Half Way Done!

 I finished up my first student teaching placement a week ago and am happy to say that I am HALF WAY DONE!!  AHHHHH!!!!!  :)  I'm so SO happy to be to this point.  I started teaching 2nd grade this week and I miss my 4th grade class SO MUCH.  I know that I'll love my 2nd grade class too, it's just so sad to get to know all of your students and then all of a sudden have to leave them.  Anyway...here's a comparison of my paper chain countdown to graduation.  YAY!   

...

and now.

 

Oh, and I finally got around to taking a picture of my short hair.  I cut off A LOT of hair, but I love it.  So does Dave, which is always a plus.  :)

Only 5 more weeks until Spring Break and then three more days of student teaching.  Holy cow!  I'm excited!

4 weeks down...Holy crap...4 weeks down!!!

Student teaching is getting better and better.  It's still exhausting and yes, I still have those days where all I want to do when I get home is cry.  But, after talking to my fellow student teachers, I am NOT the only one.  So I feel my breakdowns are warranted.  I've survived the first four weeks of student teaching and that feels so GREAT to say.  I know I have a long way to go, but it's nice to see a huge chuck of it already done.  Plus, comparing these two pictures just makes me so happy inside.  

 

I know I'm the biggest nerd ever, but this chain seriously helps boost my mood and confidence.  Only 3 more weeks left in my first placement and then it's on to 2nd grade!!  I'm already getting sad thinking about it.  I'm going to miss my class so much!

Lesson Plans, Cough Drops and Strep...

So, amazingly, my students didn't say anything funny last week.  I was baffled.  Anyway...I've been sick.  AGAIN.  I'm telling you, I have the WORST immune system ever.  

My life as of late consists of writing lesson plans...lots and LOTS of lesson plans.  Student teaching is so straining.  It's like an octopus spreading it's tentacles and squeezing and squeezing all avenues of your life until there's nothing left. 

I've been living off of Cold Eeze for the past week now.  I woke up this morning and had had enough.  I felt awful and just couldn't make it in to the school today.  NOT good.  Missing days during student teaching is highly discouraged.  But alas, it just wasn't going to happen.  I finally just dragged my butt to the doctor only to find out that I have strep.  Lovely. 

On another totally unrelated note, I finally got enough courage to cut my hair, and cut my hair I did.  I'll post pictures later because I'm looking pretty gross at the moment.  Get excited!  

Also, I made myself a paper chain countdown for graduation.  Oh yeah, I went there.
 

If you haven't noticed, I'm still working on this whole "stay positive" thing.  I'll get there...

Out of the Mouths of Babes: Week 1

Well, I survived my first week of student teaching.  My last post was pretty bleak, but I'm happy to say that I felt much better about the whole situation as the week went on.  It's still going to be a busy few months, but I know I'll survive.  Here are some of the memorable things that my students said this week.  Hopefully I'll be able to post these on a weekly basis.  After getting to know my class this week, I don't think I'll have a hard time doing that.  :) 

1.  "Mrs. Bland, how old are you?  I think you're 27."  Hmmm....not sure what I think about that.  :)

2.  Weirdest question:  "What is your biggest fear?"  This was just so funny to me because the student that asked this had the creepiest look on his face when he asked.  Haha.

3.  My students do timed multiplication tests every week to pass off their multiplication facts.  One of the students has been working on their 12 times tables and tested on those.  I was grading the test and had to chuckle when after the 3rd problem the student had written in huge letters:  "It's just too hard."  Haha.  I wanted so badly to give them a few points for that answer.  All I could think was "Yes they are sweetie.  Yes they are."  Poor kid.  :(

4.  "Mrs. Bland, my Mom says that she's smarter than you."  OK...

5.  AND....saddest thing I heard this week: "I'm dumb.  My Mom told me that I'll never go to college."  Isn't that the saddest thing you've ever heard?!  I wanted to cry!

2012-Starting Out A Little Blue...

Christmas is over.  New Years is over.  I find this to be incredibly depressing.  Dave and I had a wonderful Christmas and a very relaxing few days in Mesquite with my family.  Oh how I wish I was in the hot tub again....right now...sigh.  The break from school was great.  I did exactly what I wanted to do...TRY my best to NOT stress about the upcoming semester.  I actually feel like I did a really good job.  (Dave would disagree, I'm sure).  But really.  I felt great about the Spring 2012 semester.  I was excited.  Student teaching...my LAST semester.  And then, it actually came, and to be completely honest, I'm struggling. 

Today was my first day of student teaching and so I realize that I'm feeling very overwhelmed simply because of the fact that everything is "new" again.  I know I'll get into a schedule and it will eventually be over and I'll look back and laugh at my stress.  But today, right now, it's all very fresh and exhausting.  In case you didn't know, I HATE change.  It's really one of my biggest fears.  (Which is NOT a good fear to have at this point in my life).  I feel like my life just underwent a complete 180 and it's seriously taking its toll.  (One of my goals for this year is to learn to accept change and look forward to it, rather than fear it.  We'll see how that goes.  I anticipate A LOT of change for this year so I better start now!) 

Basically, I just needed to get my thoughts out because it makes me feel better.  It's funny.  I knew that this was going to happen, I'm just embarrassed that it happened so quickly.  I don't usually go through my "breaking point" until at least halfway through the semester.  I made it two days....HA. 

My house is a mess, the dishes need to be done, the laundry washed and folded...AND, our Christmas tree is still up (and will most likely stay up until I graduate....Dave and I have this whole thing going...don't ask).  But, I've decided that all that matters right now is that I stay focused and committed to my teaching and my job.  Yeah...did I mention that I'm teaching 40 hours a week (for free mind you) as well as continuing to work???  I shouldn't complain because as mentioned previously, being able to continue working while I student teach has been the biggest blessing for Dave and I.  We need it and are very grateful.  I think I just get overwhelmed sometimes. 

