Summer Lovin'

(Edit: I did update the blog following this post, and it is still under construction.)

I just realized I need a new layout for the blog. The background I was using is no longer supported. I will work on that...sometime.

This week is my last week of summer. It is very bittersweet. On one hand, I am so excited to return to my job- my students, my class, my school. On the other hand, school starting means less sleeping in and being lazy. I am proud of what I accomplished this summer.

• Painted majority of the house
• Shampooed all the carpets
• Did some organizing around the house
• Rearranged furniture
• Bought and received some very nice house items
• Attended the AP Summer Institute
• Helped with district curriculum mapping
• Spent time with family and friends
• Slept, slept, and slept some more
• Finished my first graduate class with an A
• Finishing my second graduate class this week
• Moved classrooms
• Organized classroom materials
• Shopped A LOT!
• Purchased a .22 bolt-action rifle and learned how to shoot it

I could probably think of many more things I feel are major accomplishments, but this post would get extremely boring. This summer was also a summer of trials. Between jobs, finances, illness, surgeries, cleaning, organizing, and tons of stress, I am somewhat surprised I made it out alive!

I owe the little amount of sanity I have left in my body to my amazing husband, parents, and friends. They are the gravity that brings my back down to earth when I take off into an orbit of crazy thoughts. I know they will continue to be my rock as I enter the school year with two Graduate classes and a whole new load of students. Thank you will never express the true gratitude I have for the people in my life.

Things I Have Been Up To Lately

So I haven't even signed on to my blog in a while, and I am not even going to apologize. The month of May was entirely too crazy, June has shown it will probably be that way and let me show you why....

We decided to purchase a new car for me. Mine was older and putting more money into fixing minor problems seemed like it was a waste so we got a really good deal on a brand new Toyota Corolla and I am loving it. I have always wanted a brand new car!

On May 16th, I graduated from college. The week prior to graduation was extremely emotional and I spent most of my free time clinging to things that were common to my like Josh, my apartment, my friends and the little town I would soon be leaving behind. That brings me to the next adventure of May.....

I moved out of my apartment of three years. Things have changed completely from this previous post. After getting engaged, my brother having a baby, and visiting several times we decided to move back to my hometown. We are completely happy with this decision. It is a place where we are both happy, it's a good town, my parents are here, and Josh's family is close. So I moved back in with my parents while we look for a place and Josh will join me as soon as we have found a place to live.

In between buying a car, graduation, and moving I have also been searching a for a job as a teacher. It is harder than it would seem and the scary part is education is one of the more stable careers in this horrible time. However, I am not frightened as of yet because it is still early and schools often don't hire until August. 

We are also still planning the wedding. It is in almost 6 months and coming very fast. We are so excited, but still have a lot of work to do! 

So now I believe you are caught up with my life and since I am less busy now, I will try to update more frequently!

Long time coming

Two blogs in one day. I'm on a roll. Haha. 

The big topic as of late has been what I like to call "The Big Move." To where you might ask. Well, that is the big question. I graduate May 16th and I have my mind set on one place I really am dying to move.

I have an A-type personality and not knowing where I will be and what I will be doing is driving my absolutely insane. I am also very practical. My original thinking was I would apply everywhere I could and then move when I was offered a job. This plan seems the most logical in my head. My mom, amazing lady she is, mentioned just moving to place I want to live. I completely shot it down because, well, it just doesn't seem practical to me. However, I have never been able to forget that possibility. 

As time as gone on, and we are now approaching midterms of my last semester, I cannot quit thinking about how much I want to live in this one particular place. It consumes my every thought. I think of where to live, the apartments, the shopping, the eating, the schools, and everything to do with this one place. I check the job listings so much if they could track who was checking, they would think I was crazy! 

So now, the question of the hour. Is it crazy to move somewhere with no job offer because it is where I really, really am dying to live? (And by dying I am almost sure I would not be as happy anywhere else)

I do not doubt my ability as a teacher, but I am unsure of the school district so I have a hard time saying "I will absolutely get a job right away." It has nothing to do with my ability, but more the worrier in my won't let me be 100 percent sure. I am not completely negative however because I believe two things: it's a big-ish city with many options, and my career has a built in fall back, substitute teaching, which almost every school district in the nation desperately needs.

