My thoughts on first grade...

During the time that I have had a student teacher the office has come to me a couple of times asking me to substitute different grades last minute because they couldn't find a substitute. At first I was hesitant to do this because I thought, "Substitute? No way! Kids are awful for substitutes." But I actually have found myself enjoying each class I went to and I have drawn some conclusions.

The first class I went to was a 5th grade class. This one scared me the most because I thought I'd had no experience with this age. The kids that I taught my first year are in 4th grade now and so I didn't even have that to comfort me. But let me tell you what... first of all, it totally depends on the management of the substitute because each class I've gone to has been great. But 5th graders are SO independent! Holy cow! They could sit there for 30 minutes totally self sustained. I didn't know what to do with myself. It was a whole new world that completely doesn't exist in the 5 minute attention span of the 6 year old.

Next I went to 3rd. Again, able to work on a task for longer than 7 minutes. These kids had manners. They knew how to write, read, and they weren't picking their noses.

Then today I substitute taught in 2nd grade. It actually wasn't much different than first. Still pretty busy, but they stayed on task much better than my sweet little 'busy bodies.' Plus I noticed the kids that I had known from last year, whether in my class or not, seemed so much more calm and not nearly as hard.

So I decided to write about my discovery. I think first grade teachers not only teach their students how to read and write. But we also teach them how to be 'human' in school/socially. I have followed my hardest students over the years and asked their teachers how they are doing and the responses I get amaze me. Of course they are still the 'hard student' but when I ask about certain behaviors that I had problems with and if they still exist the answer is mostly no.

Obviously a child at 6 years old is going to act differently than a 10 year old but for some reason I had never thought about this before. But first graders are SO sweet and will love you no matter what. Their innocence and excitement for life is refreshing as well. But it's just hard work. Don't get me wrong. I love my job and I love these little guys.

I am hoping not to work when I have the baby. Depending on Mason's recent applications we will see if that can happen or not. But when I return to teaching after my kids are in school, I'm thinking of trying 3rd. Although who knows... maybe by that time I will miss all the runny noses and cute little pictures that I always post about.

Diagram

My student teacher did non-fiction writing with the students. They all got to choose an animal and then study about and write a report on that animal. On the last page of their reports they were suppose to draw a diagram of the animal - as part of the curriculum. They were suppose to put as many parts of the animal as they could think of.

This one turned out pretty cute:

Notice anything 'interesting' about this one?

Don't worry... we had him change it to a brown path running under the dog.

I'm just one week shy...

...of being 3 months pregnant!

I am 11 weeks along right now, due September 22nd and just as perfectly delighted as can be. We are so excited to be parents. I had my first doctors appointment two weeks ago and here is the picture from the ultrasound. At that point our little 'button' was only the size of a grape. Oh, but it was absolutely amazing to see him (that's what we've been calling it). Right when the ultrasound came up he waved his little hand. Mason and I both got teary eyed. We loved how it looks like he's just leaning back and relaxing. What an amazing, exciting, magical, and spiritual experience all at the same time.

I have been so lucky. I haven't been sick at all. The only time I feel queasy is if my stomach gets empty. That's easy enough to solve. Smells are a little rough as well. My pants don't fit anymore. Well I can wear them unsnapped but I have already found a couple maternity pants that I wear. They are just so comfy! I am loving being pregnant. It's such an amazing development that takes place in my body. I am just in awe at how fast the baby develops. I have just barely started showing. I still think I'm just at the chubby looking stage. But it's so fun day-dreaming about that sweet little baby that is going to be in our lives in a short/long 6 months!

So of course to celebrate Mason created a masterpiece for breakfast one morning. I love that boy so much. He is going to be the cutest daddy in the world. He is so protective of the baby already. He is always asking me if I am eating healthy. We are both so lucky to have him... whether it's daddy or hubby.

Guess what tomorrow is!?

March 1st!!

