Back to School

On Monday, I start orientation for teaching.

The students start the following Monday, the 27th.

Am I nervous?

You bet.

Am I overwhelmed?

You bet.

Am I stressed?

You bet.

Am I excited?

You better believe it!

Last night, I had a small emotional breakdown.  I am so overwhelmed with everything that I want to have done before school starts.

Thank goodness for my sweet husband during times like this.

Who held me while I cried and didn't stop holding me until he had successfully put a smile on my face.

When I wanted to keep preparing and planning through the late hours of the night, Taylor played the "Dad role" and set a 30 minute timer.  He told me that I had to be in bed by the time that timer went off.  

Thank goodness he listens when my body is pleading for sleep, because I often ignore the pleadings completely when I have a "To-Do List."

Have I mentioned how grateful I am for Taylor? So grateful.

I am starting to realize that I will forever be indebted to this wonderful man.

Back to School isn't all bad though...because Back to School also means Back to School SHOPPING!

Growing up, we always got a few new outfits, maybe a backpack, and a new pair of shoes before the first day of school.  And now that I have a "first day of school" all over again, I decided that I once again qualify for back to school shopping!

Marci and I went shopping earlier this week, and I found a few gems.

Notice the jewelry galore.  That was mostly what I was looking for, since my wardrobe is already significant. Ha

I was also looking for some more slacks/dress pants.  But I always have the hardest time finding any that fit me.  They usually need to be hemmed (which isn't a big deal), but they are also usually so baggy in the thighs.  Dress pants are meant to be flowy, but when you're 5'1" and have miniature thighs like I do, the flowy pants look more like a trash bag than anything else.  Awesome.

So I didn't have any luck finding pants this go around.

But then, a few days later, I went to D.I. to find a globe, and I noticed racks upon racks of dress pants.  So I decided to give it a shot.  And I left the store with 3 darling dress pants that fit me perfectly! Some other shorty out there had already had them hemmed to perfection!  They are in mint condition, and to top it off, I left the store with 3 dress pants and a skirt for $22!  Why am I not shopping there everyday?

Love me a good deal.

Oh, and we can't forget the new sperrys that should be coming in the mail today :)

My sweet mother-in-law saw this lunchbag in the store and got it for me!  It's even insulated on the inside!  Isn't it darling?

This is Taylor's favorite corner of the house....not.  All of my school supplies/decorations ready to go into my new classroom!

These colored felt pens are easily my favorite purchase.

Alright, enough procrastinating.  Time to start planning some more. 

Back to school I go!

Mrs. Gilbert

It's starting to feel real!  I got an email today telling me which classes I will be teaching come August.  I will be teaching:

4 World Civilization classes (with a mix of geography!)

2 U.S. History classes

4 semesters of Government

This means I will be teaching a good mix of all grades (9-12)! I'm excited for that!  I am a little nervous about the World Civilizations (since I never took a class like that in high school), but I am excited to figure it all out.  And, I'm pumped about the Government and U.S. History classes! Dream!  I will have a blast with the Government classes during the first semesters because of the 2012 Presidential Election.  Any ideas on how to make that great?  I've got a few swimming in my own head right now, but I'd love to hear more ideas!

I'm also looking for ideas for the first day of school.  I'm still having a hard time deciding what I will do. Ideas?

I am still sometimes surprised when I think of the career choice I ended up deciding.  Considering, I was convinced I wanted to be a family practice doctor all of my life.  I worked so hard in high school and even started college early to start on the path of becoming a doctor. Oh, being a doctor is still a dream of mine.  But, I realized that I was so obsessed and in love with the idea, that other realities and dreams were being pushed to the side (like getting married, having children, raising a family).  As hard as it was to let that dream go, I know that I will be able to focus on much more important (and eternal!) dreams with my new career choice.  

And I am more pumped than ever!

It's getting real!  I'm a teacher! So excited!

Just 2 more months and I'll be in the classroom with some awesome kids.

Can't wait.

Hoorah for graduating and starting real life!

And the job hunt is over!

On Monday, I accepted a teaching job!  I am so excited! I never thought I would teach in a charter school, but I am actually way pumped about it.  There are so many pros that I am loving more and more every minute!  I have been so impressed with the students and staff at the school I chose and I can't wait to join the team!  I AM GOING TO BE A REAL TEACHER in just a few short months!!  Crazy, right!? In fact, the principal of the school even wanted me to start today because one of their current history teachers just left for maternity leave.  While I would have LOVED to be familiar with the school and staff before I officially start, it didn't end up working out (mostly because I was just promoted at doTERRA to a position that requires full-time hours and I still need a job for the rest of the summer ;)).  But, I felt so honored.

Can I brag for just a minute?  When I declined a teaching offer from another school, the principal of this particular school emailed me and wanted to negotiate the salary in order for me to accept the position.  She told me I was their number one candidate and they really wished I would join their team for next year.  Flattering, right?

But everything about this particular school still felt right to me.  And I am so excited for what's in store!

Can life be any better?  A full-time teaching job in my pocket, summer evenings with my handsome husband, ((a brand new macbook pro)), and many good times with friends, neighbors, and family.  I love this life.

I feel like this picture accurately expresses my feelings right now.  Hand in hand, him and I can conquer anything. :)

Hoorah!!!

I just found out moments ago that I passed my Praxis teaching test!!!! This test is a World and U.S. History test ranging from 1400 B.C. to Present history...unreal right!?  I was so nervous, because I left the test feeling very unsure.  I was positive I had failed.  Tay kept telling me he thought I passed, and...he's was right!  (and this time, I'm not the least bit nerved that he was right and I was wrong!).  Why is this news so exciting? Now, GRADUATION feels real!  In less than 20 days, I will be walking in a BYU cap and gown.  I am completely, 100% finished with EVERYTHING! I am ready to celebrate by going to California and lying on the beach all day.  Mama Gilbert and Regan...you ready for this!?  Because I AM!

Yes, I had just shed a few tears. I am just so happy!

This weekend, we had the chance to celebrate Rachel's (Ryan's wife) birthday.  It was so fun!  I think me, Taylor, Marci, and Tom were the only white people, and the only one's who didn't speak Spanish.  But it was so fun!  And everyone was so nice...even though we probably looked a little clueless sometimes.  We had a blast!

Happy birthday, Rachel! Isn't she beautiful?

I'm a teacher.

I love the students in A-4. Funny kids. Smart kids.  Today, we did texting polls to review for what we learned last class.  Texting polls work like this: students text in which answer they think is the correct answer.  As the program receives the text, it will automatically reflect which percentage of students have guessed which questions.

It's the best program ever. I love it.

Anyways, after doing a few review-based texting polls at the beginning of class, the students asked if they could do one more that was just a "fun one."  I agreed, and asked them what question they wanted to answer.  One student said, "Let's guess your middle name!" Sounds good to me.  I made a bet with them:  if 100% of the students got the answer correct, they could all leave class (keep in mind, this was about 10 minutes after class started).  Risky bet?  Very.  But I was confident in my "trickster" skills.  Since the projector was still on, they could all see me create the poll.  So they saw me put in every answer option.  I "thought" about each option, so as to throw them off.  Then the ultimate curve ball?  As I was "thinking" of the last name to write down (the correct answer), I stalled a little longer than the other three times.  One student shouted out, "Use the name Camille!"  So I started typing "Camille" and then paused, backspaced and said, "No, I just thought of one."  And then typed in "Kristine." <----the correct answer.  They were all confident that Kristine was not the answer.  At least they were smart and all chose to answer the same one. But sadly, they did not get it right.  Ah, the joys of being a teacher.