A Little Gem

I am sitting down to write my second-to-last paper of my entire masters degree. I literally only have 3 classes left until graduation. I cannot believe it. I've been reflecting on the last 3 years a lot lately as I try to wrap my head around the thought of being done with school and being a certified counselor. It feels surreal.  The other day I had a client say, "Man, you've done a lot for your age!" When I thought about that statement it started to kind of click, "wow, I'm 27, I have 2 children, I taught 3 years of 6th grade, worked an internship at a psychiatric hospital, interned at a private practice, and now about to graduate with a job lined up and ready to go! It feels like a whirlwind!!!" 


I found something today that made me look back at the progression of my career…

During my first semester of student teaching at A&M (Fall 2007) I wrote down 10 goals that I wanted my students to learn from me or feel. It did not have a lot to do with the content I was teaching, it was more things like… Feel valued, worthwhile, and accepted by me. Feel heard by me. Feel safe in my classroom. Feel like they can come to me when they need help regarding school, friendships, and stuff at home.

I kept this piece of paper in my desk all 3 years that I taught and looked at it quite often. I kept it right on top of a stack of papers inside my top drawer. I probably saw that paper almost everyday. Right now its packed up in a box in the attic and it will come down if I ever decide to teach again. That's not out of the realm of future possibilities. I loved teaching, actually. It was pretty hard to give up that part of my life, but my babies are for sure worth it. 

Anyway, at the end of each school year I gave my students a series of questions and told them they could keep it anonymous. I wanted them to let me know if I had made them feel heard, worthwhile, accepted, safe, etc. (I also asked things like "Did you ask for tutoring and/or receive extra help if you struggled…did you feel that enough technology was used in our classroom…stuff like that). I kept their answers and reflected on them many times. I really wanted them to have a good experience and hoped that the next year I could make it an even better one. 

Today I was going through my recently fixed laptop (I overloaded it with too much junk to the point that it wouldn't turn on, so we had to have a friend take the hard drive out and remove 25 gigabytes of pictures…Yes, I admit I am a pictureholic. I need help.), and I found a little gem. It's a picture of one of the papers that a student had written (2009 school year). I took a picture of it back then because it was so sweet and it made me smile. It had the same affect on me today as I read the answer to #10. "She could've been a counselor! :)" The question I asked the class was "Did you feel like you could talk to me about your problems with school, friends, and/or home?"

Man! It's like this girl could see into my future. When I read this today I just thought it was so neat that something I am doing 4 years later is something that a 12-year-old girl thought I'd be good at when I taught her in the 6th grade.

Of course her note on the back was the best part. "Mrs. Coats, you are my favorite teacher. When I'm 50 I believe I'll still remember you. You really are awesome. -Ale"

I tell you what, those kinds of notes and words of encouragement from a kid is THE BEST PART OF TEACHING. I know my teacher friends will agree. When it clicks with a student and you see that you were apart of helping them--it's all so worth it. And the best part is that, while confidential, I still get to experience that in counseling! I'll never be able to post a note from a client on the internet or show a friend, but helping a person out and getting to see that moment where they've just seen something in a new light is so exhilarating. I love it. In a lot of ways teaching is what has brought me to counseling and I couldn't be more grateful for that experience. 

Thank you, Ale, for your sweet words. They still make me smile today! 

Lots of Bitter, and Lots of Sweet

This has been a trying and unsettling two weeks in the Coats' Household. Bittersweet for sure.

We are not use to jumping out of our comfort zone on faith and uncertainty. I can definitely say that we have been all too comfortable the last three and a half years of our marriage. (I am mainly speaking about finances…have you ever been to Guatemala?! I mean, seriously, we're all too comfortable).

After much time with the Lord and with our budget, Casey and I have decided that I am going to stay home this school year.

It has not been an easy decision, I assure you.

When I first got pregnant we sat down with our budget and decided that the huge numbers staring us in the face did not match up with me staying at home. Casey's income plus our bills equaled scary, negative, red numbers. That was the end of that, and I told everyone at school that I would for sure be coming back to work in August unless we won the lottery (which we do not play).

After Sawyer was born we took another look at the budget because the thought of going back to work was too sad. I'm not sure what we were thinking had changed…except lots and lots of hospital and NICU bills that kept coming in each day...

