This post serves multiple purposes:
1) As my entry for the Weekly Photo Challenge
2) As a recap of my first week back to school
3) As a personal reminder of the good life I am living
This is a mural on a building in downtown Cleveland, very close to Progressive Field. I captured this pic while we were having a “Meal on Wheels” (i.e. eating a packed lunch in the van before heading into the stadium).
I wonder how many people working downtown see this mural each day and can’t help but smile.
This is also a framed 8 x 10 pic sitting on a shelf in my classroom. I thought it was a good motivational piece for my students.
Speaking of happy….
It is Saturday and I couldn’t be happier.
I slept in until 8:00 today. After a whole week of getting up before sunrise, this is by far the best thing about this week.
Actually, despite a mini-almost-meltdown on Thursday afternoon, I really did have a good week.
I survived two days of in-service and the first three days of school. Enough said.
I accomplished the task of filling out forms and sorting through beginning of the year paperwork for Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Ian. Every year I wonder how parents who struggle with reading or spelling, or who do not speak English, feel about this task. I sometimes feel like I don’t have a grip and then I think of how overwhelming some parents must feel when they are slammed with multiple forms and school fees. I remind myself how fortunate I am to have an education, and therefore, a job that allows me to write $50 checks without panicking about the grocery bill or the gas budget.
I embraced the changes that were thrown my way.
- My new schedule – While many people hate change, I have found, and posted about the fact that I kinda like it. It was like I was in a new building this week. I have some new teachers to work with. A change of scenery. A different perspective. A fresh start.
- My new classroom – My beautiful new classroom with my fabulous new round tables. They are the envy of many teachers in my building. I love my room…even when it’s 90 degrees outside and 85 degrees inside.
- My Resource Room – What an interesting and fun mix of personalities at multiple grade levels. I am excited to take on this challenge.
- Block scheduling – 84 minutes with the above group gives me so much more time to expand and do fun activities. So far, I have no trouble filing the time.
I balanced work and play. Eleven miles total on my bike. Two very long games of frisbee with the kids. Two parents meetings. Three sports practices. A high school football game. A birthday party for my step-mom that included outdoor-dining at Danny Boy’s and a trip to Menchie’s for frozen yogurt. A lunch date with Tweedle Ian at Pizza Hut.
Next week brings 5 days of school. Can I do it? Five whole days?
The weekend is going too fast. I have a lot more resting to do.
And lesson plans.
And grocery shopping.
And laundry.
I think I need to make another copy of this pic and hang it up somewhere at home. Just as a daily reminder.
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I love that! ๐
How can you see it that big and not smile? ๐ See, I just did. Great entry this week. Good luck on the first week.
Exactly. Thank you!
I LOVE that “Get Happy” photo! I also appreciate your sharing the stories behind the photos.
Thanks for stopping by!
When I saw this picture I had to smile.
How long has it been there? I lived in Cleveland ten years ago, worked about a mile away from Jacob’s (as it was then) and don’t recall it. Good shot, though!
That was last winter.