Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Into the Groove, and Loving It!

Routine is getting set, and life is getting into a normal rhythm. In fact with two whole weekends at home it feels like Jay and I actually live in Mennville!
I am loving my job for the most part. I am really enjoying getting to know my kids and they really are great! I have 19 eager beavers! Don't get me wrong, I had great kids these last four years, I am just enjoying the getting to know you part of school. Setting up routine and expectations, learning the students' strengths and likes and dislikes, it really is the good stuff of teaching. Being able to focus strictly on teaching and my students has made this first month at Morweena even more enjoyable, no government paperwork makes teaching much more focused. Of course I am also enjoying dusting off some of my old favourites and re-teaching them. Electricity has reemerged and it looks like my students are enjoying building circuits, lighting up light bulbs and playing with batteries, of course they are learning something too! Poetry has grabbed many of them. Shel Silverstien never gets old, and we have enjoyed many a chuckle as we read his poems. Kids are writing poems like crazy, the boys get to be funny, the girls re-write songs and express their thoughts on everything from hairbrushes to friends. With the lack of planning these old units take it leaves more time for marking and the such. There are still many late nights at work, and work to do in the evenings and on weekends but that is just the life of a teacher. I feel like we have had a really good start to the school year, and I love it!!
In other news Jay has been busy with work, he is coaching highschool soccer, has evening meetings, and such. We joke, but it is true, if we end up having dinner together twice a week we are doing good. Thankfully we have carved out some weekend time together the last couple of weeks. Although the October calendar is filling up so we will see if that continues.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Seeking Routine!

I meant to update sooner but life has been a little crazy! Starting a new job at a new school has taken some late nights and early mornings, by the time I get home from work plugging in my computer is low on my list of things I want to do. Usually fall routine comes quicker to me but Friday was the first day I left work before 5, which wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't only the second time I have left before 6. One night I managed to stay until 7:15. Add the half hour drive and my days have been rather long. Other than the adjusting to a new routine the start of the school year has been very enjoyable. I have 19 grade 5 and 6 students, 5 boys and 14 girls. They are really good kids and I have enjoyed the last two weeks of getting to know them. I really like being part of a bigger staff. All things considered it has been a great beginning. My goal for this week is to get into routine, spend less hours at work in the evening and start feeling like I have a life outside of my classroom.

This weekend was an enjoyable one. Joel and Ashley came up for a movie marathon. We ate and watched movies all day yesterday, and by watched movies that means the boys watched and the girls slept! Ashley had a rough week and needed rest, I have no excuse, but I look forward to starting the week well rested! Joel slept in the tent with the dogs while Ashley took the bed in the guestroom. It was nice to be at home this weekend as we haven't had a weekend at home in weeks.

Jay's schedule is picking up steam. between the two of us we are hardly ever home. It seems that that is pretty normal this time of year though. He has just started coaching the highschool's soccer teams so that will keep him busy.

On to completing work things!