New Gig

I am not naive to the fact that most likely I am the only one reading these posts but it is helpful for me every once and a while to come unload at this spot.   I wish I could be more consistent with sharing my thoughts here but somehow it just doesn't seem to happen as often as I would like.  Any who...

I have a new gig!  I am now a 504 Curriculum Instructional Support Facilitator.  Those are all big words just to say I am a 504 and testing coordinator.  So far, the stress level has been through the roof and the new learning quite challenging.  There are glimpses of understanding and times where I feel like I am actually slightly treading water and not drowning but I know I will eventually get the hang of it all!  I have learned that there is so much more beyond the reading, writing and arithmetic that takes place inside the bubble of a classroom. 

When I was instructional coach, I learned not to be so narrow minded about what took place in different classrooms in terms of teaching and facilitating learning.  In this role, I am learning the true reality.  As teachers we are not working with just 'different' children rather we are working with complex human beings that come to us with many different needs.  Needs that I never would have imagined had I stayed in the bubble of my classroom.

All in all the experience has been very eye opening.  I have learned that you can teach an old dog new tricks but that it might just take longer than the new dog! 😊 I have learned that people are way more complex than what I thought I knew and I have learned to be way more flexible than I ever thought I could be.  And to think I have learned all of that after only two weeks of school!!! 

Hopefully I will be able to come here more often to share and document what I am learning.  I know the title of this blog doesn't really fit anymore, but it is what it is.  In a way, I am still working with curriculum; it's just in the form of accommodating student learning so that they can be successful at the curriculum. 

Hang on for the ride this school year because I think it's going to be a good one!

Happy Anniversary

Happy 18th Anniversary to my best friend and the man I love to do life with!! I can't imagine what life would be like without you!

Two boys and a Quilt Shop

Yesterday was one of those days that reality had a delayed reaction in my heart and mind.  My boys are growing up and way too fast!  How do I know this?  Because I got to peacefully shop uninterrupted 20 minutes in a quilt shop today!  Yes!  You read that right!  Uninterrupted!  Peacefully!! For 20 whole glorious minutes!  And yes...the boys were there!!!  To top it off, the woman working in the quilt shop complimented their behavior!  WHAT????  Seriously, its all just too much. Reflecting back on the moment, I realize I didn't even thank her!  I just said 'Really?' And stared at her with a look of disbelief.  Let's take a moment and reflect on this.

Now that the moment has passed, so much has run through my mind about this experience.  Let me first begin by saying that I regret not looking at that store clerk and saying thank you.  I should be proud of my boys; not surprised!  Everyone at school and church always says how well behaved the boys are both separately and together.  Mom fail moment.  Mom-up!  Show some pride, not surprise!

Secondly, they were being good.  Like, really good.  As I perused the smallish shop, I listened in to their sweet conversation. Okay, I admit, they had my phone but they were sharing and taking turns so nicely!  They were even encouraging each other and helping one another try to destroy the Star Wars enemy! They sat at a table that I presume is used for classes given at the shop and did not move the entire time. They even showed some interest in some of the fabric I showed with them. 

Lastly, it seems that these days the boys are very interested in everything but what I want to do.  If I'm honest, this is a double edged sword. On one hand this means their growing up, becoming more independent and discovering their own likes and dislikes.  On the other hand, this means their growing up, needing less of me in the way I'm used too and have sadly taken for granted.  Oh, I know they will still need me, but it's not the same.  And dog-gon-it, I've spent their early years being so stinkin stressed out and worried.  Why?  Well, I don't know why but it's sad.  Really sad.  Because now that they're growing up I realize how much I want to relive those days. You can never go back.  That's why I'm trying so hard to make this blog work for me. I was so stressed when the boys were younger that all my memories run together and get lost. So here's to typing my memories and two boys and a quilt shop!

Ahh... The Dog Days of Summer

Ahh... The Dog Days of Summer!  The first week is complete and here we are staring down week 2.  I wouldn't say the first week was stellar but I also wouldn't say it was a failure either.  For the last several years my church has held its Vacation Bible School the first week of summer. I'm not exactly sure why this is their choice but I think having everyone in town to help volunteer is a large part of the timing. I'm not gonna lie...I didn't work VBS for the second year in a row. Last year the guilt was strange; this year it felt pretty good dropping the boys off and leaving. (Except for the fact that each day there was somewhere I had to be and something I had to do, it was nice!) The boys enjoyed learning about Game Changers and I enjoyed going to finish up things at school and Dr Appointments.

