And a Week goes by...

I apologize in advance because I am horrible at this blogging thing. The only reason is because I do not have a computer at the moment! Soon the problem will be solved because I am getting my Dad's old computer and I will also be getting a Mac laptop through my school. Aren't we all excited???? I sure am, minus the part of being able to use a Mac. I don't have a clue how and what do you do with out the right click???

I am not sure if it will be black, I am pretty sure it will be white, but rumor has it that we will be getting brand new macbooks. SWEET! This week was full of work, work and work. And then I would go to my classroom when possible to fix it up. I thought that I was close to being done, but I am far from it. Here are a few pics to update everyone in the blogging world. I am excited to get pirate type material and make curtains. 'Alyse making curtains?' I guess I will attempt!

This is a side view, with my two bulletin boards. I also as you can tell set up all of my desks. There are 30 and I can't believe it took up my whole entire room. I hope I don't start out with 30, because there won't be room to grow.

This is where I moved my desk, into the back corner where my closet is. I figured I might as well have all of my stuff in the same area. You can also see my new manipulative organizer that I got at target and put together by myself. I even bought at screwdriver!!!!!

And last but not least here is my book shelf. I am still covering my books with contact paper so I haven't brought them all over yet, but I just love it. I have been saving books forever for this very moment. I also have all of my student supplies sitting in tubs. I have way too many crayons, but I guess my kids will just be coloring all of the time. School starts in less than a month!!!!

This week Step Up 2, take it to the streets came out on DVD. I saw this movie opening day with my roommate Shelly and our friend Morgan. Seriously it was the best. I loved the first one and I think I Loved the 2nd one even more. Danielle bought the movie and we watched it on thursday night. And then again on friday night. To finish out the weekend on Saturday night I watched the first one again. I can't tell you how much I love Step Up 1 and 2.

Here are a few pictures, even though the dancing in the rain

doesn't do the movie justice. You have to rewind or skip back

to the scene and watch it 83 times because they are so good.

I also love Channing Tatum, even though he is only in the 2nd

movie for the first few scenes.

On saturday I drove to Farmington to go to Brittney Thomas's bridal shower. I haven't seen her for almost a month. We lived at the Riviera for the past 2 years, and the last year we lived in the same apartment. We have had tons of awesome memories together and I am both happy and sad to see her get married.

Her and Mike are perfect for each other and their announcements are gorgeous. She is tying the knot on August 16th and out other roommate Alisha is getting married on the 15th. I can't wait! Love you Britt!

Bulletin Boards Baby!!!!

For those of you who don't know, my theme this year is going to be...... drum roll please.... Ocean, Beach and Pirates. I know it's three themes in one, but I couldn't settle on just one. I have a lot of crazy ideas and can't wait to put everything together. I just wish that I had the time to do that. I have been covering all of my books with contact paper and it is taking forever. I know that I willl be glad I did it when the school year is over and my books still look good. Today I went four wheeling with the parentals in Mount Pleasant and I forgot my camera, the view was beautful though and I loved every second of it. When I got home I borrowed my parents highlander so I could go to home depot and buy some tile board and insulation sheets. Emily Jones one of ther other third grade teachers bought the insulation sheets and used them to make bulletin boards. I got 2 4x4 and then a 4x6.

Here they are laying on the floor of my classroom, now what can I do with them????? I was really eager to get started even though I was dead tired tonight. My classroom is a mess and all of the supplies the school gave me are pretty much all over. I have no order to my room at the moment. I swear that the secretary gave me a stapler, but I could not find it. So I used a glue stick, which didn't work as well as the stapler, but I was just so excited. I only did one, because I would've fallen asleep and woken up glued to the insulation board... haha. It's not too bad for my first bulletin board, if I do say so myself!

I loved this paper that I got at the utah/idaho supply store. And then I used the beach boarder to go around it. It's a little bumpy, but that adds to the wave effect. Haha. I will make the other 4x4 the same and then do something different with the bigger one. One project down, 348 more to go! I got a sheet of tile board or something or other. And then home depot cut it into square of one foot by one foot to make little white boards for my students. I was so excited for these, especially since it cost me $13 for all 32!!!!!

classroom mania

I guess it has been a few days. Having no computer complicates things a bit though. I will soon be inheriting my family's comp, and will be loving life. I was planning on buying one, but a free one will be slendid. I also get a lap top for teaching so that is sweet too. This week I went to my school and got my keys. I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see. I guess I'll just post some pics so I don't have to explain.

