just in case you wondered.
Friday completed my 6th day of teaching at Southland Christian School. And I survived. The kids did too.
For the weekly newsletter, the students interview a teacher and write an article that appears in the Eagle's Nest. Last week was Mrs. Branch's turn and since I was substituting for her, I was interviewed. You can read the article here. The students did an excellent job with what I gave them.
The sewing class made pink ribbons for all of us to wear on Tuesday in honor of Mrs. Branch. She is loved very much by all of the students. Mrs. Branch came through her surgery well. She came home on Friday and is in good spirits. She had a mastectomy and they took one lymph node. That central node was positive for cancer so they went back and took the remaining nodes. We'll know Tuesday if the cancer has spread.
Other than a few discipline incidents, I LOVE TEACHING! I love it when I hear an "Oh" of understanding coming from the Geometry class. I love it when I hear that the Algebra II class understands quadratic functions. Even grading papers has been enjoyable because I've been able to record good grades for everyone.
This week is Thanksgiving Break! I am going to enjoy it and play with my boys. They've adjusted well to our new schedule. They love Aunt Judy and going to her house. On Friday, I took them to school myself and they asked why Aunt Judy couldn't do it. I think Aunt Judy enjoyed sleeping in. And I enjoyed walking them into their classes.
I begin my adventure as a substitute teacher on Friday, November 13. Last week, I brought home the textbooks for Geometry, Algebra II and Trigonometry. I still don't know enough to be nervous. I guess I'll have to wait to find out where the permanent teacher is on Thursday.
See, my experience is in tutoring a student one-on-one. I've actually been successful. These will be actual classrooms with multiple students in them. Geometry has 20 students. Trigonometry and one student. There are two Algebra II classes with 10-11 students each.
I'm excited though! My biggest concern is not seeing the "light" go on when I explain the subject matter. Anyone, have any suggestions?
If you are interested, I'll be at Southland Christian School. Click on the picture above to go to their website.
Six Word Saturday! To find out more about 6WS and to participate, check out Call Me Cate's blog by clicking the button below.
My words...
I am thankful for my boys!
My words...
I am thankful for my boys!
Every Friday night when I go to bed, I hope against hope, that the boys will sleep in on Saturday. Just once, please, let me sleep till 9:00. Ha! They were up at the crack of dawn again. How do I turn off their internal alarm clocks that go off at 7 am no matter what time they go to bed the night before?
It takes me a few minutes to wake up and get moving and the boys were impatient for their juice. But when I got to the fridge, I realized we were OUT of juice. Fortunately, the boys found their new games and were occupied. So I started the coffee brewing and headed out to the grocery store. In the 5 minute drive, I was complaining in my head about being up so early on a Saturday. Then stopped myself and decided I need to think of something positive about being up so early. Hence, my six word Saturday post:
I did not have my children until I had passed my 30th birthday. So, for me, I waited a long time to have them. Lately, they've been very affectionate and loving. I get a lot of hugs and "I lub you" from both of them. They touch my heart every day.
Here are some highlights:
Jonathan loves to play games. He recently discovered Checkers and Chinese Checkers. Granddaddy Carmichael likes Chinese Checkers but won several games, therefore, Jonathan doesn't want to play with him anymore. Last night, he got Connect 4 and won more games than I did.
Jonathan can be bossy. Gets on my nerves until I remember that I was like that as a child. So I change my tactics and am trying to teach him to be respectful to me and his Dad. Five year old's CANNOT tell their parents what to do. His latest things is to say something like "I told you my shoes were in the living room. Duh!" Irks me to no end to hear the sarcastic "Duh".
Jonathan is learning to write and gets excited to tell me what letter they are working on in school. This week was the letter "C" and he's pretty good at since he's been writing Carmichael for a while now.
Joel is so much older than his three years because he tries so hard to keep up with his big brother. I don't hear much about school from him, except he stayed on "green". The preschool uses the Stop Light as a way of discipline. The student gets a warning for a wrong doing. Second time they move their clip to yellow. Third time they move their clip to red. If they get on red, no treasure box on Friday. So it is very important to him to stay on green.
