McTeacher's Journal

ANOTHER 6 GONE BY
Amazing, isn't it....how time flies by? Seems sort of cliché, but sooooo true, and especially so for me this summer. Seems as if summer vacation just began and here we are with just a few more weeks until we start up again. It's been a busy summer!!!

This entry will be mostly catching up on my family and my job. I don't say that I will write more soon because it seems that 6 months has become the set distance in entries.
Michelle and Amy are working hard. Michelle is on a weight loss/body building program and Lookin' Good Girl! She is my joy....such a great mom! Amy is continuing in her learning of how to ride a unicycle. I know that eventually I will be going to events, right Amy? :-D
My granddaughter, Acacia graduated from high school this May. She will be attending Mesa Community College in the fall on her way to ASU for a degree in Public Communications. She earned a full scholarship for the year. She is off to a good start for her future. Jessica, my 3rd granddaughter just got her driver's license! Yea, Jessica!!!! She will be a junior in high school next year. She has been partaking in a program that will allow her to possibly graduate next spring and go into college as a second semester sophomore. She is soooo bright and has a good future ahead of her. She has her thinking on the U of AZ for medical school eventually in the field of neurology. She is very determined and focused at this point. Go, go Jessica!!! Savannah, my 4th granddaughter has entered the age of adolescence. Oh Boy!!! Learning also comes very easy to her. She is happy right now, just being with family, school friends and holding her own in school. Of course, last but certainly not least is Isaac. His sister's accomplishments in school seem to overshadow things sometimes, but Isaac is also a very smart little 10 year old boy with a very active life. Outside of school, he has had a great time this year! He has played soccer, football, and now is ending his 6th week learning how to play golf. He's not just good at being a wonderful grandson and athlete, but also very good at being a great kid!!!

Darryl and family are moving along nicely. Austin had his 7th b'day in June and will be in 2nd grade in the fall. Evan is talking up a storm now and certainly stressing his likes and dislikes! Michelle and I purchased new iPhone 4's this summer and are learning how to use them. I'm still not sure the reception is as good on this one as on my last one. They are such a great family unit. I love being with them! Soon, Darryl will be 36. Wow....!

Darryl's dog, Phoenix has become bionic looking. He has managed to break both canines in training exercises. He has had root canals on both and now gold crowns. He looks ferocious!!! At home and around most people, he is such a sweet and loving animal....that is until the work collar goes on, then he is all business. I love him!

As most things in my life go, plans change at the last minute. That's how it was at the end of my school year. I was all closed up for the summer with things ready to go in my room for the beginning of the next school year and then BOOM, change again. Oh well, good changes this time! Many, many good changes.

Since I decided to take a semester off from ASU in the Fall, many opportunities have opened up for me both inside and outside of Gilbert District. This looks to be a very good year for me. First of all, I get to teach children full time again. What a delight. It will provide me with much happiness and also give me fuel for future classes at the community college and university. I will be able to check out all the information that I taught to pre-service teachers about what works and what doesn't. I am very confident about my teaching skills and know that my students will benefit from what I have to offer them. I am certain that "I" will be the one who benefits the most in this learning exchange. Yes...., I am POSITIVE that the next few years will fill ME with good insight and experience. Most likely I will be back at ASU or some other part time opportunity in the Spring. Can't go too long without the extra $s, but being able to really focus on my students' and their needs is a wonderful change of pace.

I was terrified to go a semester without my ASU position since that affords me the ability to help family, which is especially important now since jobs are not plentiful and salaries are not so easily supplemented. My mother's hours have been cut back and her meager Social Security benefits are hardly enough to live on. You can only do so much with $700/mo. Yep, that's what she'd live on if she had no other way to bring in some extra money. Of course, because of her age she is hindered by the mindsets that employers have about people her age. Truth being though, that my mother is still very active physically, emotionally. and intellectually. She is the ONLY person that has ALWAYS been there for me, and I will ALWAYS be there for her, no matter what!!! She is 86 and still very, very active in her life and her love of so many people. A person could only benefit from her example of true "humility". She never complains about anything, only states how grateful she is for the life she has. Love you Mom!!!

I am so happy that my principal is allowing me to situate my classroom next to the student grade level I will be servicing. It is going to be a first. What a tremendous benefit to both general ed AND special ed teachers and students. The 4th grade teachers are wonderful and ready to help me on this venture. Hopefully it will provide more actual teaching time for pullout students since the close proximity will cut back on discipline issues and down time. It will give us good insight to the interactions of special needs students and regular classroom dynamics. I am fortunate to be working closely with a wonderful 4th grade teacher on this venture. It will truly be a collaborative effort, more so this school year than ever before. I have been working on setting up my whole classroom throughout this summer. Not exactly the way I wanted to spend it, but the payoff will be wonderful in the fall. I'm having to work around another service so am only able to be in my classroom 2 times a week unless some activity interferes. My computer is down so it's been a plus that I have been able to connect with technology service to be up and running before the start of the school year.

Enough for now! See you again in December....maybe sooner???? Let's hope!! Take care everyone!