Teacher Tales

I have survived 22 days of teaching.

Most days have been good, others have been a little more challenging.
But I can honestly say I have loved each one and I can tell it's going to be a splendid year.

My students are absolutely adorable, all 19 of them.
Within the first week I was able to get to know their names and their personalities.
I have already heard so me pretty funny stories, most of which I should have written down because they have already left my overloaded brain. Some of them are still fresh in my mind...

"My friend speaks Silent Language too." (said while another student spelled her name in sign language.)

"Miss Morgesen, one time a bee flew in my ear and it touched my brain and did damage then it went down and came out my stomach." --I had no clue how to respond to that one...and yes some students are still struggling with my name.

My name is pronounced in a variety of ways each day: Miss Morsen, Miss Morgensen, Sister Mortensen, Mom, Mrs. Mortensen, Miss Mor-uhhh.  We're still working on that.

Today, was a momentous day. I feel I have finally arrived as teacher due to the fact that I had a student puke in my room. Luckily she made it to the trash. I was beyond grateful for that! She is such a sweet girl and had actually been sick last night but she couldn't imaging missing school and since she hadn't thrown up during the morning time she wanted to come to school. She is one funny girl, but I told her to stay home till she felt 100% better. After I walked her to the nurses office, and the puke trash bin was replaced with a puke-free one, I Lysoled the entire room and sprayed smelly-good spray to mask the not so pleasant smell. Awesome. My students were so worried about her and they all made her get well cards during their free time today. She will return to school with a desk full of sweet and colorful card from her classmates. I love it.

This week I have also successfully made it through 2 of my 8 formative evaluations! One of which was taking place during the puke incident. I was so nervous for someone to come and watch me teach, but afterwards I realized it wasn't so bad and I really appreciate the feedback. I am glad I have a few weeks in between to improve before I get evaluated again.

Today was also the school carnival! The nearby golf course donates a couple golf carts for teachers to drive around for one of the activities. I had a blast! Those little machines can get going a whopping 8 miles an hour! It was so fun to see the looks on the kids faces when they got on the cart and I started driving all crazy, going off huge 2-inch jumps, pretending to drive into the fence. Remember how crazy it was when you would see your teacher at the store and you could hardly believe your eyes, that a teacher was somewhere outside of school doing something other than being a teacher? That's how my students looked at me, it was hilarious. After 1 hour of putting around in my hot little vehicle, I turned in my wheels and headed home for my dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Papa! Otherwise, I could have stayed for another 3 hours, except for the sweaty bum issue from the pleather seat...

Wow, my initial little thoughts turned into quite a blog post. Go me!
Also, I am 21! As my grandma said in her sweet birthday phone message, "You're actually legal in a lot of areas now." Thanks Grandma, I love ya! I will be getting my new license tomorrow, if I remember... usually be Friday my brain is near implosion status and I am in desperate need of a nap. But tomorrow is the first day  of Autumn, so it's going to be a good day!

Well that's probably if for now... I think I will try getting some of that sleep stuff that I have heard people talking about.

don't even worry....

I start teaching in less than 48 hours.
I meet all of my students in less than 24 hours.
I can't believe the school year is really here!
If I can make it through the first day, everything will be okay.
Here we go!

a few good things

-Summer semester is over and done... hallelujah!

-Getting my classroom as ready as possible for my soon-to-be 2nd graders.

Here is my almost finished reading corner.... I love it! 

Thank you to the Turners for the adorable barn book shelf

-Bike rides with the brother in the summer moonlight... so refreshing and relaxing.

-Colorful sunsets photographed with new phone (also a good thing.)

-Walks with a good friend that last for hours because our conversation is just too good to end.

-Home made vanilla ice cream topped with strawberries, in a super cool bowl with a handle!

-News from a busy missionary who is loving the 110 degree weather in Tucson.

-Working out with the sister for a whole hour and feeling it for the next two days.

-Seeing my lovely nieces grow up like crazy: crawling, talking, doing alphabet puzzles....

-Feeling more like my happy, positive self who realizes more of 

the "good things" in my life everyday.

Dear Pinterest,

 I love you.
Thank you for being such a pleasant distraction from homework but I need to get some a bazillion things done. So, until next week I will not be visiting your glorious idea-filled world.
I'll be back soon. I hope.

Charles and Dashboard

That's all.

summer so far

I need to start carrying my camera with me 24/7 so I can capture every second of this summer that I can.

So far I haven't done too much other than go to class and work in my classroom, but I don't mind. Right?

Here are some things I have managed to accomplish so far...

Ethan and I hike the Y one evening. We had a good time hanging out. The view was, of coarse, wonderful! And I, of coarse, didn't bring my camera...

I guess we'll have to go again!

I finally made rainbow cupcakes. We used neon food coloring because it is so much funner much more fun! 

I made them with the neighbors kids last weekend and I instantly became the coolest babysitter ever. 

On the 4th, I ran the Freedom Festival 10K with my lovely friend McKell.

It took a week for my body to forgive me and I am only now no longer sore.

It was worth it though, I mean I got a shirt and a water bottle! Score!

If I forget how painful it was by next summer, I'll probably do it again.

Here we are post-running, pre-collapsing on the coach for the rest of the day.

And here is proof that I do still have time for my camera!

 In between the rain there was an amazing pink and purple sunset.

This took precedents over homework for a few minutes while I captured the colors.

Dear Rain,

I don't mind if you stick around for a few more days, I think you are just swell.

Sincerely, 

Me.

right now...

It's raining a sweet summer-night rain.
I cracked the window open just enough to enjoy the wet air.
The smell makes me smile.
I love summer rain.
I am finishing up some procrastinated homework in between visits to Pinterest. Dang it is so addicting!
The events of this week are scribbled all over my calendar that is spread open on the floor next to me. I'm mentally walking my way through each day trying to not get to overwhelmed. Maybe I'll just close my planner for right now...
A full calendar is a good thing though, it means I do in fact have places to go and people to see.
Even with a million things to do with homework, stressing over tuition ($$$ouch!) and trying to get my classroom somewhat ready, I am trying my hardest to not forget how incredibly blessed and lucky I am to have this opportunity. The late nights of homework and the stress-filled tears may someday go away but the priceless things I will learn and the memories I will make throughout my first year of teaching will stay with me forever. I suppose it would be quite strange if I felt 100% confident in my level of readiness for the fast approaching school year, at least that's what I keep telling myself, but I know I still have a lot to learn and am more than anxious to do just that.
Life really is good.
Why do I seem to forget that some days?