Halloween! (Is it over yet?)

Today, the day before Halloween, I just discovered the magnitude of the holiday when it takes place inside a elementary school. Want to here our plans for our students tomorrow? (well, here they are even if you care not to know..)

1. A morning writing activity where students will write riddles for their friends to solve about the costume they are going to wear later on.

2. Walk 4 blocks to Sunnybank (assisted living), to sing Halloween carols. They are to the tune of Christmas carols, it's quite funny. Enjoy a snack there.

3. Back to school for a special Halloween lunch.

4. A movie with popcorn and a drink. Students will change into their costumes. The movie is to kind of just take up some time and tone down the craziness of 24 second graders changing in a bathroom.

5. Parade out of the school, as a school to downtown Charlevoix for business's to pass out candy.

6. Back to school for an in-class Halloween party for the last hour and a half of the school day.

WOW! It is going to be such a crazy day, but I am going to love it. Students are soo excited about their costumes and they are so proud of them as well. I will have to stop by and make sure I see my kindergartener's costumes too.

Roxann and I are going to be Raggidy (sp?) Ann and Andy. :) It will be fun.

BUT, the best part of the day is going to be at 8pm when Ted and I f

inally reach my dad's house and catch the very end of our niece's coming off their sugar high! :) Izabella is going to be spiderman, and Liv is going to be either a dead ballerina, a princess, or a regular ballerina...I haven't heard the latest. :)

Here are some cute fall pics of some of my favorite girlies!

Izabella

Olivia

Football, Paint ball, and the OG

Today, I am taking a much needed day of rest. I have been kind of sick all week, not sick enough to call 3 different people and let them know that I can't make it in to school, but sick enough to dread every moment I am teaching and running around.

I am trying to get all of Central's "extra" requirements for student teaching done today, while I am sitting around with my feet up. I promised myself I would take a huge chunk out of my To-Do List, while Ted is out and about shooting youth group kids with paint balls.

When Ted gets home we are going to catch the end of the Michigan/Michigan State game together, which should be an interesting game, and I am kind of scared that if Michigan doesn't win, Ted will be scarred forever.

Well, I should get back to my To-Do List, writing a message is definitely not a part of it. Oh yeah, and on a really happy note, last night Ted, Mom Polleys and I went to the Olive Garden. Nothing helps a sick, tired girl like a bowl full of noodles and cheese. :)

Oh and P.S. we are counting down until we can move into our new home. Probably about 2-3 weeks to go...oh Joy!

Dreams of Sharpened Colored Pencils

Days of sand between our toes, tank tops, and extra amounts of ice cream are quickly saying good-bye. Some may say ‘bummer’ but I say HOORAY! The smells of new crayons, sounds of early morning school buses and sights of smiling faces in new back-to-school clothes excite me, school is here! Let the first bell ring! Bring out the colorful arrays of brightly colored construction paper!

This year, September 3rd is the magical day. What makes it even more magical is that the time has come (after 17 years) for me to be on the opposite side of the desk. I am no longer a student, I am a teacher! (Yet I am still complete with my smiling face and new back-to-school clothes.) I will have 20 moldable minds within my reach, waiting for my instruction. I hope to show them what they need to succeed in life, as well as how to become a person of character and good judgment. I hope to help them realize the world for what it is and how they (each and every one of them) can make a positive difference in it. I hope to help their optimism, innocence and enthusiasm thrive. I also pray that each one of them will grow up knowing the love and grace of their Creator, who knows each and every hair on their heads.

But, the funny thing about being a teacher is that you never stop being a student. Besides all of the obvious things like homework, taking notes, staying organized, being on time, and being prepared, there is one, maybe not-so-obvious idea, in which we will learn something new everyday. And, not just at a PD Day or a conference, but within the very classroom that we teach. We will learn something significant everyday, whether it is how we can improve ourselves, our lessons, our classroom, or how the simple story from a child’s life can change how we look at everything in the world.

This year I am not an “official” teacher, but a student-teacher. I will be in a Kindergarten classroom for eight weeks, and then a second grade classroom for eight weeks. I will graduate on December 13th, and then I can find where I belong in the world of education. Pray for me, wish me luck, whatever your fancy. I ’ll let you know the view from the other side.