Teacher Boot Camp

Belzoni (pronounced Bell-Zone-(long)a) in 1939. This is the town I'm teaching in for the summer.

Today was interesting. In the past two days I've had two entering 4th graders wet themselves in class. I tell them to go during breakfast and after lunch like the school tells me to, and then they wet themselves in class and I have to stop teaching and deal with it. I never realized how much learning I missed in school because of things other students did. These kids could have held it, if you ask me. I think they're just trying to stress out the new teacher. It's working. 

I'm already getting attached to these kids. Aukeviah hugged me when she was leaving today. I tested two of my girls and they're on a 7th -8th grade reading level (as entering 4th graders!) Christian is answering questions with confidence and being as sweet as ever. I had to move his clip today for talking out of turn. Broke. My. Heart.

These babies are amazing. They test me. I swear I will kiss someone who invents an erasable writing instrument that doesn't have lead that breaks or costs an arm and a leg (erasable pens). I seriously need about 90 erasable pens. If I have to stop teaching again because of a pencil issue, I may cry. We tried regular pencils, mechanical pencils, pens...it just doesn't work. I'm sure it can work, but its stressful for now.

We got to leave school early today and I didn't have any sessions so I came home and took a 3 hour nap. It was GLORIOUS! I was so thankful. I haven't felt that rested in a LONG time. Now if I could just see Geoffrey and Brooke and Meredith and Laura this weekend, I'd feel human again. Teacher boot camp is ROUGH! I feel like a productivity machine. 

I've blogged every single day of institute except one (the day I found out my mom was in the hospital, don't worry, she's out. That was a rough day.)  I'm actually really proud of myself. I know one day I'm going to want to look back on these posts. I wish I had more time to write about some of the deeper thoughts I've been grappling with, but boot camp doesn't work around your schedule. Ok, well I'm off to catch some Z's, I have to be up in 3 hours.