Evansville with Lily Grace

Today was an awesome day!!  I got to spend most of it with a sweet, soon-to-be-3-year-old.  I've only watched Miss Lily a few times, so I was excited to spend some time with her.  Why was I watching her?  Big sis Regan and her mommy were going to have breakfast with the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Regan all ready for her date with Mommy



Lily and I had plans of our own...I had a few places in Evansville I needed to visit.  First stop was The Teacher's Aid for their 30% off everything sale.  Unfortunately, I made the fatal mistake of taking Lily through the toy section first.

I finally got to do a little teacher shopping and we headed out into the cold rain.  After a quick stop at JCPenney Home Store, we headed to Chick-fil-A for some much-needed chicken n' fries, then for a little playtime.

Which was followed by some ice-cream.  Then Mommy came to pick Miss Lily up and I went to Sams' Club, came home, and took a well-deserved nap.

What a great day!

I Bet You Hate Your Job, Ms. Sutton

One of my students told me this week, after I gave a lecture on behavior to the class:

"I bet you hate your job, Ms. Sutton."

Hmm.  No, I definitely don't hate my job.  Do I have days I wish I was at home/the beach/shopping/etc. instead of at work?  Sure.  Everyone does.  I've had many challenges during the time I've worked for the school corporation.  I had many trying students, coworkers, personal issues, you name it.  Not once did I hate my job.

Hate is a very strong word.  Last year, I outlawed that word (among others) in my classroom.  You could "strongly dislike" something, or "strongly dislike" how someone was acting, but "hate" you could not.

This week has been a trying week.  I can't figure out if we're all getting sick, if there's a full moon, or perhaps if we all have cabin fever (note that it's been in the 70s this week and we've taken full advantage of our recess time).  I am just not sure.  I am hoping it's not a case of "Holiday Hyperness,"  because if it is, we need to get a handle on it quick because we still have a month of school before Christmas Break.

My favorite (note the sarcasm here) thing is when I start to teach and all my students start talking.  Or coloring.  Or reading.  Apparently, they already know how to do everything that I've taught, so they don't see the need to pay attention.  Hmm.  Okay.

Our principal is very big on respect.  You are respectful to everyone, whether you like them or not, whether you agree with them or not.  Not paying attention to your teacher when he/she is teaching is disrespectful.  In fact, our principal spent about 25 minutes in my room last week talking to my class about how we need to be respectful and tolerant of each other (I have a few personality conflicts in my room).  Today we were respectful to our Veterans, but not so respectful to the teacher or to each other.

Now, granted, we have more than our fair share of fun in my classroom.  I strongly dislike being all stuffy and serious for the entire school day.  However, the State of Indiana has deemed me in charge of educating 19 students in the 5th grade state standards.  Unfortunately, you can't teach all those standards in a non-stuffy, non-serious fashion.  You also can't have much peace and order without everyone dishing out their fair share of respect.

Okay--enough of my rant and rave for the evening.  Friday, here I come!!

Veterans Day

I was VERY proud of my students today.  In our school, the 5th grade students take charge of the Veterans Day program.  Our wonderful music teacher, Melissa, taught them some songs and my coworkers found and put together slides for a patriotic slideshow.  I stayed out of the limelight on this one as I am not all that creative and do well enough to get my kids lined up and to practices/performances on time. :)

Anyway...all four 5th grade classes did a very nice job singing during the performance.  They were quiet and respectful during the Veterans' part in the ceremony, and they did a great job getting to and from the performance in a quiet, orderly manner.  A few of my students were chosen to be in the Singing Indians group (kind of like the Swing Choir at the high school) and they did a wonderful job as well.  The performance was short, as the Veterans had many more programs to attend today, but amazingly meaningful.  I asked my students, after the performance, how many of them had someone in their family who was a Veteran.  Most raised their hands.  Next I asked if they knew someone who was a Veteran.  All raised their hands. One of my students has an uncle who recently returned from the Middle East and that student has shared many stories about his uncle.  I hope my students know what it means to give up your time, family, and your life for our country. 

Union

Yesterday was a day for friends and family.  My very good friend, Sandy, and I went to Jasper.  We ate at the "new" Los Bravos and shopped. 

That evening, I did something I'd never done and had been wanting to do forever. I ate at the Union Store (Sullivan's Grocery).  Now, this may not seem like a milestone for anyone but me, but the last time I attempted to sample their wares, the power went out.  I had been soooo excited to eat there and couldn't!! This time, I got to try their bacon cheeseburger.  YUM. I was also blessed to spend the meal with my cousin, her guy, and two dear friends, one of whom traveled up from Murfreesboro, TN.  (Not for the meal, for other reasons. :) )  We talked, ate, laughed, and watched Zenyatta lose the race by a nose (literally!).

Afterwards, I visited my Gma and Gpa Sutton.

All in all, it was a very good day.

The Union Store (Sullivan's Grocery)

Such a nice, homey place!

Twirly eating his Drumstick and so kindly paying for our meals.

Our happy (and full) group!

Some kids...

Some kids are challenging--you spend the majority of your time trying to figure out what makes them tick.

Some kids are hilarious--you want to hear their jokes and their opinions all day long.

Some kids are your ray of sunshine--you look forward to the next time you will see them and also look forward to hearing what they have to say.

Some kids get under your skin--you find yourself counting to 10 all day long when they're on a roll.

Some kids tug at your heartstrings--you know that if you could keep this child, they would have a shot in life.

Some kids are responsible--you never have to worry when you put these kids in charge of something.

Some kids are just there at the right time--they put that much-needed smile on your face just when you didn't think you could go on.

Some kids are in your life for such a short time--but they change your life forever.

All kids are precious.  They deserve the very best that the adults in their lives have to give them.  They look up to us as role models and we have the great challenge of molding and shaping them into the leaders of tomorrow.

I know I had a great day with my kids today (despite the fact we'd all had way too much sugar the past few days).  There were irritations and aggravations, but there was learning, laughing, and life lessons being taught in the process.  I cannot imagine being in another profession!