The Jena 6

Hey, people. I would be remiss if I didn’t weigh in on the Jena 6 situation. I was just listening to Michael Baisden, and could not believe the stuff that I was hearing.

He, along with many of his listeners, plan to march on the courthouse in Jena, Louisiana on September 20 for the sentencing of [...]

Sale @ Lakeshore!

I just came from Lakeshore. I went in there to look for stuff for my classroom that I don’t have yet. Another part of the special “birthday” treat that I received from B.N.U. is $375 to spend in the classroom.
Needless to say, it was very crowded. Part of the reason is that [...]

The Day That Henry Cleaned His Room by Sarah Wilson

The Day That Henry Cleaned His Room, written and illustrated by Sarah Wilson, is hilarious. It is the story of Henry who simply, absolutely refuses to clean his room.
The day that he finally did clean it, reporters came. He got up early, although he didn’t understand what everyone was worried about! It had only been [...]

No one ever believes me!

“My family’s thinking, I knew it. She’s not having a hard time.” No one in my family ever believes that I am going through hard times. Well, maybe it’s the $80 haircut; or maybe it’s the $1, 500 brand new laptop that I’m sporting.
I didn’t buy it with my credit cards. That would require available [...]

Today, she’s my birthday!

Today, I have something to say about deceivers. They make me soooo mad. They are always trying some scheme or another to defraud someone. Another thing about that that makes me equally as mad is when they succeed.
Did you ever see that “I Love Lucy” episode when they were in Italy. It was little Ricky’s [...]

A F.A.T. free class!

I want a F.A.T. free classroom. Well, what does that mean? It all has to do with special education expert Rick Lavoie (pronounced lavoy).

During my boot camp at B.N.U., I watched a film of one of his workshops that deals with F.A.T. (which I will explain momentarily). In it, he takes the participants through what [...]

Hats off to you, PBS!

***Just a warning. This post is really long. It’s good information, but it’s really long.***
Hats off to you PBS! It seems that you didn’t need to listen my criticisms, but you definitely listened to someone. Perhaps, it was the years of complaints from parents, grandparents and guardians because of the poor quality shows that [...]

Never Babysit the Hippopotamuses by Doug Johnson

This book, written by Doug Johnson and illustrated by Abby Carter, is extra silly! He also has another book by the name of “Never Ride Your Elephant to School”. This book is somewhere between a book that I reviewed by the name of “The Monster Show” and “If You Give A Mouse a Cookie”. In [...]

Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch

This is one of the first in a long line of silly books that I will review. This one is called Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Robert Martchenko. Robert Munsch is the author of many books that include: Andrew’s Loose Tooth, David’s Father, Love You Forever, Purple, Green & Yellow, The Paper Bag [...]

Just a reminder!

This is just a friendly reminder that the Special Education meeting is tomorrow 8/27/07 @ 10:30 a.m. in the Beaudry Building @ 333 S. Beaudry Bl. (right off of 3rd Street exit, 110 freeway). For more information, here’s a link to my old post.

Mission Impossible: Assignment #2 (Hold on & believe)

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to hold on and believe that God is there and will pull you through. As usual, I don’t have a choice but to succeed. If I were given the choice of accepting or denying this assignment, I would have turned it down. Well…hold on…I’m not sure…I [...]

You’re good enough.You’re smart enough and doggone it, people like you!

Kinda’ corny, I know! Those words are from Al Franken’s alter ego, Stuart Smalley, from Saturday Night Live.
To lighten the mood when I was blubbering and just being a crying fool, those are the words that my husband used to comfort me. I had myself a good ole’ cry; one of the biggest ones that [...]

Finally registered!

Okay, I finally registered for my classes. I was a little frustrated earlier because I couldn’t. I had to figure out the system and a bunch of other stuff but I finally did thanks to the many helpful people there. I am on my way. Thank you Jesus and Hallelujah!

Classroom ideas

This is something that I came up with when I was sitting down watching t.v.
I’m going to call it the Juice board- as in, get your juices-creative juices flowing.
I decided based on my own tastes. I like apple juice the least (unless it’s Martinelli’s), followed by orange juice, with grape juice and strawberry-banana being [...]