And yes, I do obsess. At this time, I can see it all so clear in my head. I have a plan for everything. So am I crazy or what?

Halfway through...

Yep! Midterms are next week! I am half way done with my student teaching. Things are moving so fast, graduation will be here before I know it. I am really excited, but so nervous. Those two feelings seem to be a trend in life lately.

Other than teaching everyday and then being really lazy on the weekends, nothing exciting is really going on. I am going to try and be better at blogging when exciting things happen so maybe I will have more to blog about. 

For now the most exciting news is in three weeks I am going to Las Vegas with three of my friends! I will post more details soon!

Blogging in Bed

So I know I've been a very bad blogger, but I never said I was a pro. Truth be told, I am still trying to find a routine for this crazy semester. So for now, blogging will be done when I have time, or when I am laying bed and can't sleep.

It's been a while since I've updated, so I will just do a brief run through of life as I know it these days...

I mentioned in my previous blog that I started student teaching. I have since then been relieving myself of other responsibilities because student teaching is a critical time in my education and it requires about 90% of my time and energy. My term as an officer in Chi Omega finished and in January I passed all my duties to my amazing lil sis. While I will remain a Senator for ASENMU, I resigned my position as Director of Student Concerns. I knew I would not be able to do the best job possible because of the time constraints so I knew it was the best thing to do. 

I am sure many people who know me are thinking I must be crazy, but....in true Jamie fashion....out with one thing means in with another. I was really lucky to be given the opportunity to teach Extended School Day. I work with a small group of students after school for eight weeks, four days a week. In addition to gaining some amazing experience, I am getting paid! Talk about a small relief!

So along with the plethora of paperwork student teaching brings, I am working on my resume and job hunting! This is probably one of the scariest things I have ever thought about in my life. Again, those who know me can probably figure out why! For those who don't, here is a glimpse into the life of Jamie! I am a planner and organizer. I like to know what I am doing, when I am doing it, and how I need to do it. So the mystery of where I will live, where I will work, and oh, the rest of my life is driving my crazy. I do realize for some people this is exciting, exhilarating and whatever other emotions it may evoke in other people. However, for me, I am just ready to know! 

I also realize there is no better time to count my blessings than now. So I do. Everyday I thank God for the opportunities I have been given, the opportunities still to come, and the life I am living. 

Now, looking back on this blog, it is mostly a rant about how busy things have been lately. But I see it as a good rant. I did get sick this week (still getting better). I may be exhausted when I leave school at the end of the day. I may get frustrated when a lesson doesn't go just right or I have to type or copy another useless paper for my notebook. However, when it comes down to it all, I am truly happy with the choices I have made and the path ahead of me.

P.S. I will now promise to try and write at least one a week. The key word in that sentence is "try!"

Slowly progressing...

I know I haven't updated in a while. I had a very good and lazy vacation. We enjoyed visiting my brother and his family in Tulsa, but I was glad to come back to Portales. When I have more time, I will post pictures from Christmas.

I started student teaching today and it was one of the best days I have ever had. I am so lucky to have an amazing cooperating teacher. I am not going into to much detail tonight because it's late, but again when I have time I will post more about my first day probably with pictures!

In the meantime,  watch Twitter for my daily updates on student teaching and, of course, life in general!

After all the waiting

After checking the mail and waiting not so patiently, I learned our student teaching placements were being sent to our permanent address. So I called my mom and have had her checking the mail and calling me for the past few days.

Today, I was taking a nap when the phone rang. I looked at it and almost did not answer because I thought I would just call her back when I woke up. Then a thought came over me....PLACEMENTS! So I answered and she said "Are you ready?" And then....

She read the letter! Ms Smith's class at James! Third grade! It is exactly what I wanted.

A wave of relief came over me becasue I no longer had to worry about where I would be or getting a teacher I didn't like. Then came the excitement, and then the nervousness. I laid in bed for a while thinking about how nervous I am to actually student teach. I know it will be fun so for now I am going to enjoy the feeling of knowing that I get to work with amazing third graders and a really good teacher!

Finally...

