Lesson Planning

I need to refuel. A school nearby uses Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People as their school philosophy. They also use  The 7 Habits of Happy Kids. One of Stephens philosophies is "Sharpening your saw." This simply means if you have a dull blade you're working twice as hard for the same outcome. Sometimes you have to stop and sharpen your saw. I have been thinking my blade is pretty dull and I'm getting pretty worn out.  What I'm going to do about that I'm not sure yet. On Friday I went to my a.m. class then in exhaustion went home and took a long nap. Then I worked on lesson plans from the afternoon into the evening. I did the same thing most of the day Saturday. Sunday I spent at school attempting to get ready for the week.

 Am I whining? Yes Probably. I am frustrated. We are supposed to be doing this as a team effort not alone. My team's lesson plans have been a mess. A complete mess. Something you can't even use as a planning tool mess. We are supposed to do a grade level lesson plan. The theory is if you work together on it you can collaborate and get a good plan, using quality resources, and quality strategies. This has NOT been happening. It was my turn to type up the lesson plans. After meeting three different days to work on them I was completely fed up with my grade level. I met with my friend to get some help. I keep wondering "WHY IS THIS SO HARD?". Well my blade is dull, and I'm not sure my grade level ever had a saw let alone a blade to sharpen.

Am I going to have to clean up our lesson plans every week? Probably. Yep. I can't keep this up that is for sure.  The format we do our lesson plans in is different in many ways than what I have done in the past. However, a lot of it is the same.  It shouldn't take this much effort. If I worked with others who were doing their part it would go much faster. The way the lesson plans have to be done are not "teacher friendly". The principal doesn't want how we are going to execute the plans,  just  a brief overview of the standard, the strategy, the objective, and the assessment. It sounds easy in theory right? The problem is we spend so much time typing all of this in we don't get to spend enough time thinking about the quality resources we want to use, or time to look for other strategies, or is this going to be part of our reading lesson, or writing lesson. It is just a pain.  I don't know what else to do to make it better. I've pushed my grade level, and asked, and asked, and pushed.

Today I realized. You may be asking something of someone who isn't capable of doing what you need them to do.  Maybe my student teaching, and education gave me more structure than I realized.  I literally don't see the evidence in their classrooms they are doing what they say they are doing. On our planning day they've matched strategies to standards incorrectly, they've chosen standards we aren't even teaching yet, they've messed up again and again and again. How can I make this better and not burn myself out? I don't know.

I have a couple more weeks of my ridiculously time consuming but silly online course. I started the Singapore Math course which is going to be very informative and helpful.  I will be glad to have one class done so I can focus on the others. I didn't get any cooking done this weekend. This week is the end of our grading quarter. So I have a lot of grading to enter and things to get done. The principal claimed we would not have any meetings this week after school. I am praying she holds to that so maybe we will have a little breathing room.  I do meet with her in the morning for my evaluation. I hope that goes well.

Late Night Soup!

This has been a crazy busy week. I was so grateful to my neighbors having me over for dinner last  night. Then I came home and remembered I have hamburger defrosting that I had to cook up. So I made a pot of Hearty Beef -Tomato Soup last night. I took it for lunch today, I was having salad every day but since it got cooler I've been eating whatever soup I make. Today I realized I was creating some Break-Room Envy. After the third teacher came in and said " Your lunch always smells sooo good" and they start to heat up their TV dinner. I decided maybe I'd better bring some to share sometime!  I was up later than I should have been.  We are working on Common Assessments at school, end of quarter grading, Lesson Planning, Professional Development, oh.... I don't even know at this point. We're working on too much and when that happens I wonder if you do anything well.

To make a busy week more stressful one of my students tripped and fell into my laptop provided by the district. Sigghhhhh.... BIG SIGHHHH! I don't know the outcome of this yet. I feel sick to my stomach about it but what can I do??

I talked with a friend after work today and she said " I can hear by your breathing you need to use your inhaler!"  I was like "You're right, why didn't I reach for it sooner?" I rarely have to use my inhaler so it tends to be my last thought. This is part of why I've had this cough. It happened before and once I started using my inhaler the cough went away. So it is out and being use. Getting proper oxygen will probably improve my energy levels. Sheesh!

Another teacher asked me after school how my day was "I felt like I was wrangling feral cats". It is true I did feel that way. There are a few non-feral cats in there trying to survive the feral cats.  There are a couple parts of my day that are teaching bliss. We have an amazing computer program that improves concentration, spacial awareness, reading, processing and more. The students when they are on that program are VERY focused. It is just awesome. Another favorite part of my day is my intervention time. The kids are so good, so motivated,  it is just good fun. They aren't students at a high level, they are low. They just really like what we are doing and they feel successful. I feel like I'm making a difference and it is just joy!  I wish all day could be like that but... the feral cats problem. Anyhow I started another online class on Singapore Math today. The feedback I am getting from the other teachers is that it is good stuff, what they have done so far. So I am excited about that even though it is one more thing! Well my pj's are on and I used my inhaler so now it is time for dinner and some R & R before tomorrows....Earthquake Drill... it will be hard to come back from that!

Saturday, Cooking, studying!

Oh Saturday..! I love that cold fall crisp air and knowing that I can sleep just a little longer. Maybe read in my toasty warm bed, and stay in my pj's for a ridiculously long time.  I started making a pot of soup a little later than I should have last night. So I stayed up later than I planned. Oh well, more soup for my freezer and my stash was low. I probably should've doubled the recipe but I realized I was out of freezer dishes so that worked out okay.

 I also did an 8 p.m. grocery store run. I  smiled to myself as I drove home. It had taken me this long to realize that if I wanted to go to the grocery store at night I could. It is weird to have the possibility after two years of remembering the whole town shut down (not the saloons) by 8 p.m. and there wasn't a grocery store. So  that made my trip to the store more enjoyable. I picked up a few things I had run out of and that would help me in my cooking adventures this weekend.

Then I talked to Mom for a few minutes and she was talking about making a casserole which made me decide to make a casserole. It is in the oven now. I can't wait. I also looked up one of my other favorite soup recipes to start this afternoon. I hadn't made it since last winter so I am looking forward to having some of it.  We'll see what other inspiration strikes this weekend on the cooking front. I may have to do another grocery store run for some freezer containers. I have broken a few dropping them straight from the freezer. So now I seem to have a lot of lids but not enough containers.

Here is my soup I am making today I got it from a school parent last year. I am not sure where she got it. I haven't found it online. It freezes quite nicely.

Hearty Beef Tomato Soup

1lb Ground Beef ( I usually double it)

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 TBSP  Butter

1 16 oz can Fire Roasted diced Tomatoes (sometimes all you can find is 14.9 oz that works)

1 Tsp. Salt

1/2 Tsp. Chili Powder

1 Bay Leaf

2 Beef Boullion Cubes (gluten free)

2 1/2 cups water ( I usually have to add quite a bit more)

1/3 Cup Rice ( I add a little more of this too, prob. why I need more water) 

Saute beef, onion, and celery in butter. Stir in all other ingredients. Bring to a boil, and simmer until rice is done. 

The casserole I am making is the traditional tater-tot casserole without the cream-o-mushroom soup. I make a gluten free Bechamel Sauce with gluten free flour and milk.(without the butter) Then I just add some salt and pepper to taste. It makes a nice white gravy to add to the hamburger. The tator-tots I have to carefully read the label. You never know what you will get mixed into them. 

After my casserole cooking I have to finish the work for my online class. Then study for my Monday class. I am thinking tomorrow will be the day spent getting ready for the school week.   Oh and in between and during all of that I really have to do some laundry and clean house.  Where does the time quickly go?

Weekend Refresher

Ahhhhh the weekend. I left school on Thursday feeling pretty disgusted and frustrated. It isn't a great way to finish the week. I met with a friend yesterday who has been a strong advocate for me. I've been getting some great ideas on how to handle situations that are driving me nuts! I met with another 2nd grade teacher from another school. I realized a couple of things today. The focus on testing has created a "competition" mentality among teachers. Is this a good thing or not? If I had a student in the school and I didn't have a choice between teachers I wouldn't like it because my student wouldn't have access to the same quality. I feel that if teachers have a great idea, resource, strategy, they should share. If we can all win together wouldn't that be better?  I don't know but it finally clicked why the other teachers were not sharing items they are supposed to be rotating amongst our grade level. It is ridiculous but it is true. I am finding ways around this situation.

