So I am slowly getting used to the less hectic summer schedule. Soccer camp started today and it was so fun to interact with the students again. I did regress just like the kids and forgot to introduce myself by my last name. After meeting adults, I introduced myself by simply "Kara" and didn't realize my error until much later. I felt more comfortable with the 4th-6th graders than the 1st to 3rd graders, but that is partly because I teach 5th grade. It was great to see some of my former students. We will see how the rest of the week goes.
The doctor's appointment came next. Apparently I have a split sound to my heart, which is supposedly not a bad thing and nothing to worry about though the doctor did want to have an ultra sound done. The scene in Santa Clause of Tim Allen and his heart beating Jingle Bells kept popping into my head. At least my heart represents a drum beat then a whole drawn out melody
I also got a chance to play soccer and I am so thankful for that. I forgot how much I missed it, though I am still uncoordinated. I made plenty of bad plays and probably helped out the other team just as much as myself. Oh well, I guess it is all in fun. There are two coaches who we play with and I hope when I am their age, I can still play as well.
It was great to see little Annie again over the weekend and watch her grow. She is becoming smarter and smarter and developing more and more of a little personality.
Well, I best be going
Ciao,
Kara
Monday, June 30, 2014
Friday, June 27, 2014
June 26 2014
So here I am again, about two weeks into summer. I definitely miss school and having something meaningful and productive to do with my time, though surprisingly I haven't cried about saying good-bye to my students and at this point I doubt I will. I love them and describing them I cannot help but smile, but I know they need to move on and I am looking forward to teaching next year's miscreants, or however you spell that word. My mom and dad are in Europe, so it is pretty quiet on the home front with just Gina and myself roaming around. The summer has started out fairly slow and it has been hard to get adjusted to the added time in my day. It is so ironic that during the school year I was at war with time never having enough and now I have too much. I wish I could package some of the time up and save it for later when I will actually need it.
I have found things to do with my time, though. Last week I got to celebrate Sarah's wedding and see Courtney again which is always a blast. I had never met Sarah's fiance before, but he seems really nice and compatible with Sarah. It was a simple wedding, but really wonderful. The venue was at a church and I was amazed at its vastness. The auditorium was set up like a theatre and the reception took place in the lobby.
This week I have had a chance to hang out with some of my friends. I went kayaking/swimming at a nearby lake with Rebecca and of course the occasional trips to Coneys and Swirls for ice cream. I also had the opportunity to play soccer with a local school here in town. The last game I played was with 10 year olds, so this game was much more competitive and of course I woke up today much more sore. I half rolled, half fell out of bed, but it is a good sore, so I'm sure I will laugh throughout the day as I waddle to different places. Stairs are the hardest part. Right now I'm wishing for one of those stair chairs that was used in the Disney movie Up. I'm sure running will be out of the question for today, but I am planning on going bike riding with the other 5th grade teacher, Katie, so we will see how that goes.
This week, I also got around to donating blood and you know you've been someplace too often when the staff starts recognizing you. I go about once every 3 months and this past time I went, the nurses recognized my face and actually talked to me like I was part of their crew. I don't know whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, but since I get to choose, we'll pretend that it is a good thing.
I've also tried some new recipes. Yesterday I made this spaghetti bread thingamajig. I made it at 3 and we didn't eat it until 9, after soccer. It tasted almost like the spaghetti pizza from Cicis though I wouldn't give it that much credit. Adding spaghetti sauce to it and garlic powder did help and of course now we have plenty of leftovers.
Well, I guess that is all I have to share today. See you later, as in probably a month or so...
Toodles,
Kara
I have found things to do with my time, though. Last week I got to celebrate Sarah's wedding and see Courtney again which is always a blast. I had never met Sarah's fiance before, but he seems really nice and compatible with Sarah. It was a simple wedding, but really wonderful. The venue was at a church and I was amazed at its vastness. The auditorium was set up like a theatre and the reception took place in the lobby.
