I love my beautiful, ordinary life!

When I first heard this song I didn’t know who it was so I asked my children. Imagine how shocked I was when they told me it was Wayne Brady. Oh my goodness, I simply could not believe it. He has definitely scored a hit with this. I knew that he [...]

Still thinking about the Inaguration!

On Election Day I didn’t get to watch a lot of it. Thank goodness for Youtube! I was watching the Obamas dance their first dance and unexpectedly teared up. I didn’t expect to get emotional like that, but I did. I love seeing how in love they are. There are some things you can’t fake, [...]

He had pity on me!

One of the strong male teachers at the school had pity on me today. He kept Nu for the entire day. I love him. I am going to get him a gift. Oh, what a peaceful day I had. I actually got to teach.
One funny thing, I was so worried about him returning that I [...]

Finally. Help!

Well, I am finally getting help from PAR. We played phone tag for a minute before we connected, but we finally did. Thank goodness. I hope she can help me with Nu. Either that, or I’m taking a week off.

How much more?

I don’t even know how much more I can take. My student, Nu, is offffffffff the hook. Today, he began before the bell even began. I know that there is something wrong with him, but it just seems like more than I can bear. I seriously think that he needs to be in an Emotionally [...]

Just trying to make it through the day…

As the title says, I am just trying to make it through the day. My student, Nu, is really trying my patience. But, it ’s all in how I handle it. Today, I just had to ignore him. Other times I’ve tried it with other students it didn’t work. However, with him, it works like [...]

How did I forget about that?

How did I forget about that? I am constantly asking myself that question. I am talking about my behavior management/modification strategies I use with my students.
I laugh and joke with my students all the time. We have a great time. That is what helps us make it through the day. So, why, oh why, did [...]

Congratulations Phillise!

My baby is so smart. She just told me that on her OCR assessment, she read 165 w.p.m. She’s only in first grade. I know this is because we read at least 5 times/week. I will continue. I am having her tested for Gifted/High Ability for entrance into a school I want to transfer her [...]

I didn’t do it! or (Exhausted me!)

Yesterday, I meant to explain why I took down the post that I wrote, but I was so totally and completely exhausted that I came home, laid on the couch and did not get up until this morning.
The reason for writing the post was the reason why I was so exhausted. I really need some [...]

My pet peeves

These are my pet peeves in no particular order.

Lazy parents who are healthy and don’t work, but won’t walk or drive their small children to school
Neglectful parents
Rude people
Selfish people
Double parking on a small street
People who get over at the last minute almost causing you to rear-end them
Lazy people
Healthy, able-bodied people who won’t work
Parents who believe [...]

My plan…

Knowing that I have so much to do, a plan of attack is the only smart course of action. I have broken my work into chunks.
I have to complete an electronic portfolio. That’s not a problem though, because it’s mostly a compilation of work I’ve already completed. I just have to submit it to Livetext. [...]

The Easy Button!!!

There  have been many times in my life when I have wanted this <– button right here. Right now would be a good time to have it. I have so much on my plate. I don’t know how I’m going to get it all done. However, I will be like a Nike commercial and just [...]

I AM TEACHER, HEAR ME ROAR!!!

**Please, don’t get me wrong. I am a believer. I do not in any way wish to belittle any religion. I simply wish to make the comparison as to how God and teachers get blamed for so much. I am simply pointing out similarities. If this offends you, don’t leave me a nasty comment because [...]

Things That are Most in the World by Judi Barrett

Things That Are Most in the World (1988), written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by John Nickle, was a great book. It was really silly; which is exactly what I like. I used this book to introduce superlatives to my students and they totally got it.
The book begins by telling the readers what the wiggliest [...]

Students vs. subs (It’s like oil & water)!

I have a problem that I need help with. I know that most teachers have this same problem. I need to know how to fix this problem because I am running out of subs willing to take care of my class when I am absent. Just like most classes, my students behave so badly. Even [...]

I wanna’ take my test! Part 2

This post is a follow up to my post from a couple of days ago when I posted about one of my students who asked to take his daily fluency test in Voyager without me reminding him. Well, today, all six of the students in Level C made sure to remind me that I needed [...]

What will they remember?

Running into my old teacher was such a weird experience. I say that it was weird because, here I am, 38 years old and I am still in awe of this woman. It was like I was a teen-ager all over again. In my eyes, she just couldn’t do too much wrong. She really was [...]