What I also realized today is that I thought I was failing pretty miserably as a teacher this fall. Then I met with a veteran teacher today to get ideas and help from. It was  great because I realized while I need work in some areas there is a lot I am doing right. I learned a couple of new strategies from her, was reminded of some old ones, and saw how she implemented them. It was really refreshing for me to meet with her. She has a positive attitude and was super supportive. I hope this can continue. 

What I am going to continue to do is keep learning and talking with people I know have the experience to help me get there! I spent a lot of time working on teaching today but it isn't over for the weekend. I have work to do to prepare for next week. There is a lot going on. I have another change in my schedule. Fall so far has been the perpetually changing schedule. You are just hoping you fit everything you are supposed to into the day. The students are in the computer lab for a brain-based reading program. It has been very interesting to read about so I am looking forward to seeing it work in person.  The program is very strong and if students spend the allotted time in the lab working on it they usually see  one and a half years growth in reading. As a teacher it has to be a priority. 

It was so great to be able to sleep in a little today. I even took a little afternoon nap. It was WONDERFUL! My body was yelling at me to get some rest.  I have some cooking I need to do this weekend as well. My stash of frozen meals is getting very low. I have a few ideas to switch it up. I had eaten so much lentil soup that I need a change.  So we'll see what I cook up.  So this Friday I really felt like this weekend I am refreshed. 

STEM

I love my S.T.E.M. class. I wish I could enjoy it way more often. It is invigorating, inspiring, and fun. I come back with great ideas and strategies. If every professional development was as useful as this one we would all be happy teachers. Well most of us.. you have one Eeyore in every crowd.  Today we did a couple of experiments with greenhouse gases, we had planning time, and we looked at some new technology.

I have a lot going on. I realized that I am going to have to surrender my weekends to school. To reading, to planning, to researching. Until I finish a couple of the courses I am taking and get a better handle on the curriculum this is just the way it is going to be. I will have to find some balance between that and home. I mean after all laundry has to get done at some point!  I need some down time but in order to feel more prepared and ready to take on the next challenge this is what I need to do, spend more time at work.  Most school days I arrive by 6:30 and am lucky to leave by 5 p.m. I do this because I love it and care about the kids.

On Mondays after school we have Professional Development in writing across the curriculum. On  Monday Nights once a month I have a College Course I am taking in Vocabulary. On the Weekends I work on my Political Science Class for teacher licensure. Every other Friday I take a class on Balanced Literacy.  I am also taking this STEM Class. Next week I start a Singapore Math Course.  That is six classes in case you were not able to count. Granted some of these I signed up for and have over-extended myself but some are mandated by the district. The wonderful part is I bring great strategies back to my students and I extend my own learning. The not so great part is the time commitment. My online class ends in November which is quite exciting. I can't wait, especially after the latest message from my professor:

Good morning! You have completed 60% of the class. Party on
Wayne! Party on Garth! Excellent! Can you name the movie? I have
a few announcements.

First, grades from the last Discussion will be uploaded by
tomorrow afternoon. The lack of direct references to the AM GOV
text in all parts of the response where applicable continues to
result in a deduction of 2-3 points. Typos and improper
capitalization are also impacting some of your BBD grades.

Second, materials for Chapter 9 -- Parties and Political
Campaigns: Citizens and the Electoral Process have been posted
under Learning Modules. It's one of my FAVORITE parts of
political science. Check out the 50-minute PBS clip on Karl Rove:
The Architect under Web Links. You'll see the food and beer
preferences of Republicans and Democrats. Based on credit card
and debit purchases, political campaigns are able to profile
voters and their tendencies to vote for either conservative or
liberal candidates.

Third, Exam 2 will be posted next week. I'll be posting an
announcement with Exam 2 details very soon.

Fourth, an OPTIONAL bonus assignment worth 10-points regarding
interest groups will be posted after Exam 2. Stay tuned for
additional details.

Fifth, third political parties in general don't win presidential
elections but do make a difference. In The War Room, can anyone
name the last third political party and their candidate to win a
presidential election? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Wikipedia is not a reliable source.

Are there any questions?

Online Class

Every time I work on my online class I end up irritated by the outrageous silliness of my professor. Here are is latest offerings of Online Quizzes:

http://www.people-press.org/typology/
http://pewresearch.org/millennials/quiz/

What do you think?

Sub

There is nothing like having a cranky, old, sub make your students love you! I had more hugs this afternoon than I've received all year. :)

Saturday Cooking

I went and picked up my Bountiful Basket today. It was full of interesting things and so of course I had to decide what I wanted to cook up this weekend. I found this Gluten Free  Crock-pot Beef Stew and decided to give it a try. I am just not sure about the Worcestershire Sauce. It has some less than desirable ingredients in it. When I decided I was cooking today every recipe called for an ingredient I did not have so I ran to the grocery store. What a privilege to have one so near by. I also picked up some ingredients for a different lentil soup recipe than I usually make and this Gluten Free Banana Bread. I'll let you know how these cooking experiments turn out.  The first one I started cooking today was the beef stew. I've been cutting, chopping, and tossing into the crock-pot. It had better not disappoint.

The grocery store is always an adventure as a teacher in a small town. You know you are going to run into a student or two, a parent, etc. There are days when you would rather be anonymous and just run in and out. I am trying to get some laundry done and PUT AWAY. It is the second part of that equation I've been struggling with lately. It seems as though I am feeling perkier today. I am hoping this means I am on the down-side of the cold/allergy whatever it is making me tired.  The last two nights I slept and last night without Nyquil.

I also got to hang out with an old friend for awhile today which is always fun. I need to get to work on my online class. G'day to ya

P/T Conferences and more!

There hasn't been much time to write lately. I am still fighting my cold/allergy/sinus thing which is just great (uggh)!  This week was parent teacher conferences which involved a couple of 14 + hour days. Every time I have parent teacher conferences it strikes me again how important it is parents place value on their students education. If parents don't care neither do their children. Children are eager to please their parents and if they see education as having value they will work hard to be successful even if they have challenges. I see so much potential with some students but their parents don't place value on learning. I'm not saying they don't care, I'm saying the value they place on school is very, very, low.   This is another attitude a teacher must fight when working with students in the classroom. It is frustrating.

I am taking a vocabulary class. It so far has been absolutely wonderful!  As a teacher of COURSE I know vocabulary is important, and all of the reasons why. What I feel like I was missing was some well researched and FUN strategies to teach vocabulary.  I am excited about the potential of what I can do with my students. I hope I can make it engaging enough to get all of my students excited about words! 

My not so fun political science class I have to take for licensure  well this is the message I got from my professor today:

It’s What the Doctor (a.k.a. Mad Political Scientist) Ordered: Fa13PSC101_1009_WB, Intro American Politics

PSC 101,

Good morning!

I have received several emails regarding the news challenge that
I presented to you last week, and it does not surprise me how
protective some of you are about your source of news, including
your friends of family. I appreciate that many of you have
emailed me your early observations.

If you or your friends and family members believe that by
watching CNN or MSNBC you will turn into a liberal or that by
watching FOX or reading The Wall Street Journal that you will
turn into a conservative, I can assure you that this conversion
is not life threatening. However, you may want to have some
Rolaids and aspirin on hand.

In fact, there are several support groups for these types of
groups of individuals that display liberal and conservative
tendencies. The support groups are called political parties. JOIN
ONE! Check them out:

Republican National Committee
http://www.gop.com/ ( http://www.gop.com/ )

Democratic National Committee
http://www.democrats.org/ ( http://www.democrats.org/ )

Directory of U.S. Political Parties
http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm ( http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm )

I still stand by my news challenge to you. This prescription will
stay in place for the remainder of the semester. It's what the
doctor ordered.

With the focus of the news recently on global events and affairs,
the BBC World Services offers an international perspective that
other classes have enjoyed. Check out the following website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/ )

Keep me posted on any developments. Are there any questions?
Anyone in the house need a refill? 

 

Anyhow,  I think this guy is trying to persuade some people to look in alternative directions. I can't fault him that. I am not an impressionable 18 year old just beginning the college experience.  So I haven't changed my news sources. Although to be honest when school is in session I rarely have time to catch up on the news. I am invited to my neighbors for a belated birthday dinner tonight. Their son was born on my birthday but he was sick and then I was sick. So now we can enjoy it! FYI if you don't drink even 1/2 a Nyquil dose will kick your heiney! I still felt a little loopy this afternoon. It was worth the wonderful sleep that I finally had. I needed the rest.  

On Monday I will be missing a 1/2 day of teaching to go for a training on a foreign language program the district has purchased. I did a little research on it I think the program they chose is great for upper grades I don't see it working well for the younger students. That frustrates me because what I know about language and development is that small children will learn it more quickly and be able to immerse themselves in a new language more easily. Sigh.  I am hoping once I see what it is I won't be disappointed. 

