Thanksgiving Festivus

I had a great Thanksgiving. It was nice to be home, and to have an excuse to wear as much orange as possible. I just had to indulge.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Home.

How Do I Deal With This?

I had a death threat this week, it kind of threw me off. It was on a post it note that was put in my box, and it took me about a day to figure out who wrote it. My principal dealt with the situation, and I was very thankful that she had experience and the knowledge needed to deal with it appropriately.

I was talking to my mom this week and trying to figure out how I deal with this student being back in my class on Monday. I am angry. No one should have the right to say those kind of things, especially to their teacher. The reality is I am angry with a 7 year old, and I don't trust this particular student. I don't want to make a greater rift in our teacher/student relationship, but how can I not treat them differently...knowing they want me dead.

I truly hope that they don't understand what it means, and I hope that it was something written in anger and frustration, not as a genuine threat. But the words "Ms. J, I will kill you." are now burned in my mind. And I don't know what these students have access to at home...so the reality is that some of them could potentially carry out a threat like this. I don't want my mind to go there though, I can't live in fear. I guess all I really can do is what I have been doing all along, which is tough love towards all my students, and hope that they see how much I genuinely care about them. And pray that God gives me guidance on how to treat this particular situation.

I am glad I get to go home in 3 days.

Happy Birthday Dad!

My dad turned (6 x 9 = ?) yesterday.

So, happy belated birthday to the man who taught me how to be "flyin' Abs."

Love you.

The Best Day Ever

I had a lot of treats left over from our Fall Ball. Learning from Valentines Day last year, I knew better than to hand them all out. So I saved the healthy stuff, apples and juice, and we've been rationing them ever since last week. We have an apple break or a juice break every day. This Tuesday marked the end of our juice/apple breaks. So, right after the (boring) bus safety assembly...side note...it really was boring, a kid in my class fell asleep...we took a bathroom break and were lined up in the hall waiting to go back into our classroom. At that time one of the 4th grade teachers walked by and complimented my class on how well they were standing in the hall. (I have a compliment board in my room where we keep track of all our compliments and when we get 25 I give the kids a pizza party.) After she complimented us, my students were obviously very excited. One of my quietest little boys raised his hand, and I leaned down close to hear what he had to say:

"A compliment and a juice break...this is the best day ever!"

This weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year for several reasons:

1. I get an extra day off.
2. I get to visit my brother and Anna again!!!
3. Starbucks brings back the infamous peppermint mocha (basically the best drink ever.)

Enjoy your weekend, however you spend it...and wherever it finds you!

This Is My Job

I had a moment today. I've had this moment before, and when I stop having these moments I will stop teaching.

I was walking down the hall, pondering, something I often do, during my plan time. As I was running frantically around, making the most of my 50 minutes, I thought to myself "I can't believe I get paid to do this." I have the best job in the world, and today I am convinced of it.

These Boots Were Made For Walking

I loved one of my student's cowboy boots so much I took this picture.

I am cleaning like a fiend and then off to Oklahoma (where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain) City for the weekend. I am going to the Women of Faith conference, and hoping it won't be a mom convention. Report to follow!