Joel likes me to lie down with him at night so he can be close to me. I love it and I do it. Can't help myself. Of course, if I lay down with him, he remains still and goes to sleep faster. So we accomplish two things at once.
Joel is my helper. He loves to help. No matter what the project, he wants to be involved and has fun doing it.
Still Enjoying My Life....
It takes me a few minutes to wake up and get moving and the boys were impatient for their juice. But when I got to the fridge, I realized we were OUT of juice. Fortunately, the boys found their new games and were occupied. So I started the coffee brewing and headed out to the grocery store. In the 5 minute drive, I was complaining in my head about being up so early on a Saturday. Then stopped myself and decided I need to think of something positive about being up so early. Hence, my six word Saturday post:
I am thankful for my boys!
I did not have my children until I had passed my 30th birthday. So, for me, I waited a long time to have them. Lately, they've been very affectionate and loving. I get a lot of hugs and "I lub you" from both of them. They touch my heart every day.
Here are some highlights:
Jonathan loves to play games. He recently discovered Checkers and Chinese Checkers. Granddaddy Carmichael likes Chinese Checkers but won several games, therefore, Jonathan doesn't want to play with him anymore. Last night, he got Connect 4 and won more games than I did.
Jonathan can be bossy. Gets on my nerves until I remember that I was like that as a child. So I change my tactics and am trying to teach him to be respectful to me and his Dad. Five year old's CANNOT tell their parents what to do. His latest things is to say something like "I told you my shoes were in the living room. Duh!" Irks me to no end to hear the sarcastic "Duh".
Jonathan is learning to write and gets excited to tell me what letter they are working on in school. This week was the letter "C" and he's pretty good at since he's been writing Carmichael for a while now.
Joel is so much older than his three years because he tries so hard to keep up with his big brother. I don't hear much about school from him, except he stayed on "green". The preschool uses the Stop Light as a way of discipline. The student gets a warning for a wrong doing. Second time they move their clip to yellow. Third time they move their clip to red. If they get on red, no treasure box on Friday. So it is very important to him to stay on green.
Joel likes me to lie down with him at night so he can be close to me. I love it and I do it. Can't help myself. Of course, if I lay down with him, he remains still and goes to sleep faster. So we accomplish two things at once.
Joel is my helper. He loves to help. No matter what the project, he wants to be involved and has fun doing it.
Still Enjoying My Life....
I was told that after Jonathan had his tonsils out, his sleeping and breathing would improve. Not only did those too thing improve, but his appetite improved also. I can't seem to get the boy full! Last night he asked for spaghetti for supper. After he finished his first helping, he came to me and told me that his tummy was full on the bottom and that he needed more spaghetti to fill up the top! So I gave him a second helping. When he finished that one, he announced that his tummy was full at the bottom, middle and top. Here's the proof.
I love to read. I haven't done much reading lately, at least reading for enjoyment. My nose has been in a calculus textbook. Or Algebra II. Or reading to the boys. I'm not complaining. I enjoy reading to my boys. And I love math. I was reading some of the other blogs I follow and there seems to be lists of interesting books that others have read. So, please recommend an awesome book that you have recently read. Thanks.
This was the date of my grandmother's passing. I thought of it today because the prompt at One Minute Writer was to write about a favorite childhood treat.
I was fortunate to be able to travel with Grandma when I was younger. She always bought a 1 lb bag of M&M's to have in the car. Their place in the car was on the front seat in between us.
We'd eat on those all the way to our destination, whether is was
I also remember eating at Cracker Barrel with her. It was such a great memory for me that when we'd visit them as adults, we always tried to take her and Grandpa to Cracker Barrel for a meal. Other great memories I have are:
The last time I saw Grandma was in September 2005 and I blogged about it here. I was so glad that she got to meet my firstborn son before she passed away.
I loved my Grandma and miss her very much.
For other posts see: Mable I. Perry
I was fortunate to be able to travel with Grandma when I was younger. She always bought a 1 lb bag of M&M's to have in the car. Their place in the car was on the front seat in between us.We'd eat on those all the way to our destination, whether is was
- to her house in SC or
- back to my house (wherever that was at the time) or
- to PA for the Morley Reunion or
- to FL to see her parents or
- NC to go to Cherokee.
