Summer is Here!

We finally made it.  Summer.  I thought it would never get here! Now two months of sleeping in, having fun, and doing projects. Relaxation.  Freedom.  Recharge.  The girls and I are excited!

I can't say, though, that we do not have some goals for the summer.  I, of course, have my summer list for school, but it is half the size it was last summer.  I am trying my best to not overwhelm myself like I did last year. This year I promised myself and the girls that we would have fun this summer.  It has been a long year, full of lots of hard work and not enough family time.  It made me cherish it so much more when we did have time together. So we are going to have loads of it!

The girls have lessons this summer-Anna continues guitar and Lauren begins dance again after a two year hiatus. She is very excited! I am going to continue on my ukelele journey. I look forward to it. Besides that, we will consume episodes of Doctor Who, make stuff, laugh a lot, find new things to do in our great State, and basically be slackers. I welcome it.

Photo made using the Vinylize Me app. 

Silly Season...Teacher Style

Allen always laughs at me when I call ESY and OAAP time Silly Season.  Secretly I think he's proud that I used the NASCAR term the right way.  Well, it is Silly Season!! Everyone is trying to get everything done for testing, and get summer school paperwork done in time, and get things wrapped up for the year.  All in about ten weeks or so.  I can't believe that the school year is almost over.  I think we have 54 days left.  This is exciting and scary and overwhelming all at the same time.  Exciting because summer is a'comin', scary and overwhelming because I have a ton of things to do in those 54 days. This is what is scary--

ESY, otherwise known as extended school year, or summer school, is the easiest one of the bunch.  I am actually getting that knocked out pretty quick.  Each student that goes needs a meeting to go over if it's imperative or not.

Last of the IEPs and Re-evals are next on the oh-my list.  I've done quite a bit of them this year already, but I have a few left, and those re-evals keep popping up! I think I've done three or four already this year.  These happen annually or every three years.  Normal stuff, but they take time.

OAAPs are the biggie.  This is the Oklahoma Alternative Assessment Program, or portfolio testing. Woohoo!! (not really).  I don't mind spending the time working with my students, in fact, I look forward to it.  They tend to either impress me beyond measure, or I realize I need to change my approach for things.  Last year's OAAPs were impressive.  I was so excited when we got the scores back because they did so well.  I am very proud of my boys.  This year, though, I am afraid of what I will find when I do the last bit of them.  I have been teaching them these skills all year long, but when put in a specific situation with a camera on them, things can go a little bit astray. We'll see how they do.  I've got five of them to do this year.

Other than that, we are on the downward slope.  Hold on tight!

So there is my Silly Season!  Bring it on!! (and don't forget the Dr. Pepper--I'll need it.)  

Versus

There was a TV show on Fox called the Finder.  It was about this man who lived in the Florida Keys who could find anything you asked him to, even though sometimes it brought more than you bargained for.  The girls and I loved the show!  It starred Geoff Stults and the late Michael Clark Duncan.  It was cancelled shortly before Duncan passed.  We were sad to see only one season of this show.  It was quirky and fun.

One of the things they did in their down time was have discussions using a chalkboard.  The topics were presented in the vs. style-honor vs. duty, bravery vs. courage, Mozart vs. Bach, etc.  They had some lively discussions over these topics!

While the show was on, we began our own vs. board on the fridge.  We've done lots of topics, ranging from very simple to silly.  We haven't done any in-depth topics because we are still children!  And, we tend to just write our initials on the board by the one we vote on.  Here are some of our topics:

• waffles vs. pancakes
• tulips vs. roses
• cookies vs. brownies
• summer vs. winter
• soda vs. soda stream
• netflix vs. apple tv

It has been lots of fun and has started some great conversations.  I can't wait until the girls are a little bit older to do some harder ones.  This is what is up right now.

I personally like both, but I think I like Elsa a little bit better.  Even though she was the one who accidentally hurt her sister, she was also the one who saved her.  She also overcame her fears and learned to control her power.

What would be on your versus board?

The Crazy Train

Lots of people see the new year as a clean slate, a fresh start.  Time to make changes to how we approach everything.  I am no exception.  I'm not going to be like so many people that vow to exercise and diet. I am trying to do these things already.  This year I'm gonna stop the crazy train.

This school year has eaten my lunch--quite literally.  It has been very difficult for me on many levels.  Lots of responsibility, paperwork, and events I will not get into have made it probably the hardest year I've ever had.  I also feel like all the other places I've been and the classes I've taught has been getting me ready for this.  I feel very blessed to have a family who is supportive and patient and an amazing faculty that sticks with it everyday, with me.  This is the Crazy Train.

I am going to try my best to decrease the "crazy" in my life.  Some of it I have no control of whatsoever.  The other part of it, I most certainly can help it.  It will take some time to get things streamlined, but I know that I if I can get the paperwork easier, the Crazy Train will start slowing down into the station.  That is my resolution.

Forty is the New Thirty

In September, I hit it.  I wanted to hit it with a bang and all my friends, but frankly, I was way too tired!  So on September 30, 2013, I quietly turned forty.  Well, I guess I really can't say it was quiet.

The actual day fell on a Monday, so as a family we celebrated the weekend before.  Since I didn't have the giddy-up to host a party, my family just did whatever I wanted to do.  We started on Friday night with Macaroni Grill, including Italian soda,

 and a trip to the Guitar Center where I picked out my present:

a ukulele!!  I have wanted one for a long time, and so we just picked it out!  It was under $100, so I felt pretty good about spending it.  I have enjoyed messing around with it.  For the rest of the weekend we ran errands and hung out.  I didn't get to do everything I wanted to, which was mostly relaxing, vegging out at home and doing a little crafting, but it was good.  No school work done that weekend for the exception of the required.

On my actual birthday, I was quite honored.  I work with some wonderful people!  They snuck in getting the kids to sign a card for me, which they did right under my nose, and treated me with cupcakes, a gift certificate, and a big 'ol Dr. Pepper.  They spoil me rotten!  Then, at lunch, the entire 3rd and 4th grades sang Happy Birthday.  What a treat!  I was so surprised.  My sisters sent me flowers, balloons, and wax chips for the scentsy pot to school too.  It was wonderful.

When I got home, the girls made me a cake and I cracked open a bottle of Cupcake wine that I picked out.

 We stayed home and enjoyed being together.  It was a great way to begin my 40s.