Airman

So, I mentioned in an earlier post that my oldest stepson, Kris, was gone to the Air Force. He left right after Mother’s Day, May 20th, for Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. That changed our lives forever.  His decision set off a chain of events that we never expected. 

First of all, that meant we needed to start planning for our trip to his graduation over 2,000 milesaway to Lackland AFB in Texas. My husband flew for the first time to Ontario for work, but I’ve never been. And I don’t think my little 4-seater flight really counts. 

Kris also fell in love with a great gal who has a 4-year-old boy, who we’ve quickly become attached to. So long story short, they’re getting married right after his graduation. We’ll be gaining a daughter-in-law and a grandson.  

We’re excited to see Kris in a couple of weeks, but it will be bittersweet because when we leave on Monday he’s leaving for Florida for 10 weeks of training. It kind of makes the 8 1/2 weeks of basic training seem like nothing. However, this time we’ll be able to at least call him or even videochat with Kris, so we won’t have the radio silence we’ve had all this time. 

Sadly, though, his brother, Kam, missed out on having his brother around for his big moments. Kam’s 18th Birthday was the day after Kris’ swearing and the weekend after was Kam’s prom. Then two weeks later was Kam’s high school graduation. All of the moments Kam got to see his brother experience Kam didn’t have his brother thereto witness his. 

In the meantime I’ve spent a small fortune on an app called Sandboxx, which is created by the military that allows families and friends to send letters much quicker, along with a photo, to their airman.  $4 a letter, but it’s easy to do and they print out a photo for them along with your letter, and they also provide the airman with a self addressed and self stamped envelope for their convenience. So I made sure to write him often and talk about what’s going on with us, and send meaningful pictures, too. 

We’re now 13 days before we leave to take the flight, which is a 6-hour drive just to the airport. I have to learn how to pack appropriately and for 7 days. I’m pretty anxious about the flying part, but fortunately my future daughter-in-law has flown many times before and can help guide me.  I’ve been told it’s no big deal and that I’ll actually enjoy it, so we’ll see.   I’ll keep you all posted. 

Kindness of Strangers

So, as I've explained in my last post, my sister is dealing with cancer.  Throughout her ordeal, she wanted to stay as private as possible. She didn't want pity.  She didn't want the questioning looks.  She didn't want the attention.  Fortunately, she's gotten over that. 

While she was pregnant and going through her chemo (only during the 2nd trimester), she was working for a car dealership.   She was floored when she was approached by her boss and told that she was running out of sick time.  She thought she was going to be losing her job.  Instead, her boss told her that not only was the dealership going to cover her missed time, but they did a fundraiser and donated all of the money to her and her family. 

When she learned last week that she was facing a double mastectomy and then 5-6 weeks of daily doses of aggressive radiation, hours away from home, she agreed to let me do a gofundme page.  Within 3 days we raised over $800!!  Not only that, but her landlord approached them and offered to cut their rent cost in half for the next two months to make things a little easier on them.  Plus a long-time friend reached out and donated money as well. 

So, for a person who wanted to keep things to herself, she's realizing the power of reaching out to others and being ok with receiving help.  And I am excited to know that people out there care about her and are willing to help.  Kind of puts back our faith in humanity.

Conflicting Emotions

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything at all.  Four years to be exact. Sorry about that. I'll explain more in future posts, but for now, I'll talk about what's been going on.

I have never had children of my own.  Readers have come to know how I have two stepsons who I've helped raise for the past 17 years.  The oldest was turning 5 and the youngest turning 1 when I met them. They are now 22 and 18 and now both graduated from high school.  I'll get to them in a bit.

I only have one sibling, my sister who is 11 1/2 years younger than me.  So it's understandable that she's referred to me as her second mom. Well, last year she became pregnant with my first niece by birth (I already have 2 nieces and 2 nephews through marriage), Adeline.  She's beautiful, but I'm biased so...anyhow, she's perfect, healthy and thriving.