July 1st hit, and I basically woke up crying. Was it really already JULY?! Did I really have to leave my sweet baby in another person's home (albeit a really nice person with a really nice home) while I worked 5 days a week? It's just not fair! I might miss her first words, her first steps, lots and lots of sweet smiles and giggles. Surely I would miss important stuff.

Now, I am not the type to say that putting your child in childcare is wrong and would dare not call it "someone else raising your child." I think that is one of the most hurtful things you can say to a mother. If moms didn't work there wouldn't be many wonderful women to teach. I know too many excellent working mothers to say such a thing like that, and I, myself, have plans to go back to teaching someday in the near future.

Fast forward to mid-July….

Sweet Part: Last week I got hired on as a teacher at Mimosa Lane's Playschool (the church Casey grew up in and where we met). I will get to be in the baby room with my sweet Sawyer for her first year of life. Does the Lord provide or what?! Everyone keeps telling me that He honors moms and I already feel that to be true! The position is for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-2:30 with actual playschool from 9-2. I plan to sub on Fridays in Rockwall and Forney (Casey's day off).

Bitter Part: Today I went to school and told my principal and staff that I would not be coming back as a teacher this school year. I couldn't get the words out without crying because I am so so sad to be leaving Smith. It has been a huge blessing the past 3 years. I could not have asked for a more kind and understanding principal. I LOVE my team and other friends that I have made there. I will miss them greatly!

2nd Bitter Part: Money is going to be tight and we have already cut cable, and lots of other "extras" in order to make this happen. This is not going to be without sacrifice. We are use to buying nice gifts, going on an expensive vacation every year, eating out several times a week, seeing several movies a month, going on an anniversary getaway every year, and buying nice clothes. This is all going to change. We have basically cut out all vacations, getaways, restaurants, movies, clothes, and gifts (except for some at Christmas)! It is going to be financially difficult, but this is something that we felt called to do. We are praying that the Lord will provide for us and bless our decision for me to stay at home/work part time.

2nd Sweet Part: I get to stay with Sawyer this school year! I get to take her to work with me! I get to have her at home with me! I get to teach her, watch her grow, and make her laugh at all times of the day! I won't feel guilty working long hours at school or have to ask Casey to pick her up on his way home. I won't have to worry about being exhausted all week because of one sleepless, teething night. I get to sub on Fridays knowing that Sawyer is having a blast with her daddy at home (his day off)!

I am overjoyed that we are going to sacrifice on behalf of our daughter. I know it will be worth it.

It's a CeLeBrAtiOn!!!

I wanted to post a little celebration on here because I just took my last final of the semester! I have been so ready to get my classes over with this semester! I learned a lot, but man where they a beating! SO many assignments and some were really long and difficult! Here is just a little comment I got from one of my professors this evening which made my day! :)

Kelly Kozlowski12/14/2010 7:33 PM

Clearly outstanding!  Any school would be fortunate to have you as part of their team.  Bravo.   Would you mind my sharing this as an example of outstanding work?

Yay! Now I only have to work 4 hours tomorrow before Casey & I head to Houston for a wedding! I am so excited that I don't have to go back to work until January 4th! And before we know it our little girl will be here! 2011 is going to be fun :)

Smith Sharks

Field day at Smith Elementary is a little different than at other schools. It's just a tad bit better. :) K-5 has their own field day and 6th grade has a seperate field day at the middle school where they play the other 6th grade at the neighboring elementary school. It's pretty dang cool if you ask me. I love the rivalry. ;)

Do you see how they put pink duct tape over the other school's name and mascot? Too funny.

The girls doing cheers with one another

The tough Smith Sharks

One of the boys in the 400 relay!

Two of my past students who are now 7th graders at the middle school, Madison & Paige, got out of class to come see me! They have gotten taller than me in one year!

Smith Sharks rock! :)

Rock The TAKS - Check!

The Friday before the big TAKS week our school had our 2nd annual Rock the TAKS day! I did a much better job with my rocker costume this year!

• Pants with holes - Forever 21
• Crazy shirt with dress hanging off of it - Forever 21
• Diva ring - Forever 21
• pink hair pieces - Hot Topic
• fish net gloves - Hot Topic
• dangly star earrings - Wal-Mart (from last year's rock day)
• super cute shoes - already had!

 Here are a couple of pics from the day!

