Cheerios

Last year was my first year teaching 5th grade, and it surprised me a lot. One thing that was surprising was that the kids weren't as big as they looked! I actually really enjoy 5th graders because of how I can talk to them and they seem to "get" things on a deeper level. It is quite easy to talk to them about actions and consequences, knowledge and power, and life lessons that we all continue to try to learn and master. Of course, they are a bit trickier and craftier and they roll their eyes much more often than a 3rd grader, but over all I enjoy them.

Last year, I taught Math, Reading, and English. Our students rotated to different classes to learn Social Studies, Science and English, which was new for me and a bit difficult to get used to. Because we had a terrible schedule, we are now rotating to different classes based on their skills in Math and Language Arts, but I teach my homeroom kids Science and Social Studies.

This last week we were learning about cells in Science, which somehow lead to a conversation about cancer cells. My students are so very inquisitive and I certainly do not know enough to answer all of their questions, but one student asked "How do you prevent cancer?" We talked about how doctors and scientists don't really know what CAUSES cancer, so we don't really know how to prevent it yet. There is tons of research to help treat it, but we are still learning about the causes. This was big news to one students in particular who raised his hand and said, "Yes there IS a cure for cancer.......Cheerios! I saw it on a commercial."

True it reduces cholesteral, but who knows....maybe we should all just have a bowl.

ode to intention

I have failed. I had the greatest intention of reviving an old tradition that has fallen to the wayside because of technology. I have been thinking a lot about my relationship with you, Gramps, and how we used to write letters. You would send us the most beautiful stationary and stickers in order to help encourage us to write to you. Even in college I remember writing letters to you to fill you in on the goings on as a young woman embarking on something completely foreign. I have always loved getting letters in the mail and cherishing the stories within them. So, even before you started your Gazettes, I thought I would send you a letter in the mail and slap a sticker on the back for tradition sake! However, you never received such letter because I have failed to write it. I don't even have an excuse, except it is so much faster for me to sit here and type a little message about my life, so I fall to convenience. PLUS, my mom revived my old space, so why not use it! Who knows if you even click on this old cobweb every once in a while to see if there is any action. With that being said, I will do my best to add a little tidbit of life in New Mexico to let you know what is going on here.

Lately, I have been working in my classroom. It is a lot of work getting a classroom ready these days. On the last day of school, we have to pack up our classrooms into boxes and cabinets and move all empty furniture into one area of the room. All of the items on the walls and bulletin boards must come down and be stored, safely packed away to possibly use the next year. This is quite the task because as eleven years have passed, there tends to be an accumulation of "stuff" that my students use...especially BOOKS! During the summer the custodians move all of our furniture around in order to clean, and then leave it in a pile in one area of the room. SO, getting ready for the school year seems to take a bit longer to rearrange, load up, hang up, and put up in order for those kids to feel comfortable and loved in their surroundings when they first enter their classroom.

I always do a theme for my room. I've done apples, insects, ladybugs, sunflowers, cartoon characters, and last year did a Hawaiian theme. This year though, I have opted for some stripes and polka-dots! For no reason in particular, but I thought it would be fun and add color....and BOY DOES IT! It looks a bit like a circus tent, honestly. Hopefully that is NOT a foreshadowing that I will be running a three ring circus this year!

good vibes...

hi everyone! i have much to tell you about a wonderous trip to the florida keys...ahhhhhhh. however, first i am hoping that you can send me some good vibes tomorrow. i have an interview for a third grade position at the elementary school that three of my sisters attended! i am nervous and excited - but mostly VERY NERVOUS! send me the vibes of confidence and assurance and eloquent speaking. ay yay ya...i tend to stutter and ramble. hopefully cory's quote from her blog will help me to get the job. "who you are speaks so loudly, i can't hear what you are saying." hopefully they are looking for ME. i'll let you know how it goes. and thanks in advance!


oh! and please don't leave this blog without listening to the next song on my playlist. it is AMAZING.

gone riding

this weekend we are going to a harley rally in red river. we leave on saturday and will come back on monday. i am a bit nervous about riding for that long on the bike...about 3.5 hours. but we will stop along the way and take some stretch breaks. other than the need for packing extremely light (quite a predicament for me!) i am really excited about the trip as it will provide some time with my honey and our wonderful friends. the interaction with nature is awesome as you fly down the road...embracing the elements as the big mama sees fit. ahhhhhhhh!!!!!

...and yes mom, we will be careful.

last night....

...we partied! i don't know how many of you were into this season of american idol, but we watched religously. last night, for the finale, we went to a party to celebrate the david vs. david battle. although i really liked both of the finalists, and since my girl carly was no longer in the competition, i chose to root for "the cook". everyone at the party had a shirt proclaiming their choice for the title. a great time was had by all - enjoying pizza, beer, salsa, good entertainment, and great company. even the two- year-old got into the action by wearing a shirt that said "i shake my pamper for american idol". hoooray for cook! rock on.

wellness wednesday

sometimes there are moments when the pure realization of something greater than yourself ACTUALLY happens upon you. of course, i know that there always exists magic greater than myself, but i definitely (and embarrassingly) do not always pay attention to them. however, this river is one that i cross over almost every day. anytime that i need to go into town, to the post office, to work, to get gas...i have the awesome opportunity to travel over this river, and every time my glance lingers just a bit longer on either side of the bridge to catch the beauty. it is a marvel every single day. sometimes there are deer crossing or drinking here, sometimes there are other animals, but always it is running - powerful, yet gentle - steady and true to its course, but always just a bit different in its movement or the way it grooves along side the earth. what a message for me to listen to.

sunday afternoon sing-along

we finally have some sunshine around here! one of my very favorite things to do is to sit in the sunshine and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin...not a hot, sticky, phoenix in the summer type of sun, but just a beautiful spring day, flowers blooming, sweet breeze kind of warmth. i think it does a world of good - like a mary poppins "spoonful of sugar" - for my mood and well being. my dad has always teased me about being too cat-like for my own good. if there is a spot of sunshine somewhere, i will find it and lay in it. it just feels soooo good! for a few moments, i am going to sit out here and enjoy this moment...silenty humming this song. would anyone care to sing along?