Adeline 5 months old

On Friday, July 13, 2018, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She was already mostly through her 1st trimester. In spite of her pregnancy, her doctors informed her that she could receive chemo treatments during her 2nd trimester because Adeline was already formed at this point.  So my sister started her treatments until two weeks before Adeline was born, and resumed the chemo again sometime after she was recovered.

Last month they did a new round of tests and learned that her breast cancer spread to her sternum.  So, long story short, she's having a double mastectomy and will have to receive 5-6 weeks of radiation 6 hours from home.  We're currently working to raise money so she can stay where her daughter can be with her. Here's the link in case anyone is interested in donating or even sharing.

So the oldest, Kris, enlisted in the Air Force and left in May. He's now about to start WOT (Week of Training) 6.  So basically I'll be traveling from little 'ole northern Maine to fly to San Antonio, Texas. This is the first time I'll be on a commercial plane, the first time I travel anywhere past Connecticut, and the furthest I've ever been away from home. I'm excited and nervous at the same time.  I've missed Kris and wrote to him often telling him what's happening back home, and sending him messages of how proud I am, encouragement, and motivation.

On top of attending his graduation in July, the day of his graduation is the day he plans to marry his fiancée.  So we've got lots to plan just to get there and for the wedding ceremony, too. We've got everything booked, so hopefully everything falls into place.  Also, we're not only gaining a daughter-in-law, but an adorable 4-year-old grandson. 

Kris (R) and Kam (L)

Now the youngest, Kam, just graduated from high school after Kris left for the Air Force.  He had originally planned to go to college for nursing, but now it seems like the Air Force is calling him, too.  So we're waiting for Kam to decide exactly what he wants to do.

There are so many changes and it's almost overwhelming if I let it.  At least this time I don't have to change school districts. Thankfully, most of what's going on is happening this summer, because during the school year would be way too much.

Well, that's basically what's been going on in a nutshell. I'll be back to explain more, but for now....

~I'm grateful for my health and my family.

Got a Good One For You All

Thursday evening I came home from being gone all week for some training in Southwestern Maine.  My evening routine, especially when someone has to work in the morning, is to prepare the coffee maker to start the coffee when we get up.  I'm off so it didn't matter to me, but my husband had to work.  

Well, our coffee maker needed to be cleaned.  The "clean" indicator light told me so.  Which means a process that includes vinegar and such, which would take longer than I was willing to devote just before going to bed after a 5 hour ride home.

So, yesterday morning I started the cleaning process.  I filled the reservoir with vinegar and let it go through the process.  I then filled it again with water to rinse the vinegar out, then tried to make a pot of coffee.  The light just blinked and it beeped at me and wouldn't stop until I turned it off.  I just didn't get it.  I tried unplugging it to "reset" it, which didn't work.  As far as I was concerned, our coffee maker was broken.

Well, this morning I'm mourning the loss of our coffee machine, which I left on the counter untouched.  Probably because I was hoping there was nothing wrong with it, and it just needed a break. 

Hoping that this morning would be different, I went to the coffee maker and decided to try again.  I decided to refill the reservoir with water when I realized that it was empty.  EMPTY.  I filled it, made sure there was coffee grounds in the filter and an empty pot waiting to be filled and lo and behold the coffee maker worked!!

Talk about feeling stupid.  I guess my coffee maker is smarter than I am.  It was trying to tell me that something was missing....water.   Needless to say, I enjoyed my coffee this morning.  Gotta laugh at myself.

Professional Development During Summer Break?

Why yes!  And I'm the one who scheduled them, too.  Sometimes I just frustrate myself.

I've been off from school for the second week now, but for the next two weeks I've got two professional development opportunities going on.  I swear, those are the only ones.

In my defense, they're both applicable to the social studies that I'm now teaching, and one of them was an offer that was hard to refuse.  

Next week I'll be participating in a program at the university just 20 minutes away on Acadian History.  I've taken the course before when I was in college, but this is different and geared for teachers to be able to apply this information in their classrooms.  It won't cost me anything because my district is providing me their vehicle for the week, and lunch is covered for me as well.


