Good Lord a lot of stuff has happened since May, when I last blogged. Where to begin? Well,
1. We moved my classroom and science lab from Meridianville Middle to the new Moores Mill Intermediate School. The entire 6th grade unit was moved!
2, We had so many boxes of science equipment and just general "stuff" that we filled two storage units, the spare bedroom, and over 3/4 of our living room. I think we counted 267 various boxes and tubs of "sciencey" things.
3. Rick and I took sailing lessons and passed with flying colors.
4. I had to have yet another surgery in June because my jaw bone started breaking down again. So, cadaver bone was inserted on both sides. Something happened during the surgery and the sutures opened up exposing the bone. I spent the entire summer going to the oral surgeon twice a week to check for bone that may be dying. Each visit, they had to remove dead bone....not fun. I was so afraid that I wasn't going to have any left, but it finally quit dying and started healing.
5. We bought a 21 foot San Juan sailboat, and started redoing it. (Didn't have anything else to do between Dr. visits.)
6. We have also been working on rebuilding a new engine and transmission for the El Camino, It has to have a larger one in order to pull the boat.
7. Finally got to go in and start unpacking boxes at the new school......3 days before school started!
Thank GOD for all the help of former students, family, and close friends.
8. I played "musical rooms" three times......the first room was not laid out correctly to suit my needs; the second one was in the Tornado Safe Area and I felt claustrophobic and sick every time I went in there; I finally settled in to room 319 - complete with a window.... and lockers INSIDE the classroom...(How insane is that?)
8. I feel like I have been playing "catch-up" ever since school began. Starting a new school is exciting, but at the same time...it Really, Really, SUCKS!!! We have to establish EVERYTHING. We have to set up our school committees, establish school rules, classroom procedures, etc.....
Our principal, Ms. Davis, is amazing. We all work together to build our school community. I've never been a part of anything like this before.
9. Did I mention that the entire 6th grade has gone to the BLOCK schedule? That means 90 minutes of science for 3 blocks. The 4th block is split with 45 minutes of PE and 45 minutes of "pullouts" like computer class, art, library, and counseling. A couple of days we have an "Encore" class when there is no "pullout" that day. Each teacher prepares an interesting class that they want to teach their class. I'm doing Talent Tuesdays where the kids get to showcase their talents, Workout Wednesdays (Yoga for kids), and Thinking Thursdays where I do critical thinking skills via Odyssey of the Mind and Mensa :)
10. Technology........bites! Enough said.
11. Things are falling off the walls!! That's another blog post in and of itself :)
12. Halloween came and went pretty uneventful.....I did put up a few of our old Haunt items in my classroom, however. The kids really liked the "flying ghost" and zombies.
13. Thanksgiving is now upon us,,,,,,next Thursday! Rick and I are taking Thanksgiving to Ryan and Ainsley in Birmingham this year because both of them have to work. Let's see how well a turkey and all the trimmings travels :)
Maybe, just maybe, things are settling down now. I should have more time to write. so, say prayers.
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