tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51029662011-07-05T00:51:14.458-07:00The past is over but tomorrow's wishful thinking --The OffspringSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1143876578858204032006-03-31T22:51:00.000-07:002006-10-22T20:47:21.553-07:00

I'll put it in simple terms... I had one of those weeks. You know the week. The one that seems to last forever. The one that seems to bring never ending stress. The one that does not seem to end, yet also marches by way too quickly. My week began with my needing to postpone my end of the year evaluation because I simply needed more time to finish report cards and was not prepared to for my

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1142488769730750252006-03-15T22:39:00.000-07:002006-03-15T22:59:29.740-07:00

Ugh$20 to see the doctor, $90 for three medications, and feeling worse than before... priceless.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1142355534768264102006-03-14T09:28:00.000-07:002006-03-14T09:58:54.780-07:00

I have nothing prolific to say.I've sat down to post a couple of times in the past few weeks, but nothing has really come to me as I have done so. Yes, I could continue on whining about work and how I can't wait to see this group of kiddos off to fifth grade or my fabulous lack of spring break plans, but honestly who really wants to hear that all again? Even I don't want to hear about how bad

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1139619459885841642006-02-10T17:02:00.000-07:002006-02-27T02:58:10.176-07:00

I Love My GeekOver the last six and half years, I've come to realize, and accept with little objection, that my beloved has slowed turn me into a geek. Yes, a true, computer packing, technology anticipating, can't live without the internet and TiVo, Mac World attending geek. You begin to suspect the conversion is nearing completion when your reputation as the "technology queen" precedes your

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1138342871617038592006-01-26T22:29:00.000-07:002006-02-02T22:54:30.116-07:00

Warning: Family, Insomnia, Work, and Weddings Do Not MixOver the last few weeks, the most bizarre situation has developed. I can actually withstand the forces of being in the same room as most of my immediate family at the same time. I still don't get along with my dad, but I can have a decent conversation with my sister and her significant other (husband? boyfriend? 11-year friend with

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1136854794507829392006-01-09T17:52:00.000-07:002006-01-11T18:38:04.696-07:00

Paper Grading Follow-UpToday a colleague regraded the papers that I graded last night. Amazingly our scores were nearly identical for almost every paper. We don't even need to debate the scores, they are close enough that we can just bubble in the scores for the permanent record print out and send them off to now be attached to these kiddos' permanent records.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1136811906167808642006-01-09T05:50:00.000-07:002006-01-09T23:14:06.840-07:00

I despise insomnia.I have battled insomnia on and off for years. Currently, my friend is active and I find that I struggle to fall asleep at night. When I finally do fall asleep, sometimes after several hours of tossing and turning, flipping and flopping, I wake every hour or two. I'm extremely frustrated. Normally I can trace the cause of my insomnia to some current life stressor or change.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1136788561337632922006-01-08T23:30:00.000-07:002006-01-08T23:36:01.346-07:00

I finished....I finished grading my papers about 20 minutes ago. While they weren't graded with my usual anal retentiveness, they are done. Normally I would read each paper and give an inital score for most of the traits and then I would reread at least a few hours later before assigning a final score. My tactic tonight? Read once, score all 6 traits, move on. My scoring was very much, this

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1136780555775182102006-01-08T21:20:00.000-07:002006-01-08T21:22:35.790-07:00

Time for some high speed grading.I have to grade 25 papers on 6 traits of writing by tomorrow morning. It is after 9 pm and I have to get up for school at 5:30 am. I can do this, right?!?

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1136417607019192192006-01-04T16:11:00.000-07:002006-01-04T16:33:27.030-07:00

Back to NormalSo the holidays have come and peacefully gone. My kitchen and living room have been cleaned and I can answer honestly the last time the tile was mopped (New Year's Eve) and the last time I made dinner at home (1/2/06). Surprisingly this year, the holidays were fairly calm around here. My sister and I are actually getting along right now and I successfully avoided any lengthy

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1134716186092497012005-12-15T22:12:00.000-07:002005-12-15T23:56:26.136-07:00

No day but today.As a general rule, I am an eternally introspective person. Over the last two weeks or so, my tendency to turn inwards and examine my life, beliefs, and thoughts has begun to consume me. I find myself lost in deep thought about my life, especially analyzing my beliefs for validity, even at times when I should be doing other things, like actually listening to my students read

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1133528706810811042005-12-02T06:04:00.000-07:002005-12-02T06:05:24.260-07:00

"As for science versus religion, I am issuing a restraining order. Science must remain 500 yards away from religion at all times."-A judge on "The Simpsons"-

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1133491916274081282005-12-01T19:16:00.000-07:002005-12-01T19:54:30.586-07:00

Field Trip ChaosWhat do you get when you take 135 fourth graders, 25 chaperones, 6 teachers, 3 tardy busses, an hour at the Phoenix Symphony, a park with no bathrooms, a lost tooth, and one child stuck in a swing and cram them into one day? Simply put... one chaotic field trip. Today we took the entire fourth grade on a field trip to the Phoenix Symphony for the symphony in education program.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1133397268937404472005-11-30T17:27:00.000-07:002005-11-30T17:35:43.406-07:00

