2008 review

I jacked this from a good e-friend --this meme has definitely given me a lot to think about/improve upon for 2009!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

I started off the academic year (Fall 2008) with greater confidence in my teaching abilities.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Well, I've kept some of my resolutions. A couple of them include: following up with a fertility specialist in regards to blocked fallopian tubes, consistently attending bellydance classes, and changing my immediate family's last name to better reflect our cultural heritage. For 2009, my main focus is spiritual and personal growth, especially being impeccable with my word.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Not this year.

5. What countries did you visit? None. This will change in 2009/2010.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

This year, I would like to have clarity in my purpose and peace of mind that I am on the right path.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Late May 2008—that's when we found out that we're pregnant after trying for 4-5 years!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Having a relatively healthy pregnancy.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not letting the little things go!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Besides pregnancy related symptoms, no.

11. What was the best thing you bought? 6 CD Lecture series--“Ask your Guides” by Sonia Choquette.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband's behavior merits celebration because he has rode with me through many storms and still loves me despite my many faults.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My own behavior makes me appalled and depressed at times because honestly I feel like so much is out of my control... I find it hard to "let go and let God".

14. Where did most of your money go? Bills and paying off credit card and student loan debt.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Finding out that I am pregnant! Also, having money saved going into the summer months (especially important since my school district doesn't pay its teachers during the summer) and being able to afford a doula.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Beyonce' “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder? thinner or fatter? richer or poorer?
Happier, Fatter, Richer, ha!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish I did more traveling.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? I wish that I did less complaining.

20. How did you spend Christmas? I spent Christmas at home with my immediate family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes, most especially with the new life growing inside me :).

22. How many one-night stands? None! Happily married, thank goodness!

23. What was your favorite TV program? Heroes (although this season sucked goat balls).

24. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn’t dislike this time last year? No.

25. What was the best book you read? The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poiter

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Chanda Rule

27. What did you want and get? GPS, a healthy pregnancy

28. What did you want and not get? Different career path

29. What was your favorite film of this year? Iron Man

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I went out to eat for my birthday and I turned 28.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Changing career paths.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Flattering and functionality

33. What kept you sane? The Internet and my public library!

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Tina Fey

35. What political issue stirred you the most? Health care & education

36. Who did you miss? My paternal grandmother

37. Who was the best new person you met? My husband's brother's family

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008? Why worry when you can pray!

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Rachelle Ferrell--”Satisfied”

Lemme tell a story 'bout an old man and woman I know
They were in the desert so dry, diggin' ditches…deep
Waitin' for the rain to flow
Well, the people came from miles around
Wantin' to know why they did what they did and how
"Faith is the key" he said, "to what can't yet be seen"
Then he looked at the sky, winked at his wife and said,
"That's why baby, baby, baby…"

Chorus:

I'm so satisfied
I know that this joy can't be denied!
Make me sing in the morning
Make me smile at night
Laugh for no particular reason
Just 'cause everything's alright!
I'm so satisfied

Verse 2:

No doubt about it, there's a higher power working in here!
There's a way to anything, anytime, anyway and anywhere
But it won't work if there's fear
If we put our trust in what we feel
Instead of what we think in our heads, hmm
Then we'll remember to keep it real
So the soul will be nourished and the spirit is fed!
Baby, baby, baby, baby

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:

Life is only what we allow it to be
There are no accidents and no mistakes
It really just depends on the choices we choose to make
Everything is everything anyway!

Repeat Chorus

Exasperation!

While my students are 'angels' compared to last year, I still am struggling against the beast known as chatter in my classroom, especially during last period. I've tried: lunch detentions, calling parents, sending students to a 'buddy' or 'time out' room, and moving seats. Yet these children still love to talk!! Talking is not the worst thing in the world; however, I want my students to respect themselves and their teacher enough to not talk during direct instruction. Is this just how 6th graders are (please tell me no)? Perhaps it's the time of year? Or maybe its my hormones (a pregnant woman and 6th graders don't mix well at times)?

Oktober--Short and Quick

My classes are going quite well and the numbers of students is manageable (less than 25 in all 3 preps). Most importantly, I feel a lot more confident than I did last year or the year before.

1st Day

Yay! The first day of school went very well! Here's a quick run-down of the positives and things that need to be worked on:

Positives

1. The school-wide signal to capture the students' attention works (3-2-1 hand raised--eyes and ears on the speaker).

2. The classroom television and light switch is fixed.

3. My students are respectful and genuinely want to do well.

4. The hallways are quiet and transitioning is easy.

5. No referrals to administration.

6. Everyone attempted today's classwork assignment.

Things to be worked on

1. Seating arrangement--there seems to be pockets of chatty students in each of my classes. I will (re) assign seating by the end of the week, either alphabetically or randomly.

2. Size of classes. I have approx. 25 students in my inclusion homeroom and little to no paraprofessional help. Within two weeks, this number should drop as students will be pulled out for the district remedial program.

3. Lack of a working computer. I'd love to start using the SMA.RT Board in my classroom, however I need a connected computer in order to do so.

Overall, I'm satisfied with how the day transpired. If anyone has tips on how to alleviate student chattiness (6th grade), please feel free to leave a comment :).

Special Ed Inclusion

We just finished our in-service planning at the school this week and I had a chance to look at my schedule & class roster. I knew that I'd be on a 6th grade two man team (I'm teaching ELA/SS, my teammate is teaching Math/Science). I also knew that the class would be special ed inclusion. What's puzzling is that my team teacher is listed as both the Math/Science teacher and the special ed teacher.

Is this legal? My other team mates and I listed our concerns to the administration in writing today. What they do with our list of concerns is entirely up in the air. I hope that I'll at least have a paraprofessional available to assist me. If not, I'll make it through the best that I can until I take maternity leave in January. Please pray that there won't be any angry parents shouting for my head this year!!

P.S. We're having another GIRL!! Yippee!!

P.P.S. Yesterday, I found out that I will have help during my Social Studies class(es).

Pre-planning: Year 3

This year, I'll be teaching 6th grade ELA & SS (inclusion/two-person team). Our in-service starts approximately 3 weeks from now and the students come back to school Sept. 2nd. I'm very anxious this year because I'm due in mid-January and I haven't had to balance a newborn and job responsibilities in a long time (my only child just turned 12)!

I'll probably notify my principal of my intentions this month. Ideally, I plan on taking 12 weeks maternity leave and come back to school around mid-April. It all depends on my family finances and the baby, of course!

My areas of focus for school year '08-'09 is consistency, consistency, consistency. I know what I want my classroom to look like, what rules and expectations I want my students to follow, etc. I just have to make sure that I hold up my end of the bargain. This'll definitely be my 'make or break' year as this still doesn't feel like the 'right' thing for me to be doing right now. Onward and upward!

News that just might affect my teaching

The last day of school was June 18th and I've been on straight cruise control ever since, lol! My principal let me know that she'd like me to teach 6th grade ELA and SS for next year, which is cool. I'll also be on a two-man team which is a bit of a change but I'm sure that I'll adapt quickly.

The news that just might affect my teaching this year? I'm almost 10 weeks pregnant! My husband and I have been trying for quite some time; as a matter of fact, I was scheduled to have surgery on June 24 to fix some defective 'equipment'. Obviously God has other plans in mind!


I've only told 2 very close coworkers as it will be quite apparent in the fall that I'm expecting anyways, lol! I'm slightly concerned about maternity leave (the baby is due on January 20th) but I'm sure everything will work out in time.