Mum2Best7

Small Success Thurszzzzzzzzzzz

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:25:00 +0000

I'm mostly awake.
I'm not looking forward to detention hall next week.
But I did give out all the needed detentions.
Enjoyed my training class on ESL learners. We had a 20 min lesson entirely in Spanish and I had a good laugh with my students the next day about how badly I did!

That's it-- tired.
Visit Sherry for some funny posts.

A Day in the Life

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:23:00 +0000

This will be my first Linky blog about public school teaching after several years (approaching 4 ) as a homeschool blogger. The goal is to share a Day in the Life and like the original blogger I teach 6th grade English - but also 7th grade.
So I'll tell you about Friday:
6:20 alarm went off and I was moving slow but since I was expecting to be observed I managed to dress up a bit instead of observing the allowed 'dress down Friday.'
7:15 With 2 cups of coffee in me I left early hoping to clean up the mess on my desk from Thursday's project and some copying. thankfully DH was up to driving the others to school.
7:25 Started cleaning the desk, updating the agenda and our objectives board and checking emails.
7:55 Had a 5 minute meeting with the Special Ed teacher for my inclusion 6th grade.
8:00 Here they come! I let one boy check attendance while I emailed technology about attachments that wouldn't open.
8:15 sent off my homeroom and welcomed my 7th grade. They are a challenging class! First period is 90 mins. We have Read Aloud/Think Aloud then Independent Read. Both use the same reading strategy. Then we talked about the Intro and Conclusion for their Proposal paper. Only gave out 1 new detention! WooHoo!
One major interuption was a call from the library that 100 pages were printing and was it from me! No, thankfully, but it was a document I'd been struggling to open.
9:45 and my Inclusion class arrived. We had a similar Lesson Plan but they were making a poster to show the conclusion of our sample Proposal.
11:20 sent the second class to lunch. I have 22 mins for my lunch but I sat with the science teacher and we discussed a girl we are worried about. She's in foster care and is changing households and is looking for an adoptive family. She really desrves one and soon! Breaks my heart.
11:45 and we supervised everyone in middle school heading to their special and headed to the one available room for prep/lunch/meeting.
We finally had time to work with the ELL teacher and our Eng Language Learners were allowed to go to specials instead of an extra English class. It was so helpful.
1:00 and my 6th grade homeroom arrive for the same lesson. They were less than quiet for independent read so they didn't get the extra time on their poster I had planned. But that last class is long! 1 till 2:52! And they know it.
2:52 and I was racing for the ladies room!
3:00 and I cleaned up enough to manage on Tuesday.

Later a phone call let me know I didn't need to go to my usual Saturday part time job so I opened the wine and relaxed!
So- What's you day look like? Share it at The Adventures of a 6th Grade Teacher

My artist!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:29:00 +0000

Melissa's Sunshine Studio
You have to see this!

Small Success Thursday scheduling edition

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:49:00 +0000

Scheduling should be easier right now because my husband does it not me right? Wrong! Scheduling at school is hard. Testing, re-evals of reading level, lesson planning, team time etc. But I'm managing and enjoying.
Small Success today was getting one of my target students to write paragraphs!

Small Success was planning dates for DH's birthday gift.

Small Success was time to watch The Indian In the Cupboard with my girls!

If you have a spare prayer-- please lift my students to Our Lord. A couple of them are dealing with really tough situations. Thanks!

Now visit Sherry!

Small Success Thursday 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:16:00 +0000

I actually didn't read Sherry's blog till Friday after work but that's OK. Success #1 is I was able to read not only a reminder about Small Success but her extremely funny Friday post about about Stress and Moms.

So-- a reminder-- Small Success is an effort to have women recognize the little things they get right, finish or even just start. Its important! Too many women let the daily stresses and failures define them.

Success #2- Made it through the week while catching DH's cold.
Success #3- Helped a colleague with an Excel project and got to know her better.
Success #4- Found a bathing suit for Zoë's visit to the Y with a friend today and packed up their summer clothes from their drawers-- before winter is over. Yes! I know, I rock!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:12:00 +0000

Santa will be adding gifts this year!
Mary

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Small Success Thursday- It's finally Christmas Vacation!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:07:00 +0000

I was thrilled today to have my students (well most of them) read their final memoir piece from our Author's Chair. They listened to each other, read clearly and we had a great time. We even cleaned out our bins and took down signs to get ready for our new unit in January.

I came home and crashed completely!