Info on LABBX

The Los Angeles Black Book Expo will be on August 15, 2009. But, before that the Expo has many wonderful events planned in the months leading up to then. Upcoming in the next month is the following event:
(Taken directly from the official blog of Los Angeles Black Book Expo- http://labbx.blogspot.com)
Next month will be an exciting [...]

Ran into one of my high school teachers!

I went to training today and ran into one of my teachers from high school. I couldn’t believe it. It’s been 23 years since she was my teacher, but she still looked the same. She put on a little weight, but not enough where I didn’t notice her. I noticed her right away. She [...]

Am I cut for this? Part 2

I have this bad habit that I’m working on. Wanna’ hear what it is? Well, do you? Ok, well, sometimes I try to run away from things. I will know that I can do something, but if it’s really hard, then I will try to get out of it. That is what I’ve been doing [...]

I wanna’ take my test!

I wanna’ take my test. That’s what one of my students told me. He was talking about his daily Voyager reading fluency assessment. He was pulled out for speech class, so he was unable to complete his. I didn’t even have to remind him that he needed to take it. He reminded me. I love [...]

Who is Your Favorite Monster, MAMA? by Barbara Shook Hazen

Who is Your Favorite Monster, MAMA? (2006), written by Barbara Shook Hazen and illustrated by Maryann Kovalski is a cute little book dealing with jealousy & sibling rivalry.
There are three Monster children: Bruxley- the oldest, Harry- the middle child, & Bronwen- the baby. Bruxley knows that MAMA Monster loves him, Bronwen knows that MAMA Monster [...]

Congratulations Barack Obama!

Well, today’s the day that America welcomes its first Black President. Today he goes from President-elect to President. Michelle Obama will be the nation’s first Black First Lady, while Sasha & Malia will be the little ladies.
I am still in shock. I still cannot believe that this happened in my lifetime. Seriously, I didn’t even [...]

Kenya’s Word by Linda Trice

Kenya’s Word (2006), written by Linda Trice, and illustrated by Pamela Johnson is a very nice little book. I found it while blog browsing. The author of the blog (who I can’t seem to remember at the moment) recommended it. Going on the strength of the blog author’s review, I knew that I wanted to [...]

Secret of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman

People are always congratulating me on my choice of books or on ones that I read to my students. I sometimes surprise myself when I pick a really good book that turns out to be something of a classic or simply a very good book. Well, this book, Secret of the Peaceful Warrior (1992), written [...]

I’m breaking out the scissors…

** Warning- this post is kinda’ long** That’s right. I am bringing out the scissors because I am ready to cut it. What is it? It is the mustard. I have not been cutting the mustard. I have not been up to snuff. [...]

From the mouth of babes…

The more I am around young children, the more they impress me. I was just talking to David, my youngest son, when he said something so profound. We were talking about taking care of Moriah for the night.
My little sister, Danielle who I call Yelli, called and asked if I could take care of Moriah [...]

The LABBEX (Los Angeles Black Book Expo)

What is the LABBEX? Well, it is the Los Angeles Black Book Expo. And I am its newest committee member. If you’ve noticed, it is currently on my blogroll and has been for the past couple of months since I first contacted the Executive Director, Charles Chatmon, and expressed my desire to be a part [...]

Am I cut out for this?

Am I cut out for this? I have been asking myself this all this week because I really did not want to go back to work. I have been talking to myself and trying to tell myself that I can do this, but I just don’t believe it. Yesterday I broke. I mean mentally. I [...]

What’s on my plate…

Only one more semester and a half (Summer Session) and I will be finished with my Credential/Masters program. It’s a lot, but this is what I have to do. I need to:

Clear my incomplete from last semester by writing a 15-20 page paper (for which I don’t have any idea how to do)
File for graduation [...]

First day back!

Well, today is the first day back to school. Not to work-school, but school-school. It’s been more than a month since I’ve been at school. I’m a little excited about going back just because I like the school; it’s a good school. I am not, however, excited about the work.
Oh, well, I have no choice [...]

Mystery to Medicine Unit Opener

Nope, I didn’t get around to posting this yesterday. Anyway, here’s what I did:
First, before I did anything, I picked the worst of the “bad” students and made them my helper.
Then I presented the worksheet I created with two sides. It was like a before & after sheet. One side instructed the students to draw [...]

Labor of love

This thing called blogging is definitely a labor of love because sometimes I don’t get comments for days to weeks at a time. At one point Many times I thought about quitting. My stats are so spotty. They have ranged from lows of 132 hits/day on the weekends to my high of 1,400/day. That is [...]