Anyhow I'm off to the neighbors for supper have a lovely evening!

 

Whine Alert

Whine Alert! Feel free to move on if you don't want to read it!   I don't feel well. (feel free to add annoying whiny voice to that comment.)   Yesterday afternoon my throat started getting sore. This morning I woke up to crying eyes, running nose, and swollen glands. It is one of those runny noses where   ummm YUCKY ALERT....  you stick a Kleenex in your nostril to stem the flow. Yea so fun. I'm taking all my extra vitamins.

I did get to sleep in a little this morning before heading to class. I am getting so much out of this class. I thought about taking a decongestant before going to class but those make me feel fuzzy and wonky. Sometimes it is hard to decide what is worse the symptoms you are experiencing or the symptoms from the drug. If the swelling in my ears doesn't reduce soon I'm going to have to give in and take something. They hurt.  Okay moving on...(at least I'll try)

So the class I am taking is awesome! Every time I take some really great strategies away from it.  Okay to be honest... I almost fell asleep sitting up typing this .... so I'll try again later.

Volun....

Sometimes you don't volunteer sometimes you're "volunTOLD." That happened to me this morning. You're going to the school board meeting tonight. Okay I guess I am.  I am going so my neighbor can present something to the school board and I will watch her kids. Then the principal walks by... "So you're going to the school board meeting tonight."   I said " Yep, I was already notified." Now truthfully I could refuse but sometimes if you are willing to do what you are "volunTOLD" it is worth it  in the long run. So as tired as I may be tonight I am going to the school board meeting.

I came home after school and made my lunch for tomorrow.   I forgot it today and that was a bummer. I had some nice colleagues who shared their stashes with me. I need to get a better stash.  I do have chocolate and jerky :)!   I warmed up some of my freezer stash for dinner. My new favorite thing is my rice cooker. I can put the rice and water in ignore it and do a thousand other things and come back to cooked rice. It is great!  My gluten free beef stroganoff freezed nicely and tastes wonderful over rice. I will have to make some more of that!

I have been driving a colleague to work because her car broke down. Over the weekend she bought a new car and so she has been driving me to school for a change. It is nice to have a chauffeur! I will enjoy it for this next little bit. We talk about what we are going to do to prepare for the day on the way to school. On the way home we do a review and a quick plan for the following day. It is amazing how that can focus you on your way to or from work. I also came up with a plan for my weekend. I will probably do some cooking over the weekend just because I enjoy it. I really need to spend some quality time at school. So that is part of why I need a better stash!

 My salad-in-a-jar has been working out well. I had some chicken marinating and then realized I was out of propane for my grill. That was a bummer. So I threw it in the frying pan. It had oil from the marinade so I didn't add any to the pan. It came out tasting fine. It will work.  My fruit smoothie breakfast continues to work for me as well.  I am hoping it will work for me when the weather gets cold. I may have to have a cup of tea after the smoothie.  Speaking of cold weather my new winter coat arrived.  I think it will work great! This year I don't have morning outside duty. That is the really chilling part of the day so I should do okay.   Well I am off to figure out a little more about the three states of matter then to sleep I go...
G'nite

Webs, Nerds, Class, Chocolate... and more

It was a nice working birthday! If only birthdays only fell on the weekend right?? My colleague brought me some nice Gluten Free Cupcakes. Apparently I need to go check out the other little grocery store in town because she is always finding interesting things there. Maybe this weekend. I always say maybe on the weekend...then by the weekend I am soo pooped I say ... maybe next weekend lol! We'll see.

My class schedule continues to make me a little nutty. I need to use my old college plan with a binder for every class. I also need to post them  on my Google Calendar so I remember where to go, when to go, what to bring, who I am riding with, who I'm picking up,  and what else? I don't know it is getting a little crazy. My online class I generally do the work for on a Friday or Saturday evening because my work is due Sunday. Just in case I lose internet or something horrible I have a couple of days to figure it out. This class ends in November (not soon enough), my Monday Book Club (through February), My every other Friday Class (have no idea when it ends), and  another online class the district is paying for. ( I feel like I'm forgetting one acck) Anyhow the online class the district is generously paying for I feel like it will be very beneficial to me so I hope it will be. The principal came today and asked us again who wanted to take it. She was submitting the names to the district and they will register us and pay for the class at the same time. How crazy is that? So efficient and well generous. If you want your people to do better you give them opportunities for growth. I really forgot how amazing this district was in the area of professional development.

I did some re-organization of my classroom this weekend. It is interesting to see how students respond to change. Some took half of the day before they noticed the difference. We'll keep working on that. I have a runner this year.  It is a fast kid. BAM where did he/she go? Sigh. I am hoping we can get this under control.  For students who finished their work I've been coming up with different activities because they are being held back by those who need extra help.  I keep wondering when I am going to have time to grade papers, will I ever get caught up, and what can I do better to help them do better?

Thank goodness for M & M's and chocolate in general! Seriously!

In other news my online class latest message from our professor, I cut out the top part that reminds us when our next discussion is and that an exam is coming up. Here is the ending to our message...

"Third, does anyone watch Glee, The Big Bang Theory, Family Guy,
or Pawn Stars? My family mocks me for watching these shows. I
also watch professional racquetball. Oh, and I watched King of
Nerds earlier in the year. At Las Vegas Comic Con, I kind of got
into a fight with Hawk Man. Who would win the battle? Am I a
little nerdy and geeky?

Are there any questions?"

I have questions, I do.... I just don't think he'd appreciate them. I choose to remain silent :)

Oh yes... I walked into a spider web this afternoon. I still feel like I am removing web. It is so sticky. It gives me the chills. I did quite the irrational little dance. The last spider I found I asked my neighbor to dispose of it in the time honored way of dealing with large spiders. KILL IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE!  Okay anyhow, it was strongly suggested to me that I let this particular type of spider live because they eat black widows. So now I am paranoid about black widows. Does the existence of this spider mean I have black widows, or does it mean I have other delicious food sources?  So despite it trying to trap me in its web, I let it live. It is HUGE, UGLY, HUGE, you get the idea. I know where it is and it better stay there! I better not have any black widows or my irrational spider phobia is going to kick up several notches. Siggh...

Saturday

Ahh the adventures of Bountiful Baskets and Gluten Free Cooking. So I got mushrooms in my bountiful basket. I'm not so fond of mushrooms and I never have been. I also know all to well how they grow mushrooms. I even watched a documentary on it. Why I watched it I'm not sure but it was fascinating. Okay so mushrooms. What is the one edible thing that has mushrooms in it?  Beef Stroganoff. It truly is the only edible thing that has mushrooms in it. Of course this is my humble but highly qualified opinion (ahem).  So I made it tonight and just did a taste test and it was quite good. I am supposed to be getting more dairy in my diet so I thought that might help as well.  So I am now waiting for the rice to cook to eat it with instead of noodles.  Here is the Stroganoff recipe I used. 

Bountiful Baskets gave me a variety of fruits and veggies this week. I was happy to see some leaf  lettuce because I was out. I received  mushrooms, lettuce, a melon, pineapple, tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, bananas, green beans, celery,  cauliflower, and yellow squash. A couple of those items I can't eat for religious reasons! HA not really! I just can't stand them and may be allergic to one or two. Anyhow, I shared with my neighbor. What else are neighbors for other than to share your inedible vegetables with?? It is good to have a neighbor or two who finds most things to be edible. 

During my trip south I visited Costco. I managed to stock up on a significant amount of frozen fruit. This is great because my stock pile was getting quite low. So that is wonderful. Costco also has such reasonable prices so you feel good about it in general. I also got some practical things like laundry soap and dish detergent. I was getting pretty low on laundry soap. One of the small bottles here costs the same as a huge bottle at Costco. So I'm ready for the laundry to continue. Speaking of laundry my couch is covered right now in clean clothes. 

My continuing education. It is a good thing I bought all that fruit. I am going to need the energy boost to keep pushing me through. I hadn't been getting the e-mails for my STEM class because of my move and change of work e-mail. A colleague forwarded one on. So in a couple of weeks I will be attending a STEM class along with all the other classes I am taking this fall. And when do I write lesson plans? In my sleep... In my sleep.    I have probably over extended myself. I just get so motivated because I feel like I get so much good stuff out of the classes they offer. I noticed one of my colleagues has a binder just for Professional Development this year. I am thinking I'd better do the same to keep all of my ducks in a row.  I feel like some of these classes I take should have been part of my college education. That is another story though. At least I am getting them now. It is never to late to expand your learning. 

