AAAHHHHH! What a crazy week this has been! Students with H1N1, strep throat! My own ear infection! (I won't even discuss how exhausted I am!) Not to mention open houses to attend at my children's schools......it never ends!

Now, I have GOT to get on the ball with my college paperwork! I have been so focused on what I need to complete for my classroom that I have neglected to take care of my college work! Uh oh! Deadlines are caving in on me, and I need to get to work....NOW!

I taught my first science lesson today, and loved it! I was amazed by the level of thought I was able to draw out of my students today--especially those from whom I did not expect a high level of involvement. It was particularly interesting to see how those who are typically high performers seemed unable to step outside of their strictly structured and directed learning boxes to think about new concepts differently. It was a pleasant surprise to see such confidence from the kids who usually have nothing to contribute.

On a lighter note, we had several students out today--sick with whatever nasty virus is going around the classroom. We lost 2 more students at lunchtime, having to be sent home due to high fevers. By the time we made it back to the classroom, most of those left decided they were all running fevers. Someone even suggested that they must all have "swine flu" and that we'd better "evacuate". It was pretty funny to witness how quickly they could whip themselves into a complete panic! Poor babies!

Anyway, we sanitized the room by wiping everything down with clorox wipes after lunch, and then spraying the room, desks and chairs down with what I can only guess is some hospital-grade sanitizer that the school district has distributed to all classrooms. You can never be too safe, I suppose! I think I'm going to go dip myself in a bathtub full of hand sanitizer now!

Well, I began my semester of student teaching a few weeks ago on September 1. My student teaching marks a milestone for my family, as I could now be considered a "working mom" for the first time in 11 1/2 years. The kids are handling it well, but it has called for many adjustments, as well as sacrifices, on the part of my family. I just hope it is not all for nothing. The economy is so terrible that even teachers cannot find work! That student loan payment book will arrive more quickly than I want it to--I hope I get a job!

I am having a great semester so far. The teacher I am working with is talented and devoted--she is wonderful to work with! I am so blessed! I have been surprised by a some of the things I have learned about the public schools, but I am taking it all in stride...I think! It can be frustrating to continually rewrite and adjust my lesson plans to accommodate for what the students need, but I am getting some great practice thinking on my feet! I was really apprehensive the week or two before I began, but am finding that I am really excited to get to school every morning! I am loving my class!

Now if I can continue to keep up with my college paperwork deadlines and still manage to have any sort of personal life, I will be all set!