Jobs

The students in my room learn a bit differently than other children.  Doing a typical "basal" program with them is not really effective or helpful.  There are either huge gaps in their learning or they do not retain things long enough to be able to move to the next level of a given skill.  So because of that my kiddos have jobs that they do every day. 

To give you an example of what I mean I am going to put some of my kiddos jobs below.  They do these same jobs every single day until I know they have the skills.  Data is collected on the skill and I go by the 80% rule.  If they get it 80% of the time independent then they can move to the next level of said skill.  Here are a couple of examples

For Math:

Student 1 -

• 1:1 correspondence count to 5 using various objects
• Identify numbers 1 - 5 of a puzzle and put number and number of objects together, counting the objects each time
• Write and name numbers 1 - 5

Student 2

• Adding two picture tiles together then giving answer.
• Reading and following directions with numbers 5 - 15.

The jobs they do are based on their needs.  I have some pictures of a few of the activities I do, including file folder games I use within the classroom setting.

The repetition helps the students and the jobs, once made, are laminated and there for several more years.  It is a lot of work up front but in the end it pays off.  :-)
     

Thanksgiving Projects

So today's special was Art.  And we had fantastic things to do.  There were 2 projects but one of them had multiple steps.  This was great for my kids who have a shortened attention span and yet want to have something to take home.  So today they made two things: turkeys and a Native American headdress.  The headdress I LOVED.  My kids had a a great time making it and we had an even better time watching them make them.

These are the turkey's my kids made today in class.

The turkeys above were made of paper plates.  They had to color around on the outside of the plate, cut out a circle for the face and circles for the larger portion of the eyes.  The smaller circles were already done for them due to some fine motor difficulties.  I think they came out very nicely.

Now on to the headdresses.

Here is a picture of their art teacher wearing the headdress. 

There were several steps to this project:

• Color the black band with chalk, drawing "designs"
• Cut out feathers (if fine motor is too difficult have precut feathers for them to choose from)
• Glue feathers on to the band
• Put pipe cleaners through pre-punched holes (about 4)
• String beads onto the pipe cleaners
• Fit to head and staple.

What is nice about this particular project is it works on several areas: fine motor, color skills, cutting, gluing.

And the kids love it.  Here are some pictures of them working on the projects:

Carefully stringing beads

It was a lot of fun and they looked really cute when they were done. 

Until next time, keep your chin up and know that you are a fantastic teacher and each day, you are only going to get better. :-)

Fall Art Work

I have asked my classroom be allowed to have the specials of PE, Music, Library and Art.  This has been difficult for some of those working with my kiddos since they can be a bit more challenging than a regular education classroom.  I have had a couple of teachers really step up to this challenge. 

The one I want to mention in this particular post is one of my art teachers.  She has made activities that were perfect for my kiddos.  She has had multiple conversations with me and has been very open minded about what htey were going to do and how they were going to get it done.  Here are a few things that we came up with together regarding art:

1.  Art is about the journey, not about the destination. 

• The point of art for some of these kids is to build up tolerance of certain textures, smells, etc.   
• What you think the art piece is going to look like....well give up that idea.  They are going to make it look the way they want and it is going to be beautiful.

2.  Do not use two similiar items and have rules for one that are not rules for another.  An example of this is using shaving cream for the kids to draw in on the table.  If you use shaving cream then don't switch over to whip cream and tell the kids they can eat it.  This will simply confused them.  This also goes with regular play-doh and then introducing edible play-doh.  They can't see a difference and will try and eat the regular play-doh.

3.  Think outside the box.  The simpliest activities like stringing beads and rolling out playdoh can be great fine motor activities that can be very easily set up. 

4.  Be Flexible and HAVE FUN!!!  If you aren't having fun then they aren't either.  Monitor how they are doing.  They aren't going to like everything but if they like nothing....then readjust.  It's ok to adjust on the spot and make changes as you go. 

Here are a few of the projects my kids have done to this point:

Happy Spider (made of a top and pipe cleaners)

Spiders attached to spiderwebs (spiderwebs are string pushed through large foam boards)

Scarecrows and pumpkins

Turkeys

Fall trees (Trees already drawn, kids used q-tips to dot paint on then put on glitter)

Pumpkins

Tissue Paper Pumpkins

Just remember it is about the journey.  :-)

Overview

So this year I was provided a classroom that has 5 students in it.  2 are in kindergarten and 3 are in 3rd grade.  I was asked to take this classroom and set it up a bit blind.  I didn't know what I was getting into, I had an idea of a schedule (that has been changed about 4 times now) and I had an idea of what I wanted to do (all of which has gone into the trash)

The empty room...so much potential.

