Summer Reading (2012)

**I’ve added some books onto the list**

Last year my summer reading was all light, pleasure reading. This summer, it’s not so light. It’s almost all academic reading:1. Essentials of Evidence-Based Academic Intervention by Barbara J. Wendling & Nancy Maher
* 2. Differentiating Math Instruction by William N. Bender
* 3. Differentiating Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities by William N. Bender
* 4. Reading Strategies for Elementary Students with Learning Disabilities by William N. Bender
* 5. Scaffolding Language, Scaffolding Learning by Pauline Gibbons
* 6. If You’re Trying to Teach Kids to Write…then you’ve gotta’ have this book! by Marjorie Frank
* 7. The Schwa Was Here by Neal Shusterman
* 8. Molly Moon series by Georgia Byng- 1 , 2 (@ the beginning), 3, 4, 5, 6)
* 9. Lemons, Lemonade, and Life by Janet D. Thomas 

Vacation, Day 1

Dear Readers,

Today I got up about 4:30. Whyyyyyyy am I waking up @ 4:30 on vacation?????????? I stayed up until 7:30 talking to my husband. After that I went to sleep, got up at 10:00, went back to sleep and woke up @ 11:30, messed around, then went to Costco. Whewww, boy am I tired! ; D. I plan on watching a DVD I got from Netflix (Maintenance Man) + a bunch of other Netflix movies. I have posts waiting in my queue that I need to finish, but that’s not going to happen right now. I’ll finish up my post about The Quickening later. So, bye for now! Thanks for reading!

Finally Finished

dear Readers,

Even though school has been out since Thursday, I just finished cleaning up my room today. I actually had it finished on Monday, but, since I thought I was leaving, I removed all my stuff from the closet and stacked it in one corner of the room. Well, on Friday, I found out I wasn’t leaving. It made me incredibly happy. Not only did I not have to work for free (student teaching), but I didn’t have to take all my stuff home, which included a 4 foot Teddy bear, my machines (laminator, cutting machines, 3 die-cut machines, a book binding machine, and the assorted dies), a Laz-E chair, and over 200 books. I took a picture of it, but somehow it got deleted. Even though I have nothing to show you, it was a lot to take home and put in my garage. That’s why I stuffed it all in my closet. Thank goodness I have a huge closet. So, there’s a happy ending to another story. Bye for now!

My New Position, Part 3

So, it looks I’m in the money. I am so, so, so, so happy (Can you tell I’m really happy?) to report that I have experienced God’s favor, in regard to my job. My big boss lady really tried to pull a number on me. Suffice it to say that not only did I get the position that I wanted with full tuition paid, but I also got an apology. It was a half-hearted apology, but an apology, nonetheless. So, as of right now, I am the new Inclusion Specialist at my school. There were a couple of caveats to that, but, as I am on my way to a party, I will write about that later! So, bye for now!

The Meaning of Life…

***WARNING- I RAMBLE A LOT IN THIS POST. I MEAN IT. THIS POST IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.***

Does anyone remember the show Step by Step? There was this really air-headed character by the name of Cody. Cody & the other characters on the show had a contest to see who could stay up the longest? Well, the longer they were woke, the smarter and less air-headed Cody became. He was just about to discover the meaning of life when he passed out from delirium and lack of sleep.

Well, my experience is the exact opposite. When I am not getting enough sleep, I get delirious, but not smarter. In fact, I do what I call Midnight Thinking. It’s the time when you think you are putting out brilliant thought after thought, when, in fact, you are actually kickin’ kaknowledge.

So, I said/wrote all that to say that I have been having mind-blowing revelations lately. With a little downtime, I’ve been able to clear my mind & come up with some badly needed answers in my personal & professional life.

I was also thinking about how this blog never fully recovered after I posted about losing faith a couple of years ago when I was having such a hard, hard time in my life. I was expressing my disillusionment & loss of faith. I was having trouble with the saying, “God never puts more on you than you can bare!” I took issue with that because I felt like I did have more on me than I could bare. I simply shut down. I haven’t fully recovered, partially because nothing has really changed. But, since this blog cannot take another hit like I did a couple of years ago, I will simply keep it to myself.

I was also thinking about attraction between two people. What makes one person believe they have to have that one special person?

I was also thinking about my plans for next year. This, as per the last couple of years, has been a hard year for me, both personally & professionally. I can only hope that the next school year will be better.

