Goodbye Dread, Hello Real World

That's right, I cut the dread out of my hair. Now you know I mean business... ha ha it does kind of look silly because now my hair doesn't fit into a ponytail and... yesterday one of my students told me that I had a silly purple string coming out of my hair (I didn’t cut it high enough so the string is unraveling from my dread…gross).

I can’t believe it’s day 3 already. My first day in the classroom went smoothly, for the most part. I have 21 students in my classroom and like I said before I was scared to death that I wouldn’t be able to pronounce their names since most of them are Hispanic. But, I did fine, the kids are very willing and good at reminding me when I say someone’s name incorrectly. “MISS HEIDI THAT’S NOT HOW YOU SAY YHECELI!”… yup. They’re pretty darn cute.

The first day we had homework time while they had snack. Then we made nametags … I let them make their own. Maybe that was a mistake … as if remembering names weren’t hard enough the kids put names that were NOT theirs on their nametags. Let’s see, in my classroom I know have a BiBi, Tina, Queen Ella, oh, and my personal favorite “Mistery Hunter”. Man, to be in third/fourth grade again… after the nametags we did a “get to know you game”, and then had free time. They love their playground time. I love it to, there’s nothing like going outside and instantly sweating from the humidity ;-).

Overall, I was very impressed with how well my students behaved and how eager they are to be in the classroom. No real problems oh.. except the two MOMS that got into a verbal (and almost PHYSICAL) fight in the parking lot… over a parking spot. Yup, that’s right, the first incident report of the year was written for two parents. That was special.

Yesterday, day two, went well also. Every Wednesday we do rotations, so each volunteer/teacher was assigned a subject. I got lucky, I have math and science…(for those of you who know me, those are my two worst subjects and two subjects 90% of the elementary students in the WORLD hate). But that’s how it goes. The other rotations are Drama, Arts and Crafts, Sports/Health, and Home Economics. So, if anyone knows any good math or science games for k-5 let me know … suggestions wanted!

Hmm… my favorite story from yesterday: I was playing kickball with the kids and it was my turn to kick when one of my girls came up to me all frantic and tells me that I can’t kick. When I asked her why she told me I couldn’t kick because I was wearing high heals. When I told her I could kick in high heals she stops me again and goes “BUT MISS HEIDI YOU’LL ROLL AN ANKLE!” … I was made permanent pitcher…

Today will be the first day where I have to give a lesson, so that should be interesting. After work today I am volunteering with the Parenting class at the Community center. It’s going to be a very long day. At least 9pm isn’t TOO too late.

So, as I am sitting on the patio I am watch the lizards jump and run on the patio screen. It’s so weird! They are everywhere. Eugene (my (almost) 8 year old nephew) would LOVE it out here! This is such a beautiful area to be dropped in. I thought living in Florida was going to be torturous, but after meeting all of the wonderful people that I have met and starting my job I am starting to rethink that… I am actually starting to enjoy it here. Hopefully this weekend I can make it to the OCEAN! Yay! Time for work ☺