It's Officially Summer!

Hi Friends!
Yesterday was our "REAL" last day!  What a day!  It started out with "Breakfast at Bob's" (that's Bob Evan's for those who may not know) with my "Inner Circle of Trust" minus one.  There's five of us and we meet at Bob Evan's every Friday around 7:00 or so for breakfast together.  Even though it's an early wake-up call, I really love getting together with my friends!  It starts our day off in a great way!

We then had to go to our End of the Year district meeting where we honored our retiring teachers as well as those who have been in the district for 15, 25, and 30 years.  This year was a little different...instead of handing over a bouquet of flowers to our retirees and thanking them for their service, a close friend gave a little speech about the teacher retiring.  Some were quite moving.  As I sat and watched, I couldn't help but think about the amazing work we really do and how important it is to recognize the work teachers and staff do.  (Another thing to put in my cap when I choose to become an administrator.)  30 years...in one district...30 years!  Everything they've seen and done...with all of the political crap stuff going on with public schools right now and the changes coming..."years of service" are really something to be honored.

We then had a short union meeting...grrr...gloom and doom, but "we're great teachers!"  (That's in a nutshell...I just wish our union would communicate with us more about things going on in our district and do a better job of answering questions publicly and respectfully.  Tired of seeing rolling eyes and shifts in body language when certain teachers speak or ask questions.)

By 10:00 we were back in our classrooms to wrap everything up for the year.  Turning in Professional Growth Records, Requisitons, and a rebuttal I had to write due to a comment in my evaluation in regard to another first grade teacher's feelings being hurt by a curriculum decision I apparently made.  L-l-o-o-o-n-n-n-n-g-g-g story full of drama but:
1. I didn't make the curriculum decision.
2. This teacher never came to me about his hurt feelings.
I didn't care about the mark I received, I cared about the written comment on my evaluation that reflected a feeling of another teacher...an evaluation anyone, including future employers and parents have access to if they want to take a peek.  (Wish I could be totally honest here...but I'm choosing to rise above and be professional!)

We decided it was time for lunch and headed to a local Mexican Restaurant...the only thing missing was a Margarita, but because we had to go back to school after lunch, we abstained!  :)

The afternoon was spent planning with my departmentalizing buddies talking about the schedule and planning for next year.  So excited to be teaching reading all morning to 3 different classes.  I just really want to make sure I have my ducks in a row...lots to think about!  Anyone departmentalizing in first grade?  I'd love to hear how you set up your reading block.

After covering some shelving I was on my way out the door to start my summer by 3:02!  On our last day with the kiddos, we have computer the last period of the day and we just dismiss from the computer lab.  While they were in computer I continued taking stuff off of the walls and when I went back to the computer lab, I told them that our room looked really lonely.  They said, "We want to see it!" and in my dramatic way I told them, "Oh no, it's just too sad for your little eyes."  So they asked me to take pictures and put them on our website to see...here's a few...

And then there's my garage...

I better get that plant in some sun!

The weather in Northern Ohio is a bit brisk today...too chilly for the pool or Soak City @ Cedar Point.  But there's plenty to keep me busy..."that" book, thank you notes, planting some flowers, a visit to a grocery store, a little cleaning, and that garage!  

Have a great weekend!