Ahhh...Spring Break

I am LOVING this time off. While I adore my little ones, I am excited for this time to recharge and spend time with my husband. We just got back from our 4 day jaunt to LA where we spent time with friends. It was great to get out of Phoenix for a few days and to breathe in some ocean air. The cold Pacific and the sand between my toes was exactly what I was looking for! :) Additionally, we got an amazing and unexpected tour of the Goodyear Blimp (Thanks Bob @ Goodyear!!). I'll post pics soon. I also have a GREAT idea for a science unit about flight! Think paper airplanes, helium, mylar balloons and one very cool inflatable Goodyear Blimp!

Outside of that, I will spend at least tomorrow at school working on my career ladder binder. This project is tedious!! Thankfully, I'll get to spend time with a fellow teacher. We'll crank up the music and sit with our laptops as we type away!! I hope we can get everything completed, because I'm quite honestly sick of working on it....and it's a HUGE stressor right now. Once it's done, I can concentrate on 4th quarter and moving my students even further along than they are right now!

Where is the time going?

I am in utter amazement at how quickly this year has flown by. Here I stand on the cusp of spring break shaking my head at how little time I have left with my babies!! They came in to my classroom so little, so young, and now they're on the verge of heading off to 2nd grade. I am so proud of their accomplishments. While I have a couple of kiddos who continue to struggle, I am blessed that the majority of my students are thriving and exceeding expectations. I am reminded daily why I love this job.

As I sit and reflect on all the crap happening in Arizona right now regarding education and even the stuff happening within our district, I find myself searching for the spark that keeps me coming back each day. I am exhausted...the 70 extra minutes are exhausting. My brain is fried by the end of each day and I'm trying to recharge throughout the day, but it gets harder and harder as the term and year pass by. Then I think of my very first class of kiddos...they are in 3rd grade now. One student in particular has stolen my heart...he's thoughtful and kind...and he remembers what I taught him about being a good student and friend. He's a huge Duck fan, still :) and he puts a smile on my face very single day. HE recharges me...he reminds me why I love to teach and when I seriously look around me and my school, I see a school filled with kiddos reminding me why I teach. From my current class of wee ones, to the 8th graders who've served time in my room on ISS (in school suspension) and have returned to their classrooms having a different perspective on their place at school...I do have those reminders, I just have to look a little closer some days to find them.

Today I was offsite doing principal interviews for the new principal at Squaw Peak. It's hard to say what will happen, but things will not be the same without Arnie. I was proud to be a part of this process and can only hope that our school site gets the person the SP team feels will be the best fit. We'll know by this coming Friday.

I'm hoping to post more and probably need to write myself a reminder note to do so!