Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans

When I began this blog, my initial intention was to detail what my student teaching experiences were like, what I learned, etc.

I failed miserably.

But like John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I made plans, and life happened. So let me sum up what did happen:

- Ended my first student teaching in January. Passed my work sample (a devil of a chore) with flying colors. Came out with two awesome recommendation letters from my cooperating teacher and my supervisor.

- Began my second student teaching experience in February. Co-taught with another student teacher for a few weeks who has become a really good friend and confidant. Learned a lot about flexibility, copy machines, time management, and how to keep 24 kinders and first graders under control. Passed my second work sample with flying colors. This time, I got three recommendation letters because I convinced the principal to observe me. Yessssss.

- Graduated in May. One of the happiest and proudest moments of my life. Celebrated with family at McMenamin's (one of my favorite places and a Northwest staple).

- Got a job in June. Not teaching, but enough to keep me busy and in my bills. Car payments, insurance, and the like do not wait until the school year starts and sub jobs start pouring in.

- Registered to substitute with almost any school district within a 30 mile radius.

- Hoping to be BUSY this school year.

I think that about sums it up. It's amazing how much can happen in the span of a few months... I look forward to seeing what happens in the next few! And hopefully I'll remember to update this thing more often.

First full week

Way back when, I used to be a night owl. I would come home from work at either 10 or 11 at night (depending) and then stay up until 1 in the morning because it took me a long time to wind down. Because of this odd schedule, it wasn't unusual for me to be in bed until 9 or 10am and get up just in time to watch The View. Now? I'm in bed at 10 (10:30 at the latest) and get up at 6 in the morning (at the latest).

It's amazing how things change.

And just today, from out of the blue, as I was e-mailing a few different people, an errant thought popped into my head: I am really happy. This thought popped into my head and it wasn't a normal, conscious thought. It was almost as if it just was and it wanted me to know that it existed.

Yesterday wasn't the best day I have had student teaching. It actually was probably the second worst day. My lesson tanked and I learned a lot about why it tanked and what I could (and should) have done differently. In the moment that it exploded, I became the kind of teacher I never wanted to be--and I didn't like it the least bit.

It was my first full week of student teaching. I didn't teach a whole lot, but I did teach more than I had and overall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I woke up early every morning, drank my coffee, made copies, helped my kiddos, working on my classroom management, and yes, got supremely frustrated.

And I'm happy.

This sure beats waiting tables.