Happy Happy Birthday

Little Man is One Today!!

Paula is currently having to go in every .5 seconds because he apparently doesn't want his big day to end..

Celebrate Good Times.. C'mon

Party over here..

My semester is pretty much to its close. I have two eight page papers to write this weekend and I am dunzo.. Just have to attend classes until that last week in May to get participation and attendance grades.. WHOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!

Very close to Baby Girl Moyer’s Arrival – Her aunties in Michigan cannot wait to meet her!!

Just applied for two scholarships through our Dean - wish me luck..

Here are some new but old pictures of Landon-- All four of us in this house are loving this warm weather.. Hope you all have a nice weekend!!

Tiresome Tuesday

1. For a class we have to write expository text – stories from prompts.. and I need your help..Pretty Pretty Please.. I need 5 writing prompts in which I take two of the five to create two small papers… I have to also submit all five of the prompts which I am not allowed to pick for myself.. so remember professor will see them all..
   
   Much Appreciated –
   
   Hope everyone has a wonderful St. Patty’s Day – For myself – I am babysitting the little guy.
   
   
   
   What I learned recently in the classroom –

1. Cloud Paint.. Oh So Much Fun – Shaving Cream, Glue, and Food Coloring.. We put the mixture/creation on paper plates, paper, and bags. Unique is the texture and how it dries.. the kids love it!

2. Hunts – With the thought of Easter Egg Hunts.. I created cut outs like cars, stars, fruit, bikes..etc.. and put little scavenger hunt problems on each of them.. The kids all 18 of them.. are each given their own cutout.. They have to find theirs and we go over the rules as how if they see someone else’s they ignore it unless that individual is asking for help. Depending on what it says determines what happens next – clues to go to certain parts of the room, some have math problems or spelling words the kids currently have to be able to move on.. and while one teacher hides them all.. the kids each pick out a book and we buddy up.. Which if your not sure of is our School Agers Read with our Wrap Around and they love it.. They get good quality reading time, which some of them sadly do not get outside of school at all… We also do egg hunts.. but since we can’t do “Holidays” we try to save those for Winter so “I” do not get in trouble.

3. Sticker Walk – Remember Musical Chairs or Cake Walks?? Same generalization.. just a little different – We set up the chairs and tape numbers on the back..We also put copies of the numbers into a basket. We play music and we skip, hop, glide, march, rotate, and walk while it is playing and when it is done we have a seat. Someone draws a number without looking and that person gets a sticker. We do not remove any chairs or that would lead to a catastrophe or crying and we play everal rounds.. The person with the most stickers gets to be line leader or something like sweeper at clean up (the most highly regarded job for some reason to them).. just something small in the classroom which to them is a huge deal.. We have been playing this once a week for the past three weeks and they always ask.. do we get to play Sticker walk today.. try it.. school or home.. its fun.. even the teachers do it with the kids!!

Checking In

Tomorrow I have a literacy conference and will be gone the entire day. That leaves a ton of homework to finish tonight for the beginning of two crazy weeks. Once these two weeks are over.. all will be good again.. and the semester will pretty much be over for me even though finals are not until May.

Here are some pictures I took of Landito this afternoon.

Hope everyone had a good weekend

Over It

This semester that is. I am sick of professors using cooperative learning and getting stuck with people who do not care about their grades. I am sick of creating PowerPoint presentations every week, (I have to create three for Tuesday) sick of wasting paper and printing 32 pages a week for handouts, and getting online filler assignments.

I am up in Traverse City right now; I have class from 9-3 today. With my luck, the night before we had an ice storm, so the seasonal roads to get here were nice and slick. To make my weekend even better I get to sit in class today alternating between coughing and blowing my nose. Ugh.

So that pretty is much is what I do, day after day, 5 days a week, 15 weeks during the semester. Homework galore. I can’t wait for this one in particular to be over. Plus when it is over.. I get to fly out to see Baby Girl Moyer!!

With All The Power

Here at Ferris we register for classes the previous semester. So way back yonder in last semester, I registered for EDLA Writer’s Workshop, my planned professor had to drop due to family illness, they replaced another professor, who had time constraints, they tried to plan another professor, but schedules were all full so for the College of Education – Human Services, the Dean of Education took on the class. The dean of freaking education -- the one will all the power.

So in class in the beginning of the semester, she tells all 40 of us in the class that she will pay for us to go to a conference, the Bridges to Lifelong Literacy, in Grand Rapids, MI. Its 1 hour away people. Some teachers have to fly, some drive for days, some for 8 hours, we are a merely 45-55 minutes away and I am the only one signed up for the conference.

The dean told me that since I am going, I do not have to do two of the scheduled assignments! So the one who signs my diploma I am now on great standing with!!

She emails my student account about every other day with excellent teaching links. I get to attend a conference that will help every aspect of my degree/career, and I don’t even have to pay for it!

