News at Home: What a Week!
This was a WEEK. I mean it was LONG. I was JAM PACKED. It was EXHAUSTING. It had some GREAT moments and some seriously FRUSTRATING ones. And it’s OVER!!
So I believe I mentioned last week that we had to pack up our entire classroom because my school is remodeling this summer. Technically we can use these tiny boxes the district provided for our things and leave them at the school… but here’s the catch (or numerous catches really):
- The boxes cannot be damaged in any way – don’t write on them, tape them, crush them, tear them. If we do, we have to pay the district for them!
- The people moving these boxes and anything else we leave in the school does not care about our stuff. They have a record of losing items and damaging them. They are not held responsible for these damages/losses. So we have to be willing to eat that loss if it happens.
- Previous schools that have remodeled have come back to find things stolen out of locked cabinets — the school is left wide open while crews are working and no one is monitoring our things. So if it’s not damaged or lost, it could be stolen. Again, not their problem if it happens.
Needless to say, with that information, I was not willing to leave my items behind. 90% of my classroom I have purchased, made (or my mom or husband made for me) at my own expense and with my time. I’ve easily spent upwards of $5k on my classroom… probably closer to $10k. And I’m supposed to leave it to such shitty care? And potentially be expected to PAY for damage to boxes that are quite horrible in the first place?!
So yeah, another teacher and I went in on a storage unit located about 4 minutes from the school. IF the school is open to us by August 4th, it’s costing us $75 a piece. If it’s not… it’ll be $100 each. And that doesn’t even begin to consider the time expense of packing up and moving an entire classroom. We got the storage on Monday and loaded a bit in… working until 6pm. Tuesday we made another run, working until 6pm. Wednesday I stayed at the school to finish most my packing up until 9pm (and had to buy 4 tubs from Walmart to finish packing my things). Thursday we worked until 8pm finishing loading all our things into storage. So yeah, it was a long exhausting week. And every time I loaded stuff up, I got pissed off. And I’m trying really hard not to think about the fall when I have to unpack it all and setup my room.
To give you an idea of how much we had – this is just our PERSONAL items that we’ve purchased or made ourselves – here’s a couple pictures:
Monday was our field day – and it RAINED. To be honest I was kind of relieved, because field day is hot and crazy. Instead we had one hour of games and then the rest of the day in the classroom watching movies and hanging out. It stopped raining around lunch time, so we went out to get snow cones – half my class brought money, the other half didn’t. So I spent $40 on snow cones (but the vendor gave me a free one because he thought it was too sweet). And then I let the kids play at the playground for an hour. So that was good.
Tuesday was semi normal 🙂
Wednesday was a LONG day because it was also Kindergarten Graduation. We have a whole program – the kids have lines and sing three songs – and they we present them with their certificates of continuation (AKA diplomas) and any awards they’ve earned. It’s a long, busy morning – but then a LOT of them go home and it’s an easier day… in theory. I had four kids who CHOSE to stay at school instead of going home with their parents because they didn’t want to leave me. I know, it’s a compliment. But I wanted them to go home so I could get work done. I ended up with 8 kids for the day, though, which wasn’t bad at all. There were lots of tears from parents and lots of really sweet words. Lots of requests for me to teach first grade LOL! Not gonna happen 🙂
Thursday I honestly don’t remember. I spent most the day giving the kids jobs to do in the classroom so that I could get finished packing. They helped pack and clean and all kinds of things. They are great helpers – as long as the task isn’t too hard for their age. Oh and we had our year end party! There was this hilarious moment where I’d given the kids the job of removing the ten frame tiles I have on the floor. I keep them in place with some heavy duty rug tape. Well, they got the ten frame tiles up and then got their feet stuck on the tape. It was like flies on fly paper. HILARIOUS and I didn’t get it on video. They were falling all over the place and out of their shoes and everything. I just sat down and laughed for a minute (they were having fun). And then I had to go help them, because they literally couldn’t get off. I picked them up off the tape and then we rescued shoes. Moments like that are why you haven’t lived until you taught kinder 🙂
