first day reflection

I wanted to reflect on our first day...before it was over.  Reflection is part of our daily lesson plan requirements at school.  I am coming to realize the importance of reflection, and how important it is to reflect on your subject while you still remember what to reflect back on.  

The beginning of any school year is stressful, but starting the beginning of a new school year, in a brand new building is even MORE stressful!  There is just so much of the unknown that you can't actually figure out until you're there!  

I was anxious about today--but not so much my mind, but my body.  It was weird.  I think I was anxious about what I was going to do in my room, and how I was going to occupy all of my time with my students--but it turned out to not even be a problem at all!  I had more than enough stuff to talk to them about and "do", and I actually didn't even complete everything I had planned on completing--& that was perfectly okay!

Multiple people told me on Sunday "You got this!"  So I felt like this was very appropriate for my morning this morning!  

I got him that bright orange backpack so I could always find him!  Haha!  

I dropped him off at KeeKee and Poppy's so KeeKee could take him to meet his dad so they could both walk him in together.

I wasn't upset about missing this.  In fact, I probably could have squeezed it in, but I knew that he could handle it! ;)

I had the opportunity to pray with my administration and some other teachers in our court yard at 6:50 before the kids were let inside the gates at 7:10...my principal shared that while we seem to get so caught up and "busy" doing our job, not to forget to just stop and look around to ENJOY what we are doing and who we are doing it with.  Life goes by way to quickly, and to not let it fly by without taking note of all of the opportunities we are given as teachers in these students' lives.  

I'll be honest.  I was so worried about MY kids, and getting them taken care of--I didn't even have time to think/worry about R.  I think that was actually a blessing.  I knew he liked his teacher, I knew KeeKee and his dad had it under control...and that he was going to do great!  I had no reason to worry about him!

It wasn't until I got a 5 minute break and was able to look at my phone and see the picutres KeeKee had sent me...I was like, "Oh yeah...Ryder!!  Awww...he looks so happy!"  

Selfie time with KeeKee!!  Her first official day of retirement!!  Doesn't she look so happy & refreshed?!?  Ms. Pruett already asked her to be PTO room mom!!! I love it!!  THAT is why KeeKee retired!  So thankful for her!  

Ryder with his dad--so glad they got to do this together!  

The little eaglet has landed!!  

I also found out I was in the paper today...haha!  This is a picture from LAST week.  I am talking of course...and that arm and pink purse on the left IS NOT MINE.  It looks like I'm talking on the phone, but I'm not!  But...I am talking...imagine that! ;)

At the end of the day, I felt accomplished and happy.  My feet hurt, even in my most expensive shoes.  No price tag on a pair of shoes can prepare a teacher's feet for the first day of school.  True story. 

I think I'm ready to do it all over again tomorrow...but make it even better!  =)

R finally made it over to my school on the bus...he was on there a LONG time, but I was so proud of him for making it--& with a SMILE on his face!!  He looked happy and had on his backpack and was carrying his lunch box and Camelbak...I told him he could put those things in his backpack! ;)  He will learn soon!

He said he had a great first day.  They talked about vowels, circled them in their "Our Class Rules" book, learned how to walk down the hall, with a bubble in their mouth and a fish tail behind their back, they learned how to hang their backpacks on their chair every day, and a bunch of other things I can't recall at the moment!

They had pepperoni pizza in the CAFE and he said he wishes he wouldn't have brought his lunch!  Ha!  Who knew?!?

He told me he was ready to go back...but "not today!"  

I asked him if they took a nap and he said, "No...I must have left before nap time."  I told him that no, he didn't leave "early"...when he left school was over!  

The precious mind of a child!  

first day of pre k 4 [2014]

Only a week and a half behind...but here is R's first day of school and last first day as a preschooler!

I can't believe this is his third year at Snuggle Bug!  We have been SO blessed by that place and I will cry the day we have to say good bye.

Poppy took R to school for me...he has always done this and I am so thankful since me and KeeKee have always had to be some where else!  They went to Chick to grab some of their favorite breakfast together!

Here is a comparison from 2013-2014

And 2011-2012!

Man how things change, but we are having so much fun on this ride!

Our First Day of School!

Today R & I both started new schools!  I started my Internship I & he started at Snuggle Bug!  I couldn't be happier with either one of our situations!  On days I have my Internship, my alarm goes off at 5:00 am & I have to wake R up at 6:15 to get him up & ready & to my parent's so that my dad can take him to school so that I can be on the road by 7!  Yes...it's tiring, but we are working on it!

Sweet boy was in a GREAT mood for 6:30 in the morning!  The day we have been talking about for MONTHS now was FINALLY here!  He was so excited, & I honestly didn't worry an ounce about him & his first day!

I told him to "freeze" & this is what he did!  Ha!

First day of school!!

Poppy & R have a Monday morning Chick-Fil-A date & I am kinda jealous!  Dad said they were the only ones in there this am!

So proud of this sweet boy!!

Just a little fun comparison from last year!  It all goes by SO fast!  I can't even believe!  

I had a GREAT day at Pine Forest.  I love the school, my mentor, & my students!  It made me even more excited and READY to have my own classroom in a few short years!  I am looking forward to this semester so much!

R had a great day at Snuggle Bug as well!  When I got there to pick him up he was in the backyard playing on the jungle gym, rolling a ball down the slide.  He saw me & came running to the gate saying my name!  I went in & met him...his caterpillar was on green all day long so he got to put a sticker on his chart, & get a treat out of the treat jar!  We got his shoes & things rounded up & headed home!  I am seriously SO thankful for such a wonderful place & it's only day one!  As we were leaving, he said, "When can I come back again mom?"

He also told me tonight that Mr. Jerry told them all to sit on a letter & sit like this...{& he tried to sit Indian style}...I had to help him a little bit ;) but I know he'll get it soon!  I can't wait for all the things he is going to learn this year!