End of September; 1 down, 9 to go. :)

Okay.  I'll probably tell myself this every year, but dreading something is definitely worse than just jumping in and doing it.  It's the end of September, and I'm in the middle of testing, as always.  It's going.  I'm getting there.  Next week I begin the math portion, then I have to do the reading assessments.  I'll get it done.  I have in the past, and this is no different. 

Tomorrow the powers that be at the school will add student #30 to my classroom.  One that speaks no English, just to add a whole new facet to my daily teaching.  I am by no means the biggest class in the school, nor is this the biggest class I have ever taught (34 while teaching Basic French- oh the stories I could tell you about that...), but any number past 26 or so is a challenge.  Seating plans are limited, you're not able to speak personally to every student every day, and the quieter/complacent students receive less than their fair share of attention, as needs tend to be greater with greater numbers. Eh, it is what it is.  *shrug* I teach, I try by best, I try not to worry overmuch about what I cannot control.  I advocate for my kids and get the help they need that I cannot always provide. 

This school year also marks Erika's 3rd year in daycare.  She is growing so fast.  She now talks about her friends at "school", being excited about certain activities that are coming up, and has a steel-trap memory.  I can mention something briefly before I drop her off in the morning, (such as getting groceries after school) and she will automatically recall it when I pick her up.  Such a smart cookie.  She's 90% potty trained now, with only help overnight, eats everything in sight, and is ready for the transition to toddler bed to twin. 

Enough bragging, right?  I'm just so amazed by the little girlie we have.  Ok, the reality is that mixed in to my perfect child is also times when she refuses to go to bed, I have bribe her with treats to get her shoes and coat on to leave, hates water in her eyes during bath time, and she won't let me put any pigtails in her hair. 

She's also very cheeky.
I'm so lucky.  :)

Becoming engulfed in the cloud

I am into the haze known as CAP.  I do admit I feel better, now that I've started.  My Language Arts assessment is almost completed (dictation to be done tomorrow) although I have not looked at the reading assessments yet.  In fact, the plastic has not come off the package yet. I make no apologies.  :) Let's not mention that after the administration is the tedious grading.
Today I attended a mandatory meeting for all administers of CAP in the division.  I was expecting new strategies, or changes that were to be implemented; but it was just another booklet to add to the pile and mass of PowerPoint slides of math-speak.  Grouping students, rich Math questions, strategies for assessment we've been told before.
It was a long morning.  The bag of Jelly Bellys helped immensely, as did the danish at break-time.

I got back to the school to face an afternoon of no preps and dealt with a barrage of student petty issues when I just wanted to teach. 
teach.  that's all I want to do, and it seems everything keeps getting in the way.

CAP. Enough said.

Just checking in!  It's been busy and stressful at times this week.  In the school division I work for, we have an assessment process called CAP. (Comprehensive Assessment Program) It happens every year from Nursery-Grade 6.  It's lengthy, rarely useful to me in the classroom, and very stressful, as it must be completed by the end of October.  For those unfamiliar, CAP is a testing process in the subject areas of ELA and Math in my grade.  It requires lengthy questioning (sometimes individually, mostly small group or large group), then scoring, then recording then reporting. It was already a very intensive process, then this year they added a reading assessment factor, making another individual interview necessary for each student.  Yikes.  Remember, regular teaching also must happen during this time too, in all 5 subject areas.
This CAP is the one aspect of my job I hate.  Hate is a strong word, and I am using it here.  I find the whole situation very frustrating and stress-filled.  Once I get into the whole process starting the 3rd week of September (like NEXT WEEK), starting with refresher training, the stress alleviates a bit.  Right now, I'm feeling like it's an impossible task to get done in the time that has been given. 
I've been up nights- actually, more like I wake up 2-3am ish and can't get back to sleep.  Dreading large tasks like this weigh heavily.  As I said, I get better as I get into the task and get some done... but Oct 31st is already my little black raincloud date. Yikes.  I CAN'T WAIT until November!!

So. Tired.

Wow, the 1st week back teaching kicks my butt.  I mean, physically I am just a basket case.  My feet hurt from standing/walking, my throat hurts from talking, and I am just exhausted from the exertion!  I go through this every year- it almost makes me want to just keep teaching through the summer so that I don't have to face this 2ish weeks of utter fatigue.  Almost.  ;)
There's the new factor of the healing foot this year too.  It makes it difficult to go somewhere in the school on a whim.  It means that I don't do things that aren't absolutely necessary.  I miss my friends terribly in the school, as I don't just go and have a quick chat whenever I feel like it. It's only been 2 days back, but I feel like my normal routine is disrupted. To add insult to injury,  my new room is way out of the way and in a hallway dominated by male teachers, so that it's so testosterone-heavy I find it hard to breathe sometimes.
I know it will look up.  I get that my foot will heal and I'll have the social interaction I crave, and that the fatigue will pass and me being out of "teaching shape" will get better with every day.  It's just difficult to get back into the swing of things.
I have had lots of visitors to my new locale in the school, though. Friends that know it's hard for me to travel to their rooms have popped by to say hello, and I got the best visit from some former students today that are in the next grade.  They were awesome. 
I do love teaching, and got into the teaching part very easily today.  Routines were easily laid out, and students responded positively to the structure after having a long summer break.  It's a good start with a full class of 29.  Let's see where this goes!! 

What a team.

This weekend is very low key, on purpose.  A birthday party on Friday, a get-together to the Farmer's Market and some back to school shopping with Arielle on Saturday, and some lasagna-making on Saturday night to stock our freezer. 
We make lasagnas often en masse, as making one is as easy as making 4. Then there's fodder in our freezer for those days when no one wants to cook (it happens!!).  We vary between making Rick's authentic tomato, meat, spinach and ricotta lasagna and a very popular Alfredo, pesto, chicken & spinach lasagna.  If we're lucky, we'll have a couple of each in our freezer so we have choice, and enough to give away or make for awaiting friends and family.  Going back to school next week, I'm sure there will be a lot of those days where a ready dinner is appreciated.  So this was our Saturday night:

Four lasagnas ready for our freezer.  Rick's lasagnas are very popular at friend and family gatherings...everyone raves about them.  When we put them together, he does the majority of the prep work (sauce, layer ingredients, etc), Rick and I assemble together, and I clean up.  Everything. Those that know Rick know that he is not a "clean-as-you-go" chef.  When he leaves the kitchen, it's like a tornado hits it.  There is inevitably a dishwasher full of dishes, in addition to pots and bowls and pans to clean.  *sigh* So this was my Saturday night, AFTER the lasagnas were done:

Just a small amount of the cleaning. (dishwasher, floors and counter were already finished) Everyone raves to Rick when he gives/makes his lasagnas for them, but remember those behind-the-scenes people; we're a team.  :)