Nice Neighbors and Classroom in Del Rio

While we were away on our honeymoon, our neighbors across the street took care of our house and got the mail.  We came home on Sunday morning at 2am with a big trailer full of my stuff.  We parked in the driveway and went straight to bed!  After flying and driving all day, we were exhausted!!  When we woke up the next morning to unload the trailer, we found that our neighbors had put a fun sign on the trailer to welcome us back:

Our house and my classroom were a mess for several weeks after the honeymoon (it's only been five...), and we are finally finishing up and getting things clean!

The weekend before school started, I finally got my classroom ready for my students!  We started school a week ago, so it is not quite as clean as it was in all these pictures... The piles on my desk have grown to immense proportions, and the desks aren't in straight rows anymore, but it still looks pretty good! :-)

Here are some pictures (click on the collage to make it bigger)...

My classes are packed to the brim, so I have had to add 8 extra chairs so all the kids in my geometry class don't have to sit on the floor!  Luckily, the school likes to freeze us out in the mornings, so it doesn't get hot and stuffy until about the end of 7th period.

School is going pretty well, although it is quite an adjustment to go from 75 students to 175!! (Actually, I haven't done official class counts in a few days, and they are changing almost every day, so I'm not really sure how many kids I have....)  I have learned all the names of the kids in 5th period, though, and know all of them by sight (almost).  I'm still working on the other classes, but I feel like I am making good progress!!  The papers everyday, though, are a little staggering, but I think I can get used to it.

The kids make me laugh everyday, and some of them drive me to the edge of frustration every day.  They are just your typical 15 and 16 year olds!  I actually received a hug from a kid the other day...one of the freshman boys in my class.  I was a little shocked, but it felt nice to know that I was accepted by at least one person!  Another kid wanted me to pound fists with him the other day...I'm still learning those moves. :-)  I've had a great time getting to know the kids and the teachers, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the year.  Busy, busy, busy!!

And, on top of this, I have started a master's program at the university in Del Rio.  The school district is paying for the math and science teachers to get their master's degrees as part of their school improvement plan, so of course, I had to jump on board.  Who would turn down that kind of opportunity?!?!  So, I'm going to classes on Wednesday night and working on an online math class as well.  It's all very exciting, and I am glad to be doing it!

Now, off to grade papers and finish planning for tomorrow...