I love these kids!

For the holiday, I assembled treat bags for the kids with little things Melissa and I bought for them. We gave them a jingle bell, a candy cane, a pencil with two little erasers, a sticky hand, and a coloring book. We decided that, because of the low attendance today, we would show them a movie and give math a break.

7A, my SPED class, was the one I thought would be the most crazy. Instead, they opened their treat bags quietly, ate their candy canes, and enjoyed Beethoven's Christmas Adventure. They even said thank you as they were leaving the classroom!

7B, my gifted group, was the one I thought would be the quietest. Wrong again. The sticky hands were almost immediately flying in all directions as they tried to pull other student's belongings away from them, tried to stick them on the ceiling, tried to stick them in each other's hair... The Santa Clause was just background noise for happy shenanigans. I thought they were a riot, but Melissa was not amused. Probably a good thing...they would have been out of control all period, and I'd have been right along with them. :D

7C, my English language learners, was the group I was unsure of. A high percentage of the group follows the path of Islam, so I had a back-up coloring sheet in case they had religious objection to a Christmas movie and gift. I need not have worried. Some seemed to get the biggest kick out of the candy canes, eating it from both ends. As a whole, they initially preferred coloring in the little holiday coloring books in their treat bags to watching the movie , but then quickly realized they could grab each other's coloring books with the sticky hands. I probably shouldn't have let them get away with it, but hey, it's the last day of school before break, and I'm tired. :D

It's funny how this job is working out for me. I don't think I've ever worked so hard or for so many hours, but I feel like I'm making a difference. It's fulfilling, enjoyable, and worth every minute.

I have finally found my purpose.

For my ENL (ESL or ELL) students

I have quite a few students who are learning English as a second (or fifth) language. While the signs in math are similar or the same, they struggle with the words.

As a basic cheat sheet, I made 3 x 3 cards out of construction paper:

I then laminated them ... :

and then hole-punched a corner and put in a binder ring so they can keep them in their math notebooks:

I hope this helps them! One of my students has only been in this country for about 4 months, so now he is not only learning a new language in a new culture, he is learning math in a new language in a new culture. I can't imagine how difficult this must be.

I Got the Job!

Say hello to the new 7th grade Math teacher for the Buffalo Academy of Science! I am so excited and scared and nervous and excited...

I am about to begin a big adventure, a new chapter in the story of my life. It's going to be interesting, fun, frustrating, challenging, and much different from the typical day I am used to. I am looking forward to it.

And I am determined to be the best darn math teacher I can be.

Einstein Quote

"Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction." 

I am amazing.

One of the good things that has come out of Ian's poor choices is that I've gotten back into counseling to help myself.

I truly am amazing.

That doesn't come from a king-of-the-mountain standpoint. It's taken me time to get here. I've come to the realization that I have endured many traumas and hardships, and they have made me stronger. Even though I came close a few times, I didn't cave, resign, or flat-out quit.

I learned. I grew courage and resilience.

I've made a safe place for myself and made decisions to improve myself and my life. All of this I've done with a background and childhood that were less than desirable. I have people that love me and support me, even when they disagree with me.

I deserve healthy relationships. I deserve safety and security. I deserve the better life I am creating for myself. I'm not perfect, but I am me. I am authentic and real.

I am finally getting to a place where I not only know these things intellectually, but believe them emotionally.

Steven told me a few months ago that I'm 'one tough bunny', and it made me uncomfortable, because I didn't feel so tough. I think, though, that toughness is in doing the right thing, standing up for myself, and allowing myself to feel.

I'm going to be okay. Us amazing beings don't wither.

Positivity

Facebook post from John Tesh

Nicole and Steve's Wedding

The first time we went to an occasion and weren't "Mr and Mrs Tabor" or "Mr and Mrs Burton".

Steven is so good at formal occasions. I never know what to do or where to go.  We actually danced together first time ever, and probably the last time ever. It is official - I cannot dance.

Coloring

Fambly

The family resemblance always takes me by surprise

For My Seester

My sister asked if I would make her an afghan, something light for spring, maybe with flowers? I've started it:

Manicure!

I was doing a little Amazon surfing and ran across 'mood' nail polish. As the temperature of your hands cools or warms, the color of the nail polish changes. I checked with Sue to see if she thought it would work, and although it is not a brand she had heard of, if I bought it, we'd try it.

Well, it works a treat! The brand is DIY Hard Polish, and the color is 'pink galaxy'. When my hands are cold, the polish is very dark, but as my hands warm up, it turns to hot pink. Very Cool!!!

My Little Cousin in Color Guard

So proud of my little cousin! She has come so far in just two short years, 

and watching her it is obvious she loves what she does.

Me and My Big Brother

About 30 years ago

There's a Bathroom on the Right

I do know how to screw up lyrics. This song came on the  radio today, and I had to laugh. 

I remember wondering...

Why are they singing about the bathroom on the right? 

How do they KNOW?

Look! An unsolicited comment about my cooking!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Roses from Steven. :) He is so good to me.

Baby, It's COLD outside!

So hard to imaging Pitchers and Catchers reporting when the weather is this cold!

Awww...

Hanging on the board when I came back from lunch

I don't like guns. Just sayin'.

I think it is important to be educated. My brother, in his infinite wisdom, suggested I look into classes for Ian to keep him busy, but I thought, hey, why not classes for me? 

I signed up for the Village of Kenmore Citizen Police Academy. For eleven weeks, I, with 12 other people, will learn about various aspects of the Kenmore Police Officer's duties and their service in the community. 

Last week, the detective in charge of the Juvenile Division gave a presentation. He brought in a couple boxes of paraphernalia the police have taken off of kids in the Village. I kid you not, I didn't know what better than half of the items even were. 

This week was our week for the gun range. We learned about gun safety, and then we were set up with short video scenarios where we, while using guns loaded with five paint bullets, had to decide to shoot or not shoot. I took three shots and told the police officer I was done. He looked surprised, then he laughed, and he took the gun away. 

Then came the real gun with the real bullets. Much louder, and much more nerve-wracking. Everyone was given five bullets to shoot at a paper target. I shot the gun once, gave it back to the police officer, told him I was done. "I don't like this. I really don't like this." He laughed again and said it's not for everybody. 

That was an understatement. I hated every minute of it. Hated. Every. Minute. The noise, the power, the recoil, and the thought of the immense, grave responsibility that comes with pulling that trigger. And did I mention the noise? I don't want it. Any of it. 

Wearing mandatory safety glasses and ear protection.

Do I 'hate' guns? No. I see and understand the need, and I am thankful there are people who serve that are not frightened by them, who think fast enough to be able to use one properly, and who keep me free and safe. 

I just know I should not own one, at least not now. I do not know enough, and I may never know enough, to be able to own one safely and without fear. I know that is not the kind of power that, in this moment in time, I feel I ever want to have. I also know that someday I may change my mind and decide to get more training and more education on gun use and safety. Not now, though. Not now.

Superbowl 50

Superbowl 50 is in the books. 

Carolina Panthers     10

Denver Broncos        24

Yes, I was rooting for the old guy.

Congratulations, Peyton Manning and the Broncos Nation!