All the world's a stage...especially the classroom

Mark and I are going to see the musical "Wicked" TOMORROW. For those who have seen it, you know how A.M.A.Z.I.N.G this show is. This will be our 4th time seeing it and the excitement is still there. I first dragged Mark to see "Wicked" about 5 years ago. I literally had to drag him. He buried rocks in his shoes attempting to make it difficult. He didn't have "theater appreciation" and I vowed I would convert him to the dark...or wicked side. Now years later and with several shows under our belt, we make it our mission to see at least 2 shows a year. I knew I would be able to fix him...I mean convert him.


I know we won't always be able to take our adored trips to the theater with a family, mortgage, etc., ONE DAY... so I plan on thoroughly enjoying tomorrow night and savoring every minute of it. A HUGE BONUS is that Mark snagged us front row. FRONT. ROW. How could we ever top that? 

After teaching for a few years now, I have come to realize that teaching is a lot like acting.


Growing up 30 minutes from NYC, I have seen my fair share of Broadway shows. My mom took me every year to see a new show and as I grew older, my friends and I would venture to the city to enjoy what Broadway had to offer. I didn't just love watching shows, my passion was to be a part of them. I did high school and community theater for 5 years. I was fortunate to snag leading roles when we did our fall performances which were strictly plays. For the spring musicals I was always given supporting roles, because I can't hold a tune to save my life. It's dreadful. I wouldn't recommend anyone being exposed to such torture. Mark has endured such pain and he says his eardrums will never be the same. So naturally being a Broadway actor was out for me in terms of a career. Rats....


Now years later, I have left go of the Broadway dreams, sold the display case I held on to for my future Tony, and have accepted that I was never meant to be on Broadway. My destiny was to become a teacher. 


Teachers are the greatest actors. We are the true thespians. 


The classroom is a stage....minus the skin burning lights. What job allows you to dress up as Ms. Frizzle or paint your face for Dr. Seuss day? Granted those examples are referencing to special holidays and such, but even on just any regular day, we are actors waiting for the show to start. It's on from the second the kiddos come in. We're expected to play COUNTLESS roles and mold ourselves to fit our students' needs. No complaints here....my students are generous audience members who frequently shower me with support and love. (No roses tossed on stage needed...plus it would hurt if a child chucked a rose at me 2 feet away)


This girl isn't Broadway bound and I couldn't be happier....teaching is my mission. I still get my Broadway fixes in the car. I pretend to be the green witch from Wicked and belt out all her prized tunes... I once cracked my driver side window. :)

Spring break is over my friends

As I sit here and munch on cereal, I'm forced to acknowledge that my spring break is in its mere, final hours. Boy, that was fast. I am ready to get back to work though. I miss my kiddos like CRAZY and all of their charming antics! 


I wish I could say I had a lot of down time. I did here or there. My main goal was to put a dent in my yearbook "homework." I did Friday night when I sat in my office from 5pm-2am working on all things yearbook. I also worked on it for 5 hours yesterday and 10 hours during the whole week. I'm so ready for this thing to be done! I'm about 80% of the way there. 


There were a few things that kept me going during these marathon yearbook sessions....


First off...

Thank you Yummy Earth for such a wonderful gift. I killed this whole bag Friday night and then I hated those little bears for the rest of the night....the hate has since surpassed.

I also love Sweet Leaf Raspberry Tea.

Obsessed is more the word for this drink. 

and lastly....

OMG, if you haven't tried these and you like hot, TRY THEM! They are fabulous. Mark and I often argue about who will hold the bag when we open these babies up. I will forewarn you they turn your fingers orange so eat them in the comfort of your house next to the kitchen sink. Thank you comfort food for making the yearbook more enjoyable!

Mark and I are going to look at a condo today. We are taking the first (baby) steps in looking for a place to buy. We're not really house kinda people...I wonder what that says about us? I'm excited, yet anxious. Looking at places, the paperwork, etc, etc...YIKES, more things to deal with right now. I'm already tired thinking about it, BUT it needs to be done. We have been renting for years and now is the time to buy. 

