Blessing Continue to Shower on us!

Josh and I have now had two wedding showers!  Ah, it's starting to all get so real.  46 more days until I will be married!  We just talked today about how at this time last year, we were meeting, trying to impress each other and praying that God would let us know that this is, "the one."  Now, a year later we are almost married!  The showers have been lots of fun!  Beth planned one and Josh's grandma and aunts planned the other.  I will have to post some pictures of the new decorations and cute things we received.  It's starting to set in!  This is real :)  It's a very exciting time!

The Unfit Couch

Josh and I are starting to move some of his things over to the apartment in order to do it slowly and not all during Christmas Break.  His Grandma wanted us to move the couch and chair over so that her old couch could go in his room.  So, we called over his brother with a truck to help and went down stairs to take out the couch.  They tried that couch every way possible and it would not fit out the door!!  Haha, it turns out that the basement (drywall, door frames, etc.) had been put in after the couch was already in.  They built the basement around the furniture!  Whoops!  So, the couch must stay but we took the chair.  Now we have two chairs in the living room at the apartment and no room for anyone else ;)  Does anyone have an extra couch they are trying to get rid of?

Good

I'm finding I really like five year olds.  They think everything is so fun!  The other day I began a writing lesson with them.  I read them a book and we talked about how the author is the person who writes the words.  I told them that they were all going to be authors!  We chatted about the similarity of all books.  They have more than one page!  With widened eyes and pumped fists, the kids were amazed that they were going to be able to write stories.  I chuckled to myself as I walked around and looked at their "stories."  There were pictures with arms coming out of heads and random letters strewn about the page.  Every so often a kid would proclaim that they were going to need another page.  It was  fun to watch.

Sometimes I get so caught up with the school work that I forget about them just being cute kids!  I'm reminded every morning when I meet the kids at the door and they look to happy to be at school.  This morning, one of my little guys came in and said very seriously, "Miss Hornback, I have something important to show you!"  He whipped out a toy duck that came from a pizza place the night before.  I'd never seen him so excited about anything!  I love kindergarten because I am amazed to see the innocence and true beauty of personalities.  Even with the trouble makers, I still see so much good in these kids, even when I have to look a little harder for it ;)

Starting to Pick up!

This past weekend, my roommate from college got married!  She asked me to sing in her wedding!  Though I was honored, singing/playing guitar in our dorm room was a little bit different than singing/playing guitar in her wedding!  I sure didn't want to ruin the ceremony with a horrible voice crack or sour note on the guitar caused by sweaty hands, haha.  But, I reluctantly agreed and it went very well.  I didn't even get "cotton mouth."  It was fun to reconnect with old college/camp friends and catch up.  Of course I was taking mental notes the whole time because OUR wedding is next!!  Ah, so hard to believe.  This coming weekend is my family wedding shower.  I can't believe things are coming so fast.  December will be here before we know it! :)

I love Kindergarten!

I love Kindergarten!  This is so great!  I haven't even had to take any work home with me each night!  The curriculum is so basic that it allows me to teach these little people how to get along, be respectful and take turns.  They are doing really well.  They are actually a lot more advanced than I thought they would be.  It has been a little difficult for them to remember to sit down in the chair, raise their hands before speaking and to not pee on the playground (hahah!) but for the most part, they are learning quickly.  The students have already shown improvement in writing their names and using letters on their pictures.  It's pretty fun to watch them get so excited about things!

More to come soon!

My new classroom!

This is Josh in his classroom!

 

                                           Sorry I couldn't get them to flip :(

Unexpected Adventure

Well, I'm now a Kindergarten teacher!  I got the call last Friday that my job had been eliminated and that I was being displaced to a new school and new grade!  At first I was shocked and upset.  I didn't know how to teach Kindergarten.  I had just gotten one year of 1st grade under my belt and was excited to try it again.  BUT, apparently God had other plans :)

I'm now at Wegienka Elementary.  It's a really nice school full of friendly and helpful staff.  I have a really nice principal and secretary who have found me all the supplies I need.  I have another kindergarten teacher there who has given me all her lesson plans, packets and templates to make my own!  She's been a huge blessing!  Though I will miss my old school and friends, I think I will be very happy here at the new school!  I feel like this is right where God wants me to be :)  As for teaching kindergarten, I'm excited to be able to teach them how to be little students and get along with others.  I get to be the foundation of their learning.  I get to teach them the basics of letters, sounds and reading.  It will be nice to start fresh!

My theme for the classroom is the jungle!  Josh made me a reading tree, I have vines in the corner, animals and grass around the room.  I will get pictures of it next week when it's all finished! :)