Friday was totally bitter sweet. I’m so ready for summer, but it seriously SUCKS to say goodbye to the kids. You spend 9 months with them and then you have to give them back – sometimes to never see them again. And they were super emotional too because in the past week they’d watch their classroom disappear. I’ve never had to pack up like this before school lets out and I really underestimated the impact it would have on them. It’s like, we’ve been telling them it’s the last week and then they come to school on Friday and I’m completely packed. The room is empty. Nothing is one the walls. And when you talk it almost echoes. My sweet AU baby stood in the middle of the room holding his folder and crying because the basket he put it in every morning was gone. I had to hunt down a blue basket so he could put his folder up (and I literally gave it back to him like 5 minutes later and he was fine). I tried to warn them, but they just didn’t get it. One of my girls fell asleep after lunch – we were watching Peppa Pig – and when she woke up she started crying. She didn’t relax until I promised to hold her hand until she felt better… I didn’t let go of her hand until she went home (2 hours later). Every time I tried to reassure her that she was doing great and strong she clung to me and started to cry again. And that’s just two of many who just cried on me and clung to me like… well, flies on fly paper! It was a super emotional day, because of their reactions. And I got so many emotional messages from parents… needless to say, I shed some tears…
And then went out for celebratory drinks at 3pm… the exact moment I was allowed by the school to leave! I had all my shit done 15 minutes before and I just sat on my rolly chair spinning in circles as fast as I could for the last 15 minutes watching the clock tick down.
and OMG I’ve already written a book in this post and I’m not done! So Friday night my brother and his boyfriend took me out for my birthday (which was Saturday the 9th). We had sushi and I accidentally ordered too much food. I ordered this soup that I thought was a cup but turned out to be a GIANT bowl. I’ll be eating it for dinner all week. Then my brother came over to stay the night because Saturday was Franky’s graduation!
Y’all want to know how to feel old? Turn 1 year older on the SAME DAY your step-son graduates from high school! It was a good ceremony – only 2 hours! Yay! and the salutatorian gave a kick butt speech. She’s going places and in just those couple minutes, I found myself really rooting for her. Everyone else was, well, graduation speeches 😉 I took tons of pictures (of course), and how cool… I can embed my Instagram post (you learn new things every day!).
Anyway, I’m looking forward to doing next to nothing today! I need a day to just chill!
Blog News
COYER started yesterday too! I was pretty much absent – but I think (hope) everyone understands! I had told Michelle that I would probably be, so she was of course amazing and kicked everything off with a shout out GIF post for my birthday. Gotta love her!
I do plan to kick COYER’s butt this summer… starting today with our kick off Twitter party! Can’t wait 🙂
I also plan to go into blog overdrive this week – lots to do to recoup lost progress this past month. Looking forward to it though!
#FitReaders Update
This week was BAD fitness wise. I mean, I got in tons of exercise via moving. But I also ate like SHIT! Not a lot of food, but almost every bite I ate was wrong! It was eating what I could get easily because I was too busy to care. And then it was drinking. But it was one week and I only gained a couple pounds. I figure weeks like this will happen and I’m not beating myself up over it. I’m just ready to refocus on my healthy choices, starting today.
I supposed to get this damn boot of on Wednesday, so yay! Then on Friday I leave for my fitness retreat. I can’t wait and I”m going to be seriously pissed if my doctor says I can’t go. And I will still go. I paid too much money and have been pushing for this moment too long to not go. But I won’t over do it, if he says I can’t.
I have so many fitness related goals for this summer, and I’m ready to get them started though! I want to take a Latin dance class (haven’t found one yet). I want to do some rock climbing. I want to do kick boxing. I want to get my running time down. I want to potentially take some fitness swimming classes. I’m super psyched to have the time to spend on my fitness. I’m also considering taking a turbo kick instructor certification class. I love Turbo Kick and think I could be a decent instructor. Maybe moonlight as a fitness instructor. How our lives can change in a short time!
Of course, all this begins with the boot coming off. So fingers crossed for Wednesday!
Last Week on the Blog
- [4 Jun] Just a Few In Death Again!