This week I have had a chance to hang out with some of my friends. I went kayaking/swimming at a nearby lake with Rebecca and of course the occasional trips to Coneys and Swirls for ice cream. I also had the opportunity to play soccer with a local school here in town. The last game I played was with 10 year olds, so this game was much more competitive and of course I woke up today much more sore. I half rolled, half fell out of bed, but it is a good sore, so I'm sure I will laugh throughout the day as I waddle to different places. Stairs are the hardest part. Right now I'm wishing for one of those stair chairs that was used in the Disney movie Up. I'm sure running will be out of the question for today, but I am planning on going bike riding with the other 5th grade teacher, Katie, so we will see how that goes.
This week, I also got around to donating blood and you know you've been someplace too often when the staff starts recognizing you. I go about once every 3 months and this past time I went, the nurses recognized my face and actually talked to me like I was part of their crew. I don't know whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, but since I get to choose, we'll pretend that it is a good thing.
I've also tried some new recipes. Yesterday I made this spaghetti bread thingamajig. I made it at 3 and we didn't eat it until 9, after soccer. It tasted almost like the spaghetti pizza from Cicis though I wouldn't give it that much credit. Adding spaghetti sauce to it and garlic powder did help and of course now we have plenty of leftovers.
Well, I guess that is all I have to share today. See you later, as in probably a month or so...
Toodles,
Kara
Thursday, June 12, 2014
June 12 2014
Hello,
So today was the last day of school and it has not hit me yet. The day rushed by pretty quickly. I started off the day by having the students take their post math test and then having them grade it from their pretest. We watched the end of 5th grade slideshow while they worked on their writing projects. (timeline including 5 events from the past year) After that they started packing up and they collected their chameleons. I gave them their final awards and they headed home without a single tear being shed. It was surreal and I know I haven't yet digested the fact that I will not teach these 15 amazing people again. I believe in my brain, I still expect to see them bright and early tomorrow and if not that Monday. There is a part of me that wishes I would cry, wishes I would feel something. I do not know what I'm more afraid of...that it will hit me in a couple of weeks and I will have a major breakdown or that it will never hit me at all. The former would be heartbreak, but the latter is almost more scary. I truly love all of the students and the fact that I am not crying that I will never teach them again is strange. Perhaps, the waterworks will come and I believe in that moment I may feel relieved.
I guess that is all I have to say. There is nothing else, except I am slowly taking my room apart bit by bit. I'm not looking forward to summer as it will be a lot of time with little to do, but hopefully some of my friends return and I can at least hang out some days.
Take care
So today was the last day of school and it has not hit me yet. The day rushed by pretty quickly. I started off the day by having the students take their post math test and then having them grade it from their pretest. We watched the end of 5th grade slideshow while they worked on their writing projects. (timeline including 5 events from the past year) After that they started packing up and they collected their chameleons. I gave them their final awards and they headed home without a single tear being shed. It was surreal and I know I haven't yet digested the fact that I will not teach these 15 amazing people again. I believe in my brain, I still expect to see them bright and early tomorrow and if not that Monday. There is a part of me that wishes I would cry, wishes I would feel something. I do not know what I'm more afraid of...that it will hit me in a couple of weeks and I will have a major breakdown or that it will never hit me at all. The former would be heartbreak, but the latter is almost more scary. I truly love all of the students and the fact that I am not crying that I will never teach them again is strange. Perhaps, the waterworks will come and I believe in that moment I may feel relieved.
I guess that is all I have to say. There is nothing else, except I am slowly taking my room apart bit by bit. I'm not looking forward to summer as it will be a lot of time with little to do, but hopefully some of my friends return and I can at least hang out some days.
Take care
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
June 10 2014
So I only have 1.5 days left of my first year as a teacher. 1.5 days... and I don't know how I feel about it. I'm excited for the summer and to have a year under my belt, but looking at the kids, it breaks my heart to know that in a little bit they will no longer be a part of my life and slowly I will fade from their memories and them from mine. They have been the fulcrum point of my life for the past year and it will be strange from seeing all of them everyday to not seeing them at all.
Today was Camp Selah and I was a little nervous about it being chaotic, but it actually was pretty fun. We got to ride go-carts, and watching some of them drive was pretty scary. We also got to play volleyball, archery, go to the lake and some other fun things. Sometimes during the day, I did stop and look out at the kids and their goofiness and realize how much I truly love each and every one of them. They are far from perfect, but they all have amazing qualities and are really trying to be good people. Watching them does make me feel relieved about the next generation.