A celebration is in orderOne of my most difficult students is moving. While I know I shouldn't be happy that a child is leaving, there is a huge sense of relief on my part. This is the child that NEVER turns in any assignment and I feel like I am constantly chasing down missing assignments and constantly imposing consequences for missing work. I have to tell this child to get to work at least

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1133329181408313092005-11-29T21:09:00.000-07:002005-11-29T22:39:48.950-07:00

The so called biological clock is ticking...Over the past few months, the desire to take the next major step in my life has been increasing in intensity. The next major step in my mind is starting my family. There are days that I feel like I need to get married, get pregnant, and get on with my life. Basically I think my strong instinct to mother is no longer contented by mothering all the

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1132979790773573712005-11-25T20:48:00.000-07:002005-11-25T21:36:30.786-07:00

The calm after the storm...The last two weeks have been long and arduous. My mom had surgery a little over a week ago. Her surgery went amazingly better than to be expected as we were expecting her knee replacement to be replaced due to infection. Instead she only had some parts exchanged on her current knee replacement, scar tissue removed, and a ligament reattached. I tease her and explain

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1131770871280617672005-11-11T21:07:00.000-07:002005-11-11T21:54:27.850-07:00

Dealing with my failures...When it comes to house cleaning I fail miserably at it. I absolutely hate to clean house, hence the reason my house often looks like a major disaster just occurred. Rarely can you find the kitchen counter as it is covered with papers, mail, and shopping remnants (bags, items not yet put away, etc.) or the couch because is always buried under unfolded laundry and don't

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1131505421846878132005-11-08T19:19:00.000-07:002005-11-08T20:03:41.860-07:00

School, stress, and hockeyThe last few weeks have been utterly insane for me. We went on fall break in the middle of October and now it is nearly the middle of November and I'm still trying to catch my breath. Mike and I spent the last four days of fall break in San Diego, which was a welcome retreat. We stayed at a resort that was beautiful beyond words, with a water view and close to all of

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1129100831946714652005-10-11T23:25:00.000-07:002005-10-12T00:09:32.580-07:00

One thing I learned this week...One thing I can honestly say that I have learned this week about myself is that I am not exceedingly proficient in the art of doing nothing. After just one day of attempting to do nothing, I have given it up for the duration of my fall break. I spent yesterday cruising the internet and checking out the multitude of websites that I had bookmarked to read when I

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1128878884315906282005-10-09T09:51:00.000-07:002005-10-09T10:28:04.323-07:00

Blood, fights, and two penalty shots?!?Last night Mike took me to the Coyotes home opener as an early birthday present. It was one of the best games I have been to in a very long time. They started the night with a ceremony to unretired Bobby Hull's number so that his son could wear it for the rest of his time with the Coyotes. Then the real action started. By the end of the first period,

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1128481804966398622005-10-04T20:08:00.000-07:002005-10-04T20:10:04.973-07:00

Religion has no place in public schools the way facts have no place in organized religion. -Superintendant Chamlers, The Simpsons-

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1126989098126952232005-09-17T13:00:00.000-07:002005-09-17T13:31:38.130-07:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!Why is it the most wonderful time of the year? In one simple word, HOCKEY!!! Training camp opened this week and the regular season is just a few short weeks away. After a very long absence the fast moving contact sport played on ice (thank you widget dictionary) is about to make its regular season come back. I simply cannot wait for the nights spent

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1126837034583146332005-09-15T19:15:00.000-07:002005-09-15T19:17:14.586-07:00

So I was right... I've been to the office twice in the last two days thanks to my students. I had one not do their assigned consequence for their previous behavior and another throw mud on other students. I hate being right sometimes, but only sometimes.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1126659998877788692005-09-13T17:13:00.000-07:002005-09-13T18:06:38.883-07:00

Can you come to the office when you have a second?Unfortunately, I have heard this phrase too many times the last few days. I have been to the principal's office about six times in the last week regarding the students in my class. To make matters worse, the incidents that have required me to report to the office have involved my students' behavior outside my classroom, well most of the time. I

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1125554984395037042005-08-31T22:20:00.000-07:002005-08-31T23:09:44.400-07:00

Exhaustion is beginning to set in...School is now half through its fourth week and the exhaustion has hit with a vengeance. The weeks of insomnia during the summer are just a figment of my imagination now as I can barely make it through dinner before hitting the wall and start demanding to go home to bed. I've been to bed around 10:30 pm the last three nights, which is virtually unheard of for

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1125124413274673052005-08-26T22:22:00.000-07:002005-08-26T23:33:33.280-07:00

It’s been a long three weeks…School has been back in session for just three weeks, but I have already been a part of or witnessed enough spectacles to last me for quite awhile. To put it in perspective, I have spent more time with my administrators since school started than I did all of last year. When asked about my class I answer, “I have a very intriguing group of kiddos in my class this

