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Tuesday, 20 October 2009

At what point in my day, would you lose your mind?

I was thinking about my typically school year day...and to make myself not lose my mind I'm writing it down. I need to see that it is as chaotic as it feels.

5:45- Wake Up!!!! Didn't I just fall asleep?

6:40- Leave for school

7:05- Pull in parking lot (sometimes chaotic because it's a shared parking lot for high school and middle school)

7:15 turn on first lamp

7:15 and 10 seconds--rampage of 8th grade girls come busting threw the CLOSED door. Now this is not a bunch of quite and content girls, these are the loudest girls in the world! Cackles for laughs...you get what I'm putting down for ya?

7:20-Visit from couple of boys from 8th grade. One whom I never had, but talks to me as though I had. These kids keep my up on my street talk. Apparently lately, I have been beastin'.

7:40-9:19 First class of the day. They are a somewhat decent class, but it could be because they are still asleep. If I turn on the lights, they give the reaction of a vampire.

9:24-10:59. Second class and by far the worst. I'm pretty sure the school looked for all the worse students and put them in one room. Constant bickering and laughing about nothing. Typical moment:

Me: "Put your name on the paper"
Students (as in many): "What!? What paper!? Who's name? My name?! AHHHH Do we have to write something?!! This is stupid"
Me: "Next look at questions 1-10 on the overhead and answer them. First I will go..."
Students (as in many): "I can't see! What are we doing!? Where is there paper? I like Myspace..."
Me: "As I was saying, I will go over...."
Student: "You didn't give me paper!!!!"
Me: ignoring comment because I can see the paper on his desk...."I will go over the questions with you" (Read the entire thing) "Any questions?" Repeat "Any Questions?"
Students...silence and blank stares.
Me: "Okay begin"
Students (as in many): "Wait...WHAT ARE WE DOING!?"
Me: "I quit"

11:02-1:09- Lunch class. This class is split in half by lunch. They are okay, but a lot of special needs go on. One kid almost soiled himself over the thought of getting a piece of candy as a reward. Sort of like a classroom of freshly born pups. See above conversation. Yes, it happens in every class like that.

1:12-2:50- Last hour. Where do I begin with the insanity? 4 Spanish-Only speaking students. That's fun to teach English to someone who does not speak English, while trying to teach 25 other students who do speak English. The translator: another student! Fun Fun Fun! The above conversation happens in this class, but with a little more craziness added in. For instance, I asked one student to move his seat and the reaction I got was as if I had told him he was moving his seat to Russia. A daily emotional break down. Then to his right, the most up and down person I know. One day he's on, the next day he acts like someone who was let out of the loony bin.

This is just a brief overview of what the day looks like. This is not including the days I stay after to tutor all those kids who interrupt class all day.

But in the end...

I love my job and my kids and wouldn't trade them in for the most sane job in the world.

Friday, 02 October 2009

Currently
Billy Idol - Greatest Hits
By Billy Idol
White Wedding
see related
We, the People
FDR sustained the prospect of a social-democratic United States. In January 1941 he proclaimed the Four Freedoms—freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear—and charged a generation with renewed purpose and promise. And three years later—with polls showing that both Democrats and Republicans wanted to expand Social Security to cover old-age pensions for all, job insurance, student aid, and public works—he elaborated upon freedom from want and fear in his annual message to Congress by advancing the idea of an Economic or Second Bill of Rights to “assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.”

FDR'S Second Bill of Rights to “assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.”
- The right to a useful and remunerative job…
- The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation…
- The right of every family to a decent home…
- The right to adequate medical care…
- The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment…
- The right to a good education
FDR died before these were put into place. Could you imagine the America we would have if these were in place?

For those of you who believe these are in place, OPEN YOUR EYES. The want and need for money has put you in this mind set. ALL PEOPLE deserve the above things. Don't judge and decide who deserves what...that's not the way.

The right to a good education is not happening because of the loss of decent family homes, adequate medical care and jobs. I see this everyday in my city. I experience this with people all around me.

I am taking a stand. This must end now.

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

I keep reminding myself that even when other people are inconsiderate idiots, we must all remain filled with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Can I handle that? I hope so.

Monday, 28 September 2009

Get thee to a college!

