Sweet Notes

Without a doubt one of the best parts about being a 3rd grade teacher is all the sweet cards and notes the kids write me! It always brightens my day :)

Here's on I got today:

"I think you are the best teacher in the world. I think your pretty. My best friends are Landon, Josh, Blair, Nathan, and you."  -Nicholas

And here's another kid quote:
This was my conversation with a student while we were having a "book conference" (a time when they tell me about a book they are reading).
Landon- "While the guy was sitting in the bathtub he blarfed."
Me- "He what??"
Landon- "He blarfed"
Me- "Can you spell that for me?"
Landon- "Blarfed. B-L-A-R-F-E-D."
Me- "What does that mean?"
Landon- "You know, it's when you burp and throw up some too."
Me-"Sorry I asked."

Me to class: "Alright, Miss Bass' Class, I need you ears closed and your mouths open."
Paige: "Ughh..Miss Bass I think you mean your ears open and your mouths closed."
Me: "Just wanted to make sure you were listening..."

learning, love, and a few tears...

Well...yesterday was one of those break you down to build you up kind of days.  And on my 5th day of teaching I shed my very first tear. I tried my hardest to laugh of my troubles..but yesterday it was too much. I said to myself, "Janae, you're not going to cry you and going to laugh this off!" So I forced myself to laugh, but it quickly turned into a cry. I'm sure if anyone else would have seen me in the hallway they would have thought I was loosing it, but that moment that exactly what I was doing, loosing it! I only shed about 3 tears, then I quickly composed myself and went back to class. Now after reflecting on the situation here are a few things I've learned...
*It's ok to cry, everyone does it.
*By having "issues" with a student I have to chance to show myself and everyone else what I'm made of.
*After having a bad day, you really really appreciate the good ones.
*Teaching isn't just about the students learning, it's about the teacher learning what works for each student to learn.
*Today I was better because of what I learned yesterday...and LOTS of prayers.
*If I have many more days like yesterday, I'm going to have the strength of a body builder.


“Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be.” -- Samuel Johnson

A New Beginning

The past 3 weeks have been full of packing, unpacking, cleaning, decorating, meetings, making copies, laminating, and lots more.  And even with all these things going on I have been able to have some fun too! God has really been blessing my time in Branson so far and I know he will continue to do so. Here are a few of the ways I've felt His love lately:

*Spending time with old friends
*Making new friends
*Coffee and Conversation (Women's Night at church, yes I'm a full-out grown up now, I go to the women's events!)
*Placing me in a wonderful school district and school building. (Our back to school district meeting was opened with prayer!)
*Providing me an awesome 3rd grade team of teachers, and a very sweet and kind mentor teacher. I would be lost without her.
*Giving me 26 students to love and teach.

My last blessing leads me into the name of my blog...I decided to name it learning, love, and laughter because that is what I know this next chapter in my life is going to be full of.  First, although I am the "teacher" I will be learning just as much if not more than the kids this year. Next, love, I know I'm going to need to choose to love my children every single day. The reason I decided to be a teacher was because I knew I want to serve and love kids. And last, laughter. I know this year is going to be full of trials. I told mom that instead of crying when things go wrong I'm going to try my best to laugh! We'll see how well I do with that, but I haven't cried yet (I know its only been two days).

I also want a place to share cute things my students say. So I'm going to try to have at least one kid quote for each blog post. Enjoy!

Kids Quotes:

From one of my students who was talking to his group members and didn't know I could hear him. "Ok guys, raise your hand if you love Miss Bass. I mean not like LOVE LOVE her, but love her like you love ice cream."