Last DAY of School

What I have consumed thus far is 2 breakfast tacos from a student, 1 cupcake from another, a Starbucks caramel iced coffee from me, several pieces of candy, 1 half apple with peanut butter, pizza, caramel brownies (OMG YUMMY!!), rice crispy treats, a piece of strawberry cake(4 layers high), 3 tamales with chili and cheese, the best hamburger with cheese I have ever eaten, (I stayed away from the chips and dips), and water..

What I have received from my students: flowers, many cards, 3 stuffed animals (dogs), and many many hugs..

What I have learned and gained this year in Uvalde: many, many, many, more miles on my box, my contribution to the nitrogen cycle, laughs from my kids and my partner, experience of teaching general education in math and science, amazing science TAKS scores and hopefully math (find out in another week), collaboration among experienced staff that has allowed me to grow (professionally but not physically) and the partnership with an amazing teacher. I do not know if I could have done it without him. He covered for me when I was late, which was quite a bit in the fall semester, he took care of paperwork that I had no clue what or when to get it done, and our partnership was very flexible and giving on both parts. All in all I enjoyed my work here a lot.. I am not sure if I am going to be back, I can not do another year of commuting. We shall see where my next chapter will be in August.

Unfortunate mishaps

As I drove to work this morning I was recalling the unfortunate creatures that have met their demise by me and my box. So far, this year my box and I have ended 5 squirrels, many frogs, 2 snakes, 3 horny toads (at least that's I what I think they were), 1 skunk(OMG it was horrible and the smell stayed inside my box for a week), several birds who played chicken in the road and lost. Today, I hit a deer.. I was playing with fate each cold morning I drove in and lost this morning.. I bumped it actually on the right hind side and fortunately, I dont have too much damage but I was late this morning by 15 minutes. As I drove in my principal was in the parking lot looking at her watch.. What can I do?

I have several leads in San Antonio for some jobs. I am hoping I get something there.. I cant spend another year communting back and forth AND FM is looking really good for a job in CC, TX. I used his place as a back up.

Last day of school is tomorrow.. HOORAY.. I am done packing, cleaning, and sorting through my room. I have a couple of things to do for Saturday (yes, I have to work on Saturday) it sucks!! And on Monday summer school starts which is another mishap because I signed up for science camp where I had hoped to teach a PLUNGE curriculum and scuba dive but NO>> I have to teach math summer school which from what I hear is horrible... Great more commuting and more pain in the butt kids.. Only 16 days of summer school and an extra pay check is what I am keeping on the top of my head.. Bells gonna ring soon.. Another day down and more one to go.

Problem solving..

I have a quick thing to share. I informed my kids to work on a Memorial Day packet quietly at their desk. They asked if they could talk and I told them only if I can't hear them, (whispering is not an option for kids).. One of my favorite kids asked me, "if we come up with a way to talk without you hearing us will you let us?" I thought for a minute and tried to think like a fifth grader and said sure..

After 15 minutes of quiet time from my kids I looked up from my computer to a classroom full of cups/cans connected to strings. Students were trying various ways to make them work.. It was nice, I was able to take that and turn it into a teachable moment. Fortunately, it was a group of the "good" kids (kids that work well together and follow directions)..

Now it is PE time and I must depart I have tons of paperwork to begin..

Wandering mind

I am sitting here in my classroom monitoring my students who are actually working through several science experiments I thought of on my way to work and set it up moments before the bell rang. Trying to come up with engaging activities while I find my desk is not as easy as it seems. But, today is done and I have cleaned 1/4th of my desk but I have since lost motivation so I figured I would get a quick blog in.

I was reviewing my previous blogs and realized I did not publish a draft from March, so if you have time scrolled down and enjoy..

Lunch is almost here.

Countdown

On the final countdown to the last day of school. Tomorrow is the last TAKS of the school year and it is Math. Hopefully, several of my students will pass and avoid summer school. Most of them have worked hard and are ready for it. I am anxious and ready for tomorrow to be over with. These kids have had a total of 13 teaching days to reinforce what they are lacking unlike reading who has 31 days before the 2nd administration. In a state where students are behind in Math based on US norms and worldwide averages I do not understand why Texas hasnt provided more time for reinforcement and small group instruction. I had to be creative this year and hand off 10 of my students who missed more than 10 questions to pass so I can concentrate on those that missed it by 9 or less, (supposedly they have more hope to pass.) But what am I really saying to them? They are not as important? Their scores nor effort do not matter? They will pass because of their age and not their scores or because they have already failed once before? I do not know. What I do know is that this year I have learned that standardize testing is not measure to use for determining knowledge and skills obtained this year.