Oh, and did I mention my kids truly rocked the TAKS?! Out of 67 students - only one did not pass! That makes for a 98% passing rate!! Also, out of that same group, 47% of them got commended (a grade of 93% or higher)! I was ecstatic when I received the results and so were they! Now we're just counting down the last weeks of school. Only 5 kiddo days left and 6 teacher days altogether! Hope everyone is having a great end-of-school time! :)

Sweet Students

Just a cute picture of two sweet girls in my homeroom that got all of 6th grade to sign this poster they made for me!

Did you see how at the bottom it says "Age is just a number" ?? LOL. They are ridiculous. =)

Texas looks great in white, doesn't it?

This is what I woke up to on Thursday morning when I opened the garage door and I was shocked! I did NOT think there would be any snow and I was not prepared! I took a quick picture on my way out the door to school.

By the time I got to school it was apparent we would have ourselves a good ole snowball fight at recess! These next 2 pictures were taken on my teammates phone and emailed to me so they look a little different. Here are the kiddos at recess. If you look in the far right-hand corner, you'll see me trying to get away from all of the snowballs that had been thrown at me when I first entered the "fight."

Here I am running away again! Ha ha!

I took this picture from my classroom window.

This was when I got home from work that day.

Lucy absolutely LOVED the snow! She was hilarious in it!

You can see tons of snow falling in this picture!

Check out this funny video of Lucy in the snow! She loved it and acted like a little bunny rabbit hopping around! Very funny in person - don't know if the video will capture her true love for the snow=)

Attempting to make a snow angel, but I was wayyy too cold in jeans!

Casey & I having fun in the snow!

I brought Ella out in the snow to see how she'd like it...she didn't really.

Ella & I

Our house looks pretty in white!=)

The tree looks pretty, too!

Casey & our pitiful snowman with a strawberry nose!

It was a great day and I will post another post later about my snow day on Friday!

Hope you're all having a fantastic week!

Harry Potter!

The week after Halloween (that tells you how far behind I am with blogging…) was Young Reader’s Week at school! Each day the kiddos did something regarding reading such as writing a letter to their favorite author, making their own book, and dressing up as a book character!

As you can see, I dressed up as Harry Potter! Not because I like Harry Potter, because I’ve never read the books, but because I had someone that I could borrow the outfit from! And another person to borrow the Hogwarts banner from! This costume cost me zero dollars and the kiddos loved it! Score! :)

Check out some of my other teacher friends! They were so creative! A lot of us, including myself, were put in the Forney newspaper! In that same paper is an article that I co-wrote about my students going to the North Forney High School football game. I had Casey pick up 2 papers for me. :)

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Hope everyone is having a fantastic week! Mine is going great! Only 16 days til Christmas and only 10 days til I have 2 weeks off! Hip hip! Hooray!

Don’t Judge Me

I took the day off.

Yes, that's right. Don't judge me for it (Beverly, I'm talking to you :) haha)!

I was sick Wednesday night...I felt bad at school that day, left around 5, got Sonic, came home, ate, and then threw up. Yeah, not pretty. Went to bed at like 8:30 that night and went ahead to school the next morning because I didn't have "substitute friendly" plans ready. I decided on Thursday while I was at school (still not feeling well) that I would take off on Friday to catch up on rest, house work, laundry, and errands. You know when you're on your last pair of undies that its time to do some laundry! Well, that’s me! Too much information?

I have done well today! I woke up around 9, giving me 2 1/2 hours of extra sleep, but still an early enough day for all that I had planned!

Here's a run down of my day!

