Good Bye Summer... Hello Hectic

Wow, this was the fastest summer of my life!!  I feel like I just closed the school year.

We will name this summer 'The Summer of Good Intentions'.

Oh how I intended to do a lot.  I intended to read with my kids, show them a few more life skills, teach Carlee her letter sounds, daily devotionals, and finish cleaning 2/3 closets.  I also had plans to finish Carlee's baby books (hello age 5).    The first few weeks went really well until the camps, vacations, tutoring, and day trips kicked into gear.  It took all of my energy to just maintain before Darren came home in the evenings.  Also, we were exhausted from the previous school year. 

I'm trying not to do that annoying thing where I feel bad because my family didn't do anything academic or productive.    I think school teachers feel a huge sense of obligation to complete a lot of tasks in the summer because we focus so much of our energies on our school day, structure, and schedule of our homes to survive Sept.- June.  

I mean look at these two things....

They keep growing up too fast and I want plain old fun time with them.  Yesterday Carlee said she couldn't wait to turn ten years old.  I told her I don't want her to hurry up and turn ten because then she will grow faster and go to college and get married and leave me.  She said (in a tone like I was so silly)-   'Mommy we will always be 'f'wiends'.

I hope so because, as Connor described,  this morning when we tried to get her in the car, it was "like watching an episode of COPS".  She is my sassy gal and has a strong sense of what she wants to do.

We have been working hard to get two kids ready for school.  We finished up yesterday with a final purchase of shoes for Carlee.  Things were looking good until I started to get sick 

(and I've been drinking my spinach smoothie with vitamins EVERY morning too).    I originally thought I was feeling the effects of preparing for a new job while working on a hall that went from 'tropical rainforest to Arctic' in one week.  

Last night I considered the emergency room.  My breathing was very labored.  For two nights in a row, I just sat up all night on the couch taking OTC meds, hoping I would get better.  I was very worried that I would miss my first day of school in 35 years.

Darren and the fam. ran me to a clinic this morning, and they fixed me up with the right medications $$$.

Connor so happy to take me to the doctor.  

I'm not 100% but I feel better and I hope I get some sleep tonight.  

Most importantly, I got the green light for school tomorrow.

I just hope school is ready for The Sechrist family.

Today I have been crying every few minutes.  I've spent the full afternoon logging dates:  report card dates, IEP dates, sporting event duties, bus duties, etc.   Then I addressed fifteen letters to parents I didn't get to meet on parent night (because no one knows who I am yet). 

I watched the end of We Are Marshall and you would think I was there when it all happened.  I just cried and cried.  I think this is a combination of growing kids,  upcoming change, and lack of sleep.

Also, I sure am going to miss: 

Oh, Stars! This picture is making me cry.  

Let me switch to-------

Our Moments from Summer  

At the start of summer, Carlee was given a tomato plant in daycare and she was so excited.  She loved and planted it with her daddy.  They watered it and it grew and grew.  Then she plucked each tiny tomato off to give to me (she hates tomatoes).  They were delecious.  

 

Swimmers

Barbie Hot Tub

Did anyone else eat their weight in ice cream this summer??

We did  🍦🍨

 Summer of Fishing

Hearing Check for School

Racing into Evening

Afternoon With Friends

Silly Giggles

Exploration 

Brother lost a tooth and gave it to his sister so that she could get something from the Tooth Fairy. 

The tooth-fairy left a little something special for both children.  

 

Going to Africa Camp

Visits from a Fairy.....

Pizza Date

Connor and B. are so ready for the school year!! This afternoon they were given a very special gift.

Carolina Panther hats signed by THE ---

Luke Kuechly 

Can you believe it!?!  Isn't it awesome?  I'm not sure but I think Luke meant to write on Connor's hat:  Your mom is the bomb.com and you should always listen to her (but I don't think the hat was big enough).  

Not only was it awesome but it was given by a person who has always encouraged and loved our boys. When I would cry over Connor, they would say 'one day when Connor is on SNL, he will remember you taught him God's way'.   💓

If Luke can lead the defense in tackles, we can totally dominate middle school and kindergarten.   #GOTEAM

****************************

May God fill our children with joy, peace, and wisdom.

Have a wonderful school year everyone! 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

-Psalm 91:  1-2

Middle School Ready?

It's that time of year and I need a shiny apple real bad.  

I actually started my work a few weeks ago.  I couldn't WAIT to see my space at middle school, until I saw my space at middle school..............

