Summer Fummer!

My title is strangely inspired by Spongebob's friend Patrick's famous quote "CHUM IS FUM"! You know what?!? Summer is just plain fun. I've been crafty, gone to the gym regularly, celebrated my birthday in numerous ways, caught up with friends, loved on my niece Faith and new nephew by friend Tanner. Now that I am slowly approaching the week of move in to my new classroom I am as anxious as I'll ever be. You see....that's the problem with teachers...we can't not think about school. I have been on First Grade Teacher blogs all day and I'm loving it. I guess it's great that I have a job that I love.

To fill you in since my last blog. The job I was anxiously awaiting to hear about is mine but I am moving grades. Yes, I have been promoted to First Grade. I bet you are now saying..."You have been in Kindergarten for 20 years?!?!" This joke is not new to me. My husband already said it numerous times to numerous people. (Numerous must be the word of the blog) Since finding out about my new job at Sequoia in Sanger I have been fully immersing myself in First Grade knowledge.  My new favorite thing to do is Pinterest. It's a website where pretty much everyone is posting their favorite things that they find online. This is great for teachers who love to steal ideas! www.pinterest.com


Anyways, all of these great ideas keep me busy trying to put them into action.
Next week is our supposed move in week so let's hope that everything stays as planned. I am happy to see my guest room and my garage back to its normal state.

In other news, my husband has completely spoiled me for my birthday. Not this weekend, but the next we will be headed to Vegas to see "The Lion King", a broadway show I have been dreaming about seeing and being in forever. Although I won't be in it, this is one step closer.
I will probably cry the whole time, no joke!
We may not be able to do anything else but I will simply enjoy my time with my husband and standing in line for hours to get into the Pawn Star shop.

Until next time....

P.S. I will have to blog next time about all the crafting I have been doing! So fun!

TOS

So I'm home today with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome...sounds fun right...
Basically its an injury that athletes get from throwing things above their head. Now you're saying "how in the world would you have something like this?". Well apparently it's also something you get from neck injuries in car accidents. BINGO! The man who took off after destroying my car and my neck several years ago is still ruining my life. Haha! I guess that it is also inflamed by stress and boy do I have plenty of that.
My neck and back are aching, my arm and hand are numb, therefore, I'm sitting on the couch all day watching movies.
God is funny you know. Is this his way of saying "Laura slow down you need some rest!"???
I have enjoyed myself today, sitting and watching movies but all I can think about is school. Because you see...that is all I think about. How am I going to get my kids to behave, be motivated, ready for first grade, to subtract, to read??? The list goes on and on. I guess it comes with being a new teacher.
On top of being a new teacher though, I am unsure of where I'll be next year. I interviewed for the new school in Sanger and will hopefully figure out if I will be teaching there. When they tell us the news April 15th, I hope they tell us what grade level we will have too!

I've been waiting for my new car to get here for hmmm....5 weeks! I've lost all patience.
They say expected arrival date in April 4th. Let's hope they are right!

Sorry for my venting blog. Just thought I'd fill you in.

New Job

I had such a fun week getting to know my kiddos! All of them are sweet in their own way. I have a few stinkers, but that's to be expected. As for me, I love my job. Nothing is as rewarding as seeing a child finally understand something that they haven't understood before. I can't wait to see my kids read and write and I want to get them there as soon as possible. I love Lonestar. It's a big school but it seems small because of the community. All the teachers are on edge about where they will be next year because some of us might be moved to the new school next year. I honestly don't care where I am as long as I'm in kindergarten and have a job. :) I know that God will take care of me though as he already has.

The teacher that retired came in yesterday to get some stuff from the classroom and said that she loved teaching for 36 years with tears in her eyes. She said she wouldn't have wanted any other career and that is what I want to be able to say at the end on my working life.... I loved it, and I wouldn't have wanted any other career choice. :)
So far, I love it!

                                                   I am no longer unemployed!!:)

20 More Days!

Hello, Hello!
My life has gone from lazy and bored to busy, busy busy! I started my long-term sub earlier than expected and didn't get a chance to "shadow" the teacher I was taking over for. I started on a Wednesday and had to cancel a few other pre-arranged jobs so that the kids would have some consistency. Wednesday, oh Wednesday...it was the day I reconsidered being a teacher. The class I am subbing for is really challenging. I have had a chance to grow as a teacher in classroom management and parent communication though. I can't tell you exactly what happens during my days....let's just say that when I get home I crash. During the day I am wishing that I had 5 extra hands to corral kids. I have little help, actually none until I call the office in desperate need of help and I have been told this is the most challenging class at school. I asked the parents for help last week and had little response... I actually had Jason come in on Wednesday. What a help he was!
What I've done to survive:
-Non-stop prayer. In the morning I pray over all the little seats in that classroom. I know that if I do this I can remember that my day with these students is an opportunity for me to show them love and consistency that they may not know.
-Sleep. I love sleep. I haven't been able to sleep that well at night because I am thinking about what is going to happen at school the next day.
- Notepad on my nightstand. When I am thinking of the next day I think of ideas and write them down so that I can sleep better.
- Close communication with administrators. I call them at any moment...and they will be there! What a big help!!

