Deck the Halls.....

I know I meant to be really good about my blog and have been bad, but I am hoping to change that and start updating sooner.
So what's new with me.... I am super busy, but I love it :)
I'm almost done my second placement, I'm at Queen Charlotte Jr. High. I will finish on Wednesday December 17th, which is a bit later than I expected, but oh well. See in Maine you need 15 weeks of student teaching which would have meant that I would end on Friday December 12, but I found out that actually it is 15 weeks if there are no breaks or holidays... so I actually need 85 days, which is why I end in the middle of the last week before Christmas. I LOVE teaching. It was the BEST thing I have ever done. I am currently teaching two grade 8 health classes, a grade 8 math class, two grade 9 science classes and a grade 9 health class and I'm in the library too. I have three supervising teachers which is a little hard. My main teacher I was set up with is now the school librarian and does teach two grade 9 science classes, but since she wanted me to experience more than just that, she got two other teachers to work with me. One is great, while the other..... she's very nice and knows what she is doing but has not worked with a student teacher before. I find the kids in jr high pretty good for the most part, but I am having some trouble with my classroom management skills. I was so used to grade 1's where you could just look at them and say "stop that" and they will listen, but jr high kids aren't like that. I'm not a bitch so I don't want to act like one to the kids, its just finding that middle ground. I've found it in most classes though which is good. I've also received my substitute teaching authorization from the Department of Education and have applied to be a substitute teacher at the Eastern District school board so I'm all ready to start working right after christmas. Unfortunately in PEI they only put up job postings in the late spring, so any positions that are opening up now-ish (from teachers retiring or going on leave) are being filled through word of mouth. I HAVE heard about some mat leaves at one of the high schools. Its really hard since I'm not from the island. If i can't get a long term position, its not the end of the world - I will be able to get subbing hours.
Other than teaching I am still coaching the local swim team.I love it. The kids are just so cute and fun. I have also starting going to the adult swim team and doing practices myself which I need. I've lost most of the weight I put on at school last year (I'm down at least 2 sizes in pants, and according to my mom that's at least 20lbs). Its nice to fit into my clothes again. I still want to tone my body a bit more (like around my middle) so actually going to swim practices should help that. I've also noticed that lately I haven't been finding clothes that I like at the stores. I don't know if I'm not feeling the fashions or if I am starting to look at more grown up clothes. Im also working on de-cluttering my closet and it's actually scary how much I have donated to the salvation army.
Tomorrow is my bday and I'll be 25. Partly for my bday, Matt and I went to Moncton yesterday to do some shopping. I am looking at getting new work clothes - things that are comfy but yet professional for the classroom. We also did a bunch of christmas shopping. It was such as great day. Moncton is only an hour an a half from Charlottetown and has a mall that is similar in size to Halifax Shop. There aren't many places to shop in Charlottetown so it was nice to get a good chunk of our shopping done. It was also nice to hang out all day with Matt. We spend a lot of time together but we don't often go out, so it was nice to do that for a change. Even though we were traveling and the Mall was busy, it was so nice and relaxing. I was actually surprised! I expected to get all stressed out. I don't know what I am getting tomorrow from Matt....the idea was for me to pick out some clothes but I couldn't find anything I like. We also discovered that we agree on what I want for a ring but that it's actually really hard to find what we want. We want a solitaire diamond ring in white gold or platinum. Can't been too big (my hands are small!) and it can't stick up too high (would be so annoying, getting caught on everything) AND we want a really high quality diamond. Expensive and hard to find. So there will NOT be any announcements or sparklie things in my near future. :P We plan on getting married to each other and such, but we are so picky (but at least we agree!). Plus we think that we will buy a house in 2009 rather than get married. Both are really expensive and it is a buyers market right now. Together over 8 years, so we are considered 'common law' which is like being married.
I love christmas time and even though I'm not a Christian, I love the music, the lights, the decorations, etc. On December 1st I started listening to christmas music and I put some christmas lights up on our banister. Now we just need to put our little fake tree up and some snow! Matt and I aren't sure when we are going to Halifax for christmas, but we will be there. Our biggest issue with going to Halifax is that he stays with his parents, and I stay with mine and which its nice to see them, its kinda weird.
Anyways I should get going. I've started getting into the habit of cooking a bunch on the weekends and then we have food for the week all ready. Its nice to get home after a long day or even after swim practice and only have to heat up supper instead of make it from scratch. I do want to do some christmas baking and may head out to get supplies. I love cooking and baking.
I also should curl up and finish my christmas stocking and start Matt's. I've been knitting us new ones and love the pattern. Mine is red with white snowflakes and my name, and Matt's will be navy blue and white. I will post pictures when they are done!
P.S. Post a Comment !!! Let me know what you think! :)