Tomorrow begins the last week of school for the year.  I cannot believe it.  3 and a half days left.  That is it.  My goodness, how this year has flown!  I'll sure miss these kids.

It's weird to think how long ago I wrote this.  I didn't know all of my kiddos at this point, I wasn't a part of their lives and they weren't yet a part of mine.  And in 9 short months, my life has been forever changed by them.  It has been a great year - looking forward to many more :)

Thankful at the feet of the Father,
Amanda/Ms. B

Only three weeks left of this school year and I cannot believe it.  Part of me cannot wait for summer and another part of me wants it to stretch as long as possible.

I had one of those "oh my goodness, how can anyone do anything but teach??" days yesterday.  Those are the best :)

The day started off with a bang, what with it being Children's Book Week and Friday being character dress up day.  I, along with 3 of my wonderful friends, dressed up as a Rhyming Dust Bunny, inspired by the hilarious book Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas.  We had a character parade around the school first thing in the morning and as I was walking down the Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade hall I truly felt like a celebrity!  I was waving and they were poking and tapping each other yelling, "Oh my goodness, the Rhyming Dust Bunnies!"  It was like living out the dream of being a Disney Princess, haha :)

Then we had D.E.A.R time (Drop Everything and Read).  I told my students that I would be reading on the carpet and that they were more than welcome to join me there, or just to spread around the room as usual with a pillow or stuffed animal (I have a plethora of both - I think pillows and stuffed animals make reading that much more enjoyable).  As soon as I got to the carpet and plopped down on my stomach to read, at least 15 of my students joined me.  We were all on the carpet, silently reading to ourselves for 20 minutes.  I had an overwhelming sense of joy just being there with my kiddos reading a book.  I read aloud to them every day, but it is a rare occurrence for them to see me reading a book silently to myself.  I can talk about how much I love reading, but for them to see it, wow.  They were silent for TWENTY minutes.  I barely had to do any correcting at all for behavior issues.  They were truly ENJOYING every second of it.  My kids then decided that we should have DEAR time twice a day, for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 in the afternoon.  I am happy to oblige - I love that they are loving to read!  Reading is truly a powerful tool, and I have only just learned that it has proved to be the perfect behavior management strategy.

I will cherish these last three weeks.  They will be fun-filled and BUSY.  We are reviewing so much of the curriculum in these last weeks and it is wonderful to see how much they have learned.  My little sponges :)  What a blessing of a job this is.

The Lord has lead me to this profession and I am absolutely grateful.  My heart for these children is utterly apparent to me, and I thank the Lord for this.  His patience, His joy, and His creativity inspire me and motivate me each day.  I am blessed, truly truly blessed.

Basking in the glory of the Lord,
Amanda/Ms. B

There are only 5 and a half weeks until the end of the school year.  The end of the year/last day of school is a bittersweet time.  It is when sweet summertime is literally right around the corner.  It is the time when my sweet angels leave me to enjoy their summer, only to return to school again as 3rd graders.  It is when I try to organize a few things to get them in order for next year.  And it is the time when I try to squeeze any and all focus that is left of my little ones out of them.

I have throughly enjoyed this year.  I have learned so much this year - especially from my kids.  I have learned that they grow up a lot in 2nd grade.  They have started to be more perceptive of things, which has been very fun to be a part of.

When I am feeling down, they notice.  Not only do they notice, but they hug me.  And not only hugs, but they ask how they can help.  Maturity has been starting to creep in.  I love when they make choices and say things in this new, mature way.

I am excited to see them continue to grow, and I am excited to (fingers crossed, I find out Friday!) stay in the same grade level.  I can't wait to hone in on things that I want to do better next year in the 2nd grade.  I can't wait to see my former students when they come visit me as they spend their days in their new 3rd grade setting.  I can't wait for my former students to tell me that they remember what an alliteration is and that Betty Botter simply can't escape their minds for the life of them :)  I also can't wait to have a precious new group of kiddos.

I adore my job.  I love the bond I get to make with my kids.  I love the impact I have on them, the notes that they write to me to show me of this friendship we have formed, and the promises of visiting me next year.  I can't wait to have a whole new group to begin a new year of adventures with.

This year has FLOWN by.  It's incredible, really.  Boy, I've had some long days, but I cannot believe the year is almost over.  It's been a good one.  I'll certainly cherish these 23 blessings I've had this year.  The memories will be with me forever - and if not, I have pictures to remind myself :)

Enjoying the rest of the year at His feet,
Amanda/Ms. B  

EASTER

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He has risen! Remember how he told you while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' Then they remembered his words." 


Remember and rejoice!! Oh glorious day!


Rejoicing at the feet of a RISEN Father, 
Amanda

I truly adore my kids.  There's honestly nothing they could do that would make me love them less.  Trust me, there isn't.  I love my career choice, I love my school, my coworkers, and my kids.  But I also love days off.

My mom is in town this weekend and I am taking Friday off to spend some much needed time with her.  Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I'm from, is 7ish hours away from Dallas.  Needless to say, I don't get together with my family very often - at most, about 4 times a year these days (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, some Summer).  Yes, the times are for spans of about a week or more, but taking into account that I am from Baton Rouge, went to college in Baton Rouge, and MOST of my friends stayed in Baton Rouge, a week is not too long.

So, this weekend, my mom and some of her friends are visiting another Yakkity Yak member (see earlier post about the YY group) who moved to Dallas and I happen to live here, too!!  I'm getting some much needed mom time and some rejuvenation just when I need it.  Plus, I plan on grading papers tomorrow to get ahead of the game.  That's good, too :)

I truly couldn't love or care about my kids anymore.  The Lord has certainly allotted quite a bit of love and care - that's why I don't believe it could be anymore.  I'll think about them tomorrow, that's for sure.  Even if I tried not to, I still would.  But I know they are great, well behaved, self-sufficient kids.  They know their routines - even if sometimes they act like they don't :)  But thank goodness we have days that we can take off.  I really NEED some mother/daughter time.  I can't wait!!!

