i-Read! u-Read! Reading's Fun When You Have Technology!

Hi Internet!

Only 17 more days of school!!! Wahoo! It's hard to believe I survived my first year teaching! I've also been offered a contract for next year, and I think I'm going to take it. :) It's been a huge learning experience and a lot of fun. I'll tell you more about my adventures in a later post, but now I need your help.

In an effort to help my students learn as much as possible, I am looking to add a program where students are able to read and record themselves reading using iPads! I mean reading is fun, but adding an iPad just makes it FANTASTIC! I've created a request for my classroom at DonorsChoose.org.

For the next 6 days, DonorsChoose will match ANY donation made to my class. If you have the time and the funds, we would really appreciate a donation. (Or your word of mouth advertising! :) )  Even $1 will help (because really it will be $2 when DonorsChoose matches it). Please do not feel obligated to donate. 

Thanks So much!!
P.S. If you know anyone who may want to help my classroom, please pass this along!

IMPORTANT: If you decide to donate within the next seven days, enter the code 100WOMEN. DonorsChoose will only match dollar for dollar if the code 100WOMEN is entered.

If you chip in to help my students, you'll get awesome photos and our heartfelt thanks.

I Might Not Be Cut Out for This...

Hi Internet,

So, I was talking to a friend last week and came to the realization... I probably picked the worst career for myself. Allow me to explain:

- Occupational hazards such as lice and whooping cough. (True life, they have those across the hall, I've threatened my kids with their lived if they share hats or don't wash their hands with soap.)

- Working 70 hours a week.

- Crying every day about the difficult challenges my 5 and 6 year old students are facing.

-Wanting to take my kids home at the end of the day because I know their lives are rough.

My conversation with my friend went a bit like this:

Me: I'm going to need to get married sooner rather than later, cause I am so not cut out for working full-time and I kinda want to take all my kids home everyday.

Friend: laughs

Me: No. Serious.

Friend: Yeah, but that's what makes you so great at it, because you care.

Blah, blah. That' doesn't change that I can't look at one of my kids without tearing up. And this whole waking up early is totes cramping my style.

But, there are a few perks to my job.

-Getting a billion school pictures of myself as a grown lady... (weird)

-Being surrounded by kids who think knock knock jokes are HILARIOUS.

-Introducing my kids to 90's treasures such as "Reading Rainbow" and Cassette Tapes

-My kids will dance on command.

-I get called Mom daily and then get to reassure their horrified looks that it's ok.

-The girls who tell me they love me every morning when I call attendance.

-Hearing my kids (upon realizing I'm losing my patience with the class) say "Don't make her turn into Viola Swamp!"

 -The things my Russian kids say, like when I ask if any of them have seen anyone get hurt on the playground:

Russian Student (With THICK Russian Accent):  Yes. Thees one time I'm playing soccer and he keek thee Bol, he's keeking, he keek me in the bols!" (Points at his crotch) 

Russian Student's Cousin: Yes. Keek him in the bols! (Points at his crotch) 

Me: Uh, I'm sorry. I bet that hurt.

Russian Student: KEEK ME IN THE BOLS! (Still pointing)

-Trying not to laugh when every class discussion makes me feel like I'm in one of these commercials: 

Seriously, in math we had to talk about quantities  that are more and less. And the class discussion was almost like this verbatim.

I love my kids. Maybe too  much. I do love my job. But it's a lot more emotionally involved than I had imagined.

EMPLOYED!!

Internet!

I have fabulous news! I got a job! Not just A job, but a GREAT job!

So, yesterday morning I had 3 interviews:

10:00am- Barrow phone interview

10:45am- Sterling Elementary

11:30am- Bethel

All the interviews went really well! I was told I would hear back after the weekend, probably on Wednesday.

Well, around 2pm my phone started to ring.... I had job offers!!!

I decided to take a kindergarten position on the Kenai Peninsula. I'm so EXCITED!

I'll have about 17 students in a full-day kindergarten class!

In the words of my friend I "landed my dream job!"

I can't wait!

A Lot of People Go to College for 11 Years...

Well Internet,

After 3 schools and 11 years I FINALLY made it! Graduation was on Mother's day. It was long, it was hot, the fire alarm went off twice, but I graduated!

 I don't often tell people about my educational journey. But I figure since I finished, maybe someone could learn from my experience. I attended BYU-Idaho right after I graduated high school. Life at home was stressful as my mom had just been diagnosed with cancer. I am so grateful for my time in Rexburg. I know I was supposed to be there. I still have some of my best friends who I met during that time. In my 3 years in Rexburg, perhaps the greatest lesson I learned was how to have fun and enjoy life. I may or may not have slept through my bowling class for 4 semesters in a row.... I also didn't really have an advisor, and I didn't have a clear plan of what classes I should take. Then, I met that boy, he broke me heart and I got really depressed. I wore my giving up on life pants, and when combined with my past years of play, I was put on academic suspension. I left Rexburg, and a piece of my heart.

I am grateful that I was able to come home and re-group. It wasn't until later that I really addressed my issues with depression, but it helped put me on a path where I could move forward. I then moved to Utah and decided I would try school again. It was frustrating because most of my credits didn't transfer, and I still didn't have an advisor. I was again overwhelmed and quit going to school. After this setback I convinced myself that I wasn't good at school, I'm a 2 time college drop out and obviously I wasn't cut out for higher education.

