~Horoscope and Thoughts of the Morning~

With a snow day giving me a morning to relax, I checked out my horoscope. Well this sounds promising!:

"Don't be surprised if you get a sudden windfall today, Erin. It may come in the form of hard cold cash, or more likely it will come in the form of an opportunity of some kind. From a business and creative standpoint, this is the most auspicious time for you."

I'd be perfectly content with continued work and success where I'm at! Now that our Dinosaur Tea is over, I'm attempting to re-focus my kiddos and get back to our more structured routine! I honestly didn't anticipate the school year going as fast as it is! I've been placing a lot of pressure on myself as of the last few days to get my class back to our goals and the learning objectives set in place for them! And with Valentine's Day parties, Mardi Gras, and the Lenten season, it's going to be a struggle! But it's kind of like having kids of your own, you want them to be the smartest, most well-rounded, independent kids they can be! I feel that way in preparing my group for their big move to First Grade! As I am sure any first-year teacher would admit, there is an extra degree of pressure in proving your capability in this preparation of your very first student group. The progress of this particular group never ceases to amaze me! There are times where you can actually see them "get it". That "aha moment"! I feel it's the reason most teachers go into the profession. It's such a cool thing to witness. My group will get so excited that it just reaffirms my career choices every time!

After last Friday's events, I had Saturday to myself and did quite a bit of reflecting on the past few weeks at school. I was evaluating my performance in reaching each individual student (even with the craziness of preparing for a program). Am I paying enough attention to each of the 27 I have? Am I making it personal and showing compassion to each and every one of them?! It can truly be hard with a class size as large as mine, but I always try to provide time in the day to listen to them banter about the things they find so important in their young lives! Hopefully my kids remember their Kindergarten year and recall fond, fun memories of our time together. Did you remember your Kindergarten year??! I think about this a lot actually because quite honestly, I don't remember too much from my own year in Kindergarten. And I had a wonderful teacher! I guess that would be enough for me too- to have my former students remember me as a caring teacher, even if they don't remember the fun activities (or recognize the hard work and money put into the activies) we shared together.

I wonder which ones of mine will become teachers themselves! I've got a few that seem to have the qualities already . . . I hope they keep in touch . . . and I'm getting emotional thinking about it so I think I will close with that thought!

Dinosaur Tea~

One of our Triceratops Hats!
Well, today was a big day for me and my kindergarteners! We had SPJ's annual kindergarten program (my first), "The Dinosaur Tea". This program was started by the former kindergarten teacher who retired last year. The whole intention is to showcase our students and the many programs that our school has to offer its students. From the tidbits of information that I was thrown in January, right after our return from Christmas break, I constructed my perception of the program. For the most part, I think I kept the tradition that the students and parents are familiar with. Although because I am coming in new, in the sense of being the new teacher to the building and as the new, first-year teacher, I have been getting quite a few questions about next year's program already. Are you sticking with the dinosaur theme? Are you keeping the tradition exactly as is or are you going to change it up? Why not do another theme? Maybe the dinosaurs have been exhausted in the school?? Quite honestly, I would like to develop a program that is completely my own. It's nice to have things laid out for you and materials made ready (although not all), but being a first-year teacher coming in as I did makes the pressure to flourish creatively higher!

I guess it would be the same for anyone, especially teachers- feeling a greater sense of accomplishment and pride in a program that you developed. It's something that I will have to think about- research some cute songs and themes that would be conducive to encouraging enrollment within our school! I'm hoping that today's events did in fact help with the number of students we will have in pre-school and kindergarten next year. And I have to say- I am really looking forward to getting back into our regular routine. The kids and I are both HUGE fans of consistency and major creatures of habit! These past few weeks have been largely full of crafts and songs and practice! Do I even remember are regular schedule???!!! I won't have to worry about that- they'll know! It never fails to make me laugh when they point out something that I had "missed" in our routine! I really was getting emotional about them all today too. My principal and I were talking about their performance, and I mentioned how proud I was of their hard work. I also mentioned that I was happy to see many of them returning to our school for first grade. I want to be able to see them progress- have them close by! And like she said, this class will always hold a major part of my heart! They are in fact my very first group of students! I was getting teary-eyed thinking about it! Ah! It's only February! How am I going to be in May and June! Oh my! It was also nice to hear from my principal that she saw a HUGE improvement in them and that they have made MAJOR progress in the few months that I have been with them! :) *Sigh! I have a huge headache from today- and majorly need the time to unwind from these last few weeks- BUT I love my kids.

Student: Miss Hilty?
Me: Yea?
Student: Can I tell you something kind of important?
Me: Of course!
Student: Well, I just wanted to tell you that you are a very special teacher to me and that I love you.
(Honestly- a conversation I had yesterday with one of my girls!)

