Grajumucation

As of this Friday, December 14th, I will be officially graduated. (Yes, I still get to walk in April) BUT I have done everything that I need to do to say that I have a  Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Education. 

ooh. Fancy. 

The last two weeks of student teaching was pure torture on account of the fact that I was burnt out on the whole not getting paid bit. The whole no-finals thing is kind of making up for that. I did have a few .. interesting moments to end that part of my life. 

1. The most awkward of them all. I had a student who really liked me. A male student who really really liked me. To the point that he noticed when I wore new clothes and complimented my hair. (This just makes him  sound gay... I'm trying to emphasize how much attention he paid me but it's not working.) Driving to school on our very last day, I told Jenepher (my teaching partner), "I hope no one tries to hug me. And by 'no one,' I mean 'Sam*'." And try he did. I dismissed the class, everyone leaves. I lean against the counter and turn my head to the back desk to talk to Jen. Then I hear, "Mrs. Gardner" extremely close to me. I turn my head and there he is, with his arms half way around me and about 8 inches from my face. In response, I gradually move my arm up, so as not to touch him (HE WAS THAT CLOSE!) and I go, "High Five!" I hope I never see him again anywhere. 

2. This one was hilarious. I misplaced my calculator which looks exactly like the school calculators so I asked all my students to check their calculators to see if it got mixed up in theirs. I approach two little guys and one of them has the same calculator. I ask him if he checked it and then remembered it was his personal calculator and had his name and phone number in it. So he holds up his calculator so his number is showing and goes, "Take a good look Mrs. Gardner." To which I respond, "Blake*! I'm a married woman!" Him and his little friend were in giggles for the next five minutes. I kid you not. Literally five minutes. I asked them if they were still laughing after those five minutes and the other one goes, "It was SOOO funny!" 

3. This one happened with the twin boys I tutor. One of them was asking me a question but wasn't wording it very well. I told him the answer depended on how he was thinking about it. He said, "Well I'm thinking about it like a 13 year old boy so how am I thinking about it?" I responded, "I have no clue. I've never been one of those." They both burst out laughing and the other twin said, "That's the second funniest thing we've heard all day!" I want to know what the first is. 

If we're to learn anything from these stories, it's that my niche in the humor department is at Junior High boy level? And that I'm happy to be graduated and a little scared of what comes next. Also, that I never got a picture of me in teacher clothes because clearly I'll be wearing sweats for the rest of my life, right Ty? 

Peace and Blessings!

*Names have been changed because I'm not really sure where these stories fall on the confidentiality spectrum. 

Almost Alive Still

You may have noticed our absence the last little while. We're heading into the last stretch of school for awhile and we've been exhausted. It's a very overwhelming feeling to know that after December 7th, I don't have to go to school ever again. 

I am a Math Teacher so it's not likely but knowing that's an option is just a little bit scary. 

Like I said, we're exhausted, over worked and sleep deprived but we've never been happier. 

Happy Holidays my lovelies! 

I am my mother

I knew this day would come. 

The day where I'm teaching and all the sudden I can't take it anymore and I unleash my rage on unsuspecting students.  

Which also happens to be the day where I also fully embarrass myself in front of my class {on purpose} to further my students' education. 

What happened today? The whole range of emotion. That's what. It's amazing I didn't pull a Kristen Bell and start crying. I was dang close. 

One of my classes was ridiculously rowdy. I just assigned a new seating chart and because of that I learned of a new combination of students that should never be within a 100 ft radius from each other. I had to ask these students to stop talking roughly a .... blah blah blah. It was a bad day. I was unraveling. I used the word "inappropriate" more than anyone ever should and one student asked me if I was having a good day to which I lied and said it was great and then he asked if the class was making it hard to maintain my "good day." I had another student ask if I would change her seat because the naughty students mentioned above were stealing her things and bothering her like crazy. I told her i'd fix the problem and then the bell rang. 

And then what did I do? I walked into the hallway where I found two students hurling a football as hard as they could at each other. And then I bee-lined to the closest child, shoved my index finger straight in his face and said through my teeth complete with fire in my eyes, "You. No." I think it was the voice of Voldemort. 

Then I went to the faculty lounge, basically pulled my hair out and said, "Oh crap. I am my mother."

And on the other end of the spectrum, another one of my classes was dead. Check them for a pulse. Poke them with a stick. Dead. So I did what any teacher would. 

