Teaching

Well, Thursday was my first day teaching. It was a rough day. A very rough day. I had four naughty kids who led the rest of the class in being naughty. Evan spoke to his baby sister on his fingers cell phone all day, Jayden choked another boy on recess and was sent to the principal's office by the teacher on duty. Then later, he wouldn't come out of the bathroom and was sent to the principal's office for that as well, both times by other teachers so I had no idea. Lizzie was busy all day telling Adrian that she loved him, writing him sneaky love notes, which I confiscated all day long. Basically, I was overwhelmed and exhausted when they were dismissed.

But kicking and screaming, I went back on Friday and things went a lot more smoothly. I had a counselor come up with a Behavior Mapping plan for Jayden, so he pulled him out and set that up with him, then brought Jayden back and had him explain it to me. The rest of the day I only had manageble issues with him. I have to just pick my battles with him. I told the kids in the morning, "We will be having game time later today (playing with Math manipulatives) and anyone who has to pull a red or purple card (my discipline chart) will not be able to play with us." I only had ONE student pull a red card, Lizzie, who rolled her eyes at me when I asked her to work with her letters like the rest of the class, continued to turn around in her chair to flirt with Adrian, and pass notes. She had to have 'Think Time' in another classroom while the rest of the class played. I brought her back in when the kid had 5 more minutes of center time. I had a little chat with her about being a part of our class, and wanting her to participate. Then had her sit down while the rest of the class finished center time.

All in all, it was a FABULOUS day and I know it is because I sobbed in prayer on Thursday asking the Lord to help me.

We had a discussion about Kindness and then I had the kids draw pictures of being Kind and Unkind. Here is Rays:

The left is him being unkind and running someone over in a car. You can see the stick fingure on the far left being run over. Running someone over in a car is very unkind. The right is him being kind and helping someone up who fell, notice the large smile at his kind act.

This is Portia's:

I thought it was a very good visual of being kind and unkind. The kind side, all three girls are blue. The Unkind side, one is being left out, the yellow girl. I was impressed.

Another girl, on her unkind picture, drew someone picking another person's flowers. Our class had some very creative kind/unkind ideas.

Best Thing I Have Heard in a Long Time

Seth was telling me about this Utah story. Please read this girl's blog, especially if you live in Provo.

http://cartoonbrickwall.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-run-in-with-majority-leader-in-utah.html

Anyone who has worked in the service industry knows just how bad it feels to be mistreated by customers. This is a must read!

Nah, Naah, Nah, Goodbye

Today is my last day with Fat Cats, Costa Vida, and Pizza Factory! I no longer have to manage accounts payable!! Sooo Goodbye:

And Hello:

That's right, I am going to be a first grade teacher at Heartland Elementary School! I start on Monday, but won't have students until Thursday. I am getting my teaching license through the ARL program Utah has. It is going to be tough, but I am SO excited.

So from here on out, please address me as Mrs. Atkisson. Thank you, come again.

Secure Blog

I need to make my blog secure, so anyone who enjoys reading about Seth and I's life, please email me and I will invite you: Jackie.atkisson@gmail.com

Thanks!

There is No Place Like Home....Finally!

I have been delaying posting about Seth and I's new apartment because I have no pictures of it with all of our stuff in it, but I cannot wait any longer. We have an apartment!!! It is gorgeous and perfect location and perfect for us and just makes my heart so happy! We have a place to call home. I would like to thank all of our friends and family for taking us in over the months of homelessness, what we would have done without you I shudder to think. :)

Seth has not found a job yet, but we are thinking it will be pretty soon. Hopefully! We just keep on praying and applying!

Here are some pictures before we painted the living room and moved our stuff in:

Living Room

Bedroom

Bedroom Closet

Dining Room/Bar

Kitchen

Bathroom

Tub/Shower

Backyard Patio

Backyard

Soon I will post pictures of it with all our stuff in it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE our apartment.

The Best Female Artists

I am here at work and listening to Shania Twain and Celine Dion and I started thinking about my favorite female artists. I got so happy thinking about them I decided to make a post about it, in honor of their greatness. These are in order of my favorite (read like a book), starting with Celine, of course.

Just as a side note, it was very hard to find modest pictures of Janet and Madonna...these are two scandalous ladies.

I might change the order up or add to this photo list as I remember more artists, so don't hold me to this list. Although, Celine will never be dethroned.

Apartment, Couches, and Bears Oh My!

Ok, well not bears.

Tomorrow Seth and I are going apartment shopping and furniture browsing. Our last apartment was furnished so we need a couch. I am VERY excited to purchase some sort of furniture piece, like a real adult. Here is a picture of a style we like:

Anywaysss, had to blog something.