~I Love My Job!~

Lost in Loss

I'm missing Alison so much today. I get like this now and then. I get so angry about it that it can be so emotionally consuming. There are no words to express how her life and being touched people. She was one in a million. I hope that she looks down smiling and is proud of who I am. I don't quite get why everyone who has meant something in my life, as well as my siblings and family, have passed. I know that it's not healthy to be so angry about it from time to time, but I can't help but feel that way. I am trying to understand- I know that life is not, and never will be, fair. I know that life is what you make of it. Obviously, after so many losses in my life, I am well aware that life in itself is short. I need to remember this more. I need to relax more. I need to open up and figure out what the heck I want out of being here. Teaching has added a huge new dimension to my life. It really has opened up my heart more. But, I still feel like I'm just not making the most out of myself or my time. I'm feeling meloncholy lately. I know that doesn't help matters.

Horoscope for Wednesday, January 27th

"You may feel as though the smallest issue is now a life or death situation. Depending on your mood, you may find yourself on the brink of complete disaster, and then the next minute you are soaring high. Remember that the drama that surrounds you is more a product of you and your reaction to the environment rather than the environment itself. "

Most of this seems to ring true- most. The whole soaring high part hasn't hit personally in the last 6 days. Kind of tired of it- but I'd have to agree that the "drama" I feel only affects me. I'm the only one who feels like things are off-kilter. So apparently, the drama is a product of my reactions. Right or wrong? Of course that doesn't matter. I feel how I feel. Isn't that enough?!

"Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tradegy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it." ~ Mother Teresa

New Year ~ and the typical New Year's Resolution!

Yes- I am going to be one of those people! LOL- those people who decide that the best time to start dieting and exercising is January! I just really feel ready. I didn't really include it in my actual New Year's Resolution with the rest of my 2010 goals- but I feel now, at the middle of January, that I am ready to start this. I'm gotten myself into a comfortable realm of not working out again- and that's VERY bad! I feel better about everything in general when I work out regularly and I miss that feeling! I've started by determining what would be the best thing to do for breakfast and lunch. I have a huge problem with eating at these times because I'm either on the go or way too busy! I don't really let myself sit down and eat either of these meals. Then I'm weak and miserable after school, without any desire of expending any more energy. I've noticed though that if I "drink" my breakfast and lunch, that the day seems to run smoother. I've been searching for a decent, used treadmill or a cheap new one for home. I just feel more comfortable working out at home- it doesn't take time out of my schedule to travel to the rec either. I miss having a treadmill in the house so I plan to do something about that, as soon as possible.

This resolution is more than just dieting and exercising to lose weight- it's a change to my lifestyle in order to feel better and be healthier. My body has lost it's ability to work smoothly. The fact that I am capable of bringing that back is not lost on me, and I want to do something about it. As much as I'd like to have an exterior motivation, I must manage to do this on my own, for me! I'm hoping that by putting it in writing, I can keep myself accountable. I counted my caloric intake for the day and realize that has gotten comfortably higher as well. I need to drop in reasonable amounts until I'm back to the recommended for my height, age, and desired weight!

Wish me luck! I'm very excited (sitting here writing about it at least)!!!

The Life . . . As We Know It!

Lucky Dog~!

I couldn't help but share the silly ways in which our dog chooses to relax! Wouldn't it be grand to lay around all day??! Oh well, I guess that I can't say much at the moment seeing as I have been behaving much in the same way this past week! Christmas break is a wonderful thing! I have been doing some thinking about New Year's as well....... I feel that I should make more of an effort to create and follow through with resolutions this year. I have much more to be grateful for and a different reference point as my foundation for the year.

I guess, really, I am as lucky as our Bud-man! I am very fortunate to be working within a Catholic school as well. I didn't realize how settled my beliefs had become, in positive and negative ways. It's so easy to become unaware of the small miracles, the simple blessings . . . I hope that I will never again become so unappreciative of the great things in life that show themselves in the simplest of forms! I've never been one to preach to others about their faith (or lack thereof), so in some ways I find it difficult to "teach" this topic to my students. I love watching and listening to them as they express themselves about God though. This motivates and encourages me to continue on and helps direct me in the ways in which I discuss our faith with them! There's nothing more humbling than the young, innocent hearts and minds of children! One morning one of my girls told me that she had been visited by an angel in her sleep the night before! I asked her what the angel said to her and she responded, "Don't be afraid!" . . . I couldn't help but smile. It made me feel good that she obviously put her whole heart into our discussions! I honestly feel that's what public schools are missing! I love the fact that I can share that with my students! During every school mass, I pray with my whole heart to be provided with the guidance that I need in order to aid my students in their educational and spiritual growth! Here's to a great 2010! I love that I have another week off, but I can also honestly say that I miss my 27 energetic kindergarters! Who would've thought??!!

Traveling Home for Christmas!

Kevin's On His Way (Again)!

Christmas is almost here! I'm glad for the light snow covering the ground and hope that the rain doesn't get rid of it before Christmas morning! I just made a huge pot of chili, corn bread muffins, and chocolate cake to have Christmas Eve! I'm so excited for Christmas this year! Things have been going so well, even with the economy and its ups and downs! I know that we will be able to overcome any potential glitches and will find the new year to be a great one! I'm praying that everyone is safe this Holiday season and that the very best comes to family and friends in 2010!