My circle area

The work spaces

General Calendar and Back room

Another view toward my desk and back room

Here was my classroom layout at the beginning of the year.  I will take updated pictures so you can see how things have adjusted a bit since then.

New Direction

So I have been thinking about this blog and how I want to use it.  I have noticed there is not a lot out there for classrooms that are self contained.  I am brand new to this whole thing of teaching a self contained classroom and I figured why not?  Why can't I start a blog regarding teaching in a self contained classroom.  It might give someone else ideas and also help me make connections that would help me as well. 

So here we go.

3.....2......1......let's learn!!!

Ready to Fly

So tomorrow is my last official day at my school. I am sad, excited, nervous, and many other feelings all at once. I am going to miss friends I have made although I will still see them in the district and work with them when they come to my new building. I just won't be there, in the building, as part of that family.

I am joining a new family, a bigger family, an unknown family. It will be ok. I know it will. I just have to begin and know that this is another door that has opened.

This is a beginning to a new journey and I am ready to fly.

Dreams

So last night I had a two part dream. Perhaps it was more just in two parts since they weren't really related in any way except for the fact that I was in both. They were both so vivid though that I woke up wondering if either or even both had happened.

Dream 1
This was is not as in depth as the second. I remember starting the dream in a gun fight of sorts. And the person I was with was The Rock. He was moving all Jason Bourne like and it was odd. I was running around with him as people fired on us. Then he got into hand to hand combat with this bad guy and ended up getting hit into a table. The bad guy then came after me and the Rock shot him. That was the first dream. Odd huh?

The last dream ended around 4 something this morning when I woke up suddenly. I turned back over and went back to sleep and this is what then happened.

Dream 2
I was at Disney World even though it didn't look like it. I just knew that is where I was. I was then suddenly in my own wedding but it was not a wedding where I knew the groom but one that had been arranged between my parents and his. I was at the alter waiting for him and then he came in a white tux. I don't remember much about him excet that he had spiked hair that seemed to be dyed blonde more than it's actual color.

Then suddenly the ceremony was over and I had to take part in this weird play outside in a gazebo that everyone in the ceremony could see. It was something about bringing me to meet the mother. My bridesmaids were there but it was his sister, her best friend, another girl and her best friend. The mother came around and looked at me and said "You will need to get all napkin choices approved by me."

I looked at her and told her "Any choices in my household will be made by me. You can have an opinion but that is about it." Then I walked off.

So those were my two dreams. Odd huh? I haven't seen anything with the Rock in it recently, especially not fighting like that. -laughs- Who knows? Dreams are odd and sometimes are just that....dreams. No meaning, no deep background....just dreams.

Ah well. Thought I would share. :-)

Inspiring

So I saw this picture on Reddit the other day and I now have it on my treadmill. I thought I would share.

On a similiar note I have not been walking. :-( Life has been getting in the way but I am bound and determined to do this. I will begin walking again tomorrow night. I just have to set my mind to it and "Just do it." hehe

Wish me luck.

And so it begins

Well I have been working on walking and for the past 2 weeks I have met my goal of walking 2 miles a week. "2 miles a week????" you say. Well yes. And from a couch potato getting my butt off the couch to walk is rough. But I did it.

Then this weekend my brother and I went on a long walk with Sam, his dog. The walk was about 2 miles long. I was winded and tired. Paul was not and this was embarrassing to me. It was hard to talk and walk and granted some of it was uphill and we were going rather quickly but still......not cool.

So we made a deal. We are both going to be walking 5 miles a week. That is a mile a night with the weekends off. Or every other night with an extra or 2 miles a night for 2 nights, one mile a night the other. The options are endless.

Either way I am serious this time. I am going to do this. And all the walking I do at work doesn't count. This is above and beyond what I walk at work. I am considering seeing if Angie, my friend, will walk with me one night so I get outside. Right now I have been walking on my treadmill although I have to say it really works for me. I am able to watch inspirational shows like "Dance Your A** Off" and "Too Fat for 15" and can feel myself pushing myself harder.

I want to do this!!! There have been rumors in my family that we are going back to Disney in 2 summers. When that comes around I want to be able to get on any ride I want and not worry that I won't fit. I want to sit on the plane and not worry about the people beside me having enough room or being able to fasten my seat belt.