I've only made one batch of cookies-- DH has kept me well cared for so I haven't had to think about meals at all. DH's done laundry and given me shopping time so all I have to think about is ironing. He even surprised me by visiting my favorite store and picking out a gorgeous, comfy oufit for me!

I did make it to Reconcilliation this week and to choir practice so I feel ready for Christmas the Holy Day.
That's it. That's plenty.
Merry Christmas
and visit Chocolate for your Brain.

Blessed Advent!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Made it to Reconciliation last night and I've made it to two choir rehearsals all because my CLASSES are OVER! I'm so excited. There is no quiet moment yet as I play catch up on everything else but what a relief!
Planning to blog more regularly next year. I thought about having it focus on learning to be a public school teacher however it will stay the same:
"Learning to be a Beloved Daughter of the King"

Have a wonderful Christmas season!

Three Weeks later

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:10:00 +0000

1) I see I never edited my blog post before I published it.
2) 3 of the kids had the cold develop into pneumonia-- all are fine now.
3) Still exhausted and have an enormous amount left to do for my college class and my classroom.

but tonight I'm making no progress so I'm stopping to enjoy the family I'm grateful for-- It's probably the best solution.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Coming up for (cough) air

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:38:00 +0000

Switching what I teach three weeks into the school year proved extremely difficult. I had really put all of my brain into the technology class and was really enjoying it. Holyoke uses a different approach from a company called America's Choice. Its a unique and successful way of teaching Higher Order Thinking within the Reading and Writing components but it really took a long time for my coach to help me get past the basics. This was made worse by the fact that the previous teacher had not followed the First 20 Days plan.
The only day I cried was the day after Open House at my kids new school. Compared to their ELA room mine was an embarassment. Thankfully I was able to get some early mornings and late afternoons to be presentable by our Open House.
But Friday was a special day. Jeff is official done working full time. He's the stay at home dad. It will be such a relief because working opposite shifts has been hard on all of us and the kids really missed him. We had both worked 6 days a week most of the way through fall. We're exhausted physically (hence the colds) and emotionally.
The storm here in the northeast is still shut down from the storm. We've had power and only lost landline and internet a couple days. Its given us much needed reast and family time. Jeff's practiced his cooking and baking skills and cleaned out the finance files. I had brought home tons of papers to correct and posted grades.
There is so much else I wish I'd had time to blog about: the dangers of my son's job, my classes and the great books we're reading, missing my friends and sisters, choir, my daughter's art.
But for now I'm just very grateful for rest.
And Candy corn!

Pro life? Pro woman? Good-- read this and grow even more.

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:18:00 +0000

http://www.shannonmdeitz.com/just-show-up-we-are-called-to-love

Small Success Thursday ELA

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Monday during computer class with some Middle school students our principal came to visit. I ignored him assuming he was checking that our Lesson Plan and Objectives were clearly visible. He'd informed us this would happen. Instead he called me outside and informed me the ELA teacher had resigned and I started in the morning.
Lots of small successes.
Mostly just glad we have the room clean and half organized. Eventually I'll really blog.

In the meantime visit Sherry to share your Small Successes.

What I'll be doing this weekend:

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:58:00 +0000

1) Reading the play Death and the King's Horseman by Wole Soyinka as my foray into Cross- Cultural Comtemporary Literature. We had an excellent if brief discussion on what we each believe is the difference between "Cross" and "Multi" cultural, how much/little historical background we want ahead of time, and how to read literature from our viewpoint and still see the author's view.

2) Verifying all the information I gathered from my 350! students is in my gradebook as well as everything the admin/teachers gave me. (I know I need to review the IEP's I have so far.

3) Schedule time to observe my mentor for my Ed Planning/Evaluating Classes. I need about 45 hours observation and interviewing, then write my fieldwork journal.

4) Other homework for those classes.

5) Work Saturday

6) More research on becoming certified in Instructional Technologies.

7) MASS!

8) Ignore everything for a couple hours on Sunday and enjoy having DH and children home and awake at the same time.

9) Try not to blog again till I'm done.

10) Decide if I can also write a history of the New England Catholic Homeschool Conference.

Small Success Thursday- The Paycheck edition!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:44:00 +0000

I just deposited my first teacher paycheck!
(Except the one day I was a sub.)
(You need a magnifying glass to see it because I'm still technically a sub.)