The week after I'm going down to another university, one I haven't
been to before, but about 6 hours away.  This is on how to use the ArcGIS program in my geography class.  This one covers everything.  Meals, lodging, travel, and after I finish the work I'm expected to do, I get a stipend too.  Can't turn that down either.  Fortunately, I won't be going downstate alone.  I'm picking up a professor at another university about an hour away, so she can help me find where we need to go.


Both will be work, and I'm still working on my plans for this fall, so anyone who imagine teachers on summer break always by the pool or at the beach doing nothing all the time are seriously mistaken.

Negativity and MY Freedom of Speech

This past week marked a landmark decision, Obergefell vs. Hodges, of the US Supreme Court preventing states from acknowledging the union of same-sex couples.

I'm a big fan of Facebook, and I'm on it more than I probably should be.  And many of my "friends" on it aren't afraid to voice their opinions on various topics, and marriage equality was definitely one of the hot topics this week.  

I know that some of my family and friends, especially those who are very religious (ironically) are opposed to marriage equality.  Marriage equality isn't the first to be controversial, as this picture proves.  

It wasn't that long ago that interracial marriage was deemed illegal, too.  Now not many, at least in my neck of the woods, blink an eye when you see a couple from different races. 

I understand where those opposed to same-sex marriage are coming from.  They feel that God's intentions for union was between a man and a women.  

I get it.  However, what loving God would create people who are lesbian, gay, transsexual, or transgender, and not want for them to be loved and happy?  

Who am I to decide how other people should live?  Who am I to judge others based on who they love?  Would I wish for others to be miserable, angry, depressed, lonely, or unloved?  What kind of Christian (or Catholic in my case) would I be?  Is it really our place to instill the values of our faith upon others who probably don't share our belief systems?

I know several same-sex couples, and at least one of them are married.  I feel nothing but joy for them.   What concerns people most about marriage equality?  Why do people feel threatened?  

Thank you for letting me say my peace about the issue.  Love is Love! 

Anniversary

So today is our 9th wedding anniversary, although we've actually been together for 13 years.

We've been through a lot of ups and downs, and had many adventures together.  I can thank my husband for that.

I had a student ask me recently if my husband was going through a midlife crisis.  If that's the case, then he's been going through one for as long as I've known him.  We've done the dog-sledding thing.  We've had chickens, turkeys, rabbits, and goats...all at our house.  We've had horses, pigs, and cows, too.  We've gotten into road biking (the kind you pedal), running, and hiking.  We've also had numerous farm tractors (5 I think).  We're on our 3rd motorcycle, and he just recently bought dirt bikes for him and the boys. 

All I can say is life has been an adventure, and I wouldn't change a thing.

This is what summer break should be!

It was wonderful laying in bed this morning knowing that I didn't have any place to go.  The sun was streaming through the blinds, and I could hear the birds going about their business in the trees that surround our house.  I laid there for a few minutes and thought about what I needed to accomplish today.  Nothing.  

My stepsons would be coming over later this morning once they were up and ready for the day.  I promised French Toast for lunch. Yummm....

I fed Charlie and the birds, then started a load of laundry.  Took my time eating breakfast, swept the floors, and even did a little workout on my new app called SWORKIT.  Even enjoyed a couple of cups of coffee while the birds and chipmunks were busy eating, and Charlie was running around chasing something.

Later after lunch I'll enjoying laying out in the sun and reading on my Kindle.  I might even take a nap.  I'm known for that.  My sister's boyfriend refers to me as the Nap Queen.  I wear that crown proudly.

It's the first week of our summer break, and I promised myself that I wouldn't do anything school related this week.  Well, it's Wednesday and so far so good.

I hope all the teachers and students out there enjoy their time off. 

Anticipate the Worst, Hope for the Best.

You know how you expect the worse case scenario, then after it's all said and done you realize it wasn't as bad as you thought it would be? That's what happened to me today.

For the past couple of months I've been having pain right where my ribcage meets in the middle, where my stomach is, and pain right between my shoulder blades.  Because I've never experienced this before I was concerned.  I made an appointment that week with my doctor and we had everything from my heart to my gallbladder checked.  

