Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

The kids at school have been over the wall crazy and insane (in a bad way!). I don't know if it's the sugar high or just the time of the year.

I'm looking forward to this holiday being over soon. We might have some possible excitement in Salem - check this article out. And this article too.

I hope that all my students will be safe tonight and stay out of trouble. The police already blocked off the entire downtown area for the festivities for this evening.

I also want to wish my friend Audrey a very happy birthday today too! Hugs and much love!

I'm here. I'm alive and kicking.

Life has been interesting the past few days. I've been very busy.

I officially crashed today. I slept in. Relaxed. Paid some bills (OK, maybe NOT so relaxing). Catching up on emails and blogs. Etc.

I'm in that funk again. You know the funk. Feeling sorry for myself funk. Feeling lonely again. My life revolves around my job which is something I was hoping to not do this school year. I'm still having a difficult time adjusting to my new school. I feel stuck. That's the only way I can word it. Stuck. Stuck in this so called life.

My counselor told me to write out a list of some things that I like about myself. I can't even start the list. I told her it's a little hard to like someone when I don't even like myself. She also asked me what am I looking for in a man. All I can come up with is someone that is nice. I've asked my friends if they know of any nice, single men and I get a negative response from all of them. Come on, there has to be SOME nice guys out there??????? Or, is it that I'm not good enough????? I've tried the online dating thing. So, please don't say to try that because I've done it twice now and no luck. The second time, I had NO hits! Nothing!

UGHY!!! I need to get out of this pitty party. I'm sick of everyone telling me that someday my Prince will come! He's not coming. He's not there. So, now what?

I don't want marriage right now. I just want companionship. I guess I'm asking for too much. Next February, I will be 36 years old. Yes, 36! I'm beyond the Old Maid status at this point.

OK, I'm done feeling sorry for myself. Talk amongst yourselves . . . . . . . . . .

Thanks for the support everyone!

Let me tell you . . . I have the "bestest" peeps ever in my life.

To all of those that commented on the last post - thank you!

Katie is a former student of mine from Timberlane - she's not kidding about that class she was in her sophomore year! She's a student at UNH now - my babies are growing up! :-) LOTS OF LOVE and a shout out to the Class of 2003!!!! :-)

Cheryl also sent me an article from the Bureau County Republican newspaper via email. Thanks for the article - I agree with it.

I know that I shouldn't take everything so seriously. I just care too much about these kids. I truly feel that they are being screwed and they don't even know it.

I've gone to the administration about the SPED teacher a few times already. Remember, it's my first year so I don't want to piss anyone off yet. :-) All I can is advocate for my kids and myself.

Side note: It's going to be a busy week again so please forgive me if I don't email or blog. This is my only night off and I'm planning on crashing.

Bad day on Friday

My C Block class is going to be the death of me yet! They are a very needy and immature group of kids.

It's a co-taught SPED class with 30 kids! Yes, 30! According to their IEP, they are all supposed to get individualized attention - so, how does that work? It doesn't work! And, the SPED teacher that they have me with is incompetent and useless. He does nothing - absolutely nothing to help me or the kids. He falls asleep in the back of my classroom. That's about all the "work" he does in my classroom.

On top of it, I have some behavioral challenged kids in the class too.

Not a fun class. I have done everything that I can to "better" the situation - talked to the SPED teacher, talked to his supervisor, talked to administration, etc. I wrote out on an index card each student and what their accommodation needs thinking this would help him. He looked at the card and folded it and put it in his book bag and I haven't seen it since. I even signed up for the co-teaching workshop thinking that it might help. He didn't sign up for the workshop - when I asked him about it, he laughed in my face! I've tried to give him more responsibilities in the classroom and he wants no part of it. I can't force the man to do his job.

This teacher works with three other teachers in my dept and all three are having the same problem with him. So, apparently it's not just me.

