Overheard in my classroom

"Good morning Mrs. Alberts. Good morning baby!"

"Mrs. Alberts, your hair looks so weird."

"Is that a hairstyle?!"


Oddly enough, I haven't gotten a single comment on this growing belly. They see this every morning and all they have to say is stuff about my hair?! :)

This is the plan, too!!

I'm sitting in a classroom that is finally quiet after a field trip and salad party for the sixth graders. The class I got today is one of the worst behaved I've "taught" this year. Taught is in parenthesis because no teaching happened this week. Certainly not today.

Though I was dying for the day to be over so I could escape from the loudness, the bad attitudes, the rudeness, I'm also feeling a little bit sad.

Because truthfully, I will miss these kids. I know so many of their names from being in the building all year. I know some of their stories. I know how to get them back on track, I know their struggles, I know their strengths. Over the last month, I imagined myself subbing here next year, having some of them again. I came to grips with the idea of being just a sub. Again.

But that's not the plan, apparently, and boy am I glad.

It's not the plan because this afternoon I accepted a job to teach fourth grade full-time next year. 

I get to work in the city. I get to teach my own kids. I get to set up my own classroom. I get to build relationships with parents as we partner to support their children.

This news blows me away and overwhelms the mess outa me. But I AM THRILLED!!

gems from students

Today I got three funny letters from kids I subbed for on Tuesday. Their teacher asked for a report, so I told her they'd misbehaved and she made them write apologies. Thought I'd share a couple tidbits:

"Dear Mrs. Alberts, I am sorry for my behavior yesterday. It may have been the heat that made me act the way I did. I hope you accept my apology."

"Dear Mrs. Alberts, I am sorry for how silly I acted yesterday. I was a little too jumpy and I couldn't catch myself. I couldn't control it and I'm very sorry for my inappropriate behavior."

"Dear Mrs. Alberts, I am sorry for how me and my table acted, we were out of hand and we will try are hardest to do better next time. I hope you forgive us because you have alot on your hands. I hope that you forgive us so carma doesn't come to get us."

[I hope "carma" does come get you, little punks :)]

Also today, I had my ESL students complete an end-of-the-year survey. Here's what one said:

"Mrs. Alberts, I love you so much. I want to you teach us next year. You are nice and pretty! You are strict in the class and I love it. I hate someone talking when you talking. I love your teaching, just more harder."

mulling things over

Last night I read this blog post. Then this afternoon I stumbled upon this one. The first is all about toddlers and independence and supporting young children as they grow. The second is about how American parents raise children differently from parents in many other countries. Both were super interesting to me as a teacher and as someone who really would like to be a parent someday.

So I've been mulling them over...

The post about toddler-hood is mind-blowing. Really, it should be totally "duh" for me. I know about children's development. I know young kids love to do things themselves. I know they need extra time to learn and grow and experiment. I see a lot of kids in my classes who are NOT independent and who can't deal with frustration well. I see a lot of kids who I'd consider lazy and who drive me crazy with their incessant need for entertainment. But I know as a teacher (and think probably as a parent, too) that it's a real challenge to live within children's time frames. It's hard to slow down and let loose the schedule and say "Yes!" as much as possible. Even though I know it and I feel my job as a teacher would be easier if parents did it, I do recognize the difficulty...

I don't connect as clearly with the second article, probably because I'm not yet a parent. But even as a child-less teacher, I recognize the value in allowing kids to take risks and I recognize the beautiful pain in allowing them to face frustration... We love kids! We want to protect them and help them and make them happy. But really, truly, we want them to grow and learn and soar on their own. They need us as teachers (and parents!) to give them opportunities to climb to the top of the tall trees and slide down the big slides and jump off the high diving boards (Thanks, Dad!). We need to let them fail and give them time to play outside and show them how to take responsibility seriously.

The following quote could probably be a blog post in itself, but I wanted to add it here because it sums up an idea I think meshes nicely with the two posts I mentioned above. It's from one of my favorite bloggers:  

"It is a wondrous and heart wrenching predicament, to dedicate yourself to growing and loving another soul so successfully that they eventually establish their own independence."

(image here)

meeting Jonathan

On Saturday, we got to meet Jonathan Davis:

He's the son of our friends Duane & Julie, who came to visit this weekend for the first time since they moved to Asheville last spring. We love love love their family & were so thrilled to hang out with baby Jonathan for the afternoon.

