I am officially a 2nd grade teacher! Whoo hoo!

This weekend we got the long over due pleasure of hanging out with some friends we hadn’t seen in an overdue amount of time. Zach was so excited to see their daughter he talked about it all day. They played together the entire time but probably tattled on each other for minor offences about 10 times each. I was nervous their old chemestry wasn’t there.

At about supper time I had both kids on my lap and we were picking out Scooby Doo movies from Netflix streaming. I asked the kids, “Are you guys have a good time?”

“YES!” they both responded.

 I guess the tattling thing leaves no hard feelings. I wish I could blow it off so quickly with some of the tattle-tail women I know at work.

Mealworm experiments

Notes of thanks!

Thanks to everyone who supported me emotionally during the student teaching!! What an amazing, blessed experience!!

How NOT to use your chopsticks.

Self portrait

Free time! So far it’s amazing.

 I work one job that doesn’t start until 9 a.m. and then at 6 p.m. I go home. That’s it!

On Monday I had an interview for a part-time kindergarten position which, in reality, I could not live on the salary. I was also competing with about 500 other applicants for the job. Yikes. 500 people all want a $20,000 a year teaching job?!

I remain strangely optimistic and energetic. This is quiet strange for my personality. I’m just going to go with it.I was also look out of curiosity at my old profession job openings; there were much, much less of them. So, on the positive side, there are many more jobs in the teaching field versus the writing field. I think it all comes down to how secure you feel about yourself and how badly you want the job. I want to teach, not just in the best school district, in the best school with the best kids: I want to teach ANYWHERE a licensed elementary teacher is needed. I think that opens up the playing field a bit.I will try and relax and enjoy the summer. Time to read the forty books I haven’t finished and get caught up on all the many things that had to get pushed in a corner.

Hopefully some fun stories will be shared but right now, decompression is in place.

On a side note, I was forced to carry “no” boy to the office. That should stop him from saying no to me for a few more days. His teachers at his main school have already had it with him. He is facing a week suspension in 2nd grade for fighting and cursing. This sentence comes from the “best public elementary school” in the Denver metro area. Suddenly, I don’t feel so alone in my frustration with “no” boy. But secretly I wish I could find an alternative. Sadly, this is what society truly offers those who like to say “no” to important rules like no stealing, kicking, hitting, swearing, and cheating. I’m not sure what I think about this.  Punitive punishment never changes the rebels.