That’s America People –

I am off to do crazy amounts of homework like always – One 7 pg Paper on Tibet, A reader’s Theater 30 minute presentation that we have to perform in a local school, start of 60 minute presentation on the culture and folktales of China, and read up on the Bypassed East.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend –

Bubble Love

In the mornings I work with infants and toddlers.. Well mostly infants, but occasionally the latter. Moms and Dads come in to drop of the kids, some days its great, bye mom, bye dad, hug here, hug there, but some days we have screams, we have fits, we have tantrums.. they just don’t want mumma and dada to leave… so we give the ultimate power… bubbles.. now the fascination begins at this age, and what age does it end??

Well I can tell you it doesn’t end with three to five year olds…

It doesn’t end with five to ten year olds.

It doesn’t end with twenty one year olds.. past that.. im not sure.. try it and let me know.. but at work last week this is what we did with bubbles!

What you need:

Empty Bottle – (We used empty green tea bottles 16.9 oz in size)
Liquid Dish Soap (Dawn works best)
Water
Sharp Object (in our case, teachers did this before students were even the room)
Towels (If inside)
Straws

Clean out the bottle. Then take sharp object and cut to holes about ¾ up the bottle. One hole in the front, one in the back. Add ¼ cup of dish soap, 2/3 cups of water, and put a straw in one of the holes. Put towels down if your inside.. best if outside, but with our crazy weather we had to do this inside. Blow through the straw, create bubbles galore. We had contests to see who could create the biggest pile of bubbles. They were everywhere.. I mean everywhere.. All over the table, the floor… We were all laughing, it was fun, even for me, and I know Curtis and Abby liked it as well, they both asked if we could do it again..

35 minute lesson, group activity, fun for all ages.. Next time we do this I am going to take pictures to show the parents.. sadly I can’t show any of you, but I will have someone take a picture of me doing it so you get the full effect..

So there it is.. Bubble Love.. you don’t have to be a baby or tot to love some bubbles..

Happy Belated Wordless Wednesday on Friday

Homework

Sorry.. I have been slacking on the posts.. but since I started early.. I have a lot of time to get my posts in.. Homework is kicking my butt right now.. My parents are coming down this weekend, and I sadly do not think I will really get to spend any time with them..

My to do list:

• Tuesday - Study for Geography Quiz, Online posts for EDLA, worksheets for EDLA
• Wednesday- Read 2 Chapters for LITR 326, Read 2 Chapters for LITR 380, read 10 African Folktakes, begin Astrid Lindgren Paper
• Thursday- After work, after two classes, and then after working again until 5:30, I have to meet up with my LITR 326 class and create and finish in one night our presentation and our paper...
• Friday-Sunday - Finish Astrid Lindgren Paper, Begin and Finish 8 Page Tibet Folktale Paper, Study for Geography Test, and begin and finish a paper and presentation on The Mitten, by Jan Brett..

Some nights I fall asleep with the highlighter in my hand and my books on my chest.. so soo very sad..

so when I get some of this crap done.. I will be back!!

Thoughts on Thursday

The more college classes I have the more my professors scare me. From my English 250 professor who was 65 years old wearing baby doll jumpers with sneakers.. one class where the boys were not saying.. (Stacy’s mom has got it going on), to an OCD professor who had to jingle his keys 15 times before any lesson and then flip a coin, to my current world folk literature teacher… What a strange man.. well, really I question even that.. He is a very feminine man.. very.. a little too much even..even ask Paula.. she had him before.. anyway..Well he believes we all have powers from time’s beginning. That each of our names comes from folktales and traditions from our past. If that is the case, I do not want to know what my powers are as my name means unhappy and unlucky..

As I go towards the finish line of college.. I wonder if I will ever have a “normal” professor.. or in that case.. if just all teachers are weird.. in that case.. I am weird, because I am going to be a teacher, and in that case, my sisters are weird, as we are all teachers or going to be teachers.. or is it just the field of college professors…..

Well.. Thoughts on Thursday.. which really I posted on Friday.. almost even on Saturday.. are very random.. but thats okay.. maybe its a part of my secret powers..

Wordless Wednesday

In Need Of A Makeover

Anyone in need of a facial? Want to try some new makeup or get a new hairstyle? Well Hurry!! Drop what your doing, and head straight to Big Rapids, Michigan. When you get their go straight to Bishop Hall..My school-agers and wrap around students will even do it for free!!

Today was teacher makeover day.. Mr. Curtis was a good sport and participated as well!

Highlights

Students state, “I watch my mom put this on all the time, look how easy it is.”
Reality- Mascara all over, and I mean all over.
Liquid eye liner all down the sides of our face

Students state, “Mr. Curtis your beard is looking kinda ugly.”
Reality- They plastered 80 layers of eyeshadow all over it

-- Lesson of the day.. you do not need a lot in the classroom to have a lot of fun. I really do not know who was laughing more, the students or the teachers. This lesson lasted over 45 minutes of the kids taking turns and having fun!