As you can see, I have two white boards, which is a major plus because the other trailers I saw only had one. But, that might be the only plus! haha. I have those 2 book shelves. The front one is empty and will be where I put my classroom library, and the one behind has math books, literacy books, dictionaries, etc. So that one is pretty much full. I do have that other book shelf by my desk but it is complete with all of the teacher guiding books.... eh! I have NO cubbords, counter space or bulletin boards. I bought stuff for bulletin boards, I was so excited to put them together and after seeing my classroom I left a little dissapointed.

I went back later on in the week and met the other two new third grade teachers. I was so excited to meet them and talk to them about my millions of questions about teaching. Emily and Jen both taught 2nd grade last year along with me for out student teaching/internship. I am so excited to get to know them more and learn from them. Emily has her classroom almost finshed and she told me a few tricks and I am going to have bulletin boards!!!! I can't wait to make them.

Maple Mountain Camping with the Carlson's Hemingway's and the Hales

Emily and I-- Was the view worth the pain?

Matthew putting his socks on my blistered feet.

Emily and Matthew at dinner.

Addison and Dillon after smores.


So this past weekend, my cousin Emily and I planned a campout up Whiting campground in Mapleton. A few years ago we went there for our Grandpa's 70th birthday and hiked the mountain. Emily and I thought it would be fun to do it again. For dinner we had tin foil dinners, the best limeaid that my Aunt Brenda made. We finished the meal off with smores. Somehow, I got the marshmallows all over my shirt. I guess you get dirty when your camping. We listened to Mark play that guitar and had 2 more rounds of smores. The port a potty's were gross, but what can you expect. We woke up early saturday morning to start our adventure. Emily tried to get me out of my sleeping bag and I didn't want to go. She said that we would have fun and I told her not to make any promises she couldn't keep. I was not excited. We trecked up the mountain and I soon found myself with blisters on my feet and was hating my life. The view was beautiful, but I don't know if the pain from the blisters was worth it. Emily's boyf Matthew offered me his socks, but they didn't help much and made my toes squished. Luckily we ran into a woman from Springville with her golden doodle and she had a first aid kit. The band aids added comfort for about 10 minutes. haha. I was so glad to see the end of the trail at the end of the day.

Me just being a mess from the smores. It was worth it though!

Trailer Trash

So as you all know, I am in the trailer or portable or I have even heard the term 'Cottage' classroom. I talked to another one of the teachers on my team today and she asked me if I had seen the trailers. I haven't seen them, and was hoping for the best. Apparently there isn't a lot of cupboards or counters. Seeing as how that is really important for teacher stuff, I am kind of freaking out. I am not sure what I am going to do, but I guess I just have to wait until I see them to decide.

I also found all of my receipts for things I have bought for my 1st year of teaching, apparently I have spent $400. Oh crap, I don't even have anything to show for it. Ok I am kidding. I have spent 100 on decorations and posters and stuff. 100 on teacher books and books with activities. And 200 on books for my classroom library. I can't believe I have already spent that much money and there is still so much more I need to buy. Plus I need to buy a computer, since my laptop died.

Today at work, I had our secretary Laura help me make labels. I know I know, How am I going to be a teacher if I can't make my own labels. Hopefully I will be able to do it next time. Soon I will have my class list and I will be able to make labes for their folders and notebooks. I printed off 300 for my classroom library. I am going to stop at walmart on my way home and get some contact paper to repair my books. Then I will put a label on all of them so the children don't steal them from me. I felt like an official teacher with 300, 'Miss Hales' labels.

new job part 2

I ended up turning the job offer down at the boys home and I was hating the fact that I didn't have a job, again. When I was offered the job, I was looking on the school district sites and saw some new job openings and thought, what the heck- so I applied for some more jobs. I am so glad that I did now that I am looking back. When you apply you can just click on a link and it sends the principal your info. Then you need to go and take your cover letter and resume to them. Usually they don't call you until you do that. I was super busy at work and still deciding on the job offter so I hadn't made it out to any of the schools when Snow Springs called and set up an interview. I also interviewed at 3 schools in Provo, but all of the jobs were for grades 5 and 6. Definetly not the grades I wanted to teach. I ended up being offered all of the jobs that I applied for and then had to make the decision of what to do. I couldn't believe I got the job at Snow Springs because I didn't feel the greatest about the interview when I left. You know the feeling, you get in your car, your sitting there thinking about what you just said and then you scream or start talking to yourself out loud. -- I hope I'm not the only one who does that. haha. I am super excited to be teaching 3rd grade. The school I am at is extended day, so I will be there a little longer than normal, but what do I have to do at home.... Nada! I have been going crazy thinking about my classroom theme and buying books. I seriously have bought over 200 and still feel like I have hardly any. I can't wait to get into my classroom and start setting up. Oh by the way, I'm in a trailer!!! woo woo!

