Saturday, August 28, 2010

Last Weekend of Freedom...

...And I am spending it doing school projects.  Of course.

School officially starts on Monday for both of us.  I am super excited to meet all of my cute little kids.  I have a very diverse population at Pemberton Elementary School.

Population: 650 students.  Ages: 3-11.  Ethnicity(in order): African-American, Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic, and... other.  Large Special Ed Program: Blind students, deaf students, many with down's syndrome, autism, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, and things that they can't seem to diagnose.  Oh, and did I mention that a surprising number of our students are homeless?  Oh, and there is a magnet program attached to my school, too.  Which means that the students in my county who have the highest test scores come to my school to have special 'magnet' schooling (separate from the rest of the kids).


Needless to say, I have a lot going through my mind right now.  Although my school is VERY diverse, their previous test scores and behavior charts seem to be great!  I am excited to work in this school.  Here are a few photos of MY HUGE classroom:


I also started a class website.  I have heard that the parents at my school, especially magnet parents, are very involved and love reading about what's going on.  So, I am giving it a try to see how many parents actually read it:  http://pembertonmusic.blogspot.com/

Monday, August 23, 2010

Busy, Busy, Busy

Last week Josh and I both started our new jobs!  We had some in services and meetings to go to, but more importantly, we both got to start setting up our classrooms!  Neither of us have ever had our own classroom before so we are both equally excited to get them finished and get kids in them! (Pictures later this week).

This past weekend Josh's parents came for a visit.  It was a lot of fun.  Friday we went to an all-you-can-eat crab restaurant on the Chesapeake Bay... awesome.  Saturday we spent the day at the beach on Assateague Island and went to Ocean City at The Sunset Grille for dinner and drink on the harbor while watching the sun go down and listening to a live band outside...  Wow.  That was a fun day.

This week Josh and I have more in service time and have the rest of the week to prepare our classrooms.  The kiddies come on Monday the 30th.  I am SOOO excited!  My school is part magnet and part traditional.  Students in the county who score very high on their standardized tests are shipped in to my school for the magnet program.  Then I have the traditional programs as well.  My school is VERY diverse and I am really excited to teach in a new environment.  The good thing about being a teacher (other than changing the lives of children, summer vacations, winter, fall, and spring breaks) is that we get a fresh start each year.  It  seems like it won't really get old this way... which is great!

I am also starting to look into grad schools.  I am required to have my master's in 10 years, but the sooner I get it, the sooner I get paid more!  I would love to be in this online program at WVU for Special Education... it seems PERFECT!  I just have to apply and take some tests and figure out some financial stuff first.  But I really hope it works out!  Ideally, I would still be a music teacher.  I would just have this special ed background to improve my teaching for all students.  Maybe I could be a special ed teacher for a summer job?

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Salisbury Zoo

Josh and I took a little trip to the Salisbury Zoo...

This is literally the first thing I saw.  I love him (or her).
So pretty :-)
I have fallen in LOVE with the OCELOT.  The most BEAUTIFUL animal on our planet!
BIG Buffalo
Peacock... (scroll down)
...With her beautiful feathers
This bear was psychotic.  I'm not kidding... there were 'warning' signs about it.  He was pacing for hours staring at that wall.
AND... Josh's favorite: the otters.

Monday, August 9, 2010

No, Summer, Please Don't Go Away

As I sit here filling out our health insurance forms and such, I am unfortunately reminded that our wonderful summer is coming to an end and we both have to go back to work :-(


I will admit, it was definitely wonderful.  Neither one of us had to do a lick of work, we got married, we went to Mexico, we moved into our (awesome) new home in a new city, we went to the Outer Banks with my family, and we both have (great) JOBS!  So why am I complaining?

It's because I like to wake up in the morning and... relax.  I love to stretch my morning as long as possible with a pot of coffee.  I am currently doing just that.  I sit and think about my day or read a newspaper or magazine or blogs or chat with Josh.  I love eating my breakfast slowly.  Especially if it is 12-grain toast with nutella and blueberries.  Or eggs and bacon.  Or yogurt with granola and peaches.  Or a big buttermilk waffle.  If I wanted to enjoy my morning this much on a school day, I would have to wake up at 4am!

On the flip side, I am psyched to start my new job.  I am so excited to have my own room with my own instruments and my own desk.  I can't wait to meet my little kiddos and have fun.  It's going to be a great year!