Officially a Teacher!

When I was little I wanted to be an artist 👩🏼‍🎨, a ballerina 🩰, a farmer 👩🏼‍🌾, and a teacher 👩🏼‍🏫 all at the

same time and I told my mom I would be too busy to see her 🤷🏼‍♀️. With many prayers answered and miracles 

experienced (I mean, mountains being moved!), one of those dreams came true. 

Today was my first day of my first year of teaching! 🤍⁣

^Look at how well Andrew did at decorating my door^

This day has been a long time coming! I started my college degree back in 2011, little did I know it would be 

8 years later till I would graduate! I knew I wanted to major in special education soon after I started my first 

semester of college and started to peruse it right away (by divine guidance). 

The first two years were easy. I got everything done that I needed to. I left for my mission after my sophomore year 

with everything lined up to apply for my major when I got back. (I could not apply beforehand because I needed to 

take a math test in September to apply to the program in October, and I left in July) . 

Anyways....

I went on my mission and I would not trade that experience for anything.

I got back at the end of January, so I took a semester off waiting for the fall semester to start.

I started to get information about it and it turned  out while I was on my mission, the special education department 

had added an additional math class I needed to take before I could apply to the program, and since I had not 

taken a math class in over a year, I needed to take an additional math class before that (which I had already taken 

my freshman year of college). 

 I just added another year so I could tack on ONE prerequisite for my major. 

Frustrating but doable. 

At the end of my junior year I got married, and moved down to Provo and applied for the distance education 

program along with my special education program and I got in! But the distance program was not offering any 

of the classes I needed for Fall 2016 semester. I looked into BYU and UVU for classes that would 

transfer to USU, but none were offered. So I took another semester off. 

FINALLY I could take classes in January on the distance education campus and online. 

I was a part time student but I was moving forward! 

While I was doing part time school I worked at a local elementary school being a special education aide 

(it's like a supporting teacher). I really got to experience my career choice first hand and I got to do a lot of 

my assignments for school in class. It worked out so well and I had so much support from my job! I worked 

there for 3 years with the best people! 

Student teaching time came, and I was offered an internship at my current school to teach for 1 full year in 

the special education 4th-6th grade class. As much as I hated to leave, I turned it down because I wanted new 

experiences and ideas. At the end of my student teaching, I was informed that my old school had the 4th-6th grade

 class position open and wanted me to apply. 

I applied, interviewed, and got the job!

Today was my first official day and it feels so good to be back! 

I'm working with a lot of the kids I had before when they were in 1st-3rd grade.

I'm also happy to be working with the 1st-3rd special education teacher again because I was an aide in her 

classroom for 3 years and she's pure genius. 

My parents came by after school and brought me balloons to celebrate. 

It was a good first day back (even if I had to chase a student to walk and follow directions, haha!).

I love where I'm at and I'm excited to finish out the remainder of the year! 

And here's a short little post about when I first got hired as an aide. 

I Have the Best Job

Guys, I love my job! There are so many good moments and I wish everyone could experience it.

Personally, I think that everyone should work with special education or special needs at least at one point of their lives.

There are so many things I have learned from the kids I work with. And even when I'm having a bad day or when

work is a struggle, there is always something to laugh about. I mean, our kids are hilarious! 

I love celebrating with them their accomplishments of when they succeed in what they have been working hard on. 

I love cheering them on. I love their hugs. I love it when they are excited to see us and their friends at school.

I'm not exaggerating when I say it's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.  

This past week was teacher appreciation and I loved it because it made me grateful for my job 

and for the staff and the students I get to work with. 

The PTA put a teacher appreciation together in the break room and is this not the cutest thing? 

And please notice the mini lantern lights above the red banner. They may be hard to see but it really completed 

the whole ensemble. We even turned off the lights for a minute and it was a little magic.

^And look at these smores' cupcakes! I'm not eating candy or desserts until our big vacation so 

I passed and gave it to Andrew instead. But I definitely want to try and make a similar recipe.^

Moments that Made This Week Special

⭐When one of our students wanted us to look up a picture of their brother. 

This student does not have a brother but they responded, "Yes I do, it's Jesus, and He loves me."

⭐Warm spring days when our kids want us to play with them during recess.

⭐When one of your kids invites you to their birthday party. I went and I absolutely loved it!

⭐The giggles from the kids.

⭐When the office staff plays with your kids and both love it.
Sometimes the kids run into the office on the way to the bus to play with the staff. 🙈

⭐ Potty training is going well!!! 

⭐The hilarious things our kids said. I think once tears even came because I was laughing so hard! 

I am so blessed to be working where I work and with all the amazing people. I love what I do. 

It's such a wonderful thing. If you want to be involved with anything involving special needs let me know and I will

give you different ideas of how to be involved. It will be a life changing experience for sure! 

Our "Super" Halloween

I have noticed recently that this little blog of mine is full of A LOT of puns. 

Maybe I think they're funny. Or witty. Or eye catching. I don't know, but I don't think it's going to stop. haha. sorry.

And look, I blogged sooner than I thought I would! #Accomplishment! 

Halloween was a fun experience. Our theme this year in the classroom is superheros so we decided to all dress up as an Avenger. Fitting right? 

Before our little class party the real Spiderman came in (a.k.a. Andrew).

Special ed is kind of a hard thing for Andrew to understand. He's come a long ways though (so proud). 

So when he asked me if he could dress up as Spiderman and come in to say hi to my kids my heart melted. He would have never have offered that 2 years ago! He even brought candy to give to them. 

He came in the class and the kids loved it! There was cheering going on. One of the kids walks up and says, 

"I'm your biggest fan!" 

Our Halloween festivities involved eating lots of candy (at least I did) and watching a movie

where we both fell asleep. We woke up at 10:30 and went to bed #sotired. 

I'm was just ecstatic that my night class was cancelled! 🙌 That was the best thing that could have ever have happened to me. 

I Got a Cup (and a job)

I tried too many different times for a somewhat decent picture

but it just did not work. This was the best one there was. 

So there you go. 

The purpose of the picture:

I got a job being an aide in a special education classroom.

Today was my first day and wow, I absolutely love it. 

It's crazy and I'm tired but it's wonderful.

I see these children and my heart expands. 

They are so loving and have so much to offer.

I love them so much. 

I am so excited to continue to work with them! 

As an aide I got a cup.

With an awesome lanyard and candy. 

I feel legit. 

As legit as an aide can be. 

Another positive side note about this 

is that I get first hand experience,

Special education is what I want to do.

I get to learn about different disabilities,

how to handle misbehavior, and how to reward. 

I get to learn from the teacher and the students. 

Oh and I get paid! Yay! 

Happy First Week Back to School!