Being the Reading Wizard at Park Meadows today was a blast! 

Of course there were a few (!) wrinkles.  To start off with, my last e-mail from Vicki yesterday said I'd start at 9:30, but when I got to school a little after 9:00 (and Vicki was out sick today) Meredith's schedule had me starting at 9:00.   Which meant I was running behind before I even got started - and that is SO NOT me!

 In addition my wizard robe had developed static cling, the top part of my hat blew off (without me knowing it, but was returned to me by a helpful student, and Patti hot-glued it down), and the schedule did not print out room numbers so Patti had to add those, which took extra time (that I didn't have.)  To top it off, the very first class on the list was Diane's (by this time I was already running well behind schedule) but she'd had a dental emergency so there was a sub (who of course had no idea about the RW program, but then neither did I) so it truly was the blind leading the blind.)  

BUT - it all worked out.  If nothing else, years of teaching have left me pretty flexible in the classroom!  

I made it to ALL of the clsssrooms (K-6) in just two and half hours.  I did take my cane with me because I knew I'd be standing, and that was a help.  (But the first thing I did when I got home was slip into the hot tub!)  The kids (at least the ones in the lower grades) loved my robe, and hat, and wand, and long earrings (I finally got to wear them after all these years!)  Next time I will be more relaxed, and the kids will also know what to expect.  And maybe they'll have more incentive to study and learn their vocabulary words; the kids (chosen at random) who were able to define their vocab word got a novelty pencil.

I did get to see Diane once she got back from the dentist, but she will be seeing a specialist on Monday afternoon (she may need a root canal) so I will be subbing a half day for her.  Good thing I got that all squared away on Wednesday.  My first paycheck for the year....won't that be a big W-2 for 2012..... NOT!