I then got my job with Alyeska, which was again a great experience, but I wasn't doing what I loved, what I knew I should be doing. I knew I needed to be a teacher. But that meant facing my fears and inadequacies, I had to go back to school. My job with Alyeska ended and I went to care for my grandmother and I remember so many people encouraging me to go back to school. I kept thinking "Yeah, but I'll never make it. I fail every time I try."

August 2010. I woke up one morning and decided I wanted to go back to school. I went to UAF, registered for classes starting the next week and found out who the Elementary Education Advisor was. I am so thankful for my advisor. She looked at my transcripts and made me a plan. It wasn't going to be easy, it was going to take 3 years, in addition to the 3 years of credits I already had, but I could do it.

I poured my heart and soul into school, because this time I knew this was what I wanted and needed to be doing.

It wasn't easy. At least once a semester I had a full-on meltdown, tears, "I can't do this," the works.

But I did it! (And with a 3.8 GPA might I add.)

My cousin threw me a fabulous graduation party, with a Wizard of Oz theme, which is special for me because when I was little I was obsessed with the movie.

 But there was a quote from the movie that she posted on the mantel that really hit me.

The quote made me realize that my family knew I could be successful in school. I didn't have to let my past experiences define me because I had the power and ability to get my degree, I just had to realize it.

I couldn't have done it on my own, but I am thankful for the support of my friends and family for getting me to this point!

Now on to the job hunt.....

No News

Internet! 9 days!!!


NINE DAYS UNTIL GRADUATION!!! All that stands between me and that funky black robe and hat is a presentation and a reflection paper. AHHHHH! It has taken me 11 years, but I'm so close I can almost taste it!

Still no job prospects. :( I'm a little sad about that. I keep applying, so pray, cross your fingers etc. that I will find a job.

I keep thinking about getting a summer job... but then I don't want to.... And then my mom says that my idea of a "summer of self-exploration" isn't gonna fly. Party pooper!

AND, because blog posts without pictures are boring...

Here is a picture of my classroom, and the leaky roof. Apparently there isn't money to fix this, but ceiling tiles are rotting and falling. Nice.

No Excuses, Just Happiness

Hi Internet.

The only excuse I have for not blogging is that I have been so busy crossing things off my 29 before 29 List! Holla!

Check me out!

5.      Make the Chancellor’s List

 BOO-YA!

2.      Get Associates Degree Diploma

 Sorry, I just got out of the shower, BUT, if you had worked for 10 years for a diploma, you wouldn't care either!

11.      Go on a vacation outside of Alaska

Brace yourself for lots of pics from the family Vacay to So. Cal

First Stop. San Diego to visit Aunt Bev and Uncle Jack, complete with a visit to the Mormon Battalion site, Old Town, the BEST food at Fred's, San Diego Temple and the USS Midway

I'll be honest. When I heard we were going to the Midway, I wasn't excited. But, I was really surprised how cool it was! Not only did I learn so much (Like did you know the Midway Laundry did over 4,000lbs of laundry an HOUR??) But it was also the location of the American Idol Auditions where they found runner-up Jessica Sanches! Cool Huh?

Oh, and look who is my TWIN! Same gift shop!


After a visit to the mall and Balboa Park it was off to Anaheim! We rented a house less than a mile from the park. It was great! We were the first people to stay there after a complete renovation and it was a bummer that we didn't have more time to swim in the pool, play air hockey, ping pong and watch tv!

Because we had 3 amazing days at the Happiest Place on Earth!

A. Standing outside the Tower of Terror B. Us girls ready to ride the Winnie the Pooh Ride! C. Levi, pretending NOT to be excited. D. Tower of Terror, Aubrey and I were terrified! E. Magic Kingdom F. Captain EO... Movies have improved a TON in 30 years! G. Corn Dog, legendary H. Dad and Nate on Splash Mountain (Dad's arms are raised) I. Me and Jules before it's a Small World J. Jules and Aunt Aub K. Creepy Princess Aurora did NOT stop for pictures L. California Adventure at night.

Oh! And I went to church with this guy!

All in All, an incredible family vacation! Can't wait til the next one!

It's my party and I'll cry if you yell at me!

Happy Birthday Internet!

Well, first things first, my record temperature remains unscathed.

 

Secondly, my family party yesterday was AMAZING! I seriously have the best family EVER! My cousins and aunt went on my Pinterest boards and MADE me gifts from my pins! How cool is THAT?!

A K for Krystal made from buttons out of Grandma's button collection that she inherited from HER grandmother, many that were cut off of clothing from the depression! I wish Grandma were around to share the story behind every button!

Super cool, and apparently VERY time consuming/frustrating paper sculpture that is going to look INCREDIBLE in my room!

Hannah learned how to say my name! "Tistol"

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Jules was just happy to be there!

AND! My parents and Brother and S-I-L are making me a custom headboard! 

Take THAT IKEA!

Totally compensates for the mean lady at work, who is NOT my boss who yelled at me for something that wasn't my fault. If only she knew it was my birthday....

Thanks for fantastic day!