Para-Tizing

Well, I think its about time for a School update!!! If you remember, I am working as a Para at Arnold Elementary with the Lincoln Public School System.  And my last update I was a little on the Debbi Downer side of things, but that was then, this is now!

I finally  got my schedule and I am settling into the swing of things.  Here is what a typical day looks like for Ms. Holly (I HATE that Para's aren't called Mrs. Last Name at the school.  We deserve the same amount of respect, but this is a whole different subject)

• Breakfast Duty- I basically make sure the Kindergartener's sit where they are supposed to, keep other kids from creating WW3 in the cafateria and bring kids spoons and things they forgot.  Fun stuff. 
• Kindergarten Class #1- Work with kids one on one.  Right now we are working on writing our names!
• First Grade Class #1-Work with kids who need extra help during math, standard beginning of the year testing, etc.
• Second Grade Class #1-I work with one student mostly who I have several stories about.  He is a sweet kid, on the younger end of second grade, extremely wiggly and cannot focus. :)
• Second Grade Class #2- Do whatever is needed.  This teacher is really close to my age and recently married.  I feel like yelling "Be my friend!!"  every time I see her! haha
• First Grade Class #2- Work one on one, do stuff.  
• Herd Walk Kindergarten Class #1 from lunch to recess-hardest part of my day.  
• My lunch!! Usually PBJ ;)
• Lunch Duty - I'm in here fooor-eeevver, foooorrr-eeevvver.
• 4th Grade Recess - They are sooo whiny when its hot.  And I tried to teach the girls to double dutch but bless their little hearts, they just aren't coordinated.  
• BREAK!!! 
• Herd Walk Kindergarten Class #1 from specials to recess - again hardest part of the day
• Help my friend Cathy the production para with work.  Cut laminate, fold papers, make booklets, and get to chat with her!  
• Kindergarten Class #2- help kids who don't even know their name recognize and and spell it!  Fun, FUN stuff.
• First Grade Class #3 - help kids one on one, cut things out, etc
• Go Home!!!!

Being a Para has its advantages, I go to school at 8:30, do my thing and come home at 3:30 and don't have to bring home papers to grade, make lesson plans or do anything school related!  Its fantastic!! BUT, I miss teaching, I miss music, I miss being "in charge" so to speak.  Don't get me wrong, I am learning sooo much being in different classrooms and watching different teachers teach different subjects other than music.  In the long run, I think it is really going to make me a better teacher (hopefully someday).  And I really like the school and staff.  Its on the larger side; they are eventually working up to having six classes of Kindergarten through Fifth grade.  And they way the school is built, I probably walk, eh, 4 miles a day.  Yay exercise!!  I'm am just so thankful every day to have something to get up and go do!!! And to have people besides Roscoe and Geoff to talk to!! haha.  So thats kind of what my every day lives are like!  I hope I didn't bore you to tears!

This is the school, which is only 3 years old.  So nice.

Official!!

Oh I did find out that LPS is building a new school for the 2012-2013 school year, which means they will need a whole new staff!! Fingers crossed this could lead to some major possibilities!!!