I think the old saying should be changed...time flies whether you are having a good time or not!!! Hard to believe how many things have happened in a short time.
I went in for a regular physical and have come out with heart problems and a growth on my thyroid that needs to be watched! Holy Cow!!!
Dan's mother's cancer has spread. She is refusing to do chemo and I'm not sure, but I think she is starving herself to death. Dan needs to be going up there at least once a month, but there is this thing called money.
I don't want to work summer school, but know that I need to. We are very thankful to two of Dan's SS members who helped us get to Minneapolis last week.
Matt is still looking for an internship and/or job. Plus he is fighting a sinus infection. He has met a delightful young lady. Gabe has a strange spot that has come up on him. I'm going to watch it for two days then go to the doctor.
CRCT is in two weeks. The results of it will truly rest in the arms of God. I can say we've done all we could, but it doesn't look like enough. Can you say in need of a miracle!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Hello 2011
Usually my first post of the year is my "word of the year". This year there is no word. This year it is going to be all about survival. I don't think I've ever had such a hard year of teaching. It is January and I'm exhausted!
Things I know about the rest of this school year:
1. Nothing will be done because of anything I do; it will take Divine interventions.
2. My health has got to improve.
3. I've got to finish my doctorate, take care of my own family and face the challenges of everyday.
I think it is going to be a long year!
Things I know about the rest of this school year:
1. Nothing will be done because of anything I do; it will take Divine interventions.
2. My health has got to improve.
3. I've got to finish my doctorate, take care of my own family and face the challenges of everyday.
I think it is going to be a long year!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
I LOVE to Read
I love to read!! I remember after unch when our 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Cobb, would tell us to pack our bags we were going on a trip. I loved it!!! Since then books have transported me many places. They've allowed me to learn things I never would have known.
However, my heart is saddened as year after year I teach fifth graders who see no value in reading. I'm left questioning what happened that sucked the very love of learning from their souls. Is it society today? Is it the standards based movement? Or high stakes testing? Perhaps we are so driven by data-based teaching that we've forgotten to love teaching and learning as adults? Whatever it is we need to find it!!!! QUICK!!!
Every year we get the same library speech...."You can check out one picture book and one chapter book. You can not checkout anything else until you've tested on the chapter book." No love for reading, no reading for pleasure...just do what I say. Personally, I don't have a problem with the librarian, I've got a problem with the statement.
Reading has to be an adventure...it is the key to developing lifelong learners. Last night at Matt's ABAC commencement the keynote speaker said that every year he challenges himself to read 75 new books. He said he does this just to learn new things. Why have today's fifth graders lost their love for reading?
Kelly Gallagher in his book, Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Rading and What You Can Do About It states the reasons AR is killing a love for reading. His main point is that students read (when indoctrinated into AR) is to earn points. If there is no reward for reading they stop!!! Whoa!!!! I thought we wanted to create life-long readers and learners. That was what I signed on for in the beginning of this career. Well there is hope...numerous studies have shown that free-voluntary reading has long had positive results in building lifelong learners. Unfortunately, as Gallagher says, testing pressure often trumph reason.
So as usual...I seem to be labeled as "bucking the system". Forget that I had to have a parent conference Thursday about AR and the fact that their child didn't want to read the book, but wouldn't take it back because he didn't want to take a test.
So what do I want? I want people in charge to stop saying, "You've got to read a chapter book and test on it before you can check out another book." I want students to develop a love of reading. I guess I just don't understand, because come Monday I'm being called to the principals office.
However, my heart is saddened as year after year I teach fifth graders who see no value in reading. I'm left questioning what happened that sucked the very love of learning from their souls. Is it society today? Is it the standards based movement? Or high stakes testing? Perhaps we are so driven by data-based teaching that we've forgotten to love teaching and learning as adults? Whatever it is we need to find it!!!! QUICK!!!
Every year we get the same library speech...."You can check out one picture book and one chapter book. You can not checkout anything else until you've tested on the chapter book." No love for reading, no reading for pleasure...just do what I say. Personally, I don't have a problem with the librarian, I've got a problem with the statement.
