one of those times I just blog my thoughts in a list

+ I can't wear white shirts anymore. They all have big stains right on my giant belly.

+ I started my second-to-last class for my reading endorsement degree last night. I was pretty stoked about this class until he informed us that we had to read 12 novels, 35 picture books, write a report on each of those 12 novels and 35 picture books, read 5 additional novels that he chooses for literature circles, do a giant book project on each of those 5 novels as well as a paper, and choose an author and do a research paper and presentation on his life. And those are just our "projects." That doesn't include homework. We have a massive textbook and articles assigned to us to read after every class and papers to do on those readings. Then several exams throughout the course.You guys. Everyone in this program is already a full-time, employed teacher. We have been in this program for almost 2 years and never has any other teacher dumped this much on us. We usually had articles and text book readings and a short reflection on the readings. Then we would have a big, end-of-semester project. This man is insane to think this is possible with full-time teaching jobs. Most of the people in the class have spouses and kids as well! I feel like this is a really mean joke. I do NOT have the time to read 12 novels, let alone all that other crap. When I get home from work, I usually get on my computer and do more work! Lesson planning, data keeping, paper work.. it never ends. And being pregnant doesn't exactly make me the most energetic person on the planet. The class isn't even a full semester long and we are expected to cram this all in. Not to mention, I will be having a BABY 3 weeks before the class ends. This is going to be fun. Maybe I cried on my drive home.

+ I love tootsie pops lately.

+ The other day I thought I would teach a quick review on punctuating dialogue since my kids should have learned it in previous years. They didn't know what the word "dialogue" meant. When we cleared that up, no one knew what a quotation mark was. So my little "review" turned into a 5 day unit. You should have seen their faces when I was teaching them how to quote a quote within a quote. Teaching resource is always an adventure!

+ I am 34 weeks along today. 6 more weeeeeeks!!! 5 until I am done with work. As long as that little girl stays up in there until then.

+ Today I get to eat Chinese food with Jenna. Mmmm.

+ Watch this video. You won't regret it. My husband sent it to me today and I showed it to my students at the end of our reading class. They were dying and made me replay it 3 times. They loved the rhino the best. Nathan loves the groundhog. I love the flamingo. 

 + Today we are having student body officer elections at the end of the day. So in order to do that, they screwed up our entire schedule. Our periods went like this: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 5, 6, 2. Seriously. Try explaining that to a room filled with high-stress kids. They were not happy.
+ 2 of my students ran for student body officer and gave such cute speeches.

+ One of my students came into class after using the hall pass and said, "Mrs. Merkley, I missed the toilet." He wasn't even trying to be funny. It was like he felt compelled to be honest with me.

+ I need it to be the weekend. We will be in 80 degree weather with some of my favorite people in the world. I nnneeeeeeeedddd ittt!

+ There's something about 8th graders flirting with each other that makes me feel super uncomfortable and also entertains me to no end.
+ I put a student in time out today. I was half joking, half serious. But I told him when he acted like a preschooler, I needed to treat him like a preschooler. So he sat in silence in the back desk for 5 minutes.

+ Baby girl is flipped the right way (thank goodness) and her head likes to hang out on the left side of my belly button. Makes my left side protrude. It's awesome. He feet like to hang out in the left side of my rib cage. Makes things painful. She really likes the left side of my body for some reason. Not surprising, the left side of my back always hurts. Shoulders down to tailbone.

+ It is seriously only Wednesday? Come on.

+ Arrested Development is only a few weeks away!! I might pee my pants.

+ I was very productive today at work. Blew through half my to-do list. Feels gooooood. Especially since I have elevendy billion things to do before I take maternity leave.
+ "Pimps don't ever let people see their real eyes." Real quote I just heard. They are allowed to have 5 minutes of social time at the end of the day. I overhear awesome things.

+ I've been soooo thirsty the past 24 hours!! I always drink a ton of water every day, but today it was triple. I never don't feel thirsty. That was a terribly written sentence. Especially since I teach Language Arts. I should feel ashamed. Alas, I do not. I also never edit or proofread my blog posts. Katie usually just texts me when there are errors. So I apologize for my quite-often spelling and grammar errors. I am sure you wonder how I became a teacher at all. The truth? I'm not a teacher. I make it all up to impress you!!! Are you impressed?

On that note, I should probably just go.

WAIT! Today is National Sibling Day! I have the greatest siblings in the world.
Graff side

Merkley side