Teacher meetings and Family Visits

This last week has been full of new things both teaching and family related.
Tuesday we went to Angwin, surprising my parents with a quick visit, and visiting with Tyler's dad. Wednesday I headed to Pleasant Hill for meetings, but was able to meet up with Tauva and Janae for lunch, a much needed visit.
The meetings for the day were new teacher orientation and meeting with my mentor. Both were interesting meetings, fun people involved. I have to admit though that there are some teachers that surprise me- not in a good way. Simply put....some of them are just strange. Sitting in that meeting thinking about it, made me hope no one thinks that of me. :)
Wednesday night Tyler stayed in Angwin again, while I was in Concord - our first night apart since getting married. I roomed with a lady teaching in Nevada City, CA who happened to know my good friend Jenn Ariza from Vegas. What a small world!
Thursday was my first teacher in-service meeting. It was so strange, yet really neat, to be in the same room, for the same purpose, as teachers who taught me in elementary or high school. It was an odd feeling to be on the same level as they are now, but yet a good feeling too because I know what great teachers are in this conference and I can turn to for advice, support, and encouragement. It was also a great way to get to know my 2 fellow teachers a little better as well. The seminar was all about differentiated instruction (jargon, I know!) - basically it was dealing with how to meet the varied needs of the students in your classroom. There were many strategies and things that the presenter showed us that I feel I can actually implement into my own classroom. I'm looking forward to more seminars.
This weekend Tyler's parents came to visit. This was the first time they have seen our humble abode. There's something about having in-laws visit that is different than your own family. I wanted things to be done a little better than if it was just my family. Especially cooking - I think there is something about wanting to impress your mother-in-law that you can cook for her son, take care of him, etc. I have the greatest mother-in-law in the world who is not intimidating or demanding, but somehow there was still that desire in me to prove myself. Human nature I guess?
It's been a good week, I'm prepared to start my 1st day of school tomorrow. Don't quite feel nervous yet, but am very anxious to get to know my students. It's a little surreal to think that I am actually a teacher, my professional goal is actually coming to life. It's amazing.
Pray for me - that I'll be a blessing to my class and to my school. Pray also that I'll be able to keep a balance between school (work) and family (my marriage).

Busy, busy, busy...

The last few days have been full of lots of time at the school, in my classroom. It's been great to get things organized, and make the space feel like mine. Each day I feel a little less overwhelmed as I get more of my curriculum organized and planned.
I made it through registration on Thursday. Most of the families were coming to meet me because I'm the new teacher, which really made me feel strange because I felt like I really need to make a good 1st impression, otherwise it might affect the decision to send their children to ACS. It seemed like everything went well, the families I met were very nice, children were very sweet. Glad it's over though.
I met the school board members Thursday night, first time meeting the whole group that was responsible for bringing me to this school. 
Today was the work bee at the school and it was neat to see the support of the school by members in the church. Though the turnout was smaller that I expected, a lot was accomplished. My husband even joined for a few hours which made me proud.

Sabbath Tyler and I went to church for the first time here in Yuba City. We met several families in the church and Pastor Surridge introduced Tyler and I to the church family. We even stayed for potluck! Seems like it'll be a fine church to join, everyone was welcoming and genuinely seemed happy that we're here. I'll have to get used to joining a new church, but for now am happy to be here.

Thanks to some friends of ours (Ryan and Heidi Veness) we have lots of canned foods, sans labels. Each time we open one it is a surprise, and the last few days we got to expand our (or my) culinary skills by using the ingredients from the mystery cans. 1st we opened a can of garbanzo beans, which we made hummus out of. It's pretty good, may have to continue making our own instead of buying hummus. We also made pumpkin pie because of the mystery can. It's definitely not the right season for pumkpin pie, but it was delicious none the less. One thing I've really enjoyed about marriage is cooking together. Tyler is very helpful and sweet.

Another first....this weekend was the first time I've felt twinges of homesickness...missing our families. Wouldn't trade being here in Yuba City with my husband, I think it's a great start for us, but I do miss the family too.

Reporting for Duty

Today was my 1st day of reporting for duty at the school. Started out with staff meeting with the two other teachers and the secretary I'll be working with this year at Adventist Christian School of Yuba City. Great meeting, looking to working with these two this year. There's still so much for me to learn and figure out before school actually starts in two weeks, but I'm feeling pretty good right now.

Another first for me is creating a supplies list for my students to pick up at registration tomorrow. I remember getting those lists every year, but it is a little strange to think about what exactly you want your students to come into your classroom with and how to articulate that into a list that they will understand.

On to tomorrow...another day of planning and organizing my classroom, and more importantly, registration day. Because I'm the new teacher all the parents want to come and meet me, which is slightly intimidating but I just hope to give a good 1st impression so that they'll be confident in sending their children to ACS, to my classroom.

Thanks God, for bringing me to this school and into this profession. I love it so far!

The beginning...

Tomorrow is the first day I report to the school for duty in my first year of teaching. I will admit that I am a little bit nervous, ok maybe very scared!, but also really excited. I will be teaching 1st through 4th grade at the Adventist Christian School in Yuba City, CA.

This next year of life is a year of firsts - first year of marriage, first year of teaching, and first year leaving out of my parents home. They are all exciting things, but I also know that they will each bring their own set of challenging times and that through this next year I will grow as a person, a wife, and a daughter.

With this blog I plan to log some of the ups and downs of this year. I want to share some of the things that make me love being married, things that make me laugh at work, and things that challenge me in both areas as well. I want to share the things that I learn in hopes that it will brighten someone else's day, challenge them to think of things differently, or give them a story to relate to. Together we'll laugh, sigh, and possibly cry.

Tomorrow is the first day of my career, and I am so excited to be at this point. Wish me luck!