That's right! I survived my first whole week of real-life teaching!!! Whooooo-hoooo!!! 1 week down, about 35 to go! This week was exciting, stressful, tiring, rewarding, crazy, nerve-wracking...the list goes on and on. Overall, it was a great first week of school, and I am proud that I lived to tell you all the tale. My students are really fun and I love how much they interact with me. They always have their hands in the air when I ask them a question, so it really seems like they are eager to learn. Let's hope they keep it up for the rest of the year!
All of that being said...do y'all want to see my classroom??
I won't lie. When I walked into my room for the first time, I knew I had a LOT of work to do. However, I was definitely up for the challenge, and thanks to my mom, dad, sister, besties, Austin, and my former elementary school counselor, I had a lot of help (physically, emotionally, and financially!)
Here are some before and after shots:
THE FRONT:
Before...
After!
"Book Worms" Wall
THE SIDE:
Before...
Word Wall and Turn-in Tray
"Great Work" Wall
THE BACK:
Before
After!
Bookshelves (the empty one is for their journals)
"Mustang News"
Weekly Calendar and Homework
CLASSROOM LIBRARY:
Before
After!
MY DESK/FILING CABINET:
My view
The front
Filing cabinet
Front of the cabinet
And that's it!
There's definitely still a lot more that I could do in terms of decorating, but for now I am happy! I can't wait to start filling up my bulletin boards with student work, accomplishments, and words.
I am so grateful to everyone who helped me shop, decorate, and pay for all of this stuff. I know that my students will benefit from it!!!!
Last Sunday I was in the process of doing about a million and one projects for my classroom...this was one of them! I downloaded this free template from pinterest, changed the monogram, added a little text, and BAM binder covers for my teacher binder and my substitute binder. Cute!
Monay August 20, 2012
I'm official! We started our training at the school last Monday, and our first order of business was to get ID badges. Do y'all like my little apple clippy? :)
Tuesday August 21, 2012
My friend Ashlyn sent me this picture via text on Tuesday morning and I died. Mean Girls, Harry Potter, and celebrity misfortune...the perfect trio. Oh, and if you can't read the text, it says, "I have this theory that if you cut off all her hair, she'd look like a British man"
Wednesday August 22, 2012
I painted a bookshelf last Wednesday evening. It turned out really cute, but I think I killed a couple of brain cells and made the neighbors hate me because the outside of our apartments smelled like paint. Oh the sacrifices I make for my students...
Thursday August 23, 2012
Have y'all ever tried Amy's products? Soups, frozen dinners, etc? You haven't?!?! Well, it's ok because neither had I until this fateful Thursday last week. This soup was the BOMB! I licked the bowl clean and then went to the store to buy more.
Friday August 24, 2012
I got my books last Friday! And I got to carry them in a shopping cart! It was like teacher Christmas.
Saturday August 25, 2012
I got two exciting things in the mail on Saturday. 1) a precious "thank you" card from our friends Blake and Terra Laine. Austin and I are stealing this idea...hope y'all don't mind! 2) a "WOO-HOO!" card from my madre congratulating me on my job and telling me to have a great first week. Boy do I love me some exciting mail!
Sunday the 12th was the last day of our lake weekend. How pretty was our view?? We woke up, ate, cleaned up, and then hit the road jack. There may have been peach ice cream consumed and a mini pecan pie purchased on the way home...
Monday August 13, 2012
I got to start decorating my classroom last Monday!! As you can see from the picture, I had my work cut out for me. My school was built a long long long time ago, so I had to work around the chalkboards and other old stuff. It's kind of cool to step into my room because it feels like I'm going back in time! I'm working on a before and after post, and I can't wait to show y'all how everything turned out!
Tuesday August 14, 2012
Something very exciting happened to me last week................I got to sign up for benefits!! It's good to be off of daddy's plan and making my own way in this world in terms of doctors and dentists :)
Wednesday August 15, 2012
On Wednesday nights Austin and some of his guy friends play dominoes and order dominoes. Last week it was our turn to host, and instead of ordering pizza the boys asked me if I would make them some...of course! Any excuse to cook and wear my pink polka dot apron :) I made them a regular ol' pepperoni and a BBQ chicken. They were purdy good.
Thursday August 16, 2012
Last week started the beginning of my teacher inservice/professional development journey, and boy did we start it off with a BANG! Harry Wong gave a great presentation to all of the new teachers in Dallas ISD...it was so cool to see him in person!
Friday August 17, 2012
After my new teacher orientation on Friday, I needed a break. I had spent the first part of the week up at school decorating like a maniac and the second part sitting in inservices. Cue Facebook, Project Runway, and some Woodchuck hard cider. Perfection.
Saturday August 18, 2012
We took a tour of a local Dallas brewery last Saturday afternoon! I'm not a huugggee beer drinker, but it was cool to see how it's made and get to try a sample straight out of the barrel. We also got a free pint glass for going on the tour. It was a great way to kick off the weekend!
