Here Comes the Judge

Why is it in some people’s nature to be judgmental about everything?  Why can’t they live and let live?  They just pick, pick, pick and shake their heads in disapproval.  To be fair, I’m one of those people (pot, meet kettle) but I usually reserve my judgemntal-ness for people I don’t know.  You know, the crack heads on TV that get themselves locked up (or worse); the parent that refuses to control the screaming kid; Casey Anthony, etc.

I can hear you now (you judgmental types, that is): “You don’t know those people; you don’t know what they’ve been through; maybe you need to live their lives for a while.”  Blah, blah, blah.  I don’t need to walk a mile in their shoes–I can see they’re a wreck from over here.  You may be right and I can see where your argument has merit.  However, I think it’s far worse (more worse? worser?) when you are judged by someone you know.  Like, your mother.

I am not 16, nor 18, nor 27.  I am >35, on my second marriage and on the smarter end of the scale.  So why is it that my mother continues to disapprove of many of my decisions?  They’re MY decisions.  She has this thing where she needs everyone (read: her two daughters) to be on the same page as her, regardless.  When that doesn’t happen, the inevitable sigh, cryptic message, expression, what have you, rears it’s ugly head and my sister and I feel inferior and pissed.

It’s fine if you don’t agree with our choices.  It’s not your life to live.  What’s NOT OK is the attempt to induce guilt by your words and or actions.  If you don’t agree with your children’s decisions/choices, FAKE IT!  Tell it to Dad when we’re not around.  Don’t sigh, roll your eyes, leave enigmatic little messages on voice mails and FB walls and in general, make us angry.  We’re not children.  We are adults living our lives.  They’re not the lives you’ve lived, or even want us to live, but they’re ours.  It’s not that we don’t love you.  It’s just that we’re NOT you.

NaNoWriMo-30 Days and Nights of Literary Abandon

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.  It is a month dedicated to the inner-author in all of us.  According to their website, “National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.”
I discovered NaNo last year when a friend mentioned it (Facebook, I think).  I found the website and was instantly hooked.  I couldn’t wait to get started even though I had no idea what I was doing and it was already 6 days into the month.  Actually, that’s no problem. No, really.  The director of NaNo wrote a book called, “No Plot? No Problem! A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days.” Of course I hadn’t read the book yet (still haven’t) but what the heck-I’ll jump in and try.
After many explanations to The Hubby about what I was doing, several long, hand-cramped nights (I handwrite. Makes me feel more productive.), a few very confused characters, the time line out of whack and the story unfinished…….I only wrote 22,170 words.  Very disappointing.
This year, however, I am starting on November 1 and now that I have one year under my belt, I sorta know what to expect.  Except for one gigantic problem.  I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE THIS YEAR!
Last year, I had a book that I started (barely) so since that was the only thing I had going, it was easy to decide what to do.  Like I said, that one was left incomplete.  Since I had writers block there, I started on a second book.  And then stopped.  Not due to writer’s block, really, but other things came up.  So my question is, Do I go back and finish last year’s NaNo, or do I work on the new novel?
The first book is about a year in the life of a boy, his dog and his best friend as they cope with growing up in rural Nebraska.  The boy’s mother is dead and the father is grieving through hoarding. OK–it’s not as dismal as it sounds.  Honestly.  I even threw a tornado in there for fun!
The second book is about a woman who gets a mysterious postcard in the mail a few days after an unsettling dream she had.  The two incidents are related and she ends up taking a job working for Karma.  Yes–the “what comes around, goes around” Karma.
I have six days to decide.  Argh!  I thought I had it figured out but I keep changing my mind.
I encourage everyone to check out the website for NaNoWriMo.  You may become inspired to do something you’ve always wanted to do.  Read the Forums.  Sign up for your Region.  Look into where people are getting together to write.  There’s even a Young Writers Program for novelists 17 years old and younger.  They don’t have to write 50,000 words and can set a word count they feel they can reach.
Good Luck to anyone going for it!

Just a Thought

You can’t be the center of somebody else’s universe when you’re the center of your own.

Sesame Street Spanish

Every year brings something new to the classroom. Sometimes it’s a large class size, sometimes it’s special needs students, sometimes it’s a new curriculum. This year, it’s 5 students who speak little to no English among grades PK to 2nd grade.