Reading has to be an adventure...it is the key to developing lifelong learners. Last night at Matt's ABAC commencement the keynote speaker said that every year he challenges himself to read 75 new books. He said he does this just to learn new things. Why have today's fifth graders lost their love for reading?
Kelly Gallagher in his book, Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Rading and What You Can Do About It states the reasons AR is killing a love for reading. His main point is that students read (when indoctrinated into AR) is to earn points. If there is no reward for reading they stop!!! Whoa!!!! I thought we wanted to create life-long readers and learners. That was what I signed on for in the beginning of this career. Well there is hope...numerous studies have shown that free-voluntary reading has long had positive results in building lifelong learners. Unfortunately, as Gallagher says, testing pressure often trumph reason.
So as usual...I seem to be labeled as "bucking the system". Forget that I had to have a parent conference Thursday about AR and the fact that their child didn't want to read the book, but wouldn't take it back because he didn't want to take a test.
So what do I want? I want people in charge to stop saying, "You've got to read a chapter book and test on it before you can check out another book." I want students to develop a love of reading. I guess I just don't understand, because come Monday I'm being called to the principals office.
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
The Good
1. I had six students compete to represent our room in the poetry recitation contest.
2. My low reading babies are hanging through class novels at a 5th grade level and passing AR test.
3. Gabe's One Act Play won state.
4. I teach with my best friend; therefore, she shares my misery.
5. I'm married to the love of my life.
6. Matt got accepted into UGA.
7. Drew and Nicole are doing good at UK.
8. Chiropractor seems to have helped my back (see the ugly).
9. I've got a week off work to relax.
10. I've got time to read a book for relaxation this week.
The Bad
1. I'm not having enough time to test reading, writing, language, spelling, and do massive amounts of RTI data.
2. We've got serious clothing needs around here.
3. My classroom discipline techniques are going south.
4. Matt going to UGA = more money needed.
5. Feeding a family of 4 through the holiday on a budget!
The Ugly
1. We've got to get on a serious budget in order to survive the remainder of this economic downturn. (A second job might be in order.)
2. My students call people names, walk around the room, talk, and go through numerous mood swings. All the time not understanding that if they could settle down we could learn.
3. Payroll budget cuts are killing us.
4. Trying to figure out how to buy even a meager Christmas.
5. Trying to determine the differences between needs and wants.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
10/10/10
I believe this makes for a perfect day. So in honor of that here goes:
10 Things I'm Thankful For
1. I'm thankful that I grew up in a Christian family and learned of God's love at an early age
2. I'm thankful that no matter what trama existed I always knew I was loved
3. I'm thankful that I grew up in one town for 25 years of my life. That I grew up where everyone knew your name.
4. I'm thankful I found the man of my dreams and that we've been together 26+ years.
5. I'm thankful that I've had three beautiful boys. (and now a daughter in law)
6. I'm thankful that while others have stayed put, we've lived all over the United States and made wonderful friendships.
7. I'm thankful that we finally have a home of our own...even if it is on a long dirt road.
8. I'm thankful I got to stay home with my boys and return to a job that I love on most days.
9. I'm thankful that we both have jobs in this tough economy.
10. I'm thankful that God sees fit to continue being merciful to me every day.
10 Things I'm Glad I've Done
1. I'm glad I went to school at the same school my mother graduated from for all 12 years of school.
2. I'm glad that I graduated from college.
3. I'm glad I went ahead and got my master's before I had children.
4. On most days I'm glad I started this doctorate...now to finish it.
5. I'm glad I've always had good friends.
6. I'm glad I've lived on a top notch cutting horse ranch, a 2,000 acre ranch in Colorado, a condo on a ski slope, a farm house in Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
7. I'm glad I married my best friend.
8. And that God continued to give me friends in my life to take the place of my extended family.
9. I'm glad I was old enough to understand my mother's death at a young age and that I have know fear of death. I'm also thankful that God let's me help other children through this experience.
10. I'm glad I lived. I've attended great concerts, I've had fantastic meals, and I've loved unconditionally. I've seen the highest mountains and the ocean.