My online class came with this message today. My cousin finds it hysterical. I find this professor sooo annoying... read and let me know your thoughts:

"Good afternoon!

I just want to remind the class that your response to BBD#3 is
due Sunday, September 15 by 11:55 p.m.

Also, did anyone attend the Las Vegas Comic Con event this past
summer? I attended the event with my son and friends. We
listened to Stan Lee, watched Jim Lee sketch Batman, Joker, and
Harley Quinn, and learned about Brony fans. Bro + Pony = Brony.
Are there any Bronies in the house? I also got into a fight with
Hawkman. It's a long story.

Are there any questions?"

 Is it bad that I wanted to ask if I did attend Comic Con will I get a bonus point or two?? HA!

Southward bound

I've said many times the past couple of weeks  Please turn off your imaginary motor, put away your imaginary bow and arrow, guitar, trumpet, and a variety of other instruments and tools. The imaginary bow and arrow has been killing a lot of imaginary flying things in the sky. He must be quite the marksman. I just asked that he leave it in his backpack until recess. We'll see how that goes. I've really had to crack down hard on procedures in my class. I finally got a little help from a colleague and a sent a couple students next door when they couldn't get it together. I am hoping this will get boring enough it will reduce occurrences.  You never know what challenges students are going through. I do know that they are making me tired.

I have continued with my daily fruit smoothies with pea protein powder. This usually takes me through to lunch without any cravings other than water or some more tea for that caffeine boost. Several of us teachers volunteered to be "secret-pals" for the year. My secret pal left me a "welcome back" gift, and another day a bar of dark chocolate. I'm feeling pretty guilty about my secret pal abilities . So I ran to the store and left a little something in their box. It felt pretty pathetic and lacked creativity. I need to work on this!

I remembered this week about a class I had taken over a year ago that I forgot to submit. Then I realized that after that I only need two more credits to move on the pay scale. I am taking a Friday class that will make up another credit. Then they offered a once a month "book club" plus some extended application of learning for a credit. I think I signed up for the book club in time. So I should be good. What made me decide to take them though... had NOTHING to do with the credit. That is a bonus. Why I decided to take them is that I have had this instructor for many classes. She is amazing. She does a ton of research about whatever resource she brings to us before she even thinks of introducing it. She makes sure it is backed up by quality research as well. I always know whatever she is going to introduce will make me a better teacher. I just don't always have enough time.  So I continue to add to my class load this fall.  Which is okay maybe I'll take a break in February... or June definitely June :)!

Tomorrow I am heading south to the big city. My neighbor and I are riding together. Their child has been sick and isn't getting well. They tried local medical care and decided to head to a pediatrician down south. We don't have a pediatrician here just general practitioners. I think some of them are good but sometimes you need a little more. Anyhow so we will do a Costco run. I'm so excited I've been making a list in my head.  I need to get my cooler ready to go. I still get to sleep in a little in the morning before we head that way. It probably won't be a fun drive 3 1/2 hours with a sick kid. We are hoping he falls asleep.

My principal has more confidence in me than I have in myself. What is weird is I am not used to a principal having confidence in me. She sent some students from a lower grade up into my class for math because they were above level and bored.  I have the majority of huge behavior challenges because of her confidence in my ability to handle it. I am just saying a prayer for myself to handle these issues every day.  Oh my!  Teaching in a public school involves so much more than teaching. Sentences come out of your mouth that you could never imagine yourself saying.  Such as " is it appropriate to draw  private body parts on the back of our spelling test or anywhere at school?"  "no?"   Siggghhhh.  It was quite detailed and we do encourage adding details in drawing or writing to make them more interesting.  Be careful what you ask for be very careful.

So it goes. I managed to get a load of  laundry in the washer and a load of dishes in. I am feeling accomplished. Oh.. by the way Dad we hooked up the cold to the hot and the hot to the cold on the washer. For now I just turn it to Hot to wash it Cold!  That may need to be changed someday. 

Found

I found which box my text books were in for my online class. The sad part was I looked in that box several times. I didn't think they were in it because one text book I didn't remember and the other one was upside down. Pathetic! So now I am trying to get my assignments done for my online class. Then work on school "stuff".

I have a lot on my school list of "to-do" items. I am thinking that some I will put on to the Volunteer Mom list. I had some guidance yesterday on coming up with a plan because of my discombobulation.  I am thinking I am on the right track. I am going to call a teacher that isn't at our school but at the same grade level. She is very experienced and seems to have a more balanced curriculum than that of my colleagues at my own school. 

Anyhow I also found a recipe for grilled tomatoes. So I am going to try that. It also says you can freeze them after you grill them. I love the canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes. So I am going to experiment with this and see if they taste as delicious in soup.   You just baste them in Olive Oil sprinkle on some garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and grill.  If I have any luck I'll let you know. Off to online class I go!

Visitors

Well I had some surprise visitors today on their way back north after a long trip. It is always good to see familiar faces.  I didn't have much time to say hi because I had to go pick up my bountiful basket. I had big eyes when I ordered my basket and ordered 36 pounds of pears. Uh ya that's a lot of pears. They had a mess up on the shipping order so I didn't get my basket but I did get the pears. I opened the box and they smell amazing! They have some ripening to do. Pear smoothies are coming my way.  I had some hamburger defrosting in my fridge so I decided to make a pot of soup to freeze. I doubled the recipe because I find myself eating soup from my stash on the weekend as well.  I made another pot of Taco Soup. This is a super easy recipe to make.

Taco Soup
1 lb. lean ground beef.
2 cans Pinto Beans, (undrained)
1 can whole kernel corn, (undrained)
2 cans diced tomatoes, (undrained)
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
1 1/2 Cups of water

It may not be the healthiest soup with the packages of seasoning and canned tomatoes. You can look up how to make your own seasoning mix if you are worried about preservatives. It is my favorite "stuffy nose, got a cold" soup. It makes your nose run. It is also yummy to add a little cheese or sour cream when you are serving it.

I am also working on stuff for school next week. I am very grateful this is a long weekend. I have a lot to do!

Week 1

I started an online class I need to take to renew my licensure in this state. The class officially started on Monday but I knew I didn't have any assignments due until Sunday. So I logged in for the first time last night. I was a little irritated by the professors requests to us. Most online classes they ask us to do a brief introduction of ourselves, why we are taking the class, what our expectations are.  This prof apparently finds himself quite amusing took these questions to a whole new level. He asked that we not give a canned response to any question and suggested the aliens made us do it as a response. Okay I get you're trying to be funny... but for me it fell flat. I thought his entire thing was unprofessional. There is a way to use humor that is appropriate I just felt this prof didn't get there.  I am always amused by the questions for what our expectations are for a class. I probably sounded snooty when my response was this " To have a quality educational experience".  My first impression of this class is that I'm not going to get that. Hopefully, things improve. I really don't care what my prof's favorite TV show is, nor do I care what my online classmates favorite TV shows are.  I also don't have the time to read all of these ridiculous introductions.  So we'll see how the rest of this class goes. It is a class about U.S. History and our states constitution.   I'll keep you posted.

I also start another class soon. I am looking forward to it because I've had the instructor for several classes now and I always learn so much from her. She is in a lot of classrooms has a lot of experience and is always learning more. She has a very great approach and is very understanding and meets people at the level they are at and is supportive in growing from there.   So every Monday I have a district required Professional Development, on Tuesdays Grade Level Meetings, on Wednesdays Expert team meetings, and no meetings on Thursdays. Then on Fridays I will be taking this other class. So, our days are very much taken up with other things. It can get overwhelming. But it seems like the meetings are usually beneficial.

I survived the first week of school and the students survived me. I felt a little discombobulated and disorganized. I have a lot to work on this weekend to organize for the following week. I asked for a little help from a friend. I have had some help from my grade level team but there is some gaps I need filled. Hopefully, I can get there this weekend or at least make some progress.

I don't know why but it seems like it isn't long after I move somewhere I am immediately invited to a baby or bridal shower.  This time a baby shower. It was a lady on my 2nd grade team so I felt I should go. It was good  I did but baby showers are one of these Women Rituals that make me wish I was a dude. I don't mind the cake  part (they even had gluten free), I don't mind the lemonade (unless they serve sickeningly sweet punch), I don't mind the opening of the gifts, the part where you have to play painfully silly games that's the part I am totally over.  It seems like it is the unwritten baby shower rule that one must have silly games. Luckily the hostesses at this one kept them to a minimal number. Anyhow, I got that done and checked of my list for the weekend.

