SUMMER

I absolutely cannot believe that today is our last day of school (+ one teacher work day tomorrow). This year has just flown by! I'm mostly sad to see my students go on to middle school, but there are a few odd ones out that I'm glad to not be having again next year. My case load, I've found out, is quite small next year. I will have 2 tutor students (compared to 6 this year) and 7 resource room students (compared to 7 this year). It will be nice to have a smaller group, though I also have less girls in my group. Sigh. My students for next year's RR is also much higher functioning academically than this year. I'm looking forward to reading lots of high interest and higher level chapter books, rather than the picture books, and low interest books we've been stuck with this year. Next year is going to be much different. I find that every year I teach (I'm going on year 5 at my current school) I want to be a better teacher. Which is great right?! Yes... but that also means I rewrite the curriculum that I teach from every year too. It's a lot of work, but very often well worth it too.

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Last night was our last Puppy Training class. Kate graduated!! There were ending tests to practice all the skills we've learned in the classes. Some competitions between all the pups (Kate won longest stay!) and certificates of graduation. I know it's really weird/odd (according to Jeri's expression when I mentioned it) but I want to frame and hang Kate's certificate. Yes, it's a great accomplishment for her, but even more so for us as her owners. Some of you may recall my stressfulness of being a new dog owner, trying to teach her the ways of our home by ourselves. These training classes were the BEST (literally) thing I did for my sanity this spring. If anyone is interested in training classes (or aren't interested but something tells them they should go...) I would be happy to give you all the details of the class!!