syndrome, visceral hypersensitivity, and anxiety/depression. He had two doctor's appointments yesterday and was gone from the house most of the day, which is really hard for him. He was in pain all day and got real upset last night. We ended up in the ER last night for the 3rd time in the past week. I knew I needed to take a day for my own sanity as well as I knew he really needs someone with him during the day. Luckily, his dad has come up and will be here with him tomorrow and next week while I'm working.

Lee's condition seems like it's about 70% mental and 30% physical (this is my nonexpert opinion). I feel like there's such a taboo on mental illness. However, when you begin to deal with it personally, you suddenly find out so many people have battled anxiety and/or depression. I don't understand why this is kept such a secret. People dealing with mental illness need help, prayers, encouragement, and support just like someone battling cancer. So often I feel like people don't fully understand it. If you have a mental illness, there's not something wrong with you. You're sick just like someone with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, the flu, etc.

I can't even begin to put into words what all of this has been like for us. Lee has had this condition for many years, but it has gotten worse in the past year and a half. Then, in the past 2 months, it has been the worst it has ever been. Within the last few weeks, he has really not gone a day without pain. We have not gone a week without a couple of ER visits.

We are so blessed to have many loving family, friends, and church family who have supported us through this. They have blessed us more than they will ever know.

I can only give praise to God for continuing to provide for us through it all. He has also given me the strength to continue to endure and do what I can to help Lee while also trying to work.

I can't seem to get the lyrics to Kari Jobe's song "Healer" out of my head.

 You hold my very moment
  You calm my raging seas  
You walk with me through fire  
And heal all my disease 
I trust in You, Lord I trust in You
 
I believe You're my healer 
 I believe You are all I need 
 Oh, I believe
 
I believe You're my portion 
I believe You're more than enough for me  
Jesus You're all I need
 
Nothing is impossible for You 
 Nothing is impossible  
Nothing is impossible for You  
You hold my world in Your hands

Listen to the song here.

 "Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  

 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits— 

 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,  

 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

Psalm 103:1-5

Learning a New Craft

I'm so excited to have found a new blog to follow-Kelli @ Tales of the Younger Twin. Her blog seems like a lot of fun and I look forward to reading about her adventures. 

Every Wednesday, she hosts Wonderlust Wednesdays. This is a link up to encourage you to try something new.

Well, my new thing is not too adventurous, but I'm excited about it. I've decided to learn to crochet!

Maybe Ryan will make it more exciting for you. :)

I'm always up for trying new crafty things and crocheting seemed like a fun new thing to learn.

I hope to one day be able to make cute crocheted animals like this:

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I also think it would be neat to make a blanket for children we may have in the future.

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Or how cute are these crocheted hats?

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But...I am no where near being able to do any of that. I am using Crafty Minx's blog to teach myself how to crochet. She has a whole bunch of videos giving step by step instructions. 

I already owned a crochet hook from another craft project I had done, but I went out and bought a few more.

 I also bought some yarn.

Here's what I can do so far.

Ok, so I know that's not much, but I'm learning. Maybe one day I'll be able to make something awesome like this:

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 I'll keep you posted!

9 Loves

Today, I am linking up again with The Austin Family Diary and Life. Love. Lauren. for the 10 Day You Challenge.

I had so much fun last week reading everyone's "secrets." I think this week's list will be much easier to come up with. This week is 9 loves.

Here it goes...

1. I love my husband. He is my best friend and the one person I never get tired of talking to and hanging out with. He is the one person I can be totally and completely honest with. I love him with a love that is more than a feeling. It is a sacrificial love. It is an action. I daily choose to lay aside my own selfish desires to show my love for my husband.

Nothing like a real serious one to start out with :)

2. I love my family and friends. They have shaped me into the person I am today. They have filled my life with fun memories and good times. They are what I miss the most about living so far away.

3. I love books! I talk about reading a lot on my blog because I love it so much. Reading can transport you to another time and place. I get so caught up in a good story. I love when a book is so good that you don't want to put it down. Then, I hate when it's over and you wish the story would continue on and on and on.

 

 

4. I love a clean and organized house. I actually kind of love cleaning (sometimes). I can only deal with things being out of place or messy for a short amount of time.

I would be one of the people with OCD about cleaning :)

5. I love music. I enjoy turning the music up load while I'm working around the house or driving in the car. I also really enjoy singing and miss being a part of various choirs and my friends' singing group.

Wouldn't it be fun if life were like a musical!?

6. I love giving. I have found that giving to others brings me so much joy. I can't even describe how it makes me feel. I get more excited about giving gifts and things to others than receiving them myself.

7. I love Oreo Blizzards, Oreo McFlurries, Oreo Sonic Blasts, Cookies and Cream milkshakes. Basically, if it's Oreos and ice cream...I love it!

 

8. I love traveling. I love to go and visit new places. I wish we could do it more often.

 

9. I love pictures. I am a little bit obsessed with taking and looking at pictures. I'm so glad we have digital cameras now. I have photo album upon photo album full of pictures. I finally had to realize that I can't print every picture I take so now I keep digital files of them. I also love making Shutterfly books of big events. Then, I could spend hours looking back at pictures. I guess I love it because it takes me back to those moments.

Some of my random pictures:

I felt the need to explain this one. We were trying to get a jumping picture using the self timer. We had jumped and jumped and jumped. It wasn't working. Instead of catching jumping pictures...we caught funny faces and reactions like this one.

Now that I'm through...I think this one was harder than '10 secrets.' It was easy to come up with things I love. It was hard to pick just 9 things!