One Down, A Bunch To Go

Well, my 6th year of teaching is officially under way.  I am teaching first grade again and am lucky to only have 19 students at the moment.  With Texas budget cuts, $4 billion was taken from education (Thank you Governor Perry) and therefore, many classrooms have 24-27 students at the moment.  This first week has gone pretty smoothly.  I have 9 girls and 10 boys and lots of varying personalities.  It's going to be a fun (in a good way) year! 

With back to school comes extreme exhaustion.  I spent 2 weeks preparing my classroom and plans.  When I got home, I was physically exhausted.  Add in 3 nights of softball for Anthony in 105 degree heat and I was done!  Then, this week, I have become mentally exhausted.  I spend so much time during the day talking, making decisions, teaching, singing and comforting that when I get home, I just want to sit and be silent.  Unfortunately, no one seems to get that and I have worried quite a few family members. 

Since I've been so exhausted, I still have to get around to posting about our vacation.  I'm actually looking forward to reliving it.  How I'd love to be sitting on a beach where it was only 85 or 90 degrees!

iPad Fun

I am completely loving my summer.  I love sleeping in and not having anything to do.  That all came to a halt last week.  At the beginning of summer, my principal called and asked if I could go to a training in mid July about using technology in the classroom.  She said we needed 5 teachers to go and then we would be able to get a cart of 20 iPads to use in the classroooms in our hall (Kinder and First grade).  I agreed.  The week leading up to this, I was a bit skeptical.  I did not want to wake up at 7 and I didn't want to sit for 7 hours each day.

 

image from apple.com

Monday morning came and the alarm went off.  I drug myself out of bed (just as I did Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday).  And I'm so glad I did.  This was an amazing week of training.  I learned some new tech tips for using the iPad and even the iPhone.  I've gotten to play with a ton of new apps.  But, the real reason I went, I've learned how I can use these bad boys in my classroom and I cannot wait.  What I loved about this week was that we had time to create lessons that we will be able to use with our kids throughout the week that include using the iPad to meet our technology standards.  

I left this training on Friday, full of ideas and excitement.  And I also left wanting my own iPad.  One can wish! 

Sadness

Today was the last day of school.  I have completed five years of teaching.  Most years, when this day arrives I am full of excitement.  While I'm a bit excited, I am more sad.  I am really going to miss this group.

I have spent two years with many of these children.  And while the days and weeks may have been rough, I have never stopped loving or believing in them.  I have taught my babies how to read and write, how to add and subtract.  Now it is time for them to move on and learn more, but I am like a Mama who doesn't want to let go. 

Not only is it hard to let go, but I also worry about my kids this summer.  I worry that they won't read enough and will lose what they've learned.  I worry they won't have enough food to eat.  I worry that they won't get the love they need.  I worry about how they will be treated at home.  During the school year, I am able to show them that I care and make sure they get breakfast and lunch, but when they are home, I cannot.  This has always been what I have found most difficult about being a teacher.  It doesn't matter how great a teacher is, she can not change the home life of her students.

At the end of the day, I was getting particulary sad about having to say goodbye.  The little boy that I've mentioned before that hated my clouds and couldn't talk to me because I was a stranger came up to my table.  He said "That's why you are a special teacher."  Unsure of what made me special, I asked.  "You are special because you let us do stuff."  Hearing a student tell me I was a special teacher made my day and my year.  It made every difficult day worth it. 

Renewed

The past two days have been so much better than Monday.  I still had similar problems with the same student, but I've just let them go.  I have made up my mind to not let any student ruin the last week of school!  The past two days have been fun and I have came home energized instead of exhausted.  How did I work 8 and 10 hour days and feel energized?

~I played with my kids at recess.  I couldn't completely keep up with them, but I did do the monkey bars!
~We had a pizza party to celebrate the end of the year.
~I took time to color with my class.
~But most importantly, I remembered to take time to visit with colleagues and LAUGH!

Yup, that's it.  I've managed to get my room almost completely ready for the summer and keep my kids busy.  But I still feel great when I get home! 

And, to top it all of, a teacher of an older grade was asking if I had a better day yesterday and I said yes.  She then said she couldn't believe what a tough year I had (she had seen my struggles on Monday).  But what I loved was that she said that she couldn't never tell that I had it bad because I always had a smile on the face.  That was a compliment I really needed.  I was glad to know that even though some days I am completely stressed, others don't see it. 

