Signs.

John Mayer's new CD is strumming throughout the speakers of the house tonight, chili is simmering deliciously on the stove, and I notice a new sign hanging on the wall in bright red shouting "This is the life"

Over to my right I see "It's not about perfect. It's about effort and when you implement that effort into your life.. Every single day, that's where transformation happens. That's how change occurs. Keep going. Remember why you started.

And behind me sits "It is what it is." Amen sign.

And every day before I leave the house I see a sign that says 'think'

One in the booth I sit in says 'Oh!'

To my right may be my favorite...

They all hold some sort of meaning or relevance right now. And there isn't a day I come home not happy to live in this little oasis. Thank goodness it fell onto my plate. 

Because life is all about effort and what you are expecting to get from it. My dad recently said "maybe we are just expecting too much out of people, if we just lower our expectations and expect people not to do the things were are expecting we are less likely to be let down."

A couple weeks ago a situation at school occured while I handled it in a way I thought was appropriate. Others did not agree. And guess what, that is okay because in life people are bound to not appreciate your point of view, and there are always going to be people that are out to get you. To lie to you. Stab you in your back. Argue. Judge. And just down right do things differently than you. And I embrace that. 

I have also learned recently that just when you think people aren't going to let you down, they darn right go and do it. Bugger. Thank goodness for my house signs. You are always in a battle with life. Life will always hand you lemons, its how you handle it that will get you out alive or hold you down.  

All of these combined effort of life lessons has come down to one thing that I day and night, even in my dreams am dreaming about. That is teaching. I have teachers tell me every day. And multiple teachers tell me every day. You have to want to do this. Teaching is not how it was 5, 10, even 15 years ago. You have to want to make a difference. You have the opportunity to influence, even change, thousands of lives.

Woah people! Pump the brakes!! Information overload. But it's true, and I have found that out. You get an inside look into each of your kids and you see their family struggles, their struggles making friends. And so, so, so much more!

But here is what keeps me going......

- Making a train track and having students track their progress and once they reach the train station they get an ice cream party.

- Learning their favorite color and making flashcards based off of it. 

- Reading about an oceanographer and having five fourth graders surrounding you totally engaged. All for the points in AR/RR. And finding out the boys love and know so many sea creatures.

- Finding a fourth grader in the hallways sobbing and taking her to safe quarters to let her know all will be well.

- Having a fifth grader come up to me with a book of jokes and informing me of how lame the book of jokes is and still proceeding to tell me jokes.

- Giving an assessment and having the last question be interrupted with a outburst of "This is kindergarten stuff, this is wicked easy"

- Having kids storm out of your room, slamming doors, and coming back a minute late apologizing for being distracting.

- Finding random notes on your desk from kiddos letting me know I'm cool.

- Having an applause walking into fifth grade the first day of MEAP. Hello embarrassing and totally unnecessary.

- Having an awards lunch where I sat with kids at lunch for a special treat. The conversations kiddos have are hilarious. And I loved every minute.

- Having a whole class grill me on who I am and what I'm all about. 

My three favorite moments so far. The moment when everything clicks with a student or a class.

- When someone is so comfortable with you to share about you at home. Who confides in you. And shares things they won't even share with their full time teachers.
     --- This part makes leaving in Dec. challenging. 

-- Having girls do amazing on a math test. Girls you work so intensively with. And having one of them come up to with you a big smile on their face saying "I've never scored that high on a math test"

--- But today. While leaving math walking down the hallway a little girl walking with me grabbed my hand. And said "You make my best friend list, you aren't number one, but you are number two." Let go of my hand gave me a hug and kept walking. This is the same girl earlier who was upset over math, looked up at me asking for help. We worked through it. She told me she liked me. I smiled and said thank you and told her "You know when I like you best too?" Her response "When I do my work" -- exactly chica sans the tears. 

---- Okay and maybe there are four. I met with two new students I am working with today. Terrified they came with me to my room. I informed them I would be helping them learn to read. Collecting a bunch of data today they looked terrified and nervous to mess up. I told them this is the place to mess up and that's how I will help them best, by showing me their mistakes. Instant smiles. Boom POW! 


The moment ANY light bulb goes off. And a simple smile mean A LOT!
Having a girl from a class I do not even work in come up to me every day for a week with a apple. 

I love my job. Despite the distance from family, my pup and Brad. But there isn't much I would change, minus the lack of pay. I'm growing in my profession and that is pretty awesome!

I am learning something every day. And it is through my students. I'm trying to teach them something too along the way.