Nine Weeks to Freedom!

Maybe the title is a bit of an exaggeration, but I only have to endure nine more weeks of teaching and taking classes. After May 23rd I will have a break until I begin student teaching in the fall. I still want to quit my program on a regular basis, but there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. Paul is looking forward to playing music with friends again after nearly two years, and the children are anticipating having their mother back. I'm not sure what I will do, but knowing me I will have a breakdown of some sort. Luckily, I will have girls camp and our youth trek to keep my mind busy for the first half of the summer.

Update

1. My class is going great so far. There is a lot to learn about the program itself. That is what we are focusing on right now. I feel like I am making it okay so far. I have been assigned to a Learning Team, and one of my peers lives in Japan! How cool is that!

2. Eliza had a bike accident today. She got scraped up a little, and she hit her head on the pavement. She had a massive headache at first. It got better throughout the day, but she went to bed with it still aching. No, I don't think she had a concussion. Her stomach never felt sick, and she didn't get dizzy or anything.

3. Luke told me yesterday, "Mom . . . I LOVE SCHOOL! Today we had Cheetos for snack." This week Luke learned to identify cylinders, spheres, cubes, cones and rectangular prisms. A couple of his older sisters couldn't identify the shapes as such, but Luke could. Watch out sisters!

4. Leah remembered which way to write her letter P on her spelling test, and she made a 100!

5. Friday the kids dressed up for spirit day at school. Since the school is small, even the elementary kids participate in school spirit stuff and pep rallies. This week the theme was "Accident Prone." My girls got really into it. They borrowed crutches, a sling and a wrist brace from my mother-in-law. The mother of one of Sarah's friends said that Sarah's fake bruises were pretty convincing. Sarah's grade won the spirit stick at the pep rally.

6. Paul continues to work hard. His employer has increased production! This is wonderful considering that in the last year half of the employees were laid off. They have also begun hiring people back. Paul also continues to play guitar everyday.

Here I go

I found out today that I was accepted into the online master's program through the University of Phoenix. I am relieved and anxious. It is a 23 month program and in the end I will have a master's degree in education and a K-8 teaching certificate for Arizona and Alabama. Everyone please bear with me. I'm not exactly sure what the next 23 months hold, but I am sure it will be challenging and rewarding. I am so grateful the Lord has guided me to this point. I wouldn't have imagined this a year ago, and yet here I am.

Moving forward and crashing a bit

After an early morning meeting at the preschool I came home, figured out the educational path I'm going to take, filled out a scholarship application, filled out 3 transcript applications, played cars with Luke, went thru McDonalds drive-thru for lunch, had an automobile accident (no injuries), had another preschool meeting, faxed the scholarship application, and mailed the transcript applications off. That was the first half of my day. 

So for the record, I will be taking an online college course this summer, but I don't know yet if I will be teaching full-time in the fall. It will probably be a while before we know for sure. My director exercised her faith and began an addition to increase the size of my classroom. The concrete was poured today. Carpenters come tomorrow. The classroom needs to be fully prepared for inspection the second week of June when I'm at Girl's Camp. Lots to do in the mean time!

As for the accident, I was driving in front of the First Baptist Church on Main St. when a deer ran into my driver's door. I know I live in a rural community, but this is not normal! My door needs $1600 worth of work done so that it will open and close. I am climbing across the passenger seat now. Luckily the window didn't break, no airbags went off, and the sliding door wasn't damaged. The poor doe broke its neck though and ended up in the back of a garbage truck. I saw the garbage trucker driver about an hour later. I was greeted with, "So I hear you bin deer huntin'!" I got that from a few people today actually. I'm sure I will hear it a several more times before the week is through.

Speedbump

Umm . . . I've been ill advised about attending the community college. I don't think that is the correct route for me. Now I'm looking into getting my masters in education at the University. I've filled out the application, but I'm scared of the Millers Analogies Test. Any advice about preparing for this test? Please!

College bound!

Well, it's official. Tonight I sent in my college application, and I downloaded all the "requests for transcript" forms I need. I am hoping to register this summer for two courses: Intro to early child care and education, and Children's health and safety. I have no idea how long all of this will take. I figure since I already have my English degree it will take about a year of online courses at the community college, and a year of upper level education classes at the University. I am hoping I can do all but the student teaching online. That is probably pushing it though. I'll keep you all updated!

Preschool life

Yesterday was terrible! I had 16 three & four year olds all to myself for three hours. It doesn't sound like a very long time, but when they are attacking you and each other, three hours is a VERY LONG TIME! 

Today was much better! I had 16 three & four year olds all to myself again, but this time I had the nap time/snack time/outdoor play-time shift. SWEET! I got to watch a little Finding Nemo, play airplanes attack on the playground, play with a slug, and examine worms. What a fun day!

Oh and today my boss asked me if I would be interested in a full-time teaching position and financial assistance to go back to college to receive an education degree. I told her . . . YES!