Today is my last day of class for this semester! It felt like a year, but in reality it was less than 5 months. I would say this is my last actual class ever! Until Grad school at least...

It's been a great semester.I love school, but I am glad it's near the end because I am at the point where I just want to do my job already. I feel like I am practicing for a game that I will someday get to play....but not quite yet, I need more practice! It can be frustrating, yet I am very grateful for the education I've received. I have had some really great experiences and learned a lot!

So now student teaching is on the horizon and I am a ball of emotions. Excited, nervous, happy, anxious...you get the point. We are still waiting for our assignments. They should be here before the 13th, but hopefully it will be sooner, as in the next few days!

I know the post is random and jumbled, but I am waiting for a casserole to get out of the oven before class! I also felt I needed to express my excitement for today! Last day of class! Yay!

Free for all...well not all!

This semester, one of my classes had an assignment to find and receive free materials for the classroom. I never knew what kind of really cool, free materials were available for classroom teachers! I was really excited about receiving teaching kits, posters, videos and more for my classroom. One problem...

I don't actually have a physical classroom...yet! If for some reason a company out there read this and thought we might be committing some type of fraud, I will have a classroom within the next year. In the mean time, these "freebies", and other school maerials, have taken over my house.

A few weeks ago I purchased an 18 gallon Rubbermaid container to store some books my mom had bought for my future classroom, and I thought "Ooh! I can put my freebies in this container too!" Ever the optimist!

After the Social Studies conference, the mass amounts of books my mom purchases(love her and books!), and the freebies, the container was overflowing in my living room. Tonight, I travled to the WalMart and purchased another 18 gallon container to spread out the books and materials from this semester! This is probably my 5th for just school materials! One of the 5 is bigger than 18 gallons! I know! But it's for a good cause!

So in case you didn't already think I am extremely nerdy for forming such a large collection of stuff for a classroom I am yet to have, I want to inform you, I am nowhere near done collecting books and more! My mom and I have this theory...When I finally get a classroom, we know we will have to purchase some things, okay, a lot of things, to set it up. But!!! We are starting to collect things you can never go wrong with so we won't have to spend as much at one time! And really how many teachers can say they started teaching their first year with a large selection of books for the classroom library, containers to organize materials, and really cool free stuff for kids to use and look at?

Well me!

No more focusing!

I just finished focus week for Methods class! It was a process let me tell you! Of all the things I learned, there is one thing that sticks out in my head....I cannot be a commuter!

The hardest part of the whole week was commuting back and forth from Clovis to Portales. I was never one to really care for driving, so 40 minutes a day, 20 up and back, was too much for me to handle.

Now with that out, I have to say it was a great experience. There is nothing like the feeling of working all week on a project and then seeing how much the students have learned by the end of the week. It is also special to know you were a part of their education and they become so attached, even though we had to be strict sometimes.

On our last day, because kids are naturally curious, we allowed the students to ask us some questions, and some of the best ones are:
"Will you be back?"
"Can we ask the principle to fire two teachers and hire you two for sixth grade?" (For the record, this student had nothing against the teachers, she just wanted us there).
"When will you be a real teacher?"
"Where will you work?"
"Will you be a doctor or something?" (This question brought several laughs, but he had a valid question. Our professors came to observe and both have their doctorate so we introduced them as Dr. so and so and Dr. so and so. He was just curious if we would be called Doctors when we graduated, but it was funny none the less).

So one step closer to being a teacher! I am excited to get student teaching started and over so I can finally figure out where the next step of my life might take me!

Wait a minute Mr. Postman

When I am waiting for something in the mail, I usually check it every other day or less because I know it will wait there for me when I have the time to go get it. Because I have to drive to the post office, park, go into the post office and check my mail all before 3 o'clock, it is hard to find time to check it! (side note: can't wait until my mailbox is at the edge of the curb or down the street a ways!)


However, I find myself trying to check it daily! Waiting anxiously, and not so patiently, for my....get ready for it....student teaching assignment! I am usually pretty patient, but this wait is going to drive me insane! They never really said when they would come, some people said before Thanksgiving and some said around the first week of December, but either way I really want to know now!

You can guarantee I will shout it from the mountain top the minute I find out! So until then, I will continue to just wait and wait and wait!