Some thoughts on the Mystery to Medicine Unit Opener

Let me just say that I am so proud of myself. I say this because even though I am on my way to getting my sea legs, I don’t have them yet. Sometimes, I am not confident with my teaching methods or plans; especially when it comes to the Unit Opener.
“These aren’t just my students,” [...]

Oh, if only…?

Oh, if only…? That’s how I start many conversations. Like many other teachers, now and before me, I lament the lament of most teachers- If only I could get my students to transfer what they know on to the paper. If I could do that, I would be on my way to becoming the teacher [...]

Frustrated me!

I am so frustrated as you should be able to tell by my last couple posts. I feel like I am fighting a losing battle. I have so many grade levels in my room. I just got a new student today. I am so overwhelmed. Now, not only do I have to do my best [...]

A Rose by any other name!

I am so smart. Guess how smart I am? Well, guess. I am so smart that I got a new student today, who I’ll call Ann. Now, I knew that her name was Ann; I saw it on her entrance slip. However, one of my other students said that her name was the same as [...]

Not enough…

As I look back on old photos or just think about most of the things around me, I’ve noticed that I never have enough of something. Whether it be decorations for my Valentines Day party, or furniture in my house, or my classroom.
I’ve always liked to think that I like understated tastes. I do, but [...]

When procrastination paid off for me…

I hate to admit this, but since I’ve had my plate so full, I have become a bit of a procrastinator. Usually, this ends up biting me in the but. However, today, it paid off for me.
Before Christmas I saw the cutest little Continental Electric brand mini sewing machine that I thought would be [...]

Trying to row a luxury liner with one oar! Part 2

This post is piggybacking off my previous post from about trying to row a luxury liner (which is huge) with one oar. That is an impossible task. The oar can’t even reach the water.
That is how I feel about my teaching position. I have so many things working against me:

I don’t have much experience.
I have [...]

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon (2001), was written by Patty Lovell and illustrated by David Catrow, who happen to be one of my favorite illustrators. I was introduced to this book in my Children’s Literature class. It is too cute.
The story begins as we are introduced to the title character Molly Lou Melon, who was [...]

Happy Birthday, Phillise!

I cannot believe that my baby is 7 years old today. My, how time flies! I love you little brown lady. Happy Birthday!

Trying to row a luxury cruise liner with one oar…

is akin to what I’m doing. I feel like I am stuck up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Firstly, I still really don’t know what I’m doing. I‘ve just recently learned the programs I am still in the process of learning the programs. Not to mention that I am not the most confident that [...]

Time to get my sea legs!

For the past couple years, I have felt like an new, unlearned sailor who has not yet gotten his sea legs. He feels sick, new, and unsure of himself. This has been my feelings. This is unusual for me because I am usually a very confident person. I can go into almost any situation feeling [...]

enVision Math (L.A.U.S.D.’s new Math program)

I am in love. No, I’m not talking about my husband. That goes without saying. I’m talking about the new Math program being adopted by L.A.U.S.D. I just returned from the training and cannot wait to put this program into place in September. It is wonderful. It’s called enVision Math.
One of the things I hate [...]

Snap back to reality!

Well, I am back at work. Today, an all day faculty meeting working with grade level. Tomorrow, Math training.
When I was a housewife, I never thought that I would be anxious to return to work, but I am. I had two weeks of rest and relaxation. I spent time with with my husband and my [...]

Pinkberry is fantastic!

I just recently tried Pinkberry and let me tell you that I am hooked! I usually shy away stuff that’s really hyped until it dies down. Well, I decided to try it and am so happy that I did. It is absolutely fantastic! The pomegranate flavor is to die for! The fruit is so [...]

Author Spotlight (Patricia McKissack)

“To me, reading is like breathing; both are essential to life.”—Patricia C. McKissack
Those words resonate with me very strongly. It’s like she wrote my words. I love her work.
Another thing, isn’t it funny, not ha!ha! funny, but ironic kinda’ funny, that I’ve had various books of this author for years and never made a connection [...]

White Socks Only by Evelyn Coleman

** Warning- This post is kinda’ long **
White Socks Only (1996), written by Evelyn Coleman and illustrated by Tyrone Geter, was one of my purchases from the AEMP training.
When I first saw it, I thought the cover was cute, but thought the title was a little odd. White Socks Only? What does that mean? However, [...]

Not too old!

My father in law visited a coupple of weeks ago. He’s a great person to talk to. He’s a great listener and always has something useful to add. Anyway, I was talking to him about my oldest son having a fire lit under his behind to do something when he came up with the solution- [...]