First Day of Student Teaching!

Today was my first day of student teaching, and I'm not going to say much about it now because it's too long to write, but I knew inquiring minds (aka Wendy...lol) would want to know, so just wanted to say it was FANTASTIC! I love my mentor teacher, we get along great, and we've even been able to crack jokes with each other. We've got 23 kiddos, 3 of whom didn't show up today, but we had a total blast! There were lots of the usual "first day" issues, and some things that I'm sure will continue to be issues, but overall I'm feeling very optimistc about the 9 months ahead of me! Now if only all my college classes would go this well... :)

I Love You! (or do you love me...?)

While at Mark & Wendy's this week, I was telling Anna I loved her, and asked her if she could say "I love you", and her response was hilarious. I showed Wendy, and we ended up videotaping it because it was just too cute :)

Tonight's Pretty Sunset

 

 

 

 

Mike

Yesterday, I finally got to meet Mike, a guy Tricia works with, whom she introduced me to via Facebook about a month ago. We've been talking via e-mail & phone since then, and since he was in Anchorage for a day on his way up to the slope to work, I drove up and we finally met in person and spent the afternoon together! We went out to eat and then took the tram at Alyeska up to the top, which I have never done before. It was incredible! It had started raining after dinner, but it was absolutely beautiful and sunny while we were on the mountain. All in all, it was a wonderful date! :)

 

 

 

 

The Fence

Last Saturday, Mark and Wendy and I worked together to put up a new fence/dog run for Molly at Tricia & Jerry's house...14 hours later, it was done! :)

 

 

 

 

Jacob & My Shoes

During one particular family get-together, many of us were sitting out on the porch at Mom & Dad's, enjoying the sunshine. I curled up in one of the chairs with a blanket as the wind was a bit too chilly! Jacob saw this as the perfect opportunity to steal my flip-flops from under the blanket and go bury them in the sandpile! It was about 2 hours before I finally saw them again, after convincing him to go dig them up. This is not the first time has found fascination in hiding my shoes, and I'm pretty sure he learned it from big brother, Andrew, who used to do the exact same thing! :)

 

Happy 2nd Birthday Anna! (Tomorrow) :)

Make a Smilebox photobook

Summer Reading Camp - Day 1

This summer I am helping teach at one of the local elementary schools as part of a practicum for the Teaching Reading online class I'm taking. Today was the first day for us interns on the job. There are about 40 kids, 4 lead teachers, and 4 intern teachers (I am one of them). The ages of the kids range from going into 3rd grade - 6th grade.

Today we were supposed to go to the post office, but apparently they got way behind schedule the past two days, so they're going tomorrow...but us interns won't get to go cause we're only there M, W, F. Sad day :(

My favorite funny story from today happened first thing this morning. We all met in a big group and we were looking at Google Earth on the SmartBoard and talking about what a community is. Joe, one of the lead teachers asked for examples of a community, and one kid said France. About 30 seconds later another kid said Paris. (What is up with these kids' obsession with France?!)

Finally we got them to think of S., and then we started listing jobs that people have in our community. Trying to get them to think of police and firemen, one of the other lead teachers asked "Who helps keep us safe?" The littlest guy in the group put his hand up and shouted out "GOD!" :)

I thought it was so cool, we all busted up laughing about it, but it totally put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. These kids are way too stinkin cute :)

Baby Moose!

A little bit ago, I noticed Molly was pacing and whining, so thinking she needed to go out, went towards the door to let her out and noticed a baby moose only 3 feet from the back of the house! By the time I grabbed my camera, the baby and mama had made their way to the front of the house, and hung out in the yard for a couple minutes. They started making their way down the street, but changed their mind when the guy across the street came out of his house too. That baby is too cute! :)

 

 

 

 

Night out on the Town!

I'm kinda slow in posting this, but here are the few (somewhat) good pictures from my 21st birthday! Biggest sister Tricia took me out along with friends Yetz and Dave. We went to the new-ish brewery in town - the beer was good and the pizza was even better! A grand time was had by all! :)