I Need A New Mantra

With the first day of school fast approaching, I feel I need to pick a new, more positive mantra to use throughout the year (Last year I went back and forth between "I don't wanna go to school," and "I don't wanna be a teacher.") Anyone out there have any tips for getting in a positive mental state for the beginning of the school year?

Thanks!

-Pigtailed Teacher

What I've Learned So Far...

Since I've been working out, I've remembered a few things I use to know about being getting shape:

1. When I workout, I generally want to eat healthier.

2. I need to make exercising a priority and that means every week I need to schedule where I'm working out and when...and then make sure I stick to my plan!!!

3. If I'm hungry (or just want to snack on something), I should probably eat a fruit or vegetable (which means I need to cut up the fruit and/or cook the veggies before I'm starving).

4. When I'm cooking I need to chew gum so I don't snack mindlessly. I also need to have someone else put the food away after dinner or else I'll keep munching away.

(Today was Zumba class at Sonny Newman's Dance Studio (http://www.sonnynewmansdancehall.com/Dance/Home.html The instructor could have been a Saturday Night Live character and the moves involved a lot of bootie shakin' and hip isolations. Quite the workout!)

I Did It!

I did it...I made it back to the gym! Well, not the same gym, but I made it to another workout today. You see, I'm trying to find a place to workout before the stressful days of teaching kick in and I forget about getting in shape. As a teacher we're trained to be proactive in respects to our students' behavior, so I was thinking, why not try it with my own? I figure I'll have a better chance of being successful and getting healthy if I have a great gym picked out by the end of the summer.

Anyway, on Wednesday I tried a "bodystep" class at Community Fitness (http://communityfitness.com/). I may be along the right track with this place. I love taking classes and that's what this place specializes in.

Today's place, Yogalife (http://www.yogalife.com/), was very helpful and friendly, but they only have yoga classes and I'm looking for a little more diversity than that.

On Sunday I'll be heading back to Community Fitness to try a zumba class with a different instructor. I'll let you know how that goes!

Summertime Good Intentions

I have so many good intentions this summer...to read, cook, write, blog, travel, nap, hang out with friends, watch movies, go to festivals, decorate our apartment, go to happy hours...anything to help me forget about the trying year I had teaching third grade. Other, slightly more complex goals include trying to figure out what I want to do instead of teaching, how to get out of debt and someday afford a house, and how to get in shape and stay that way.

I think I've been doing a good job of balancing being productive this summer and enjoying not being productive. (Oh the joy of not setting the alarm clock!) Unfortunately I'm starting to realize that my summer is half over, and I need to focus a little if I want to cross a few more things off my list.

This is exactly why I finally got myself to an aerobic class today. I huffed and puffed my way though class and was so inspired by this act of healthiness that I came home, showered, and made a tasty dinner of whole wheat pasta with a doctored-up store bought red sauce (think fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, and zucchini) with a side of roasted cauliflower, onions, and mushrooms.

Hopefully it won't take me so long to get back onto the gym again... :)

A New Start!

Today I bought a used laptop from a friend of mine, and I've decided to use this event as a catalyst for getting back on the blogging horse. Look for lots of fun summer updates and reflections about my last year of teaching!

-P.T.

Four Days Left!!!

I think it was on June 1st when I realized I could make it until the end of the year. Now that the last day of school is finally in sight on the calendar, I'm starting to breathe a little easier.

But only a little...

Since my last update New Kid was suspended for three days (out of school suspension, finally!). It was for deliberately throwing a ball at a girl's head, hitting her smack in the ear, then throwing the ball at the two friends who stuck up for her, and for yelling in one friend's ear so loudly that it hurt.

In addition to New Kid's antics, I've also had to deal with what the teachers are calling "The Great Chocolate Heist of 2010," and Dear in Headlights Two's decision to be mean to people and then lie about it. I'll be sharing both of these "great" stories this summer, when I have time to give them the proper attention they deserve. :)

I hope everyone out there is surviving the last few days of school and dreaming of fun ways to enjoy the summer months. What are you looking forward to this summer?

-Pigtailed Teacher

New Kid's Follow-Up Suspension Meeting

After New Kid was suspended (http://pigtailedteacher.blogspot.com/2010/05/where-to-start.html), a meeting with his mom was scheduled. The original incident happened on Thursday, so New Kid did day one of in-house on Friday (and missed the school walk-a-thon). He was supposed to do day two on Monday...the same day as his mom's meeting with the principal, the school psychologist, the school part-time counselor, resource teacher, school nurse, and me, but he didn't show up to school and neither did his mom.

No phone call, no e-mail, nothing.

"How are we suppose to help support your child when you won't support us, Mom?!?!"

We had the meeting without Mom, and we're finally talking about what's the right placement for this kid, especially for next year. We decided to invite a behavioral specialist into my classroom to observe the student, a higher-up in the special ed world was called for consultation, a new behavioral plan was put into place for him, and several other things were discussed. I did my best not to get overwhelmed and cry in front of my co-workers, but I think everyone in the meeting knew I was upset and concerned about the well-being of the other students in my class (and for myself!)

When New Kid came back on Tuesday he did his second day of in-house suspension (while missing a field trip to the theater) and then he started two weeks of supervised recess...that means he gets to walk around with the recess supervisors and watch the other kids play. I'll be giving you all more details about that next time!

-Pigtailed Teacher