I have so many, many thoughts in my head that need to come out. However, I can’t seem to organize them. When I can’t, I get a post like this. I’ll try to keep it together.

But, You’re the Model Teacher, Miss!

I was talking to one of my students today about his school he will be attending next year. He was telling me about one of his new teachers. This is what he said:

“She’s so old and she kinda’ smells. Also, the kids told me that she’s kinda’ mean!”

“Well, you don’t know if that’s true. Did you meet her for yourself?” I asked.

“Yes, I did,” he said. “And you know what, she did kinda’ smell and she was mean!”

“Well, maybe you’ll appreciate me. Maybe I wasn’t so mean after all, huhh!”

“Miss, I never thought you were mean. I know you were helping me with my attitude and stuff. You’re like the model teacher,” he said.

A BIG GIANT TEAR ROLLED RIGHT DOWN MY CHEEK! It’s not often that you get kudos from someone when they’re young. I am really torn right now. On one hand, my 5th grade boys have given me so much grief this year. I’ve had to stay on them like white on rice. Not to mention all the petty & mean parents. It’s been a really hard school year, personally & professionally. So, after thinking about all the hardships & bulls$%^& that’s happened to me this year, I will take it as one of the biggest compliments I’ve EVER received.

Thanks J.O.! You made my year!!!!!!

Praying for Your Enemies…

PRAYER: Lord, I realize today that when I pray for my enemy and love my enemy, he or she is no longer my enemy. Help me to always respond this way.

My new Position???????????? Part 2

Hello Dear Readers,

I just found out some new information regarding my new position. It seems as if the big boss lady has not been totally truthful with me. It’s not a surprise though. She’s lied on me before. But, the good part is that I may still be able to have position and get paid too.

The big boss lady told me to talk to the new Principal today because having an Inclusion Specialist was not the way the school was looking to go in. That was totally not the story that came from the horse’s mouth as I talked to the new Principal, who told me that that WAS the direction the school was looking to go in. REALLY????? Why is she trying to block my position. A certain foundation that helps out our school wrote the grant specifically for me. But, the big boss lady wants to use that money to further her agenda for the school. She’s thinking too small though. There’s no reason that we can’t both get what we want. I see things that way. Unfortunately, the big boss lady doesn’t see things that way.
Only time will tell which way will win out! I’ll keep you updated Dear Readers!

My New Position??????????

Dear Readers,

I have been overly busy. I really don’t like being overly busy. I was going to write about my new position, but it seems a bit premature now because I may not be getting that new position after all. Let me go back to the beginning. I created a position for myself @ my school as an Inclusion Specialist. This is basically a Resource Specialist. This would have been a gigantic step forward for my school, but as the head honcho @ my school told me, “That’s not the direction we’re moving in!” She really could have told me that a couple of months ago, instead of leading me on. But, I digress since there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it. So, I have two options- I can student teach… for FREE. Did I mention for FREEEEEE?!!!!!!!!!!!!! My second option is to find a school where I can teach on an intern credential. That would be ideal. But, and this is a big but, the school is paying for me to complete my degree/credential, so that may not even be an option. I’m sure a solution will present itself by August. However, only time will tell!

After You’ve Done All You Can, Part 2

Dear Readers,

I’ve done all I can and I can’t do no more. I’m at my wits end. I’ve tried to hold things together, but they keep falling apart. It seems as if my glue just doesn’t stick. Right now, I’m listening to my favorite gospel song, Stand by Donnie McClurkin. I love the song. I feel the lyrics. I’m living them now. Hell, I’ve lived them time and time again. I’m tired. After all these years, I am still stuck in a holding pattern. My loan modification has been denied. I’m in dire financial straits. Hopefully by the time I get to the end of this post, my strength will be renewed by listening to Stand. I’m kinda’ doubting at this point, but I’ve been worse off than I am now and have had my spirits lifted by this and other songs.

I can only say that I will continue to stand, even though I feel like my legs are about to collapse. I have no choice. I can’t quit. So, I guess I will stand! Lord Jesus, what do I do???????????????????????

Piccolo Books

Hello Dear Readers,

I really love books. I, especially love getting books for a really, really good price. That’s why I love Piccolo Books in Westchester/LAX’s Howard Hughes Promenade. . The books are $1 each. If you’re interested in going, the address is:

The old Borders in the Howard Hughes Promenade

6081 Center Dr.

Los Angeles, CA 90045

(310) 410-0317