I've tried to not let it bother me but my concern is always for the kids. Their needs are not being met. Legally, it's me that's responsible for the accommodations of these kids and following the IEP but the SPED teacher is supposed to provide support. That is not happening.

On Friday, the SPED teacher was absent. Usually, that's a good thing for me. He's already been out three days already so I have a feeling that this may be a pattern. However, I had to give a quiz and according to most of their IEP's, I'm supposed to read aloud the entire quiz to them. I ended up having to read the entire quiz to everyone in the class. Usually, the SPED teacher would take the kids (12 of them) to another classroom and read the quiz aloud to them. Meanwhile, I usually walk around the room and help kids. There is one of me. I can't help all the kids at the same time. And, don't even get me started on the middle school's writing of these IEP's - they are absolutely ridiculous! Most of the IEP's have over 35 accommodations when all you have to do is summarize them down to about 5! And, the IEP's "baby" the kids. Coddle them. Ughy!

It's very frustrating and I don't know what else I can do. I'm trying to handle the discipline problems. Most of the kids that are a behavioral problem will be kicked out of my class eventually anyway. And, most of them are failing the class too. I've called home, sent emails home, and letter home. Nothing. No support.

The bright light at the end of a real crappy day: I got this email from my friend Cheryl:

I saw this is our little morning paper this morning and thought I'd pass it on. I bet ya your students say that you inspire...
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. William Arthur Ward

Thanks Cheryl for cheering me up - I really needed to read that email after having such a crappy day. Thanks kiddo! Love ya!

I have an addiction!

I have a confession to make. Maybe it's all those years of being brought up Catholic and feeling the need to confess something.

I'm addicted to pumpkin! Not just Janet's pumpkin pie - which is the BEST pumpkin pie ever!

I'm addicted to this. Oh my goodness! It's so yummy! I've been using it for almost a week and I'm in complete love!

Bath and Body has some new amazing scents - check out the store or web site!

Sad time for my school

We were informed of this incident yesterday. We had an emergency faculty meeting at the end of the day but my Principal didn't know/was told to not release names until family members could be notified.

We were updated today at a faculty meeting: two of the young men killed in the accident went to our school a few years ago. The only survivor of the crash is a current student - we were told today that he will be OK (minus the psychological impact obviously).

Police are investigating to see whether alcohol or drugs might have been a factor.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this tragic time.

Sometimes, I just wish I knew how to breathe . . . .

It's been one of those weeks. You know. Your schedule is so crazy that you can't even go to the bathroom or breathe.

I'm a YES person. The word NO is not in my vocabulary. I'm always the first one to volunteer to do something at school. Guess who said they would be the freshman class advisor? Yup! Me! I'm such a sucker! And, I'm always trying to be a better teacher so I'm consistently signing up for professional development stuff. I started a workshop today on Co-teaching with a SPED teacher. Plus, I have a second job.

It's official. I'm completely overwhelmed right now. And, I think I'm coming down with a cold. Joy! Of course it doesn't help that there is no heat in my building right now and the temps in the building are colder inside than outside.

It amazes me how relaxed I was on Sunday. I slept in. Met Carla for lunch. Judged the lip synch performances in the evening at Timberlane. I woke up on Monday morning feeling well rested and anxious to start my week at school. It's only Tuesday evening, I'm already exhausted! I still have the rest of the week - Early Release on Wed (faculty meetings and mini-workshops are planned for the afternoon), I have students staying every day this week for extra help, I just found out that I have parents coming in for conferences on Thursday after school and I need to work at my second job, I work on Thursday night until 8:00, etc. It's endless.

Yes, I created my crazy schedule. I know I need to say no??? Since it's my first year at a new school, I feel the pressure of trying to please everyone. It's a vicious cycle!

So, that's my ranting and raving for the week. Aren't ya happy you read my blog today????

