10 things I love about teaching summer school

For the summer, I teach 3 and 4 year olds with severe disabilities during the month of July. This is a nice little change for me, as I teach special ed for 8,9,and 10 year olds during the year. This is my 3rd year teaching summer school, and there are a few perks to the gig that I really love. Here are 10 of them:

1. The mystery of the 10 very different, new little brains to try to figure out in 4 weeks.

2. The moment after the first week when I realize, "these kids are HILARIOUS".


3. Kids call me "Miss Megan" and not Mrs. Orr (for some reason, it makes me feel more fun).


4. I get to do fingerplays and sing really cheesy preschool songs (in which I usually make up half the words and my paras/assistants look at me like I'm nuts).


5. BUBBLES OUTSIDE. OH YA.


6. We have "outdoor recreation time and large gross motor time"- 2 separate times during the afternoon where I can work on my tan. Even some of my kids have a pretty good base tan, thanks to my precise outdoor time scheduling.


7. Free choice time when I play blocks, "cars", "zoo", or "house" on the floor with the kids and we crack each other up.


8. Putting kids on the bus at 1:00, home for my run by 1:20.

9. Listening to a kid throw a MONSTER tantrum on the floor for 25 minutes, spit on me, kick me, and knowing I never have to see him again in my life after these 4 weeks.

10. When that same kid asks if he can spend the night at my house because he doesn't want to go home. And I can happily say, "nope. But I will give you a ton of hugs and a big high five when I see you get off the bus tomorrow.". .....for four weeks, that is ;)

Back yard- Garate style

After a sad goodbye to a fun filled week with the Garates, we were left with one little reminder of them: OUR NEW AND IMPROVED BACK YARD!!

Within a matter of hours, Ben and Sara had completely renovated our back yard. With Ben's precise measurement and Sara's speedy little fingers, we had ourselves a sparkling new backyard hang out. What used to be a "nice place to sit sometimes when it's hot" is now our most favorite place to be any hour of the day.

From this:

TO THIS!!!!

THANK YOU BEN AND SARA! ....and Gwen, Kennedy, and Tito for keeping yourselves busy for 3 1/2 hours on a 10 x 10 square of concrete (and a box). It was really fun to work on this project with all of you. What's next, a third story? Love you guys :)

I am so Special Ed

How does a kid know that he loves me when he doesn't know his name? He has so many barriers that keep him from understanding what is going on his life. He doesn't know how old he is, or where he lives. He doesn't know to take care of himself. He doesn't know why everyone is telling him to "line up" or "sit down" or "wash your hands". So how does he know me, and know that he loves me?

Today, in the middle of a science lesson (involving the usual "glue the bee on the flower" activity that most of my students have no clue what the meaning is) I walked around the classroom to see how my students were progressing on the activity.

One kid was eating the paper.

One kid was compulsively cutting the paper into small triangles.

One kid was rubbing glue on his cheeks.

One kid had thrown away the activity altogether.

And, one kid looked up at me with his horribly crooked teeth and said, "I love you Mrs. Orr" with his cute little Somolian accent.

I kneeled down and gave him such a tight hug. He patted my back while I hugged him. I taught him that.

His birthday is coming up and he will be 11. Just a hair over 3 feet tall. He doesn't know how to count, say his letter sounds, or draw shapes. But he knows he can love and can give a strong hug. And that makes me melt. Sometimes I wish I could be more like these kids.

4 cups of coffee later....

.....and I's gots me some spring break jitters. And what is a girl to do with TIME and ENERGY?

Rearrange her furniture and bake, of course!

Check out our new set up in the living room and the pretty bouquet in the dining room. I also posted a pic of the bread I made-and Andy yummin it up. Funny how something that takes 3 and 1/2 hours to make can be devoured in 15 minutes.

Good bread + good book = one happy Andy

It's Hammer Time.

Yes. Time to Hammer down on something that's long overdue to be hammered. Tis the season of Lent.



So, the traditional purpose of the Season of Lent (for me, at least) is to rid my life of something that I practice daily-in excess-to serve as a memorial reminder of Jesus' life. One year I gave up sugar-not a good one. Another year I gave up "carbs". Last year I did chocolate. You get the picture. Lent was a weight loss goal for me-not exactly representing a time of annual commemoration of the the "Holy week". More of a "let's look smokin hot for spring break" preperation.



This year, I am taking this more seriously. I thought about the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert enduring temptation-yikes. I thought "Woah. Mine better be good". So, for Lent this season, I am ridding myself of judgement. In the process, I have learned that I am an extremely judgemental person. And, like Jesus said, I will be judged as I have judged. Very SCARY.



I judge really dumb things. I judge people I don't even know. I judge really good people. The worst part is, I don't always say it-sometimes I just think it.



Self-denial is a crazy good thing. Judgment is alive in my body and it needs to be cut out.



I feel more prepared than ever this year to honor the memory of Jesus during Holy Week of his Death and Resurrection.

[insert cool Bon Jovi lyric here]

Okay, so winter 2010 has, so far, been my "summer of 69"-minus the sunshine and babes in neon bikinis.

Andy and I have comfortably sunk into the sweet routine of "work hard, play hard". This month was especially fun because we had some family, the Garates, come visit. We LOVE to have family come and stay with us. We have two luxurious camping air mattresses, an extra bathroom, and blankets galore!

The Garates made every event a fun adventure. We spent Valentines day playing in the city, where we participated in some good old fashion 'discovery learning' at the Pacific Science Center, we ate crazy good Mexican, and nibbled on several unique cupcakes at the Seattle's finest "Cupcake Royale".

Among lots of laughs, baths, and great food, it was an easy weekend full of fun...and about 12 games of Settlers.

I had the last week off of school (I LOVE my job), and spent most of the week running, playing with my sweet neice Amelia, and spying on you on Facebook.

Oh, and to top it all off, WE SAW BON JOVI LAST NIGHT! Since then, any silence in our house has been replaced with "Livin on a Prayer", "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "I'll Be There for You".

R & R (and I'm not talking about the whiskey)

Life is good for the Orrs up North. December was full of all kinds of treats.



MIKE: 3 days of celebrating a short homecoming for Mike--a friend, a brother, a soldier. We made some fancy meals, talked about his life in Iraq, and reaped the benefits of having such an honest and dear friend.






DEAN AND BONNIE: 4 days of family. Dean and Bonnie came for a great stay that included lots of late night chats, a venision roast dinner, a memorable rope show in in my classroom (Dean has my kids wrapped around his finger....or should I say, around his lasso), a Seattle symphony, and OUR NEW FURNITURE---THANK YOU RACHEL AND BOB!! Our house is full of gems from all of the Orrs. Thanks to everyone for making our house a real home. Now GET UP HERE!!!!!

CHRISTMAS: Our very first Christmas in our new house. We lit candles, made scones, drank coffee, and enjoyed a visit from Heath, Grant, and Amelia.

MEXICO: 8 days of dancing, margaritas, frisbee, fish tacos, dancing, margaritas, sunrises, swimsuits, dancing, margaritas, amigos, australians, dancing and margaritas. We're already saving up for next year.

Told ya! December was full of all kinds of goodies.