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1123222543630781312005-08-04T22:52:00.000-07:002005-08-04T23:15:56.903-07:00

The new school year is just about here. I've been back to work the last three days and it has been three days of meetings, cleaning, and prepping for the new year. I met my new kiddos tonight and I forgot how little fourth graders are at the beginning of the year. They seem so small and scared, but I know that won't last long. By the end of the year most of the my new group will be

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1122882856032071082005-08-01T00:21:00.000-07:002005-08-01T00:54:16.103-07:00

The last two days have been spent with both Mike and my families and thus, needless to say, I am in a state of family overload. While I love spending time with our four nephews (13, 9, nearly 5, and almost 2) and two nieces (8 and 6), the various adults involved I can do without most of the time. The way my sister and Mike’s sisters treat each of their two kids makes me both angry and sad. It

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1122789380982980862005-07-30T22:56:00.000-07:002005-07-30T22:56:20.986-07:00

The last few weeks have just flown by for me. I go back to work on Tuesday and my new group of kiddos start back August 8th. The last time I posted it was the end of June and now it’s nearly August, where the hell did my summer go?!? I am looking forward to getting back to my routine, I have a hard time entertaining myself during the day, especially when I’m not watching our nephews and niece

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1120201920725960642005-06-30T22:38:00.000-07:002005-07-01T00:12:00.730-07:00

Yesterday Mike and I braved the Phoenix summer heat for an hour in order to attend Warped Tour for one set, The Offspring. We were hoping for an evening performance, but the band went on at 2:30 p.m. After a mad dash from one side of the valley to the other, we made it in time to see the entire set. It was a great set with the band playing several of my favorite songs. I would have liked to

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1119336779444635622005-06-20T23:32:00.000-07:002005-06-26T21:27:50.776-07:00

Today I had to attend a reading training for work. I had my choice to attend now, during my summer vacation, or spend my first Saturday during school in the training. I chose the summer, simply because the first few weeks of school are grueling as I get back into the grind of school and train the kids on the routines for the classroom. The last thing I want to do is spend my first Saturday in

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1118816099253054462005-06-14T23:05:00.000-07:002005-06-14T23:14:59.256-07:00

I know for those of you who are still laboring away at your places of employment all summer, it must be difficult to sympathize with me, but I am currently tormented by insomnia. Simply I am finding that no matter how much I do in a day I cannot fall asleep and then stay asleep for any length of time most nights. I have reached the desperation point and even ventured to www.webmd.com today for

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1118387166426270372005-06-09T23:19:00.000-07:002005-06-10T00:12:47.480-07:00

Last night Mike and I attended a musical that one of my former students (how weird does that sound) has a role in. This particular student has had a profound impact on me and it was an amazing feeling to observe him participating in his passion. He truly loves being on stage and in front of a crowd. This child and I share a love of sarcasm (and Macs) and he kept me grounded throughout the

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1117781285069896602005-06-02T23:04:00.000-07:002005-06-02T23:51:21.690-07:00

School let out for the summer just over one week ago and summer boredom is starting to invade. Over the last few days I have not been lacking tasks as I have had numerous errands to do that I have needed to do for quite awhile. Additionally, Tuesday I started my four-day a week, (well paid) tutoring job and I spent the afternoons on Tuesday and Wednesday on a panel interviewing new teaching

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1117065885435927442005-05-25T16:30:00.000-07:002005-05-25T17:04:45.440-07:00

So it’s over. My first year as a teacher is in the books, literally. I turned in my grade book, filled out my students’ permanent record file (yes, there is actually a permanent record), and sent report cards home. I’m not quite sure how I feel right about now. There is a sense of relief and there is also a sense of anticipation for the fall and the new class of kiddos I will receive (yes, I

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1117000008512269482005-05-24T22:45:00.000-07:002005-05-24T22:46:48.516-07:00

Today was the main event of the school year, the end of the year class party. I had an amazing parent who planned a Survivor themed party. The party was a complete success and the kiddos had a total blast. I convinced (or tricked) my intern into participating as well with the kiddos so I could observe and hang out, rather than play along. The party began with the students receiving their

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1116288479012016202005-05-16T16:41:00.000-07:002005-05-16T17:07:59.016-07:00

The last two weeks of school. Oh, how sweet the sound. School is officially out for the summer Wednesday, May 25 at 12:35 pm. That leaves just 7 days of teaching in my first year, or 44 hours and 25 minutes for those keeping a more exact count. It is hard for me to comprehend where 179 days of school have disappeared. My first day facing my class seems like it was only yesterday and now my

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102966.post-1115877544516066812005-05-11T21:48:00.000-07:002005-05-16T23:21:20.626-07:00

Under normal circumstances, I am an intensely private person. Essentially I am self-contained. I seldom venture out of my carefully formed boundaries and do not share my beliefs, opinions, and above all else, my emotions with the world, except with a few select individuals. I do not know exactly why I am this way, but this is what is comfortable and extremely difficult for me to change despite

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677854629238182756noreply@blogger.com0