I learned that I have gallstones, and that my irregular heartbeat was due to inactivity.  But neither one were reasons for my pain.  So I was scheduled to meet with a surgeon for a consultation.  

Before today, I have never been put under anesthesia.  Last year when I had a breast biopsy (which thankfully turned out to be a cyst), I was given shots of Novocain.  So the idea of being put under freaked me out.

Not only that, but I had to be put under for an upper-GI scope.  The idea of having a tube in my throat, when just watching someone chewing on a pen cap makes me want to gag, terrified me.  I have a hard time chewing gum for more than 10 minutes before I have to spit it out.

As you can figure out, my imagination was really taking off on what to expect.  Although pretty much everyone in my family said they've gone through it, and that it was a piece of cake, and that I won't even know what happened, I didn't feel any better.

So, this morning I'm laying in the hospital bed with an IV in my hand (which was a challenge finding a vein to put it in, and I HATE needles!) and pads attached to my chest to monitor my heart-rate during the procedure, and I'm really trying hard to focus on the book I've been reading on my Kindle app to distract myself.  

Then the moment came.  

Although I could feel the start of panic grow, I somehow felt peaceful.  I'm sure the praying I did for courage to go through this helped.

I was wheeled into the procedure room, they positioned me for it, attached me to the monitors, put the bite guard between my teeth, started the "good meds", I took two deep breaths, and the next thing I remember was waking up about a half hour later in another room.

Talk about a deep sleep!  

I felt so relieved about it, that when my surgeon came in, I asked if I could schedule my next one for next week.

So, after all was said and done, I learned that my pain was caused by a hiatal hernia.  So, now I know what could be triggering my pain, and what to do about it.  Although it's something that I'll have to live with, unless it gets much worse and I need surgery, I feel peace at least knowing what's going on.  Having answers make all the difference.  

The kind of hernia I have is the sliding hiatal hernia. 

via Webmd

So now I know to eat small meals and avoid overeating and acidic food.   Oh well, now I know.

Made it!

I'm proud to say that I have completed, and survived, my first year of teaching  high school!

I know, some of you are thinking, "Big Deal."  But for me it was!  I have been through several transitions in the past 4 years.  

During my last year of teaching middle school language arts, I was thinking about how I felt I was falling into a rut with my teaching, and that I needed to perk things up a bit.  Little did I realize that I would face challenges as a teacher in the years to come.  

Now, 4 years later, after having transition to an elementary teacher then a high school teacher, I can look back and be proud of myself.  

Perhaps I wasn't the best teacher this year, and that there was much more that I could have taught my students, but I did give it my best.  I followed the standards and learning targets that my district chose to follow, I tried to include not only reading material, videos and movies, but also bring people in or Skype with them.  Perhaps I could have added more rigor, but for my first year, I think I did very well.

Part of what I learned consisted of how to relate to my students.  Some were easy to relate to, but teenagers can be are complicated.  Not all teens will respond the same way. Some (okay many) are moody, and many a lot of them have too much drama going on.  Much of what I had to learn was how to reach them all, get them to agree to stay on task (to some extent) for the time they were in my class, and get their work done in a timely manner.  Okay...at all.

The best thing about this year now behind me, is that now I have a whole school year in this content and grade level under my belt.  I know what worked, what did, and what I would like to improve on for next year.  I plan to start the year much differently than last year, too.

Now that our year has ended, and I'm sitting here at 11 at night waiting for Kris' uniforms to be finished in the dryer so he has them for work at 4 AM tomorrow morning, I'm reflecting on the year.   I'm also trying to decide whether to have an ice cream so late in the evening or not.  I don't have any wine in the house, so I'm thinking an ice cream will work just fine.

It's already starting.

Within a year after graduating from high school, nearly 30 years ago, I was married.  Getting married was as liberating for me as for many graduates today.  I would go weeks doing my own thing and not going to visit my parents.  Or calling.  I look back now and regret having done that.  I didn't I intended to cut my parents from my life as much as I had.  But I did.  

