Sunday, January 25, 2009

Miss Fisher it is...


It's been awhile since I've updated my blog and I wasn't sure what I wanted to title this post...I've decided to name it what is now my name 5 days of the week... Miss Fisher. 

That's right...I am a teacher now. A real, still breathing, getting paid to be, 5th grade teacher! Where to begin...
  • I interviewed for a 5th grade position at Bluffdale Elementary right before Thanksgiving.   All of my references were called and questioned: apparently my references said some very nice things, and two of them gave very impressive reviews for me...thanks Wendy and Principal Shumard! The next week I received a call and was offered the job. Needless to say, I accepted the offer. The teacher I would be replacing was moving to Colorado and having a baby. I would begin teaching the first day they came back from Christmas Break (to be politically correct...Winter Break).  
  • I spent days (many) going through my classroom getting rid of junk and organizing everything. My classroom was a disaster! The desks were chaotic, piles of stuff everywhere, books strewn about all over the place. There were only three more days I could go set up before school started again and I was just getting started! Stressed and overwhelmed, Wendy and I spent a lot of time there and at home organizing my new classroom library and I was ready to go--nervous, but thankfully ready! (My classroom library rocks by the way--organized in bins, numbered and labeled with my awesome labeler I got for Christmas)
  • That was three weeks ago--and today, I'm still getting up early and making the commute to Bluffdale. I'm not ready to quit...yet. ;)  I've really enjoyed it actually, despite the many mistakes already made. My class is great. A lot of challenges, but nonetheless great. I'm learning that all my years in college did not prepare me as well as I would have liked. For example:  
-What's the best way to teach how to make high and low estimates in math?
-How do you even use this grading program?!
-How do you play Head's up, 7-UP?     ;)
-Can I drink Dr. Pepper in front of my students? (um...YES)


I sure am grateful for the opportunity I have to be a teacher. Not only do I love what we do and learn about in class, but I love learning something new everyday. I sure appreciate all the help and support I've received---this is where I give a little "shout-out" to Wendy~ :)  


Well....that was a lot to read, I know. 
Blogging more than once a month should help that from now on :)   



8 comments:

Jeep and Nisha's Family said...

Congrats on your job! I'm loving the updates. Teaching is a one-of-a-kind job! Good luck w/ everything! Also, I've had seniors in high school ask to play Heads Up 7-Up, so I know it's a crowd-pleaser!

Anonymous said...

Mel!! I already knew you were teaching but I just wanted to say congrats again!! You sound so happy! I love you tons and am so happy for you! Miss you!! --Andrea

kimpg3 said...

Mel....I bet you are the best teacher ever!!! You are the teacher that I would pick. Glad things are going well.

Kiana Don said...

CONGRATS! It's weird we are all grown up!

Kiana Don said...

Wait...You don't know how to play heads up 7 up? We legit played that my senior year! HA HA! I'll never grow up!

Nik said...

Congratulations Mel! I bet you make a great teacher!

Jaime said...

Mel! You are a real teacher! That is so exciting! You will be great! Good luck the rest of this year!
Jaime

Amber said...

I'm so excited for you!! I bet all the kids just adored you!! You always were the best teacher (that's why we always wanted you to be teacher) ... remember mrs.saww?? haha! I miss you soooo much!! I can't wait to see you again in just a couple months!! Love you!! <3