Scrapbook Pages...

I've gotten all the pictures from Jaden and Austin's birthday party at the IF Gym done!!! Woohoo!!! It feels so good to accomplish something. Anyway, this was a great party - so much fun! The gym took care of everything: the cake, decorations, activities, invites, goody bags, thank-you cards, EVERYTHING! It was nice to just sit back and watch the kids have fun without having to worry about anything. The kids had a wonderful time playing in the foam pit and on the trampolines. I think we might have to do this every couple of years or so...

I couldn't get a couple of the pages to upload, so I'll try to get them up tomorrow (hopefully! - I'm not so good at that!)

Rough, but good day...

Today was rough.... and I mean ROUGH! In the class today there were two children that were both of their medications. I am not a big proponent of medicating children (unless absolutely necessary...) and it is necessary for these kids. We had one talking back to all adults and trying to push his limits and totally disrupting the other kids. He was saying inappropriate comments and we could not get him to stop. Meanwhile, the other boy (who is quieter) was making cat noises (not to be rude to adults or bug the other kids, just because he couldn't stop himself) he was also licking the desk and cutting up his school work when we weren't watching. Those two were a lot of work. Hopefully, they'll have their medications all figured out soon. I feel so bad for these kids, especially the second one. He doesn't want to act that way, he just doesn't know how to control himself and isn't physically able to. So sad. Anyway, these 4th graders are so much older than they should be. There was one boy talking to some other kids about how girls have periods - totally inappropriate! I was on my way over to let them know that this wasn't appropriate for the class and they needed to stop, but one of the girls told him "I don't like this conversation. I think we should talk about something else." Good for her! She is so mature for her age.

Anyway, this class has so many issues (more than what I hear from other student teachers at different schools anyway) but it will give me so much experience. I am so lucky to be with the cooperating teacher that I am! I also met the principal today. He is great. He told me (very sincerely) that he was there to help me with anything he could. Most of all he wanted me to enjoy my time at their school. He also let me know that I am teamed up with one of the best teachers he has ever seen (I've heard that from so many different people). I've never seen a principal who helps out the teachers so much. Today, the lunchroom had ran out of mac 'n cheese (don't ask me how they let THAT happen...) and instead of making the teachers sit with their students while more was made, he told them to go ahead and have their lunch and he would stay with the kids until they were all fed! Anyway, I was impressed. I think this is a great schol, such wonderful staff, and I know I will learn a great deal. Even with all these challenges, the teachers manage to make their classrooms fun and inducive for learning. I think the kids feel safe and happy there.

Student Teaching

So I've been going to the school now for just two days. It has been a lot of fun, the teacher that I am working with is WONDERFUL! For this week I'm just mainly observing and getting to know the students, school and the teachers. It has been fun, but it will definitely be challenging when I start teaching the class. It is a fourth grade class, with 29 students (very large for this area). The school is in a poorer section of town (about 60% are on free or reduced lunch). There are also quite a few special needs students in the class. There is one deaf boy (he has an interpreter, but many of the reading/writing lessons will need to be adapted), there is a couple that are ADD and on medication, another boy who is on medication for another reason - he gets difficult when he's off medication or when they are trying to change the doses around. Last week I guess he was licking the desk and eating pieces of paper off the floor, but when he is on the medication he does great and is actually a very bright little boy. It's so sad. Anyway, there is also another boy that has been in foster care for the past several years and he has recently been adopted, however he still carries quite a bit of baggage and has issues with stealing. Consequently, he can't ever be left alone in a classroom (or the last one out...).

So, anyway, there are going to be quite a few issues that I will have to work around - but it will be great experience for me. I'm actually quite excited about it! Like I said, my teacher is wonderful and the other teachers seem great as well!

Tumbling Gym

We were all invited to go down to Pocatello to go to the tumbling gym that my sister-in-law had rented out for a couple of hours. It was a lot of fun - the kids had the BEST time there!
This is a picture of Kaylee, Austin, and their cousin, Bode, playing in the big foam pit. The kids loved crawling around in this and building forts with the foam!

Look at Kaylee.... she is such a poser! She just loves to get her picture taken. She had laid down on this and then yelled over to me "Mom, take a picture of me now!" It was pretty funny.

And here she is trying to hula hoop! She thought this was so much fun. I have a funny video of her trying, but for some reason I couldn't get it to upload to blogger, oh well - the picture shows it pretty good!

And another of Kaylee laying in the foam pit trying to get out!

And here are the boys in the pit! So funny!

We all had a great time there! I met with my cooperating teacher the other day and she seems like she will be a fun person to work with. I also had talked to some other teachers that worked there and it sounds like they all think she is fabulous and that I will have a fun time with her. I start next Monday and am soooo excited, a little apprehensive as well! She has a large class (the largest ever in her teaching career) and so I know that I will have to struggle with my classroom management a little bit, but I'm sure I'll do alright - hopefully! ;) She asked me if I would be okay starting out with teaching the science and social studies... I am so excited about that, those are my favorite subjects to teach! Well, I guess that's about all for now - I'm sure I'll be back after I begin with student teaching if not before!

And here they are...

Here are the last couple of pictures from Jaden's baptism.....

I love these pictures with the white baptismal clothing.

I think this is a great photo. We gave Jaden his own set of scriptures, a scripture carrying case, a scripture highlighting pencil, and his cousin gave him a mini hymnal. He loved it all and couldn't wait to use them on Sunday in church. It was so cute, he had all three of the hymns looked up at the very beginning and was so excited to 'sing' the songs. Only he doesn't really sing, he just follows along... He seems so old and grown up now!

Jaden's Birthday and Baptism

We took Jaden to Sizzler (he gets to choose any restaurant) for his birthday dinner. He got a free ice cream soda for his birthday and he LOVED it. (In fact, he loved it so much he barely had room for any cake and ice cream at home!)

Here he is blowing out his candles. These candles were so cool beause the flames were the same color as the candles were!

Here is a picture of Guy and Jaden outside the stake center before his baptism. This is the same building where Guy got baptized!

The three kids inside the church house - Austin and Kaylee can't wait until they turn eight now - they all just love attention.

I've got some more pictures to show, but blogger would only let me upload four! I'll try to get the rest uploaded tomorrow or later tonight!
Jaden's baptism was wonderful!