I pretended I was Ellen starting her show and I played "Call Me Maybe" and danced up and down the aisles, clapping and trying to get everyone to join in. Once I decided I didn't care what forty 14 year olds thought of me, I really got into it. After which, I gave them a 2 minute break because I was winded.

Oh crap. I am my mother. 

Birthday Week

I know your birthday is only supposed to be one day but mine is always a week long event. I'm a lucky girl like that. With my family being so spread out, the cards and packages just trickle in and I LOVE IT.

{Giant Kit Kat Bar from Jen. So freaking cool! and delicious too}

However, I don't even need gifts. I love my birthday. I just love the day. I wake up hyper. The night before, I go to sleep hyper. I just can't help getting giddy. Even though this is the 24th time I've been through this, it never gets old.

{The Whole Gang!! Jaron and Emily, Cami, Scotty, Conner and Alissa, Amy and Rachel, Alli , and my love Ty}

And to top it all off, I got to spend my birthday weekend with some of my nearest and dearest. My in laws threw me a little shindig on Sunday and then we had some of my family and friends over on Monday night for cake and ice cream. Then my Washington fam called on Facetime and sang to me. Almost as good as actually being with them. Almost.

{The lovely Joanifer}

My fave birthday presents were 1) My niece's babysitter telling my sister that said niece kept saying, "Happy Birthday Emy! Emy's Birthday Today!" and 2) Ty sitting on the side of the bed, in the dark wee morning hours with his arm around me singing Happy Birthday to me. So cute!

{Love this sweet boy}

So I'm Basically a Math Teacher I Guess..

Wanna hear a joke?

What did the zero say to the eight?

“I like your belt!”

{Get it? Draw it out if you have to. Now you get it? Awesome right?} 

Hahaha it kills me. My students didn’t find it very hilarious. And I also got it off of Ellen the other night so some of them had already heard it. Namely two male students. Wha? They blame it on their moms but I know the truth.

And student teaching has been fabulous. Every single one of my fears has completely dissipated. My coordinating teacher, Mr. N., is fantastic. He is very concerned about our educational experience and makes sure we get to teach often. {If you noticed I keep saying  “we” it’s because I have a wonderful student teaching partner, Jenepher.} Mr. N. is also so excited about math and teaching that his students are excited to be there too. It has made it so easy for us to step in. How many behavioral issues have I had to deal with? Zero. Nice belt. It may not be the best thing for my overall educational experience but at the end of the day, it makes it not so scary to get up in front of them when I know they’ll be respectful.   

Also, my humor has dropped to an 8^th grade level. The other day the teacher said something about soup and a student said something about monkeys and then another student said, “Do you like your monkey soup with the bones and tail or do you prefer it without?” Wha? Hilarious. I lost it. And beyond losing it, every time I think about it, I laugh.

I’ve been so blessed to be having the experience I am but I’m also looking forward to GRADUATION. What what!! And then I’m just going to bake and sew all day long forever, right Ty? 87 days til I’m done with this biz. 

Woo! 

Last First Day

... At BYU. 

I am planning on being a teacher so there should be many more to come. 

And boy oh boy, was I stressed. I'm student teaching starting tomorrow and I had all kinds of panicked dreams last night with cameos by several people from my past including my 6th grade crush. You know, all the important people. Let's just say, it was raining, my hair was a week past "greasy", I was late and I was at my elementary school. No bueno. 

Not to mention the fact that cub scouts really had me re-thinking if I would be able to handle 30+ students at a time when I can't even deal with 3 eight year olds. 

However, after my seminar today and meeting up with my partner and University Supervisor, I'm feeling much better about the months to come and a renewed sense of why I chose this in the beginning. 

Because I love Math. Because I had great teachers. Because I want to make a difference. 

Best For Last

Now you were probably thinking, "Emily, where are the action shots of all the rides you went on?" Well don't worry, I read your mind. 

{At least the girl in front of us was ready}

{We're big fans of Space Mountain}

{ The Racers at night were the BEST}

{Not staged at all. I actually love the woman across the aisle, shielding her child in her cleavage}

{Couldn't see a freaking thing}

{The best for last}

Oh and here we are just looking fly.

{Just chillin outside Radiator Springs}

{These are the sunglasses I will never see again}

{Just hanging on Route 66}