Leyla Swimming

Here's the video on youtube:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuTnMfH6VQvI&h=6104e

Popcorn Girl

Here is a link to the video on youtube if you can't get it to load here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGQ3gdwVRHs

My Little Swimmer

A friend of ours brought Leyla a little swimming pool because he saw her running around in the yard, sweating. Wasn't that sweet? And she LOVES it. She would stay in there all day if she could!

First Week of Classes!

Classes started Monday! My schedule is a little rough this year - 36 hours!!! But, it went really well. I felt really prepared and I think I made a good impression. It helped being organized. I gave them the class rules, the grading policy, and a student inventory. We decorated folders for their portfolios, too. We started Thursday with more classwork and diagnostic tests. I felt good about my lessons because there was good participation from all of them, so it made me feel like I had planned well, or that they enjoyed the activities. I hope so. I don't know if they were fun, but at least they all participated!! That's a good sign, right? I want to have daily activities and less lectures, but I hope they will learn the information that way, too. Wish me luck!!

Leyla Playing Outside

 She was hugging the bucket...no idea why!

 Pretty girl!

 In this one I think she was laughing because Bull's tongue was hanging out!

Hugging the dog! She's been giving out lots of hugs lately :)

Leyla Goes to the Mountains

 "Mooooo!!" Leyla liked the bulls :)

 Even more though, she loved the chickens!

Relaxing with daddy in the hammock (back in Catacamas).

Back to School

School starts February 7th! I am working my butt off trying to get ready. I will be teaching Science and 3 English classes (Language, Conversation, and Spelling) to 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. It adds up to 36 hours a week - and since I wanted 4 days a week to have a 3-day weekend, it's not going to be easy. I had thought I'd be teaching from 9 to 2 (that's 6 hours a day) which adds up to 24 hours. But with that many classes, I'll be on a full schedule, from 7 to 2 and with no free hours/planning periods!! Talk about rough....but I guess I'd rather do that and have my Friday off.

I'm partially excited about it because the pay is double what I got last year and will really help us get ahead with our savings. And, since I taught the same English classes last year and am already familiar with the books, I shouldn't have to plan as hard. It's the science that will take up most of my time. Speaking of which, I will get those books on Monday with exactly a week to plan the entire year!! Oh and I don't have a calender either, so I don't know the dates for the Partials or any holidays...

So here's what I'm planning. I'm going to make course overviews and Unit plans for the first partial for each of the classes, and then work a week to 2 weeks ahead with lesson plans, and write some really good classroom rules and disciplinary action to take, like a good teacher! I'm hoping it will be so much better this year, being more prepared. I'm going to do the best I can with what they give me and with the few, few teaching skills I have, and just simply NOT get frustrated with the students. So it will be a great year!