 

There were a few unhappy moments where Joel & I just weren't cutting it in the caregiver category. Apparently Jonathan doesn't like the sun in his eyes ;) Most of the time, though, he was sweet & content. We managed to capture those moments with the camera on our iPad, not the crying ones.

 P.S. Look how tiny Jonathan's siblings were a few years ago! 

Overheard

"Miss Kelly, you look pretty."

"Yeah. You look like a genie!"

(Not quite the look I was going for with my new skirt, but okay...)

things I'm pinning, 2

In the last couple months, we've found out that 3 (three!!!) of our friends are having babies in September. Even though 2 of the 3 will be born & raised in NY state, many miles away, I've already brainstormed (and pinned!) some sweet baby things I might give them/their parents.

So consider this the "things I'm pinning" baby version:

This app for your iPhone can capture kids' art work. Awesome!

A helpful, wise post on helping babies establish sleep routines.

Helping kids develop as readers. Near & dear to my teacher heart!

LOVE this tutorial for a simple baby mobile.

A sweet, peaceful baby's room.

 

Sometimes I hate IKEA, but this list is fun.

overheard in my classroom

"Mrs. Alberts, you're not old. My mom's 28, too."


Awesome. I'm not old. Your mom had a kid when she was 16.

At the same time I was learning to drive and baby-sitting in my free time.

overheard in my classroom

"Do you think I should get a laundry basket before I get a snowcone machine?"

"Three laundy baskets. One for darks, one for lights, and one for whites."

overheard in my classroom

"Mrs. Alberts, do you like wampire or werewolf better?"


First & last time I post about Twilight on this blog. I promise.

a new adventure

So... remember when I was so disappointed not to get hired at our church's nursery school? And remember all those posts about finances and budgeting and money? Or how about those posts about being disappointed and trying to trust God's good plan for our lives? How about my incredible sadness that I'd be subbing and not impacting the lives of my own students? And how I can't take my last ESL course this semester because I didn't apply to the program in time? Oh, I didn't write that post because it was embarrassing. Okay, fine.

Well, anyway, I'm thrilled, elated, humbled, and honored to share the following great news: I have been offered (and have accepted!) a part-time job working with English language learners from China!!!

Last Tuesday Joel's principal called to say they'd decided to offer an ESL course for their 7 new Chinese students. I had an interview on Wednesday where they basically offered me the job: 10 hours a week, way more money per hour than I make anywhere else, flexible scheduling so I can still sub, and an opportunity to do something I'm totally passionate about. 

Because it's a Christian school I can start the job even before I finish my last ESL course and become certified next semester. I'll be working with English language learners in all grade levels, with varying English abilities. I'm soooooooooo excited to have this opportunity and beyond blessed by God's provision.

All this time I've been wondering, worrying, feeling sorry for myself, He has been at work opening doors for this job. Which suits me perfectly. And works great with my other part-time jobs. And is amazing experience for any future ESL opportunities. It's like He's saying to me, "Kelly, you are my daughter and I love you. I gave you these passions for a reason. I created you. I know your future and it's my joy to care for you. Why do you worry? Haven't you seen that I am good? Here's one more big bit of proof. Now go, live accordingly."

tortilla soup recipe & a happy report

I just took this photo while sitting at the dining room table. It was my second serving. Joel grinned really widely when he saw me clicking away. I'm sure he knew I'd be blogging it later...

Please try this recipe. It's sooooo delicious. And please add avocado, sharp cheddar, and whole grain Tostitos. (We skipped the zucchini in the original recipe because Joel's not a fan. It was amazing.)

On an unrelated note, things are looking up since my last post. By that I mean I've gotten to sub twice and I'm already assigned for a job tomorrow, too. Even though subbing days are long (at least 12 hours including driving time!), I come home feeling content and fulfilled. I just love kids so incredibly much that I'm energized when I spend time with them. Yay!

conversations at work 1

This morning:
me: S, those are cute shoes but they aren't the best for playing on the playground. Tomorrow you might want to wear something different.
S: Do y'all have any extra sneakers I could use?

[WHAT?! haha!]

Tuesday morning:
S: J, did you have a crush on D when you were in first grade?
J: Yes, be quiet!!!
S: It's okay. I liked him, too.
D: Yeah! Everyone liked me in first grade!

Wednesday afternoon:
B: Miss Kelly, why do you have your hair like that?
me: I was just trying something different today.
B: Well tomorrow can you do your old hairstyle? This hairstyle is creepy.

[see above for a similar hairstyle. maybe it's because my headband was black...?]