I can do this and I will!!! Paul, my brother, is going to be my check in person, the one to make sure I stay honest and continue doing what I need to do. I am so excited!! I am going to push myself and this will happen. There are going to be tough moments, days when I am too tired but I am not going to give in. I am not lazy!! I won't be lazy. I am going to do this and I am going to succeed.

Wish me luck!! :-)

Trying to Change

So I have been thinking about this since vacation and I want to make a change. I am heavier than I want to be and I am unhappy about it. I want to not worry when I get on a ride, I want to get on a plane and not worry about others around me, I want to enjoy shopping.

And I have realized I have control over this.

Is it going to be hard? Absolutely! But I have to do it. For me. Not anyone else but me.

I am going to have to make huge changes but I have already started. I walked a mile today in 24 minutes at 2.5 mph. I am hoping to up the mph and lower the time it takes me to walk the mile. At some point perhaps begin running the tail end of the mile but for now I have to just get on the treadmill and walk. 24 minutes of my life are 24 minutes toward a healthier me.

This is something I want and I want it badly. I have a target weight set for Christmas. I WILL reach that weight but more importantly I will feel better about myself as well as generally feel better.

Keep me in your prayers. This is going to be one long, wild ride.

It's been a while

Well it's been a while since I have been on here to post anything. There have been huge changes, both good and bad. Life has gone on, just as it always will.

One thing that has developed is my belief system. I have been attending a church with friends that I believe has a Baptist basis to it. This has not only helped continue to help me grow spiritually but it has also made me look deeper into what I believe. I don't agree with all they say but I am not there to agree or disagree. I am there to take what God is presenting to me and learning from it. Am I where I want to be yet? Not even close. But I am feeling that urge, that almost physical need to do more. That is what I have been working on.

Then there is work. I have a new co-worker this year. Then I just lost a co-worker to a car accident. I am going to attend the funeral tomorrow with others from work. I won't say the common "It makes me think about how precious life is." I feel more that I need to tell people how I feel now...not tomorrow, not when I feel like it. I need to make sure those that I really love know it.

On the good side I have already taken the bike out with Paul and Robin. We rode to New Castle, Hampton Beach, and to Seacoast Harley Davidson. It was a beautiful, beautiful ride. I was scared it would take me a bit to get back into riding, remember what to do, etc etc but as soon as I was back on the bike it was....well it was like riding a bike. :-)

Now it is raining and I probably need to head to bed. I am going to try and write more often on here but then again, who knows what will happen. Be good all and sleep well.

Recycled Percussion

Angie and I went to the Recycled Percussion concert tonight. I wasn't sure what to expect but what I got was an AMAZING concert with some downright mindblowing drumming. One of the guys, Justin, is able to drum 20 beats a second. A SECOND! That is crazy. It was a great concert and what amazed me even more is that they waited so that each and every person was able to get their autograph or picture. It was really really cool. Here is a picture I got with them and I also got their autographs. It was an amazing experience I will remember forever.

MMMMM of the week - Matt Bomer

Inner Conflict

Hey guys,

So it has been a while since I have been on here writing. I have something to write now and I feel that I need to get it out of my system. A friend of mine is in an abusive relationship. I have made it clear to her that I think she should get a restraining order against her boyfriend but it upset her. I have been speaking to her though about other things. She needs her friends around her and she doesn't need me to pound it into her what I feel she should do. It ultimately comes down to the fact that she has to do what is right. I can't do that for her. It is just hard, as a friend, to sit back and see your friend affected physically and emotionally and not in a good way and not do anything.

So I have prayed a lot about it and basically come to the conclusion that I have to just be a friend and let her know that I am here if she needs to talk. I will also continue praying for her and for her safety. Besides that I have to just let go and let God.

So that is what I have to write about at this time. If I get any updates I will post them but just keep in mind that when people come to work they have a life outside of work that affects them greatly at work. Someone may snap at you, yell at you, or just be rude, and granted it isn't ok but there may be a huge reason why they are acting that way. Take that into account before snapping back. They may just need a safe haven and a friend that cares.

Mortal Kombat!!

The Pearl Necklace

The Pearl Necklace
A cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll
think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a
bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess-- the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."

"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"

" Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And, when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of beautiful genuine pearls. He had had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.

Question- what imitations are we holding onto that stops us from receiving God's genuine treasures?

Author Unknown

Gamers...and sometimes dad

Halo: It is all I play-o

http://www.entertonement.com/collections/2161/Video-Games

Rain

Go ninja go ninja GO!