I had a rabbit in my class

(I know, right?).  This story is only kind of sad (because the "had" just means the rabbit isn't in my room anymore, not that she went to the big cloverfield in the sky).

So I got my year off to a rockin' start, so far.  My students have the sense of urgency that they need.  I am loving my new district.  Loving.  So what better way to throw a monkey wrench into the whole thing?  Get a class pet, of course.  One day, my next door colleague was telling about how she had a rabbit in her class last year, but now has a guinea pig, and she really didn't know what to do with Nala (weird name, I think...for a rabbit).  I'm not sure what possessed me, but I said, "OHHHHH...I had a rabbit as a pet once, and I loved her."  NDN (Next Door Neighbor) said, "Do you want another one?"  and I said, "Sure."  Then she practically screamed, "OK! No backsies!"  And that, friends is how I got a rabbit.

Nala was the kind of class pet that is extremely low maintenance.  I just opened the cage door, and out she hopped to hang around the classroom.  My class LOVED her.  In fact, she was a better classroom manager than I may ever be because she instinctively hopped back in her cage when the room got a little too noisy, and that did the trick (some teachers use a Yacker Tracker...well I had a living one).  The biggest privilege in the world for my class was to be chosen to give her a carrot treat at the end of the day.  

And then came the sad news...
My principal called me into the office to tell me that Nala had to find a new home because she was a fur-bearing animal in an allergy-free room.  Rookie mistake on my part for not checking.  So, I tried not to cry, and said I would move her out and tell the class in the morning.  Let me just say that class meeting consisted of a lot of tears.

Enter:  my mom.  She said she would take Nala until the end of the year, because I want her.  I loved having a bunny.  So currently, in my old bedroom, is my mom's office and one rabbit.

Who's Up for Some Shenanigans?

Normally, I would say, "Not it!" when asked.  But when said shenanigans present themselves as a nice surprise, I'm all in.

So this morning, I got up and started my routine (if I'm being truthful, I promised myself that I'd get on the treadmill after school, and hit snooze instead...but I did do my quiet time, so that counts for something, right?).  The monkeys' alarm went off, and I heard the grumbly moans of two elementary kids who are not morning people.  They came in the living room and as we were discussing breakfast options (I actually get to cook things in the morning now because of my 5 minute commute), my phone blinged the message sound.  I checked it and GUESS WHAT!?  NO SCHOOL!!!  Apparently, there is no water in town (we are on a well...so we are safe).  It is early in the year for this.  We'll still have to make it up, but the weather is nice and we can go and do things that have been neglected this week.

I'm Two Days In...

and here is what I know.

• Parents in my new school are super involved.  I mean super.  One year in old district, I went almost to Christmas Break before I received email from parents (I sent them, along with our newsletter and things).  Here, I get two or three a day.  Not even the kind that a teacher dreads opening because it's negative.  These are the, "Just checking in on so-and-so" kind.  Weird for me.  I'm pretty sure I'm not going to do any homevisits this year (yes!).
• My new school's jeans policy rocks because now, instead of waiting for the last Friday of the month (or shelling out $5 for every charity, ever), it is every Friday.  Though, I did buy some trouser jeans because I'm not really comfortable wearing weekend wear at school.
• School lunch has a fresh fruit bar and salad every day.  Love that!
• I have the most experience of anyone in my building working with Autistic students (that's not saying a lot because I only have a little training and one year of Sped experience).  Today in an assembly, my heart broke when provisions for our Spectrumy guys weren't made (ear phones, preferential seating, etc.).
• Second graders at the beginning of the year take a million times longer to do anything than you have written in your planbook.  Seriously.  How long does it take to do an assessment with the suggested time of 15 minutes? (the answer is almost 40).
• I'm so glad it is the weekend so that I can enjoy my own children.