First of all, I want to apologize for my lack of a recap from last week's show. Apparently new teacher training consumes not only your morning, afternoon, and early evening, but also your brain cells that tell you to record your favorite TV show. So, I only caught about half of the show...womp. However, the half that I did see was amazing for two reasons:
1) The dancers all performed old Mia Michaels routines. Glorious! All of the dances were good (duh), but I honestly think the originals were better. Isn't that usually the case though? My favorite dance that I actually saw was "the addiction dance" with Lindsay and Cole (originally performed by Kayla and Kupono).
Kayla and Kupono WORKING IT...look at that leg!
2) JANELLE AND DAREIAN WENT HOME! Amelia and Matthew also got the boot (I was less that thrilled about Matthew aka Ryan Gosling look-alike going home, but what can ya do?)
Alright, let's all send up a "thank you" to the powers that be for the departure of the belly dancing wonder and the boy who can't point his toes and move onto last night's show...
Top 10
The night started off with a Broadway number about Eliana a Gene Kelly movie set.I liked it a lot, but I didn’t really get why Tyce chose to feature Eliana…she’s annoying :/
Cat came out after the opening number wearing disco ball inspired pajamas and showed us the late Gene Kelly’s much younger widow.Then she also told us all about the top 10 and the all-stars they would be dancing with for the show.
All-star Brandon and Tiffany kicked things off with a very lift-y disco routine.I loved the remix that they danced to, and I thought the number was very entertaining!Also very sparkly.
Burn baby burn...
Whitney and all-star Nick were up next with a Travis Wall Jazz dance!!To be honest, it wasn’t my favorite piece that Trav has ever done (I like his contemporaries better), but the dancing was great!I loved the musicality and accents.SIDENOTE: Do y’all know about Travis and Nick’s show on Oxygen, All the Right Moves??If you aren’t watching it, you are missing out!!Lots of dance.Lots of drama.Lots of Travis!
Cole and all-star Anya were right after the Jazz with a Cha Cha choreographed by SYTYCD alum, Dimitri.After I got past Anya’s lone black leather glove, I remembered that I don’t really like Cole.I wasn’t feelin’ this number or their chemistry.Once again, Cole does not get my vote.
The next couple to take the stage was Lindsay and all-star Jacob.I really liked the concept of this Broadway piece (Lindsay and her shadow: Jacob).It was SO fun to watch!!They were both so in sync and there was such great style.Loved it!
SO CUTE!
All-star Katherine and Will did the next number: Baliwood.Ok, I’m sorry, but Baliwood is just so stupid.I can’t be the only one who feels this way, can I?!I mean, Will was out there playing the flute for goodness sakes. I watch this show to see people dance not hop in and out of a giant basket.I still love Will though!
Y'all look crazy.
Cyrus did a Contemporary by Travis Wall with all-star Jaimie next.Here’s the Contemporary Travis that I love so much!I loved the concept of the piece (it’s the end of the world and Jaimie and Cyrus are the only survivors), and these two did a great job dancing it.Jaimie is one of my favorite past SYTYCD contestants, so it was awesome seeing her again.
Beautiful!
All-star Lauren and Chehon were next on tha floor with a Dave Scott lyrical Hip Hop routine.I thought this dance was just OK.It was just kind of anti-climatic, and the costumes/Chehon’s hair weren’t doing anybody any favors.
The next couple up was George and all-star Allison dancing a Jazz routine about “one night in Paris”.To me, this dance was kind of odd.For one thing, the music was very weird.Lots of random sounds and voices out of nowhere.Also, was it just me, or did the whole thing seem like it was in fast-forward?Before I watched the show last night I spray painted a bookshelf, so it could’ve just been the fumes.Either way, George and Allison are still amazing!
The next dance was a Stacey Tookey Contemporary routine danced by Eliana and all-star Alex.Alex is one of the best dancers that I have ever seen, and I wish that I didn’t despise Eliana because the piece really was incredible.The dancing, choreography and movement was just superb.OH and I LOVE the song that they danced to.“Bang Bang” by Nancy Sinatra.Get that shiz if you don’t gotsdit already.
Whoa.
The final routine of the night was another Dave Scott Hip Hop.All-star Twitch was paired with Audrey, and they played two dead people coming back to life to perform for us.I thought it was a really cute, funny, and entertaining routine.Twitch is just so great…love him!
Alright, dancing over.Time to send some folks home.Cat announced that Whitney and Audrey were the bottom two girls and Chehon and George were the bottom boys.Audrey!No!George!Why?!Nigel then announced that all four contestants in the bottom would do a solo, and lots of people cheered.
While we were waiting on the judge’s final decision, we were treated to an amazing performance by LA Dance Project.WOW.I loved this piece.I think I could watch those dancers/that choreography for a very long time.
