Still recovering from my vacation
I am so much more organized today than I was yesterday. I'm totally unpacked, though not everything is away. It helps that the cleaning lady is coming today - it's motivated me to not leave everything lying around.
When I was hanging up my clothing, Jeanne was on the computer in my room so I showed her all my outlet purchases. The good thing was, I had made up my mind to donate certain things (good-bye shrunken hoodies, I'll miss you!) and with Jeanne there bullying encouraging me not only did I bag up the hoodies, but I also tossed four or five pairs of washed-out, tapered leg jeans. The only reason I felt brave enough to do that was because I discovered the new jeans at Lane Bryant - dark-wash, boot-cut jeans that actually fit my hips and waist! I really have a problem giving clothes away...but those jeans needed to go. And even with all that I'm giving away I still managed to sneak three pairs of jeans back into the closet. [I think that once I really bond with the new jeans and see how happy they make me, I'll have an easier time letting those last three pairs go...]
Since the cleaning lady is coming today and school starts next week, Jeanne and I decided to take down the patriotic/summer themed decorations around the house. This way the cleaning lady can dust everything, and later today or tomorrow we can bust out our apple/September/fall things. I love decorating the house for the fall - love the warm colors; love the warm feeling; love the start of a new school year!
I did go to the BBQ yesterday; I'm so proud of myself! I don't like to walk into social situations that are unfamiliar to me. All the stuff leading up to actually walking in - where do I park? - do I ring the bell or just walk into the backyard? - what should I bring with me? - gets me nervous. But I sucked it up and went. It was very, very casual. Many children running around the yard and in the pool; moms congregating on the back porch. It's funny - I always think I should be more familiar to the moms because I'm around school. But if I don't teach their kids, they don't know me. I only knew the mom who'd invited me and I was surprised by that. But it was cool - I had a hot dog and mostly hung out with the kids in the yard. I was so happy when another teacher arrived; she was about as comfortable as I was. We spent some time chatting and then I left. It was all good.
One of the teachers I'll be working with this year called me yesterday - we're going to meet tomorrow to talk about curriculum and an overall plan. I like this teacher; we've always gotten along. BUT, I know she's something of a steamroller and I tend to bend like a willow whenever anyone else has a plan. I've got to make sure that when something's important for my students that I really plant my feet and make my ideas known to her. Last year when I was working with the fourth grade team, the other teachers were sort of stunned by her, and then they'd do their own thing. I'll do my best to keep my kids up to her speed, but I'm going to change things when I need to and discard things when I have to. I don't think she'll be offended; people are just sort of overwhelmed by her and don't tell her these things to her face. I'm going to do my best to be really straight with her and not do my usual passive-aggressive nodding and not making an actual commitment. We'll see how that goes.
When I was hanging up my clothing, Jeanne was on the computer in my room so I showed her all my outlet purchases. The good thing was, I had made up my mind to donate certain things (good-bye shrunken hoodies, I'll miss you!) and with Jeanne there bullying encouraging me not only did I bag up the hoodies, but I also tossed four or five pairs of washed-out, tapered leg jeans. The only reason I felt brave enough to do that was because I discovered the new jeans at Lane Bryant - dark-wash, boot-cut jeans that actually fit my hips and waist! I really have a problem giving clothes away...but those jeans needed to go. And even with all that I'm giving away I still managed to sneak three pairs of jeans back into the closet. [I think that once I really bond with the new jeans and see how happy they make me, I'll have an easier time letting those last three pairs go...]
Since the cleaning lady is coming today and school starts next week, Jeanne and I decided to take down the patriotic/summer themed decorations around the house. This way the cleaning lady can dust everything, and later today or tomorrow we can bust out our apple/September/fall things. I love decorating the house for the fall - love the warm colors; love the warm feeling; love the start of a new school year!
I did go to the BBQ yesterday; I'm so proud of myself! I don't like to walk into social situations that are unfamiliar to me. All the stuff leading up to actually walking in - where do I park? - do I ring the bell or just walk into the backyard? - what should I bring with me? - gets me nervous. But I sucked it up and went. It was very, very casual. Many children running around the yard and in the pool; moms congregating on the back porch. It's funny - I always think I should be more familiar to the moms because I'm around school. But if I don't teach their kids, they don't know me. I only knew the mom who'd invited me and I was surprised by that. But it was cool - I had a hot dog and mostly hung out with the kids in the yard. I was so happy when another teacher arrived; she was about as comfortable as I was. We spent some time chatting and then I left. It was all good.
One of the teachers I'll be working with this year called me yesterday - we're going to meet tomorrow to talk about curriculum and an overall plan. I like this teacher; we've always gotten along. BUT, I know she's something of a steamroller and I tend to bend like a willow whenever anyone else has a plan. I've got to make sure that when something's important for my students that I really plant my feet and make my ideas known to her. Last year when I was working with the fourth grade team, the other teachers were sort of stunned by her, and then they'd do their own thing. I'll do my best to keep my kids up to her speed, but I'm going to change things when I need to and discard things when I have to. I don't think she'll be offended; people are just sort of overwhelmed by her and don't tell her these things to her face. I'm going to do my best to be really straight with her and not do my usual passive-aggressive nodding and not making an actual commitment. We'll see how that goes.