😦

Yep, this is it.

When I asked my neighbor and colleague where all of the "stuff " is located, she said "this is your stuff".  She is very sunny and optimistic and reassured me that I will collect "stuff" before I know it.  💗

Man, was I NOT feeling very optimistic about making this work before Parent Night.  

I did take a nice bookshelf I saw in the hallway outside of my room....

but it belonged to another teacher. (oops)  Luckily, she knows me and forgave me right away. 

(everyone knows I move furniture first and think later)

I was really starting to miss all my old crap at my old homestead,

but these things were purchased, begged, and borrowed for my K-2 babies.  

It belongs to them now.

Before I went into a full blown Scarlett O'Hara Dramatic Panic Mode and did something crazy like make a dress out of school blinds, my best favorite custodian stepped in to equip me with some furniture.  Then.........

my BTF (best teacher friend), whom I had already called in Scarlett Mode of course, 

swooped right in to help me find and buy just the right amount of items to get me started in Middle School Cool! 

Now that is what we call a PURE blessing ladies and gentleman.  

(Also, the intermediate school/my old room let me come over to junk dive in their closet. )

I don't have a lot but I now have enough to start some assessments/interventions until I collect more information to even know what I need. 

*The Grand Reveal:*

before

 after

Once I finally got the furniture in place.  I started to work on a more inviting decor and I had to do it without these two.  

boooo. hooo.

  I haven't put up a bulletin board in 10 years! 

Creating a welcoming atmosphere is really important to me.  Every learning environment should encourage comfort and enthusiasm,  regardless of the age of the learner. 

What to do with zero age appropriate posters/decor?

When I think of tween interest, I think of 1. cell phones 2. expensive coffee drinks.  ???  I can't exactly decorate with teen angst.  

I found this on Pinterest and loved it.  My sweet teacher neighbor let me borrow her round table and I created all the parts.

Let's just say, it drove me crazy!!!  

The left side lowered and the right side crinkled.  I told myself 'you CAN do this without Mrs. E.'.  It's just paper for heaven's sake!

When I came in the next day and the whole darn thing was on the floor, and it was hot, and I was in a hurry...............

https://media.giphy.com/media/i9eR5rytNmCI0/giphy.gif

I finally threw in the towel and slapped this up on my wall above the classroom library. 

Luckily, I still had a lot of books from my fourth/ fifth-grade years and I was able to bring some of my personal books from 
K-2.  

A good book is a good book. 

I placed a few trinkets around the shelf, like this really cool shark cup I was given during summer vacation.  🐟  You can drink right out of it. 

I added these cups for Open House for anyone interested.  I think I'm going to add some candies/ gum to them too.

My letter introducing myself for all parents/ families. 

I decided on transforming my door into a (crooked) iPhone with a positive message.  

I know the tape doesn't look good but the thing would not stay until I slapped it on top.

My biggest pride and joy is this board.  

It was previously scuffed with permanent markers and tape alll over.  I couldn't even write on it.  

I gave it some elbow grease and slowly chipped away at the tape/ sticky spots daily until it shined like new. 

 These chairs gifted to me are so awesome.

My own children really love them. 

For final touches, I purchased some party poms and flags on Amazon.  It gives the class a little more color to the teal/black scheme. 

 I only have one bulletin board, so I added a line to hang informational items, which suits me fine because I'm not a fan of decorating boards.

 Of course, I had to include some items from my primary days.....

 

Here are a few more of my favorites right with my Bill Clinton picture (yes that crazy picture is real).  story here

 I made a little corner for storage...

not that I have a lot to store, but I might one day. 

I was also given rods and fabric to create curtains to match my reading area rug.

I didn't get a good picture but you can see a slip of it here.  

Due to time, I was unable to put up the curtains but I definitely have a future project along with painting tables.   

For now, I am all ready for Parent Night. 

I am currently NOT ready for the first day.  I'm writing out lots of notes on my incoming students.  I'm also meeting with teachers on ways I can most help in the inclusion model.  
My coworkers have been so kind and helpful.  I think I'm going to enjoy working with everyone.  I'm also praying for more time to pull out those who need it.  I think all teachers feel panic at the lack of time versus the amount to accomplish. Don't worry, whenever I feel stressed out, I just look at my board and think......

I'm doing a lot better than this girl. 

#vest #flute #funkyglasses #battleofthebooks  #nosportsplease

 Once a geek, always a geek.

🤓

Happy Back to School Friends