I remember when...monkeys?

Today I found out bad news. I can't go back to school until Friday. The district is really strict about letting me come back before my doctor has filled out a bunch of papers and I can't get into to see him until Thursday! Anyways, I talked to my boss for awhile this morning and we got it all figured out and no worries but I was so excited to go back. I already have all of tomorrow planned with fun activities including skittles (estimation) and a video (introduce mammals)! You know how much kids love skittles and videos!! : )

So, I went up to school to visit my room and get my computer. My room looks great! I am so lucky have a certified teacher in my classroom with my kiddos! They seem to be learning and growing so much. The room looked clean and organized (I hate it when subs leave the room a disaster). So I was walking around looking at all the work the kids had completed and some of the stuff they had hanging outside was a portrait of themselves with a little bubble saying I remember when...and they had to fill it in. I started walking down the hallway reading them all...OMG I almost started crying. All of them, "I remember when...I first meet Mrs. Knight", "I remember when Mrs. Knight got sic" "I remember when Mrs. Knight was nice" then I get to one little girl....my tears turned to laughter after reading hers.

If you read my blog you know I have one child who is quite the handful (has had to be physically removed from my classroom...she is doing much better by the way) anyways, one day she was throwing a fit and wouldn't participate, crying, being a rather large distraction to my kids during circle time. So...I said class what do you think would make K smile? They all said things like tickle her, etc. I suggested what if Mrs. Knight gets up and jumps up and down and makes monkey sounds!? (don't judge- I was at the end of my rope) K started to smile just from me saying this but was trying very hard to stay mad. So I got up and acted like a monkey, of course this worked like a charm and with in seconds I was able to continue with my lesson.

Now back to the "I remember when..." so all my kids had sad things about me getting sick and meeting me for the first time and I get to one little girl and her memory was "I remember when Mrs. Knight jumped up and down and acted like a monkey!" I couldn't help but laugh. Mind you, this is in the hallway for everyone to see!! Oh how I miss my kids!

Your'e Never to Old for Your ABC's

The ABCs of Teaching

Your job is to teach the curriculum, right? Sure—for part of the day. But when you stop to think about it, you also play a wide array of other roles every day.

Actor. You prepare for each class as if it were a command performance.
Builder. You build in the wonder, the awe, and the fascination to inspire tomorrow's engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers, politicians, and parents.
Caretaker and caregiver. Many students excel because a special person helped them along the way: a teacher.
Director. You're in charge of the whats and whens in your classroom.
Enforcer. You're the one who enforces the classroom rules.
Fighter. Sometimes you have to take a stand for what you believe is best for a child.
Giver. You give of your time and of yourself—in and out of the classroom.
Helper. Perhaps the most important help you give is helping students learn to help themselves.
Instructor. Truly, this is the heart of teaching.
Joiner. You need a support network, so you reach out to colleagues and you join professional organizations and community groups.
Keeper. You keep track of attendance, grades, milk money, hot lunches, permission slips, line leaders, library books, mittens, and much more!
Listener. Every day you listen to your students to find out what their interests are. Then you build these into your lessons.
Magician. Learning is magic. As you teach students to read, write, calculate, and investigate, you unlock the magic for them.
Nurturer. You care for your students like you would care for blooming flowers.
Optimist. You see the good things happening in schools—even when the evening news says otherwise.
Psychologist. You're a keen observer of kids.
Questioner. You ask your students thought-provoking questions; then you guide them in searching out the answers.
Role model. You let your students know that you care and that you believe in them.
Strategist. A well-planned lesson helps you get your students' attention—and keep it.
Tutor. You give your students individual attention whenever you can. You also find times when they can tutor each other.
Umpire. You live by these watch words: you're fair, firm, and consistent.
Victor. You celebrate your teaching victories, and you congratulate your colleagues on their successes too.
Writer. When you have an activity or a project that works well, you write it up and submit it to a teaching magazine like THE MAILBOX!
Xerox specialist. Who else can unjam paper, change toner, and make a ream of paper last for months?
Yourself. Your students know and love you as a person.
Zealot. You do your job with enthusiasm and energy—it's the most important job in the world!


