It's been real (sometimes a little too real).

When you finish packing your room, it looks all sad like:

 

And you know you're going to miss them SO MUCH that you honestly believe you will sit around for the duration of the summer all like:

But then you go to WhatShouldTFACallMe , flip through the archive, and instead you're all THANK GOD THAT'S OVER like:

For real, though? There will always be a place in my heart for Thomasville Heights. If I could stay a third year, I probably would stay a third year--with the poops on the floor, 7:30am gang fights, armed robbers, crying, cussing, roaches, rats, stabbings, and all. I instantly fell in love with the students here and gradually developed genuine love and appreciation for the Thomasville family as a whole.

My currently reality? Time to find a job at a school that's not 2 hours away from home.

2 Little Itty Bitty Days Left

Monday is KIPP registration with Ms. Counts for T. Counts.
Tuesday is my End of the Year conversation with TFA and the last day of teaching.

I'm kinda upset that my 4th graders didn't all pass math and reading. The bar is set so low to pass. Either way, we made a lot of growth, so I'm stoked on that.

2 itty bitty days left. I almost cannot believe it.

Solid 3 Days

Beer marinade fajitas.

 Saturday afternoon weather.

 Week 5 for these flowers.

 The new.

 Glorious weather, glorious spring.

 Teaching EBD.

 Spying.

Rainman Vs. Toad. 

 Paper mache solar system beginnings.

 Words With Friends with dad.

 Carnies creep me out.

Sunny Friday drives.

Seedlings.

122 Hours of Fear

I am on hour 23. I have been working on final exams that are due tomorrow since 9:00PM. It's now 3:33AM. Teaching and graduate school followed by writing a 25 page final? The worst.

Reasons to be Happy at this Moment:
2/3 Final Exams Complete
CRCT Testing Day Tomorrow (Easy)
3/17 Last Day of 3:30 to 11:45PM Class/Commute
30 Minutes to go Before Shower & Coffee Time
Rainer for Staying up With Me
Relentlessness
Relentlessness
Relentlessness

The nothing.

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it (anywhere you go, I go)

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

Perspective is Everything

I will make a list to dampen the deafening rush that is: the end of spring break.

The 32 Days List
+ I will have a life of my own again.
+ Graduate school will be a thing of the past (until I decide to return, by my own will).
+ Seeing the fruit of 2 years of labor.
+ No more 4:10 wake-up alarms, possibly ever. Please never, ever again.
+ Gardening + flowers + trees + the sun and being in it during the week.
+ Fence staining.
+ Zack, Rainer, & Jet, all day, every day.
+ Braves games (away series? !!).
+ Afternoon running.
+ Adventuring in and around town.
+ Rebecca.
+ Reading as many books as I want.
+ Staying up late.
+ Coming up with bizarre projects & hobbies.
+ Beach.
+ Family.
+ Cooking out.
+ Anything I want, really.

I can feel the promise of summer approaching.

Tree of Self

Truth: Coloring is for people of all ages.

This tree of self was an assignment for my Functional Skills education course. We're focusing on self-actualization and self-determination, skills that many students with disabilities struggle to develop without coaching. I had my students begin their trees last week during tutorial. I posted a parts of speech standard, and justified the activity by using adjectives on the branches. My students are totally into it--we're not finished, but will continue this upcoming week. I honestly believe that some of my students have never been asked to describe who they are as a person, to reflect on what they demonstrate in terms of character, work-ethic, how they visualize their respective origins, strengths, weaknesses, hopes, dreams, and fears. Tree of self, definitely one for the filling cabinet.

Hm. Hm. Hmm. What else is going on?

Jake and Andrea had a beautiful wedding on Saturday! I talked with some teachers in Athens-Clarke County, and they gave me the heads up in terms of where to look for work. Zack's friends have been really generous in terms of sharing what they know about elementary schools here. I've started looking for openings. I imagine these last couple of months before the end of the school year will be very busy. This week alone I have a bunch of special education meetings, graduate school, Sue Lehmann taping/interviews, my annual teacher evaluation, a jury duty summons to address, oh, and... teaching my students. Ah, yes, the unending to-do list.

Daylight savings is kinda messing up my body schedule. I should read to make my eyes tired. I'll need every minute of sleep to tackle this one...

Oh, we fancy.

I love my ladies! They're (we're) loving the Fantastic Mr. Fox!

The little girl in the middle would probably wear that fox mask to sleep if I let her take it home.

Every day, when we reach the end of reading, they beg me to go on to the next chapter. Every. day. And every day, I feel like I've achieved a little bit of what I've been working so hard to accomplish. We're on a mission!

We will find our way.

The weather is really nice today. So I plan with the back door open.
By the end of today, TWBAT state the goals and objectives of all grade levels in every subject for every day until Spring Break 2012.





Also by the end of today, TWBAT convince her husband to buy kayaks so they can go paddle camping.