Second Year in Second grade teaching Luke

Wow! My second year in second grade. This year I taught my son, Luke, again. I loved having him. This year he was older and we only has 2 meltdowns of him not getting his way!

He has always been my stubborn child. I was blown away when last year he got the flexible award from his first grade teacher and then this year for Kanakuk camp he got the Same character award. Flexible is something I don't see often in Luke, my sweet but very stubborn child! 

But isn't that how it is? We raise our kids and see them one way but how they act elsewhere can be different. It reminds me to not get stuck in how I perceive my kids. As a teacher it also reminds me to listen to parents. Their concerns of certain behaviors really can be justified! I have witnessed this with my own child. So thanks my Stubborn-Flexible Luke for teaching me! 

Love,

Mrs. Venable

Aka Mom

The best "first" second grade class ever! Yes I must say I love , I mean Love this class of kids! Really...already miss them and its only been one week!

Three months left

I really can't believe we have three months left! That's all the time I have left to pour into my precious second graders..I wonder have I done enough. Was I an effective first year teacher? I hope they will remember me as fondly as I will them!

Blaze is Dead

Yep he really did die! Unfortunately it wasn't even when I was in class. My sub had to find him. Poor Mrs. Wray! So I'm in the look-out for a new pet. One that maybe I can keep alive!

I Thought Blaze was Dead!

Have you ever had that moment when a kid says something that you have been dreading to hear? Well today was the day. Ben said, "Mrs. Venable it looks like Blaze is dead." My heart sank, I kinda thought that this might happen. I've never cared for a reptile and I decided to try to transition him from eating only live crickets to mixed food, so there was a high possibility that I might kill the poor thing. So I told the kids he was sleeping. Then, while they were at PE I tried to wake Blaze up. Well he moved a little! PTL and later in the day he was really moving. So Blaze is still alive but really it is debatable that he will make it through the year!

A New Beginning

So here it is. It will be a beginning, a new journey. A little blogging for other educators, a little blogging for parents, a place my kids can look back at and see me in a different light, but  mainly a place for reflection for me. I've always been a teacher. It's just taken me 37 years to get the piece of paper that says I can teach little ones. I'm the oldest of four, the only sister. My momma said I should have been a teacher when I went off to college in 1992, but I was too stubborn and thought making money and traveling was going to be my life! Ha, thank goodness our God is bigger than my plans. A wonderfully supportive husband and children that sacrificed me not being at every game/activity allowed me the opportunity to pursue this dream. Thank you Gary, Ravyn, Grant, and Luke. I love you and I hope I will make you proud as a great second grade teacher.