Hello everyone! Well things are FINALLY back to normal here in the big metropolis of Houston. After getting out of school on Thursday, September 11th, I finally was able to go back to school on Wednesday, September 23rd for a teacher workday. Kids at Sorters Mill started back on Thursday. Reuben had his workday on Friday, September 26th and his kids started back on Monday the 29th in Baytown. It was quite an experience for our FIRST natural disaster. It's funny, we never even thought about hurricanes when we moved here; then all of the sudden we had Dolly, Eduardo, (can't remember the "F"), Gustav, Hanna, then Ike. We lost power, had trouble finding food or gas, and had NOTHING to watch. I never thought I was so addicted to TV until I couldn't watch it!
After losing power on Saturday morning at 1 AM we finally hit the road with both dogs in tow and headed to Arlington. The Mallett family became our "shelter" for several days. However, we got to catch up with our good friends and "my" kids. I got to play with Ryland, Raylee, and Reese. All three have grown up so much! Reuben and I even got to take the kids for ice cream while Harmony did some work at her office. Reuben also got to go see some rehearsals of the Legacy HS band while we were there. "Ike" gave us a good excuse to go visit them!!
We headed back home to Humble on Wednesday after the hurricane to see if we had power yet. No luck, until about 6 PM that night our complex got a generator hooked up, so we were able to do some laundry and head out the next day to Arkansas to see Reuben's parents and brothers. It was a good visit. We were finally able to see his Dad's college band perform at a game
But you know how it is: you get bored when you don't have something TO DO. We both really love our jobs and kids, and I don't know about Reuben, but I was READY to go back!
God truly blessed us when we got these jobs. We weren't living in Baytown, Texas City, Galveston, or any towns south of Houston where most of the damage was done. None of our property was damaged, so being out of power for a little while was worth it.
Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that we SURVIVED IKE!!!! We should get t-shirts made!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Hurricane Ike
In case you have not heard, there is a hurricane headed for south of Houston. We are going to try and ride it out. I don;t think we will get the bad stuff, just rain and wind. If the power goes out, and we just can't seem to function, we will head to Arlington.
This is a new experience for us. We came from West Texas, ie no rain or moisture of any kind most of the time. Here it's humid most of the time, can have rain for days at a time and oh yeah--Hurricanes. Dolly wasn't bad, just rain. Edouard we didn't get anything, Gustav, nothing. Now Ike. We'll see how this one goes.
Shannon and I are both out of school Friday, and I also get Monday off. Shannon has to go if the power is still on.
We are both really enjoying our jobs. NO FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. That has been great. I know Shannon doesn't miss it, but I do a little. I'm not through with band, but I really am enjoying orchestra. It's a different type of kid.
This is a new experience for us. We came from West Texas, ie no rain or moisture of any kind most of the time. Here it's humid most of the time, can have rain for days at a time and oh yeah--Hurricanes. Dolly wasn't bad, just rain. Edouard we didn't get anything, Gustav, nothing. Now Ike. We'll see how this one goes.
Shannon and I are both out of school Friday, and I also get Monday off. Shannon has to go if the power is still on.
We are both really enjoying our jobs. NO FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. That has been great. I know Shannon doesn't miss it, but I do a little. I'm not through with band, but I really am enjoying orchestra. It's a different type of kid.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The FIRST Day of School
Okay one and all; I didn't know how popular I was! Sorry I have been updating like I should. Well, Reuben and I both made it through the first day of school. Reuben says that this is the best start he has EVER had. He likes his kids and his coworkers. He was really apprehensive about doing orchestra since he hadn't taught it before, but he's an old pro now.
I was a little leary of the young ones--the kinders and 1st graders. I did't know how short of an attention span the Ks had until I tried to teach them the Hokey Pokey. I now know that they DO NOT know their right hand from the left, nor can they follow instructions. I think I repeated my self at least ten times for ONE instruction. However, I just simplified my lesson and kept going. I really enjoy my 3rd and 4th graders and SOMETIMES 5th graders. The boys are the talkative ones here! 2nd grade needs to do a lot of growing up over the year. They are great kids, but still a little immature.
The best thing about elementary is that they love their music teacher. I get hugs every day, even though I might not know their name. There is one drawback: I only get 2nd through 5th grades one day a week for 55 minutes. That makes learning their names pretty hard on me. Ks and 1st graders I see twice a week for 25 minutes each time. My schedule is pretty neat, too:
4th Grade 8:30 -- 9:25
3rd Grade 9:30 -- 10:25
2nd Grade 10:30 -- 11:25
lunch 11:25 -- 12:25
1st Kinder 12:25 -- 12:50
2nd Kinder 12:55 -- 1:20
1st 1st Grade 1:25 -- 1:50
2nd 1st Grade 1:55 -- 2:20
5th Grade 2:25 -- 3:20
One of my kinder classes is being dissolved because it is a biligual class that will be divided up between the other three teachers. So that means a free Monday and Friday during K time!!