Despite VBS each morning, the afternoons were long.  Two years ago the boys and I started to make Summer Bucket lists. The first year it was awesome and last summer it tanked.  So this summer I have set out to have the best summer yet!  We made homemade lollipops! Yum

We also made special Rice Krispie treats that aren't really Rice Krispie treats at all but rather Fruit Loops and colored marshmallows. We also made a fun dessert from two simple ingredients: a white cake mix and a can of soda pop!  Although we only had a yellow cake mix on hand, the cake turned out kind of meh. We used a yellow cake mix and orange soda.  (Side note: I had neither of these ingredients on hand and 'borrowed' them from Grandma's kitchen!). We also had Grandpa over for dinner because Grandma had book club.  Lucky Grandpa got to taste test the two ingredient cake!  Ha!  Overall, by my standards the week was so-so but by the boys standards it was no fun at all!  They don't seem to understand that the it item of the week was supposed to be VBS!  Oh well! At least they heard the Word of God and got to feast on sugary treats!

By the time the weekend arrived, everyone was thankful for Dad to be home for a couple of days! On Saturday, we joined Mimi, Buck and Luke for the movie Angry Birds and some lunch at CPK.  While the movie didn't make my Top 10 list (or 20 for that matter) we did have a great time.

Sunday morning was a blur. We had Camp Wow meeting and church.  Then it was off to Jump Street for some jump fun!  After running a few quick errands it was finally time to head home.  You know how summer nights go!  It was another late night and finally our heads hit the pillows!

Here's to week 2!

Today is a new day!

      Today is a new day.  I have had this blog hanging out in the clouds for quite sometime and I have finally decided to say who cares what it's called.  I've always wanted to start a family blog but have never taken the time.  Well, the time is now.  On this very blog.  So I am going to write about it ALL! School, home and everything in between as a way to journal so to speak about my life.  I don't really like to write with a pen any more so I will type instead. And let me just say ahead of time, please forgive my grammar.  Who knows anymore about where a semi colon goes or a comma?  I promise to do my best but I can't guarantee it will be correct!

     I want to share been happening lately in my life.  I left the Instructional Coach role two years ago.  I'm not really sure how I feel but suffice it to say I do love being with kids.  They are actually much easier to deal with than adults and the most political issue they have is whether or not they get their turn! I learned so much during my days as an IC and wouldn't change the experience because that would mean changing what I learned.  I would, however, change the way in which I learned some of those lessons.  Needless to say though I love working with any thing educational or curriculum so it's all good.

      Now I haven't gotten into making clip art and all that but I do enjoy creating a station here and there and oh how I love helping a new teacher!  Those were just two of my favorite things I enjoyed as an IC.  There is just something about it...I don't know what it is but maybe someday when I 'grow' up, I will be able to truly pursue my dream of being a college professor and helping new teachers!

      So, where am I now?  Well, thanks for asking.  I currently teach Kindergarten.  I know, I know.  I never thought it would happen either.  I thought I would die in Second grade.  Turns out that you will do extremely crazy things so that your kids can go to their neighborhood school.  I am actually really enjoying my time in Kinder and will most likely stay awhile. Don't get me wrong, I still hope to someday have the privilege to be trained in the Dyslexia program or maybe even go back to the IC role but for the time being I have to put that on the back burner; at least until my kids get older and I don't have to worry about all the logistics involved!

Today is today and tomorrow will come but why not enjoy today while it's here.

Much love,
Literacy Lady

It's Time

Well, where does the time go?  Here we sit staring down state testing and what have I done with this blog for my staff or for anyone else rather?  Okay, so; from here on out I am not sure what this blog will say but I am setting a goal for myself:  I will write on this blog at least once a week.  I'm not sure what will come of it or if it will just remain my quiet corner of the big cloud world.  My grammar isn't always perfect and I won't always create these fancy and eloquent posts, but I have to do this or I never will!  Hold me accountable great big world because it's time I learned!

Check out the Awesome Things Happening!!!

Students are doing some amazing work and of course they are lead by their totally awesome teachers!!!