Look how far I have come...

Well, I'm looking back at my blog, and I see this post.
That was more than 3 years ago. I am now a fully certified teacher. Not only am I certified in Special Education, but also Secondary English. It's been a challenging 3 years, but I am so thankful I made the change. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being a teacher. And, I have net so many wonderful people, mostly co-workers who humble me every day. This year, Journalism and yearbook are on my schedle. I can't believe it. I am teaching about something I love, Journalism. I am so excited.

How do you eat an elephant?

...one bite at a time. I heard this wonderful analogy at a recent new teacher meeting. I am trying really, really hard not to freak out. I am trying to stay positive and remember why I left a laid-back writing career in the features department for the high-stress loveliness of special education, it's piles of paperwork and regulations.
I rarely have time or energy for the exercise that I love, and it makes me feel guilty. I feel pulled in many directions, and I just want to be good at everything. I feel like I am falling short at it all.
Yet, I try really hard to smile. I try really hard to be happy and jovial so that the people around me don't start to hate being around me. I want to be a good wife who keeps a clean house, dinner on the table and food in the fridge. Something always gets left out.
I am trying to prioritize. I look at what NEEDS to be done versus what I WANT to be done.
Just like with spending and saving money, I am learning to budget my time. If the hamper is full, the laundry doesn't have to be done. If we have no clean underwear...the laundry needs to be done. If the dog is eating trash and running around like a wild mut, he needs to go to the park, and I have to skip my bike ride.
I have given up reading. I make it through a paragraph and fall asleep. Instead, I choose books on CD that I can listen to in the car on the way to and from school and class.
Like my mom always says, it's a matter of positive thinking. If I think like is crazy and hectic, it will feel that way. If I can take life one bite at a time, it won't seem so big and overwhelming.
So, even as paperwork piles up and the calendar fills with meetings and projects...I will remember that it's about budgeting time and tackling the most important tasks first.
And hopefully, that way of thinking will keep me sane!

So tired

I am constantly thinking about what I should be doing. I stay at work hours after I am supposed leave and have to fix a lot of mistakes because I am so new. I have 5 million things to do and not enough time to do them. I have 5 chapters to read for my master's classes and when I sit down to read, the dog starts beating up the cat. So, I put him in the crate to get some peace and quiet to read, and he barks out of control because, guess what? He has diarrhea again. It's a lovely way to spend your time, running the dog outside every few minutes to let him relieve himself. Poor dog. I wonder what a quiet life would be like. And I wonder how I will ever handle children. That is just unfathomable. I wonder if the black circles under my eyes will ever go away. Or if the extra pain in my stomach of nervousness will ever subside.
But click here to see my awesome dog, warn out from a long walk and an evening at the park with his puppy buddies and it's all worth it.

I love teaching, but it takes a lot of time

I never thought I would stay past my 8 hours day and not be bothered by it. I actually don't mind sticking around school when everyone has left for the day and getting my paperwork done. "Paperwork?" you question. I know. Teachers aren't supposed to do paperwork. But special education teachers are buried in it.
I do mind that I miss time with my husband and dog, but they are understanding, thank goodness.
IEPs are time consuming. Having a caseload of students, calling parents and checking up on them is also time consuming. Not to mention that I teach, have duties and want to spend time with my students.
The thing is, I really love this job. I don't mind getting up early and going in to get work done. I enjoy looking for activities and plans to do with my students. I like hearing about their day and how they are doing. It's still the beginning of the year (well nearly two weeks in), but I am looking forward to an awesome school year!

Ask and you will recieve

I needed books for my classroom. SSR is a great way to get my readers to read independently. If I had planned ahead, I could have spent the summer hitting yard sales and thrift stores for 10- and 15-cent books. But, I didn't even think about it.
So, I sent out an e-mail, thinking that people like me like to purge their books and maybe they were getting rid of some I could use. And, my request was answered. My wonderful neighbor scoured the book sale her employer has and pulled out some great titles for me. And, a wonderful person donated $30 for me to go shopping for books that I would like for the classroom library. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to shop. I plan on hitting up a few fall yard sales and thrift stores. I also plan to head to some of the used book stores. It saved me a ton of money by asking for help. Imagine if I had gone to Barnes and Noble to stock my classroom library. That would have costs a fortune!