Quick commercial break, and then back to the nitty gritty.My vote on who should stay?Audrey and George.The judges vote?Whitney and Chehon.Sheesh.The judges and I are just not in sync this year.My four favorite dancers are already out, and we’re only at the top 8!Bah humbug L
Here’s to none of my faves going home next week, but they probably will anyways!
Quick Recaps:
Favorite girl right now: Lindsay (Tiffany is a close second)
Favorite boy right now: Will (I’m also really feelin’ Cyrus)
Girl I hope goes home: Eliana
Boy I hope goes home: Cole (how is he still here?!)
Best routine of the night: Eliana and Alex’s Contemporary.
Worst routine of the night: Will and Katherine’s Balliwood.Duh.
SYTYCD Flashback of the week: "This Woman's Work" by Melissa and Ade from season 5, choreographed by Tyce Diorio. I love this music. I love Melissa. I love Ade. I love the choreography. Perfection!
And so ends another week in the world of SYTYCD! I'll be back next week to tell ya all about the top 8 (assuming my students haven't turned me into a deep fried teacher sandwich) :)
Last Sunday we headed out to the shooting range for Austin to test out his new shotgun. He also tested out his Scarface impression..."Hokay, you wanna play rough?!"
Monday August 6, 2012
This is Austin's and my coffee table. It's also our dinner table about 99.9% of the time. We have a real dinner table, but it doesn't face the TV. I liked the way our dinner from last Monday (chicken parmesan with corn and caesar salad) looked on our coffinner (coffee + dinner = coffinner) table, so I thought I'd share.
Tuesday August 7, 2012
I started getting a bunch of stuff for my classroom last week, and these little owl hall/bathroom passes are one of my favorite things! I'm hoping that the boys will be too embarrassed to carry around a cutesy owl pass, so they'll never ask to leave my class...muahahahaha
Wednesday August 8, 2012
My madre came to Dallas to hang out last week. We did lots and lots of shopping for my classroom (thank you shout out to Sherbo for getting me all prepped up!), and we also got to meet up with my sissy for dinner and drinks on Wednesday! This is us at a wine bar in Ft. Worth with our sangria :)
Thursday August 9, 2012
On Thursday night we went to happy hour at our local Kona Grill...yum! They have a TON of great deals on drinks, sushi, appetizers, whatever. I got a California roll and a marg. If you've never had happy hour at Kona, you should give it a whirl.
Friday August 10, 2012
Austin and I went to the lake this past weekend to hang with some of our old college buddies that don't live in the same city as us anymore. We stopped at the promised-land on our way.
Saturday August 11, 2012
Here I am just fishin' away at the lake! In case you are wondering, here's how this picture went down:
1) Austin spent about 25 minutes getting the spinny thing with clear wire untangled/hooked up to the big stick.
2) Austin flung the clear wire with the hook and neon squiggly deal attached to the end into the water.
3) I asked Austin if he would take my picture.
4) Austin handed me the big stick and I smiled.
5) Austin walked away.
6) I yelled after him asking what I was supposed to do now?!
Last Sunday Austin and I went to brunch with two of my besties, KK and Kaway. I ordered those pancakes. Underneath all of that chocolate and strawberry goodness are waffles with bacon cooked inside them...yuuuuuuuuummy!
Monday July 30, 2012
When we drive to Houston and back we have a couple of places that we like to stop. 1) Buc-ees, exit 142 (duh) 2) Woody's Smokehouse, exit 164 (delicious sausages and other meats!) 3) Cooper Farm's Country Store, exit 198 (peach ice cream and lots of free samples) The last time that we went to Houston (last weekend), we stopped at number 3 on the way there and number 2 on the way back. Number 2 also has excellent pecan pies for $1.99. I ate half of one on Monday night.
Tuesday July 31, 2012
I took this picture in the parking lot of the dance studio last Tuesday. It. Was. Hot.
Wednesday August 1, 2012
I made Austin an omelet last week. I took some pictures of the process. Then I put them on instagram. Now I'm sharing all of this with y'all.
August 2, 2012
I made these cookies for Austin's softball team last week. They are oatmeal peanut butter with peanut butter filling, and they taste really similar to those girl scout cookies in the orange box. One of the boys said they were the best treat I've ever made! I love out-baking myself!
Friday August 3, 2012
Austin took me out to eat on Friday and we got these delicious fajitas! We were celebrating because..............I GOT A JOBBY JOB JOB! I had an interview last Wednesday, and they hired me! I will be working at a middle school in Dallas as a 6th grade Reading teacher! I get to start setting up my room next week, and school starts on the 27th! I can't wait :)
Saturday August 4, 2012
I got to hang out with my sister, Foxy Brown, on Saturday. We went to one of my favorite places, The Ginger Man. Cheers!