I got this in an email from one of the teachers I work with. It was just too good not to pass along because I know how many of you who read this are teachers! This makes me miss my kids so bad. As tired as I am, it makes me very excited to get back to my little 1st grade babies.

EEK!

I have been contemplating whether or not to post this picture but since I am doing so much better and getting stronger every day I can now look at this picture with gratitude and praise that I no longer am hooked up to many machines with an oxygen mask on with swollen face and purple lips with a husband who has to wear a mask to be in the same room as me. God is good.

Award & Engagement : )

So I get on my blog tonight to have a comment from The Life of an Army Wife. (so excited, I figured out how to hotlink) She has given me an award: "You're Going Places Baby" : ) You have no idea how much this excites me. I LOVE getting awards. The point of this award is given to bloggers who you think will still be blogging about their great adventures 10 years from now, and still be reading them. : ) I am glad to think my life is interesting enough for someone to want to hang around for 10 years~ ha

Here are the rules:
1.Link back to the blogger who sent you the award.
2.Post where you would like to be in 10 years.
3.Pass this on to 10 other special bloggers.


Again, this award came from The Life of an Army Wife whose blog I just happened upon while reading another one of my friends blogs! I love bloggy friends! : ) In ten years, I will be 33 and hopefully have a kid or two. (whose names have already been picked out) and either still be working as a teacher, working at church with the children's ministry, and building my photography business, all while writing a book with my mom (something we have always said we would do) and maybe if I'm lucky a stay at home mom somewhere in there : )

The 10 bloggers I pass this onto are blogs I am almost certain I will be reading in 10 years. They are as follows:

1. Mom @ K.T.Hardy (she doesn't blog much, but its just because she has forgotten her password, she is an amazing writer and after the ordeal we have just gone through, she is going to start writing again)
2. Carla @ Carla Elizabeth
3. Ragan @ The Jameson Family
4. Taylor @ The Cokers
5. Cambrey @ Me & My Boys
6. Elissa @ Happiness Has A Violent Roar
7. Taylor @ Jimmy Choos & A Baby Too
8. Amanda @ Until Forever Ends
9. McKenna @ A New Chapter of Life
10. Andrea @ Live the Life You Love

So blog away friends : )

Also, in other news Elissa @ Happiness Has A Violent Roar (my cousin/best friend) got engaged! Her ring is BEAUTIFUL! I am so excited and can't wait to be a part of this super exciting time in her life!! Love you Lissa!!!

Before...

I was behind on bloggy world before I got sick so since I am not in the mood to write about my experience in the hospital I will write about happy times before I was sick! : )

A couple weekends ago, we had a fun weekend. Saturday night, Carla dyed my hair, (still just trying to get rid of my highlights and be natural) while the boys played the Wii. Carla meant business. And even with dye in my hair, little baby Pip loves his mommy.

Sunday, we traveled to Lake Conroe to celebrate a round of birthdays. Mine was Jan 13, Mr. Knights was Jan 26 and Kasons is tomorrow. The men went and played golf while we chilled and the house and ran some errands.

The kids didn't get out of the hot tub even though it was like 60 degrees outside, they were very content in the hot tub.

Once the men got home, they grilled and played pool. Look at the cute little daddy-son team and check out those honking huge steaks! YUMMMYYYAnd this picture I just wanted to throw in because originally this was just a picture of me and Ragan but Avery insisted she was in it as well. : )

We headed back to College Station to start our week after spending a wonderful Sunday afternoon with family...

Sign Language

I have always wanted to learn sign language. Since, I have come so close to death now, I am now determined to do the things on my list slowly but surely. I have already swam with dolphins, now I am on to learning sign language. I am currently teaching myself the song, Healer by Kari Jobe, maybe I'll get to perform it at church one day : )

Warrior Child

So I have been MIA but for good reason. I have been very very ill. This is what my facebook status was and is a good catch-up for now:

I was diagnosed with H1N1 last Wednesday, got worse as the week progressed, passed out on Friday morning and was rushed to the ER, where a team of at least 12 doctors made me stable again. I was then put in ICU to find out that I had sepsis, which is a life threatening shutting down of your organs and severe pneumonia and anemia. I was in ICU for 5 days- I am home now. Still not 100% but they say that will come with time. Thanks for your continued prayers!

Today, however, I am going to be honest. This is how I feel today.