Why am I thinking about this now?  Our new graduate is exercising his new wings.  He's spreading them out and making choices, even though they're not choices we want him to make.  Our first reaction is to take it personally.  

Through my conversation with my husband this evening, I remembered how I felt those years ago, and how I just wanted to make my own decisions.  How my choices were affecting my parents or my sister didn't matter to me back then.  I was just thinking about myself and what I wanted to do.  I eventually caught on and and began keeping in touch more with my parents.

I guess as the new adults have to transition to adult life, holding jobs, paying bills, and either going to the military or college, parents do too.  We need to get used to not having them around, not knowing where they're at, where they're going, and what time they'll be home.  It's not always an easy transition.  

As for our youngest?  He'll have to adjust to not having his brother around all the time.  He won't be able to count on him for rides to school in the fall, or to bring him to their mom's if he forgets something there.  I can relate to our oldest, but not to our youngest.  I'll have to pick my sister's brain about how she felt all those years ago when I moved out.

The Big Graduation Day and My Wish

What an emotional rollercoaster ride today was!  Our oldest is now graduated!

Have I said how much I love that kid?  

We live in a small community, so the group of 22 students were more than just classmates, but a family that have been together since Pre-K.  It was obvious to anyone watching that they were close.  

I teared up looking at all of them and thinking about how those cute little boys and girls have grown up into wonderful young men and women.

My Facebook newsfeed has also been filled with photos from the district that I taught middle school in.  It was great to see photos of their graduation too.  

So, being the sentimentally nostalgic person I'm known for, I have one wish for Kris and all the graduating classes of 2015, thanks to Rascal Flats.

End of Year Tired

This picture hold a lot of truth.  At the beginning of the school year, we're all energized and ready to rock and roll.  But by the last days of school it takes everything to make it through the day.  Now I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I feel like a horrible teacher at this time of the year.  I'm trying to make what we're doing meaningful, but I feel I'm just going through the motions.  Making it day by day.

Teachers aren't the only ones who feel this way.  The kids feel burnt out too.  Sports are wrapping up for the year, finals are going on, and projects are all due.  Everyone is burnt out.

So, what's a tired teacher during the last 8 days of school to do to keep from crashing?  I'll let you know when I figure it out, or if a reader give me any suggestions.  In the meantime, I'll keep my coffee IV going.

Wrapping Up Another School Year

Well, we'll be wrapping up another school year in another 2 weeks.  This marks a milestone not only for me ending my first year teaching high school, but for our oldest, Kris.  He's graduating next Saturday...in 6 days. 

Kris at age 11

Where did our little boy go??

Kris at age 17

This morning we had the senior mass, and it was bittersweet seeing him in his cap and gown.  I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet.

It's exciting to know that he's about to embark on a new life, making decisions that only he can make.  His future is an adventure now.  I wonder what direction his life will take and where he'll end up.

I think back to when I was graduating 28 years ago.  I remember how excited I was to be done high school, and get on with my life.  I didn't know what direction life would take me, but I'm here now.  Every step I took, every direction I went towards, led me to the man I'm married to, the children I'm a stepmom to, and working at the teaching career I now have.  I wouldn't change a thing.

I just hope that Kris can look back on his life in 10, 20, and 30 years from now and be happy with his choices in life and have no regrets.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day has always been a dreaded day of the year for me.  I've never had children of my own.  I did have a miscarriage long ago early in my pregnancy, but being young and naive, I didn't go to the doctor and that probably prevented me from conceiving ever again. That was nearly 30 years ago.

As many of you already know, I'm a stepmom.  I've been one for 9 years now, but have been a full-time part of their lives for the past 13.  I've been through diaper changes, potty training, birthdays, first days of school, boo-boos, cheered at games, even when I knew nothing about the game, and went to all of the school events.  I got up every 20 minutes to put ice on my oldest's cheeks for 15 minutes after he got all four of his wisdom teeth removed.  I had my share of bringing them to doctor appointments, and spent most of our school breaks together.  I gave them love, support, and discipline when necessary.  I helped with homework, and chauffeured them wherever they needed to go.  I NEVER considered the time I spent with them as babysitting.

