i'm a big girl now!

well people, it's official: i have my first big girl job.

so, here's the skinny.

school: imagine life science academy west
job: special education assistant (full time)


so yes, i have a job. i'm not a classroom teacher (boohoo) but at this point i was willing to take antying that came my way! so basically i work in the special ed department which consists of 4 people. a k-4 teacher (with an aide) and 5-7 teacher (with an aide = me)!!! my basic duties are visiting each of the students at least once a day to assist with classroom management and keeping them on task ("push in")! we have mostly EH labeled kids which for those who don't know means emotionally handicapped. this is what is so heartbreaking because this kids don't deal with academic issues except as a direct result of behaving badly and having to be pulled out of class :(


sooo i work with the kiddos grades 5-7. let me give you the demographic of this school (80% african american and 20% everything else!!! mostly hispanic). so i must say it's a total culture shock because although i have been around those ethnicities i have never experienced this culture quite this way. it's amazing and i'm totally embracing it but as much of a culture shock that i am to the kiddos they are a culture shock to me! i am trying to learn as much as i can from them right now.


ummm.. day one. i walk in and we head to 'community' which for most IUPUI students means sitting in a circle with your class talking about ways to improve the classroom community. oh no. this is the ENTIRE student body and it's kinda like a rap concert. it's...um..ABSOLUTE PANDAMONIUM. i was SOOO nervous just standing there looking around at the whole school in complete chaos. anyway. then i find out it's picture day (THANKS GUYS!) and so we get pictures taken (let me tell you that my first yearbook photo as a teacher is going to look TERRIBLE). then i met my kiddos and took a tour of the school. they are remodeling sooooo it's loud and a mess!!


oh, i forgot to say. EVERY ONE of my students is taller than me. and ILSAW has only been open for 2 years. so everything is kinda.....trial and error :)


i must say though, i totally love my job and the ladies i work with. and i am completely falling for all of the kids im working with and i can't wait to help make a change in their lives. im just praying for the Lord to break these little children's hearts and to give me the wisdom to understand what it is they need.


day 2. i'd like to call today FIGHT DAY. tons of kids suspsended. i mean, what more can i say. it was one of those days where you feel like you got nothing accomplished. i was helping fight fires and difusing arguments (of course alongside my coworkers -- and praise the lord for her!) so that's basically what i can say about today.



soooo if i don't die from this experience i have to say that i think this will only make me a better teacher in the long run. at the very least i will have had serious experience with urban education and behavior management!!!

sorry ya'll.

okay, so i realize it's been forever. and rather than apologize i will just let you view this CREEPY commercial i just saw...

yup, thats creepy.

that is all.

xoxo. kathi

hello friends!

welll, i wanted to tell you all a little story about how my life just changed.

it all started with this...

THIS... is a sample of shampoo and conditioner that my mom brought home from her short trip to florida last week. it's bath and body works orange ginger energy shampoo.


IT ALL STARTED... when she came home and handed 2 of these small bottles to me and told me that i HAVE to try them. well, i need to tell you all a little secret. i have REALLY BAD dandruff && sooo since about .. 8th grade i have been using head and shoulders... (which i love and i am not hating on in any way) but if i dont use head and shoulders for more than a day or two i get scabs on my head and start flaking...so i never really get out and try other shampoos.


welllll, i decided to try it. and in the shower i started feeling my sinus opening up and i started feeling in a really good mood! THIS STUFF SMELLS AMAZING.. no joke. it's like aromatherapy or something like that?! idk..but whatever..it WORKS.



so today my mommy took me out to bath and body and we bought the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and sugar scrub.... i just got out of the shower.. && i STILL feel in a good mood! and the sugar scrub...i dont even know what i can say. just go buy it (OH! && they are all 2/$20 right now!)


mmmmmmmmmmmm...........

oh, and don't worry. i will be alternating b/w this && head and shoulders.. so no flaking for me :)

xoxo. kathi

bags thus far.

annndddd, ill start taking requests now!

xoxo. kathi

seriously busy.

well, i have my first week of student teaching under my belt. and let me tell you....it was CRAAAAZY.

monday -- teacher meetings all day.
tuesday -- first day of school for students.
2 kids puked.
1 kid peed his pants.
1 girl fell and busted her butt.
the buses were 30 minutes late.
i tied about 200 shoes.
i tucked in 55 shirts :)
wednesday-friday -- more of the same!!




MAN WAS I GLAD WHEN FRIDAY CAME. seriously, every night i was PASSED OUT in bed by 10....some nights 930. those kids are insane! hahahha.

i love love love love it. and my mentor teacher is AMAZING. && so is my student teaching partner :)



this week i have NOTHING. no school no iupui. sooo i will be relaxing and sewing!!




tonight is back to school night...im kinda nervous! but i love meeting parents!






xoxo. kathi

inspiration!

so, i've been surfing etsy for inspiration for bag ideas (etsy.com). if you've never been to this site...stop reading this..& go there...best thing about it?? they give the dimensions!! (so i dont have to buy patterns...THANKS ETSY)

so....here are a few inspirational photos! (note the fabrics are all amazing -- even one that i used for MY tote in the previous post....buuut pay more attention to the shapes <3)

yup, this is a fanny pack. (remember i had a request for a fanny pack??)

although, it was from a BOY so i will NOT be making him this one! heh.

my fabric!!! <3>

xoxo.

kathi

flea market.

i've missed you guys! busy few weeks, sorry!

sooo katy && i wanna sell some bags at a flea market...would you come if we did?

i started making some stuff... really only 2 things...but lemme hear what you think?!

obviously the fabric i chose for these are ones that i enjoy, hahha. buuut they won't ALL be like that!

cupcake change purse, of course. hahaha. it is verrrry tiny.

this is a reversible tote. im pretty proud of it <3

side #2 -- lemons <3

that's all so far, but i've already had a request for a fanny pack, hahaah. && you knoooow i'm all over that! hahah

xoxo.

kathi