Thankful at the Feet of the Father,
Amanda/Ms. B

Grading

Tomorrow morning grades are due.  I must say that this is the thing I struggle with the MOST.  I grade papers and then put off entering them into the system.  Then, on top of that, I have some papers that have yet to be graded and I put it off until the night before (aka tonight).

On to another subject, can you believe that there are only 8 weeks left to this school year?  This year has flown by with my precious, sweet angels.  AND my goodness, how they've grown - academically and in height, may I add.  WOW.  They look like 3rd graders :(  I just want them to stay little 2nd graders for life.  The end of the year is bittersweet and I am certainly trying to enjoy the last 8 weeks that I am blessed with.  I'm not quite ready for the tears that will arrive as my students are about to leave me for summer break.  I've had 6 of these students for 2 years.  It will be so odd for me to see them with a new teacher because I truly only picture them in my class.  My goodness, I hope they come visit me next year or I will have withdrawals :)

Welp, off to grade.  I pray that this night will not be a SUPER late night.  Rather than updating this blog, I should be grading and entering.  But, I guess that's why I consider myself a master procrastinator.  Its good to be a master at something, right?

Learning to change my procrastination habits...tomorrow,
Amanda

Spring Break

It has been AGES since I've last updated.  I'd like to say that I've been filling my life with extraordinary adventures and such, which would be the reason I have not been posting.  However, the truth is more fitting - I have simply been either too busy, too lazy, or too forgetful (oops...).

At this very moment it is Spring Break.  I'm sitting in the living room of my parents house posting - which is such a simple blessing.  I had not been "home" since Christmas break and being back in my parents' house has been wonderful.

The break has been very relaxing - which is much needed in order to tackle the remaining 11 weeks of the year with the excitement and energy it (and all of my little ones) deserve. 

My family, along with many others, are throwing an engagement party for an elementary school friend of mine.

Well, a little backstory on these many families:

In the first grade I moved to a school called Westminster Elementary.  Best and most precious school ever.  I am sure many of you are biased toward your elementary school and perhaps think it was the best; however, you did not go to Westminster, so you are mistaken (this is the point in my story telling where almost all of my students would shout out "opinion," and I applaud them for this - but this is indeed a fact). 

There are many reasons why it was precious: 1) the teachers were incredible; 2) my friends were unbelievable; 3) there was much responsibility put onto us at such a young age and it made us feel SO valued and grown up; and 4) it was where I was inspired to become a teacher (since the 1st grade, but in actuality I give most of the credit to my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Thompson, who was by far the biggest inspiration in my life of becoming a teacher).

I made life long friends there, which I can say with much certainty since many of my friends today I met at Westminster.  And here is where the "many families" come into play.  Through the numerous school events, functions, Brownie meetings, sporting events, you name it, all of our parents got to know eachother.  My parents became friends with my friends' parents, and the group started growing from there.  Families with children a year or two above us became friends of my family, and most of us went to school together.  All together, it's 8 families: 19 children and 16 parents.  We're quite a bunch when you put us all together.  All of our parents live in the same neighborhood, go to church together, and get together often.  We're all bound together in a group called the Yakkity Yaks with the mascot of a dragon fly - I know, it's ridiculous.

Through the years we have all stayed very close.  Though mulitple vacations to the beach; kids' bridge lessons in '97; Calloway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA, in 2000; swim team; lake trips; etc; we have managed to form a lifelong bond.  My family and another built a beach house not too long ago in Fort Morgan, AL, and soon after, another family in the group built one 4 houses down.  Needless to say, it'll be hard to separate everyone.  I've been in two weddings of my 1st grade friends, and at some point they'll be in mine.  I think this is why I look at my students differently.  The friendships they're making are possibily the same that I made and I realize how truly blessed I am.  I can't imagine having grown up any other way, without these 7 sets of extra parents and all of these pseudo brothers and sisters.  I only hope I am as blessed to have the same type of group when I start a family.

Well my goodness, since you've now read about my childhood, on to the engagement party. 

In August, another one of the Yakkity Yak kids is getting married and my parents, along with 7 other couples, are hosting the engagement party.  The parties rotate around the group, they have thrown them for every one of the YY kids who've been engaged.  The difference in hosting this time is that my parents are actually having the party at our house.  So, yes, I've been relaxing while my parents have been working like mad to make our already beautiful house even more beautiful.  They've redone the bathrooms (granite, granite, granite), bought new outdoor furniture, powerwashed, painted, weeded, edged,  mowed, and anything else you can think of.  I'd like to say I helped, but alas, my mom truly wanted me to rest - so I heeded her wish and I have been.

I'm excited to see all of my childhood friends on Friday.  When someone gets engaged it's one of those times - like the anual Christmas Eve Eve party - that I know everyone will be together again.  I'm excited to see their spouses, hear about their children, and celebrate the news of a new pregnancy!  It's crazy how life changes, but when I see these friends it all feels exactly the same.  We reminisce, catch up, and look to the future.  I am beyond blessed with family friends like these.  I have grown up within such an amazing circle of people. 

I have learned a lot from my parents about friendship.  These are obviously not their only friends - believe it or not, there's another group.  The group from which my godparents were chosen.  My parents make and keep friends easily.  They are loyal, trustworthy, fun, and spontaneous (when need be) friends.  I pray I am at least some of these things.  Thanks, Mama and Daddy, for showing me what I aspire to be as a friend. 

So bring it on, future Yakkity Yak group of my life (whatever we may be called)...I'm ready :)

Learning at the feet of the Father,
Amanda