Only 1 more day to go!  Tomorrow we will be watching Finding Nemo, having popsicles and saying farewell!  I can't believe the year is over, but I can't wait to see what summer holds! 

Defeated

As I said goodbye to my 20 first grade friends for the last Monday of the school year, I did not feel the joy that I should feel for being so close to the end.  Instead, I felt defeat.  And not like I've defeated another year.  Instead, today I was defeated. 

I could just feel it all over.  This feeling of anger and frustration and heartbreak and grumpiness.  I hadn't done my best as a teacher.  Now, it's the last week of school and not much teaching is going on, but I wasn't there for my students.  I let one student and his stuburness defeat me.  I let him truly make me angry.  I never allowed him to see that I was angry, but I felt it inside and I sitll just can't let it go.

After leaving work and running errands, I went through the drive thru and picked up some nachos.  Unhealthy, fatty nachos to make my day better.  Now I lay on the couch waiting for the Bachelorette in hopes that it will help me to move on past today.  If nothing works today, atleast tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start.  And if tomorrow fails too...well atleast I only have a day and a half after that!

Do you ever have days that you feel defeated?

Field Trips

I may have said this before, but I am terrified of field trips.  The classroom is a safe place where it is unlikely that you will lose a child.  The zoo or the farm or the park, not so much.  Those places have no structure, no lines you have to walk in, no being quite, lots of wide open space to be kids.  If you follow the news, you may have heard of the first grader that climbed over the fence and was malled on a first grade field trip.  That's my worst nightmare!

Today was our big zoo field trip.  I was dealing with anxiety all morning.  Finally, we loaded the bus and set out for the zoo around 9.  We got into the zoo and I sent a few kids with parents and kept 8 boys.  The first thing you see inside the zoo is an alligator and then the flamingos.  As we stood and stared at the flamigos all of my anxiety melted away.  The students loved just watching the animals.  We only saw a handful of animals due to the bus not arriving on time and bad weather, but not one student complained.  They were so happy to have spent 30 minutes inside the zoo. 

Since we didn't spend much time there, I didn't get many pictures.  However, I was able to capture a few of my favorite moments.

Not sure what happened, but these guys all started squaking and then they fluffed up their feathers and started fighting.  So funny!

We stood and watched this guy for over 5 minutes.  He would strut around his little area, let out a loud noise to get your attention and then spread his feathers and strut around like he was a model.  The kids were just amazed.

These nice tall fences made me feel much better about my children staying safe!

It was this guy's first trip to the zoo.  He was so amazed by everything.  I hated that he didn't get to spend more time there and see more animals.

This was my favorite part of the field trip.  All of the students up against the glass in awe.  It's such a special gift to share the wonders of the zoo with these children.  Have I mentioned how much I love my job?

What I Couldn't Live Without (in the Classroom)

I only have 17 more days of school with the kids.  I can't believe it.  I also only have 3 more days left with a student teacher in my room.  When I student taught, both of my mentor teachers gave me graduation gifts and that was always special to me.  For that reason, when I have a student teacher, I always strive to show her that I appreciated her with a graduation gift.  I've been working on putting together a basket of things for her to use when she has a classroom, mostly a lot of things I could not live without.  I thought about sharing my favorite classroom things, but I am sure you know that I love post it notes and Sharpie markers.  Instead, I thought I'd share a few of my nontraditional favorite things in my classroom that I couldn't live without.

1.   A digital timer.  This is the first year I've used one and this guy is my new best friend.  I have one student (who also hated my clouds and couldn't speak to me because I was a stranger) who will get angry and sit in the corner.  I've found I can set the timer for 2 minutes and when it beeps, he is good to go as if nothing has happened.



2. Cheez-Its and Dr. Pepper.  This is my every day snack at 10:00.  This is something I've done for years and I still haven't gotten tired of it.  I don't know what it is, but every day at 10 I am starving and shaky and this does the trick!

3.  Scotch Packing Tape.  This tape will hold anything together.  It holds papers on the wall, even with 30 mph winds.  It repairs books.  Holds up bulletin boards.  It's great. 





4.  Scentsy Warmer and bars.  This thing is wonderful at covering up the smell of sweaty children and soured milk that was left in a cubby over the weekend.  I like to stick with lighter, fresh scents. 

What are some unusual things that you couldn't live without at work?

