January, week 1

Well, I survived! I made it through the first week of school substituting for the special education teacher who left over Christmas break. I've been juggling 2 sixth grade classes (Physical Science and History) and 2 eighth grade classes (Physical Science and English). I have to say that I am very impressed with the teachers I've been working with. All the classrooms are inclusion classrooms, so I work with another teacher to aid specific students in the class. I have found these teachers to be very caring and they have given me so many ideas for ways I can adapt to teaching H3 at home. Given that my substituting position will be for an undetermined length at this point, I'm thankful that I enjoy working with these teachers, and with the students. The principal has told me that I will be working at least through next week, and possibly longer, until they are able to fill the position. I miss being home with H3, but it's nice to be able to help out the family.

H3 is staying with a woman by the name of Jackie during the day. She wakes up each morning asking to "go see Ms. Jackie." When I drop her off, I rarely get a goodbye, unless I ask for one. H3 takes off for the toy room and has the biggest smile on her face when we arrive at the house. Jackie is a very sweet Christian lady, a young grandmother, who watches a few children in her home near the schools. There is a fun playroom, complete with tent, and the kids also get to help her out in the kitchen. She has a fabulous fenced in play area out back, and during the week, she'll take the older ones over to the hen-house to help feed the chickens and gather eggs. Stories are read to the kids everyday, and there are weekly trips to the library. I prefer to have H3 at home with me, of course, but since I have to take her somewhere, I'm so thankful to have found Jackie!

Time to make dinner. Homemade pizza and wings are on tonight's agenda!

~H2