I don't really have much to say in terms of teaching. So I will leave you with a family photo that Mark's mom just recently gave us. It's from Christmas and everyone is smiling. When I say everyone I mean Mark. Usually the camera gets him with his mouth wide open like he's catching flies. Even little Penny was cooperative. :) ICK, notice how short I am? And I am standing on my tippy toes.....

The longest post in the world to explain the big mistake

I made a BIG mistake this past week.


HUGE. MISTAKE. 


I went to Books-A-Million..........TWICE.


Yes, twice. (shivers)


I first went Wednesday night. My kiddos have gotten into the "Geronimo Stilton" series and they were begging me to get more. I only had about 6 of them and they had read them all. 

Sure. No problem.


I had a plan for myself. I would go into the store with tunnel vision. I wouldn't look around or browse the aisles, especially the "new" section. I kept hearing Mark's voice in my head, "WE CAN'T FIT ANYMORE BOOKS IN YOUR CLASSROOM TANYA!!" 


I had my game face and Cubs baseball hat on. I pulled it tightly over my face in hopes that it would block my eyes from darting to shelf to shelf and opened the front door of the store.


"Walk FAST, Tanya," I said to myself. "Go, go, go......but wait, what is that display of Dr. Seuss books over there?" 


NO YOU HAVE ENOUGH DR. SEUSS BOOKS! JUST KEEP WALKING. I sniffled a bit in disappointed but kept going.


After what felt like an hour walk to the middle of the store, I finally arrived at the kids' chapter books section. 


I suddenly realized my plan was flawed!


How many do I get???????


I never thought of that!


This dang series has close to 50 books in it...in addition to special editions....in addition to Geronimo's sister, Thea who has her own series....in addition to some spin off character named "Creepella" who has her own series!!!


I was beginning to hyperventilate. 


My gut was telling me to take my arm and slide it across the shelf holding these books and watch them all fall into my cart. 


And then I heard it......Mark's voice. "WE CAN'T FIT ANYMORE BOOKS IN YOUR CLASSROOM, TANYA!!!"




He's right ok....I'll get 3....well 7......ok 10 13. I picked the ones that looked the best and headed for the checkout. 


SUDDENLY I felt a violent gravitation pull to the children's picture books section.


NO. I. CAN'T. 


well ok I can....


"Tanya, you will just LOOK." That's it. Then you will leave.


Ok, I can do this.
BUT WHAT IS THIS? LIBRARY MOUSE HAS A NEW BOOK!!!!!!!!!!


I. LOVE. LIBRARY. MOUSE.


If you aren't familiar with this series, please get familiar ASAP. 

My kids ADORE this series. We have read all of them. In fact, Mark read the last one when he came to visit earlier in the year. Even he enjoys them.


So naturally I had to get the new one. It was a basic life necessity. 

And I wasn't worried about Mark because he is a fan too. 

Although it's a hardcover. YIKES on the price. That fact lasted literally 2 seconds in my head but then I was over it. THERE WAS ONE COPY AND IT WAS ALL MINE.

I know I should have left....

....and been satisfied with my great find.....

but....

.....I kept looking.

WHAT IS THIS? A NEW MIXED UP FAIRY TALE!!!!!!!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?

It's called "The 3 Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot."

IT'S AWESOME. 

After hugging it for 20 minutes I put it into my cart. Another hardcover...oh life is so unfair.

NOW TANYA YOU ARE LEAVING!!

Then I remembered that the new "My Weider School" book came out earlier in February but when I went to go get it a few days after its release date, it wasn't there and I had several disappointed students in my class. 

Go ahead Tanya and look because it's not going to be there. 

Of course, it was. My cheapest purchase though.....$4.00. I breathed a sign of relief. No problem there.

Then I ran to the checkout. LITERALLY RAN. Several people turned their heads as the sound of my cart speed past them, but I had to get out before I lost my mind with excitement. 