My next bountiful basket order I also ordered about 20 pounds of pears. Ummm what was I thinking. They are Oregon and California Bartlett pears and they just sounded so DELICIOUS.  I am not canning them. I will cut them up and freeze them for smoothies. Yep the smoothie phenomena continues. My colleagues have been quite impressed by my Mason Jar Salads at Lunch time. They are going to try it out themselves. It is pretty easy and the mason jars wash up so nicely to use again.

Did that happen today?

This is a great example of how exhausting the first two days of school are.... "Miss Carpenter did we do the bus visit today?"  when we were writing about things we learned today.  We practiced bus behavior today... it happened today. Towards the end of the day it felt like it happened a week ago.  I had some behavior issues today. I realized I really have to up my behavior plan. They need the structure from me. So I went and started a new ClassDojo class. It is an online behavior program. Parents can login and look up how their students did at school today.  I had a crazy situation today with a student. I am still kind of in shock that it happened.  There are some very lost little people in this world because there are some very lost parents in this world.

The school changed it's pick-up, drop-off, walking/riding home, busing procedures this year. You can find out really quickly who hates change whenever you majorly overhaul procedures. The new plan is soooo much safer for the students. I just wished all the parents realized it isn't to make things inconvenient for them but to make for a safer situation at school. The PTO really spearheaded the changes which is great.

I wish I could remember all the craziness I have been through this week... but I can't. I realized today my expectations are higher than a couple of my colleagues. They have some skills I don't have but their expectations for what they are able to learn is lower. I'm having mixed feelings about this. I know I have things to learn from them... but I feel they need to raise the bar too. We'll see how this goes. I have a lot of work to do this weekend to make for a better school year. I also have to work on my online class this weekend. Wish me luck w/ my ever growing "to-do" list!

First Meeting

First meeting of the year. I can't emphasize how polar opposite my experience was before and this one today. First of all they fed us three meals. Real meals with good food too, not  donuts and fruit and good luck for the rest of the day.  It wasn't in a room of a stark building on a nice summer day. It was at a campground under a covered picnic area on a nice summer day. There was that one thunderstorm but it just made it perfectly cool.  Even better was they had planned it well, managed it well, thought of the people who were coming. We accomplished meaningful things.  I felt refreshed not pressured, discouraged, and tired before school even started. We talked about our school and things that we needed to do there, and not district wide goals. Those do have a time and a place but not every year for two whole days. The PTO was involved and supportive and gave input. It was just amazing.  I feel like I will have support and encouragement in this work environment. It is just soooo different. 

What was funny we were assigned a "not a secret" secret pal!  I got the principal. OH BOY!  I'm going to have to carefully consider that one! The principal has me though so hopefully it will even it out.  This principal seems on top of it. There has been some criticism of her but I know what she walked into. She had some cleaning up to do and they have come a very long ways!

Anyhow I have a lot to accomplish in the next couple of days. Back to School night is Thursday so in between meetings I have to finish "purtyizing" my classroom!

Printing, Cooking, Back-to-School

Well you never know what you'll end up doing in your life, where you will go, or what machines you will learn how to use. I worked at a print shop for a day. I am an old master at the copier from when I worked for the Ed Department at the community college, to the registrars office for my bachelors degree, and of course as a teacher. So I did more copy machine work it was very familiar work. I also worked with a paper folding machine, shrink wrapping (fun),  a paper shaker, and a computer program I was unfamiliar with for publishing. It wasn't the most fun I've ever had working, it wasn't the hardest job either, and I earned a little extra cash which never hurts.   I could've worked more days but I really had to work on school stuff.

I have been procrastinating a little on school stuff. I think it is because I lived and breathe my job sooo much the last couple of years that I was kind of relishing the separation from it. I have a kitchen I can cook in and all my kitchen machines, utensils, and more that make cooking fun. I am enjoying having something that feels more like a home and I don't feel like a visitor. That has a lot to do with having my own things again. I still have a gazillion of boxes to go through of stuff I haven't seen in two years. My "yard-sale" pile is growing. Now I just need to find someone who is having one :)!

I got my first bountiful basket yesterday it had bananas, mangoes, a pineapple, mandarin oranges, onions, green onions (icck), romaine lettuce, cucumber, spinach, avocados, tomatoes, and there may have been more but that is all I can think of. So now I have to figure out how to use it or lose it. Some of the fruit isn't quite ripe yet. If I don't eat it I can cut it up, freeze it, and use it in a smoothie. I may attempt gluten free banana bread if I am feeling brave.

Tonight I made a batch of Taco Soup. It is my go-to soup when I am feeling a little congested. It gets the nose running! It tastes wonderful on a cold winters night.  I set one bowl aside for me to enjoy and froze the rest. I have seen recipes for it online but mine is a gluten free option. My freezer is getting a nice stash in it. This week we have a day of "training" which they call a "retreat" it is not required as we are not paid for it. I can't really say what it will be like as I haven't been to it. We go up to a camp ground about an hour from town, lunch  is provided,  and we talk about goals and what not for the school year. On Wednesday I have to go to "new teacher training" which sounds like it is more about the dreaded paperwork than anything. It allows the district to have all the "newbies" get the work done at the same time. On Thursday we will have PLC's. Which I hope means we will have time to meet as a grade level, I'm not sure what it will look like. It is our first official "work day".  The 26th is the first day of school and our "Back-to-school" night. That will be interesting. I think that first week of school is always exhausting.

Anyhow that's what is new and it ain't much but there ya go ....

Paperwork

The day of Paper-WORK! Paper work it is one of the annoying aspects of a grown up life. I remember when I was little being fascinated by forms.  I got over that. Sending paperwork, receiving paperwork, requesting paperwork, gathering paperwork, delivering paperwork, and sometime later... shredding paperwork.  I had to set up my home-office to do this because I am not connected at work as of yet. I have more "paperwork" to do before that can happen. I did get a lot of it done today. It is sooo time consuming though. Since there are several "new" teachers starting at the same time a lot of it will be completed at our "new" teacher training. I didn't have this when I lived here before because I started after school had started.

I found out today that the mine here had brought in a lot of new people and was bringing in 40 more new people. It has made the housing situation pretty grim. It is a good thing I decided to move when I did.

I ran in to the grocery store today and the meat was back in town. I asked this time what happened and their refrigeration had stopped working in that section of the store. Since they had to move all of the meat products out anyway they decided to use that as an opportunity to clean all the shelving. So I could find my ham-hock to make cowboy beans. They are in the crock pot right now. I bet my dad is jealous just thinking about it.  After they cook for a day I will set some aside for eating and the rest will go in my freezer stash. I am contemplating what soup to make next... haven't decided yet. Maybe I'll do spaghetti. If you didn't know spaghetti freezes very well. On a really cold day in winter spaghetti just hits the spot. I have gluten free spaghetti noodles as well.  Hmmm decisions...

I ran to the school today and they are changing all of the locks. They left a couple of doors till the last minute so we could still get in. We can pick up our keys tomorrow, probably after filling out more paperwork. 
 

Chicken Take -2

On the left First Try
On the right Second and Success!




So I marinaded my chicken again grilled it almost left it long enough to scorch it. I don't mind a little charcoal. It turned out tasty and it is cut up, individually bagged, and ready for the freezer. Finally! I don't know what is going on at the grocery store but people have been posting about the "meat shortage". I don't know if there is a shortage, a lack of shipment, or something else. Hopefully, the newspaper will state something. I am going to pick up some jars for school lunches. I have been reading online about putting your whole salad in a jar for lunches and making enough for a week.  I finally read a blog post that explained it well. You can look it up HERE. It is nice because you can pre-make your salads for a week. Which is great if you are like me and work too much during the week and can't even contemplate making dinner when you get home.

In other news I got a short-time job for a day or two for a little extra cash. My neighbors dad owns a print shop. He usually has my neighbors husband ( who is gone to job training) and high school kids help him. He has something he has to print up every year for the horse races and county fair. I don't really know exactly what I will be doing I'm sure it will involve a copy machine and stacking or folding papers. I thought "Why Not" it isn't like I have anything to do but get my classroom ready for the year, finish putting stuff away, etc etc. HA! I will get it done. I always manage somehow! 

I got my list of students today and I have 20 kids in my class. I was talking to a teacher and we were discussing how some districts have high numbers of kids in their class. She said "yeah like 26 students". Um no lady like between 30 and 40. Anyhow one of the other teachers has 18 students so if we have any new students come in they will go into her room first! Woot Woot!  It seems like I have a lot of boys in my class... so it is going to be a Busy Room!