I wish I could show you all the pictures of the students helping, although I cannot due to privacy issues in the contract at work, however I can show you the final result of Curtis and myself.. Will upload those later, so be sure to check back!!

Happy Tuesday!

Just Another Manic Monday

Okay, I admit I have been slacking. However, compared to the rest of my writers workshop class I am ahead. We have a number of posts we have to create, I just wanted to start mine right away and then be done as my semester's tend to be backloaded.

This past weekend I was up in Traverse City. I had a great time!!

Color Me Monday... today I am a mixture of Violet and Indigo. Weird Combination? Let me explain..

I am so very tired.. Ready to fall asleep right now while typing this, but I still have homework to do, I still have to take the garbage out, Have to walk Bella, and run to ATM at the bank.

Therefore these colors represent --

Violet is often used to soothe organs and relax muscles.
Indigo is also sedative and calming.

That sounds pretty good to me.. and a bubble bath.. that too..

short post.. to tired.. Hope everyone had a good weekend..

Back to regular posts soon!

Read Labels

Kids love cooking projects. They love to get to their hands dirty and play. They also really like to be able to play and then eat. For this lesson all you need is:

Assign jobs to each of the kids. Make the pudding, and do not refrigerate. Just pour it evenly into the three smaller bowls. Then add food coloring. Mix it up. I pick a number and the kids each take a turn counting until we get to that number.. helps reinforce counting/numbers for our wrap students…then pour, I always do blue, red, and yellow for the food coloring, one dollop of each color on wax paper and let them get really messy. When their all done playing, they can eat it.

Sounds simple right. Well the first batch of this, as I have so many students I have to make three batches, did not go so well. As my “student helper” apparently CANNOT read labels. Now, I do these projects and am getting ready, and she runs to the teacher chair to take over the project. Okay, Whatever, I start another activity with remaining students in the class. Well when my school agers get into the room.. We go to make the same pudding fun as before when a wrap around student comes to sit on my lap and asks why their colors look different. At this point I have 8 million thoughts running through my head.. and then I realize by looking at the bottles by the remants of the first batch that…. Instead of food coloring for cooking, she poured in food coloring for arts and crafts.. wonderful right? So then I went into freak out mode, reading out every ingredient in the arts and crafts one, looking for poison control warnings and you name I was freaking.. for her case.. it was luckily non-toxic, but it was still not fun having to tell parents because she cant read labels.

Now this student helper you ask of.. well I have problems with her…. Just all around… she doesn’t do much and cant clean.. and worst of all she works with kids, but is not going to work with kids.. Follow that?? Yea, I didn’t think so.. Okay, so where I work.. The full time, part time are obviously trained and qualified to work with children. But the student workers are college workers.. where at a Child Development Center.. There is one education student.. ONE.. The other 10 student workers are going for Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice.. SO.. this explains a lot..

You know people say, wow, I could never do that all day long.. I could never do what you do...Well, this student helper of mine does not belong, and should not do this all day long… as education working with kids is not for her.. Just as I would not want to be a police officer which she wants to be.

Okay.. I wouldn’t mind the perks of speeding through town in non emergencies.. whenever I darn well pleased like the cops in my town do.. or on duty, just pull up at a friends house and chat for a couple hours.. get paid to protect the people, but lets go hang out!

But in all reality I would be a chicken.. My butt would be running for hills if I got some crazy call.. I would freak, I would shiver.. and it would not be pretty...and well that’s just not for me.. so my point… she needs to find a new job.. please.. someone.. get this girl who causes problems that I cant do anything about.. get her to leave please.. as on the other things I have to remind her of daily, I now have to add please read labels to her list of what she seems to always forget..

Okay.. wow.. you deserve some type of award if you followed that! Happy Tuesday see you tomorrow for wordless wednesday!!

Good Blue : Bad Blue: Everything is BLUE!

To some to be blue is a darkening state. Anyone who knows me, knows that is not the case. I love Blue!!!Obviously, can you tell from the blog..



Here are 6 + 1 things I see blue today!



1. Ever have favorite clothing, jeans, tshirt, sweatshirt... mine all seem to be blue.. coincidence?? I think not!

2. To some, like myself, blue represents

3. Blue Sky - I can hope right, it is Winter, and it is Michgan..


4. My Navy Jeep.. Wanted it forever.. pretty much drool like a dog when I see one.. but someday Mallory, someday!


5. Outta the Blue - Well I will fill you in.. I was inserting a disk into Paula's NEW Macbook.. and she directed me so, just push it in, push, mallory just push it in.. so I did.. and it got stuck.. after Apple Store Visits, and Google Help.. NOTHING.. when today after a week and a half.. it just came out, outta the blue


6. Blue Monday – No College Classes on MLK (MILK day, well only my family will understand that).. but not me.. up for work @ 6 am.. I am such a grown up! ;)


+


7. Blue Feet.. no seriously.. because that’s what my feet look like in our freezing cold house.. remeber the house that misses us.. but also never warms up..


