Last weekend, I also got to enjoy some time with my parents. They dropped my sister off at college last week and came up to visit. We loved getting to spend time with them, and they also got to sit in on Paul's Bible lesson last Sunday. Paul is now busy preparing his lesson for this Sunday. I have just loved hearing my husband share Biblical truths on Sunday mornings during this month of August.
Then, on Monday I went back to work for in-service week. It was filled with lots of training, and I learned SO much! I can't wait to put all my new ideas to work during this next school year. I was off to a great start to the week getting my room set up and lessons planned, and then Wednesday hit. I had felt a little discomfort throughout the day at work, but then I was hardly able to sit through church on Wednesday night. After service I told Paul I just couldn't handle it any longer, so we went to the ER. Six hours later confirmed what I thought....I have a kidney stone. (Woo-hoo, I think this makes number 4 or 5). Paul was so patient throughout the whole thing; I have to shamefully admit that I was the one complaining about how long it was taking for them to diagnose a kidney stone and get me some pain medicine. However, it did not take long for God to remind me of my blessings. As I heard the nurse come in next door, I heard her tell a sweet old lady (as her husband tenderly held her hand) that she would be having surgery that day, and I found out that she also had lung cancer and breast cancer. I never found out this lady's name, but please keep her and her precious family in your prayers. Then, when we went to CVS around 1:30 am the next morning, a guy came in with a hospital gown on. He made a joke about how awful it was to be there at that time of morning; then, he told me that he had been hit by a sixteen yr. old who was texting and had a few cracked ribs. In good humor, he joked that he was more mad about the paramedics ripping off his favorite shirt that he had just worn to church Wednesday night. Both of these things helped me regain my perception of how blessed I truly am and quit complaining. Nonetheless, we made it home, and I took a 4-hour "nap" before work the next morning, where I wore an uplifting shirt to get me through the day.
I made it through that day, and I came home to complete a coach's training course online and turned in my last assignments for my summer grad classes. Now, I am just waiting on the grades! Needless to say, I will be taking a break from grad school while teacher mode kicks back in. I will probably start back with grad classes sometime in the spring. However, Paul is starting back next week. How he manages his doctoral work, full-time job, all the volunteer work with the Inner City, and still has time to be an AWESOME husband is beyond me! I am just so blessed to have him in my life! Please keep him in your prayers, as just looking at his text book makes my brain hurt. Speaking of which, I finished proofreading, and Paul submitted his article to the journal (I can't remember which one) last week. Now, it is just a waiting game to see if they accept it. I am just so proud of him and all his hard work!
We finished off the week strong! The furlough Friday weeks came to a close this week, so Paul will go back to his normal work schedule next week! This will really help him so that he won't have to work 10 hr. days along with grad school and Inner City. I also finished setting up my room and preparing it for my students on Monday. I have a few small things to touch up this weekend but nothing major. I came home last night to sweet, gorgeous flowers from my mother-in-law to help me feel better, and Paul and I enjoyed a quick date-night-out to Steak & Shake (hey, that's what we were craving!).
Well, many have asked to see pictures of my updated classroom for this year. So, as promised, here you go!
I teach 7th reading and 8th language arts, so the theme of my room is English Expedition. We travel through the exciting world of literature and writing.
They will post their exit slips here, so that I can see who learned the day's outcome. They are "commenting" on the status about learning the day's outcome; and, of course, Mrs. Lanza likes their comments!
This wall shows the various genres of literature and a definition of each. As we get into the year, students will be asked to read a certain number of books. They will complete a reading passport of their literary travels (a different form of a book report), and they will put a luggage tag (stating the name of the book and author) on the appropriate luggage case (genre) for their book. This goes along with the theme of the classroom.
This is my new poster that I am very excited about! The students will complete a job application for each class job. The jobs will last a duration of one month before new candidates are chosen. This will really help me with small tasks in the room. The main jobs are as follows: Secretary (takes attendance and good notes), Loan Officer (passes out paper and pens to students who do not have it and keeps up with those names), Investigator (looks up information needed in class on computer or in dictionary), Distribution Agent (passes out and collects papers), Motivational Speaker (shares a joke, quote, or message to motivate students in class), Understudy (does the job for someone who is absent), Student Teacher (helps review material with class that has already been taught), Porter (answers door and runs errands for teacher), and A/V Technician (controls lights, speakers, and calibrates Smart Board). All other students serve as Hot Irons (straightening desks) and Quicker-Picker-Uppers (pick up trash around room to keep it tidy). Those who fulfill the big jobs will receive a homework pass to use throughout that month.
The wall on the far side by the windows contains luggage tags of the different literary devices. This also coordinates with the theme of the room (obviously).
On the other side of the room is the student section. That side is where they may check out books from the class library, find dictionaries, locate their make-up work, turn in their assignments, sharpen pencils, staple or punch holes in papers, find no-name papers, and grab journals for creative writing.
This is new for my room this year! The map shows a plane going from Huntsville, Alabama to Hollywood! My students will be on their way to STARdom with Star testing this year. Their flight ticket below the map says that they are "Flying First Class to Success." When students show improvement on their start testing, they will have their name written on a star (like in Hollywood) and places on the Wall of Fame.
This is the bin to turn in assignments, as well as find their missing work or fill out a "no homework" form.
This is the no-name paper wall. Student are responsible for putting their names on their papers.
(view from the doorway)
The packets for homeroom are on their desks and waiting for Monday.
(view from the back of the room)
Elements of Fiction in photo frames. People like to put their memories in frames. The same our literature travels!
The Suitcase Showcase: I will showcase certain books each week. Students may also ask to put in big announcements for others to see.
I have adapted part of the "Parable of the Dream Giver" to be fit for public school teaching. The parable is from a Christian writer and is about a boy named Ordinary who find out he has a BIG DREAM. He realizes that he is made to be a Somebody and destined to achieve great things! We will read this during the first week of school. It is my goal that every student leaves my class this year believing this statement. If they don't learn anything else, they need to know that they are important!
(view of my desk area)
The part above the whiteboard says "English Expedition" - there is just a glare.
A sign that one of my students gave me last year. They said they thought it represented me well, and I LOVE it! I refuse to dress in "old teacher clothes" haha.
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