What I've learned:
-Always expect the unexpected. (I've safely hidden scissors, pencil sharpeners, and any other sharp item in the classroom)
- Consistency. I've always known this but know I really know that it works!
- Friends are always helpful! Thanks Beth! (Beth helped me Wednesday night putting all my turkey hats together. I would have been there till probably 8 o' clock if she hadn't helped me.)
- Prayer and a positive attitude help me to get through the day!
- Teachers need vacations and weekends in order to stay sane. :)
- If I can look at a child like Jesus Christ would I can think of their circumstances and react with care and consideration.
- If kindergardeners have learned respect by the end of the day, I've done my job!
- I love kindergarten (I can be my crazy spastic self and it will help to keep students attention)


All in all, this has been a really great opportunity for me. I have felt invited by the staff to be a part of their team and planning and would love to get a job at Reagan next year! (Lord, are you hearing this???)


Next year, I have another long-term sub lined up in Clovis. This is another kindergarten class and I'm really excited to be working with the team of kinder teachers that I worked with during my final student teaching. Yay!

Prayer is much appreciated!!
Goodbye Friends!
-Laura Leonard

My Much Busier Life

I started a sub job this week for a Reading Development Teacher. It turns out that she is expected to be gone through the end of next month. So today I was asked to stay until she got back....but I start my long term sub job next Friday. So I will continue my week long sub job through Tuesday next week. I felt bad that I had to say I was unavailable.  O well, at least I know I'm wanted. It was so nice to hear that I was referred for that job and others. I hope and pray that next year I will have a job! :) Anyways, this week has been fun getting to go to different classes and work with students from each class. I have my own little cubbie-hole office where I hide out during my lunchtime. I can't wait to start my long-term sub in kindergarten next week though!

I am trying to avoid getting sick, like everyone at this time of year. My remedy has been orange juice every morning. Now I'm starting to have some phlemy...(I know gross) stuff in my throat. Not sure what that is but it's not a good thing and it needs to go away.

I know not too interesting.... haha

Knitting, Work, and the Sin Inside of Me.

I'm continuing to enjoy creativity through knitting. I've learned how to make knitted flowers and I'm now attempting to make a never-ending scarf. It's taking a little longer than expected. I haven't sold anything on Etsy.com yet but I've sold a few items through facebook. I think that once people start thinking about cooler weather they'll realize they need some "Comfies and Loves".

The job search continues... tomorrow I start a week long sub job for a Kindergarten class at Reagan in Sanger. I'm excited to work with the crazy little 4-5 year olds again. This should really prepare me for my long-term substitute job that is supposed to start November 10th. I'll be working with the teacher i'll be subbing for during this week.

I am very blessed to be getting all the sub jobs that I am. The principal at Reagan is really keeping me busy and giving all the teachers my sub number.

Jason and I just recently returned from the Couples Retreat up at Hume Lake. It was so wonderful to get away and be in such a beautiful place, hearing about God's truth and how it should be reflected in our relationships. Bob Lephine really challenged me to look inside my own heart and change the sin in me. This is an on-going process....but at least I'm not alone in this. :)

My First Blog

Soo... my sister-in-law is great and blogs about things that are going on in her life and I thought I would too. Jason and I have been happily married for almost 10 months and were loving every second of it. I am currently looking for a teaching job...this is a long and semi-stressful process, but all job seeking is. I did get a long-term sub position that starts in November in a Kindergarten classroom in Sanger. Until then I will be subbing and attending as many kickboxing classes as possible.

I've recently discovered a new hobby. My mother-in-law gave me an idea to knit beanies for the homeless using a knifty knitter. I bought a knifty knitter at the craft store and have made 5 beanies so far. I've even decided to open my own online shop on etsy.com. It's called "Comfies and Loves". It has been a lot of fun enjoying the creative side of life and maybe making a little extra money on the side. Soon I will learn how to make scarves and blankets! Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas!?!?!?! :)