I am not only Thankful but Grateful today!

I've heard. 

That the school that I used to work in is in chaos and that 
" I picked a good time to leave".... as if I had a choice.  I believe that God intervened and saved me from losing my soul from the depths of despair believing that education was heading for the nearest rock to flounder upon an sink forever never to be resurrected  for generations.

I was wrong. I have been working under the first administration ( of my career)  that is competent.

I am working in a place that is quiet and respectful and empty of fear.

I am working in a department where working cooperatively and without dysfunction is the norm.

I am working in a place where everyone knows what the expectations are and they meet them gladly because they are presented with purpose , make sense,  are clearly for kids and not for greed or to feather a cap of some sort.

Of course all of my perceptions from my new "placement" are at first blush and I am not so naive as to think that there are not underlying currents of filth and disgust where I am as well. I just haven't seen any evidence of it. 

In my heart of hearts I have a palpable  feeling of uneasiness that this bliss is short lived and simply a result of not having the filth and disgust catch up with them yet. This is based on some very specific observations.

For example, in my new placement they are just BEGINNING to look at rubrics but they have  camoflaged the term rubric with "scales" . Why do they find it necessary to rename rubric and why doesn't anyone around me have the faintest idea of what a rubric/ scale is?

I attended an IEP meeting a week ago and people seemed surprised that a mainstream teacher showed up. I even had 3 candy bars in my PO in appreciation for my insight. Is it possible that the feds haven't caught on to this oversight?

I met with a counselor and a student who was giving me problems in school. The counselor was overjoyed that I would take the time to try to develop a positive relationship with this child. What has been happening with misunderstandings between tutor and student in the past? Does it just go on?

At the beginning of the year our school's AYP data was presented to the staff. There have been gains in some areas, losses in others but the achievement gap narrowed for the very first time. This phenomenon  was presented by the administration in a celebratory fashion followed by a round of applause. It was an after thought, a flippant , joking notation that the  narrowing gap between the lines on a projected graph showed that in fact the gap is narrowing but not because the low has gained significantly thereby catching up with the top, but that the top for the first time has lost ground more closely mirroring the gains but in the opposite direction. How are we supposed to feel good about that? And why do our leaders seem happy about it?

Yes. I am glad that I am not wallowing in what sounds like difficult muck to navigate through in my old school but my gut is telling me that the water is about to be muddied in my new school.

The good news? I won't be around to have to re adjust my navigation systems. For now I am thoroughly reveling in what feels like bliss and taking full advantage of it by not worrying about what the future holds and working hard and in the moment with my new colleagues, school and mostly wonderful students :)

I have a LOT to be thankful for today and my heart is overflowing with gratefulness. :)

Wishing you all a very happy and restful Thanksgiving.

Mary :)


  

Will not be mad forever.

"When you complain, you make yourself a victim. Leave the situation or accept it. All else is madness."

- Eckhart Tolle

This is so strange.

My "baby" , Jessica , is asleep on the couch. My colleague, Jen, is only 4 months older than Jessica. I just left school after having consulted with Jen regarding some important topics coming up. I very much view Jen as I would any accomplished , veteran teacher , as if she were 40 years old yet Jen is only 26. She IS an accomplished, veteran, tenured teacher.

Jessica is my baby and is sleeping peacefully with Buster wrapped around her feet. I think Jessica is darling. I think she is precious and cute, needs her sleep and should eat supper when she wakes up.

I like it that Jessica is here and I wonder if Jen's mom feels the same way about Jen. I sure do hope so because I'm not nearly as comfortable thinking about Jen sleeping on my couch as I am about asking her a million more questions tomorrow about what I am supposed to teaching.

Everyone should have a Mother who thinks he/ she is her baby. My Mom still does. When I answer the phone my Mom says "Hello. This is your Mother". Oops. That reminds me. Mothers don't live forever.... tell your Mom that you love her....kkkkkkkkkk?

Let me Up. I've Had Enough. Tom Petty

Work 20 years and they'll take care of you
They'll buy you a diamond, they'll send you on a cruise
Give it all your money, give it all your time
Then wake up one morning and wonder why

Let me up - I've had enough

TOM PETTY - LET ME UP. I'VE HAD ENOUGH.

Exciting day.