Thursday’s thirteen

I have been so busy with school that I forgot to post Thursday’s thirteen for today. But, like a true trooper, I came home after going to school today and wrote it. Here it is, thirteen things that I’m grateful for:

My four beautiful, healthy children.
Being in my right mind.
Being married.
Pursuing my dream of becoming a [...]

I Love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

I like this book. It reminds me of when I was little and my mother used to braid my hair. It also reminds me of  braiding my own daughter, Phillise’s, hair. Initially I read this book to her to get her to let me comb her hair. After that I read it to her so [...]

Where would I be right now?

In an older post, I talked about blowing my chance when I was younger. I had a free ride and I blew it. So it’s only natural that sometimes I ask myself where I would be right now if I hadn’t blown my chance. I don’t know what the answer is. That’s something I’ll never [...]

Mission Impossible: Assignment #1 (School shopping on a budget)

**Just a warning, this post is kinda’ long **
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to raise good, well mannered, ambitious children in this world. Of course I accept it. What am I talking about, I have no choice but to accept it. The moment that I had my first child, almost 18 [...]

Congratulations are in order!

I passed!I passed!I passed!I passed!I passed!I passed!I passed!I passed! What am I trying to say? Yes, I have officially passed all three parts of the C.S.E.T. I am sooooooo happy! Yay me! Once I get my official transcripts from Azusa, I can start going on interviews for L.A.U.S.D.
Studying does indeed pay off!

Now…back to reality!

Hey, here’s something you may not have expected: me to write about something involving special education. I know, I know…who would have thought that a website that’s supposed to be about special education would actually write something about special education…but yep, I finally have something to say about it. It’s been a long summer [...]

If you don’t know…

If you don’t know what the #$%& you’re talking about, then don’t say anything. I don’t like it when people who are in charge of something don’t really know what’s going on. This is one of my pet peeves. I know that it happens, but how can you be in charge and not really know [...]

“Girl, are you crazy?”

Yesterday I wrote about keeping your head up and having courage. Today I’m writing about depression because I have had many bouts with depression in my life. I am ashamed to say that I let what others thought about me taking medication hinder my decision to get help. I am also writing because there [...]

Baby keep your head up!

There are a couple things in this life that can sidetrack and take the life right outta’ you. One of the most devastating-the opposite of courage- is discouragement.
Let’s really analyze the word.
Dis-1 : opposite or absence of 2 : not
courage- mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
ment- [...]

Thirteen things I dislike about myself

This is my Thursday’s thirteen. This is thirteen things that I dislike about myself.

When upset, I can become extremely cold.
Sometimes I will just look at someone and take an instant dislike to them. Even though I’m usually right, I feel like I’m judging people too harshly.
If I don’t have a goal to work towards, [...]

Attention: Upcoming informational meeting for Special education teachers

Special Education Initiative: An informational meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 27th for those considering a career in the field of Special Education @ 333 S. Beaudry Ave., Los Angeles, [...]

A peek into the mind of a crazed post-a-holic!

I was reading this author’s website with interviews from authors who have had books published this year and they were discussing their writing process. I was inspired by that to write about my writing muse and my writing process. I read the article because I wanted a peek inside their heads. How would you like [...]

Thank you Mr. Falker, by Patricia Polacco

This book, written by one of my favorite authors, Patricia Polacco. She is a great writer who has overcome tremendous personal obstacles. I am personally a big fan of hers. This book details her own experience with dyslexia. It chronicles her story of falling behind and feeling worthless until one teacher takes the time to [...]

If.. I.. could.. just.. reach.. my.. utility belt!

Why does it is seem so easy to do wrong and so hard to do right? Recently I heard about someone that I know of with a felonious past who was really trying hard, but he “allegedly” fell; he went back to to the “big house“. Right now the evidence is only circumstantial, so I’m [...]

So abandoned and alone

I can remember coming home from school in 12th grade to find the house all boarded up. I went to the front door and saw that it was boarded up. I went to the side and it was boarded up. I went to the back door and it was boarded up.
When I saw the pale [...]

Randomosity!

There are so many things rattling around in my brain that I have to get out. I have had to contain myself all summer from posting multiple times a day as I am a recovering post-a-holic. Seriously it is really hard for me. I just started this blog on May 11, 2007, and I already [...]

