Break

*Image & pencils by cloud and clover

Where have I been?  Up to no good?  Last week school started and after a week in, I can happily say that I love my new job.  The overall mood on my new campus is energizing and refreshing.  Students seem happy to be in school and generally excited to learn.  I've been waiting to get this feeling back and am so glad it finally came.  I've been patient.  This past week my husband also got laser surgery on his eyes, and has been spending time recovering.  Busy week.  I hope to be back to more regular blogging now that I'm back into a more normal routine.  How has your week been?

Sophomores

*Image & notebook by Happy Dappy Bits

My first day back in a high school is today and I am pretty excited.  I can't wait to see how this year pans out and how it feels to get involved in clubs and sports again.  I'm nervous, but in a good way for sure.  I am hoping for a great first day meeting students who are hopefully as excited as me.  How do you remember feeling on the first day of school?

Versus Series

I've been considering a weekly series and came up with the perfect word play.  Versus = vs = my initials.  Could the stars be more aligned? This week, obviously I'm getting ready to head back into the classroom.  Next week is my final week of summer and then it's back to the grind stone.  I have a purple pencil skirt in my wardrobe and I thought that I could dress it up or down.  My normal outfit would be the cardigan all the way.  It is my standard wardrobe element for sure.  The same goes for flats.  I'm on my feet all day, so that usually leaves any type of a heel out of the question.  I think I could pull of a petite wedge, not a heel.  I'm still hunting for the perfect blazer.  How would you wear this outfit?  What would you choose?

Source list:
1. schoolboy blazer
2. striped shirt
3. gumdrop earrings
4. belt
5. cork flats
6. pencil skirt
7. python wedges
8. cardigan

Sunrise

*Image via Gilt Groupe dress by French Connection

Something about this orange color strikes me.  Although I'm a blonde, I can get away with some bright and deep colors due to my olive-toned skin.  I'm trying to elevate my wardrobe for my new tenth grade teaching position and I think silk is one way to do that.  Something more sophisticated in my closet than the standard cotton dress.  I'm a huge fan of cotton, I think I'm becoming a bigger fan of silk. What are your favorite bold colors?

Adult

*Image & top by x silk

With my return to a high school campus I feel like my wardrobe needs a bit of a tweak.  It will no longer be immediately obvious that I am an adult on campus because my students will not be in uniform, nor will I be taller than most of them.  I like to flatter myself and say that I look younger than my 31 years, but hopefully not so young as to be confused with a high school student (although, administrators have a skewed view of younger teachers).  I've gotten to try a few new fashion trends while working at the middle school, but now feel like I'll have to do something to distinguish myself as an adult.  This doesn't mean that I'm going to pay more for my clothes, but definitely that I'll have to try a little harder to be refined if I want to try out new trends.  What do you recommend?

Sophomores

*Image via design:related; designed by Mikey Burton

Today I'm starting my week of Advanced Placement (AP) training.  I'm pretty excited to learn and to plan for my upcoming year teaching 10th graders.  Hopefully there are a bunch of new productive things I can do in my classroom to make me a stronger teacher, because I'm already excited about my new prospects.  I'll be reading Lord of the Flies this year and that excites me as well.  What do you remember reading in high school?

Deflated

*Image by Tamie Oldridge

A few years ago when I moved into my classroom I found an old globe in the hallway.  It was on the axis upside-down and was so old that it still had the USSR on the map.  I was glad to flip it and put it in my classroom.  For some reason that globe got some good use, showing kids where Shakespeare was from, where the Greek and Roman myths originated.  I was actually considering making it a part of my office decor at home this summer.  When I packed up my car on the last work day on Friday I thought nothing of it and left my books and my glob and grabbed a late lunch with my co-workers.  The Texas heat amplified by my car combined to cause that cool old globe to burst at the seam.  It looked like it had started to melt and that it was deflating like a balloon.  Poor old globe.  At least it had a good home for two years.  Now I'm wondering if I can find another... Where could I get my hands on a cool classroom staple like this? 

No kids

*Image & card by Studio SloMo

No students today and my hospitality committee is buying me lunch.  Can't think of a better way to end the school year, except I still have a ton of boxes of books in my car.  I had no idea that I had so much stuff in my classroom.  (Well, kind of)  Oh books.  Now I need to start my summer reading list.  What's on your list?

