healthy breakfast

This morning I had a first grade class get a little silly. When we had a calm down a breathe time a little girl tells me "I think some of us had a piece of chocolate for breakfast" two moments later "because it has a lot of sugar in it to make us hyper"

10K

I broke the 10K mark in my runs. Finally. I got stuck at 5K for a while and I could get just past the distance but was stuck just about there. I am signing my self up for the Hot Chocolate 15K and am so determined to finish well. For me that is not really a time, I know I am slow paced. For me it is not walking at all.
This is a big deal for me because just over a year ago I was barely able to finish a whole mile without walking. Especially frustrating because I used to play soccer, that meant running for almost 90 minutes without stopping. In the school mile runs I was always finishing under 8 minute miles. I think my longest time was a (to me) pathetic 9:15. Now I am thrilled when I am faster than 10 minute miles.
Today I ran 6.85 miles. I passed the 10K barrier both physically and emotionally.
Go me!

Just another day at the office

Student: these markers make me dizzy. Me: these aren't the smelly kind they are dry erase. Stop smelling them.

Teachers outside my room giving their kids a bathroom break wished me luck on this class.

Restful

It is the first Saturday in over 2 months that I am not at work or doing something that has been scheduled for months. Kyle and I have my parent's poodle with us as they are on vacation so it was a calm and sleepy morning with two furry friends in the bed. The clouds and wind are pushing the crazy hot air away to make room for fall.
We sat outside last night looking for the blue moon with grandma and my aunt until after eleven and it was so lovely to just sit and talk until we got too tired.
Mornings like this are so rare for means so appreciated as ways to rejuvenate from what can often be way too busy and stressful.
Happy, sleepy, slow morning to the world!

First week quotes and stories

When asked when we might use a singing voice a little girl told me "when Mommy is sad you can sing to her."

Also, a colleague told a story of when a student got their head stuck in their chair on the first day. One more reason to say "bottoms on the chair not in the air"

Back to School

Today is the last day of my summer. True there are two days of the weekend, but that doesn't count. Back to work on Monday and then kids come back Wednesday. I have been back quite a few times over the last week to get my room set up.
Time to return to routine, back to more stress (not always bad), back to what I love the most. Teaching children.
I can't wait to see them coming in on the first few days. The students who I know and the brand new first graders who have only been to half day school until this year.
Such anticipation.

Wanting and having

It can be so easy to fall into the trap of wanting and forgetting what you have. Right now, for me it is a DSLR camera. Specifically the Canon T3i. It is so far out of my budget. But I want it so badly that I forget all of the wonderful things I have. Many of those things that people have given me because they knew I could not afford it, including the beautiful computer that I am typing on.

How do we avoid wanting things we do not need? What has happened to my mindset that has made me want this unnecessary piece of equipment so badly?


In other news, I do have a classroom to get decorated and organized. It is such a task. I will later take pictures with my current camera (a pocket sized point and shoot that I was given as a college graduation gift). It will be lovely once I obsess over the details a little more.