This is new for us as no one in the building speaks Spanish and we only have one ESOL teacher for the area. We’re not an area known for Spanish speaking families so to have five students at once has us scrambling.

Three of the five children are from the same family. Their mother speaks English fairly well but the children speak and understand almost nothing. I understand speaking your native language at home; however, if you’re going to send your kids to an English-speaking school and you know English, why wouldn’t you teach it to your children so they’re prepared and confident. Not to mention, better behaved.

These three kids don’t have an ounce of discipline. They’ve apparently been able to do whatever they want. The kids practically destroyed the front office and classrooms when they visited. Now, granted, the oldest has ADHD and hasn’t had his meds in quite a while but it’s not an excuse.

Because there is only the one ESOL teacher, she’s a very busy woman. Also, since the child has an IEP, and is in a class with three other special needs kids, he’s my responsibility. A child with ADHD that speaks only Spanish-great–I took French in high school.

For the first day I worked with him I spoke a combination of French, sign language and Sesame Street Spanish. In addition to what Grover taught me, I downloaded some apps to the iPod. I recommend SpanishDict; it’s helped me tremendously.

So for a week I’ve been making bi-lingual pic-syms for everything from vocabulary words to behavior expectations. When did I become an ESOL teacher? Do I get a raise?

The thing that really bugs me about all this? The mother was genuinely surprised when she learned that her son’s teacher doesn’t speak Spanish.

My Worst Day as a Teacher

The very last thing I ever expected to happen on Saturday morning happened.  In fact, it was so unexpected that apparently I stopped breathing because I remember my husband kept telling me to breathe.   Our school lost three students Friday morning to a house fire: Sean was in Pre-K, John was in K and Kate was in First Grade.  (Names are changed)

Words cannot express the sadness we are all feeling.  I don’t know how we’re going to teach.  I don’t know how the kids are going to react or what we’re going to tell them.  I don’t know how this mother is going to go on without her children.  She is at Johns Hopkins in critical but stable condition.

The family lived in a townhouse community and unfortunately, another of our families was affected.  The fire hit their home and they had to be relocated.  I don’t know if they’ll continue to attend our school or another school where they’re now living.

I taught Sean everyday in his Pre-K class and he was the happiest, nicest little boy.  He really wanted to please and would do anything asked of him.  John was one of my students that I took to my room for extra help.  When he began at NEES this year, he was an angry child who didn’t want to do his work.  We soon realized that it was because he was struggling.  Once his confidence was built up, he was a different child.  He was now willing to do his work and at the end of every group (pictured above) he was always the last one out of the room.  He was last because he needed to hug me before he left. I am so going to miss that hug.

I’ve lost friends and family members but this is the first time I’ve lost students.  It sucks. I hate it.  I hope none of us ever has to do this again.

Matthew 25

There is a couple and their dog that are camped out, so to speak, in the parking lot of the local WalMart.  I feel really badly for them in the heat and other weather elements and wonder where they sleep at night.  I don’t know why they’re homeless but I’m sure the economy is a factor, especially in this county.  This is a poor county. Honestly, if I lost my job, in one month I’d be right there next to them with my cat.

After prayer and consideration I decided to donate something to them.  Friends asked If I knew what I was doing and if these people were really homeless and not just crackheads (we’ve got a lot of those around here).  Duh-I prayed about it.  Anyway, I gave what I could, which was really nothing, and received a Thank You and God Bless You in return.  I even made sure the dog had something.  We’re instructed to give the shirt off our back and while it wasn’t a shirt, it was all I could do.  I just feel badly that it couldn’t be more.

Test 1,2…

I recently bought an iPod Touch and am loving it. Today I found the WP app and quickly downloaded this gem. I don’t have Internet at home so updating the blog was tough. With this app, I can update and save until I find a WiFi connection. Awesome! So here I am lying in bed and I’m writing my blog. Technology rocks! If anyone has app suggestions for me I’d really appreciate the input. Thanks!

April is Autism Awareness Month!

National Autism Awareness Month

In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.
Want to get involved with the autism community this April? Show your support this month by joining the Autism Society in wearing the ribbon, bouncing for autism, texting, and more!