1. First off, I did the dishes and cleaned out the washer & dryer--Casey washed Lucy's bed in there and there was dog hair ALL over it. So trying to clean that out was a lot of fun.
2. After that I started on my laundry while picking up around the house. I will probably do around 8 loads when it is all said and done. I can’t even see my closet floor due to all the dirty clothes that are overflowing from my super-packed laundry basket.
3. Next I took Lucy to PetsMart to get a "puppy bath and brush" for only $11! They bathe her, blow dry her, brush her, trim her nails, and clean out her ears for $11. That's a pretty good deal considering all the time it would take ME to do it. I wouldn’t even know how to go about cleaning out her ears, and I’m sure there would be lots of blood if I tried to cut her nails.
4. After I dropped her off I made my way to the bank where I spent 30 minutes trying to get my silly ATM card fixed. It's been blocked many times and keeps saying "check financial institution." Turns out the problem was on the bank’s end and they fixed it, but it took a long time to figure out the whole mess. I'd already gone in there to take care of it a couple of weeks ago, and thought it had been fixed until I tried to use it again.
5. After the bank I got myself a mocha frappucino at Starbucks.
6. Then I went to Pier 1 to look at all the cutesie Christmas decor, but I kept myself from getting anything this time.
7. Next I went to Old Navy and got my gift for Pokeno night tonight! It's super cute! I can’t tell you what it is because it’s a surprise for tonight! While I was at Old Navy I got an awesome deal on 2 swim suits on clearance! I got a blue and white tankini for $10 and a cute black one piece for $5! I'd been looking for a tankini and a one piece this year, but never found one I liked. Finally! And on sale! Whoo! I also got some cute, pink house shoes. I know most people call them slippers, but I call them house shoes. My current pair have seen much better days. Time to retire them.
8. Now I'm back home doing more laundry and cleaning some more while I watch last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy! I LOVE Grey's. It's by far my favorite show these days.
9. After a little while I'm going to go pick up Lucy at PetsMart and take her to get her last set of booster shots and also her rabies shot at 4:30. I kind of like going to the vet - his office is cool and they have a big, live-in cat. He's pretty cool. :)
10. After that I'll come home and get ready for Pokeno Night! This month it is at Natalie's at 7! I'll be riding with Ginni there. It's been a fun day and, I have fun night ahead of me! Yay for the weekend!

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of my cute-and-cuddly companions on this gorgeous Friday afternoon!

 

Lovin’ My Job Right Now

There were soooooooo many times last year where I did NOT like my job. For whatever reason there were bad days. Either the kids were bad, I hated morning duty, I felt like my principal and AP did not like me, I hated all of the paperwork, I didn’t feel supported by my team or at home, or I felt that I just wasn’t good at it.

This year is not last year.

I looooove my job. I love my kids, I love my principal and AP, I love my team, I love my husband, and I am GOOD at my job. (I still don’t like morning duty or the paperwork, but the rest of my job makes those things so small:).

I know I am teaching my kids something.

I can feel it in my veins.

They are learning things about reading, culture, respect, common sense, and even Jesus.

Yes, I said Jesus. (They have learned that I will answer any question they have. It started with them asking me what the moment of silence was for, then it turned into what I do during it, and then that ball just kept rolling. But really that story is for another day).

Tomorrow is my PDAS (my evaluation). I am not scared like last year. I am ready (I think:). I am not even doing anything differently than I would any other day. Obviously, more thought goes into making sure all of the main objectives they want to see are covered in the tiny time they will be in your room (45 minutes, when I have each class for 90). Heck, I left work earlier today (the night before my PDAS) than I have any other day in the last couple of weeks!

Last year I would not have thought I would care enough to stay at work late to make things BETTER. I was just concerned with staying afloat.

Anyway, here are a few cutie pictures of my super awesome students. (Don’t worry guys, we have waivers from all of their parents saying that they are allowed to have their picture posted on the internet – Forney’s website – and this blog has thousands of less readers – 41 total to be exact. :)

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The first picture is of my current 6th graders hanging signs at the new high school for their homecoming game (their school is right across the street from us). The one next to it at the top is ME in a firefighter’s suit. That is from last year. That thing was crazy heavy. I look funny. Ha-ha. Next to it are some kiddos from this year carrying the posters to the high school. We did that the beginning of October. The 2nd row on the left is when the pumpkin patch came to our school. Each kid got to pick out a pumpkin for $2. The bottom right is a picture of all of the 6th graders from last year posing with the firemen. :)

Have a great week everyone!

Ps. Can you all believe that the holidays are almost here? I am so excited! I realize it is more than a month away, but I can’t wait to put up our Christmas tree! Yay!

Overbooked

Is anyone else feeling overbooked these days?

I am.

I have had this type of week. Or month rather. This school year has just felt this way altogether.

First off, I have all these after school meetings. Today I had 3 obligations... I had to leave one early to get to the next one, and I had to skip the third one altogether. Makes me feel bad when I have to do stuff like that.