Going to college or one is one of the big decision in a person's life. The high cost of getting a college education can make it a daunting prospect, but with lots of financial aid available in the form of loans or grants it is often not impossible. As an educator, I believe a college education is very important. I will be saving for my children's college futures the moment they are born. Why do I think it's so important? Let me list some reasons....

1. It is the best investment anyone can make. Most graduates get a huge return on the cost of college during their life. Also, the value of a college degree will never decrease.

2. College graduates are generally more rounded people because of the experience they gain. Nothing beats the college experience for developing social skills that will be useful wherever you go and whoever you meet.

3. The chance to meet and network with people who share the same interests. This should not be underestimated. Building contacts can help greatly in the future when you're looking to get a job, as well as providing a stepping stone.

4. College helps a student to become an expert in their field. This allows them to contribute to their subject's future in a meaningful way while learning about the subject they love and enjoy. My experience in student teaching was rough, but was it ever worth it.

5. The social skills picked up at college are used throughout the student's life. Being able to meet new people is one skill that will be useful no matter which field of work you go into.

6. College will make students more aware of the country they live in and gives them a sense of what is right and wrong. College graduates tend to be a lot more willing to stand up for what they believe in because of this.

7. The chance to meet and make friends for life.

8. A college education is one commodity that will only ever increase in value. No matter how many years go by, your college education will always be of value across the globe.

9. A college education opens up many doors in the workplace that otherwise would have been unavailable. This is especially true today when more and more people are going on to higher education.

10. Going to college is investing in a student's own future. When you go to college you are giving yourself the best possible chance to succeed.

Friday, 11 September 2009

Quater of a Century

As my birthday approaches, I need and want to think about what things I have done in my life so far. I began a list.

-I was born. September 13,1984 I'm sure was a long hard day for me despite my ability to remember it.

-I graduated Kindergarten in 1989. Big Huge Accomplishment!

-Made my first Holy Communion and was Confirmed by Cardinal Adam Midea in Second Grade. We practiced for weeks and weeks and learned a whole lot of things about Jesus.

-Found my calling to teaching in second grade. This happened with my substitute teacher, Mrs.Hoste, and she later became my fourth grade teacher and best friend's mother. She inspired me. I played school everyday for hours in my basement "classroom".

-Joined the Forensics team in 5th grade. Played the role of Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz. We took 2nd place in the finals.

-Went to see my favorite band NO DOUBT with Carole and my mom and dad in sixth grade. It was awesome!

-8th grade graduation was pretty cool and sad because no more boys for me...on to an all girl high school.

-Entered in to Regina High School in 1998. My brother was a senior at our brother school so I felt pretty cool. P.S.-I was the opposite of cool. P.S.S. My brother never let me know that because he was a good brother.

-Celebrate Sophomore day, Junior Ring Ceremony (class ring)...and WON Powerpuff as a senior! Yeah 02'

-Went to countless Proms and dances. Danced with my closes friends and had the greatest time. I still love all of those memories!

-Acted in Annie, Wizard of Oz and Grease!

-Traveled to Amsterdam, Paris, England, Holland, Switzerland and a few other countries in Europe in 14 days with a lot of Regina girls and Notre Dame boys.

-2002 was the year I signed up for WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY. I graduated with 179 credits. A double major with Education and English and a minor in Health. I think this might have been my dad's proudest moment as a father and professor at Wayne.

-Visted almost every state in America.

-Was an audience mememeber on Ellen and Oprah! Met both for a brief mintute!

-Moved down to Detroit with my friend Lindsay. Sweet Apartment right above Woodward.

-Got a job at Starbucks Downtown and met my love!

-Lost my Nana in September 2007. :(

-Married my best friend on November 10, 2007. Brendan J. Maidment 4 shizzle!

-Moved to Hamtramck for 1 year.

-Ran a children's ministry at REAL Church for two years.

-Student Taught for 6 months while working at Starbucks at night! CRAZY!

-Subbed for 2 months and then started running a kids camp at Wayne State.

-In the middle of running the kids camp, I got a call to be an ELA Teacher at Cesar Chavez. Of course, I took it.

-Moved back to Saint Clair Shores and into my childhood home.

-Bought a puppy and named him Bambino.

And now...I'm turning 25...and another crazy 25 to come!

Thanks for being a part of all my memories!