My First Week of Teaching and All the Emotions that Come Along...

That first week that I have always dreamed about it over. Kinda strange. It is really hard for me to believe that I am in the position that I am. Sometimes it makes me laugh to myself when I use my key to open up my door and think...oh this is my room!! To some this probably doesn't make sense. However, to a girl who has waited for this almost 18 years...this is exciting! Seeing my students' desks in the morning is a humbling thing. I try to remember each day to remind myself that I may be the only love that they see and receive that day. I must admit that it is not always easy. This first week has been every emotion possible. But after one week, I know that I am where I am supposed to be and that these kids have already stolen my heart.

Since I love lists, I figured I would make a high's and low's of the week list.

HIGH'S:

-Getting to become Miss Marshall

-Knowing that the Lord is with me and that HE brought me here

-Coming home to a roommate

-Planning a "West Virginia Christmas" party with my roommate and laughing till we cried about our Hillbilly ideas...ex. Pin the tooth on the hillbilly....more to come!

-Donna...also a new teacher that is right next door to my classroom. She is a Christian and so sweet! We eat lunch together and help each other through the day!

-Skype dates and phone calls from family and friends

-Seeing that progress with my students is being made in just one week

LOW'S:

-Hitting a deer in the middle of a dark mountain and realizing that Gigi (my car) was damaged

-Missing my family and Lexie

-Hearing Dylan laugh and babble in the background and knowing I can't be there to squeeze him or to see his little smile or to have his first overnighter with my family

-Scrapping my windows already and having my hands and lips be chapped

-Not knowing what to do in many areas of teaching

-Almost crying in the middle of my math lesson because the kids wouldn't settle down and it failed miserably.

-Sending my first kid to the office

-Thinking my life as a waitress may not have been a bad idea

Ok so now onto the list of phrases from 8-10 year olds...

-"Miss Marshall, why do you wear those cloth thingys?" referring to my scarves

-"Miss Marshall, are those your real teeth or are those dentures?"

-After learning about rural, suburban, and urban communities, I asked, "Which community is War?" The kids all thought "CITY!"....poor things!

-"Miss Marshall are you high class or do you like to get dirty?"

-From outside the boys bathroom, I hear..."Miss Marshall, I can't get my underwear on!"

-The first day I met the kids one of their questions was, "Miss Marshall, are you from the beach?"

-"Miss Marshall, have you ever been in a movie? I think I've seen you before."

-"Miss Marshall, do you got any babies? Why not? Any husbands?"....these are asked almost daily.

Finally, a list of some things you may want to know:

-Maw Maw means grandma
-"I've gota use it" means I have to use the restroom
-the water in the school shuts off everyday during certain hours. I was upset at my kids washing their hands in the drinking fountain before I realized that that was the only source of water.

-All of the teachers carry a bottle of soap with them since the school doesn't provide it in the bathrooms.

-Copying a piece of paper at the school is like getting a tooth pulled

And I've saved the best for last....

I am on lunch duty every day, and I have found the most interesting (used broadly) part of the school...sharing food. Most schools...ok all schools...I have been to have a rule not to share food. Well, here the motto is, "Get me some." As the teachers walk around, students raise their hands and say, "Can you get me some ____fill in the blank___". Then, the teacher goes around and looks for that item from another kid that isn't eating it and gives it to the first kid. So my first day when I was asked, "Miss Marshall, can you get me some green beans?" I didn't know what to do. I think I probably said something like, "I don't know if they will sell you just green beans." After little faces with confused looks, I was told about the sharing process and that I would now be a scout! This more than anything cracks me up!

Well, that is enough updating for now. YAY for the weekend!!!!! :)

Here is a picture of my roommate and I at our school's high school football game