Self-publishing website

For the book that I’m writing on reluctant readers, I am going to self-publish it. I’ve checked out a couple of self-publishing firms and was appalled at what they were charging. Well, I hit pay dirt on one of my searches- this site called lulu.com. It is an on demand publishing site, so you aren’t [...]

I’ve been tagged!

I’ve been tagged by Mom loves being at home.
Here are the rules:
1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you [...]

Exercise update

I have lost about 5 pounds so far. I don’t know how many inches, but I can definitely see a difference. I have to decided to ramp up my exercise routine with Taebo. That will make almost 2 hours of exercise a day. At that rate, I may reach my goal sooner than expected. Wish [...]

Thirteen things I’m good at

Opening cellophane. My children used to beg for everything. I had to learn how, or I wouldn’t have been able to eat anything by myself.
Being a drama queen (self-explanatory).
Writing.
Reading.
Watching t.v.
Reading between the lines.
Getting mad at my husband (I think that I’m approaching legendary status. Over the years, I have become quite the expert).
Throwing a tantrum [...]

Mommy, I’m writing a post!

I was writing a post when Phillise went to get her Barbie laptop and informed me that she was going to write a post also. Of course she can’t type, especially not a post. The laptop isn’t real, but it’s so cute that she thinks that she can and she is going to try [...]

Did PBS hear me?

Some of you may remember my post, entitled “Shame on you PBS,”where I blasted PBS for airing shows like Teletubbies, Boohbah & Barney. Well, it seems as if they heard me. (I know that they really didn’t). They have come out with a new show called “Word World.”

I wrote about an opportunity to preview it [...]

How’s that for a nice dose of irony?

I entered this poetry contest @ poetry.com. I decided that nothing but the best would do, so I submitted what I considered my best poem. I put so much work into it. It was about words. I built it up from a phoneme to telling how they cut like knives. Well, what do you think [...]

Touching Spirt Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

I read this great book by Ben Mikaelsen, Touching Spirit Bear. Total Transformation recommended it for David, but I realized that it was too much for him, so since I checked it out from the library, I read it. I was very impressed by this book. So much so that I am going to buy [...]

Happy birthday Phillip!

My husband playfully calls me his “old lady.” This is funny because there is only 9 days difference between us. I told him that he must be old too because as of today he is 37 also. So happy birthday to my companion/husband/lover/confidante of 19 years. We have officially been together for more than half [...]

Keep on the SUNny side!

Aaah, sunrise! My favorite time of day. Everything is so fresh and undisturbed. There’s not as much noise. There are less cars driving by; everything is so still. The day is filled with such great possibilities. Whenever I’ve been through hard times, I have been up at the crack of dawn watching the [...]

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran

I know that this picture is big, but bear with me. It had to be large to show the detail. Just look at the book and use your imagination. Are those sticks or are they horses used to gallop around as they fight to slay the mighty dragon? Those are some of the questions that [...]

The tortoise & the hare

Slow and steady wins the race!

photo credit
When I first started going to the gym, I felt alone and more than a little intimidated by the women who were already in shape and who seemed to know just what exercises to do. I felt so awkward because I didn’t know how to use the machines [...]

Thirteen things I want for my children

Here’s my Thursday’s thirteen.
This is thirteen things that I want for my children, in no particular order:

Success. Their measure of success, not mine.
Happiness. Again, their measure, not mine.
Love for life.
Peace. This includes peace of mind, a piece of the American pie, etc…
Joy.
A spouse that they love beyond measure who also loves them just as much.
Money, [...]

Good summer eatin’ on a budget, part 2

Just a little warning- this post is kinda’ long.
The best way to stretch your budget during the summer months is to think creatively. Ask yourself what your children like to eat. Are they picky eaters or little eat-’em-ups? If they are like my children who eat anything, then stretching your budget should not [...]

I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont

I like myself, I’m glad I’m me. There’s no one else I’d rather be.
These are words from Karen Beaumont’s book, I Like Myself, illustrated by David Catrow. I love his work. What I love even more is the fact that the little girl in the book is brown like me and Phillise. When I [...]