I am officially finished with my first week of being a 4th grade classroom.  Although I have lesson plans to finish and papers to grade, I thought I would take a few minutes to write down some things that I did not learn in school about teaching.

1.  The paper work at the beginning of the year is insurmountable.  20 packets with 8 papers that parents have to sign and return = a huge, unorganized mess

2. You have got to be flexible.  No matter how much you prepare and get things ready, something will change.  I gained 2 kids, 2 kids never showed up and my entire schedule got flipped on Friday.

3.  You will find things annoy you that you never thought would.  I can't stand personal sharpeners and the enormous mess they make.

4.  No matter how early you go to bed, you will be utterly exhausted the first week of school.

5.  No matter how much responsibility you have thrown at you during student teaching, nothing can prepare you for your own classroom.

6.  It is hard to keep a straight face when a kid make a funny remark that you should not laugh at.

7.  Your kids will take a piece of your heart home with them the first day of school.

I absolutely love my job!  I am so blessed to be in a profession where I get to see "aha" moments everyday.  I get to see children grow and mature, learn more about themselves and the world in which they live.  I have kids who come from amazing households and some who don't.  My heart expanded at 8:05 am on Monday morning to include 20 little darlings and their families.

I can't imagine doing anything else!

I recently bought the new Mandisa cd. I LOVE IT!!! It has actually been a stress reliever for me. The sista can sing and her songs have a great and uplifting message. The lyrics below have really been speaking to me!

Truth About Me

If only I could see me as You see me
And understand the way that I am loved
Would it give a whole new meaning to my purpose?
Change the way I see the world

Would I sparkle like a star in the night sky?
Would I give a little more instead of take?
If I understood I'm precious like a diamond
Of a worth no one could estimate
I'm a worth no one could estimate

You say lovely, I say broken
I say guilty, You say forgiven
I feel lonely, You say You're with me
We both know it would change everything
If only I believed the truth about me

I wish I could hold on to the moments
When my life is spinning but I'm peaceful still
Like a wind You whisper into silence
And tell me things this world never will
You tell me things this world never will

You say lovely, I say broken
I say guilty, You say forgiven
Oh, I feel lonely, You say You're with me
We both know it would change everything
If only I believed the truth about me

I would sleep better at night
Wake up with hope for another day
I would love even if it cost me
Take a chance and know I'm gonna be okay
I would dare to give my life away

Oh, I feel lonely, You say You're with me
We both know it would change everything
If only I believed, if only I believed the truth about me

This past week, I went to Alief U. This is an intense four day conference that teaches the Alief thought. It taught me alot of activities and information that will allow me to encourage and engage my students. I am so thankful for a district that provides so much support to new teachers. I cannot wait to use all of the strategies that I have learned in the past few workshops in my classroom.

On the first day, I was sort of nervous about who all would be there. In 2009, there were 450 new teachers hired, in 2010, 250. This year, there were only 77 new hires. I was impressed and so thankful that I was one of them. I got to see two of my fellow Huskies that are teaching in the district too. It was awesome to see some familiar faces. I am looking forward to long days, long nights, tears and laughter. I really can't complian though. I am finally doing what I have been dreaming about for many years!