The same thing is going to happen next Monday when we have a somewhat important faculty meeting at school, but I will also have an ESL meeting at admin from 4-7 (which is wayyy too long to be working if you ask me - that's 12 solid hours - not to mention all the other after school stuff I need to do). I have my PDAS evaluation next week (most likely Wednesday) and that's something else that stresses me out. All of my teacher friends out there are understanding that one. (Shout out!)

Thanks for letting me vent to you all, my blogger friends.

Leave me any vents that you may also have. I'll listen. :)

Teaching is Life (I guess)

This is my 2nd year of teaching. When I go to work Casey says I am really grumpy compared to the summers I have off. This makes me laugh.

This year I have been working a lot harder, even though they say that the 2nd year is easier than the first. I guess I've been working harder because I know what I'm doing this year. Ha ha.

Anyway, all that to say is that I've been so busy I haven't even had time to read other people's blog, much less write my own. So here I am, back in blogging world, but it's a short one and also shows what's been running my life lately.

Year 2 - This was after "Meet the Teacher" in August

1 year under my belt and the 2nd one underway
Our school theme is "Team Smith - where everyone is a winner" -- basically sports, so here is my outside bulletin board for the first day with the kids names on it. I do want to say that I LOVE my students. They are great and it has been fun having 3 classes instead of 2. At times it makes the day go faster. We'll see if that continues :)

Class Rules along with the student's 'station'

empty bulletin board ready for student's work and buckets for their 'table supplies' - also, a funny story behind the lamp...I wanted a lamp like this and happened to see one in my neighbor's trash (before you judge, hear me out)...I went and ASKED them (I didn't just steal it:) and they said it worked just fine, so there ya go!

More colorful word wall than last year.....last year I had the ugly green and yellow one that they gave me (I have to do this thing called Word Junction), but this year I made a fun, pretty one ;)

Mrs. Coats coat made by Rachel - shout out! :) - also, our strategies board for classwork we do together - it already has stuff up there!

There are trophy cases out in the main hall and we had to decorate them as a team - sports theme, like I said - so my A&M stuff was perfect :) My students already say that I'd do anything for A&M - they are close to right :)

So, there ya go! That's my life in a nutshell for the past month. I hope to post some Labor Day stuff soon. Casey and I had a blast when his best friend, Scott and his wife, Erin came to stay with us!

Stay tuned! :)

Back to School I go...

Well, this week I started back to school for staff development. I went back on Tuesday. It was a tired, busy day. Wednesday and Thursday were also staff developments and tomorrow is a work day (where I work in my classroom & on different projects around the school). We have another staff development on Monday and Meet the Teacher night is that evening. Then one last work day on Tuesday before school starts on Wednesday!!

The first three days were good, although I was VERY tired since my sleeping schedule was off from the summer. By the way, I already miss summer. Ha ha. I do feel like this is going to be a good school year, though. I have been feeling a little bit sad that I won't have my same kiddos. I loved them so much, but I know I will find that with this new group as well.

On that note, I wanted everyone to know that I am making my blog private again, so if you would like to be invited to read, please comment and leave your name and email address and I'll add you. I will be making the blog private again some time next week when school starts, so comment if you wish to read!

Here are some pictures of the last week or two of summer.

I got a free ticket to 6 Flags from school so Casey & I went one Friday and had a blast!

Casey & I on the little train at 6 Flags!

Another try at not having Casey's neck look broken :)

You can't really tell, but I am soaked from head to toe here thanks to the Roaring Rapids!

Casey & I in line for the new ride: Tony Hawk's Big Spin

It made us SO dizzy after it was over!! The ride itself was fun though!

It is kind of like the Crazy Mouse at the Fair that we love :)

We went to Louisiana for Katie's (Casey's high school friend) wedding!

The bride & groom dancing!
A North Mesquite picture :)

Casey, me, Carolyn, & John (Carolyn is one of Casey's best friends from high school)!

And yes, I know my purse clashes with my dress, but that's what happen when you travel 4 hours to a wedding and change into your clothes in the car :)

On one of Mom's days of we ate at Ava's in downtown Rockwall.

Very cute place!!!

At lunch!

Mom enjoying her food!

Our AWESOME food. We ordered two and split both :)

Well, that's the final update on my summer unless I still pictures from my mother-in-law or sister-in-law of our fun trip to the cabin in Oklahoma! I forgot to take any pictures and was kind of bummed, but they took lots for us :)

Happy school year everybody! I hope it's a good one for you all!