Let me just say...

I miss my girls! I took them to the airport on Tuesday afternoon and cried for much of the way home. It was SO grand to have them here and spend time with them. I didn't get my usual amount of sleep and didn't do any exercise (unless you the count walking around with one or two girls in my arms all day). But I wouldn't trade those days for anything. It's frustrating to have grandbabies and have them so far away. Kelsey in TX, Drew & Alicia in North Carolina and Brianne in Boise. Not to mention those that will be arriving in VA and Utah). Bri is relatively close, but I don't get to see them often enough. Babies change so fast and I hate missing out on it. I know that it's unrealistic to think that children will end up close, but I'm selfish enough to want it. Sigh.... (do you think Chuck kind of enjoyed the girls being here too?...)

So, besides having to say goodbye to the girls I had to start back to school and HOLY COW! What a raft of . . . poo they are foisting off on us! Every year I feel a little overwhelmed, but this year takes the cake. The district has instituted a new attendance/tardy policy (which is long overdue in my opinion) but it will require a bunch more paperwork on our part. Oh joy, more paperwork. Then there are the PLC meetings. Two Mondays a month we will have a two hour early release and we will meet in Professional Learning Communities to discuss/plan/prepare ways to help students succeed. Actually,I think it's a great idea and I'm glad the school is providing time for us. But, it also requires, you guessed it. a whole lot more paperwork. Then there are the SIOP meetings- Sheltered Instructional O... somethings. Ways to help us jump tall building in a single bound, leaving no child behind, curing every problem a child might have and it all involves... more paperwork. Holy smokes! Here's a concept - let us teach and do what we've been trained to do and stop having us fill out reams of forms to justify some administrator, state or governmental person's job. Oh dear. This has turned into a rant. I have found some great things in the information we have been given and am glad to have some new ideas for ways to help student learn and succeed. I just don't get how spending massive amounts of time filling out paperwork is going to help me implement what I've learned? I guess I'm slow to get the BIG picture. Or just rebellious. Or both.
Anyway, the first week was long and hard. I hate the first few days when I have to stand up 5 times and repeat classroom rules, grading procedures, and emergency procedures for each class. The kids hate it, I hate it and it makes for very long days. But, I made it through and now "perhaps" I can start some actual instruction of something... if I can just find my desk for all the paperwork on it.