Anyway, here are some pictures.
My desk in my room.
My keyboard (which won't get much use) and my 2 computers!
The back wall of my classroom. I have tons of cabinets! That means I can get more stuff, right?
The Time Out Area. That's where they go when they're being BAD!
View of my room from the back corner.
View of my room from the front corner.
My class rules board by my desk.
Another view of the room from behind my desk.
A front view of my desk. Those bins ar for papers that the students will turn in.
The front of Sorters Mill Elementary.
View of Sorters Mill from the bus lanes.
Outside view of my room. Can you tell I have a jungle theme this year?
View of my room as you walk in.
The last view of my desk. I know I have a lot of stuff, but I don't care!
You may be asking what those things on the floor are. They ae pizza pans I got at the Dollar Store and drew a staff on. Then we use magnets to practice naming our lines and spaces. I found out you have to be pretty resourceful as an elementary teacher. I also put down white duct tape on the floor to make a giant staff.
It was funny, the other day my principal came in to borrow a pen. She said I took to elementary pretty well with all the decorating I did. She called me a "Closet Elementary Person" because I had taught secondary for so long, but had adapted well.
I took it as a compliment. I really feel like I belong here. This is the friendliest, most helpful school I have EVER been at. I feel truly blessed.
Oh, yeah; Reuben really feels like he found his place as well.
Well, this post has gone on FOREVER. I should go and get everyone ready for bed.
I promise to post more often.
I was a little leary of the young ones--the kinders and 1st graders. I did't know how short of an attention span the Ks had until I tried to teach them the Hokey Pokey. I now know that they DO NOT know their right hand from the left, nor can they follow instructions. I think I repeated my self at least ten times for ONE instruction. However, I just simplified my lesson and kept going. I really enjoy my 3rd and 4th graders and SOMETIMES 5th graders. The boys are the talkative ones here! 2nd grade needs to do a lot of growing up over the year. They are great kids, but still a little immature.
The best thing about elementary is that they love their music teacher. I get hugs every day, even though I might not know their name. There is one drawback: I only get 2nd through 5th grades one day a week for 55 minutes. That makes learning their names pretty hard on me. Ks and 1st graders I see twice a week for 25 minutes each time. My schedule is pretty neat, too:
4th Grade 8:30 -- 9:25
3rd Grade 9:30 -- 10:25
2nd Grade 10:30 -- 11:25
lunch 11:25 -- 12:25
1st Kinder 12:25 -- 12:50
2nd Kinder 12:55 -- 1:20
1st 1st Grade 1:25 -- 1:50
2nd 1st Grade 1:55 -- 2:20
5th Grade 2:25 -- 3:20
One of my kinder classes is being dissolved because it is a biligual class that will be divided up between the other three teachers. So that means a free Monday and Friday during K time!!
Anyway, here are some pictures.
My desk in my room.
My keyboard (which won't get much use) and my 2 computers!
The back wall of my classroom. I have tons of cabinets! That means I can get more stuff, right?
The Time Out Area. That's where they go when they're being BAD!
View of my room from the back corner.
View of my room from the front corner.
My class rules board by my desk.
Another view of the room from behind my desk.
A front view of my desk. Those bins ar for papers that the students will turn in.
The front of Sorters Mill Elementary.
View of Sorters Mill from the bus lanes.
Outside view of my room. Can you tell I have a jungle theme this year?
View of my room as you walk in.
The last view of my desk. I know I have a lot of stuff, but I don't care!
You may be asking what those things on the floor are. They ae pizza pans I got at the Dollar Store and drew a staff on. Then we use magnets to practice naming our lines and spaces. I found out you have to be pretty resourceful as an elementary teacher. I also put down white duct tape on the floor to make a giant staff.
It was funny, the other day my principal came in to borrow a pen. She said I took to elementary pretty well with all the decorating I did. She called me a "Closet Elementary Person" because I had taught secondary for so long, but had adapted well.
I took it as a compliment. I really feel like I belong here. This is the friendliest, most helpful school I have EVER been at. I feel truly blessed.
Oh, yeah; Reuben really feels like he found his place as well.
Well, this post has gone on FOREVER. I should go and get everyone ready for bed.
I promise to post more often.
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