Cheaper than Therapy

Teaching elementary school is hard. I've taught before, I know this. But I found out this year that teaching at a High Priority school is hard and stressful. So as a way of coping, I've adopted a new mantra:

"A good hobby is cheaper than therapy."

We've had 10 snow days so far this year, which have been great therapy days for me. Here are some of the therapeutic activities that I've been up to lately....

Over Christmas break, I found a piece of scrapbook paper with my mantra on it! It became this:


One of my new favorite recipes-- Blueberry muffins to die for

Brian Wright liked pretzels with sprinkes
His wife would eat them plain.
And so, betwixt the two of them,
No pretzels will remain!

My favorite project so far-- Ikea coffee table turned entry way bench!
BEFORE:AFTER:
I also made a magnet board for my craft table... I'll be posting that soon!

Whale Poem

My students do literacy centers every day. They do 10 a week with partners while I pull back small groups for focused instruction.

In the Science and Social Studies Connection center this week, my students had to research information about whales and then write a poem about whales. Here is my favorite:

For a fact people hunt down whales and use blubber
for rubber.
Well gee that sounds sad
you shouldn't be glad.
Those pour little whales
are becoming stail.
Whales eat krill.
Humans bbq them on a grill.

p.s. This kid has told me that his dad is a rapper. He also has 8 brothers and sisters and all of their names start with "Ter-".

Treasures

The first Saturday of the month is
Half off Everything at Goodwill day!
I'm a total dork, but I love it. It's like treasure hunting!

This month I found so much good stuff for my projects: Sheets with some really fun prints that I'm going to use as fabric, frames that are going to look great once they have some new paint, etc.

My favorite find:
I'm 99% sure they have never even been worn! And the very best part is that they were $2.50!!

That's right, only $2.50!!!

Now I'm just waiting for the weather to warm up so I can actually wear them...

Doody

.......Setting-- 4th grade bathrooms......

(Shrieks coming from the girls side of the restroom)

Mrs. Wright: "Ladies, what is the problem?!"

A: "Mrs. Wright, K went doody in the bathroom!"

D: "HAHAHAHA DOODY!"

C: "I can smell it y'all!"

R: "Doooooooody doooooooody...."

(More Laughter)

Mrs. Wright: "Oh come on, ladies- just drop it, everybody does that."

A: "But it's doody!"

Mrs. Wright: "Well don't make fun, everybody needs to do that sometimes, it's not a big deal."

C: (thoughtful expression) "Mrs. Wright, do YOU do it?"

First Young Womens Lesson

I am now in the Young Women's Presidency in our church congregation! I was asked to serve in this calling a week ago and we dove right in! Three other women and I are in charge of the teenage girls in our ward (12-18 years old) and their Sunday class as well as their Wednesday night youth group ("Mutual"). I am specifically assigned to the "Beehives" (12-13 year old girls) but since we don't have very many Young Women, we all meet together anyways.

I am so excited! The girls in my ward are way cute and we have already planned some super fun activities!

Today I taught my first lesson to the group. It was on being a daughter of God and growing closer to Christ through daily activities. It was actually going pretty well right up until the end (about 5 minutes before I was finished). The room we were in had 2 doors, one at the front where I was teaching and one at the back behind where the girls were sitting. We were having a really good moment when all of a sudden one of the Young Men threw open the door, tossed a ball of paper at the girls, and took off down the hall.

Instantly, the 4th grade teacher inside of me reared it's ugly head. I opened the door close to me and chased walked quickly to catch up with the Young Man around the corner, where he had run-- foolishly assuming I wouldn't follow him :)....

He turned and looked at me over his shoulder.

Scary Sis. Wright: "EXCUSE ME."

Young Man with Pink Tie: "Yeah..."

Scary Sis. Wright: "That was EXTREMELY rude."

Pink Tie: "uuhhh..."

Scary Sis. Wright: "That will NEVER happen again."

Pink Tie: "Yes ma'am. Yes, ma'am."

Scary Sis. Wright: "Thank you."

Do NOT disrespect me when I am teaching*

(There may or may not have been some slight attitude head bobbing on my part-- learned behaviors from my students.)

...So much for getting in with the kids and being a "Cool" youth leader.

At least my girls thought it was funny.

I walked back in and finished my lesson about making choices everyday to bring us closer to Christ and feel peace.

*I never would have done this a year ago. Teaching in an urban school district has apparently changed me.

2010 in Review

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Here's our quick review of 2010:

We traveled to Vanderbilt for 2nd look weekend and decided that "Vandy" was were we wanted to be.

Brian graduated with honors from BYU and was chosen as the student speaker for BYU's April 2010 commencement.

Natalie completed classes earning her teaching endorsement in English Language Learners.

Natalie was hired to teach 4th grade.

We survived the move to Nashville, Tennessee.

Brian started medical school at Vanderbilt.

We celebrated our 3rd anniversary on December 29th.


We are so grateful for all of the blessings we have experienced in this last year! We have truly been watched over in all of the changes we've had to go through. We are thankful for wonderful family and amazing friends!
We are excited about 2011 and all of the adventures that will come with it!