Field trip!

Quick follow-up on the concert... It was awesome! Loved it. He is so freaking talented.

So we have gone on 2 field trips in the past 2 weeks. One was only a couple hours out of the classroom and the other was the whole day. The whole day is the one I have pictures of! The place was beautiful and the kids, parents, and I got to have a bit of a hike looking at the plant life, limestone, natural waterfall, and a cave with stalactites and stalagmites. Field trips really take it out of you though! Ours was on a Monday so it was a hectic start to the week. Then Halloween is on Friday so that will definitely be a hectic end to the week.

My kid quotes for this time are from our field trip. When we were looking at a breathtaking view of trees covering a vast expanse of hillside from an observation deck, one child busts out with "I like to call this a broccoli garden." The guide had no idea what to say to that.
Then we were looking at an old bald cypress tree with its roots intertwined with the creek bed and another kid says "OOO, a frog resort!" and proceeds to ribbit until given the teacher look. Cute, loud, endearing, and annoying all at the same time! :)

School Schmool

It is so easy to forget I have this thing. When I spend most of my time grading, planning, organizing, doing paperwork, sleeping, and having a life when I get chance...it is easy to let this slide! Well my first 9 weeks are done! Report cards went home, conferences are done, and my kids are showing their true colors. They are still sweet, but they already seem to be getting on each other's nerves. We had a field trip this week that was only an hour out of school and now we have another one this Monday for the entire day! Then Halloween is on Friday so if you know I won't be able to get anything productive done that day. I have live crayfish being delivered on Wednesday, but we are still in the middle of soil and plant life.
On a more exciting note, I am going to see Jason Mraz tomorrow in concert! Go ahead and be jealous because it is rare I get to have such grown-up fun!

Conferences and more...

So this weekend was fabulous. Zeb and I did a lot of grading, had some sushi, played some games, and acted like complete lazy nerds. I love you Zeb! I welcome visitors! *hint, hint*
On another note, I started conferences this week. 5 down, 17 to go. They are going well so far (knock on wood) because I have such great kids! I don't really have a quote, but my kids are completely in awe when I sing the 50 states song. Apparently, I'm cool because I can sing the 50 states in alphabetical order. Seriously, they want me to type it out for them. Ain't (Wow, it's hard even typing that word...I wanted to type isn't, but it just doesn't have the same effect) that cute?

Another Update...

Man did I have a day today. When I woke up, I just wanted to go back to sleep and skip that whole school thing. Turns out that's not so easy to do when you are a teacher instead of a student! The kids actually noticed how much I was yawning and kicking myself awake! Even though I probably could have found a couple hours worth of work after a meeting, I got myself out of there real quick to sleep and relax! I know everyone one of you has had one of those days. Has it happened anytime recently??

New quote from a student:
*We were stretching and doing some exercises for their "WOW" time and one little girl stopped and said...
"Ms. Lisee, you're really stretchable!" (I'm thinking she meant flexible, but oh so cute!)

Classroom view

So I have an awesome view from my classroom! I have one large window and you can see downtown from it! On a clear day, you can even see the UT tower. These pictures weren't really taken on the best day, but they do show that I have an awesome location! I am realizing how exhausting teaching can be. I have actually started drinking soda in order to get a pick-me-up to help me through the exceptionally long days. It doesn't help that I haven't really been sleeping that well either. I am in the process of scheduling parent teacher conferences which I am Oh so excited for. However, I am very excited that Zeb will be visiting her dear old sister in just a couple weeks! Can't wait Zebba! To end this post I will put a response that one of my students said after another student asked "What is a Democrat?"

Response: "A democrat is a black man and a republican is a white man running against him"

Me: "Well, I can see why you might think that, but that's not really the definition for every democrat and republican....etc"

Doesn't this make you wonder what kinds of things children hear and think?

3 weeks down...a whole lot more to go

Wow, I cannot believe it has been 3 weeks of teaching. I have been sick for about 2 of those. I finally went to the doctor believing I had Strep, but apparently it was just a wicked virus combined with some pretty heavy chest congestion. The medicine is helping tremendously so I'm thinking it might have been bacterial as well. It was weird going to the doctor with my own personal medical insurance (and I think I have way better than you do, Mom!) I have had "Back to School Night" or "Open House" as some call it. The parents of my students are just as awesome as all my kids are. The actual teaching is not stressing me out. The organization, time management, and sickness are what stresses me out. I loved having the chance to go home to visit family after my first week, but I don't think I will make it back again until Thanksgiving. I try to have a life on weekends at least, but usually I spend one night just sleeping to catch up on what I've lost over the week. I have been told I will be sick for this whole first year, but if you are reading this, please pray that I will be the exception to that rule for first year teachers! I miss everyone and hope you are doing well!

First Day Jitters

Well, I had my first day today! I did get my first literal "fruit" apple today, Dad! One of the boys in my class brought me a red apple first thing in the morning! My kids are really sweet. We got a lot done in the morning and not as much in the afternoon because my schedule is kind of choppy due to lunch and special areas. I loved getting more information on the kids. As much as I'm nervous for the upcoming year (for being responsible for 22 young lives), I want to do as much as I can to benefit these children. It's inspiring, which is a good thing to feel at this point! I got hugs at the end of the day and even throughout the day. It actually went by pretty fast, so I can't wait too see what tomorrow holds. There is a link to the book that I read aloud today, First Day Jitters, in the title of my post. The book is so cute and absolutely perfect for a new teacher. I am so lucky to be at the school I am at, work with the teachers on my team, and try to touch the kids who no doubt will brighten my life!