I'm curious if I will cry on the last day or not...I guess I will find out...
Today was Camp Selah and I was a little nervous about it being chaotic, but it actually was pretty fun. We got to ride go-carts, and watching some of them drive was pretty scary. We also got to play volleyball, archery, go to the lake and some other fun things. Sometimes during the day, I did stop and look out at the kids and their goofiness and realize how much I truly love each and every one of them. They are far from perfect, but they all have amazing qualities and are really trying to be good people. Watching them does make me feel relieved about the next generation.
I'm curious if I will cry on the last day or not...I guess I will find out...
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
June 4
So let's be honest and point out the elephant in the room: I am terrible with a capital T at keeping a journal. I'm pretty sure it was almost 6 months ago that I last wrote and it will probably be 6 months until I write again. I apologize to my future self for my lack of consistency and all I can say is that in time I hope you (I) forgive me for living my life instead of writing about it.
First off, all of the cumulative snow days are over, though the 16 days we got gives us an extra week of school. Surprisingly, I am not disappointed about going longer and am excited I get to "keep" my students for an extra 4 days, well 3.5 to be exact.
I am going to miss them so much and that is partly why I am writing instead of living at this present moment. I know that soon those 15 amazing, wonderful students will just be a part of my past and a fleeting memory and I really don't want to lose or forget this love I have for my first year class. I love them, I truly do each and every one of them and I have learned so much this year. They have been so understanding, enthusiastic and kind. I went into teaching hoping to inspire future generations and instead they have inspired me. I wanted to teach, but instead I became a student. Their forgiving open natures taught me more and more about God's love and that even when we mess up, he is right there to catch us and help us.
I remember college a year ago. That's crazy that it was only a year ago. Anyways, there was a part of me that didn't want to leave, that truly thought I was leaving the best years of my life. After this year, actually after only a month with my kiddos, I realized that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. I would not give up a single one of my students to have another month or year in college. I was back on campus in October and walking around, I realized that I missed being there, but I didn't belong there anymore. I belonged with my class.
I am probably one of those weirdos who love school and always will, but the weekends are sometimes my least favorite times. I get bored and I sometimes feel restless, I long to go back to school. Of course, I have frustrating days like everyone else. Days when you just want to scream or cry or run or all three at the same time, but those days are a small penance to pay for the days of laughter and stories and love.
I am so blessed to have an amazing class. I know it is God's grace alone that allowed me to stay sane this year and gave me students to humble me and teach me what it is to be a good person. They will forever hold a very special place in my heart.
First off, all of the cumulative snow days are over, though the 16 days we got gives us an extra week of school. Surprisingly, I am not disappointed about going longer and am excited I get to "keep" my students for an extra 4 days, well 3.5 to be exact.
I am going to miss them so much and that is partly why I am writing instead of living at this present moment. I know that soon those 15 amazing, wonderful students will just be a part of my past and a fleeting memory and I really don't want to lose or forget this love I have for my first year class. I love them, I truly do each and every one of them and I have learned so much this year. They have been so understanding, enthusiastic and kind. I went into teaching hoping to inspire future generations and instead they have inspired me. I wanted to teach, but instead I became a student. Their forgiving open natures taught me more and more about God's love and that even when we mess up, he is right there to catch us and help us.
I remember college a year ago. That's crazy that it was only a year ago. Anyways, there was a part of me that didn't want to leave, that truly thought I was leaving the best years of my life. After this year, actually after only a month with my kiddos, I realized that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. I would not give up a single one of my students to have another month or year in college. I was back on campus in October and walking around, I realized that I missed being there, but I didn't belong there anymore. I belonged with my class.
I am probably one of those weirdos who love school and always will, but the weekends are sometimes my least favorite times. I get bored and I sometimes feel restless, I long to go back to school. Of course, I have frustrating days like everyone else. Days when you just want to scream or cry or run or all three at the same time, but those days are a small penance to pay for the days of laughter and stories and love.
I am so blessed to have an amazing class. I know it is God's grace alone that allowed me to stay sane this year and gave me students to humble me and teach me what it is to be a good person. They will forever hold a very special place in my heart.
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