I finished the "teaching" portion of my student teaching last Friday and the rest of the grading by this Monday. I am now observing other teachers for this and the first week after winter break. As most teachers this afternoon were either giving tests or having holiday parties or allowing students to have a catch-up day, I decided I would head home after advisory to try and catch up on my own coursework...the hardest part of my teacher work sample: assessment. It is due on Monday and I have not begun on it at all excecpt for thinking about it.
I also received my final teaching evaluations this week--I'm getting an A- for my student teaching (which my site supervisor says is good). I received a wonderful review by my prinicipal, however, and if the money can be cut loose--a job offer beginning next semester. I only hope my certification can be processed in time by the state. I would either be working with smaller (12-15 students) classes of sophomores doing reading and writing remdiation in preparation for their WASL tests this April or taking over my cooperating teacher's classes and she will move into this role. I would relish either opportunity. I am having a difficult letting go of "my kids" and they me, they are so excited to see me around the building and in other classes and need to tell me everything (especially all the homework they now must do in the class I was teaching).
We also were able to pick up our new baby girl tuxedo kitten last Saturday. We are officially fostering her until she reaches 2 1/2 lbs and may be spayed. But it is so much fun to have her home and bonding with us and Niko and Tilda. Tilda, as we expected, accepted her immediately. We had to bathe her as soon as we got her home and after a towel dry, Tilda took over and kept her warm with her in her snuggle ring cat bed. It has taken Niko a few days longer, but they are now able to play gently and we trust him not to harm her. She about 1 1/2 lbs and putting on oz. fast without having to complete with a houseful of kittens. She was all spine and ribs when we brought her home. DH chose her name; Alexandra Roo (his brother's name is Alex and Roo was the middle name of the kitty we lost at 18 years of age nearly two years ago), but we are calling her Sasha. She has picked up her name very quickly and she comes when called. She is really a snuggle bunny and wants lap time. She is perfectly happy sleeping on my lap right now while I'm working at the computer. For a tuxedo cat, she has very unique and distintive markings; more white showing over her shoulders, some black on her toes, and a quarter-size white spot on the top of her back. She has an all black face and brilliant green eyes. We are not sure if she'll be a long hair or short hair. She seems fluffy now but it is mostly kitten fluff and the hair coming in down her spine is long but very smooth. Her ears are very oversized for her little head at the moment, giving her the appearance of a little bat. She give head rubs and kisses and is constantly purring. We are making sure our older kitties are getting lots of attention and one-on-one time too. But the baby, is pretty insistant of making sure she is being cuddled constantly.
We picked up our Christmas tree last night and will put it up and get it decorated tonight. I'm sure it will serve as climbing apparatus, so maybe no fragile ornaments on it this year. While we were picking it out, we kept trying to find one that was both sturdy but not too inviting for climbing. We haven't had a kitten this little before at Christmas time and usually by now, a spring baby is past the climbing phase. It will be an interesting and entertaining holiday break for us.