Kristan 'Flexibility' Hurtado!

First thing I've gotta say is that I am LOVING my student teaching placement!!! I couldn't have a better master teacher! I'm learning so very much and loving every second!

Okay, now that that's out of the way her begins the crazy tale of the mobile first grade!!! So the school I'm at is very small compared to other schools in the district and I guess they are shy a few teachers (can anyone else say 'future employment'? :D). So my teacher is in a k/1 split and for those that don't know, this means that she has both kindergarten AND first grade in her class. There are a few other first grade classrooms and a few other kinders. Well I guess the fourth grade was filled to overflowing with kids and so they yoinked one of our first grade teachers and plopped her smack dab in the middle of the fourth graders!!! Discombobulation much?! Well, now they were in a bit of a predicament and decided to divvy up the class that belonged to the displaced teacher! Well my class already had quite a few so we could only take two more but other teachers are receiving as many as 9 new students!!!! CRAZY!!
Well, this switch required the moving of the displaced teacher's stuff. In order to accommodate the needs, the first graders were shipped to the cafeteria where they could watch a movie out of the way of the teachers. One might think, hmmm...good idea! and in essence it really was; however in execution it seemed a bit lacking in supervision. One supervisor for the entire first grade? I had to stop a biting/hitting contest between two boys and let's just say it was quite a day. Tomorrow my master teacher and I are in charge of 56 first graders and kinders while the moving continues. lol I left the school today with my master teacher's praises about what a wonderful help I was and how she's glad I'm in her classroom; as well as assurances that this was definitely NOT a normal school beginning. lol



All I can say is that at least I'm having fun!

Can you even believe it?!

Because honestly I can't myself! (yes I know not to start a sentence with 'because' lol) School is about to begin and I find myself looking forward to it! It will be wonderful to have something worthwhile to occupy my time with! I feel like summer and I have had our fun and now it's time for something serious. This summer has offered me relaxation and rejuvenation but now that's turning into boredom and frustration with the fact that I'm doing nothing with my time. During the semester I have a goal, something to accomplish, and yes, it does suck sometimes but I feel as though I've gotten to a point in my life where laziness is just not fun anymore. Yes I do enjoy my 'me' time where I can do nothing but read but then I like to rejoin the "real world". So yes, I am excited to begin the school year!

Thinking about next semester has also gotten me thinking about how I am at an age and in a position of complete freedom! That's not to say that I don't have my responsibilities but I am unattached; I have no children and no husband with whom I have to coordinate my plans. If I wanted to quit school and backpack across Europe, I could! The possibilities are endless and every door is open to me! (Now don't you worry mom and dad, I'm not quitting school lol ) It's just nice to know that the potential is there. I used to be completely obsessed with finding a boyfriend or someone to whom I could dedicate my time and love but I'm finding myself and feeling complete in and of myself without needing a significant other to complete me :D

A hard lesson has been learned in all my 22 years (almost 23!) and yes it may seem obvious but it took time for me to believe it. I don't have to settle for anyone who is not willing to invest both in me and himself as well as be mature enough to not resent any work he may have to do. I feel as if I've regained my romantic sensibilities and tempered them with a little sense! (Both Marianne AND Elinor!)

Well there's my musings for the night! Hope to hear from me soon!!!! XD lol

Books or boys?....hmmm

I've been thinking and I realized that boys and relationships can be like books! Let's say you read a book; if it was a good book, you close the back cover and sigh, remember all the good times you had and set it aside with no hard feelings AND you get to remain good friends! If it was a bad book you close the back cover and think about what could have been better, could you have done anything? Maybe been more open to the author's writings? Or was it all the book's fault? Either way you set it aside vowing that you will never go back. However, later you begin wondering if it was all a mistake and whether you should give that book another chance. See what I mean? lol One major difference though, is that books are better...sometimes...lol

Anyways...this is what comes of being hyped up on Mountain Dew and coffee from work!!! I get nostalgic dreams that lead to profound thought!

Here's to yet another day of work!

WTF stands for ...where's the fun?

SO long time no update, I can't say that life has been crazy busy but it's been good. In exchange for the lack of updates, I am providing any readers I may have with the charming photo above! Available exclusively on this blog! (Why yes, that IS me in a Transformer's mask in the middle of Toys R Us!)

I've been working my butt off for the last few weeks at Job number whatever (lol I forgot but it's ok cus there's only one job now which will henceforth be known as JOB) and I am tired!

So let's start with the big news...dun Dun DUN! I passed all three of my CSET exams at once on the first try!!! YAY! I went the the exam location filled with apprehension and like a hundred pencils in my purse. I even brought a sandwich! lol So I'm sitting outside the building feeling stupid and WAY behind because I should have taken these tests like a year ago and this was my last chance. Everyone had been telling me how difficult they were and I'm sitting there my thoughts vacillating between, "Oh crap! C'mon you can do it! Shoot shoot SHOOT! Hmmmm, let's see do I REALLY want to be a teacher? I mean really?" Sounds more negative than positive right? Anyway the stupid test takers have to go and make me even more neurotic by confiscating my freaking phone! Now I know how cliche it is to be so attached to your cell but did they really have to take away the only tool of encouragement I had left?!!! AKA "Hi mom I'm about to take my test..." (mom says) "Oh you'll do great honey!" I really needed that!!! (Jeez sometimes I feel like my posts need illustrations! lol ) Needless to say I got through it and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but it wasn't as easy...does that make sense? I guess it doesn't matter because I PASSED!!! Oh and when I went to pick up my phone they told me it had been going off like crazy! I thought I turned it off...but that's what they get for taking it away from me in the first place! XD


BTW I underwent a major transformation! From blonde to brunette (my hair's natural state)

Guess who's graduating?!! ME that's who!!!

So life has been pretty crazy and hectic for the last few months and I can see the finish line (if only a temporary one...). I feel like it's starting to get to me and I refuse to let it! Little moments like when my students are understanding and engaged in a lesson I planned WHILE MY SUPERVISOR IS WATCHING! are so great and make me remember "hey! I like kids and this really IS what I want to do!" However, those moments are few and far between but can't let it knock me out!
BTW how stupid is it to be disqualified from food stamps because you're going to college full time and can't possibly work 20 hours a week (unless you want to kill yourself!)? I mean really that is completely mental! So what they are saying is that if I weren't going to school and being a bum with no job instead that I would get assistance? Really?! C'mon people! Anyway rant over...lol
So the seester might be moving out to pursue a RN down home with the parents which means either I need to find a new roommate FAST or win the lotto FAST! Honestly, I'd prefer the roommate but if fate INSISTS that I win the Lottery than who am I to argue? lol Really though...I'm kinda over this whole roommate situation, it just isn't what I want, I've moved maybe 6 times since I've been attending college and the best move has been to live with my sister! We know each other better now and just work well and live well together...I'm going to miss her (and struggle a bit without her) but I'm happy that she is going after what she wants. :)
Oooh and I met a boy! lol he's so sweet and very nice to me and my sis and friends and just such a great guy that I keep on thinking "ok, what's going on here?" could it be that he's just what he seems? A nice guy? lol

Well back to the homework! almost 10 lesson plans to spit out :P (ptui!) lol