I never tried to replace their mom, rather I helped pick out cards and gifts for her birthday, Christmas, Valentines Day, and Mother's Day.  I helped them create handmade gifts for her that would be meaningful, and always enforced the fact that I was not trying to replace Mom.

I'm usually a humble person, rarely calling any attention to myself, or asking for anything.   I'm like that for just about anything.  However, my husband has been very good at acknowledging what I do for him and the boys.  He's taken me out for Mother's Day meals, and had the boys give me cards thanking me for what I do.  I feel that the love I have for my stepsons are no different than a mom who adopted her children.  I may not have carried or given birth to them, but I love them as if they were my very own.

But no matter what, it's still a day I dread and wish I could avoid.  I've always tried to push back any jealous feelings that may creep up during these times.  

I always end up with a lump in my throat and an ache in my heart when I know Mother's Day is coming.  But I still have my mom and mother-in-law who I love very much, and want to make sure they are recognized and appreciated.  So for them I stay strong, swallow that lump in my throat, and keep moving forward.

So for all the moms, stepmoms, mother-in-laws, grandmothers, aunts-as-moms, dads-as-moms, mentors, and everyone in between, I hope you all have a special day and are appreciated for what you do for your children.  

Health Scares

Three days before our April break, we had a scare that caused my husband to spend 4 days in the hospital.  At first the doctors thought that perhaps he had a heart attack, but after all is said and done he had A-fib.  He's now on medication to keep his heart rate under control and he feels good.

Two weeks before his scare, I had one myself.  I had a pain in the pit of my stomach that also radiated to my back and between my shoulder blades.  My doctor, wanting to make sure it wasn't my heart, but suspected it was my gallbladder, put me through a series of tests.  I wore a heart monitor for 24 hours, went through a stress test, and had a full abdominal ultrasound done.  During the ultrasound I learned that I had several good-sized gallstones.   There's no infection, but the stones could be causing my symptoms.

Now, in all my 45 1/2 years, I have not spent more than a few hours in the hospital and have never had surgery, other than a breast biopsy last fall.  Now, I may need to have my gallbladder removed.  That seems a bit more invasive than the biopsy I experienced.  Not only that, but I have a cyst at the base of my middle finger, which my surgeon might take care of as well.  I'm worried about complications about that too.


A couple of years ago, a woman I know had her gallbladder removed, but she ended up having complications because the duct was cut too short, or something like that.  And another woman I know had a similar cyst removed and ended up with a trigger finger that never got better.  Like these stories don't freak me out.

Now I'm wondering if anyone out there ever had their gallbladder removed.  What was your experience like?  Were you awake or out like a light?  How was your recovery?  

I guess I just want to ease any fears I have.   I know it could be much worse than just gallstones, but when you've never been through anything like this it can be frightening.

Teaching the Teacher

Today marks 32 more days left of school, or 6 1/2 weeks before we embark on our summer break.  Not that I'm counting or anything.  What a year it has been, and boy have I learned a lot!


This year I went through the transformation of being an English teacher and an elementary teacher to a high school history teacher.  I passed my Praxis II test for history, so now I'm fully certified to teach it.  What a relief that was!  I had to take it twice!  I forgot all about the economics portion of social studies, so I had to pay for the other test.  Like I had the extra $115 just floating around with nothing to do.

Another transformation for me was learning to deal with teenagers in general.  I learned that yes, teenagers may have attitudes, they may be outspoken (a little too much at times), they may not always behave appropriately in class, but some times the problem wasn't them, but me.  I may not be able to change my students' behavior, but I can control my reaction.

I've had a couple of students during the course of the year who I've clashed with.  I tried talking with the principal, the guidance counselor, and my mentor teacher about the situation.  When my mentor teacher came in to observe me, because of my concerns, she was able to see how my reaction towards a student caused that student to behave in a certain way.  That's when I learned that I was a possible factor.  Let's just say that things have gotten a lot better.  I'm not perfect, but I now approach my students differently, and it has made a difference.

