Christmas Break

I made it through my first semester as a teacher. This 2 week break is exactly what I need. Who would have thought teaching 6 hours a day would be more exhausting than a 10 hour day at the office..... The last 2 days were the worst. The children were soooo excited about the break it was impossible to keep them quiet and teach them anything. My main goal for those two days was to just make it through the day without a computer being broke or a child hurting themselves on the damn office chairs the children sit in. I have asked the principal if I may change out the office chairs for regular chairs becuase at least 3 time a day every day for the past 18 weeks, I have a child that can not sit properly in the chair and fall right out of them and then of course once they fall the chair goes flying across the room (because it is on wheels) and hits another child. I hate those chairs... I tried giving my first graders a sticker at the end of class if they sat properly in their chair and not fall out! It didn't work....... I have given up. I now just make sure the fallen child is okay, make sure the child hit by the flying chair is okay and put the fallen child back in the chair and cross my fingers.

I am also responsible for the yearbook and what a task. There are about 250 children ages
3-17 at the school and with this being my first year there, matching faces to names to class has become agravating... I have about 1/3 of this book done and it is due no later than the first week of February. So, over the next two weeks I am going to attempt to get it complete and then spend January fixing faces with names. I have decided to print each teachers page and have them sign off that the names are spelled correctly and the face goes with the name. I can't wait to see how many repairs will need to be done!!!

Once I do return in January, the second semester of this school year, I teach Journalism. I will also spend these two weeks trying to come up with my plans for the class. I have never taught Journalism so I am having difficulty thinking of what to do with this class to make it educational for the students. I have 15 upper school student 5 days a week for 18 weeks...... I am completely open for any suggestions. HHHEEELLLPPP!

As for Doug. There is only one word that can describe him right now. STRESSED. Actually 2 words, COMPLETELY STRESSED. Money is going out and slowly coming back in. He has been spending a lot of time and money on advertising and stocking the store for the holiday season. I keep telling him that for only being open 6 months he is doing a hell of a job. Our bills are paid and most of the stores bill are being paid. Can't ask for much more than that. This Monday, he has decided to go to the bank and see about a business loan to help with the bills. Being in business for such a short time I do not know if they will give him the loan.

Well, I am having all of my family over at 1pm today (in 5 1/2 hours) and my house is in shambles and I haven't started Christmas shopping yet..... I guess I should get started.

I hope everyone has a happy Holiday Season and a Merry Christmas.

Love to all,
Kris