I guess this is just my first post.

I know, I've fallen to the world of blogging, but who hasn't? I know I'm not married or have children of my own to post about. But as of August I will have 20-30 youngsters in my own care and I can't wait. You always hear funny stories about what kids are doing or saying, so I wanted to be able to post them to remember my first year of teaching. Along with the kids stories, I may or may not vent about teaching and the stress that comes from the first year of teaching. I seriously can't wait to start the school year.

The whole process of the two year program at UVSC, went by in a blur. I couldn't believe that I was student teaching in January and now I have a JOB! I love when everyone tells you that teaching is such a great profession because all the schools are just dying to get teachers in their schools. And then you graduate and you don't have a job, and all the peeps are wanting to know whey you don't have one yet. I think that because people are always talking about how their is a teacher shortage that getting a job would just fall in your lap. That's not really how it happened for me, although it may happen for some.

I went to Hawaii for my grad present, I left right after graduation trying to remove the fact that I didn't have a job from my mind. I wanted to enjoy my vaca and worry about the job when I got home. Before I left I gave my neighbor my resume for a position at a bad boys home. A bad boys home, what was I thinking.... Well I was thinking I Needed a job. While in Hawaii, laying on the beach loving the fact that my body is soaking up the rays, I get a call from the principal and have an interview set up for 2 hours after I get off of the plane. I then try to continue to enjoy my vaca. Considering the time distance, 8 am in Utah is 4 am in Hawaii. A local elementary called me wanting to know if I could teach kindergarten. What a great job that would be minus the fact that I do not have the early education special endorsement. (All the women in my parents ward had been raving about me to the school, and that's why they called. It would've been a sweet job if I had the endorsement.) Anywho, I come home from Hawaii, and I am tanned to the max, and tired. I go to the two hour interview and am just loving it. I feel like this is where I am supposed to be and I am just at the high school site, I haven't seen where I would be teaching. I later go and see the middle school facility where I would be starting the elementary program and I am just dying. It is new, huge and has tons of perks.... like free lunch!!! (Just so you know I am not crazy, this isn't cafeteria food, it's all homemade.) So then I have to make the decision, and it just ended up not working out for me, it was year round and I really enjoy my summers off, isn't that why I am a teacher?

During the whole process of getting the job offer and considering it, I applied for a couple jobs in provo and in alpine districts. I guess for security in case the job didn't work out, which was what happened. I was so happy that the day after I turned the job down, I recieved 4 calls for job interviews that week. I interviewed for two 5th grade positions and a 6th grade position in Provo and then a 1st in Orem, and the 3rd in Lehi. I was offered the job at both of the 5th grade the 6th grade and the 3rd. It was an easy decision for me considering I am not familiar with the 5th and 6th grade curriculum and I am actually kind of scared of them. They might be taller than me. So I decided to go with the 3rd grade position in Lehi. I actually didn't think that I would get the job because I said something dumb in the interview. I got in the car after and sat there half talking half screaming, DID I REALLY SAY THAT? to my self. But I guess he liked me. The school is just off the last AF exit, so it isn't too far. Mary thinks that I can just move into her basement since I'll be working in Lehi.

I went back to the school a week or so after I accepted the job to meet the other teachers. I went into the office to get directions, the school is HUGE! I don't know if you understand, but 8 1st grade and 2nd grade classes, six 3rd grade and so on. Anywho, the secretary was realy nice and had me put down my name to make up a lable for my door. Apparently I will not actually be in the school, I am getting kicked to the trailer... Haha. I am actually ok with it because I have been hearing a lot of good things about them. Plus, this is my first year, I can do it! So for those of you who come visit, remember where I'm at. Out of the six teachers, three of them left this year, so there are three of us that are new. The other three all taught last year as their first year teaching. So there are a bunch of us with new ideas and I am super excited! I only met with one of the teachers but just talking to her helped calm my nerves and prepared me for what lies ahead.

I haven't done much yet, I won't be able to get into my classroom until the 31st, so ya. I have just been buying a few odds and ends. And by that I mean that I bought 200 books from DI. I love the DI, they have a bunch of books and a lot of the time the ones you find are brand new. The best part is that they are only .50 which compared to other used book stores is a steal. And I would never be able to afford 200 new books. I'll have to take a picture of all the books sitting in my room, they are so overwhelming- Yet I feel like I don't have enough.