Pictures from Kuwait

My cousin, Danny, has been stationed in Kuwait since last November (Dan's father and my father are brothers). He's due to come soon but he's been keeping touch through email. Last school year, Danny would email me at school and send pictures of what he was doing over there. My students would then email questions to him through my school email account. We had a nice little exchange going on between my students and my "little" cousin. I also had my students make Dan some cards and letters to cheer him up. I haven't had the chance to mail them out until recently so he just received them. He sent me an email to thank me and give me an update on what's going on with him. He also included a few pictures.

Here are a few recent pictures of Dan in Kuwait:

I am so proud of Dan!

Happy 1st B-Day Jeffrey!!!!!

Isn't this the cutest baby ever????

Happy 1st B-Day to Jeffrey! His mom, Traci, is a friend from IL. Traci and Mark have done a wonderful job with this little cutie pie!

Lots of hugs on your special day sweetie!

:-)

Progress Grades are Due on Thursday . . . .

So, do you think it's a bad idea to panic and just randomly give out grades to students?

Just checkin' . . . . . . . .

I'm in panic mode right now to get all my grades done. Good news: I can access the grading program from home. Bad News: I don't have computer access in my classroom at school so I'm forced to do them at home even if I don't want to.

I stopped off at Starbucks for a Caramel Macchiato - I think I may need the caffeine buzz for the evening!

:-)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Check out this web site and click away!

Breast Cancer kills thousands of women every year. Early detection is the key to a high survival rate. Check out this site on how to perform a self-exam.

Don't just think that you can get breast cancer if it runs in your family (it runs in my family). You can get breast cancer even if the disease does not run in your family. Be pro-active! Start feeling yourselves up ladies! :-)

To Mom, a survivor - this post is for you! I love you!

Dad met Bono from U2 in Las Vegas

My parents were in Las Vegas this past week on a little vacation. They went out there with Aunt Jenence and Uncle Alfred (Mom's sister and husband).

My Dad actually met Bono from U2 at the Palm's opening of the Playboy Club! He sent me the picture but it's in a movie format and I can't figure out how to post it on my blog! Ughy!!!!

So cool Daddy!!!!! Bono is the man!

Lea and Gunther

This is the last picture taken of Gunther with Lea. Gunther had to put down last month. I mentioned that I would post of picture of Lea and Gunther at some point. Lea emailed me this picture.

Hugs to Gunther :-)

Some thoughts on the Shooting in Amish Country in PN

As a teacher, this incident scares the hell out of me. For obvious reasons, of course. When Columbine happened in 1999, it seemed like there was this huge wake up call on violence in all schools. I think a lot of folks out there have forgotten Columbine. As an educator, it's always in the back of my mind. Will one of my students do this? We tend to think violence only exists in the inner-city schools and it's soooo not true! Last school year, I had a student of mine that brought a gun into school. I worked in an effluent community - no diversity - and, it was the mother of that student that called in to say that she thought her son might have brought in a gun to school that day. The year before, I had one of my students that shot and killed himself on the front stairs of the school in the middle of the night after a fight with his girlfriend. Point: it doesn't matter where you live or the type of community you teach in, violence is always there.

I'm trying hard to process the events that took place in that school. I just don't get how someone can just randomly go into a school and start shooting innocent children. It's been a busy few weeks with school shootings. This one happened on a college campus in Canada. Another one happened in Wisconsin and the victim was a high school principal. And, of course the latest incident that has everyone completely shocked and stunned. The Amish are a group of people that are very peaceful and religious. No one deserves a tragedy like this to happen but the Amish? What did they do? This article from CNN tries to put the school shooting thing in perspective - what is going on in our schools? Is our government responsible? Schools? Family? All of the citizens in this country are responsible. It takes a village to raise a kid (Go Hillary!).

I was just told today that my school has a few gangs in it(I currently teach in school that is considered inner-city) - and, these gangs have been known to bring weapons into school. I teach four freshman classes and one sophomore class. From what I'm told, it's the upperclassmen that have large gang activity. However, Thursday night, a bunch of freshman girls were arrested due to some "problems" related to gangs. We are not being told anything else except to keep our eyes and ears out for any rumors or mentioning of violence.