SO, to end this incredibly long rant, what I'd really like to know is....HOW do you all do it?  I know I'm not the only busy person out there.  I need some organization tips people.  I'm being completely serious.  Also, any tips on getting a good night's sleep?  (I'm fairly certain that 99.9% of my frustrations today stem from the fact that I'm running on little to no sleep). 

I feel better.  If you actually read all that, congrats to you.  Now, I'm going to go to bed, wake up tomorrow, and impress the crap out of my principal and cooperating teacher.  Cuz I'm Ashley Bland, and that's how I do!*

*grammar and spelling errors are on purpose for those who were shocked by that last sentence.  ;)  I really CAN teach people.  :)

Christmas Lights

These pictures are all pretty similar, but I just love them.  They were taken at a park in Centerville.  Enjoy.

Holly Jolly Family Pictures

Christmas is over...and that's sad.  But, I'll always have these spectacular family pictures to cherish and reminisce about this Christmas season.  We eventually used the first picture below as our holiday card, but there were many favorites.  What it boils down to is the fact that my family is the most attractive bunch out there.  Enjoy!

We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and wish you the best for the new year.  

Happy Holidays everyone!

Ten Things Tuesday 12/13/11

So, I'm reinstating Ten Things Tuesday...for today; or for forever...whatever. It's my blog so I can do stuff like that. 

1.  Being out of school is the best thing ever.  Ever, EVER.  Knowing that I will be done with school forever in less than five months is making me oh so happy.  Masters degree...psh.  Not for me! 

2.  I FINALLY received my student teaching placement this morning.  Obviously, I'm not going to announce to the digital world where I'll be, but I will say that I will be teaching 2nd and 4th grade.  I'm pretty happy about that. 

3.  A few months ago, I discussed my distaste for fresh tomatoes.  I have to take that back.  I don't know what my deal is, but I've seriously had a taste bud makeover.  For the past few weeks, I have put fresh tomatoes on almost anything...sandwiches, salads, crackers, tacos, etc.  So weird, but I love them. 

4.  We keep a few snacks in the office where I work.  I walked in the break room today and saw reduced fat Oreos.  (Can they do that?!)  I was suspicious, but I decided to give them a try.  I was disappointed at first, but of course, I managed to eat four of them.  Oreos always seem to do that to me.  At least they were reduced fat right?  RIGHT?

5.  There's less than two weeks left before Christmas, and I still have six gifts to finish/purchase.  Hmmm...better get going on that!

6.  I've only been done with school for less than a week and I've already screwed up my sleeping cycle.  I am a night person.  I love to stay up really late...and sleep in really late.  Things are going to have to change around here pretty quick if I'm going to survive student teaching. 

7.  Its birthday palooza in my family this week and I've been searching online for some yummy cake recipes to celebrate.  I've decided to make pumpkin cake with caramel-cream cheese frosting and raspberry-white chocolate cream cake.  Don't those sound delicious?!  Here, I'll add some pictures for good measure. 

8.  We've decided to spend New Years in Mesquite and I'm pretty excited about it.  One last hurrah before my last semester!

9.  Dave has three finals to take tomorrow.  What a bummer...  : (

10.  My sister Megan is turning 18 this week and it's seriously weirding me out.  Megan?  18?  What!?  I'm starting to feel so old.  I'm still cool though...right Megs? 

Lights at Temple Sqaure

Dave surprised me this weekend and took me to see the lights at Temple Square.  I love the lights, expecially since this is where Dave proposed to me.  Enjoy the photos below. 

 As you all know by now, Dave's favorite pastime is looking as ridiculous as he can in photos.

Good job Dave.  You couldn't possibly look any more evil.  :)

School is out...Halleluiah!

My fall semester ended at 8:20 this morning, and it was seriously the best feeling ever!  Now I have about three weeks to relax and gear up for student teaching.  I STILL don't know where and what grades I'll be teaching (which is driving me insane)...Espeically since some of my friends from class have received their placements.  I'm not really surprised that I don't have them yet, but I'm still mad about it.  Why give me a deadline of when you're going to have my placement for me if you don't stick to that deadline!?  I wish the faculty would have just told us we'd know at the end of December.  But, I'm going to try my best to forget about that right now becuase school is out and there is relaxing that needs to be done! 

In other news, how about that wind storm eh?  I know this is SO last week, but I've been busy so cut me some slack.  :)  Dave and I didn't sleep at all Wednesday night because of it.  It was SO loud.  We woke up to quite a mess the next morning.     

These two trees are right outside our apartment complex.  The tree above was literally three feet away from hitting the building.  We were so lucky that our building didn't sustain much damage.  We lost quite a bit of shingles, but that was obviously minimal. 

I have to tell you a funny story, even though it's kind of embarrassing.  So, we woke up that morning, and look outside to see these 200 year old trees laying on the ground and the first thing I say is "Oh NO!  My fall wreath was blown off the door!"  Hahaha.  Shows where my priorities are!  In all seriousness though, we're very sad to see these trees go, but are very grateful that our home was safe throughout the storm.  And for those of you who were wondering...yes, I found my wreath.  I was shocked that I was able to find it!  

Since school is out, I'm planning on trying to keep this updateed as much as I can throughout the break, so I won't be doing Ten Things Tuesdays anymore.  As for when school gets going again in January, I'll be lucky if I get on here once a month...there's always wishing.