We went on a Shape Walk today around school. The kids took pictures on their "cameras" while I took some on the real camera. I tried to snap a few group pics while we were out. Here are the results...
The "funny" shot
Almost everyone is looking...
Taking a picture of me taking a picture of them
I just adore these kiddos!we were doing this!!!
If anyone read my blog last school year, I'm sure you remember Miss Madalynn. Everyone says teachers shouldn't have favorites, but that's just impossible. She was my absolute favorite last year! (Next to Walker, that is.) Madalynn is now in 2nd grade, and she comes by twice a day to give me a hug (before and after school.) She is so sweet! A couple days ago she came tearing down the hall with a huge story to tell me. Apparently she had a bad dream the night before about me - she said she missed me very much and in her dream she could never get close enough to talk to me. Break my heart! I reminded her that I would be there almost every day, and she could always come talk to me. But then I started freaking out about what would happen when/if I ever leave Henry...dude, I need to get a grip. But it is nice to feel loved!
Yesterday Madalynn brought me the newest Magic Tree House book to read. She got it in the last book order and thought I would really enjoy reading it. Honestly, Magic Tree House can kiss my booty. I had to read about 10 of them to my class last year, and by the end I wanted to throw them all out the window! Jack and Annie and their crazy tree house that whirls and twirls and leaves them in faraway lands are soooo boring! But my class last year LOVED them, and I caved every week. Anyway, this one isn't that much better than any of the others (unless you are 7-9 years old). But I was thinking about how much Madalynn enjoys talking to me about books, and wasn't that the best thing I could ever give her - a love of books!?! So I'm going to start a reading journal between Madalynn and myself. I thought we could take turns picking books to read and write each other letters in the journal about the stories. I might kick myself in the next few months for starting this, but hopefully she'll be excited and we can stay connected this year through books. Let's just hope they're not all Magic Tree House books...and I hope Mary Pope Osborne isn't reading this...
A couple of my friends mentioned that I hadn't updated about my class lately...let me just say, you asked for it! I don't know if I'll be able to stop once I've started. :-) My class this year is so wonderful. I'm not trying to brag by any means, but I was definitely blessed with the best 1st grade class at Henry. They are little angels! (Well, most of the time.) My boys are totally wiggly and funny. They make noise ALL THE TIME! I have no idea why. Boys are a complete mystery to me! But I love them. They make me smile. My girls are also very sweet. They've been having a hard time with trying to tell everyone what to do (which reminds me of a story I've heard about myself in 1st grade - it has something to do with me bossing the ENTIRE class around), so we've had lots of talks about how to "just take care of yourself" and not worry about anyone else.
The other really fun thing about my class is that they are really bright. Very smart. All of them. They just "get it," and it's so fun to watch. You can literally see little light bulbs going off in their heads. The other day I was teaching them a new math game and sweet little A said, "Mrs. Teal. I know why you're teaching us this game. The point is for us to find all the combinations of 7" all matter-of-factly. And she was absolutely right! I was totally sold out by a 6-year-old. Another day I was telling them a story problem in math about how I was eating peas and carrots for dinner, and one little girl yelled out, "We know this is not true because you HATE peas!" She was also right, but it totally ruined my story problem set-up.
I was also out one day a couple weeks ago, and when I came back this note was on my desk from M:
Hi Mrss. Teal. I hope you are fyling bedr because evre day we have a very bisy day in frst grad. I rile mist you Mrss. Teal. You know Mrss. Teal beying sik isint so bad at all because you get tv and brekfist in bed but to sum peeple its not vere fun. I will see you soon. You are the best techr in the school I cud not have a nuther.
Then there was a picture of me (rosy cheeks included) at the end with a speech bubble that said, "Sik is sad."
Seriously?!? How could you not love this job!!!
I haven't posted in awhile - my apologies. School has been busy and I had a bit of a rough go for a couple of weeks. But now I have something fun to talk about - OU football!!!
We spent this past weekend in Bartlesville and Norman. On Friday we went to visit my mom at the high school and my dad at his new office. While we were at the high school we got a quick tour from my mom. That place has really improved since I left. I'm so jealous! Then we headed to Tulsa to eat lunch at The Brook with Jonathan's dad. That evening we went to the Bartlesville Bruin football game with my family - I know, try not to be jealous. It was a really good game, and I enjoyed watching the poms and visiting with the sponser who was there when I coached.
On Saturday we got up early to go to Norman for the game. Jonathan and I have been looking forward to this game for a long time. One of our very first dates was to an OU/Tulsa game in Norman in 2005. It was also the weekend that a bunch of my pledge sisters got together, so they all got to meet Jonathan and witness the beginning of our relationship. (Let's just say we're very glad he survived that weekend and passed the "Theta" test.) My parents got us tickets to the game so we could go with them - thanks, mom and dad! We had a great time in Norman - especially lunch at The Mont (swirls included...mmm!) and a good game for the OU fans. I will say, I was totally surprised that TU never scored. I went into the game honestly not knowing which team would win. You just never know with the Sooners these days, and Tulsa has a great team. Hopefully they will finish off their season strong and maybe take the Conference USA title! At least that's what we're hoping in the Teal household. Jonathan was a great sport and I think he even enjoyed himself in spite of the game.
The only other thing I was disappointed about was that the Theta house wasn't open. We walked all the way over to see how it's been remodeled, but we couldn't get anyone to come to the door. I heard everything was beautiful AND that they now have a frozen yogurt machine! No fair!!! I guess I'm just glad I didn't have anything else to add to the freshman 15 I gained at OU. But I was very happy to see two of my very favorite pledge sisters - Susan and Marianne - so I quickly forgot my disappoinment. Theta love, you two! Thanks for coming to meet us. It made my weekend!
Outside the stadium
I haven't been to the stadium in 3 years...boy, have I missed it!
We got to see one of my favorite friends, Marianne, and her husband at half time. Enjoy the lovely oily face I have going on...it was a little hot. :-)
Mom and Dad showing their love for Jonathan's team
Mom and Dad at lunch
Sarah and Kylie with a swirl at The Mont
Another one of my very favorite friends, Susan, drove up from Dallas to eat lunch with us. I felt so special!!! And it was WONDERFUL to see her.
