Saturday, August 16, 2008

Ooff Da, Oy Ve, Good Grief What a Week!

I seem to have used "What a week" a few times, so I thought I'd add a few extra words to help describe my week.
It all started on Monday...I met the other teachers at preschool and we spent the next NINE hours arranging, rearranging, and arranging again our rooms. We then spent the rest of the week changing things again, and getting a TON of other things ready. We laminated about a million things (by hand with clear contact paper...but the BIG things we paid the elementary school to laminate with their machine), which means we also cut out about a MILLION things. We went through our supplies, made many items to help organize our classes. Wow, seems like we were there FOREVER this week.

Hubby stayed home with the kids on Monday so I could focus on my work, but the rest of the week the kiddos were with me. They did really well. One of the other teachers brought her girls, and our 5 kids played well together and occupied each other.
We all agreed that we would take Monday off to be with our older kiddos who start school on Tuesday. But then while they are at school on Tuesday we are having a power-planning session. We are going to try to map out the year. Basic themes (letter of the week, Bible story or book of the week) and do more detailed planning for the first 6 weeks. After this major planning party, we should be able to do the rest of the detailed planning pretty easily. After we have the basic planning done, then I can get to work on the journal that the kiddos will be working on daily to help them learn to love to write, color, and basically learn to express themselves and be creative. We have our planning session on Tuesday and open houses on Wed & Thurs. School starts next Monday.
For those of you in the education field, we are using two curriculum this year: Handwriting Without Tears and ZooPhonics. Both have a lot of good aspects about them. I'm excited to learn more about them...and they always say you learn best by teaching to others!
Our current student count is 34 three-year-olds and 28 fours. The 3's classes are going to be challenging, but we will survive...no, we will THRIVE! We are going to have so much fun!

This has been a very fun week, and I am totally exhausted. Besides just being so busy, I've also had difficulty sleeping. I guess I'm having another bout of insomnia...I guess this school thing is stressing me out more than I thought. So, I went out this afternoon and bought some sleeping pills. I battle insomnia every once in a while. When I was pregnant with Bethany I had it really bad. My midwife told me it was safe to take unisom while pregnant and it totally worked. So, this is what I got today, I am praying it works its magic again! I go to sleep fine, but wake up between 2 & 3 and am awake until usually 5 or 5:30! Next week when the kids are back in school I will have to get up at 5:15 to get my walk in...so I NEED that sleep between 2 & 5!
So...here's to a GOOD night's sleep!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am glad thingd are going well with the preschool. That is awesome that things are getting done!!!!

As far as insomnia goes... are you eating chocolate in the afternoon? I read just yesterday that while chocolate has caffiene in it, it's released slowly. So you don't have problems getting to sleep, but you might have problems staying asleep.

Just thought I'd share that with you. Also, remember to take your vitamins every day, including calcium. Seriously, it helps regulate your systems and you will find that you can wind down easier.

And don't forget to journal, or at least make a list of everything that's bothering you before you try to go to bed. You don't have to be super-specific, just write one or two words to describe all the things on your mind. I do this at work when I am frenzied and sometimes I realize that things are bothing me which I didn't even think were doing so!

With dh gone to school in Ohio again this week, I plan to stay up watching the Olympics for at least another hour. I must exhaust myself or I will never be able to fall asleep.

Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

i've not been sleeping well either... last 2 nights up at 1 until 5, which makes getting up at 6:30 a bit problematic.

i'm already nodding at my desk and dreading the 4.5 mile run i have planned over the lunch hour... but maybe it will energize me.

i know its work stress with me, but this to shall pass, right sis!

Anonymous said...

I hope you're sleeping better, Andie. Insomnia is awful! Just can't shut the 'ole mind down sometimes, hunh. Anyway, I miss your musings, so hopefully, you're getting more sleep, and are not so busy. Love, Aunt Patty.