Update: Poem Form

There once was a girl who taught in the first grade

and many games she made.
Melinda was a great mentor
And was never a bore

This same girl celebrated one year
with her very sweet dear.
They stayed in a Castle room
and that weekend didn't even touch a broom.
(go here for pictures of our castle)

Misty finally landed back in the states
Thank goodness she wasn't late.
We made lots of pretty signs
and my man looked pretty fine.

Jay turned 22
"Woohoo!"
T spoiled her rotten
with a pair of lovely moccasins.

March and April have treated us well
And next week will be even more swell.
J finally graduates
isn't that so great?!

So Close...

Yet so far...

Graduation is less than one month away.
One month!
I have finished my two independent study classes.
Minus the finals.
Interviewed with Provo School District once.
Tomorrow I interview with them a second time.
I will have one bridal shower completed on Saturday.
I have another to do in two weeks.
I have one night class to finish.
Along with one presentation and one last final during finals week.
I have had numerous evaluations up the wazoo...
With one left.
Coincidentally, it's on my birthday.

Joy.

And so yes, blogging world. My life is upside down, sideways, in and out, right side up all at the same time.

Strangely enough,
It's becoming normal.

Oh, and just in case you wanted to know, I broke a board yesterday. With my bare hands. The karate man (which is what my 1st graders call him) came to school, taught me the perfect stance, and after 3 taps on the board with the heel of my hand and 100+ first graders watching, I busted the board and then jumped up and down like a crazy woman along with those 100+ first graders.

What'd I tell you?
It's proof that my life is" normal."

My Hero

One of my latest and greatest hero's is named Professor Paula.

She lives in my old mentor teacher's closet for the better part of the year, only randomly coming out for particular science lessons. She has the best accent, can never button her lab coat up correctly, has crazy hair that sticks up in 3 different directions, and thinks that fourth graders have big heads and little bodies.

The kids love her! And so do I. She's inspired me to teach science in a fun and creative way. Next year, I expect to have a similar professor hidden away in my own classroom closet. It's a genius idea!

(props to Bekah for sharing her true personality with me while I was in her class!)

Props to all of the elementary school teachers out there that really get into their role as a teacher. To be a teacher, you have to do crazy stuff in front of an entire class of kiddo's to get them to learn sometimes. And sometimes, the principal or custodian will walk in and you just have to keep going as that crazy character. Good thing I had a great example of how to do all of this. I feel confident that one day I can pull this off.

I feel as if I'm acting the entire time while I'm teaching the first grade. Those kids crave those crazy times that a teacher really gets into different roles. I'm excited to experiment a little more with my own teacher personality.

For those wondering, I'm absolutely loving the first grade. I never thought it would happen but those munchkins sure are finding their way into my heart and will probably never leave.

Miracles really do happen!

It's Love Week

And although my heart belongs to T, if I had another heart to give away, I would give it to the 4th grade.

Seriously.

I love the age the kids are at, I love how interesting their simple lives are, how they make learning so much fun, they aren't quite to the cocky age yet, and they get so excited to learn!

For example, I hated my Physical Science course at BYU that prepared me to teach about rock and minerals. Because of theses 4th graders, I LOVE rocks. I love learning about rocks. I love teaching about rocks. I love seeing their discoveries about rocks.

It rocks.

I also really love my cooperating teacher. And the other 4th grade teacher, a.k.a Jess, (which is how I refer to her when talking to Tyler about her), who is quite amazing also. My mentor teacher is incredible. I've learned so many management, teaching, and learning techniques from her, I don't know what I would do without her. Bekah is my hero. She's the person I want to follow into the teaching world and attempt to become like her.

Did you know that I spend more time with Bekah than I do with my own husband? It's true. She's also the first mentor teacher that I have had that I feel like she's not just my mentor, but my friend and confidant. She celebrates with me when a lesson goes well, she helps me through the ones that fail, and she coaches me through everything.

I honestly love her to death.

On my first day as a student teacher, the principal was convinced we were sisters. We're the same height, we might have the same sense of dry sarcasm at times, and we both do extremely stupid and funny things every so often. It's honestly the best.

Oh, and Valentine's day was incredibly fun due to the fact that all of the 4th grade teachers (yes, they let me in on their fun) dressed up in bright pink cardigans.

Best. Day. Ever.

Doesn't this picture make you want to just become friends with these women? You think they look like they're having fun in this picture? They're even more fun in real life.