A Million Bucks

In the state of Texas, the minimum teaching salary for a teacher with 4 years of experience is just over $30,000.  Most districts pay more.  If you get into metroplex areas, a teacher with 4 years experience might make closer to $50,000.  As you move away from the metroplex, you will find most teachers are on the lower end of the pay scale.  Any teacher that is actually teaching solely for the money is clearly in the wrong profession.

Teaching has never been about the money.  Sure, I have to have money to pay bills and to fuel my shopping addition, but I didn't chose teaching for the money.  Clearly.  I chose teaching because I want to make a difference.  On days that I realize that I have made a difference, I get the biggest paycheck ever.  And today, was one of those days. 

If you've followed my blog for a while, you might remember a little boy I had last year when I tought kindergarten.  This little boy was not happy to be in my room, he said it was "stupid."  He couldn't talk to me because his mom told him not to speak to strangers.  He hit, bit, pushed, and cursed.  I remember him crawling under a table one day and refusing to come out.  No one loved him or believed in him, including himself.  He's the kind of student that most teachers truly dread and secretly hope will be absent (I know, it's sad, but very true). 

Anyway, I refused to give up on him.  I set forth to do whatever it took to get through to him because I would not allow any child to spend a year in my class and still consider himself stupid.  So, I worked at it for about 6 weeks.  He had learned half of his letters in six weeks and he now called himself smart.  I had made a difference!  And then I found out he was moving.  I was devastated.  I thought of him frequently and was always worried that his new teacher wouldn't get to know him and see how great he was.  I learned this fall that his mother had passed away and my heart broke even more.  I just prayed that he had someone who would love him and believe in him. 

Well, God decided he needed to be back with me.  Or maybe I needed him to remind me how much I love what I do.  When he walked in my room today, it took everything I had not to cry.  He gave me the biggest hug and just held on.  I have never been so happy to see a student.   He later told me that he had cried when he was at his house.  I asked him why and he told me because he missed me.  It may not be easy, but I know this kid needs me and I know God knew I was just the person. 

And today, I feel like a million bucks.  Not because I got a nice paycheck to put in the bank, but because I made a difference. 

Back To Work

Spring Break has officially ended.  While I will miss laying around in my PJ's until 1pm and sitting up until midnight, I am actually looking forward to getting back to work and seeing my students. I have 50 more days to make a difference.  I have 50 more days to teach these students that they are readers and writers.  I have 50 days to teach these students to believe in themselves.  And after 50 days, I will be sending these 20 first graders on to second grade. It will be such a bittersweet moment after spending two school years with most of them.  It's such an amazing feeling to be a teacher and know that I am impacting these kiddos.  And, in addition to teaching these 20 first graders, I will have a student teacher in my room for the next 7 weeks.  Not only am I looking forward to an extra adult in the room, but I am looking forward to sharing my teaching beliefs and helping her to become a successful teacher. 

Also, with spring break ending, I am even closer to three really important events:
1.  Going to DC with Mom to see my brother and the Cherry Blossom Festival
2.  My birthday month and birthday
3.  A weekend at home with my brother (the one in DC), my aunt and uncle (from Mississippi) and all of my family.  My brother, Mom and I will all be walking a 5K for Breast Cancer.  I had really wanted to run, but since my neck was sprained and strained in the accident, I haven't been able to read and train like I had planned.

With all the fun coming up, I really am not too sad to see this week end!

What are you looking forward to?

The Small Things

It's the small things that make such a difference sometimes. 

I've questioned myself alot as a teacher lately.  I really haven't been the teacher I once was.  I used to get complimented for how I talked to my kids and then this year people have commented on how loud I am.  I don't like that one bit and I've been worried about how it's affected the kids in my class.

Well, today I noticed a little girl with pearl earrings.  I had never noticed her wearing them before and so I complemented her.  Here's how the conversation went:

Me:  I like your earrings A.
A:  Thanks.  I got them pierced yesterday.
Me:  That's really exciting.  Did you know those are like my earrings? (I wear pearl earrings all the time and had them in today)
A:  I know! (in a rather excited tone)
Me:  Is that why you got them?
A:  Yeah.

Just a little conversation, nothing impressive said.  But, the fact that she admires me enough to get earrings like mine, says that I haven't been as bad of a teacher as I thought.