Put on the Puzzle! The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Autism prevalence is now one in every 110 children in America – that’s 13 million families and growing who live with autism today. Show your support for people with autism by wearing the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon this month – as a pin on your shirt, a magnet on your car, a badge on your blog, or even your Facebook profile picture – and educate folks on the potential of people with autism! For suggestions and resources, visit www.autism-society.org/ribbon.

Spread the word. Helping the autism community can be as easy as updating your Facebook or Twitter status! On April 1, the Autism Society is asking supporters to change their status on Facebook and/or Twitter to “Autism affects 1 in 110. Text “AUTISM” to 50555 to donate $10 to the Autism Society. Help spread the word: http://bit.ly/bUAVRf.” For the first time ever, supporters can now simply text “AUTISM” to 50555 to donate $10 to the Autism Society. 100% of your donations will go to support the Autism Society’s mission of improving the lives of all affected by autism.

Make a difference. There are several important bills moving through Congress that will have important effects on the autism community – safer educational settings (Keeping All Students Safe Act), better autism services (Autism Treatment Acceleration Act), greater financial independence (Achieving a Better Life Experience Act), better protection against toxic chemicals (Toxic Substances Control Act Reform, introduction anticipated soon), and more. For more information about this legislation and to take action to support it, visit www.vote4autism.org.

Connect with your neighborhood. The Autism Society and inflatable playground franchise Pump It Up are bouncing again with “Bounce for Autism” – over 100 community-based fundraising events that combine family fun with raising awareness and support for autism in locations nationwide that welcome children on the autism spectrum. Many Autism Society local chapters also put on events in the community through the month of April. But if you can’t find an event that suits you just right, create your own! 1Power4Autism is an online tool that makes it easy to mobilize friends and family and help make a difference.

Bounce for Autism: www.bounceforautism.org
Autism Society chapters: www.autism-society.org/chapters
1Power4Autism: www.1power4autism.org
Watch a movie. Did you know that something that seems as simple as going to the movies is not an option for many families affected by autism? The Autism Society is working with AMC entertainment to bring special-needs families “Sensory Friendly Films” every month. Our special showing of How to Train Your Dragon is coming to a theatre near you on April 10. Or, you could see a movie about autism itself – the Autism Society is partnering with the Independent Television Service (ITVS) to support 70 community screenings of the new movie The Horse Boy, based on the memoir of the same name. In the film, Rupert Isaacson shares the inspiring story of how he and his wife learned to think of their son’s autism as an adventure rather than a curse, a beginning rather than an end. Find participating locations for both events at:

Sensory Friendly Films: www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms
The Horse Boy: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/horse-boy/

Copied from www.autism-society.org

It’s Amazing (Part 2)

Finally!

The hearing aids are finally here!  I am so happy that I could cry.  This is great!  We (his teachers) tried for 3-4 years to accomplish this and now the day arrived.  I couldn’t resist taking a picture and can’t wait to scrap it.

If you read my original “It’s Amazing” post, you know that the mom was reluctant (what an understatement) to do this for fear of her son looking different.  I could go on ranting and raving at this point but I won’t bore you.  I’m just happy he has them.

He’s been vocalizing all morning!  He can actually hear himself now so he’s been playing with sounds.  He is a little upset with his voice though.  He thinks he sounds like a robot.  I assured him that he doesn’t and he’ll get used to the way he speaks over time.

He’s really going to take off now.  Now that he’s hearing letter sounds and speech correctly, I believe he won’t need an academic IEP  for much longer.  He’ll continue to require speech and hearing services for a while but I think those will be phased out as well.

I’m so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Murderers’ Row-Matt Helm

OMG this is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. My husband and I were enjoying our own MST3K right there in our living room as we mocked just about everything in this movie. Other than the ridiculous acting and script which provided us with fodder for our many comments, the outfits were the best part. I loved the women’s clothes! I would totally wear those outfits (except for those that show belly–no one wants to see that. Trust me.).

I never heard of Matt Helm which is surprising, having grown up in a Bond household. I’ve seen all the Bond movies several times up until the newer ones with Pierce Brosnan, et. al. I only like the Connery/Moore movies. I guess my father preferred Bond to Helm as well.

I do look forward to seeing the other three Matt Helm movies. They’re really campy and funny which is perfect for me.