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Wednesday, July 1, 2015
New to Town-LaPrade's on the Move
7/1/15
The past few weeks, my life has been a bit of a whirlwind. While I am thankful for the oh so many blessings in my life, and I REALLY AM, I am also so ready for the feeling of settledness (I needed to make up this word). Back in November, I got engaged to the absolute love of my life and best friend. Back then when life was all calm and groovy I said "Hey, lets get married July 11, 2015, you're a coach, I'm a teacher, it will be a summer break, hey what a grand idea." HA! Then the first week of summer vacation when we are sitting pretty and enjoying our first free week-BAM, life happened. Kinney (my fiance) has been an assistant baseball coach for six years and during the first week of summer he interviewed, was offered, and accepted a head baseball coaching job. 2 and a half hours from our hometowns. One month before our wedding. I told him years ago that I would support him and be by side where ever life takes us, and I truly do mean that, even today. So here we are, in Paradise, Texas--Population 400, ready to take on the world. Basically the way the world, or the coaching world anyway, works is that when they get offered a job, the baggage (AKA the teacher wife) gets a job as well IF they have any available. I have known plenty of wives who did not get a job because there simply wasn't one so I am very grateful to say that I was offered a job too. And a good one at that. As I have stated before, I have taught 3rd grade ELAR for 3 years. This year I will be doing 5th grade WRITING (YES-Writing ONLY)! :) I am VERY excited but also VERY nervous because the curriculum they use here is different than the writing curriculum I used in Van. Oh, and did I mention that my hometown was hit by an EF4 tornado May 10 and had to shut it's doors for the remainder of the year and next year my campus will be moved to portables to allow Kinder and First Grade to take over our building because theirs was demolished. Because of this, we have not been allowed back into our rooms and have no been able to touch or see any of our things since May 8th. The hope is that I will finally be able to get into my things that have been moved into portables for the next school year by August 1 and make the 2 hour trip to their new home. While this is all exciting and crazy and stressful, the underlying fact is that I have a beautiful home, I have a wonderful job that I am so eagerly looking forward to, I have my sweet four legged children, and I have my very best friend in the entire universe right beside me as we jump in head first holding hands. Life is good :)
Thursday, June 27, 2013
School's out for SUMMA......officially!!
At the very end of the school year, as I came thru the doors at 7:30, coffee in hand....BUT NOT CONSUMED YET...(that is the key part), I was asked if I would teach summer school. In my sleepy stooper, I agree. Although some days I am like a zombie walking, today is the last day, and I have to say, it flew by.
The last three weeks have been jammed packed with small group instruction, skill specific instruction, and guided reading groups. Summer school sure is quite a bit different than the regular school year....10 kids... AWESOME! :) Although at 6 a.m. the last 3 weeks I have been mentally quizzing myself on WHY I agreed to do this, eventually throughout the day....the small class size, the four days a week, the getting out of school at noon thing, my attitude perks up and I realize that it is actually pretty awesome and very beneficial to the kids! It's been quite nice....and maybe when I get that extra check I can buy those Chevron Curtains that I've been eyeing for months and really get started buying materials and supplies for the school year and all of my DIY projects that I have in mind. I have found quite a few wonderful resources this summer though as far as materials that I plan to use for next year. One thing that I REALLY liked is the listening center. I tried it a bit last year, but I never could get it right....I think I have it figured out now. So hopefully that is something that I will be incorporating into my classroom next year.
On a side note....I am SO ready to get started putting together my teacher binder for the 2013-2014 school year.... I found the perfect one for my OCD needs on TpT and the organizer in me is chomping at the bit to get started. Last year being my first year, I felt like I did a LOT of surviving, making it through, not sinking....but not exactly SUCCEEDING. So that is my top priority this year...to be extremely organized so that my students and I can succeed. Most of my co-teachers would say that I am over the top organized, because I do not like clutter, but if they really knew that last year was really a disaster in the grand scheme of my real OCD-ness, they would know that I was a hot mess!! ;)
We are having game day and making homemade ice cream in a baggie today then we're outta here....HELLO SUMMER! Have a great weekend, ya'll! :)
xo-C
The last three weeks have been jammed packed with small group instruction, skill specific instruction, and guided reading groups. Summer school sure is quite a bit different than the regular school year....10 kids... AWESOME! :) Although at 6 a.m. the last 3 weeks I have been mentally quizzing myself on WHY I agreed to do this, eventually throughout the day....the small class size, the four days a week, the getting out of school at noon thing, my attitude perks up and I realize that it is actually pretty awesome and very beneficial to the kids! It's been quite nice....and maybe when I get that extra check I can buy those Chevron Curtains that I've been eyeing for months and really get started buying materials and supplies for the school year and all of my DIY projects that I have in mind. I have found quite a few wonderful resources this summer though as far as materials that I plan to use for next year. One thing that I REALLY liked is the listening center. I tried it a bit last year, but I never could get it right....I think I have it figured out now. So hopefully that is something that I will be incorporating into my classroom next year.