- [4 Jun] Witness in Death by J.D. Robb ★★★★
- [4 Jun] Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb ★★★★½
- [4 Jun] Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb ★★★★
- [5 Jun] Task It Tuesday! ~ Working on Goodreads, Kindle & Amazon Wishlists #Taskittues #bloggiesta
- [6 Jun] Accidentally Dead by Dakota Cassidy ★★½
- [6 Jun] #TBBAsks ~ May (Just a little late)
- [7 Jun] Devils Unto Dust by Emma Berquist ★★★★
- [8 Jun] Berls’s #COYER Big Summer Bash Sign Up!
- [8 Jun] This #COYER is a MONSTER! Here is what Michelle plans to do…
- [9 Jun] #MyTBRList June 2018 Winner! Which book did you want me to read this month?
- [10 Jun] Sunday Post with Berls | What a Week!
- [10 Jun] Change is coming – bookish/blogging news ~ WIR & TSP
Coming Next Week From Me
Sunday
Sunday Post with Berls
Monday
Just a Few Turning Books! #Review
Tuesday
Just a Few Twenty Sided Sorceress #review
Task it Tuesday #taskittues
Saturday
Books from Kinderland: Teaching with Love and Logic
Wow! What a great but Crazy week! While my challenges are different than yours, I can relate to the crazy feelings. Plus my boy is graduating 8th grade on Thursday. *sobs* Your summer fitness goals sound amazing! I love how varied and fun they are. I need to shake it up once I get back from vacation.
Happy Birthday! xo
Oh wow, high school! I get the sobs!
I’m excited to have time to do some different things this summer, I’m thinking of getting class pass so I can try out a variety of places too. I think shaking it up and keeping it interesting has to be key to keeping going.
Thank you Jen!! Have a great week 🙂
Take some chill time, girlie! You *NEED* it!! Smile, breathe…it’s all good. 🙂
I’m with you on feeling old…Sky turned 20! TWENTY!!! I have a 20 year old! How did that happen??? LOL But you’re NOT old (neither am I despite being much older than you!).
Happy Monday! love & {{{hugs}}}
Hahaha what are these kids doing to us?! I agree we’re not old. They are just hitting these milestones with incredibly young mothers 😉 Happy Monday, hope you had a great day and start to a great week! 🤗
What a week you had! The last day of school is always emotional with the younger kids. The older ones are just eager for school to get out! (And so are the teachers!) Even though I never taught K, you’ve written about it so vividly that I can see it.
Happy birthday, and happy vacation. I hope you have some wonderful plans for the summer. And best of luck with your foot — may it heal up soon!
So true, the older kids are not as attached or sentimental as the little ones. But I’m ready lol! I’m enjoying my break so far and eager to get this boot off. Wednesday *fingers crossed*
Thank you for the birthday wishes, it was a great birthday 😁have a great week!!
So totally not cool that they don’t have a better process for that! Makes me happy that school is out already here. What a pain!! Teachers really aren’t paid enough. I hope it goes well in the end! I did COYER one year, but I have really backed off of any challenges or anything because life is always so busy these days. I’ll have to think about joining in this time around. Hope you have a great week!
It makes me so angry, every time I think about it. It’s just wrong, but as you say, par for the course in this system that underpays and undervalues teachers 😐
I totally get that! You can make thus COYER pretty much whatever you want, so maybe it would work for you.
Have a great week 🙂
Happy Late Birthday! Your week sounds so stressful, I hope you had a cold strong drink afterwards. It brought tears to my eyes reading about the Little ones missing you. I tried to send my kids teachers special gifts. My daughter’s Pre-School teachers started crying when they saw their gift and it made me cry. I’m really going to miss them just like your kiddos will miss you. It sounds so ridiculous that the school is expecting you guys to do all that.
I hope this week is a little less stressful.
It’s already infinitely less stressful 😁 and yes, I had a few good drinks lol!
I received some really sweet gifts as well and it brought tears to my eyes as well. It’s difficult, even if I’m ready for summer, to say goodbye.
I hope you’re having a great week!!
What a crazy, busy and emotional week for you. And I can picture you spinning in the chair counting the minutes until time to go:) Happy Birthday!
Lol it was the BEST moment 😂 Thank you Laura! Hope you are having a good week!
Wow, it sounds like your week was crazy. What a rollercoaster. I hope this week is calmer for you!