10 Things I Still Want to Do
1. I want to get this doctorate behind me and breathe.
2. I want to teach a college class.
3. I want to get a job that helps struggling teachers become better.
4. I want to travel.
5. I want to lose weight without dieing first!
6. I want to see my children settled and I'd like some grandchildren.
7. I want to spend a snowy weekend with Dan alone and just be.
8. I want to go to NYC.
9. I want to go to Washington DC
10. I want to have a clean house every day!!!!
1. I'm thankful that I grew up in a Christian family and learned of God's love at an early age
2. I'm thankful that no matter what trama existed I always knew I was loved
3. I'm thankful that I grew up in one town for 25 years of my life. That I grew up where everyone knew your name.
4. I'm thankful I found the man of my dreams and that we've been together 26+ years.
5. I'm thankful that I've had three beautiful boys. (and now a daughter in law)
6. I'm thankful that while others have stayed put, we've lived all over the United States and made wonderful friendships.
7. I'm thankful that we finally have a home of our own...even if it is on a long dirt road.
8. I'm thankful I got to stay home with my boys and return to a job that I love on most days.
9. I'm thankful that we both have jobs in this tough economy.
10. I'm thankful that God sees fit to continue being merciful to me every day.
10 Things I'm Glad I've Done
1. I'm glad I went to school at the same school my mother graduated from for all 12 years of school.
2. I'm glad that I graduated from college.
3. I'm glad I went ahead and got my master's before I had children.
4. On most days I'm glad I started this doctorate...now to finish it.
5. I'm glad I've always had good friends.
6. I'm glad I've lived on a top notch cutting horse ranch, a 2,000 acre ranch in Colorado, a condo on a ski slope, a farm house in Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
7. I'm glad I married my best friend.
8. And that God continued to give me friends in my life to take the place of my extended family.
9. I'm glad I was old enough to understand my mother's death at a young age and that I have know fear of death. I'm also thankful that God let's me help other children through this experience.
10. I'm glad I lived. I've attended great concerts, I've had fantastic meals, and I've loved unconditionally. I've seen the highest mountains and the ocean.
10 Things I Still Want to Do
1. I want to get this doctorate behind me and breathe.
2. I want to teach a college class.
3. I want to get a job that helps struggling teachers become better.
4. I want to travel.
5. I want to lose weight without dieing first!
6. I want to see my children settled and I'd like some grandchildren.
7. I want to spend a snowy weekend with Dan alone and just be.
8. I want to go to NYC.
9. I want to go to Washington DC
10. I want to have a clean house every day!!!!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
I Wish
...that I didn't care so much about my JOB!!! I wish that I could take off and work on my paper and not feel like my students would be sufferring.
...that we didn't have to worry about money so much. I get tired of wondering how in the world we will ever be able to get everything paid. Yes, God provides in the end, but I worry to much.
...that somehow I could lose weight. I'm tired of the constant pain from my back. However, who has time to exercise when they are working 10 to 12 hours a day. If I can't do the work at school...it comes home.
...that we didn't have to worry about money so much. I get tired of wondering how in the world we will ever be able to get everything paid. Yes, God provides in the end, but I worry to much.
...that somehow I could lose weight. I'm tired of the constant pain from my back. However, who has time to exercise when they are working 10 to 12 hours a day. If I can't do the work at school...it comes home.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Life According to Seuss Part 4
“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”
-Dr. Seuss
That Dr. Seuss who knew he was so wise! I love this quote!! I think this should be my life motto. Lots of things in our lives have ended...death of a parent, death of a business, moving nine times, changing schools, children moving and getting married. All are very sad events, but what a joy the memories were.
Today driving home from Madison I saw a horse trailer. A smile came over my face as I remembered hauling two kids around the country. What a time we had. Sometimes it brings a tear to my eye that God never saw fit to give Dan the success he sooo deserved. However, at the same time a smile crossed my face because it happened.
I've seen death and lived with it...it holds no fear. I've had a promising business, stayed at home and raised a family to see it all end in bankrupcy. I've left wonderful schools and friends and thought I'd never have either of them again. I've watched two boys go off to college, and one get married and regretted that we were so tied to that business that failed. Yet, they have life experiences that others will never get.
So yeah I think I'll smile because it all happened.
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