Hello Summer

Aaaaaah, it's finally here...

...and in more than just one way.

Yes, the weather is certainly heating up as we hit the 100 degree mark today (actually a few degrees past it). Sigh. I'm not a big fan of anything beyond 90, so I've really enjoyed May and June in the 70s. A little unorthodox, but really nice.

Yes, I am finally on summer vacation...one of the perks of being a teacher. It's a month without pay people, so it's not that great. Fortunately, most of us teachers save all year long to "pay ourselves" during the summer, but still, it's an 11 month job and we get paid for just that. I am on break for 5 weeks and in those 5 weeks I will go in to my classroom to work on preparations for the next school year, do some filing, and a little reorganization since I am "divorcing" my current job-share partner and going back to my very first job-share partner. We joke about it in terms of a marriage splitting up, but I assure you the only reason the four of us at work end job shares and start new ones is to be able to work the percentage of days each week we want. For the last four years we've been able to do just that by swapping partners each year. I was 50% this year and will be 60% next year. The 10% increase will essentially cover the girls' preschool tuition and it means 3 work days per week versus what I've done for the past two years, which was alternate between 2 and 3 days a week.

As to WHAT exactly I will be doing come August, still remains a mystery. Well, actaully I know what I'll be doing in August--it's September and beyond that still alludes me. Our school has a rather unpredicatble enrollment. In kindergarten, we've been at nearly 120 students some years and as low as 85 students in others. If the kids simply don't show up and we don't have enough for at least 4 classes, my partner and I wil either be teaching a Kindergarten/First Grade combination class or doing some R & D, as my principal calls it. Reaserach and Development, that is. She and I will be responsible for developing an intervention program for students far below proficiency in grades 1 and 2. It's not exactly what we planned on doing (or want to be doing), but at least we have a job. It hurts a little knowing I may not be teaching Kindergarten, which is my first love. I won't know anything until September when our enrollment stabilizes. It might mean a last minute move to another classroom or a shift in mindset/teaching or a little of both. Regardless, we (my partner and I) will go with the flow.

This summer we have a lot planned...lots of swimming in our pool and hangin' out in the backyard, beach trips, day trips a little north and south, a trip to Arizona, a trip to Las Vegas, a trip to Cambria/San Simeon, and a little bit of spontaneity mixed in. The girls will have their final assessments in the next few weeks and will officially be transitioned out of Early Intervention by their 3rd birthday which is just two months away.

We are working on potty learning...I say that on purpose because I am not of the "training" mind. We didn't do sleep training, so no potty training around here either. It's very relaxed...no pressure on anyone. No timelines, no deadlines. Their preschool doesn't care if they are/are not using the potty, so we're following the girls' lead. Both are in big girl panties (cloth learners) during the day and diapers for naps/night. Mia is telling us when she needs to go and is peeing in the potty about 60% of the time. Juliana, he, he, he, that girl couldn't care less about whether or not her big girl panties are wet or if pee is streaming down her legs. She gives us no clues, no signals, no signs of needing to go, and has yet to pee on the potty. We will be on the potty one second, no pee, and then as soon as we leave the bathroom, wet panties. Sigh. BUT, she's interested in the whole ritual of sitting there, reading, talking, singing, checking for pee pee, washing hands, etc. and that's what matters. I'm kinda' thinking she will reach this milestone just like she's reached all of the others...letting Mia work on it for a while, taking it all in, and then one day, she will make the decision and be finished with diapers for good. Done. We shall see!