Wild Times At VBS

We ended June with VBS.  Our theme this year was Weird Animals and the kids really enjoyed it. They learned about a different weird animal  every night. The week ended with with picnic and wild animal petting zoo. Of course Madison was in love with the horses and Logan the tortoise. It is always an exhausting week but the kids have loads of fun.

Summer Memories

I am amazed with what children remember. I had promised Madison a summer trip to Chuck E. Cheese back in February. Well summer began and she reminded me of that promise. We took my grandma and headed to Chuck E. Cheese one day for lunch. Madison had so much fun and had most of the place to herself. She ran from game to game and racked up the tickets. She ended up with a red bouncy ball, which made for one happy girl. My grandma and I enjoyed lunch and got to catch up for a while, so it was a win, win.

Safety Day

I can't believe we are already in July. I feel like June blew right by me and left me in the dust. One main reason that June passed me by was thanks to a bout with vertigo. That stuff is nasty and really had me down for about two weeks. I am still feeling a little bit of dizziness if I move a certain way to fast but I am ready to put it behind me. I love July and have lots of fun planned. I will also be starting summer school in a few weeks which excites me because I will get to see some of my students again!

Logan and I have had this tradition of attending safety day since he was a little guy. It is on a Sunday afternoon, so we eat lunch and then head to safety day. This year we had to change things up since it was getting ready to rain and we figured we would try to beat the rain and then have lunch.  We only got a few sprinkles on us and had a great time. Logan loves climbing on EVERY vehicle sometimes even multiple times. We had fun climbing on the vehicles and talking to all the workers. It was a fun day and we were so thankful to miss the rain.

Climbing out of the fire safety house

The helicopter was on of his favorites

All Grown Up

This school year also had a special meaning, as my very first class graduated. I really can't believe the time is here already. We were all just babies when we met. I can still remember that first year of teaching like it was yesterday. I am sure I made many mistakes, but they seemed to have all survived and are none the wiser. I remember rushing around those few weeks before school started (I was hired at the end of July). I wanted my room to be perfect. I had no idea the kids that were coming my way and yet we all survived.  A few years ago I was talking to another second grade teacher and we figured out that this would also be her first class to graduate. We used to be in small elementary schools around the county and then they all came together for high school. We decided then that we wanted to go together and watch our first class graduate. Fast forward to this May we realized the time had come, so we made plans. Well plans changed and she got sick. I debated whether or not to go by myself but in the end I did. I am so glad I did. It was so special to see those kids walk across that stage. I was also blessed that one of my former students was the valedictorian, I couldn't be more proud of her. It is amazing how they have changed and grown but they still resemble those tiny first graders who walked into my classroom so many years ago. So many came up and expressed how much it meant to see me there, and that made me feel good. I felt we started the journey together, it was only fair to end it together. I was also blessed to be invited to some of their parties, so it was special to spend some more time with them. I am excited to watch what is in store for these students and continue to follow along with what is going on in their lives.

I only have one cell phone picture from the day, it was super hot so I didn't take my big camera.

May Wrap Up

May was a crazy month. It is the end of the school year, which means lots of projects, paperwork and just wanting to spend final moments of  quality time with my students. On top of that it was the year of graduations, so the weekend were spent hopping from party to party.  Before I knew it, the month was over and I was exhausted.

We also celebrated Mother's Day, Logan's kindergarten graduation and my grandma's birthday. So instead of doing individual post, I figured I would just do one big wrap up and call it a month!

Logan and I had a small celebration with my grandma for her birthday. We went out to lunch and then had cake at home later.

Later that evening Logan went fishing with his dad. If you look real close at the bottom picture, you can see his big catch!

On May 20th Logan graduated from kindergarten. They had a jungle themed musical program. I can't believe he will be in 1st grade next year.

Wordless Wednesday- Spring Pictures

What A Difference A Year Makes

School is out for summer and for most teachers this is the best time of year. This year was different for me, it was a year of change and transformation. Sure I am happy for the slow morning starts and lazy days of summer but my mind is still racing, still thinking, still worrying. The story of this school year starts in August and it has transformed me forever as a teacher.

The August back to school routine is always the same, labeling everything, decorating the room, and getting things set up for the new year. 2 years ago I accepted the position of a special education co-teacher. My  room has about 1/2 students who are in the special education program and 1/2 who need extra help.  So the first day arrived and we did all the beginning of the year stuff. I really didn't know at that moment where this year was going to take me. Each child has a story, however some are harder than others. I had parents in and out of jail, grandparents and family members raising kids and some with a home life that would make you shutter.

It was around Christmas that I realized we were doing so much more than learning math and reading, we were counslers and parents. I have spent so many days giving a hug and comforting a little one through their latest problem. I have spent many days listening to the what is on their heart while tears stung my eyes. I have spent more sleepless nights than I care to count worrying about these little souls. I spent every morning praying over each one of them in my classroom and praying to God to give me the strength I might need to get me through the day.  Through this God transformed me. He guided to me to see the human side of situations, to try to understand where these parents and children were coming from. He opened my eyes and my heart. It wasn't the kids who changed, it was me. It took 12 years but I felt the change, the understanding and the patience that I needed. I have fought for these kids, I have stretched myself far beyond my comfort level. I am happy to report some of those battles I won and even the ones I didn't have changed me as a person. I am no longer the teacher I was in August, last year, or 12 years ago, I have changed. I am grateful for every little person that touched my heart this year, I am grateful for administrators that believed in me no matter what and I am grateful for my friends.

I wish I could share pictures of these precious little ones and I would love to tell you their stories, but they are thier stories to tell and they are not finished. I know God knows their stories and how they will end and I have faith that he guides and protects them each day. My quote for the year has been "Let your faith be bigger than your fear,"

I can share a few pictures of the end of the school year at the end of the day. In all the pictures we have sunglasses on because I was sobbing minutes before this as my class was leaving.

These two girls have been by my side all year. Kyla in the middle is my co-teacher and Brandi is across the hall.

The buses arriving for the final time

My co-teacher Kyla and me taking our end of the year selfie