Summer Vacation

*Image & print by Vintage Beach

Today at 3:40 the final bell of the school year will ring.  I am counting down the minutes until freedom.  The last day of 8th grade this year will be bittersweet.  I am still waiting to hear back about my interview and am packing up my classroom as if I am not returning.  This would be a great time to leave this school, with a fantastic group of students leaving a better taste in my mouth.  I am so so ready for this vacation.  Seattle here I come!

Dive in

*Image & postcard by Quilt and Arrow Press

Last week of school!  I'm all in.  Only 3 more days left with 8th graders and I'm free for the summer?  I wonder who is more excited about that, me or my students?

Finals

*Image & print by BearAndRobot

Um.... yeah... finals.  Bummer.  But - after this it's summer!  (I have to keep reminding myself).

Interview

*Image via J.Crew

Tomorrow I need to get all spiffed up because I have an interview!  I'm excited and nervous, yet confident that I will present myself well and hopefully be offered a position to work in a high school next year.  Keep your fingers and toes crossed.  Now I'm going to break out the iron to make sure I'm looking crisp and polished tomorrow.  Wish me luck?

Author

*Image by Kartikay Sahay

Today is the Young Author's conference.  I'm excited and nervous to be presenting a lesson to kids from all over the district and to other teachers from all over the district.  It's no secret on my campus that I'm looking to transfer to a high school.  Now my fingers are crossed that someone with some clout might be in my room watching, and maybe they'll see something they like.  I hope.  I'm also excited that three of my students had their work chosen to represent our campus. One boy has been writing all year and his goal is to be published.  They are printing an anthology from the submitted student work pieces, so today that tiny bit of a dream will be one step closer to coming true.  How are you spending your Wednesday?

Frolic

*Image & print via Vintage Jane

After school these days it is all I can do not to run off campus toward home.  I am really feeling the itch of the end of the school year, almost as much as my rowdy kids.  There are two camps students divide into at the end of the year: the mature students you wish you had all year, and the pains in the butt.  Thankfully, most are evolving into the first group and are becoming freshmen before me, I do have a few more pains though.  I can't wait until there is no work for me to take home because the year is over and I can truly frolic into the welcoming arms of summer vacation.  What has you wanting to leave work early these days?

Close

*Image & print by JMBarclay

All of the light drizzle this week has really reminded me of Seattle.  I can't believe that I'm less than a month away from being back in town.  There are only 14 1/2 days of school left and I am so excited to be done with the year.  I'm sitting on my hands right now and am slowly packing up my classroom.  So close.  So close.  What are you anticipating?

Pooped

*Image by Shtterography

My husband's sister came to town and it was awesome.  She and her husband are great to hang out with.  Too bad that it happened to be on the same weekend I had a stack of tests to grade before my Monday deadline.  I entertained and graded, I didn't think a weekend could get that full.  Now, I'm ready to crash.  How was your weekend?

Alarm

*Image by sarahinbrunswick 

Sound the alarm.  I put in my transfer request and have my fingers crossed that I get an offer to work in a high school next year.  I was really nervous about putting my name on the list because I don't want to rock the boat at my current campus in case for some reason I get zero offers or am not really eligible to transfer.  I'm really trying not to get my hopes up, but it's tough.  I'm in this strange state of lingering anticipation mixed with anxiety.  Have you ever had to make a tough work decision?

Words

*Image by fahid chowdhury

Today is the reading test, ahhh the words!  I'm actually jealous of my students because once they're done testing they can take a nap or read a book.  I just walk around the room all day watching them read and test while singing songs in my head and making mental checklists.  Which words will be scrolling through your head today?

Surf

*Image by nikon nutt1

Today the big state test comes and scares all of the kids into submission and fear for their future.  Not really.  In order to make my classroom test ready I had to take down or cover every word posted on the walls of my classroom.  This even included the labels on my calendar.  This no-word policy is so staunch that custodians lined the hallways after school covering bulletin boards and even the posted school rules in the corridors.  No words.  Not even the label on the counseling office was safe.  The only poster I have left is of a surfer, that is where I will be casting my far-off glimpses when I am board of pacing the rows of testing students.  I will imagine I am in the ocean of no words.  Where will your boredom take you today?

Midsummer

*Image & cut hearts by TheLonelyHeart

My students are really starting to fall in like with Shakespeare, and it's pretty exciting.  In the past 2 years of teaching it has been a while since I've seen students get excited about something.  No, not everyone loves it. but they understand the play and they can have active discussion.  I have not been excited about teaching something in a while and this feels invigorating.  I want to keep this feeling around.  My fingers are crossed that this time next year I'll be teaching in a high school.  What has you excited and energized lately?