dang difficult

These are my keys at work.

The other day we went outside for "extra" recess/snack for no reason other than it was really pretty. We live in Texas, these days don't last long, when it's a beautiful we go outside. I'm the teacher I make the rules.

Anyway, my keys were sitting on the picnic table outside and this convo went do:

Student A: Ms. Landin why do you have an 'n' on your key chain?

Me: It's not an 'n' it's a 'u'.

Student A: Ohh, why do you have a 'u' on your key chain?

Me: Well, it's going to be the first letter of my new last name!

Student B (sweet little struggling reader who I just adore): What's your new name going to be?

Me: Mrs. Urbanovsky

Student B: WHAT? Ms. Landin! That's not a 'u' that's an 'R'!!

She's totally right. It is.

All I could do was laugh and hug her.

and remind her that "'ur' says /r/ like nurse...but that surely went in one ear out the other

And that my friends is why it's so dang difficult to learn how to read English.

And also why my heart swelled 3 times it's normal size when my sweet little "student B" recognized so quickly why that didn't make sense.

Thus being reason 3029 why I love my job.

Hope something rewarding happens for you today!

Almost Friday! WOOO!

A is for Awesome People

I'll make this short and sweet today.

Today I am very thankful for specialist.  The awesome people that help me do my job.

I've said before I have the best job in the world...and most days even though it can be tiring and busy, it's actually a pretty easy job (or comes easily to me anyway). Today though, is a different day. Something I've never had to do before.  I have this sweet little one in my class and from day one I have noticed that something wasn't quite right. After months of documentation today is the day we are going to sit that child's parents down and tell them point blank.  Hearing what we have to share I'm certain will be very hard to take in. I am SOO nervous y'all. I feel like I may be heading to tear central and well, crying at your job is just not that professional!

I am so thankful I don't have to do this alone and those specialist will be there to help!

Luckily, HH is on the schedule for this afternoon and it's not coming a minute too soon. In fact, I wish I had this in my lunchbox to calm my nerves! 

A side note from the teacher:
Dear Parents,
Take some time to compare your child and their behaviors to other children their age. Do this from the time they are young! If you think something might not be quite right, it probably isn't. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, don't excuse behaviors not typical of others their age just because you think they might be the smartest kid you've ever met or the most well behaved. Be honest with yourself.  If you have concerns ask questions, get opinions, see a pediatrician. Don't let their kindergarten teacher be the first to bring this to your attention. The earlier you get these things under wraps the better off your child (and you!) will be.
Sincerest regards,
 Ms. Landin


Okay, off my soap box.

Lesson Learned...

My team is not doing so hot right now. Sad year for those Red Raiders...

Last week at school, we had some gentlemen from the fire department come for a visit. You can read about that here. As a thank you my class collected snacks, treats, and Halloween candy for the men at the station to enjoy. As I was going through candy this morning (taking out a few pieces I knew the firefighters wouldn't want, you know snicker's, m&ms, reese's - surely firemen don't want those right?) I find this....

See something wrong with this picture?

See...the school I work at is in a very affluent neighborhood...affluent and mostly Asian.  Bless their hearts, they don't know much about living here in the good ole U. S. of A.

It's the thought right?

After further review, I decided those firemen might like m&m's and snickers after all...even if they are from February 2011... Lesson learned: Don't steal from kindergartners trying to give to community helpers.

This does not however mean I can not borrow snacks from them. Come on, no kindergarten needs all 5 malona cookies or an entire bag full of chex mix. I'm just doing my part to keep child obesity at bay. 

J is for Job

I thought in the spirit of the month I would discuss a few things I couldn't live my life without. All the things I am most thankful for...and let me tell you, this list could go on and on (and on).

J is for job. I am so SO thankful for my job. I have the best job in the world. It's true. Most days I can't even believe those suckers pay me. (but then there's days where I feel I should get at least a 95% raise...luckily those are few and far between)

I could tell you everything I love about my job but really one word sums it up. Summer Kids.

Aren't they the cutest? I'm especially thankful that this year my class is full of angels. (some of those angels just need those horns to hold up their halo)

Y'all, this is my dream job! Literally. The job I have wanted since I was 8. I am so thankful to have scored a job at this incredible school, in this incredible neighborhood, and an awesome team of teachers to boot. When I graduated 4 years ago it was h.a.r.d to find a job (still is) there is no doubt that I got really lucky and I am forever thankful for that.

And yes, summers are a HUGE added bonus.