But here are three successes from this week:

Knew what I would teach each day before the kids arrived.
Had a successful 2nd class with the 7th graders.
My kids successfully enter the car on time each morning and arrived home safely!

Go to Sherry's page Chocolate for your Brain to share your Small Successes and read from other mom's. Its so encouraging!

Sewing Find

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:16:00 +0000

HT: MQ

http://www.rostitchery.com/2011/01/stash-reduction-contest-2011.html

I did tag sale some but I have way too much and sev eral unfinished projects. But we'll see--- my classes start in a week.

No Small Joys!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:30:00 +0000

and there were no Small Successes this week. I worked full time for the first time in years and loved it. I loved my job despite the first day of actual school(not meetings) having 7th graders who would not listen long enough for me to get them on the computer. Took forever to get all my permissions and all (as in I'm having to use someone else's user and password for certain processes.) But the week was fabulous!

Joy 1-- First and second graders marching through on their tour. Adorable!

Joy 2-- 4th graders with Aspergers "I already know everything about the computer."

Joy 3 -- 7 year old with Austism holding my hand on the mouse and rejoicing at each right answer.

Joy 4 -- not having any students at the time of fire drills (yep- we had two!)

Joy 5-- Leslie's reaction to the first day of school. and Zoe's and Marie's and Sarah's and David's.

Joy 6-- Friday after school all of my family descending to see my NJ sister's kids.
Joy 7-- Saturday am Breakfast with Mum, Dad and All My Sisters!!!!! (Huston we have a problem.)
Bubbles, silly photos, too much coffeee and names drawn for the Christmas swap.

Come Tour my Classroom!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:47:00 +0000

I have lots of homework over the weekend: MAPS, Aleks, Mass Standards and the big binder of information on McMahon School. Yay! Homework!

Small Success Thursday- The insomnia post

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:04:00 +0000

Sherry at Chocolate for your Brain has (wisely) not posted yet (its 3:50am) but I'm up with Murphy's insomnia so here goes:
UPDATE: HERE's the Link
1) HIRED!!!!! Not a very small thing in my world. Instead of an English spot I'll be the Computer Room teacher. Mostly involves team teaching-- the students improve Math Skills on a program called ALEKS or work on a paper for English, History etc. Hoping to show I learned plenty about this last semster.

2) Cleaned my house the other day -as in actually swept from the boys room in the attic all the way to the first floor. Prettied up the dining room and living room and it has (mostly) stayed that way)

3) Made a second batch of sauce!

4) Cleaned out the last of the conference supplies! We had a Used Curriculum sale Monday and I sold/gave away lots and made sure everyone had a share in the left overs. Cheryl and I recycled the last on the Welcome bag flyers. Today I tossed the really dead books and VCR tapes noone wanted.

5) BTS shopping with the teen boy done. 2 stores Dick's Sporting Goods and Target. Still cannot believe I have a successful athelete for a child.

6) Bought classroom supplies and books for kids about computers for my classroom. I also designed and printed stickers to label them:

Borrowed
from the Classroom of
Mrs. BrazeauSo it was a good week despite the many days I was very frustrate with the job search. Hope you have some Small Success to share. I'll post the link when Sherry wakes up and has her coffee,

Parenting Question

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:59:00 +0000

from my friend Patrice at Spiritual Woman
I have some thoughts but need a day to pull them together.

Joyful Cooking!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:47:00 +0000

Joyful weekend after a long week. (no answer from the job interview still)
I spent Saturday in PJ's cooking and cleaning. (Now I really can't wait for DH to stay home and be the wife. He's a better cook, cleaner etc. But when I snap out of it I can get a lot done in one day.) Friday I made our trip to Mountain View Farm. This is the CSA we joined after The Food Bark Farm closed. Its gorgeous and friendly and Ben and Liz are an amazing couple.

This is my favorite; cravings dictate having some weekly.

Gorgeous curly kale quick cooked
with olive oil and sweet onion.

More seconds should make another great batch.

We have one watermelon left from last week
and these tomatoes were the regular share.

Mushrooms, onion, peppers, eggplant to add.

We pick up the share amount on the board every week and then have the opportunity to buy other local grown organic food, low spray fruits and sometimes can buy flats of seconds or extras to process.
This is a small, beautiful example of the quality of the produce.