On a side note....I am SO ready to get started putting together my teacher binder for the 2013-2014 school year.... I found the perfect one for my OCD needs on TpT and the organizer in me is chomping at the bit to get started. Last year being my first year, I felt like I did a LOT of surviving, making it through, not sinking....but not exactly SUCCEEDING. So that is my top priority this year...to be extremely organized so that my students and I can succeed. Most of my co-teachers would say that I am over the top organized, because I do not like clutter, but if they really knew that last year was really a disaster in the grand scheme of my real OCD-ness, they would know that I was a hot mess!! ;)
We are having game day and making homemade ice cream in a baggie today then we're outta here....HELLO SUMMER! Have a great weekend, ya'll! :)
xo-C
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
All about ME..... :)
Okay, first off, I guess I should tell yall a little about myself. My name is Caroline Hudgens and I am a "barely survived, just trying to keep from sinking" teacher who just finished up my first year. I am also that teacher that, even though I am SO thankful for my college experience, learned that college does not quite prepare you for the teaching world that you are thrown into when you decide to teach. There was quite a bit of "figuring it out as I go" this year. I am 25 years old and live in the great state of Texas. I live in the same small town that I was born and raised in, went to school in my entire life, that most of my memories come from, and that I now teach in :) I taught preschool for four and a half years while I was attending college. I student taught in 5th grade in my hometown and and after I graduated I was hired to teach 3rd grade in my hometown as well.... Are you seeing a trend here?? I seem like quite the "hometown girl" right... HA! There is a reason that I've never left this tiny little population of 2000 town, and I'll get to that momentarily. :) It was a bit of a rough transition for me to go from those sweet babies with snotty noses and untied shoes to the back talking, attitude slinging, sassy 8 year olds, and I will be honest, I had a FEW meltdown's along the way.... I am not proud of that, but HEY, we are all human right?? On the days that I felt like I couldn't handle it, there was always coffee, Diet Dr. Pepper (I know, I know), and a fresh pack of 64 crayola crayons with the built in sharpener waiting on me at home to help pull me thru... Don't judge, we all have our vices :) Although it was a bit hard on me at first, bu the end of the year, I had come to realize that, they became my heart. I feel like someone upstairs had quite the hand in placing me where I would flourish. I truly feel those kids saved me. They gave me meaning and purpose. I miss them something kind of crazy!
Now... to expand on the topic of why I have chosen to stay in this little bity teeny tiny town... There are many reasons why I love this place, and a lot of that has to do with comfort, stability, and just plain habit. But the people here rock, too! BUT the main reason that I chose to be here, more than anywhere else in the whole world is these 3 little kids.
Now... to expand on the topic of why I have chosen to stay in this little bity teeny tiny town... There are many reasons why I love this place, and a lot of that has to do with comfort, stability, and just plain habit. But the people here rock, too! BUT the main reason that I chose to be here, more than anywhere else in the whole world is these 3 little kids.
They pretty much rock my face off, daily! When I think of my life without them, I couldnt bear it! :) btw, I'm just the aunt...not the mom! They have an amazing mom and dad that just happen to let me spoil them rotten basically every day. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
Now... for you to really grasp my life, you'll need to meet my four, four legged children. But that will absolutely have to be a post all in itself, because I am quite obsessed with my little babies! Here's a glimpse.... Post more tomorrow! :)
PJ ;)....The sass...
Presley...The princess :)
Parker...the lover :)
Piper...the DIVA!! :)
Clearly I am not quite an expert yet at this whole blog thing....but hang with me! :) More to come...
xo-C
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