Stepping into Summer...

My students and I were all just a little excited to go off-track last Friday.

It's our little taste of summer..... 

hence the eager bulletin-board!

check these out...

                                         

That would by REAL sand paper f.y.i.

I think they should start giving out bulletin-board prizes for teachers.

 

Go green!

Bluffdale Elementary, where I teach, has been basing a lot of things lately on the theme, "Go Green!" So having kids recycle things really shouldn't come as a shock I know. However, I found myself being a bit surprised the other week:

It was a Thursday, we were cleaning up and getting ready to go home. It went like this:

2 boys: Miss Fisher, Miss Fisher! We'll take the recycling out. 

Me: Well, the student council will do it tomorrow, so we can just wait. 

2 boys: But it's overflowing and we can be back really fast.

Me: (realizing they just wanted to leave class and go outside together). Alright.

2 boys: YES! (and began walking very quickly, stoked about getting to do it)

Me: Wait. Turn around and look at me. (they did so). Make sure you take the box that says recycling and NOT reports. 

2 boys: Ok, Ok. (still being very stoked about this opportunity)

Meanwhile, the remaining 28 students all had questions and all needed to talk to me. Everything was ready to go 20 seconds before the bell rang.

(The 2 boys enter the room. One of them carrying two state reports).

2 boys: Miss Fisher. We saved these for you, in case you wanted to use them for next year! (they were so proud of themselves)

Me: (looking a bit confused before it dawned on me). Hmm...which box did you boys take out?

2 boys: The one that said RE....repor....  oh! 

*at this point the entire class knows what they have done and I'm hearing comments around the room such as:  "Oh---you are busted!"  and   "Uh---oh!"  *

THE BELL RINGS

Me: Awesome. See you tomorrow everyone! Boy #1, and Boy #2, come with me.

We took a quick stroll to the recycling dumpster and there sitting on top of all the ripped up paper, old newspapers, etc. were stacks of President and State reports. (A few of which had not been graded yet.) Now, luckily most of these reports were just copies that I have been getting ready for next year. But we're talking A LOT of new, organized, ready to go for next year, copies! 

Well, my arms aren't very long, the dumpster wasn't very full, and the top of the dumpster was padlocked. You can see the predicament I was in. Thoughts of shoving one of my boys in the dumpster ran through my mind, but with parents picking up their kids, buses driving by, and the principal standing by the front doors, I decided it would be best to let them off the hook.

It turns out that our school doesn't have a key to that dumpster and it usually gets emptied at some point on Fridays (no one seemed to know exactly when.)

Well, with being a new teacher, and not part of the Union yet, I couldn't very well put one of my students in the dumpster (that just doesn't seem like job security to me). 

So why the photos of  a student in the dumpster?

I couldn't put a student in the dumpster who's parents don't know me. But luckily, a colleague of mine who has known me for a long time has a daughter in the 5th grade. I grabbed her out of class Friday morning and took her to the dumpster (this is after okaying it with her mom by the way). I have never seen someone get in and out of a small rectangular hole as fast as she did! Luckily she's small and has taken gymnastics in her lifetime. Worked out well for me :) 

Thanks Katie! 

Boy #1 and #2 thank you also! 

I've decided that going green might not be such a bad thing after all. 

Purpose, Thoughts, & a Book

My blog could use an update and I have the best thing(s) to blog about-- 

so, here goes: 

I spent 7 hours in my car yesterday. 7 hours! I drove all the way to Moab and back. Yeah, it sounds like a lot of driving---but the PURPOSE for going, the THOUGHTS i had while driving, and with my BOOK on tape, it was great!

PURPOSE: The Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon!

If you just had the thought that it was ME participating, you're crazy! Just the thought of running 13 + miles is insane to me! My crazy, I mean remarkable, friend joined the 5,000 + crazy people and did it! She ran through the canyon, up and down hills, and 13 miles later....crossed the finish line! 

