Teacher Appreciation Week

This last week was teacher appreciation week at the school where I was let go a month ago. Do you know how hard it is to give the teacher that replaced you a gift? It is hard enough alone for me to know that even though I was the teacher for 3 terms, she is the one getting all the appreciation. I asked Lorinda what I should get her. She told me I should give her a note that tells the teacher I will happily accept 3/4 of all gifts she is given this week. I thought that was really funny.

My sweet neighbors Lydia and Maria had Porter, Marshall, and Lauren all give me a gift certificate and flowers for teacher appreciation week. That was unexpected and unbelieveably sweet. I can't express how much it meant to me.

Slowly going crazy, again

Is it wrong that I am happier when I work?

I apologize to Melanie too.

Melanie,
I hope you know that I was joking. I love you. But why did I suddenly get blocked from your blog?

I'm apologize for Melanie

Dear Katrina,
I am so sorry for how neglectful MELANIE has been with her blog. I realize she is a very busy person with a lot on her plate. In fact, she spends a great deal of her day driving her children to and from school. But I am sure she realizes how hurtful it is that she is not updating us on her life. I, on the other hand, am glad that I have been dutifully updating my blog in a timely matter (Note the sarcasm).

The power of words

I have been busy the last month trying to put my life into perspective. I have found just how powerful words are. I changed all my computer passwords to a word of encouragement. Every time I log in, I type in my password and I feel uplifted. I think everyone should have an encouraging password like- beautiful, strong, determined, special, or queen. I didn't list my here, but you get the idea. Don't forget to add #s and capitals in there to make them truly powerful passwords.

Don mentioned we needed carpet in the living room. If you remember, I tore it out in a frenzy a couple of months back. See details here



So our living room has been half hard wood and half particle board. It looked crummy and made everything echo. Don felt like we were going to loose our hearing because of the volume level in our house and said it was time to carpet the living room.

I wasn't opposed to the idea. I needed a project to focus my thoughts and I was ready for carpet as well. But how could I carpet without painting walls? I decided to take on the living room project.







I loved how it turned out. In fact, it finally feels like a home. I like sitting in it. The kids can wrestle. Guests can visit. It makes a difference to have at least one nice room in the house.

It's the little things

I have become very aware of the little things in life that make all the difference.

1. Family- I have always been very thankful for my family. I enjoy being with my family. They love me regardless.

2. Friends- I have some of the best friends ever. My friends are great listeners. They support me and help me think clearly.

3. Neighbors- My neighbors rock. They put up with my crazy family and all the chaos that ensues.

You all are what makes life what it is.

Fired

I have never in my life been fired. I am always on time to work. I work hard the whole time I am there. I give my 100%. Well, they have been looking for an excuse to get rid of me since September. They said that I let the kids talk when they enter my classroom. In fact, I let them talk from the time they come into the room until they sit in their sit. Humm. So I am supposed to squash any bit of childhood the children have left? "Kids, don't talk at all. We are at school and I expect you to act like robots until you are back in your car on your way home with your parents."

They pulled me in on Friday and told me that they were letting me go. I have never been so shocked. And yet, there is a teacher that yells at the kids that still has her job. It is so bad that they have to always have another teacher in there with her at all times, but I was the one to get fired because I let the students talk until they sit in their seats!

I asked them what they wanted me to do with all the data I had collected throughout the year. They were like, "Data, what data?" I told them how I had collected data since the beginning of the year of everything I had taught them. I kept track of what concepts students didn't understand and when I retaught them. It basically shows that my students know every concept I have taught. "Oh," they said. "You can leave that data."

It is amazing what some people consider a serious problem. Then they were mad because I taught the reading class so well when they observed me.

Let's see-
recent operation- check
Hole in my breast not healed yet- check
fired from job- check
serious stress- check

I hate to ask if I have hit rock bottom yet.