Danielle and Zach's delayed and informal marriage reception with the Meyer's is today at Hidden Lake Park just up the road. We are expecting about 45 people. Starts at 3 pm, Mexican Village catered taco bar at 5.

I love what is happening in  my house right now. Grace is sitting at the kitchen table eating a sandwich singing, "I'm going to a par ar ar arrrrtyyyyyy in my new ew ew sweater dressss ahahahhhhh.

Danielle has tried on 4 different outfits and I'll post the one she picked. Let me just say it includes bright pink tights and only Danielle could pull it off.

Jessica and Matt just got back from hunting so they are burying duck and squirrel guts. 

Zach is pretty much all by himself watching the Viking's game, cheering to an empty living room
(exception me) and wondering how the Vikes are managing this fantastic feat. I'm trying to act amazed and interested....not my strong suit.

I love and am so proud of my family; my girls, the men they've chosen..so perfect for each of them and so very different from one another yet such a cohesive and bright group. I love my life today.

I am proud of us. Dan and I. We done did alright. :)

M

Dan's quirks.

Over the years and especially the last few Dan and I have gotten to know each other pretty thoroughly especially when it comes to boundaries. For example, last month I bought Dan a package of 6 pair of cotton boxers off of Ebay (yes they were new....duh) and 6 pair of white briefs. When they arrived he kind of made a "hrummph" about the briefs because he said they were "too thin".

The  meaning of the " hrrrrummmph"  depends on the context of the conversation (if you could call it that) and sometimes I literally never know unless he follows up with a comment like the one he made about the briefs: they were too thin. I shouldn't have ordered underwear on line. He could get a better deal himself. He would prefer to buy his own underwear. All of the previous statements combined or taken independently or in some other combination there of was the meaning of the "hrumph".

If there is no follow up I have learned that is an indication to just let it pass. It is not a big deal and it is nothing personal.

There was a non- response or pause regarding the boxers. Different meaning entirely.

 There was definitely something amuck. He didn't like the briefs. I would return them. How about the boxers? pause. pause. pause. "I guess we could keep the boxers". The boxers passed inspection. They would not be returned and I unpacked them and put them in his drawers sand as I did I admired how soft they were; and thick cotton. He had made a good choice!
The very next morning I was sitting in my chair and he came out of the bedroom in a pair of his new boxers. The brightest, blue & yellow pin striped pair of the bunch!!! I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair!! I couldn't help it!

Earlier in our marriage Dan would have been offended and (mostly) embarrassed but he said "WHAT?" , smiled and sat down in his chair.!! We've come a long way. Ha.

There are two things that Dan did ; one was earlier in our marriage and one now that if I mentioned  it to him in a teasing way he would respond with a strong hrrruuuumph followed by a snappy response in defense of his actions. The first was that when the kids were little and we all would get ready for church, Dan would insist that they clean out the corner of their eyes of the morning "gook" with a warm washcloth for lack of a better term.  I always thought that was weird. And he insisted. He didn't care if they had a hole in the knee of their tights ( or more likely if Danielle's were twisted around her toothpick legs) or if their hair was perfectly in place but by God, their eyes did not have any crust in them!!! Weird. I think.

More currently he does this.  If we are going to have company he will organize the silver wear drawer. Perfectly. The mirror in the bathroom can be streaked or there can be dust bunnies in the corner of the kitchen floor but by God every piece of silver wear will be in it's place in case anyone would open that drawer! I dare not say anything about it. For one I would get a hrrruuuumph ...but worse it would be followed by a resounding WELL YOU DO THE CLEANING THEN!!!. Uh. I definitely wouldn't want to go there!!!

Miss my readers. I'll make coffee one of these Fridays. Not next Friday for sure but soon.

M

Subtle differences between South and Apollo. What do YOU think these things say?

1) The "S.O.A.R" passes , the equivalent to the PAWSITIVE passes are 1/3 the size and one S.O.A.R pass gets a big warm cookie from Iggys store.
2) The hall passes are big and green and have a ton on blanks to be filled in as the hall passes at South are tiny, orange things.
3) There is one, tiny, old, copy machine that you a) need a DOOR key to get into the room to use and b) you need your own code for and c) there is a limit of 3,000 copies per YEAR for each user.
4) There is a bell for every single period including one for every lunch period.
5) You are not allowed to use colored paper for any reason unless it is a necessity for the lesson and you talk nicely to Susan, the person who runs copies.