Okay Who has a Voo Doo Doll of me??

Virtually every attempt to do anything the past few days hasn't worked out. Today I was VERY optimistic about my ability to go into work and get a lot done in my classroom. I decided to laminate the alphabet and other  I want to hang in my classroom. I was warned when I said I was going to laminate to go and turn it on and wait awhile. You will find that isn't unusual in most schools when you see their ancient laminators. So I turned it on and left a note  in case any one should come in and think someone forgot to turn it off would do so. So then I went back in and I noticed the lights were off in that room. It was curious but it is a hot day and it gets toasty in their with the copy machines, laminator, etc.  So I went over to the laminator and saw the light was off. Unusual but some laminators have a light like a pre-heat button on the oven and the light goes off when it is heated. Then I attempted to run a paper through the laminator and realized it was off. Their was still a lot of residual heat so I didn't make the connection that it  was off. Then I looked at the lights on all the equipment and realized the power was out. I went to the office and the secretary was out to lunch and her assistant told me that when you run the laminator it often blows the circuit if they are using computers in the neighboring computer lab. They are installing a lot of computers so their are workmen in there.  I ran to the office after a bit to get my class list and the secretary said she flipped the circuit. I said I think I'll wait until after hours to laminate to be on the safe side.

So I go back to my classroom to work and decide to haul boxes out to my car that I won't need in my classroom. Since I taught four grades before I have a lot. I go to find a dolly/handcart whatever you'd like to call it I search the school and can't find it anywhere. I enlist help and we can't find it. So plan C. Maybe I'll hang paper up on the bulletin boards. Find the paper, tear the paper, bring the paper to the classroom, no stapler, can't find it anywhere. I SURRENDER.... Apparently I needed to go home and take a nap. So I did... I am going to attempt to set up my home office so I can print some stuff up here to use at school. Hopefully, my nap was enough of a re-boot to help my success at my next venture. 

Cooking Follies..

The Cooking Follies Continue:

So I was thinking of making a couple of different soups to add to my freezer stash. I was contemplating ingredients and what I could cook and ignore while I work on other stuff. I also knew I had to go back to the grocery store for sage and to see if they had more gluten free all-purpose flour. So I thought of my Mom's beans. Probably called Cowboy Beans by some folks. She keeps them pretty simple so I thought I'd make them. It requires ham-hocks or at the very least bacon. So I thought well I'll run to the store and see what I can get. So I got my SAGE finally there was one package left of gluten free flour. Which is soo expensive here I am thinking I will have to figure out cost difference ordering it online. Anyhow, I get to the beef, poultry, and pork section of the grocery store.... it is completely emptied. Not one single meat product left on the shelf. I don't know if their cold storage broke, if everything was ready to expire or what. I didn't stop to ask... I gave up.  I know I have all the ingredients for Hamburger Soup... maybe I'll just make that. Sooo just because I now have a grocery store five minutes away doesn't mean I can make what I want when I want to. 

Introverts and Footblah

One of my college friends posted this link on Facebook about introverts. Extroverted people often get very impatient and frustrated with introverts. They don't really understand how they feel in social situations, events, activities, or places with large amounts of people.  I tend to be introverted. Does this mean I can't deal with crowds? No but it does mean that I probably attend an event with someone I feel comfortable with. I also need time to process and like this list states re-charge. Extroverts are fueled and energized by crowds. While the same thing takes a lot of energy out of introverts. So if you have an introvert in your life if they come home from work or an activity and hide out or need quiet time they really need that to recharge from that social event. It might be surprising a person in my position is introverted. I have to talk to a lot of people every day and interact with parents, colleagues, administration and more. This does mean that I take a little quiet time during my lunches and when I get home I generally don't want to hang out with a group of people.  Anyhow I hope that post helps you to understand the introvert in your life a little better.

Uggh the American Football Myth. I am an American and proud of it. I enjoy watching some sports but usually in person. I don't really enjoy watching them on TV part of the enjoyment of a sport for me is the overall ambiance of being at the event part of the crowd.  Unless I am watching the Olympics I just don't really get into watching sports. As an American I like to eat apple pie and turkey on Thanksgiving day, I like hot-dogs at the ballpark, sparklers on the 4th of July, and standing with my hand on my heart for the National Anthem.  However, I DO NOT LIKE FOOTBALL. I would watch a game once or twice a year under pressure. It is just so boring. I am sorry it is BORING. Yep I said it I find FOOTBALL BORING! Does this make me less American. To some it would make me more of a "girl" than ever. I'm okay with that. Even attending a Football game I can't drum up much excitement. It is such a slow dull game. I just don't care.

 In the fall many wives become Football Widows. Really you're that invested in this sport that you abandon your family to sit on your heiney and watch a game. I'd rather be a golf widow or hunting widow. At least they are out doing something active than actively watching something. Why all this football talk?? Well for some reason my television service had me signed up for the NFL Sunday ticket. Meaning that every Sunday game this fall I would be paying to watch. UH NO THANKS.  It was only 4 payments of about 35$. Have you every tried to talk a TV provider into the fact that you really, truly, DO NOT WATCH FOOTBALL? Oh my goodness. I talked to three different people before SUCCESS! If you want to watch Football no need to come visit me. I'll see you after the fall season and I'm okay with that.  Sports have lost a lot of enjoyment for me because of the lack of values displayed by the majority of the most famous players, the performance enhancing drugs, the vanity of it all. I'll go watch t-ball, little league, and the like. If nothing else I will be entertained by how cute the kids are. Some would say I just don't like sports and that simply isn't true. I don't like professional sports.

Well... it is on my Bucket List to go to a Soccer Game in a country that is completely Soccer Crazy during a match that is "important" or a big rivalry.  That is more about going as an observer than the actual game though. The athleticism, endurance, of a soccer player is something to see. They don't have players that look like they prepare for their game by eating as many pizzas as they can in one sitting. NO that isn't why I don't like football. I just don't like it! If you feel that makes me less of an American that's on you... I am busy debating Chevy versus Ford, and Pepsi versus Coke!

Kitchen Disaster

Oh Goodness... Ever experience a Cooking Disaster?  Well I had the idea that I would grill some chicken to cut up for salads. I like a little protein on my salads. I thought I would freeze some in sandwich bags to pull out for school lunches. So I defrosted some lovely organic chicken breasts. I marinated them overnight. I grilled them on the grill. I brought them on a plate to the kitchen. I hit the edge of the plate and chicken greets the floor. Siggghhhh....   So I am on grilled chicken take two.

I was going to make this recipe for Grilled Chicken with Herbs. I discovered I had parsley, rosemary, and thyme but no sage. So what do I pick up when I go to the grocery store? Thyme instead of sage...sigh. So When I brought home new chicken breasts I through them in a bag with salad dressing to marinade overnight. Sage, Sage, Sage, must go on the grocery list. Of course the whole time I was going over this recipe I was singing Scarborough Fair in my head. 

I went to the hardware store today and picked up a dowel for my closet to hang my clothes on. I thought I knew what size to get they told me they didn't have it, asked what I was using it for, and gave me the size they thought would work!  I also forgot to measure the length so luckily they had a scrap piece that was longer than what I needed. So I got that. My neighbor is my assistant in all DIY jobs that I can't figure out on my own and he owns an electric saw.  So he trimmed it for me while I babysat.  So I got my clothes hung up in my closet.

Oh I forgot to mention... I HAVE CARPET in my Kitchen. If you every contemplate a carpeted kitchen, have someone smack you and call you an idiot. I had to get out the carpet shampooer and clean the floor immediately. I am hoping it took care of any possible grease residue. We'll see when the carpet dries.  Hopefully, tomorrows attempts go better than todays.... (knocking on wood) :)

Lentil Soup: Update

I made this Lentil Soup recipe I found online.  I really liked the overall flavor of the soup. I definitely recommend this soup. I like to get a bite of everything in one spoonful when I make soup so I chop everything up small. It really allows you to get the full flavor in a bite. It is some good stuff.  I happened to buy at some point Green Lentils. I didn't really like them as well as the lentils I usually get. They didn't soften up as well and despite all that cooking time they were still a bit chewy. So I don't think I will get that kind again. I was able to put away several containers in my freezer for this school year. It is nice to have a variety of different soups so that you don't get burnt out on them.

Soon I'm going to try my Homemade Chicken Noodle soup. I usually make the noodles but since I've gone Gluten Free I am going to try the Gluten Free All Purpose Flour to make the noodles. Hopefully they are delicious. I will post when I make that attempt. 