Why I Teach

Last week I did some venting about my frustrations of teaching.  There was a particular student I was really struggling with.  I knew something wasn't right.  I could tell by the way he acted in my room.  I couldn't nail it, but I just had this gut feeling.  I sent him to visit with the counselor and I nailed it right on.  While he's not physically abused or neglected, he's emotionally neglected.  I'm not going to go into details, I will just say that he doesn't get the love I feel every child should.

Now, he's not the only child in my room this year, or any of the four years that I've taught in the past, that I've known is missing out on love.  I've always been at schools where the families are economically disadvantages.  While it's heartbreaking and emotionally draining, I have no doubt that's where God wants me right now.  I know that he puts each of the 18-22 kids in my class each year for a reason.  Every day when we have our moment in silence, I pray that He will help me to love these children the way they need to be loved.  That's usually all I can manage to get in...you try having a 60 second moment of silence with 20 six year olds.  Closing my eyes or bowing my head is out of the question!

Anyway, that being said, one particular thing this child doesn't get at home is hugs.  So, I have made it my point to make sure he gets those hugs.    Today when it was time for him to go home, he came up, gave me a hug around my neck and told me he loves me.  While he doesn't feel love at home, he feels it in my classroom.   And I am reminded what my purpose is.  God is good!

It's a Love/Hate Kind of Thing

I love, love, love my job.  I love that I am responsible for teaching 20 amazing kiddos how to read.  I love that every day I am greated by 20 students that are happy to be at school and happy to see me.  I love that first graders are full of compliments.  I love that these students love to learn still.  I love that I get to make a difference in the lives of other.  I love that I get to share God's love with my children (no I can tell them, but I can show them).  I love being able to fill a child with confidence and make them feel like they can do anything.  I just love it. 

But, there's one thing I don't love.  One thing that can take an amazing day and turn it to a gloomy day for me.  One thing that just makes me cringe and even brings tears when the day is over and the kids are gone.  One thing that no matter what I do, I can't change.

Parents.  Not all parents, just a few parents.  Parents who don't love their children.  Parents that hurt their children.  I just don't get it.  I don't see how anyone could repeatidly hurt these kids.  I don't see how a parent could never hug her child.  It baffles me.  It shocks me.  And it breaks my heart. 

I have always found this as the hardest part of my job, but I also find it as a driving force for me to be a better teacher.  It drives me to show my kids God's love even when I'm unhappy with them or having a bad day.  It pushes me to push these students to be the best that they can be and to believe in themselves because I know that school may be the only place they will get that.  It makes me strive to make my classroom a positive and safe place, full of kindess and love from both me and the other students, so that these children have a safe place to be.  While I can't change home, I can change my classroom and myself. 

 

First Grade Fun

We are finally really into the swing of things in first grade and I'm loving it!  The kids have matured so much from last year which makes them even more lovable.  Honestly, there is not child that I do not love.  There's not even really one big problem child.  I can't pick a favorite.  It is great.  They are a great group of kids.  They've learned so much already and I love that feeling.  I love knowing that I've already taught them something.

That being said, I thought I'd share some of our funnies.

-One student tells me "He told me he was going to kill me."  So, I asked that student if he said that.  His response, "Yes, but I said I was sorry."  (I love how they think sorry should fix every problem.)
-We are standing outside for dismissal, it's 85 degrees outside, one student has on his heavy winter jacket, complete with fur lined hood.  It took 5 minutes to convince him to take it off so he didn't have a heat stroke.
-Yesterday I wore a short beaded necklace.  One little boy raised his hand and said, "Mrs. J, can you take that necklace off?  It is going to choke you."
-During lunch, one of the students gets in trouble for running.  Then another student tattles that the student in trouble is saying bad words.  Well, if you get in trouble at lunch, you sit out at recess for 10 minutes.  He did his time for running and we were visiting.  I was just going to leave the bad word offense out of it, as I've learned bad words to a first grader are not always really bad words.  But, he told on him self.  What was he saying?  "Penis."
-The students are sitting at their desks doing an assignment.  One of them raises his hand so I go to see what he wants.  He says, "Well....can I sing."  (So totally random)

Oh, how I love what I do.  I wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world. 

TaDa!

Tonight was Meet the Teacher.  It was so funny watching the kids' reactions as they realized that I was their teacher again.  I'm not sure if they were more confused about being in my class again or the fact that I was in another room.  I hope they don't expect to see me again next year in 2nd grade.  I am done moving!

