Looked into a daycare on Friday...

As you may know, I am student teaching pretty much through the end of April, which means I am not able to stay at home with Katelyn, something I had the luxury of doing for four months. But since I want to finish my teacher certification, I must plug away. 

We have been fortunate to have some good friends of the family and family members take care of Katelyn while I have been student teaching, but have to find other arrangements now do to schedule changes etc.. 

The thought of taking Katelyn to daycare scares me, you hear horror stories, but unfortunately it is a necessary evil. So I checked out a place that came highly recommended. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. They are licensed for 13 infants but only take 8 so they can give the necessary care. They change diapers every 1 to 1&1/2 hours. MORE often than I do, which I like. I hate when people say "oh that diaper is only a LITTLE wet." AND they will do cloth diapers<--that is an added bonus. 

It seems like a place where Katelyn will be well taken care of and have lots of little friends to play with, even if it only is for a few months. But, if it goes well and I can get a job for September, we will have experience with daycare and it may make it easier if it is more permanent. 

On a less fun note, it looks like we are in line to get double digit snow Tuesday night... think I will be praying for a snowday on Wednesday. 

Z

Katelyn

Ah SNOW.. I hate snow--especially since we have had a lot of little storms so it seems like we are always dealing with it.

Today we took Katelyn out in the snow, she really was not sure how she felt about the cold white stuff.

But she does like her toys... 

Z

Wow its been awhile

It has been a while and I have been busy. Who knew student teaching would be so much work. One night this week I was up until midnight grading papers and still had to grade some in the morning. But that is because I have 160 students and asked them for complete sentences. 

It is odd what 7th graders think and how they explain things. For example, reproduction: all living things must reproduct. Huh? really?

We are working on bullying awareness and it is upsetting that most of my students don't know the difference between harmless teasing and mean-spirited bullying. Even those students who get bullied don't seem to know the difference.. UGH..  calling an overweight person SLIM is NOT right. Also calling a tall person SHORTY is not right.. 

This weekend will be filled with a lot of work. I have to get a lot of my unit finished while B is working.. 

Z

Wednesday... half way through the week!

Today was my first half-day because they are having midterms. Thankfully, there is only more more day of midterms. Friday is a work day. I am excited about this because I finally get a chance to start in on the planning. 

The new semester brings on life science. We are starting basic with the age old question, what is an organism? And what makes something alive? I am excited and horrified at the potential answers. This is only because after many days of review, some students still thought Oxygen was a noble non-reactive gas. Hmm how do we get water?


I have been thoroughly disappointed in the lack of motivation and the attitudes of the seventh graders.. I don't remember being like that or having people that bad.


Z

Sunday sunny Sunday

Why is it that the weekends always fly by so quickly? At least I have one more day after today thanks to MLK day.. 

I have been pretty productive today and have run two loads of laundry and the diapers are in the wash. Yes, the diapers are in the wash. K uses clothe diapers most of the time. She only uses disposables when she is at E's. She looks so cute in them and they are environmentally friendly!

Taking over....

Today, I got to take over three classes. It was lab day.. I learned a few things that I need to improve upon. Firstly, it is surprising growing up in a large family that I do not have  LOUD voice. I need to learn to project my voice and demand attention without raising/going into a high pitched yell. 

Secondly, I need to wait until the entire class is quiet until I talk since the students in the back could not hear me talk over the talkers. 

Thirdly, there is always that student who is trying to "help" by being obnoxiously loud repeating your instructions. 

And lastly, no matter how many times you explain to a class to read the directions BEFORE starting, someone will not and definitely mess up. 

All in all, it went well. I need to improve on my techniques and learn to adapt when things don't seem to go well from one class to another. 

I am looking forward to another day.. and a three day weekend. !

Snowy days..

So, it is only a little over a week into student teaching and I am SOOOOOO sick of snow.. UGH.. I hope the roads aren't terrible in the morning since I have to take K to the sitter. 

Seminar wasn't terrible today, but it was pretty much a waste of time.. today we look over handouts he had given us in  meetings.. 

I must say it was nice to take a nap with K this evening when I got home. She didn't nap for grandma.. 

 

Survived week 1--- beat, Lets go roller skating..