My plan of attack normally involves:
1) Clean out the fridge the day before
2) Start something, anything! to get started
3) Get cleaning (the kids clear table, run dishwasher etc and don't clean to a mom's standard)
4) Use food grinder or food processor to slice tomatoes. (Love my cone sieve but its messy and adds a step. Besides the fiber of the seeds and skins is good for us.)
5) Prep and cook down a variety of veggies to make each frozen container of sauce a unique meal.
(I had to buy the mushrooms and onions at Stop and Shop this time.)

My Corner!

This batch made 12 containers of frozen sauce plus dinner.

Never know what strange veggies will come home from the farm!

Small Success Thursday - To the future!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:32:00 +0000

I'm determined to look to the future with more joy. Its been disheartening not to hear back on interviews and other job applications but looking at my small (and big) successes this week is really helping. Be sure to visit Sherry with your successes!

1) Managed to squeak out a few more prayers than I had lately. Espcially I've tried to manage a morning prayer before getting out of bed.

2) Cancelled one of my events to be present to the kids and Dear Husband in the rare times both are home. Would have been nice to sing there but no one was up to attending.

3) Helped my employer hire a new office manager through a temp agency: contacting agencies, setting up email, sorting resumes, scheduling interviews and discussing after interviews. Bonus: He's getting a great Catholic woman! (Not on his list of requirements but I'm betting we're answering prayer.)

4) Met the couple who will chair the New England Catholic Homeschool Conference being hosted by St Thomas More College of Liberal Arts. They have great ideas and are finalizing the location. Big news soon!

(is that it? OOooo! How could I forget!?!)

5) A van full of donations went to the tag sale for our new merged parish, a vanful went to a used clothing store, a vanful is ready for a friend's fundraiser tagsale. I got rid of so much I let myself go to TJMax for some clearance tops and a pair of pants for work.

6) sewed! actually held a needle and thread. Just hemming for myself and my daughter but it was awesome!

Thanks must go to my teens for stepping up on cleaning out rooms, my Lissa-Belle for for taking her siblings for a day and night of painting, tag, games, ice cream, hiking etc, and DH.

Now don't forget to share your Small Successes (and for a day ignore what did not get done,)

Have you read this?

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 16:54:00 +0000

The Giant Internet Hand of Spanking!
or why sometimee blogger will go for days without posting anything.....

I may need to follow her - very funny!

Small Success Thursday - mostly

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:04:00 +0000

1) Only blew up at the kids a few times a day since vacation. The lack of cleaning or helping without rolled eyes hit its limit last Saturday. We are finally finding the floor and clean laundry.

2) Survived another car incident- only $400 in for this one.

3) Booked an interview for tomorrow morning and built a portfolio of EVERYTHING I want to use to plan teaching that grade.

4) Spent our anniversary gift money (and our Christmas budget) on a TV, Blueray and a nice console for the livingroom. It was a great day and Dear Hubby is very happy.

5) Spent the week helping my boss start the search for a new office manager. I was always interested in the hiring process so its been fun.

Congratulations to Sherry at Chocolate for Your Brain on her 21st! wedding anniversary.

Small Success Thursday- Cape Cod version

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:52:00 +0000

Having a wonderful time here at my Mother-in-law's home. I feel like I need to be on top of the job search so I'm not fully vacationing but I did make sure to be mom.

1) actually watched them play at the beach: not just because I had 3 internet friends nearly lose a child in a swimming accident this summer. (scary!) I just remembered they won't always play this way. I think the teens are really having a hard time without Grandpa this visit though.

2) took one daughter and my SIL shopping: Found cute shoes for all three of us and future work clothes for me! 2 professional dresses-- and let my teen choose 'teacher jewelry' for me.

3) took the three little girls for an adventure: Playground trip and ice cream included a visit to the beaches their older siblings used to swim. Vistited Glendale and Bank St despite a huge traffic jam in Harwich I wasn't expecting. Had our cones at the Weatherdeck. yum

Don't forget Moms to visit Sherry at Chocolate for your Brain and share your Small Successes. It's so easy to focus on what's gone wrong instead.

Almost 25 years- only 24 hours to celebrate

noreply@blogger.com (Mary B) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Get a hotel room where they have a pool.
Go to Chandler's Tavern
at Yankee Candle in South Deerfield.

Let your DH order the wine-- Mondavi
and enjoy with Blue Crab Cake, Prime Rib, Grilled Salmon and amazing fresh veggie dishes.
Follow with free celebration Key Lime Cheesecake.

Share with the same person who has been your best friend for 33 years (even when you didn't know it) and has been married to you for 25 years.

Equals content.