Teachers are suppose to teach?

Over the past 6-7 weeks I have had a student teacher in my classroom. Being what is called a "BYU cooperating school" we receive many student teachers, interns, and cohort students from BYU. Last year I had a cohort (a step bellow a student teacher) and this year they decided to give me a student teacher. There are ups and downs to having a student teacher, but the last few weeks have definitely been an up. I spent the first few weeks, modeling for her, helping her plan lessons, observing her teaching, giving her pointers, etc. Then near the end of student teaching (the past few weeks) she is suppose to completely take over the class as though it is her own. They encourage me, the actual teacher, to stay out of the classroom as much as possible. This is for a number of reasons. One is that we just can't help ourselves in there and must manage the students and correct them. They want to student teacher to have to deal with ALL problems that occur in a classroom. Also, from my experience being a student teacher, you can act more yourself and do your own thing when there isn't someone in there watching you. So what have I been doing the past few weeks since I am not in the classroom? Nothing! Okay, not quite nothing. Being in my third year of teaching I have to turn in a "portfolio" in order to receive a level two liscence and continue teaching. This is what I have been doing a lot of the time. I have also graded assignments and project, created a classroom blog, made classroom signs, and wasted perhaps a little too much time doing things not really even related to school at all. The other teacher and I have set up office in a vacant room between our two classrooms. Here is what it looks like:
Ah yes, a wonderful work area. You can see the set of electric pianos in the back that were taken out of the piano lab we use to have here (they are for sale if anyone would like one). So, my portfolio is due at the end of this week and it is just about finished. I however, have a hard time working on it for a long time. I will work on it for a while, then take a break, then go back to it, then take a break, and on and on. Tomorrow I start teaching a few lessons and will be back in the classroom completely by next week. I have sure enjoyed this time away from teaching, but I'll be glad to be back with the students again. Wish me luck!

"The Boy"

Well...I guess I should introduce "the boy". After Christmas break I started dating this young man. Things are going well. His name is Micah Massey. He grew up in Las Vegas but his family now lives in St. George. We met each other back in the fall of 2006 when we were in the same ward in Glenwood Apartments. We have stayed in contact with each other over the past few years and just decided we were meant to be together...err...something. I just wanted to introduce him and show you a picture of us. That's all!

This was on Valentine's Day northwest of Salt Lake