The sandwich effect.

6 months today!

I didn't end up getting the job.  

My name was put in for the teaching position, but at the last minute the district decided to shut down another classroom at another school and just transfer a teacher over instead of hiring someone new.  

Cram more kids into a classroom so that the district can save money.

Because that'll help our AYP (annual yearly progress), right?  (That's how schools get funding each year)  More students with less teachers.

There are positions at the district office being done by 3-4 people that should be done by 1 or 2.  That's where our money is going...instead of into the schools to help our kids and teachers.  Have the people who run the district really been out of the classroom long enough to not remember how things actually work?  

This system is really messed up, and I'm not just saying that because it's IMPOSSIBLE to get a job out here. One principal told me that 45 people applied for ONE position.  That is how awful it is out here right now.  

I honestly can't wait to get orders out of here.  A teaching job would have made me hate this place less.  I've been positive for over 3 years, and I'm just done with this place.  The majority of the people out here suck, it's dirty, the restaurants/stores in town don't even try because there's no where else to go, it's ugly, and you have to drive 2 hours to get any kind of break from this place.  

Sorry for the negativity, but there aren't a lot of upsides to this town.  I'm just thankful that Ben is here with me.  You can surely bet that when/if he gets deployed, I'm fleeing from this town back to Missouri.  My mom and dad talked this morning, and if I came back while Ben was deployed, I wouldn't have to pay for rent/utilities/groceries and they'd fence in the backyard for my dogs.  

Yeah, my parents rule.  

Goodnight!

I've been working on trying to get the nursery sort of cleaned out to get ready for the crib and dresser/changer.  They should be delivered anytime between tomorrow and Thursday!  I'm at a standstill right now though because we need to get someone over to help Ben move a couple big pieces of furniture out of the nursery and into the garage.

As soon as I get the furniture set up, I can figure out what size paintings I need to do as well as where I want to put it.  Right now, I'm stuck.  The furniture delivery people should be calling me back soon to set up a time to deliver.

I did get one thing put up in the nursery!

I'm wanting to bake, but if I do, I send it to work with Ben.  Usually, that wouldn't be a problem, but there are some people on his shift now that I'm not totally fond of...and I don't want them to enjoy homemade goodies.  I'm sure that makes me sound like a jerk, but I don't really care.  I've got pineapple upside down cake I could make as well as pecan bars.  

I'm ready for fall weather.  

I'm ready for fall baking.

I'm ready for fall clothes.

I'm also ready to find out whether or not I'm going to get a full time teaching position.  There's a freeze right  now on telling people if they've been hired.  Basically, the district is trying to figure out if they can just transfer people around and make classrooms fuller rather than have to hire new teachers. I know that some of my friends in the district are stressing out because they have WAY too many kids in the classroom to be effective for each student.  It's sad, but that's what happens when the district goes broke and the state has no money to help...and there are wasted jobs in higher up areas of the district.  Eh.  Oh well.  

The Many Hats I Wear As a Teacher

I'm not just a teacher when I go to work everyday.  I'm something more to each individual student.

Today in the 3 year old room got me thinking about this.

I'm a:
Substitute mommy when you need a hug/praise/or have a boo boo.
Disciplinarian-for when you don't always make the right mistakes.
Your #1 fan-for all the fabulous artwork, singing, dancing, etc...that you do.
Cook-for the lunches and breakfasts that you eat.
Your conscience-for those situations that you question what to do.
The bathroom guarder-for when you want to poop in peace.
A hand washing enforcer-for when you sneeze/cough/or wipe your butt.
Doctor-for when you just don't feel good.
Actress-for doing all the voices in your favorite stories.
Friend-for when you need someone to talk to that isn't your mom or dad.
Your brace-for when you need a little extra help climbing or walking.
Swing pusher-for when your feet don't quite reach the ground.
Kid catcher-for when you're kinda nervous about going down the slide by yourself.
Bear hugger-for when you just need some love or your afraid.
Educator-for when you are ready and willing to learn and grow and become something incredible one day.

Working with these kids, some of which have disabilities, has been really rewarding.

Decent day-got a LOT done!

Woke up and got stuff DONE today.

Had 2 cups of delicious coffee out of my NEW coffee cups (part of a set we just got).

We didn't necessarily need it, but I saw it and wanted it really bad.  I like it so much more than our old set.

Anyway, then I got probably 5 loads of laundry put through.  I wanted to make sure everything was tidy before our guests got here.

Took my library books back (I'm on book 4 of the Sookie Stackhouse novels), took back Megan's hard drive, and got some stuff from the BX.

Got a phone call from my teacher friend, and I went and helped her decorate her classroom.  She's been having stuff at home go on similar to my aunt, so I feel for her and wanted to help out as much as I could.  (Honestly, both men need to keep their you-know-whats in their pants and quit trying to destroy their families.)

Came home, did more laundry, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the utility room, and continued to straighten things up.  Worked out with Ben.  I've done this workout before and finished it, but today was just really hard for me and I was having a hard time breathing.  I kept feeling like I was going to throw up.  Ben said to just stop then and it would be OK, but I really wanted to finish it.  Cooled down afterwards by taking the dogs for a 40 minute walk.  (They're both passed out right now).

I made delicious turkey tacos with homemade salsa for dinner and drank a PBR to go along with it.  Watched our recorded True Blood, and now I'm just bumming around on the computer.  I need to get up and finish the guest room, but Rilo is sleeping right behind me and I don't want to disturb her, ha.

Tomorrow's list of things to do:
1. Finish getting guest bed ready.
2. Give dogs baths.
3. Vacuum.
4. Mop.
5. Dust.
6. Get new scentsy scent in my warmer.
7. Wash all towels.

I'm sure there's more, but I'm exhausted.