I seriously am SO excited! That means the first day of spring is in 21 days!! Oh how I do love the warm weather. Please come quickly.

President's Day Weekend

We drove home to Arizona last weekend. We left right after school got out and drove halfway. We spent the night in Kanab. For dinner we went to Fernando's Hideaway and here is Mason sitting with Fernando. I thought for sure Fernando was going to come to life and kill us both. Creepy little puppet thingy.

We made it home the next day and the weather was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. It was about 75 - 80 the whole weekend. We left snow and highs of about 40. I had a hard time coming back.

Right when we got there they boys started on a project in the front flower box.

They sure were working hard. And this is what I did the whole time...

... I played with Kyle and Stacey's new puppy Beanie. She's a Siberian Husky and basically the sweetest puppy ever. I love her to death.

She kept climbing in the fountain. And now for the final project...

Ta-dah! We didn't have time to plant the flowers but it looks great!

As we were driving home we kept seeing all these balloon stands on the side of the road. When I was in high school you knew who was loved by who carried around the most balloons, teddy bears, and flowers. Mason thought this was hilarious being most of the teddy bears and balloons were so obnoxious. So Valentine's morning guess what my Valentine does to show me he loves me??

That's right. I think I had the biggest balloon in town. I sure am loved! :)

Then that night Lindsey and her husband invited us down for dinner and games in Tucson. I can't think of anyone else I'd like to have spent Valentine's with.

On Monday we went to the Reniassance Festival. So fun as always. Last year I volunteered Mason for every show so this year I promised that I would just let him enjoy the shows. So when the girl from this show asked for the strongest man in the audience I didn't even raise my hand. Haha... she pulled him up anyway.

I'm so proud.

These guys were SO talented! They were amazing!!

We had such a good day. They weather was sunny and warm. I got a slight tan on my pale, pale Utah skin. We saw fun shows and costumes.

Oh yeah... So I said I wouldn't volunteer Mason for any shows... but that didn't make my brother safe. He got called up/volunteered for on the Wild Mudman show. My camera was running out of batteries at this time so I only got an aftershot. What a good sport.

We love it!

I didn't want to come home. It was a combination of the warm weather and my family. I keep trying to convince my mom to come up here...!! She would love it....

What a good weekend. Should I even mention that it's snowing today and suppose to snow all weekend? Oh well... Spring will be here soon. (I hope.)

Homeward bound...

...in T-minus 2 days!

Yes I'm excited! I know we were just there for Christmas but I think it's time to return to that great sunshine state (no not Florida... ARIZONA!). My mom says the high was 74 yesterday.

We will be driving down Friday after school. So we'll go halfway and then find some cheapo place to stay. Sounds like an adventure to me! Let's just pray for good weather so we can take the 9 1/2 hour route through the mountains not the 12 hour route through Vegas (although that could be fun too!!).

I'm so excited. I wanna be warm. I want good Mexican food. I want my mom!

Birthday 2010

My birthday was last Sunday. We celebrated it before then though. Friday at school my student teacher surprised me with this poster from her and the kids. So cute. The kids brought it in in a parade like manner. They were so excited.

Then a couple of the kids made me cards and things. Here are just a couple of my favorite.

This is a pencil holder full of personality. Love it.

This next one makes me laugh so hard. We had been doing autobiographies in class the past week or so. I wrote my own as an example. In my example I included that my favorite food was macaroni and cheese and that I liked flowers. Well in one of the cards from a little guy he drew me my very own 'girl dinosaur' who seems VERY compatible with me.

"This is a girl dinosaur. She likes flowers and her favorite food is macaroni."

Ha ha ha!!! I love this 'girl dinosaur' so much!

And then this one was sweet.

So I got to celebrate my birthday at school which was fun. Then Saturday Mason and his parents took me to Carrabba's for dinner. Then we went to a play down at BYU Saturday night. It was a good birthday.

Another year older and wiser too.

Ha!