I am very pleased with how my room turned out and finally have pictures to share.  I had intented to take pictures as I progressed, but I forget things. 

View from the door.

View from our bathroom/sink area.

My work area/meeting area.  I love the pollka dots on the black shelves!

Another one of my polka dotted shelves

Our class meeting area and promethean board.

Library nook

I absolutely love it.  I switched from desks to the hexagon tables and it really opened up the room.  I like the colors and the lack of clutter.  Once school gets started I will fill the two bulletin boards with our "Class Promise" and pictures of the kids.  I am looking forward to a great school year!

It's Finally Time!

Nope, Anthony's not home yet.  And I still have 17 days until I see Kimmie.  Almost as good though, it's time for cheap school supplies!!!  (yeah, I know, I'm lame, but I don't care)

Every year in the middle of July, I start searching the sales ads on Sundays.  I check Target, Wal Mart, Staples, Office Depot and Office Max.  I  knew it was getting close to that time.  I started with Target's ad.  They had a few things, but no really supper deals.  Next, Office Depot.  No school supplies yet.  Understandable, it's still 5 weeks until school starts.  Then, I decided to check Staples' ad.  School supplies!!!  I called up a friend who is a teacher and today we headed to Staples.   I came home with all of this...

50 Folders with Pockets and Brads
400 pencils
8 Bic ball point pens
2 Notebooks
5 Packs of notebook paper
3 Packs of Post it notes in fun shapes
1 Pack of 5 hilighters
3 Packs of 4 glue sticks

Want to guess how much all of this was?

$16 and some change!!!

I saved over $75!!!

This is why I love shopping for school supplies!

More Change

When I started this blog a little over a year ago, I knew I was in for change.  I assumed most of it would be a result of the military though.  A week ago, however, I found out more change is on the way.  (No, not a baby.)

I'm not longer going to be a kindergarten teacher.  I will be teaching first grade next year.   As of right now, our numbers for kndergarten aren't looking like I'll be needed in kindergarten next year.  I have a contract and so they have to find a job for me.  They could wait until school starts and see, but then, I'd have to teach whatever they need me to teach at whatever school they need me to teach in.  Being a person who needs to plan and have control, that just didn't sound like fun to me.  Instead, I took the open 1st grade position at my school.

I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but now, I must say that I am pretty excited.  And here's why:

1.  These kids have had 1 year of being in school, most will have spent 1 year in MY class and will know just what I want.
2.  I will not have screaming kindergarteners that have never been to school.  Since I started late last year, I didn't deal with the first week of school.  While I knew I could do it, this terified me.  Lots.
3.  As sort of mentioned in #1, I will have most of the same students I had last year.  I think several have moved, but lots will be back.  I can't wait to see what these kids can do in two years!
4.  It's a new challenge.  I like challenges.
5.  I love the 1st grade team!
6.  I will be just down the hall from my kinder team.

So, no funny stories about kindergarteners.  But, I am sure that first graders will be pretty entertaining!

Thank Goodness There Were Only Four

Four days of work, that is.  We were off Monday, I think it was a bad weather day we didn't use.  But, by the time Friday finally rolled around, I knew I couldn't have survived another day.  Here's a recap of the week:

-60 benchmark tests administered one one one (20 kids, 3 tests)
-Morning duty every day-had to be at work 30 minutes earlier than normal
-Almost have the kids in my class cried this week for one reason or another (paper cut, feelings hurt, got in trouble), but the bottom line for most of them was that they were tired. 
-Two of those crying children threw all out temper tamtrums, laying on the floor, screaming, kicking, refusing to listen to me.A
-Four bloody noses.  And I'm not talking a little blood.  This was gushing blood.  And for no reason.  And two of them occured at the same time.

But thankfully, that week is over.  Tomorrow we're having a going away cookout for the guys that are deploying.  It should be a lot of fun.  And I'll start fresh on Monday.

And on a completely different note, I have to share the funny thing one of my little girls said.  It was the end of the day and we were sitting outside waiting for her mom.  She told me she liked my flipflops, but used a Spanish word, something like "chuckas" but I know that's not how it's spelled.  Anyway, a couple minutes later she says, "I know the Spanish word for car."  So, I asked what it was.  "Vehicle."  I got quite a kick out of that.