Fruit, Soup, and a Team!

Well we met as a grade level team today. It was interesting to be kind of an observer and watch the dynamics of the group. I could tell there were some things that fell through the cracks last year or the years before. I am hoping we can fill those up more this year. There are a couple of teachers on the team that were not last year. There are a couple of very good and experienced teachers on the team that I think will raise the bar. Which will be good. It is also very good to be working with ONE grade level and really focusing on the needs of that. I still have a lot to get ready in my classroom for the year but it will all come together. 

This time of year there are melons on sell and other fruit. I am just unable to eat a whole melon before it goes bad. So today I got a melon-baller and balled them and froze them. It would've been easier and faster to cut them into chunks so that is what I will do next time.  I don't know how well melons freeze but I do see them in the "smoothie" section of the grocery store so I will give it a try.  The best part about this process is you can do a lot of taste testing while cutting them up. I got some strawberries on sale and chopped them up and froze what I didn't eat as well. It will be delicious in December or January.

I am going to make a Lentil Soup Recipe I found online. I don't know how it will taste and I will get back to you on that. I will make up a pot and freeze the rest. Even if it isn't great it is a healthy choice and usually when I get home from work I am not too particular. I'll let you know if it is a recipe worth repeating. 

Can I borrow a cup of Sugar?

I got a few things accomplished today. I worked in my classroom for about 3 hours. Mostly sorting through what I thought I would need and setting the rest aside. I came home for lunch. I set up my garbage service... Oh the luxury of garbage service. Of course it does eliminate midnight trips to the dump ;).  I then had to go buy a trash can. The disposal company is a small local business it isn't part of a corporate division so their trash service is basic. It is still sooo nice though. I love it. I mean it I LOVE it!!!  I worked on unpacking and rearranging some more at home as well. I also worked on laundry. So it was a somewhat productive day.

We have a produce co-op here called Bountiful Baskets. You see it a lot in rural communities in the west but also in large cities as well. It gives the rural communities a chance to get good produce year round. Every two weeks they deliver it and volunteers sort and get it ready for customers who pre-ordered their produce. I missed the last one because it was in the midst of the move. The next one will be coming up soon. What is great though is I haven't completely missed out on the joy of it. My neighbor has been sharing. I've had some amazing peaches and nectarines. Tonight at about 10 p.m. I received a text message from next door that went like this:

"Do you have any sugar?"
"Yep how much do you need?"
"A cup and a half. Trying grape jam and ran out of sugar"
" I will be right over"

So I took my sugar over and she continued making jam. She traded me a bag of grapes for the sugar. She had bought a crate of grapes and was trying to use them up because she didn't think they'd last more than a couple of days. It was a large bag of grapes and I knew I wouldn't be able to eat them all in the next couple of days. I plucked all the grapes off their vines and put them in a freezer bag. Grapes freeze nicely and will go great in a fruit smoothie.

The borrowing a cup of sugar cracked me up. It is just the classic neighbor question. It reminded me of times I ran next door to borrow a couple of eggs when I decided to bake. I usually did this in the evening when everyone went to bed because then they didn't get in the way. I had one of our ministers tell me it was just "cruel" to bake at night. I had decided to make cinnamon rolls and I made them and baked them. The smell drifted through the house and you could smell them all night long.  I am sure it was torture waiting until morning.

It will be fun to start getting baskets of produce and seeing what I can cook up or do with the produce. I am sure there will be some that I am not so fond of. That is part of the adventure though. Have a good night!

Common Core

I've been reading a lot about Common Core Standards in the news lately. One of the perceptions of it is that it is a "cookie-cutter" approach to education. I see a lot of "this curriculum or that curriculum" or "this is the way teachers are teaching a concept". What is interesting to me is that Common Core has not endorsed a curriculum. The standards were created to identify what needed to be taught. They didn't really say this is how you teach it. I could be completely wrong in my understanding of the standards but I've read them. They are very general, each state, each district, and each teacher is responsible for going through the standards and deciding what curriculum they will use and how they will teach the concepts in the standards. If parents don't like the curriculum used or the way it is being taught, I feel that needs to be addressed at a local and district level.

 I feel the standards are less specific in some ways than the old standards in this state. What I mean by that is well for instance;  In the past you may have to teach the students about inference by reading a specific book or curriculum approved by the state. I feel that in some ways we have more freedom as teachers. As long as we make sure our students are learning the concepts we can go about teaching the concept using the method of our choice.  This is possibly unique to where I live. So some of the criticisms probably have to do with districts who are taking away all choice. This can really kill the soul of teaching. If teachers don't get to choose materials, curriculum's and  methods they believe in, it takes all the joy out of teaching. It also takes away that collaboration aspect. Another teacher may have a different method of teaching the concept that works.

The purpose of the standards was to raise the bar in U.S. education. To create more critical thinkers and opportunities to learn a subject more in depth. Another purpose was that if a student moved to another state or district that they should have the learned the standards at the district before. I can see how this feels like a grand experiment on students learning. Maybe after time I will learn more and change my mind. For now though when I see criticisms in the standards it is how local districts or states are executing the standards based on their understanding of them. If your school is doing a "cookie-cutter" or "one-size-fits-all" approach to your students learning then I would say you have a problem you need to address. I don't think that is a "Common Core" problem but a problem with how your teacher, school, or district has decided to teach the standards.  This is why parents  MUST be invested and involved in your students education. It is your responsibility as parents to assure the quality of your child's education. If you completely depend on the system to do it for you expect disappointment. Maybe this sounds  strange coming from a school teacher. I'm not denying the responsibility of the teacher the responsibility is HUGE and I feel that. However, I don't feel parents have the right to complain about any system unless they are involved in their child's education. Kind of like if you don't vote I don't feel you can complain about the outcome of an election. You have to be involved and educate yourself so you can do what is best for your children.

Strange things

Here is a list of a few things that seem strange and a little foreign to me: Seeing my own furniture after 2 years, Hot Water that comes IMMEDIATELY out of the tap, Sleeping in my OWN bed, neighbors taking my trash to the dump and bringing me fresh fruit, bare feet on green lawn, A complete Kitchen w/ every utensil I could need for cooking, a Grocery store 5 minutes away, Feeling at home! 

These may sound like fairly simple things to you but to me they'd become a great luxury. I feel safer at my new place because I feel like I have people looking out for me. They'd check on me and make sure I was alive, or if I was sick they'd check on me. It isn't that people didn't help me before it was just a rarity. Also because of the nature of the rural  area  it was an imposition to ask anyone to go out of their way. 

It was hard to say goodbye to my parents after they helped me move AGAIN and unload the piano AGAIN :)! I think mom felt like it was going to be toooo long before we saw each other again.  It is further away but for me I feel more everyday like I made the right decision. It is going to take awhile to unpack my stuff and organize. Sitting on my own couch, sleeping in my own bed,  finding my recipe box, it is a really good feeling. 

I know I will have struggles here just like any other place, what is different is I have a network of friends. It is important to feel connected in that way.

Moving forward

My last night over the Saloon.  I thought maybe I'd get away with a quiet night. WRONG!  The base is turned up and all I hear is thump-thump-thump-thump. I have some cleaning left to do and more to load in my car tonight. Tomorrow the caretaker is going to come check the place. Then I am driving to re-introduce myself to my stuff in storage. You can't imagine how nice it will be to have my own furniture, kitchenware, etc again. Oh yes and my OWN BED! I think I've missed that most of all.  

I guess the locals needed to send me out in "style". It has been interesting leaving here and the reactions. They feel abandoned and rejected. What can you do but what is right for you. It is an interesting place.

I wish I could report more new and exciting stuff. All I know is I have more cleaning, packing, and then unpacking to do in the next few days.

Wildlife

I drove another carload to my new home. On the way back it seemed like wildlife was greeting me around every corner. From four bucks to wild horses. I saw a wild horse with a colt that was pretty cute. The weather has been wonderful this week. Our mornings are humid and our evenings a thunderstorm with a refreshing rain.

I feel like I am pretty close to being done with moving. My plan is to move everything left to one corner to get a real feel for how much I have left. After I finish that the cleaning spree begins.  This change has been good so far. I've been welcomed back to the community by so many people. At my current house moving is made more difficult by the very steep set of stairs to my apartment. I carry stuff down and feel like I have noodle arms. Then after driving to my new place... I am like why does this seem so easy? Well because it is two steps into the house. I saw one of the parents of students in the town I am leaving and they told me good luck, thanks so much for everything, I could tell they were really wishing me the best. That was really nice. I am getting some anger from other folks. I guess in a way it is a compliment that they are mad I am leaving.Well I think it is time for a rest.

