every year i ask myself, "why am i teaching summer school again?"

where to begin? so much has been going on this week!

on monday i went up to cabell with plans to help robin (one of my coworkers) go through some cabinets as we went through our science curriculum for next year...and got paid for it! (or will on some check off into the future..i didn't think we would). then i stuck around and worked on some painting, but didn't finish, so i had to go back on tuesday.

my t-shirt...painting is messy for me...i like people to know what i've been up to.

i was very thankful that ms. tesfai showed up to help out because she is good company-especially for that kind of a project! got most of the cafeteria done, but there are still some finishing touches around the bldg. i felt so bad because just after i finished, i was pushing the cart with the paints back toward the art room. i saw the little lip on the floor by the gym  doorway, and decided if i got the cart going fast enough, perhaps i could push it right over! (feeling a bit evil kenevil) well. in my mind it was masterful. in reality there was an abrupt stopping of the vehicle, with a loud thud as several gallon cans of paint flew from the cart-thankfully only one bust open and spilled with streaks flying across the room and hitting the chairs and table piled up in the hallway.

tony, our awesome custodian came around the corner because he heard the great attempt and rescued some of the spilled paint and made me feel much relief by saying, "no worries, we're stripping the floor later anyway."

wednesday we had our first of a 2-day training for summer school. it was a pretty good training. except for the 2 men that somehow always ended up near my table and insisted on talking and being a distraction. by the last session the second day i was really fed up, and when it was my turn to present something, i stood up and waited and the presenter looked at me and i had almost everyone's attention, so finally i said what i say with my students, "i'll wait. until you're ready." i think it finally sunk in that i was waiting for them and i wasn't about to be talking over an adult. (teachers are the worst about this).

on friday we worked at our summer school-meetings all morning, setting up in the afternoon-between grade-level meetings. third grade is the grade that is going to be closely monitored this summer, and we have lots of kids in our 3rd grade....we divided kids into classes, maxing at 23 students per class and we have sections 3A through 3M....i believe we may have to make smaller classes-which might move us into sections 3N and 3O...nothing like a little chaos!

oh, and i was going to be in a gen ed class, but now i will be teaching bilingual.

so, we finally got everything pretty much figured out. smile. then when i got a minute, i ran to the bathroom and after washing my hands, i stood in front of the hand dryer waiting for it to come on automatically...then i realized it was one of those with the button...manual hand blowers...we're so spoiled.

so used to the automatic ones!

when i got home from school, we took a walk and chaco decided to hide behind the bushes. he really thought we couldn't hear or see him...i mean, besides the fact that he was on the leash.

shhhh...

then i saw on facebook that one of the recipe books i was interested was available for free download! woohoo! (i didn't realize i could download it without a kindle, but my friend carol was a hero and posted to let me know)

i'm excited to try some more of the goodies in this book!

and so last night, i definitely bought the necessary ingredients to make some amazing breakfast bars! and they are delicious even as a snack!!

i know it doesn't look like much, but it is figs, dates, dried cherries, etc...yum-o!

yep, we have a frog theme.

now i need to finish some lesson plans because i finally finished the last part of my door for summer school!

julie