Why am I sharing this information with you? Well, obviously these kids are reaching out for love and family. Same goes for the school shooting kids. They are reaching out for help - either emotionally or physically. All this violence just has me thinking of how can we, as a society, help these kids? How can we help them deal with their anger issues? I do not allow students to be made fun of or teased in my classroom. Respect is a huge rule in my classroom. I do realize that there are some teachers out there that do allow the teasing and tormenting. They need to do something. However, the parents need to take some responsibility as well. Don't duck your head in the sand when you notice your child behaving differently. Don't be your child's friend - trust me, they have enough friends. They need a PARENT! What about members of the community? What can they do? They can support positive after school programs by supporting them financially or volunteering their time to help establish those programs.

We need to work together folks! Otherwise, this craziness will continue!

The families of the victims are in my thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

Good Bless!

M-Dawg, have you graded our quizzes yet????

The first year at any school can be a difficult adjustment to any veteran teacher. Not only do you have to learn over 100 student names, but you have to learn new faculty names, new policies and procedures, and a new curriculum in some cases. It can be a tad bit overwhelming.

I'm having a tough time trying to keep up with everything. I think I was spoiled at my previous job. I had so many resources and technology at my disposable to make my job so much easier. That is not the case at this school.

Correcting is eating me up alive right now. I have huge class numbers - in most of my classes, I have at least 29 students. I teach five classes - you do the math! I could stop giving homework but I don't think that would go over very well with administration or parents.

Oh, the answer to the above question - YES! I finally finished grading the quizzes on Mesoamerica and Africa! :-)

Welcome to October!

I love the fall in New England! There is something about this time of the year that I absolutely adore!

Here's a top ten list:

10) Topsfield Fair - America's oldest agricultural fair. You can check out the sheep, cows, and pigs and enjoy some great food and entertainment.

9) Pumpkin Festival in Keene, New Hampshire - See some amazing pumpkins carved into unique shapes and faces and all lit up at night.

8) Leaf Peeping - Check out this interactive map from Yankee Magazine! The colors of the trees are usually so vibrant and beautiful in the fall. I don't know if we will have a good fall out here this year due to the crazy summer weather we had but those leaves may surprise ya!

7) Apple Picking - Make those apple pies or apple sauce. I'm an apple crisp gal myself!

6) Hay rides - Charmingfare Farm up in Candia, New Hampshire has some great stuff up there. I did a haunted hayride once with some colleagues of mine from Timberlane as a faculty outing. We had a blast!

5) Go visit the Yankee Candle Flagship Store in Deerfield, MA - The drive on Rt 2 out there is one of the most beautiful drives in the fall here in New England. If you are into candles, Yankee is a must see! I'm a Yankee junkie - I love their candles! Another good time to go out to visit is around Christmas (if you can deal with all the tourists).

4) Pumpkin Picking - Mac's Apples in Londonderry, NH is a good place to go apple picking and find a nice pumpkin. They also serve pumpkin ice cream! Yummy!!!!

3) Davis Farm - Megamaze. I highly recommend this corn maze in Sterling, MA is so much fun! I went out there one year for a school field trip with the psychology classes at my previous school. The kids loved it! Warning: It's not as easy as it may sound to go all the way through the maze - every year there is a theme for the maze. In 2003, the theme was the lost kingdom (medieval). This year, the theme is the great movie maze. They have bridges and a lot of dead ends so it can be very confusing but loads of fun!

2) Salem, MA - Go visit Salem. The closer it gets to Halloween, the more freaker it gets in that city! Check out Laurie Cabot's store. Or the Witch Museum. Warning: the closer it gets to Halloween, the more tourists in Salem too! Can be crowded.

1) FOOTBALL! Go Patriots!!!!!