WIDE AWAKE!

I made a mistake... I drank some tea to stay awake to clean and pack. Now I have that age old caffeine problem of my eyes are open wide and the rest of me...wants to rest.  I guess I'll keep working till I crash. G-nite... soon, I hope.

Update: After a cleaning, packing, organizing caffeine induced spree. I decided to take a trip to the dump at 1 in the morning. Where else can you go to the dump at 1 a.m.  I didn't see any jack rabbits but saw a couple rats. Icck.  I also  interrupted parking teenagers or parking grown-ups. I didn't investigate.  I realized on the lonely road to the dump I turned my blinker on to turn into the dump. Made me laugh I don't know who I was letting know I was turning, a rat perhaps?   The bar is still thumping and it doesn't sound like they're slowing down much. I am though I think the caffeine  high is gone. A shower and my pillow.
G'nite.

In Style

Well this town is sending me off in style ...ahem.  The stoolies are in their seats loud, and proud, and a lot annoying. Someone brought out their  horn on a street above and started blowing it. They only know one note and it isn't a well played note.  When it gets this rowdy I expect a little nonsense.

I took another load over to my new place today. I am getting to that place in packing where it is odds and ends of this and that.  I had a couple of little helpers today. I may have things in strange places throughout my kitchen but they are "put away". It will be an adventure finding out where exactly my things are.

There seems to be so much to remember while moving, changing addresses for everything, etc that I think my brain is a little mushy tonight. I  don't see myself having an early night based upon the street noise.  I think part of the nuttiness is that after being soo hot we had thunderstorms come through which cooled it down to reasonable temperatures. Apparently for some that means go to the bar, as if they need an excuse. I just keep telling myself, that soon I will have houses for neighbors not saloons.

Timing moving.

So it is the second week of living gluten free. I do notice a difference and everyday I feel a bit better. It has been easier than I thought in many ways to live gluten free. What is amazing is how many everyday pantry essentials have gluten in them.  From salad dressings, soups, broths, mixes and more. Once I started reading labels it really is scary how much I was eating that I didn't realize. I don't eat bread much or things with bread (unless I visit north) that I really thought I didn't have that much gluten in my diet. I was wrong. Anyhow, every August I have my week of cooking preparing foods for my freezer to live on when the weather gets cold, school gets crazy, and I come home all tuckered out. This is going to need an overhaul as well. I am collecting new recipes. It will be way easier to manage this living closer to a grocery store. 

I am realizing this move will bring life back into balance. I haven't had that balance here in my current location. There has been so much good about it and I have learned so much. Overall this living situation hasn't been healthy for me.  Physically and mentally.  So that makes the move easier to do.

Speaking of moving the part of this state in which I live is all out of U-hauls right now. Apparently a lot of people are moving out of here instead of into here. Not sure that is good. It makes moving last a little longer than I'd like. I am trying to get my apartment packed up. It sounds like my apartment may be available tomorrow. I am crossing my fingers. I plan to take a load over from my apartment in my car. If I can't leave it at my new apartment I can leave it at a friends house.  So that will work.  

I am wondering why I am moving at the hottest time of year. The news is saying avoid strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day. Uhmmm I think moving is classified as strenuous.  So here I go another U-haul in my future. As I continue going through my gluten free life and find any yummy recipes I will share.

Changes

Sometimes change occurs very quickly. Although, I am not sure in this case it was quickly. I have been asked and asked again, and again... to come back to the district I worked at before. I really didn't want to make that decision when I was exhausted from the last school year. After taking a long break and meeting with the principal again. I talked it over with many of my favorite people who have my best interests in mind. It came down to the realization that what was keeping me here at this job probably wasn't going to last long term. I also realized health wise it probably wouldn't be good for me. Once I decided I started crying not because I will miss the place but my heart is so attached to the students here and I will miss them. Once I made the decision life began to move rather quickly.

My friend offered to come help me load up and move my classroom "stuff".  He brought over his car and trailer and we had my car. We loaded it all up today and drove it to my new workplace 2 1/2 hours away. It was sooo amazing that the janitors came out helped us carry everything in and then will move it into my new classroom when they finish cleaning it. I was SOOO surprised by their willingness to be so helpful. I was very thankful and grateful. I can't even begin to explain what a unique experience this was  after the last two years.

I looked at a possible rental today and depending on what "the boss" or the landlord's wife says, I may have that lined out. I have had such a warm welcome back to this town it really made me feel like my choice was the right one. I know it will have its struggles, ups and downs, but I have pals there to commiserate with.Teaching one grade level... so weird.

Many of you have donated books to go to the rural school I've been working at and I want to assure you that I left a lot behind. The next teacher will be in a wayyyy better position than I was when I started. Hopefully, it is appreciated. I did some of my paperwork today at the district office. I just have to wait to get my "release" letter from this district before I can be "official". The school board met tonight so hopefully they approved that. They posted my old job today so that is a good sign.

There is a little sadness about leaving such wonderful kids but there is a lot of excitement for meeting new ones  and meeting new challenges.

In other news when I was up north I was enjoying the yummyness that I normally don't get to enjoy, like pizza, burritos, sandwiches with fresh ingredients, and all sorts of deliciousness. The problem was my body wasn't really enjoying it and I began to feel worse and very lethargic. I won't share all the glorious symptoms, no one wants that. ;). After analyzing the situation and realizing that I ate a lot of breads that I rarely eat. I have said for a long time I don't really feel well when I eat grains especially really heavy thick breads. I decided to go of gluten in an experiment to see if it was the culprit. I've only been off gluten one week but every day I feel better and things are closer to "normal". So I don't know if I have an allergy or intolerance but I think I will be living gluten free from now on. If I can quit soda I can do this right?   It will be much easier to live gluten free now that I am moving closer to a grocery store.

Anyhow, I will keep you posted on what is new and exciting.

Boost!

I've been thinking about the ways that people help you get through life. Sometimes it is a little thing, or a big thing, or even  invisible. Sometimes you get help that you may not ever learn about. This has been on my mind because I've been thinking about the variety of ways people helped me get through college, finding a job, continuing education and more. That support in the variety of ways it came still means so much to me. I've thought about many times how I can kind of pay it forward so to speak. I haven't come up with a brilliant idea yet but it often occurs to me that even a little boost can really encourage a person.

I've had some amazing, positive, encouraging people in my life. What I value even more is those who speak to me the truth. Ahh yes it hurts at times, but those people I value so much more because I know they care enough to help me do what is right.   Anyhow, I know many of the people who helped me  along the way would not want anything in return.  So I am going to keep pondering this idea of how I can "pay it forward" in whatever small way I can.

Judgment

The question is... Is judgement a sin?

There is almost an agenda of  "judgment" in this land. Using the verse from Mathew 7 as their sword of righteousness when one should cast judgment upon someone.  It doesn't say not to judge, it says if you do judge you must also judge yourself by the same measure. In Leviticus 19:15 it says in righteousness to judge thy neighbor. So what does that mean?  It clearly says to judge thy neighbor but only in righteousness. If judgement was a sin every single judge in this land would be in terrible trouble. And  oh yes "Judgement Day". It is called judgment day, the day we are judged for our sins.  Hmmm, would God not want us to do what he does himself?  Okay back to judgment in righteousness. Righteousness according to Merriam-Webster means to act in accord with divine or moral law.  So if we are judging with divine law we are using the scripture as a foundation to make judgements.John 7:24 gives similar instructions "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."   Did that verse tell us not to judge? Nope it was instructing us to not judge the appearance of another but judge if they are using righteous judgment. In other words judge whether  they are using the divine law to make their judgments.  

Okay I've said judge quite a lot. So  again according to Merriam-Webster means:
to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premise.  To form an opinion. Okay we can form an opinion and make a judgment but it must be using righteous judgment or divine law to make that judgment. In the  old testament it gives rules for judges in their official capacity to follow so they can make sound judgments. There are also times in the old testament God asks Ezekiel for instance to judge Jerusalem to show her all of her abominations.  

So back to Matthew 7:1 Judge not that ye be not judged. 
If I am judging someone with righteousness or according to divine law. I better have the understanding I will be judged for the same thing, by the same measure. I also must have all of the facts to make the judgment.

So go forth and Judge Righteously. Every day we have to make judgements to keep safe, to keep away from things that may harm us, or take us away from what is righteous.  In Malachi 3:18 we are told we will have to discern between the wicked and the evil. We will have to recognize and identify those who follow God and those who do not. We will be responsible for that judgment.