My sister is married!

I apologize for not posting since, can you believe it, April 6! Time flies so fast. I haven't had much time for crafting and what little I did was in a rush (such as mending the bridesmaid dress.) When I do cook, I only have energy to eat, not take photos and post.
Amy was so well organized with the wedding, that wasn't really what was taking up my time. It's school...and training for the triathlon again. I have picked up the running, biking and swimming bug again. I am signed up for 2 5ks, so that will get my rear in gear. Thanks to my cousin Wendy for this beautiful photo of Amy and I. She has always been so talented capturing Amy and I at our best. I can't wait to frame this photo. I tried to check them all out on Snapfish, but it was SO slow to upload and I don't have the patience. Tomorrrow is another day full of teaching "Animal Farm" and Reading classes to kids who are more ready for summer than I am! I won't be working much this summer...maybe a few nights here and there at Cracker Barrel, so I am hoping to have the blog flourish more this summer. Again, my apologies and I will try to keep it crankin'!

It's official

I was offered a job for the rest of the school year! I am so excited. The best part about it is, I have a better shot at returning full-time next year, too. I will be teaching English learning support at York County School of Technology until June 3.
Apparently, I did a really great job in my first four weeks in the 12-week substitute position, enough to consider me for this position and one for next year. No more $95 a day!
I am so happy that I get to continue this teaching career and that it has been moving so fast for me. I really enjoy the kids and getting to know them and their learning styles!

Things I've learned as a substitute teacher

Well, it's been nearly two months since I left the YDR. I am learning something new everyday. Some are silly and some are serious, and I am sure there are more to come.


1. When you really have to go to the bathroom, there is no one there to relieve you.
2. Some students could care less about school and there is not much you can do to change it.
3. Teenagers know more about drugs, alcohol, etc. than I ever will.
4. Every day is different and when you least expect it....students surprise you.
5. Getting up at 6 a.m. isn't as bad as I thought, especially when I get to take naps now.
6. Eating lunch at 10:30 a.m. isn't as bad as it sounds.
7. Eating dinner at 4 p.m. isn't that bad either.
8. More time after work doesn't mean more motivation to make it to the gym.
9. Review games with food prizes don't carry as much weight as you think they do.
10. Teachers have a lot of meetings, too!

Got my feet wet

Today was my first day subbing for the IU. It was the whole feeding, bathroom, lifting kind of classroom. I can honestly say I didn't have a bad day. The student I worked with was a little fighter, but I didn't get mad. A little frustrated, yes, but not mad. I can see how that job can be tiring and rewarding all at the same time. I get home before 4 p.m., but I almost always take a nap now! I still love teaching and am so thankful that I finally made the leap.

I plan to return to posting about home projects, money-saving etc. very soon. I completed my sewing table project, so that should be coming up. I am also approaching finishing knitting an afghan I started nearly 5 years ago...so I think that deserves its own post, too.

So far, so good

Well, it's been one whole week since I left the YDR. I do miss it, but I am keeping in touch with my friends. Do I love teaching? Absolutely. I am sure there are hard days to come, but I haven't had a bad day, yet. Challenges? Yes. Like today I had to teach conversion of quarts and pints to gallons. That isn't easy stuff, even for an adult. But the students are helpful and understanding. The two classroom aides were understanding and accepting of my lack of math knowledge. But I got to read a chapter to the class. I LOVE reading aloud. Amy never let me do it for her ;-) It was just all around a busy, but fun day. I can't wait to see what's in store next week!

On the dinner front, Nate wanted to order out. I reminded him that our income has been bumped down a few brackets. I talked him into letting me make him a pizza. I use Betty Crocker crust. It's powdered and comes in a packet. It's 75 cents. All you do is mix it with water, let it sit for 5 minutes, then spread it out. I added sauce (I buy the Delgrosso sauce usually on sale for 99 cents. It only takes 1/3 of a jar to make the pizza.) Then I top it with cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions and peppers. It's a fraction of the cost of ordering out and probably much, much healthier. I ate leftovers...again!