David (brother), Me and Tim (uncle) at Cherokee
I also remember eating at Cracker Barrel with her. It was such a great memory for me that when we'd visit them as adults, we always tried to take her and Grandpa to Cracker Barrel for a meal. Other great memories I have are:
- Going to Mother/Daughter Banquets with her while I was at BJU.
- Helping with Great-Grandma Morely while she lived with Grandma in Honea Path. I worked at Grandpa's Shaved Ice stand the same summer.
- Playing "house" in the cabin in the backyard at Bennett Street.
- Playing with the Swaffer's each summer. I was fortunate to be able to visit my Grandma every summer since I was two.
- Grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate milk after church on Sunday nights.
- Watching Gunsmoke with Grandma and Grandpa at midnight.
- Reading books from Grandma and Grandpa's library.
- Helping her redress her dolls when the season's changed.
- Molasses cookies, fruit cake and homemade bread.
- Sitting up late into the night talking and laughing. Laughing so hard we'd end of crying and not being able to talk at all.
The last time I saw Grandma was in September 2005 and I blogged about it here. I was so glad that she got to meet my firstborn son before she passed away.
I loved my Grandma and miss her very much.
For other posts see: Mable I. Perry
I tutor. I have one student that I've been with for three years now. It has been very rewarding to see his grades improve and his confidence levels jump. I've worked with him in Algebra I, Geometry and now, Algebra II.Last year, I was able to tutor a sweet girl in Geometry and again saw her grades improve and her confidence levels jump. She ended up passing Geometry. This year I'll help her study for the ACT when needed.
This year, I've taken another student in Algebra II. In just a couple of weeks, his grades have improved by 40 points and his confidence levels have jumped too. I can't wait to see what the final result will be.
Confidence. These students saw their grades improve because their self-confidence improved. They can do the work. They put in the time needed to study and practice. They saw the results. Which caused their self-confidence to jump - again! I have enjoyed this so much.
This week, I was offered the opportunity to substitute teach for these kids' teacher who is fighting breast cancer. She will be out for 4-6 weeks. Pray for the teacher as she undergoes surgery and treatment. This is a scary time for her.
I'll be teaching Trigonometry, Algebra II and Geometry. I am so excited about this opportunity. But I'm nervous too. But a dear friend told me that it wouldn't take me long to find my "teacher voice". I am so enjoying my life.
My sister, Judy, invited us to go to the Cole Bros. Circus of the Starts tonight. It was the first time for any of us to attend the Circus. We had an enjoyable time. The boys loved the motorcycles in the round cage, and the "superhero" who acrobatic-ed in a wheel, along with the camels, mule and elephants. Next, time we'll get reserved seating and bring enough money to get two of those stupid plastic lights....
And the grand finale was shooting the "superhero" out of the cannon.
And the grand finale was shooting the "superhero" out of the cannon.
I wanted to try my writing skills on something easy today. I got the idea from C. Beth Blog. What do you think?
Saturday. Cleaning. Laundry. Studying.
Hopefully Playing.
Hopefully Playing.
We are part of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and we got My Lucky Day in the mail today.
About This Book
When a delicious-looking piglet knocks on Mr. Fox's door "accidentally," the fox can hardly believe his good luck. It's not every day that dinner just shows up on your doorstep. It must be his lucky day! Or is it?
Before Mr. Fox can say grace, the piglet has manipulated him into giving him a fabulously tasty meal, the full spa treatment (with bath and massage), and . . . freedom.
In a funny trickster tale of her own, Kasza keeps readers guessing until the surprise ending when they'll realize it was piglet's lucky day all along.
We all got a kick out of this book at bedtime. I know that I'll read it again and again. The illustrations are great too. I highly recommend this book.
Wow! It's been almost two months since I posted anything here. It's been a whirlwind for me. Some of the highlights for us have been:- Joel started K-3 this year. He is doing so well and his teachers tell me that he is very smart!
- Jonathan turned 5 August 19. He has matured so much in the last couple of months. He got a bike for his birthday and is very proficient already.
- I started a calculus class at VSU. I'm doing okay, but I'm at least 20 years older than most of the students.
