IQ Test

I took the IQ test my friend Kathryn had on her blog....I know I can't be this smart....but it felt good anyway!


Free-IQTest.net - Free IQ Test

Hey!

Whoah...I haven't posted in a long time. My guess is I will be starting back up again now that things are starting to wind down (sort of).
I have been teaching 3rd grade since May 1st as a long-term sub, and I am loving it. I also completed my two required classes to fulfill my 5 needed semester hours to keep my certification. (whew!) I am proud to say I got 2 A's. One in Classroom Management, and the other in Primary Reading Methods. Both classes were good--they were just very demanding! They were only 3 weeks long each, so they crammed a lot in a short time! I completed 3 papers and a large team project (we developed a literacy theme unit, including lesson plans, differentiation methods, state standards, extension activities, etc.) in my last 3 week class, and also answered two discussion questions per day 3x a week, and had to take part in class conversation, posting a minimum of 2x a day for 4 days a week. All comments needed to contribute to the topic discussion. Then I had to READ..... a lot! All I did was go to work, come home and do homework until 1 or 2 in the morning each night. I must say, it was kind of sucky. But--I am done for now....and I get to keep my certification, so that is good!
Now I just need to find a full-time teaching job!

Jake is in the middle of the State Cup games. His team is doing quite well. The next game is the semi-finals. They have gone from 36 teams down to four--Jake's team being one of them. Next game is 5/31, and the final (if we make it) is on 6/1. the games have been pretty exciting.

This Memorial day weekend we will be participating in the Midwest Cup here in St. Charles--Campton United is hosting. Both Jake and Nate are playing in that tourney. Since our club is hosting....the parents also get to do service hours. Whoopee! Matt and I will be selling concessions on Sunday night.

That is it for now---gotta go so I will be fresh for my Poetry/Haiku lesson tomorrow, and our Author Study presentations! :0) Don't you wish you could be in the third grade again??

photography

So....
I was viewing some great pictures my sister and brother-in-law just modeled for, for a photography friend of theirs, and really just started appreciating the idea of having someone capture moments in time. (Especially in such a beautiful and artistic way!) Which got me thinking about how I wish I knew someone that took such great photos. Wish I could! (I actually pretty much suck at taking good pictures.)

Then, I remembered that Ben is taking a photography class next year. He took two art classes this year, 3-D art, and Drawing....and next year he signed up for Pottery (he is anxious to work on a potters wheel!), and Photography. (I think Painting was his 3rd choice, in case he couldn't get into one of the other two). Anyway, I was thinking that Ben would probably be a great photographer. He has always had an eye for detail, and appreciating beauty in things that others just don't notice. When ever he grabs our camera (a pathetic regular digital) he seems to take a few pictures of cool angles, beautiful landscape, a gnarly tree, the rocks laying beside soft grass, etc.

Ben has been trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life...as anyone his age does. So far, he has been fairly lost in this area. But, I do know there is a very artistic side to my son. He is a deep thinker, a sensitive soul, lover of nature(and animals), and someone that appreciates new ways of looking at things. Maybe photography will capture his heart.....

For Matt

I am posting this message for my hubby, who has been complaining that I haven't been posting enough on my blog lately. I admit....I have not been faithful to my blog. I have found facebook, and I have become a junkie over there, I guess. Actually, I think it is more that this blogging takes more time. I don't have a lot of that these days. (Even on my "Spring Break"!) I am still too busy trying to get my house in order, and attempting to be a student!
Class is going okay....it is just a lot of work! My first paper is due in a couple of days, and today I need to outline what I want to say. It is on any chosen discipline model. I chose Canter's Assertive Disipline. Sounds exciting, huh?

Okay....that is it for now. Again...I mainly updated for Matt's sake. This is for you, honey! :0)

Did I mention....

I got the long-term sub position? :0) That starts in May.

Homework?

Okay--so I have been out of the whole homework scene for a while. Well, at least for me. My boys have to do it all of the time. BUT- I am a bit overwhelmed with how much I need to do in the next three weeks. (I am taking a 3 credit course with University of Phoenix Online.) Apparently, this same course was once taught in 5 weeks, but they condensed it down to three.....keeping all of the reading and assignments the same. So--for this first week, I have 15 chapters to read in the main book, 4 articles to read on eResource, a paper to write, 2 discussion questions to answer, I must participate in forum class conversations at least 4 days. By the end of the third week, I should have completed 2 more papers, produced an outside project with classroom application, designed a discpline model and plan, taken my final exam, and read a whole lot more! YIKES!!

Thankfully, Spring Break is next week. And while I would like to spend it taking it easy....I am obviously going to be working on my schoolwork. I also was hopin gto unpack some more boxes. I still have too many boxes left unpacked around here. It is kind of embarrasing! Maybe over the summer I will get that done. UGH.

finally in the know--sort of

So, yesterday, while putting up a bulletin board in the hallway....I was called down to the office. I had a VERY small hope that this had something to do with the interviews on Thursday, but I had already come to terms with the fact that obviously I was not going to be in the mix. Anyway-When I got down there, the principal was waiting for me. AND, in his very oddball way of doing things, he said to me..."Thursday". I just looked at him, because honestly, I wasn't positive I knew what he was talking about. Then he said, "What time would you like?" I was still like, uh, what are you talking about?? (Why can't this man just speak normally?) Then I glanced down at some papers he was holding, and realized he had my application in his hand. So finally--lightbulb moment. I guess this was his way of offering me an interview.
My immediate reaction was to say-"Thank you." Mainly, because I just didn't think he was going to ask me. At all. He told me I was the first person he asked. That I had my pick of times, and that there would be 5 people coming in. I suppose I should be flattered that I was the first person he scheduled, but I know better.
Sadly, I think that this interview will only be a practice run for me....I have already been told that the superintendent called and talked to the principal about someone he had in mind for the position. And we all know what that means....:0)

I fell extremely unprepared this time, I had thought that I wasn't going to get another chance, so it hasn't been on my mind that much. I am asking for prayer....that I am ready to answer whatever questions that get thrown at me. That I will be more confident this time, and that even if this job isn't for me, that I will make a strong enough "case" for why he should consider me for a teaching position. Basically, I want to be alert, and ready, and myself. Last interview, I don't think I seemed like myself--I was just too nervous.

Okay-on to other things.....
I got myself totally registered (finally) for my two classes at University of Phoenix. I start on March 18th--with a refresher.--"Classroom Management". Then I will take another refresher "Primary Reading Methods" which will focus on decoding reading problems, assessments, learning centers, and integrating Language Arts into classrooms K-3. I figured that I have been submerged in deeper comprehension strategies and traits of more advanced writing for a while.....so refreshing myself on early reading decoding strategies, and early writing might not be a bad idea. Both classes will be done by mid-May.