Library Mouse saved my life with Mark. He was so excited that I found a new one that he didn't realize the other 437 books sitting in the bag. He did however make me promise to hold onto the book and save it for when he comes to read at the end of the year. *sign* Okay.

Here is a picture of my finds:

Penny approved the loot. :) 

Then today Mark and I were out shopping...

...and then he said something that opened Pandora's Box.

"You know...your kids are like INSANE readers that read everything in sight. They will tear through those chapter books you got in a few weeks. I know you're just dying to get more of that Geronimo series to finish your collection. We should just go to BAM and get the rest of the ones you need"

HOW DOES HE KNOW ME SO WELL?

I have been plotting all week how and when I was going to finish that series.

"OKAY!" I said.

16 books later...I have a stack of books which comes to my knee and this long post to show for it. 

BUT in my defense today was all Mark's FAULT. Blame him. I sure am. :) 

To blog or not to blog? That is the question....

For years fellow teachers and family have been telling me to start a blog. My response is always the same, "Who will read it?" I don't facebook, tweet, four square, or do whatever trend is out there because I am convinced I am not "thrilling" enough to intrigue others; however, I have been reading and following several, FABULOUS, teacher blogs and now I am infected with the "blog bug."




I guess before I begin this journey (hopefully with others on board) you should know a few things about me...


My name is Tanya and I am 25 years old. I live in Southwest Florida, where I have also been teaching for the past 2 years. I teach 3rd grade and am absolutely in love with the grade level and curriculum. My students are embracing, challenging little sponges that soak up what I say and do on a daily basis. I take pride in knowing that I conduct their learning train as they progress on their educational journey. I know that my destiny was always to become a teacher and I feel so privileged to be able to do what I ABSOLUTELY love to do every single day.


I live with my boyfriend (gosh, I hate that word...makes me feel 14 again), significant other of almost 6 years. We have a toy poodle, Penny who is our pride and joy. We love her to pieces and I will forewarn you now...I'm sure Penny will creep up into a few...OK... a lot of blog topics... sorry. :) Mark and I don't have children so Penny is spoiled rotten...and what's worse…she knows it! Mark is a great guy, and the #1 thing I love about him is that he supports my career. He's so patient and supportive with everything and has been with me since the start. From my college days where our living room would be covered with sheets and materials as I put themed units together for assignments to now where I attempt to slyly put heaps and heaps of teaching stuff into the shopping cart during our traditional Sunday grocery shopping; he is without judgement. EVERY SUMMER he helps me remodel my room and change to my new theme. I think he secretly like it (although he denies it) but he does all this WITHOUT complaint.


Currently, my greatest hobby is my classroom. With only 2 years of teaching under my belt, I am constantly evolving and changing as a teacher, thus adding and removing components of my classroom. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my room and furthermore, LOVE LOVE LOVE buying things for my students and room. My wallet has mixed feelings about this fact. I know one day with children of my own, a house, and the classical family minivan, I won't always be able to afford all this teacher shopping so I enjoy it now. It brings me great happiness to share with my students and give them experiences that they probably wouldn't have outside of my room. 


When I'm not working on my classroom, I love shopping for anything (I think I need an intervention....), watching movies, reading, and going to the theatre. If I could see a musical once a week, I seriously would. I did theatre for 4 years in high school. I was part of several plays and musicals and I still keep those memories dear to my heart today. I adored the feeling of entertaining and making others laugh when I was on stage and years later, I felt that same feeling the first day of my first teaching job.


That's pretty much it.... see, aren't I boring? I so feel like I am having a "Julie and Julia" moment right now...that part in the movie where she isn't sure if anyone is reading her blog; therefore, she's wanting to drown her sorrows in a fancy duck dish or a chocolate cake. I can't cook so instead I'll opt for a bag of cheesy Chex Mix. I'm off to work on several projects for my class. With the holidays around the corner, I have A LOT going on in my room. Stay tuned for an entry later tonight on what I am doing with my kids this week... take care fellow educators...or anyone. :)