Snow in September is...well, it's just wrong!

I came home from a wet and rainy shopping trip. I could tell the temperature was dropping, but I didn't think it was dropping too much. I decided it was a chili and corn bread day. I made corn bread and asked my sister (ok, I told her... nicely) to make some of her awesome chili. We were doing a few things down stairs when I hear my sister, who was looking out the window, say, "That doesn't look like rain." Immediately, I moved to a better view at the sliding glass door. "You have got to be freaking kidding me!" Yes, there it was...the snow. It is now coming down at a pretty good clip. During the rainy portion of the morning, my mom mentioned I'd better get prepared for an early winter, which didn't do anything to stimulate the endorphins in my brain.

I'm pretty black and white. Celebrate Halloween in October, Thanksgiving in November, Christmas in December, The New Year in January, St. Patrick's Day in March, etc. We don't need to prepare too much in advance for holidays. That's why snow in September...well, it's just plain wrong!

Thanks, Girls!

Saturday I was having one of those moments when everything is bearing down on you and you don't feel like talking and really you're having one big pity party for yourself. I don't have any explanation for it, it was simply the way I felt until I got a really sweet phone call. It was my niece, Saydee. With her voice echoing the voice of her mom, she left me a message:

Patty: Hi, Kirsten, this is Saydee.

Saydee: Hi, Kirsten, this is Saydee.

Patty: I just wanted to talk to you.
Saydee: I just wanted to talk to you.
Patty: Call me later.
Saydee: Call me later.

As soon as I got the message, I called back and talked to her. Our conversation was short and then I talked to her sister, my niece, Bethany. We talked about school and her new bike.

I am really grateful for that phone conversation because it reminded me that people care. It pulled me out of my pity party fog and made the rest of my day better. Thanks, girls!

The Civil War Wall

Here it is...The Civil War Wall...

In my dream classroom of long ago I dreamed of having a wall dedicated to the Civil War. It is a dream I have managed to bring from the dream state to reality. My wall consists of a miscellany of pictures, maps, and paraphernalia all collected during my couple of trips back east, with more than one having been sent to me by a dear friend. The location of my Civil War Wall has changed over the years and last year it ended up on the wall adjacent to my desk and this year, when I moved my desk's location, it ended up by me yet again. I love it!

It's Nice to be Loved

I have spot on my white board in which students have a chance to write their comments. I put it up for the first time last year and it's one of the best things I have ever done. Here students take the opportunity to tell me what music they like, about the friends they have, their crushes, and, most importantly to me, they write personal messages to me. It's the greatest feeling in the world to look at that section of my whiteboard and see, "We love you, Miss Abel!" written in big letters for everyone to see. Aside from the love of my own family and friends, there is no better validation! So, to my students I say, "Thanks and I love you, too!"

Home, Sweet Home?

My classroom feels like home to me. It's my sanctuary at work. I hope that it's the same for my students. When I was working on licensure, I was asked to draw a picture of my ideal classroom. I have to say that my actual classroom is as close to that drawing as I could hope. Maybe even better. I think my classroom says more about my teaching philosophy than I ever could.

Being a teacher is really the fulfillment of a life-long dream. When I was a kid, I knew my career would either follow the teaching path or I'd end up one of "Charlie's Angels." My dad, knowing I wanted to be in law enforcement, suggested forensic science. That way I could be a part of the action and outside of any real danger (no surprise that advice came from my dad). Well, the reality of my junior year Chemistry class ended that dream. Honestly, it was not anything I really imagined myself doing. Now teaching, that was always a different story. I remember always paying attention to how my teachers did things and storing away in my mind the things I would imitate and the things I didn't want to copy from them. Since then, my becoming a teacher has become a way to pay homage to those few teachers I admired growing up. My classroom set-up is simply another way to honor those teachers.

The End

Well, my summer vacation is over and has been for about a week now. School is back in session and everyone is hard at work, or is it hardly working?

This year I did something different and went in to work about two weeks before I had to. I got my room in shape and doing that made the first week we teachers were back one of the best first weeks ever. I've completely altered the arrangement in my room and I love it! I plan to post a picture but I don't have it uploaded yet, so when I get that done I'll post it here. It's nice to have a comfortable space in which to work, not only for me, but also for the students.

I've got a really good group of students this year. I think it's going to be a good one.

Avoid Windshield Damage

While driving home today from Rexburg, I drove through construction. Naturally. It's everywhere. I was amused to see the following sign during some of the construction zone..."Avoid Windshield Damage." Now, how is one supposed to avoid damaging a windshield during a drive through a construction zone? I suppose I should change careers and become a stunt woman. That way I can cleverly (and safely) jump onto the hood of my car with a bat of some sort and protect my windshield from damage. "Oh, the irony... 'Loose gravel'...'Avoid windshield damage.'" Those were the thoughts running through my head as a couple rocks met my windshield up close and personal. Luckily, I was able to avoid windshield damage.

Now, the reason I was in Idaho...my sister-in-law gave birth to a little boy about 5 days ago. I went there to stay with their other kids while she and my brother were in the hospital. I had a blast. My nieces and nephews are such fun. I was regaled with tales of Pokemon, Harry Potter, and Ben 10. I played a lovely new version of Connect 4 with my 2 1/2 year old niece. I played several games of Blokus and made several DQ runs...mmmm....icecream treat!

My nephew safely arrived and he's a cutie. His brothers and sisters are fascinated. They love to hold him and when they can't do that, they want to look at him and hold his baby fingers in their hands. New babies are fun!

Now I am home and I really miss them.