P.S. notice the 6+1..
yeah, in my classes we are discussing the 6+1 Traits of Writing. Many school districts are now using this model, with voice, organization, to word choice..

But really, it just disturbs me, I mean can’t they just call it 7 traits? Geesh

Friday Ponderings

I'm thinking ...that I am darn glad it's Friday. The semester just began, but this is an example of my day today, so you will understand how much I appreciate my weekends.

7:30-9:30 work
9:45-10:15 wait in line at bookstore,return books given to me for wrong class, get right books
10:45-11:45 Student Life Meeting
12:00-1:15 Children’s Literature
1:30-2:45 World Folk Literature
3:00-5:35 Work
5:45-6:00 Dinner,
Play with Landon,
Homework..

I'm happy ...
I got a raise.. although I sadly wont feel any affects of it as it goes all to heating bills

I'm laughing ...
At one of my students.. Today was a miracle for my autistic student… well miracle would even be an understatement.. (First time in over month their was not hitting, kicking, screaming, biting, pushing, punching, or screaming) Something I have never seen before. I got him to play farm animals with me on the carpet with two other children. His job was to greet the animals as they entered the mansion.. apparently, barns are out of style. The loudest, longest laughs I have ever heard had not only me dying of laughter, but Mr. Curtis as well.

Besides that… I am usually laughing along with Landito Comosito Burrito.. aka.. Landon..

Best TV Show I watched this week ... only TV shows I watch, besides news in the morning getting ready for work..

Grey’s Anatomy, The Office

Looking forward to ... Sleeping in my wonderful bed with all of my wonderful pillows.. no really.. However, I am very excited to meet my niece(04/2009)!!

I Am A Fish

My family, neighbors, and even my students know that I love water. Love it! As Summer 08’ came to a close I packed my summer wardrobe away knowing it would not be needed until Spring 09’.

To my surprise that was not the case. During semester break, after two glorious weeks
home of mom’s cooking, games with dad, Wii with the family, and a lot of celebration, I came home to a swimming pool in my own backyard. Well not even, lucky for me it was in my own basement! Yup, 4ft of water in our basement. Paula and I just pretend that our house missed us.

Now we tried our best to prevent, we left heat up, we left cupboards open so the pipes would be open to the heat flow, but that obviously doesn’t work in our house. Pipes burst in every bathroom, the kitchen, and you could barely make out our furnace as it was 2/3 covered in water.

Planning ahead, we discuss what we are going to have to do next year to prevent this disaster again.

Any thoughts, idea’s?

When the landlord came thinking it was just a small leak, I quote, “ I will be right back, I have to go get my scuba gear.”

As much as I love water.. this just does not appeal to me.

Wordless Wednesday

Don't Worry About Spilled Milk

Work is rewarding yet tough. I got a new position as the lead teacher is off on maternity leave. The activities the children see are often repeated semester after semester. As interns come in nervous to do lesson plans in front of professors, it is even worse when none of the children are interested as they have done this before.

My goal was to create and find new experiences for my lesson plans. The hard part, this year they adjusted my program. Instead of just having school agers,Grades K-5th,I also have wrap around children Ages 3-5.Therefore, my lesson plans have to be age appropriate for a broad range of age levels. Not so easy to do…. Especially on days when the weather is -10 and we do not go outside.

Today just happened to be one of those days. So after activity centers and snack all 15 of us scrunched in around a tiny little table to watch milk for 20 minutes.

They loved it! All until one student spilt theirs. Tears oh My! As the “helper - one who really does nothing in the classroom” frantically ran for paper towels as the milk was out to destroy.. I just took more food coloring and made a bigger mess. Oh the tears stopped. The once white table was now of sunset quality, and the fun began for an additional 18 minutes.

P.S. If you really must know.. We then had classroom meeting, did the locomotion, and hopped to the large motor room!

**Check out this site.. Same idea with the milk-- although we used one giant pan to see the reaction as a class to test our predictions. Following with individual cups so they each had a chance to try the experiment and fun all over the table.

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000066

Teachers who teach writing should write

First statement from my teacher in my EDLA Writers Workshop class for this semester. I am thinking this is going to be okay. I see on the syllabus we have to write poetry, check, we have to write about ourselves, sure that’s easy, we have to teach lessons, no problem, ……WRONG..

We have drafts along with stories to complete in class. So don’t get me wrong we still have to write, but we have to share some of our writing. Instead we also have to blog it. So here I am!! This is a complete change for me, so bare with me until I get the hang of it!!