Good thing I'm already friends with them.

I consider myself extremely lucky.
P.s Yes, T made me a wonderful Valentines day also. He was a wonderful romantic with some lovely loving cards which made my heart melt. I have the best husband ever.

Some Facts About Student Teaching

My Teacher Work Sample is due in less than a month.
My mentor teacher treats me like one of her colleagues and has been the best thing for my confidence this semester.
It's nerve-wracking to be observed by a principal that may hire you in the future.
My heart belongs to the 4th grade.
I'm not as stressed as I was last semester.
I'm actually enjoying teaching.
I can teach math without screwing my students up.
I directed a small 5 minute play. And it was actually good.
My students compliment me during team huddle every Friday.
I don't want to leave Westmore Elementary.
I am really really ready to be done with BYU and everyone associated with the education department (give and take a few professors and CFA's from last semester).
Alpine school district rocks, but the communication from BYU to the district does not.
I've taught in other classrooms besides the one I've been assigned to.
Other teachers actually ask me for favors, insight, etc. Seriously?!

Overall, I'm enjoying teaching. I enjoy coming up with new ways to teach things and learning from the ways that don't work as well. But, I love it when they do work out and others actually want my ideas!

In the words of my mentor teacher to me...

You were born to teach.

I'm beginning to agree with her.

Today at School...

One of my 4th graders couldn't remember what a millimeter was so they put mini-meter on their quiz.

I busted up.

Oh, and you know you teach in Provo, UT. when on their measurement homework, all of the kids are measuring tithing slips, "Preach my Gospel," and their Books of Mormon.

I'm loving school.

For now.

Happy New Year?

One upon a time there was a girl.
She was starting her student teaching today.
She still did not know what grade, what school, or who her mentor teacher would be.
Is this her fault?

I think not.
It is once again the wonderful BYU's wonderful service for their education majors.
Or maybe they reserve it especially for me.

Lame.

P.s. I love my husband. And I'm really sad that we had to put the Christmas decorations away last night. My house looks bare, bare, and more bare.
Bah Humbug to the New year.

I want Christmas vacation back.

Beginnings of Winter

These are the munchkins I taught for the month of November.
Best class of fifth-graders ever.
Hands down.
Please note that although I am shorter than many of them, I still gained their respect and love.
I'm one of those cool, hardcore teachers.
They loved me.

We put our Christmas Tree up over Thanksgiving Break.
I actually went shopping on Black Friday (at 9:00 rather than 4:30 in the morning though) and bought our first Christmas Tree.
Score.

Tyler contributed by stringing all of the lights around the tree. He did it perfectly and those LED lights brighten up the entire living room when we turn those babies on.

Male-Version of Vanna White.
So darn attractive.

All of our ornaments (minus our "First Christmas" ornaments) were given to me over the past 21 Christmases by my Grandma Madsen. Some are homemade, some are Hallmark ornaments, and some are Disney characters. We had fun putting them up and not having to purchase any ornaments for Christmas!

This picture makes me laugh.
It took us five or six pictures before this one to get a decent picture.
Here's to a Happy December!

Tommorrow

I meet the 5th graders I will be spending the next month with.
It's also the day to dress up for Halloween.
I'm meeting the little munchkins while being dressed up in bright neon 80's clothes.

A good idea?

We'll see.

Late For A Very Important Date

Today I woke up to my husband telling me that it was 7:38am.
I had to be at Art City Elementary in Springville at 8:15am.
My carpool was meeting at 7:45am.
I am never ever late to these kinds of things.
Does anyone else see the problem that I faced this morning?

Furthermore, one of the classrooms that we visited was the very classroom where I will be spending 6 hours a day in the month of November for my practicum.
Suck.

I hope I didn't look too horrible...
My hair was a greasy ponytail mess
I did my makeup in the car
I was late to my carpool

and the cherry on top of this great sundae is...
I forgot my socks
p.s. I hate cold feet.

But I somehow planned and presented 2 lesson plans to two groups of students, finished my case study on a cute 4th grade girl, and introduced myself to my facilitator while still smiling.

Then I went home to make up for my bad attitude this morning while my husband was just trying to help me get ready in the 4 minutes that I had.

I made him an egg sandwich and vanilla hot cocoa and then wrapped him up in a blanket because he was freezing to death.

Thanks, T. You're the best husband a girl could ask for.
I love you.