Ok, so I have decided that student teaching is going to be a long, tiring, and rewarding experience.. I am BEAT today.. I feel like I want to curl up under a blanket with a book not related to science.. However, B and I are taking little M to skate night for her school. It will be fun, too bad I miss K and want to see her. OH yeah, I feel like I have been hit by a truck.. my bones ache.. UGH!.. could be mastitis from not pumping during the day, BUT I think it is the cold my CT has been fighting all week.. 

On a good note (i guess)  I have my first observation date and am looking forward to planning with my CT.. I really enjoy the students there is such a diverse group maturity levels, ethnicity's etc. It seems like it will continue to be an enjoyable situation.. 

I hopefully will get a lot done this weekend for my unit.  I am trying to get it done early so that I don't have to worry about it.. 

When B gets home it is off to rollerskate then get K.. I can't wait.. 

Z

Sleepless nights and boring meetings..

So, K decided that mommy didn't need sleep and wouldn't fall asleep until midnight then woke up at 3am and would not go back to sleep until just before mommy's alarm went off.. go figure.. 


So it has been decided that I will be doing my unit on recycling and land/soil conservation. It covers to GLCE's. and is pretty broad, but it works out that I don't have to try to work a "kit" into my plans. Today involved some early outlining and trying to find activities that fit into the framework.








The afternoon involved looking over the midterm and making sure there were 3 questions per benchmark. Also analyzing questions to make sure they were fair..


                                                                                                                                                                              
All is all a good day, especially since B picked up K so I could take a nap.. 

Here is to a better night .


------Z

Day two, survive!

Now to not get sick when the teachers all around me are coming down with something.. THis is the time to see if AIRBORNE really works.. 

I am tired.. 

But, all went well with B and K today except she was a little fussy after her shots.. GO K..

I hate waiting at the docs..

So student teaching went well. Really all I did was observe today and be introduced to the students and other faculty. It was pretty good. 

K seemed to enjoy her day at Em's and getting up with daddy, which is good since tomorrow is daddy day.. 

However, her day ended with her 4 month well baby appointment which means.. you got it SHOTS!.. ugh.. I hate when she gets shots, but what I hate more is getting to the docs on time and having to wait 20+ minutes to get called in and then waiting another 40 to see the doctor.. REALLY.. I have a hungry baby who is not looking forward to getting poked... 

Anyway, All went well. She cried before, during and after the shots..and whined the entire way home.. it was quite sad... and periodically she cries out in pain because I have accidentally touched her leg. :(..

On a happier note: She is now over 14lbs and almost 25 inches.. She has gone from the 4th percentile until about the 50th percentile..YIPPEE.. doc says perfect growth and her head control is great.. HOORAY!

Now she is sleeping and I am not far behind.. tomorrow is another busy day... we have to get the tree down..

here is K with her favorite "Educational" toy

SMS here I come

Thankfully B is taking K to Em's today. That way I got to sleep an extra hour.. but K had other ideas. I was up from 4:15 to about 5:30 with her.. oh well.. 

wish me luck

Z

It's the last day of break

It is the last day of break and it is bittersweet. I am both excited and sad. I will miss my little K, but I will be having fun with the 7th graders at SMS. 

Today I will be cleaning up after the bowl party yesterday. Although turn out wasn't as great as expected, it was a day filled with fun, friends, and family. And the clean up is not too bad.. just have to wash the crock pots.. 

K and I have an afternoon of Target and cousin M's 2nd b-day for cake and ice cream.. should be fun.

Washing clothes and diapers today to prepare for our first day with Em.. 

Z

New Years DAY!

So today is the second annual bowl party at Chez Z. All is ready, just waiting for the people to arrive and the fun to begin. K is fed, pooped, and napping so hopefully will be in a good mood with all the commotion. Of course with the holidays, she has become quite adept at dealing with commotion. 

Last night we went to my brother E's to celebrate the new year, we didn't stay late as we had to prepare for today and wanted to spend the new year as a family. 

K has lots of little girl cousins and was "talking" to them as they were squealing as small girls will do. Next year will be interesting with 5 small girls. I can't wait to see K in the mix with her cousins.

BRING ON THE BOWLS