why pinterest could have saved me hours

well, procrastination never used to be my thing

when my thing was full time student

now that my thing is full time teacher -and-

full time student

procrastination is inevitable 

and painful

and being knocked on my bum for the last eight days hasn't helped the process along either

now this particular assignment has been enjoyable

create a visual journal of images around you that you love

that inspire you

that evoke creativity

so pretty much, my pinterest boards

but no, we have to kick it the old fashion way and put it together 

on paper with paste and all

so out came the magazines

and the ripping began

just like when I was a pre-teen making collages for my bedroom walls

and yeah, I think starting this twenty-five days ago

like I was instructed to do so

would have been easier

but hey

I guess acting a little more like a teenager is good

at any age

but yeah, pinterest, instead of wasting hours of my life away

you could have saved me hours...

well that was a week

so last Wednesday I started coughing in the middle of the night

and it's been down hill since then

today is the first day I have felt halfway like myself

still super sick, but actually sitting up on the couch, and that is a big improvement

so this has been my only view lately

I have never missed this much work for being sick

but after two days last week of being constantly asked by teenagers why I was so cranky

after I had just spent five minutes having a coughing attack

I knew that I needed to take a few days off

and having the Dr. write me out for the rest of the week

well, I just went with it

so now it is time for me to do report cards, and I'm pretty thankful they are all online nowadays

here's to my humidifier, chicken noodle soup, and orange slices

oh, and a husband who has been on major nurse duty the past few days

afternoon snacking

this week has been all about catching up

catching up on grading

which is a good thing since the third quarter ends next week

catching up on sleep

which I can't seem to get enough of

catching up on my vitamin D by seeing the sun for a few days

which is apparently leaving again soon

and this week has also been about starting a new afternoon tradition

why in the world I never ate oranges before is beyond me

so yeah, I'm also catching up on vitamin C

and that is just about all I have to say...

oh, and on another note

 I can't believe that this school year is already almost over

7 more days until spring break

and then it is all down hill from there

5 years of teaching is almost in the books

sunday's "so they said"

there are so many ways a student or parent can thank you for the hard work a teacher does for them

maybe it comes in the form of grading tedious amounts of papers

or remembering your favorite type of candy bar at the end of the year

for me, this is my first year as a middle school teacher

and my first year experiencing site based teacher of the year nominations

and the best part, each nomination is given to you at the end of the week

and getting to read why your students have nominated you

is a pretty special way to be thanked

so this week's "so they said" is in written form

and I think I'll be stashing these away to read after a hard day in the classroom

bits of happiness

every month I look forward to the tenth

a day where I have every excuse to photograph all the awesomeness around us

thanks to rebekah of a bit of sunshine for creating this project!

and thanks for picking one of my photos from march as a favorite!

and finally,

happy friday

even though it is raining

and has been for what seems like forever

I'm still pretty into it

think I got my official middle school badge today

well let's just say that today was a day

like the first real day I felt the "eghhhh" part 

that people always say when I tell them I teach middle school

haven't been called a bad word lately

and I must admit that an ED (emotionally disturbed) teenager angry with you

is just a little more unsettling than when a younger student is angry with you

so I'm taking today with a grain of salt

and wishing that tomorrow

I was here...

but I won't be

because I live in Northern California

and it's raining

and I have a job

blah, blah, blah

and least I have this pretty picture I took a while back to make due

and the good news - tomorrow we are doing our plays 

so hopefully all their hard work

and not to mention my hard work

will turn out some masterpieces

I'll keep you posted!

sunday's "so they said"

this week was an odd one for comments from my kids

this week included:

"Mrs. Lewis, did you mark me off a point for calling Napoleon, Neapolitan?"

My response - "No, of course not, oh wait, maybe I did."

Grading 165 history tests is causing my grading curve to get a little questionable

I would always say I grade objectively

but apparently getting the ruler of France confused with an ice cream flavor

rubbed me the wrong way on that particular day

I was also told that

"You look so different today.  I think it is because you are wearing pants.  I think you look a lot more professional when you wear pants.  Just my opinion.  Your dresses always have so many...patterns."

mmmmkay...

noted.

but seeing as how this came from one of my boys 

I think I'll just file that conversation away somewhere

And finally I received good & bad news in about a minute

good - the teacher I'm filling in for the year is not coming back next

so the possibility to stay in the same position two years in a row is actually there

or should I say was there for about 30 seconds until I heard the bad...

bad - pink slip number 5 is on it's way

if only they could find a way to get these to us while working

that would be nice of them

because going to the post office to pick this letter up again

just really doesn't sit right with me

layoffs went out as far back as 11 years seniority

that's not so fun either

ten on ten [march]

happy ten on ten everyone

getting a day off with my camera felt pretty good

brightening up this already bright day

today was beautiful day

and these flowers brought home by the husband

just because weren't too shabby either

one more day and finally a weekend

and seeing as how vacation seems like it was forever ago

and I haven't had a day off since then

I'm feeling oh so ready for it

hey, so I feel like I disappeared for a bit

well, busy doesn't quite explain things lately

so I'm back from my mini blogging break and ready to share

just one of my projects that have been keeping me occupied

and I just can't wait any longer to share it with you

so last week I mentioned that I got to teach my old students for an afternoon

and that is just what I did

now let me tell you that being back in my old classroom was bittersweet 

to say the least

but seeing my kids, and how happy they were to see me

made it oh so worth it

and the best part, we made this

each student created their own flower and used chalk and oil pastels for color

they helped hot glue on the crayons

signed their name on the edge of the canvas

and I brought it all home to start melting and mod-podging away

now let's hope it brings big bucks at this year's crab feed this weekend

fingers crossed

try, try again

well, I started two photo challenges last month

and was pretty into them for two weeks

so, even though things didn't pan out quite the way I had planned

I figure, why not try again?

if you instagram - make sure to tag your photos (#marchphotoaday)

 and see what other people have been snappin'

if not, taking a photo a day really challenges you to see

the awesomeness that is always around us

but we don't always stop to see

so jump in, even if the photos just live on your camera for no one else to see!

so thanks fat mum slim for creating this challenge again this month

I'll do my best.