Can we all say "heck yes!"

The bell rang to dismiss my students for the last time this school year and it was a glorious feeling. This year was the first year for me to have an actual homeroom class. It had its perks and downfalls. In the past I have not had a homeroom because 7th and 8th graders just show up and go to first period. Next year will bring several new and exciting challenges.

1. I will teach the same kids all day, every day. This is very scary yet exiting all at the same time. I will enjoy getting to get close to a limited number of students. I think it will make that relationship more genuine. I will be their 6th grade teacher. Not 3 others and I. It is scary at the same time. I think back on this year's homeroom and I would probably kill myself if I had to endure the crap that some of the students dished out each and every day. But next year I will have them. They will only have to get used to my personality and I will only have to get used to theirs. They will have one set of rules; one set of expectations; one teacher.

2. At the start of my 4th year of teaching we will begin the 4th new change to the curriculum. I will be responsible for reading, writing, math, language arts, science and social studies. WOW. Those of you who know me and read my blog know that I will struggle with the language arts and writing aspect. I suck at that sort of thing. I type nearly everything and what I don't type and print I project on my computer. But I am gradually getting better. My handwriting is improving when I take the time to make it look good. When I write in cursive it seems to get better but that takes longer. My dad always told me to take pride in my handwriting and I never did. But with 15-20 pairs of eyes on me I will have to, especially if I will expect them to do the same.

3. Another thing that scares me is that I will have to teach Arkansas history. I have only been a resident here for a short while. I seem hardly the candidate for teaching such a subject but I will have to roll with the punches.

4. The last change I will mention does not worry me as much as the former changes mentioned. I will be moving rooms down the hall. It is a smaller room but I will have my own storage closet with a lockable cabinet in the room. The room has carpet which doesn’t make me happy but there is nothing that I can do about it so oh well. My moving opens up my former classroom as a lab that can be used by any class 3-6 for lab purposes. This will utilize the room far more than it has in the past.

This summer will be a busy one but a rewarding one too. I will have workshops scattered throughout the months of July and August (mostly in August). I am nervous about the changes brought on by these workshops but again; there is nothing I can do about it. I am very excited about the time we will get to spend with family. My parents will be coming to the great state of Arkansas twice; once for Daniel's summer orientation at HU and another for Andy's Graduation. We will be going there twice; once to go camping with my family and once to go the lake with Jenny's family. Jenny's parents are coming at least once to go camping with us at the spring river, which will be nice. Holly, Jason, and the kiddos are coming for a few days to hang out. It will be so much fun to see everyone.

I am saddened by the fact that Andy will be graduating this summer. We have grown close over the years and I now consider him to be more than a brother. I am glad Casey has a few more years and Daniel will be here in the fall as well. It is nice to have them around.


On Monday I packed up and went to Heber to wet some fly line. Third cast of the morning I heard a snap. When I looked in the water I saw that it was my rod tip. I was very pissed to say the least. (I might add that the previous sentence is quite an understatement.) That rod was important to me. It was a gift from my parents. I learned to become a proficient caster with that rod. Not to mention the hundreds of rainbows I landed using it. Well, I packed up early and stopped by Ozark Angler. OA is a Orvis retailer. Orvis is THE premiere brand of fly fishing accessories. Rods started at $250. I quickly turned my back and walked out to the car. (There was no way Jenny would think of allowing me to spend that kind of money on a beginners rod.) So I went on down the road to my favorite fly shop, the Little Red Fly Shop. To my surprise, they had a nice selection of premium rods at discount prices. I ended up getting a 9', 5 wt Lefty Kreh Signature Series. I am in love. I took the rod out on the lawn before purchasing it to cast it several times. Man oh man. Lifetime warranty. And when I say lifetime I mean lifetime. I can slam it in a door, break it on a fish (I wish), snap it over my knee, or run over it with the truck and within a week I will have a brand spanking new rod. In the mean time I will be loaned a Sage rod to fish with. A man cannot ask for better service when purchasing a new rod.

I have rambled on for far too long. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer weather you have to work, go to school, or whatever. Peace. I'm out.