First Full Week

This week has certainly been interesting in terms of student teaching. 

I was set to take over on Monday as the full time teacher for all of my coop's classes. 

And yet Monday morning found me still battling my cold. 

Do you have difficulties calling a sick day? 

Deciding to call in sick, especially on my first full day as teacher

{difficult}

but I feel like I learned a lot from my experience

the importance of detailed lesson plans

the need to be flexible

the importance of health

and the amazing power of sleep, juice, and tea. 

Otherwise, my first week teaching full time went splendidly! 

Of course, I'm still figuring some things out

classroom management

activities that students enjoy

time management

flexibility and spontaneity

but on the whole, I survived the week and still want to keep teaching.

Always a plus, right? 

Yesterday, I got a little blast from the past when I went down to the gym during my prep.

Remember back in elementary or middle school when the traveling roller skates came in for gym class? My students have been roller skating all week, and it sounded too fun for me not to take a few minutes to see how skilled my students were on skates. 

Some more so than others....

And somehow, I managed to find myself pulling on a pair of skates, and skating around with some of my students. 

Hopefully, that won some brownie points that Miss Fischer was cool enough to go skating! 

I know some of the kids were excited I joined in.

I'm looking forward to doubling dating tonight with my cousin and bestie, Hannah, when she and her boyfriend Adam arrive in Ames. It's been a long time since I've seen her, and I'm looking forward to some girl time and catching up. The weekend also promises a Pizza Cook off, dancing at Outlaws, and a little shopping around Ames. Stay tuned for some pictures; I'm sure they'll be plenty!

Sunrises

5:50 alarms come early.

And when I first started student teaching, 

getting up was REALLY HARD.

I was usually on the road before the sun was up,

and often not reaching home until dark. 

 However, as the weeks have passed, I've grown to appreciate mornings.

Mostly because of beautiful sunrises.

There have been mornings I've wanted to turn around

just to get a camera.

Like yesterday morning, 

when the rising sun was partially covered by a heavy layer of fog.

It honestly looked like an African sunrise,

one where everything is a little hazy because of the heat.

Kicked myself for not bringing my camera. 

The picture on my phone does not do it justice. 

So this morning, since today wasn't my day to drive the carpool {thanks Misha!}

I made sure to bring my camera along. 

And I was rewarded with a clear morning 

and a brilliantly colored sky. 

Taking pictures from a moving car, 

through the drivers side window

with multiple obstacles flying by that block your view

 make setting an amazing shot a bit tricky.

So while these aren't exactly amazing pictures I'm featuring, 

they still capture the essence and beauty of the rising sun.

Check out some of the gorgeous colors!

I guess what I appreciate about seeing the sunrise so much

is the constant reminder of God's presence everyday.

His amazing grace

His unabounding love

His breathtaking creations

His constant presence

It's all evident in a sunrise.

And sometimes, I just can't help but stare out my window, amazed

at the daily unique and changing sunrises.

 

It's not a bad way to start off my day.

Optimisitcally

Faithfully

Filled with beauty and life

and the promise of what's to come

 "Every day is fresh, with no mistakes in it."

Productivity Rocks

I love evenings when I'm super productive.

These kind of evenings are especially great considering student teaching

Hopefully, I can keep this productivity up when I'm writing lessons and grading papers 

later in the semester. 

A fun first teacher moment from today though...

I got my first note/artwork from a student! 

SO THOUGHTFUL! 

I had to hide my grin behind a book. 

I think I was more grateful than anything else to see that the students seem to

be taking to me as a friendly person, and not just a stranger to the classroom. 

Let's hope this continues when I start to teach. 

For now, I'll keep trying to remember their names, so I can get reactions like this:

"Woah, how do you know my name?!" 

Seventh Graders - There's never a boring moment. 

As for productivity, check it out

Tonight, I:

~ went to the gym and worked out {hello resolution!}

~ made a cherry pie for myself! 

~ caught up with my Dad on the phone

~ made my lunch for tomorrow

~ downsized and froze extra lasagna

~ did a load of laundry (produced CLEAN money instead of dirty money)

(and some shiny hairpins - guess I missed a pocket...)

~ showed

~ caught up on some of my favorite blogs

And it's only 9:30!

 

{oh, and justahappylittlethought - tomorrow is THURSDAY!}

{we're so much closer to the weekend!}

First Day Fun

Today was the first day of the spring semester.

My first day of student teaching too.

Despite being nervous this morning, the day worked out well. 

My first day was not too exciting, since I spent the day observing classroom routines, getting to know the students, and acquainting myself with additional course materials.

And after my first day, I got to spend a little time in the kitchen.

I made lasagna, which might have turned out better if I had used a 9 inch pan, 

instead of a 9x13 inch pan. 

However, it still turned out  (just not as meaty).

 Here's my recipe (which happens to be the FIRST new recipe from my 101 in 1001 list)

Beef Lasagna

18 oz pkg lasagna noodles

3/4 lb ground beef

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon crushed dried oregano leaves

1 Tablespoon parsley flakes

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 6 oz can of tomato paste

3/4 cup water

1 egg, beaten

1 12 oz carton of cream cheese

1 c shredded mozzarella

Cook noodles as package directed. Add cold water until noodles can be handled. 

Lift out, don't drain.

Lightly brown beef. Add garlic, onion, salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Simmer 5 minutes. 

Mix together egg and cottage cheese.

In greased, 9 inch baking pan, spread layers of 1/4 meat sauce, 1/2 noodles, 1/4 meat sauce, 1/2 cottage cheese and 1/2 mozzarella cheese. Add another 1/4 meat sauce, remaining cottage cheese, mozzarella, then noodles and finally meat. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and enjoy!

Mmmmm..... delicious!

In addition to lasagna, I made a strawberry/rhubarb pie for my friend Seieroe's birthday. 

(NOT a new recipe, but one I hope to feature here someday soon)

I took it over to his apartment, and as usual, found it unlocked, 

which made it easy to leave the surprise birthday pie

However, I also came back from my little birthday errand with another, tall, thin friend. 

Meet John Wayne.

Charming, isn't he?

Last year, when I lived next door to Seieroe and the boys, my roommates and I would periodically steal John Wayne for movie nights, mostly just because we could

or even to help create a little holiday spirit.

 

 Beautiful, isn't he?

 And so full of Christmas cheer!

Amazing what finals week can do to our imaginations, right? 

 So, as to ensure that I get my pie pan back, 

John Wayne gets to stay at my house for a few days. 

I don't think he'll mind, do you?

 

Hope everyone starting classes this week has a successful first week!