school stuff

Hi Everyone!

It feels like forever since I've been online. We don't have it in our apartment yet, nor do I have a login name for my school account so I am almost completely disconnected.

I have made it through my first week of work. Last week was mainly spent listening to people speak - about teaching ELL (English Language Learners), about Special Education, how to find a substitute, pretty much anything related to teaching.

My room is in a corner of the gym and has a lot of instruments in it. I have West African drums, rhythm instruments, ten guitars, all kinds of stuff. I will be teaching all of the grades (K-8) so I will have between 25-30 classes of students per week. Any ideas for learning names? The students start next Monday.

Shirley and Justin arrived on Saturday and we unloaded the entire U-Haul that night. Thanks to everyone in Minneapolis who helped to load it up!!! We really appreciate it. Sunday we all went tubing down the Salt River, which was fun. Last night we saw the Bourne Ultimatum, which was awesome.

The weather is actually 'cool' here but it is supposed to be 110* by next weekend.

I really should get to work. I'm running out of time to get my classroom and lessons ready! The first week should be "easy" because it will just be going over procedures and things like that - with every single class.

Hope all is well with you, wherever you are.

Love,
Nicole

P.S. Shirley, Curt and Justin are in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon right now! How awesome.