Illness Count-Up : 2.

On Friday, I came down with Cold #2 of the school year. On the advice of Mrs. S, I'm getting a flu shot on Tuesday (pending if I'm well enough by then... if not, I don't think they'll let me get one). Tuesday is a Teacher Work Day, so hopefully that'll work out. I'm feeling a lot better today than I did yesterday... my throat is protesting against me right now, and my voice is a million octaves below. I sound a little too masculine for my liking. I feel like I could wear a ratty white tank top and ask for a canned alcoholic beverage, meatball sub, and/or pork rinds. Or at least that would be the image if I heard myself on the phone. GROSS.

Since I've been lying in my death bed all of Saturday, I needed to feel somewhat productive (I promised I slept, EB!!!), so I worked on new book box work. I'm having my kids become better experts at maps. They'll have 5 map-related tasks to do, and once they complete them, they can choose another map-related game to play (puzzle or computer game). I'm actually pretty proud of this set because I downloaded maps from Busch Gardens and the Norfolk Botanical Garden to use... so they're practical and functional. I have a feeling that they won't get past Task #3 (the Busch Gardens map) due to its probability of being the favorite.

I received a B&N gift card from the Fs for Halloween... and I'm antsy to buy a book... but not sure which one yet. Can't decide if I want a "me" book or a "kid" book. On a non-teacher-related note, Rhett Butler's People is coming out on Tuesday... and my curiosity may get the best of me. Swoon. Pass me my parasol, mint julep, and fried okra, please.

I can't believe it's November. 12 more days until my birthday. 18 more days until Thanksgiving. 51 more days until Christmas. The year has zoomed by, and so much has happened and is happening, mainly in the classroom avec a-ha moments.

As silly as it sounds, J had an a-ha moment during a science lesson, and he said the straightforward correct answer. I was SO PROUD of him. See, the thing is that he normally goes into some background story as his answer and about 90% of the time, it's wrong (i.e., "J, what makes a team?" "Well, my uncle was on a basketball team and you have to practice a lot.") But this time he straight-up told me what "weathering" is in its correct terminology, and he was right!

Those are the moments I live for.

I wish I could say I have a happening social life outside of school right now, but that'd be lying. I've been staying late due to the 1st nine weeks ending this week, so benchmark tests and report cards are next week... lots of study guides to be copied. In the after school time, I learn a lot about my fellow CP employees. Mrs. W got a new hairstyle (which I told her it's "sexy sophisticated"--- we have a LOT of funny little jokes), so she enlightened Miss P and I on the hair care do's and don'ts of weave, tracts, and all things kinky and/or relaxed hair. Also, I will say that I've learned a little bit too much about menopause, and it's frightening. I better have a long fulfilling life before that happens to me; that's all I'm sayin'. Ms. T's son has taken up my classroom as his after-school hangout. It's pretty funny because he'll try to teach me his computer game he plays. It's in Japanese.

Since the time has gone back an hour (YAY), I need to get extra sleep. If I don't, I'm going to convince my students that not only do I have four eyes, but I also have a frog residing in my throat that will jump out if kids don't stay in their seats.

- Miss Chelsea :)