We used our time off to catch up on the mounting paper involved with teaching, doctor appointments, and a quick visit to see some local family. 

*Jeremy with his nephew, Nolan, pictured above.

We have lived in our apartment for over 3 months now, and we have finally started to decorate a few things!

Right before Thanksgiving break, one off our teacher friends brought in a real, live turkey!  His name is "Junior" and she let all the kids pet him. It was kind of amazing until you consider the fact that all those these kids are going to be scarred for life mid-Thanksgiving dinner when realization hits them like a ton of bricks!

I have always been more interested in producing musicals and more theatrical programs, but I have been faced with a "but, it's what's always been done" attitude here at Sunnyvale. I am now running BOTH a 4th grade Choir AND a 1st and 2nd grade musical after school to satisfy what the current administration wants and what I know is more appropriate for the age groups that I am teaching.  In the past, the 4th graders were auditioned for a 50 member competitive choir and all the grades each put on a full grade level musical that used up nearly 50% of their in-class time for the year. BUT, that is not good teaching!!  I am trying to change the system slowly. 

This evening was my very first full choir program. These children have signed up for an after school choir class on Tuesday afternoons and have been working diligently to present their music to the audience. They sounded beautiful! 

Our district has SO MANY evening events! A minimum of 1 per month, with the likelihood of 2-3.  It's kind of crazy! This is the academic showcase - a chance for each grade level and department to showcase what they are teaching.  Here is my set up. Six tri-fold boards with what I have started so far and two laptops playing videos of each class performing what they have learned. The turn out was not amazing, but I rocked my booth!

Time for a visit to Oklahoma City for Grandma Kathy's birthday.  A quick one, but always fun. Time to hang out with the family, his parents, grandma, brother, little nephew, and  Jeremy got his Christmas gift early - a new Nintendo Switch video game console and had fun playing with anyone!