Back to School!

I'm BACK!! I had quite a rough vacation with being sick and the surgery, but I went back to school Monday and am feeling great. I can't believe how much I missed my students, work, my colleagues, and most of all teaching! Everyone was so thoughtful and caring--I felt loved while I sat on the couch rotting for 2 weeks. Thanks for all the cards, flowers, cakes, and phone calls. It meant more than you realize.

I still can't seem to erase Stephanie, Jocelin, and Jasmine from my mind lately. I still remember Jocelin in kindergarten with Mrs. Huizar. She would always be so interested in my hair or outfit when I would call her to take a test. It was so sweet--"Mrs. Hartman, you have pretty hair or you look nice." She was such a wonderful child and really made progress in class. I will continue to think about all three of them--they are forever in my heart.

As for my students, they are just adorable. They were so concerned with my condition on Monday they could hardly concentrate! "Did they do surgery," one of my students asked. It was so cute and sweet. It made me look past the fact that half of them regressed a lot over the break. It was expected and I was prepared. I just am so sad about two of my boys who were doing awesome and now have take huge leaps backwards! Oh well---more of a challenge for me!

Today we had a Reading 1st Training in which we were talking about aligning the CA Content Standards to our teaching. DUH! Didn't we learn that in our first methods class! Okay, okay we forget and get wrapped up in all these programs that are shoved down our throat but come on! Aligning those Content Standards is just good teaching. Right? Overall, it was a great training and hope to become more collaborative with my colleagues for it. Hats off to Glenda B, Alicia, and Shirley.

Bye for now.