Transformation of my name

Starting my sophomore year in college, I always went by "Miss Cellar" to the students in my student teaching field experiences.

When I got my big girl job, I was called "Amy" by my students. Most of the teachers in Shishmaref go by their first name. I am totally fine with it.

By 3rd or 4th quarter last year, a few kiddos had started to call me "Ame". Nothing like informality, huh? It's cute and I wasn't opposed to it. They can call me "Ame" and still respect me.

Well, here we are in the middle of 2nd quarter this year. Seth has already started calling me "Ame". I noticed yesterday on our way to lunch when he said "It's windy out, huh Ame?"

I do have nicknames for my kiddos too. Last year I had Ida-bug and Katie-bug. Whenever I see Ida's grandpa he calls me Amy-bug. I had Frank the tank last year too. Vivian was Schmivian.  Carter, who I had last year and this year, started as Tarter and transformer to Tarter Sauce. This year not many kids have nicknames yet. I do have Yosie Rosie, Sefers and Landon-boo. Sometimes I'll call kiddos by their first and middle name though. When Carter isn't Tarter Sauce he is usually Carter Norman or just Carter Norm.

I just love those kiddos though, even if they do call me Ame!

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Kids Say the Craziest Things

This week, the speech pathologist was visiting Shishmaref. Unfortunately, we don't have one on site full time, but she makes it out every month or two for a week. Since she is not here all the time, I like to learn as much as I can from her while she is here. She wanted to pull my three kiddos who receive speech services and do some informal observations to check on their progress. I went with her as she pulled the kiddos, so I could see the kind of things she works on with them.

We had one little boy in the back room with us, and we were showing him some photo cards. One was a picture of a boat. This was the conversation we had:

Speech Path: What is this a picture of?
Student: A boat!
SP: What do we do with it?
Student: Uhhh....
SP: What is a boat for?
Student: hmmm...
SP: Does your dad have a boat?
Student: Yeah!
SP: Does he go hunting?
Student: Yeah!
SP: Does he hunt for seals?
Student: Yeah!
SP: Does he hunt for walrus?
Student: Yeah!
SP: Does he hunt for moose?
Student: Yeah!
SP: Does he hunt for caribou?
Student: Yeah! I eat caribou!
Amy: Yeah, you eat caribou! I bet you eat all of those things. What is your favorite of those to eat?
Student: Hot Cheetos.
SP and Amy: hahahahahahahahaha!

I couldn't stop laughing, and I had to write it down so I wouldn't forget. Isn't that just great?

Also this week, there were some funny things happening in the Dramatic Play Lab. There is a chalkboard on the wall in the dramatic play lab. The kiddos enjoy writing their names on the board and the letters we're learning. We use the board for the theme of the week also. For example, we made a menu on the board when we were learning about food. The kiddos like to play school in dramatic play also. I was working with some students at the Writing Lab, which gave me a good view of Dramatic Play Lab. One little girl was standing at the board and had other kiddos sitting on the floor. She said "Okay kids! Criss-cross applesause, hands in your lab, bubble in your mouth! Don't mess up!" I don't know where the "Don't mess up!" came from, but she was so funny. Then she called the kids to the board one at a time to "spell their name". Then they all recited "Penny, Nickel, Dime", the little rhyme we do at the beginning of Rhyme Time everyday. Finally, she gave them all a five minute warning, which I always do when it is close to clean up time, so that no one is surprised that it is time to move on to our next activity.

I just love my students!

Typical Sunday

During the weekends, I tend to have some regular visitors. Lots of kiddos will stop by while playing out, but I have 5 or 6 boys who will call ahead of time, and their parents will drop them off for the afternoon or evening. Today, it is just Raymond and Frank. Frank is a former student of mine. He is 5 and in Kindergarten. Raymond is his brother, 6 years old, and in first grade. I just love them!

I am alive!

I haven't blogged in months. I have been meaning to. However, to be completely honest, when I am not going home until 7 or 8 at night, I usually don't want to stick around at school any longer so that I can post.

Here I am, though! Saturday night, at school.  I was skyping with a friend and then doing a little bit of school work, and I was thinking "I should totally blog". I think I will make my grandparents happy!

I have been back in Shishmaref since the middle of August. Colleen and I moved to the house next door, and we're enjoying it. Not having buckets under the sink, and having a shower are fabulous things - not to mention the spacious kitchen. I have two curtains hanging in place of doors for my bedroom, however. I might be getting doors this coming week though. Hopefully. The district carpenter is scheduled to come, so keep your fingers crossed for me!

School is good, but busy. This year's class has 19 little munchkins. They are a good group, but a little more high maintenance than last year's group. I am enjoying them, though. They are starting to get adjusted to the routines of school and I am seeing a lot of improvements with them! It should be a good year.

Shishmaref lost Steve and Angie to Brevig Mission this year. They are missed for sure. We did get two new teaching couples this year. Jack and Barbra are the new 3rd grade and K-1 teacher, respectively. They are from the Sacramento area of California. I had dinner with them earlier this week and had a really good time. Kiley and Kevin are the new Elementary Special Ed. and Jr. High/HS Social Studies teachers, respectively. I am loving them! They are from Indianapolis. I was supposed to get together with them this past summer, but my surgery put a damper on that plan. They are really fun, and we spend quite a bit of time together.

I coached cross country again this year. I had a much bigger team than last year. It was really fun, and there are a lot of really talented runners in Shishmaref. I hope to have even more on the team next year, and hopefully some of the veteran runners will have even more success.

I got new glasses this week. The frames are not much different, but kind of a brownish pink. they have butterflies on the side. They are Juicy Couture... ooohh la la.

My perscription is actually weaker. My first pair of glasses was a year ago. They said that because my eyes were finally able to relax, they got better. I did get scolded though - the eye doctor said I need to wear them all the time, especially when I am on the computer. So I am trying to remember them everyday.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so I am looking forward to that. Also, I decided to go home to Ohio for Christmas and I was able to buy a ticket thanks to a little bit of help from my dad. So, I am looking forward to that too - only 6 weeks away!

Hope that you enjoyed an update of my life, the past 3 months at least!