The First Day of School

We all had a great first day of school. Houston was a big help to the younger kids and Brody just fit right in like he had been there for years. His teacher was amazed at how good he was. I had a great day too. My students are great. So polite and respectful. I didn't even get any moans and groans when I gave an assignement on the first day of school. This private school thing is going to take some getting used to ... but in a good way! I love it so far. What a great facility and a great program. I told my students how lucky they are that their parents send them somewhere like this. And as a teacher, to have anything I need at my disposal is amazing. We had a great talk in science about our plans for the year. The kids have some great ideas too. Lots of good things ahead and hopefully a fun learning adventure for all. I'm really happy that life has lead me here. I love the Montessori method and am super excited to learn all I can about it. I went to a Montessori school through 3rd grade and I really attribute that to my success in school. Just thinking about this method with only 10 kids in a science class makes me very happy. The possibilities are endless. :)

Getting ready ... dress blues for the first day of school

Dress blues for mama too!

Houston & Brody ringing the bell for the start of the school year

The flag ceremony

Heading back to class ...

Staying busy in mama's classroom at the end of the day so she can get some things done

Brody had a big day and was so tired. He came into my classroom and asked if he could lay down.

School Update

So I got my postbac application and fee sent in today. I checked with the mathematics grad advisor and he said it's not too late to apply for fall and that he would be happy to admit me to the math department to do some postbac work. So it seems, unless i'm really confused somewhere, that the application process is mostly a formality. I even had to put his name on my application and so it seems he will be the one making the decision. The postbac app even says something about the decision to readmit being up to the department in which you plan to study.

Right now i'm trying to take things one step at a time. I'll take two classes in the fall and see how it goes. Having to do some postbac work is actually a blessing, now that i'm seeing things clearly. This will give me a good taste of what things will be like without having fully committed to anything. Maybe i'll sail right through that advanced calculus and wow them so much that they want to let me into the grad program at UF. :) Maybe i'll end up saying "what the heck was i thinking?" and give up on the idea all together. Only time will tell.

There's also an up side to UNF versus UF. That would be that I only have to take three postbac classes instead of five and that one of the classes I would not have to take is Advanced Calculus 2. Now I love calculus as much as the next person crazy enough to want to get a masters in math but college calculus classes and I didn't always get along so well. (that could have something to do with the fact that I was only 18 and free from parental control for the first time ... i'm hoping things are different at 31) Now after Calc 1, 2 and 3 I really got the hang of it and did really well in differential equations (that comes after the Calc series). There's just something about jumping right in after seven years with a bunch of "kids" that just finished the Calc 1, 2 and 3 series that is scaring the pants right off me. I don't doubt my brain for a second. I don't even doubt that it will all come back to me. I've done enough calculus tutoring over the past few years to know how well it actually does come right back. What I do doubt is my self-discipline. Will I be able to tell the boys that I can't play with them right now or read to them right now because I have to study? That's going to be tough. A good friend pointed something out to me that is helping me with that issue though. He pointed out how young the boys are and that by the time they are old enough to go do the really fun stuff that I will be done with school. I've thought about that a lot tonight and he's right. I'll remember these times but the boys won't. They probably won't ever remember mama being in school.

I'm really lucky to have all the support behind me that I do. Brett is all for it and i've gotten so many words of encouragement and support from my friends and Brett's family. I really appreciate it too. Sometimes I get stuck in this stay-at-home mom world i'm living in far away from my closest friends and I forget that I really do have a lot of support out there. I know you all will straighten me out each time I start to doubt myself. You all rock and I love you for it. :) Everybody clear your schedules for May of 2010 because we're gonna have a rockin' party when/if I actually finish that masters degree and I want you all here to help me celebrate. ;)