Monday, August 25, 2008

"Fearless" Curious George Strikes Again

By now, you probably have a good idea of how adventurous Emmerson is. Do you remember this post? Since then, we have added to her list of nicknames-Fearless. She is hardly afraid of anything, which also includes spankings from her mom and dad. That is one strong-willed child.

This video clip was taken last Saturday morning. Let me set the scene for you.

Emmerson likes to roll her high chair into the living room. She can do it even if the wheels are locked. She had just done this and I didn't think anything of it because she does it all the time for her own amusement. I was sitting in one of our cozy living room chairs and was reading a magazine or looking at something else. I can't remember. The next thing I knew, I looked up and saw Emmerson sitting ON TOP OF the tray of her high chair. "OH MY GOODNESS!!!" was the first thing that came out of my mouth. I immediately jumped up because I thought she would fall at any minute. She didn't. I put her safely back on the floor and wouldn't you know it, two seconds hadn't even passed before the little booger started trying it again.

So this time I grabbed the camera.








That girl...she amazes me. Fearless, I tell you.

I'm Baaaaaack!

That's right. I'm alive!! (Thanks to all THREE of you that have noticed I've been gone.)

I have been awakened from the dead....sort of. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a zombie-like state once I get home from school.

I had forgotten how long it takes me to get into a routine after being out all summer. No wonder my fifth graders can't remember what a VERB is in the second week of school. No wonder they forgot that you just can't get up out of your seat whenever you feel like it. No wonder they forgot that they have to say "Yes, ma'am" and "No, ma'am", even if most of them have been required to say it at school from kindergarten up to the present. No wonder they've forgotten that you just can't YELL OUT the answers.

So what do you do when you forget about those things?

You have to relearn them.

And that's what we've been practicing since school started two and a half weeks ago...routines and procedures. Of course, we've thrown in lessons and homework and things of that nature. I started that on the third day of school. I, myself, am finding it difficult getting back into grading papers and sorting paperwork and the like. Sigh. Such is the life of a teacher. Our work is never done.

I've got two pretty good classes this year. I can tell that they'll be a lot easier than the ones I had last year. Let's just say that at the awards ceremony at the end of the year, last year's group was described by the P.E. teacher as the "most spirited" group they'd had since they've been at the school (five years). I'd have to agree. I remember when they started out as second graders. They were definitely "The Unshushables."

I digress.

Since I've had trouble getting back into a routine, I haven't had much time to blog. That would definitely explain why my last post was on August 12th. Sorry. NO TIME!!!

I also haven't really had much exciting news to share or write about. I guess I need to work on gathering up some stories for future posts.

I do have one video that is uploading this very moment and will be soon be ready to share. You're gonna love it.

Until next time...

~Shannon

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

I've Got Some Catching Up To Do...

....but I'm afraid I won't have a ton of time to do it right now.
Yes, friends, school is back in session. And I'm plain.WORN.OUT. (That's for extra emphasis, but it's really not even big enough for how tired I am.)
My days have been filled with ENDLESS amounts of paper work, taking up money and forms, and trying to get my kids used to school and classroom procedures.
I know there's more that I can name, but really, my brain is so worn out right now that I can't think, and also because...there's no time.
Why? I have Back to School Night tonight at 6:30. That's 40 32 minutes from now. And I'm on the computer.
So maybe one of these days I can actually sit down and write a good post...when I'm not laying out on the couch after a LONG day of work (which isn't often).
Sorry I don't have time to make it funny tonight.
Maybe next time.