This view is facing west...towards the white board and the lecture area. It isn't as cool but will be when I get unlazy and hang a few things on the walls.



So.. What do you think...This view is looking East...towards the Lab area I have...cool I have a lab area. Thanks so much to the REdd Family for putting the laminate on the floor. It looks awesome...Thanks all those boys who helped.

School is starting soon!

Well,
Meridian School. I have been there for 14 years now. The first year I taught I gave birth to my third child Kevin during February. The other day a couple was touring our school and surprisingly he said, "Hello, Mrs. Slade". I looked a bit crazy that day. I had ridden my bike and hadn't showered as of yet. I think I might have looked like I was trying to be so cool.

"Do you remember me?" "My name is...." I graduated in 1994. You were my AP biology Teacher. I got a 4 on the test. Thanks a ton...I got out of taking college biology because of that.

Wow! A student from the first year I taught. He is married with three kids and lives out east. He is a teacher. He came to see what the school was up to. I guess it really did mean something to some of my kids. We remembered a few things together. And then he left. I guess teaching is a good thing. Maybe students really do remember their teachers at times. Yea!

Well next post I am going to take a picture of my classroom. I do not know how long I will be there but I plan on enjoying each day I have in that room. You will see just how cool it is soon.

I guess I have to start working again soon. I have enjoyed my free time. It is very different deciding what to do with each hour of the day instead of having it dictated by a bell. Oh well. Bells will start ringing soon. I look forward to teaching again. I hope I can help a few students this year.

Later....

Am I ready for this?

so this week was an eye opener. We had no children at home. So strange. Both girls went to girls camp and of course TRevor is all grown up and out of the house. What to do. Well, given this new freedom John and I decided to take off for a few days and just have us time. It was a bit strange. I am a bit adventerous and prefer doing things. John has a broken foot, still. He tried hard to not let it bother him but I found myself a little old feeling each time we just did mild nonactive activities. Strange.

I also found that I noticed families with small children everywhere and I missed those days. But all in all it was wonderful. There is no one else I would prefer to just hang out with than John. He truly loves me for who I am and seems to honestly enjoy my company. That is so cool. So we made big plans. Go back to park city and bring our bikes...ride down the mountain. Hike, hike hike, and just tucker ourselves out. This time though was relaxing. Swimming is one of my favorite past times, especially when I have the pool to myself. So, I would get up early, which is normal, go down, eat breakfast and then swim by myself until John came down to join me. HEAVEN!

I often feel too young but then realize that is just how it is. After we got home I spent the evening enjoying my neighbors grandkids. That helped alleviate the missing kids part. They are great.

This week

This week has been eventful and yet noneventful at the same time. I enjoy weeks like this. I have spent a lot of time in my classroom trying to clean out from the mess I made when moving. I have been going through box after box. when I first started moving I really made an effort to organize the equipment into specific boxes...unfortunately by the time I was almost finished I was so tired that I began to just throw things into boxes. If it fit that was all I asked. I am now paying the price but doing well.
I also discovered that my sink doesn't quite work the way I had hoped it would. I used it the other day for a while and thought nothing about it...then I went into the storage closet and discovered that the water was draining into the closet. I am not sure how that works...or how they set up the plumbing but for me it really doesn't work. I have to figure this out because I know that I will be needing the sink a lot. I decided to inform the administration and see what they did. they are used to me being pretty self sufficient and doing things myself. This does save them a lot of money so they seldom say much.
I also broke a display case while moving a cabinent into my room. I fixed it...it wasn't the best but I think it looks good and no one has said much to me since. so I guess it is exceptable. Yea me. One thing I have learned is that if I really want to I can learn how to do most anything. It does often require patience because sometimes I just do not want to spend the time making the mistakes it takes to learn.
The rest of the week went well. Friday we went down the river with sunny and Trevor. It was a lot of fun and only took an hour. I am doing better at cleaning my house and keeping things in line. I am a little tired of JOhn's broken foot. I feel bad because he is missing out on so much. I hope he heals soon.
I need to get better at taking my camera places...it seems I forget too easily.

New school

Yesterday I went to visit the new building. I love my new classroom. It is spacious and different...not regular four walls for me. I have never wanted the "same". I am excited to begin the process of creating a classroom for myself and my students.
Unfortunately, as John and I were moving in my new desk he purchased for me from the state we dropped it right on his foot. He broke it in two places. I felt terrible.

What an incredible labor of love, but what memory attached to the desk.