The Pentons

All I have to say is Parent teacher conferences. I had conferences on Wednesday and Thursday. I was at school until about 6 pm on Wednesday and there until 8 on Thursday....I'm exhasted!

As far as the class goes, my kids are getting a lot better at listening, they still have ants in their pants quite a bit, but we are working on it. I have set some pretty strict rules of them and I'm really consistent with the consequences when they break the rules, and they seem to be catching on.

Next week we start our Clifford theme. Every week I have a theme for the week, I have a poem that we read everyday, books related to the theme that I read, art activities and literacy activities. I really like conformity so if I have just one idea during the week, it helps me organize things better.

Well, week one of teaching is over here are my thoughts:
1. I'm feeling pretty confident in the classroom as a teacher, I feel like I know what I'm doing and I feel like I have the authority to do it, which is a new feeling for me and it feels good!
2. I have 30 kids in my classroom and its hard to keep them under control. They talk all the time! I've started doing certain things to train them how to listen and I can tell its really hard for some of them to sit and listen. The whole class ended up 10 min. late to lunc the other day becuase they were talking and I wanted them quiet in line. I'm pretty sure that once they figure out the routine, they won't be so talkative, but that may take a couple of weeks.
3. I have some students that are excellent readers and some that don't even know how to make their letters, its hard to accomodate all of them while making the curriculum interesting--I can't wait till we split classes! Whoever said ability grouping is a bad thing has never really been in a classroom.

My mom took this picture of me in my classroom!

Well, after hours of work, my classroom is finally at a point where its ready for kids, take a look:

Well, I've finished the new book in the Twilight series and all I have to say is, anticlimatic. The whole story builds up basically to one moment at the end and then it doesn't really turn out that great, its kinda like Stephanie Meyer was holding back on us becuase she didn't want to kill any of her characters...not saying that killing is a good thing, wow that came out wrong. What I mean is there is really no drama in the situation that she sets you up for through the entire book, I was expecting something to happen but it was just kinda a boring ending and I don't think I would really recommend the book. It is very descriptive and moves really slow and then the ending (like I said) is a let down. :( Bummer....

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to drive from Washington to Salt Lake. That may not sound like a hard drive, but it took about 14 hours. Highlights of the trip:
1. I almost got struck by lightning when I drove from Idaho to Utah
2. The same lightning storm had such strong rain that it actually washed the dead bugs off my windsheild.
3. Listening to Breaking Dawn the whole way...and I'm still not done with it (ps, I'm still not sure if I would recommend this book, more to come)
4. Stopping at a fruit stand and getting the most delicious, juicy peaches.
5. Seeing the temperature raise from 50 degrees (in Washington) to 95 degrees on the border of Oregon and Idaho.

Downfalls of the trip:
1. I did it alone since Craig is staying in Washington for another week and a half.
2. I have to be away from Craig for a week and a half :(

Wow, its already been one year since Craig and I got married. On August fourth we celebrated our anniversary. Craig gave me an impressive little poem that he wrote about our wedding day, and he framed it and it will soon be on our wall at our apartment in Utah. We took the day off work (kinda, with this job you never really get a day off) and we hung out. At night we went to a fabulously grand and expensive restaurant where we enjoyed seafood on the pier and free cake to celebrate. It was a good day...even after a year of being together, I can honestly say that I'm in love with the most wonderful man alive!