Aside from school, other transformations are taking place. My oldest stepson has just turned 18 and will be graduating in 27 days.  Yes, I've got a countdown for the seniors, too.


With graduation comes new changes in our lives.  My youngest stepson will be alone from this point on, at least at our house, so adjusting to not having his brother around will be a huge change for all of us.  Not only that, but my youngest now has a job.  A JOB!  I wish that life could slow down a bit so they won't grow up so fast.

Well, with the coming of summer break will hopefully come with wonderful opportunities of warm weather and lots of special times with my husband and stepsons.  This weekend Hubby and I enjoyed our first major bike ride of the season.  And it was WONDERFUL!  I felt like Rose in the movie Titanic when she spread her arms wide and yelled, "I'm flying!!!"  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can take the big trip we're hoping to do this summer.

If I say any more I won't have anything to say in my next post, and I'll probably bore you further.  So, until next time.....

New school update...

I'm on my last week of harvest break.  Yup, our school district, as well as many surrounding schools take a couple of weeks off at the end of September to allow the students to work on the potato harvesters and in the barns brining in the harvest.  It's a tradition that's been going on forever in our region.

So far my new position as a high school social studies teacher has been going well.  I have had challenges, but I'm getting the hang of things.  Most of the adjustment is on me.  Dealing with behaviors is different with high school students than it was with middle school and elementary.

Part of the stress that I was going through was taking the Praxis II test in social studies for my certification.  Well, let's just say that it took a couple of attempts, and lots of focus and studying, but I passed!!  Just waiting now for my score to be available for printing so I can wrap this part up.


That test pretty much consumed my spare time and attention.  It's funny how just getting that behind me has changed my perspective on being a history teacher.  I feel more immersed in history (if that makes any sense), that it's more a part of me than it was before.

I feel that as part of my reinvention, if you will, of being a high school social studies teacher, I'll also be working on keeping another blog called Classroom Teacher Tales.   Please feel free to follow my blog and give feedback or suggestions.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Yet Another New Beginning!

According to my last blog post, I was teaching 4th grade.  So far I've gone from teaching 7th and 8th graders, to teaching 3rd and 4th graders.  Now what is in store for me?  Let's just say I'm moving up to high school.   

The whole move is because of instability in the district I was in.  Just like my first district that cut me 3 years ago, I was facing an uncertain future.  So, not wanting to be taking off guard, I decided to quit while I was ahead and take a leap of faith.

This change is a mixture of pros and cons.  The pros is that I'm MUCH closer to home, 1.9 miles as opposed to 25 miles, one way! :)  As for the work, I'm going from 12 students in all subjects to as many as 15 to 24 students in 6 different classes, all social studies.

Another mixture is that I'll be teaching at my stepsons' school.  The older one is a senior this year and the younger one in the 8th grade.  I'll be teaching the older one this year, and it will be awkward for both of us, because it's never happened before.  But they did encourage me to take the position when it was offered to me.

I've also spend the whole summer preparing for my 5 different courses, only to change my mind this weekend on the approach I want to take.  Argh!   

Let's just say that it's been beautiful all day, and I spent almost all of it inside working, in my pj's.  The pool was almost 80º and it wasn't muggy outside at all.  But on the positive side, I finished what I needed to do.  

 

 

Shakespeare

Yes, we are studying a Shakespeare play.  I have enjoyed and A Midsummer Night's Dream and have taught it before with me 8th graders back in Madawaska.  When I talked with my class about what they

had done after the play, we decided that we wanted to do the same thing.  So.....

I found a version of A Midsummer Night's Dream for 4th grade, and we read it together as a class.  We discussed the major elements of the play, the characters, settings, and plot.  Next I survey the groups to allow them choice as to which act of the play they wanted to work on, and I used this information to group them.

Next, they picked apart their scripts.  We discussed the goals of this activity, and what they needed to focus on.  We discussed how much work this would be, but even though I offered to let them hold off until after April break to work on it, they all voted (blind vote) to start right away.  As you can see from the video they took off running.  The part I like best is they all seem to be enjoying the process.