It was, but man this week is already night and day! So calm and relaxing 😁 I was ready for this break too!
Oh, my heart goes out to your students having to leave you! I love that you had that close of a bond with them. <3 I wish you could have gotten a video of their sticky situation. Ha ha.😂
What a s#itty deal with the classroom storage. A teacher's personal expense for classroom items is already astronomical without having to pay for safe storage, too. I hate the way teachers are treated in this country. My hat is off to you for being so dedicated. 😘
Congratulations to Franky, and to you for helping him navigate the crazy teen years successfully! Thanks for sharing the ohoto; you are looking great! I hope you get your boot off and your fitness getaway goes as planned. Enjoy your week. At least it will be way less stressful. 🌞
I can’t imagine not being close to my kids; I don’t know if it’s because of their age or just the kind of teacher I am, but by the end of the year we’re always a family 😁 I wish I could have too, it was hilarious!
Thank you, I couldn’t agree more. It infuriates me and I sometimes wonder if I’ll make it in education. It’s where I belong but it’s so hard to be so underpaid and under appreciated.
What a day! I can’t believe he’s graduated. And thanks, I hope I get it off too!! I’m already having a way less stressful week 😁
I hope the remodeling goes well at the school. What a pain about having to store your entire classroom stuff or risk it being damaged or stolen. I hope you can get back into the classroom on the earlier date so it doesn’t cost you as much. 🙁 The end of the school year is always bittersweet, isn’t it? Sending you big hugs, Berls. My daughter still have this week left before she’s done. Her teacher will be teaching kindergarten next year, and so my daughter has been coming home with stuff the teacher is giving away that she won’t need anymore (lots and lots of books, among them). It’s been interesting to see what my daughter comes home with each day. LOL
Congratulations to your stepson on his graduation! I know you and his dad must be so proud.
I hope you have a great week, Berls!
Lol I sent my kids home with lots of stuff too… Because I didn’t want to pack it 😁 I figured they could use books and crayons, right?!
Thank you. We are so proud of him. Now to see what he does next 😁have a great week!
I think the storage unit definitely sounds like the way to go. I’m glad you found another teacher to split the cost with as $100/person doesn’t sound too awful for knowing your stuff is safe and sound. The stuff with the boxes is just dumb. What do they expect you to do? I’m glad the year ended and hopefully you’ll have a chance to breathe! You asked in your comment about how old the Tornado is – he’s 8 and just finished 2nd grade. The big real Space Camp is for 10+ but they also have a day camp where they do a lot of the same stuff for younger kids. Have a great week!
Wow! 8 already and finishing 2nd grade! I feel like I remember when he was in Kinder and it doesn’t feel that long ago. Time flies! Space camp sounds so cool, I know he’ll love it.
I agree, the storage was the way to go. Infuriating? Yes. But I have peace of mind about my stuff. And I’m not paying for lost items or broken boxes.
I’m already relaxing and enjoying a chance to breathe 🙂 thanks!! Hope you’re having a great week!
Wow, what wild and crazy week. I hope this week gives you some much-needed downtime!
Thanks! So far I’m already enjoying doing NOTHING 🤣 I needed a break after all that. Hope you’re having a great week too!
Glad you had a great birthday! How on earth did you fit all of that into one week!! That is a lot of stuff you both acquired for your classes!
Thanks Stormi! I seriously don’t know, it was a LONG WEEK! lol! Hope you’re having a great week 🙂
Seriously how horrible is that they can steal and damage your items and it’s your fault? That is so shitty. Sorry to say it but it is. Ughh that is frustrating, glad you got a storage unit, I would have also. Congratulations on the graduation! Have a great week!
Mary
I know! It infuriates me every time I think about it. Very typical of the teaching profession though – we are so underpaid and overworked… Etc.
Thank you, Mary! I hope you have a great week too!
happy late Birthday! What is COYER I keep seeing that pop up all over but my google skills are failing me.
Thanks Hilary 🙂 it’s a reading challenge that Michelle and I host (stands for Clean Out Your E Reads). You can get all the details at coyerchallenge.com 🙂 it’s not too late to join us!