The Not So Good

While Kindergarten has lots of fun(ny) parts, it' also has some downers.  Maybe it's not kindergarten.  Maybe it's being a teacher in a Title 1 school.  The past few weeks I have been through some of these downer moments.  I came to a realization this week that, if I don't fight for these kids and love them and believe in them, who will?  You're probably thinking, "Uh, what about their parents?"  I don't know if these parents don't know how, don't have the means, or what, but they aren't. 

Case Number 1:  I have a student that has had lice multiple times since Christmas.  He's been sent home.  He's been given medicine.  He missed 2 days of school.  Mom told the school she didn't have money to buy medication (we sent home 3 bottles not too long ago).  So, I sent home 3 more bottles.  He's still not in school.  I ask his brother why, I find out they don't have water, so they can't use treatment.  I don't get it.  First of all, don't have more kids than you can provide for.  Next, if your problems are affecting your kids, put your pride aside and get help.  There is help if you just ask.

Case Number 2:  I have more than one student that is late to school 3 of the 5 days of school each week.  I don't get it.  If you're waking up at 7:30, and are late every day, wake up earlier!  Doesn't your child's education mean anything?

Case Number 3:  Today a parent came to pick up her child (who is always sick with a cough) and is smoking in the van with the windows up. 

My heart breaks.  I know God put me in each of these kids' lives and I know that I can do it because God is working through me.  But some days, I just feel like that load is too heavy.

Weekly Kindergarten Wrap Up

Well, what a week.  It's a good thing I've been going to church AND working out and building happy feelings, otherwise I can't imagine how mean I would have been. 

I have one little boy who is very sweet and smart.  His mom works until 11 and so he's at a babysitters until then.  Well, some nights he doesn't sleep until he gets home.  I can tell when that happens.  He cries about EVERYTHING.  He cried because I asked him to stop being silly and read.  He cried because the librarian corrected him.  He sat on the playground and cried (I don't know why).  I know what it's like to be so tired you cry, but I can only take so much.  He's probably cried 8 times this week.  Thankfully sometimes it just last a couple minutes.

I have another boy who was moved back from first grade to kindergarten and is bigger than the rest of the class.  All my kids look up to him.  That wouldn't be so bad, except he's a bully.  I've had tons of problems with him bullying one of my little girls.  On Wednesday, I hear the little girl crying.  I go to see what happened.  He had dug his finger nail into her finger and had actually brought blood.  When I asked why, he said because she was supposed to be using glue and she wasn't.  Hmm...can I claw him everytime he's not doing what he's supposed to? 

Then there's a little boy with lice.  He's had them for weeks.  The nurse combs his hair several times a week to get the nits out.  It doesn't get better.  But he has no problem walking into my class and announcing "I've got bugs!" very proudly.  This same little boy cried twice for 15 minutes today because he got in trouble.  Not just little tears.  But loud, screaming tears.  I was ready to cry.

Then, the little girl that's always bullied....well, she cut her hair yesterday.  Not a little cut either.  She had a huge chunk of hair in her hand.  Okay, I know, it happens.  But, she had just done it this weekend at home and mom had to give her a new haircut.  Then, she did it again.  I don't get it.  Don't they get it...you cut your hair, you get a bad haircut.  Why do it again?

I could probably keep going, but it's making my blood pressure just rise thinking about it.

While it has been a very stressful and tiring week, I'm trying to look at the possitives.  I have totally changed how I teach writing and my kids are actually writing things that I can read.  I'm so proud!  I have two students who are already reading at the end of year level.  I can't wait to see what they can do over the next four months! 

Christmas in Kindergarten

My kids are CRAZY!  First of all, on Tuesday I put up the tree, the tree was up in the school and it was officially December.  While my kids have no clue when Christmas is they know it's coming.  They come in every day and ask if today is Christmas.  Then to top that off, we woke up yesterday to a blanket of snow.  That made the kids really excited, but also meant no outdoor recess because it was too cold.  So, they are going a bit stir crazy.  Enough to really frustrate me. 

But then...God reminds me they are just kids.  He reminds me that I am a teacher because these kids need me.  This morning I took in a snowman that I got last year that lights up and changes colors.  Watching my kids when they saw it this morning was such a special moment.  They all stopped and just stared in awe.  My room was silenet.  It was really neat to watch.  Then the silence was broke and the craziness returned.  But it was such a magical moment.