THOUGHTS: Pride, Inspiration, and Love

Pride: As the 2 1/2 hour time clock rolled on I watched as hundreds of people pushed themselves for the last stretch of the race. But what was even more fascinating was watching the people who were watching them. A sweet elderly lady stood from the bleachers near the finish line with pride in her eyes for her daughter who was slowly limping by. A group of young men jumped into the race to run with their buddy to the end. That boy had some friends who were quite proud of him.

But I witnessed and participated in the greatest pride as a certain someone came up the street: A sweet husband stood by with a camera in hand encouraging his wife---their sons yelling and cheering--their little girl holding a bouquet of flowers---a friend watching her friend accomplish something hard, something great. All of us---we were so very proud! 

Inspiration: I was so inspired by all of these runners--not to run a 1/2 marathon or anything--let's be realistic---but I was mostly inspired by my good friend, her running buddies, and all the people who didn't come in first or even in the top 4,000--but those left towards the end who still pushed ahead--did their best--and finished a long and hard race!

Love: I love the fact that I went. I love that I saw what hard work and determination for months can bring. I love that someone I know pushes herself and accomplishes great things. I love the example she sets and the person she is! 

Wendy, you rock. Way  to go!

I'll add some real photos within the next few days:

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Oh yeah, and the BOOK on tape: "Sarah's Quilt." (Sequel to one of the best books out there: "These is my Words.") Definitely not as good, but totally worth listening to in the car!

A Pedi Please!

Yesterday, was a great day! I got all my science tests corrected and filed my taxes! I know...sounds like fun doesn't it? 

The great part of the day yesterday came after that--I spent some time with Wendy and did the following things: watched a great ward basketball game that ended with a winning shot at the buzzard (by the opposing team--but still great) played by some young men, went to Nails Plus, watched the beginning of a Utah Flash basketball game (ok--really just listened to the Utah Children's Choir sing the National Anthem), got something yummy to eat at Cafe Rio, set-up a facebook account, and ended the day with great looking toes! 

The Pedicures at Nails Plus were great. They do such a great job--I'd like to thank them again. 

* * * * * *

The first part is always the hardest--finding the perfect color:

 Wendy found her a great one, and spotted a perfect one for me! Both darker colors. 

I forgot to take a picture of my favorite part--they put some hot wax into two separate bags, then slide your foot into them--wrapping the wax all around. Your feet stay in the wax for awhile, after which a nice foot/leg rub occurs.  

The final product: Wendy 

Mine: (Notice the flower)--sometimes the flowers are even better than this! Of course, I managed to smudge the paint on one of my toes by the end of the night--oh well. 

I always get a little nervous with a dark color at first--

but end up LOVING it! 

Thanks Wend for the color suggestion, and the good times! :) 

* * * * * *

If you haven't ever had a pedicure--you need to. 

It is worth every penny!

Even if you hate having your feet touched...try it.

 

Wow for Wacko

Being a 5th grade teacher really has it's perks. Not counting getting additional exercise because I led my class in the complete opposite direction on our field-trip, I get to do a lot of fun things in school. 

Some of which include: having a Constitutional Convention simulation, letting my student teach me a new magic trick, and trying to teach and learn this States and Capitals song by the Animaniacs:

Wow Wacko! 

And if you think this is great, check it out on YouTube at double-speed...

We just started trying this out and I really like this way of learning all 50, plus... the kids love it! 

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 :)   

Priceless

Tuesday (the 9th) was my last day in Kindergarten, my last day student teaching, my last day of college as I've known it.

I've reflected upon these three parts of my life, and have realized how priceless they have been.

• Kindergarten: Tieing shoes, zipping coats, unscrewing my smile at the end of each day---a tough and tiring 8 weeks.

Getting to spend everyday with hilarious little kids...PRICELESS.

• Student Teaching: Paying tuition to do everything a teacher does, planning lesson plans upon lesson plans, having to teach someone else's way---frustrating.

Getting 6th graders to pose in different ballet positions---PRICELESS

• College: Gaining the experience of living with a roommate (very first one) who would show me her dandruff crumbled up in her hand...disgusting. Being required to take random, and sometimes pointless, classes...funny.

Graduating with a Bachelor's Degree tomorrow morning... PRICELESS