The Tundra Teacher

Sunday, September 30, 2012

You know you live in bush Alaska when...

1. ...it snows in September. We ran out this morning to snap a few pictures of the flurries. It is hard to tell, but you can see the snow on the 4-wheeler the best in the last picture. ps. We look tired. We just woke up....

2. ...the words "store plane" get your heart racing and send you running for warm clothes and your check book. Last fall, the store plane came once. So far this school year, it has been to Manokotak three times! Lucas and I went out together earlier this month. We tried to recreate our picture from last year with the Drumsticks and our friend Nellie, but a a few students snuck in our picture:

The store plane came yesterday while Lucas was out duck/geese hunting. I was in school working on yet another paper for grad. school when I got the phone call. Yogurt, bananas, apples, and oranges made their way back to our apartment this time. We were basically out of fresh produce, so this was great timing. I wasn't too concerned as I am heading into District Office in Dillingham on Wednesday for a Social Studies curriculum meeting and will be able to do some shopping.

3. ....you stop your first period class to run outside and take pictures of the rainbow over the hill.

This is the view from my classroom window. I have the best view in the whole school :)

Things are really good in Manokotak. We are staying busy between volleyball practice, grad. school (for me), hunting (for Lucas), and lesson planning. Can you believe tomorrow is October?

-A + L

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Back in Manokotak

We managed to survive the first week of school and neither of us lost it on the sixth graders (it was a close call). Boy are those kids small, cute, and completely lost in the middle school setting. We have a lot of training to do with them. I spent the majority of the week reviewing that we do not live in the state of Anchorage, that the United States is a country, and yes we live there. Oh, and no there are not two Pacific Oceans....

We also did some Alaska-y things this week. The sunshine on Saturday was amazing and we were so lucky to have our friends offer to take us out on their boat. The boys caught us dinner, which we fried up when we got back. So good!

Perfect. day. We've got it good :)

Today was yucky, cloudy, and drizzly. Great day to put on the boots, walk over to school, and do our lesson-planning. Like every Sunday here...

Starting graduate school tomorrow! Looks like I will be living at that desk for the next two years. If you need me, you now know exactly where to find this nerd ;)

-A + L

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Summer in the Lower 48

I cannot possibly begin to put into words how incredible our summer was. Marriage, two honeymoons, and lots of time with family and friends. It really could not have been any better. We are, however, very much ready to head back to our little place in Alaska and get back into our normal routine. We have a lot to look forward to this school year. Lucas switched classrooms and now we will be teaching right next door to each other everyday. Lucas is the only middle school math teacher (finally!) and will also be teaching 6th grade science and PE. I have one less course to teach (4 instead of 5), and only one is new to me (Alaska History). I am also starting a Masters of Education Program in Reading and Literacy Education through Benedictine University in Illinois. We are excited for a busy, but an even better year together than the last. Here are several pictures that highlight our summer. The best day, of course, being the day I married my best friend :)