Okay the bell has rung and I have duty to go to..

And now there's ONE

After a long weekend of dog sitting Anya, Savannah, and Charley. I have finally given away Charley a.k.a. Shepard for the devil, the last of my little ones pups, Charley went to her new home many miles away in Boston, MA. Anya went back to her home with my ex. Charley's new home is a friend of my exs had her bachelorette party here in TX. Once she arrived she came over right off the plane and fell in love with her. I spent the weekend with three pups again + rain, HOORAY for RAIN, and my 3 bigs with all their wetness.. Spending time with my 3 bigs and now my little little one Savannah, I had realized having large dogs is quite a chore and I am at my limit with 4. I had originally wanted 6 but my pocketbook nor my bed could support that many.

My house is clean, my laundry is done, my dogs have been bathed, and finally my bed has been changed. I had a weekend of clarity and I feel better. School is almost over 2 weeks but another month of science camp (June). Hopefully, God will help find me a job in San Antonio. Well, I am going to finish watching some TV and head for bed.

Sisters

I havent spoken to my sister in 3 weeks. Of course, it is over something petty like money and her lack of responsibility. Going into the details is irrelevant now. I am sadden by it but at the same time tired of trying and trying, giving and giving, saving and saving. When is it going to be enough? Probably never. Is that what I am supposed to do as the BIG sister? I don't know. What I do know is that she uses my niece and nephew as pawns and that is upsetting. My nephew's birthday and middle school graduation is coming up in a few weeks. I wonder if by then she will need me again? Who knows. I know this what I have learned is that she needs to take care of her family first and be more diligent on her finances and I need to stop being an enabler and let her fall so she can get up on her own.

Difference

I spent the entire weekend in San Antonio at my house where I cleaned, organized, and moved around clothing. With it being 104 in Uvalde (with the heat index), it is time to bring down the cooler clothes. I thought about this year and how much my life has changed. I remembered that at this time last year I prayed and prayed to God for a teaching job. I wasn't specific I just wanted a teaching job and I got one albeit in Uvalde, but I wasn't specific with him. I thought about how I have changed coping with the distance, driving, and extra duties and wondered what would my mom do if she were me. I learned that I have become a bit more grouchy and easily angered due to the frustration I have trying to keep up with everything here in San Antonio and in Uvalde. Unfortunately, my friend Squishy has received the grunt of all my grouchiness some duly deserved and some not. Another fluffy friend confirmed my thought through his observations and told me to go on a vacation and unplug. I wonder if that would make a difference? I only have a few more weeks of school and with the 2nd round of Math Taks next Tuesday the year is just about gone. But, I did sign up for summer school (a science camp actually), I get to teach gas laws and go scuba diving several times which is fun and a definite change. After June I will have some time to decompress. I think I will begin to pray for a teaching job in the San Antonio area and see what happens. I do like teaching out here but I am not sure I can keep burning at both ends.

Field Day

Today was field day at school. I have not participated in field day since I was in primary school. My partner and I walked our 35 students (luckily several students were absent) 6 blocks to the high school football field, set up a zone of proximity/boundaries for the kids and then cheered as each one of our kids participated in one of 6 events.

When we began the temperature was almost nice (small breeze), but as the events and time passed so did the breeze and the heat began to creep in. Add 75% humidity and by lunch time I was slowly burning the first layer of skin. Yes, I did apply sunscreen several time but with the sun bouncing off metal bleachers it didn't seem to provide much relief. My fellow colleagues are very competitive and at the end of each heat/event there was a berat of "loser" we are beating you.

I am happy to say that my guys came through at the shotput, discs, and long jump. We scored 1st and 2nd in each event!! My partner scored 3rd in all three. So, at the end of a very long morning Berry's class was victorious over Sagemuehl class. Which is important because they needed to be taken down a peg.. I must say that after a year here my competitive nature has come to the surface..

We made it back to school @ 1:30 where we let the kids have some time while I put grades in, cleaned and organized my room and had a chance to write this blog..

Tired, sore, burned, and a little smelly