- Jonathan had his tonsils out October 7. I can already hear an improvement in his speech, breathing and sleeping. His eating has improved too. But I'm told that it just gets more as the boys grow.
- Lee started a new job at the end of August and I haven't seen him since. I'm kidding. He is putting in a lot of time there, but I think he likes it.
- I'm tutoring again this year. I get such satisfaction in seeing my students achieve their goals. And I have such joy when I see their confidence levels jump!
Enjoying My Life.....
Mary
Good Morning. The last three weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. The boys started school. Jonathan turned five. Lee has interviewed for three different jobs. I started a Calculus I class. I have lots of things to write about and will do it very soon. I need to write my blog celebrating Jonathan's last five years. I have to record the first day of school. So come back often, I'll have more posted in the next few days.
Today, we took our oldest Jonathan to the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist to have his tonsils evaluated. He's had strep throat twice and both times, the doctor told us that his tonsils were very large for his age. I wanted the specialist to look at him to determine if they needed to come out. From what he could see, Jonathan's tonsils may need to come out in the future, but if he is not having obstruction while he sleeps, the tonsils will stay in.
The doctor went on to explain that although he would not hesitate to do surgery if it was necessary, he wasn't in a hurry to operate on Jonathan at this time. President Obama commented recently that doctors are quick to take the tonsils out of lots of kids when it isn't necessary just for the money. I'm glad that our doctor is looking out for my child and not putting him through anything unnecessary at this time. He went on to saythat is it actually cheaper for him to do a tonsillectomy than to treat a patient for a lifetime of allergies.
So here is my opinion of the "Obamacare" - I am against it. I do not want the government telling me how to take care of my child's health. I do not want the government telling me what doctor I can see or what procedures can be done or when I can see the doctor. The United States has the best health care. If that wasn't the case, why do so many come here for treatment?
Sure, there is room to improve our current system. Let the physicians do what they are trained to do and get paid appropriately for it. Insurance companies discount doctors fees so much and base those discounts on medicare. Then the doctor's malpractice/liability insurance premiums go through the roof. I believe our current system should be looked at in its entirety and made changes where necessary. Not be replaced by some government run health care program.
Lately, Jonathan asks - how many days until my birthday? How many days until school starts? How many days until my Uncle Bill, Aunt Allie and Emma get here? How many days until we move to East Lake?I have to have a calendar just for all the countdowns. Is this normal for a 4 year old? Of course, then Joel wants to know how many days until his birthday!
So for the record:
Days Until...
Uncle Bill, Aunt Allie and Emma get here - Today is the day!
School Starts - 20 days (August 10)
Jonathan's Birthday - 29 days (August 19)
Joel's Birthday - I'm not counting yet (April 24)
Move to East Lake - not soon enough, but I have no idea so I just tell him "one day"
I recently had some photos taken of me and the boys by Autumn Orozco at Blessings Photography. I thought I'd share some of my favorites. Autumn really did a great job. If you'd like to see the entire group of photos, click here.
I took swimming lessons the week of July 6. I had 5 - 30 minute sessions and learned a lot. My teacher was a 38 year old mother of three. She also teaches at the YMCA in Thomasville, GA. I think one reason that working with her was easy is that I had seen her work with my boys for two weeks while they learned to swim. I was comfortable with her and it was easy to relax. This is a picture of Jill working with Jonathan.By the end of the week, I was swimming the length of the pool. I could take a breath without gulping in too much water. My form was good. I could even tread water.
The secret to learning how to swim as an adult is to remain relaxed.
I think I've found my place of relaxation (as long as no one is watching). Now it's time to get to the Y and swim some laps.
I took the boys to see fireworks on Saturday night. We met up with some friends around 9 pm. I thought they'd like hanging out while we waited for the fireworks to start at 9:30 pm. Instead I listened to 30 minutes of "when are the fireworks gonna start, mommy?" Casey had sparklers that kept their attention for a while. Then after the fireworks started, I listened to 20 minutes of "when will it be over?" But on Sunday, they both said that they liked the fireworks. So was it a success? I think so, I got to spend some time with my boys watching fireworks. Here are some pictures from the event. Enjoy!
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