I know there's a book about life lessons, it might even be titled that, but I learned a valuable lesson recently; one that you would never find in a book. We need to teach our children not to pick up dirty undergarmets when they see them lying on the sidewalk.
Yesterday, while cleaning out my son's bookbag after school, I came upon a sock. It was a large sock, a man-size black, a turned inside out, dirty sock. My son "found" it, so he put it in his bookbag. Who would have ever thought that I would have to teach my childen that was something we just don't do. "It's very dirty", I said, "We don't know where that's been," I reitterated. Then, I LAUGHED! I told my husband I never could have dreamed that when I was teahing my children not to touch a hot stove, or to look both ways before crossing a street, that I would also have to teach them to leave dirty socks on the ground. It's just one of those things.
This lesson is still making me laugh today so I had to write about it. My boys have brought home broken pencils, scraps of paper, rocks, all kinds of treasures. But the sock was the icing on the cake! Having "teachable moments" like the one yesterday which evolved from the sock is one of the millions of reasons I love being a mom. My kids make me laugh daily!! I love the life lessons they teach me!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Bag 'O Dinner
I enjoy cooking! It's relaxing to me to chop, mix, stir, pound, sift, heat, repeat.
Tonight's dinner was different. I cooked it all in plastic bags. (Is that healthy?) The pork chops were fresh, the broccoli was fresh; I just took the easy way out of cooking them.
I bought a seasoning mix for the pork chops. Something like bag 'n bake. I steamed the broccoli in another bag. It struck me as a very strange thing to cook my meal in plastic bags: one went into the oven the other into the microwave.
All I could think was, "My mom and Nana would not be happy to see me cooking this way."
But it was delicious!! I don't plan to make this something I do often. But the kids and my husband devoured it all. So maybe there's something to be said for the plastic bag o' dinner business?
On a side note: The salad was filled with fresh vegetables and the mashed potatos were 100% homemade.
Tonight's dinner was different. I cooked it all in plastic bags. (Is that healthy?) The pork chops were fresh, the broccoli was fresh; I just took the easy way out of cooking them.
I bought a seasoning mix for the pork chops. Something like bag 'n bake. I steamed the broccoli in another bag. It struck me as a very strange thing to cook my meal in plastic bags: one went into the oven the other into the microwave.
All I could think was, "My mom and Nana would not be happy to see me cooking this way."
But it was delicious!! I don't plan to make this something I do often. But the kids and my husband devoured it all. So maybe there's something to be said for the plastic bag o' dinner business?
On a side note: The salad was filled with fresh vegetables and the mashed potatos were 100% homemade.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Teacher Strike
My alma mater is a district on strike right now.
I'm torn about how I feel. On the one hand, I support the teachers who are defending what we deserve. On the other hand, how could teachers walk out on their students, leaving the schools in chaos. The news is reporting that there are 140 substitute teachers replacing the 380+ who are striking.
On day 2 of the strike, in the district which I earned my diploma from, the district in which I currently reside, and send 3 kids to school in, made local breaking news. Our superintendent, just today, signed an $83,000 signing bonus. This on the heals of yet another levy being placed on the May ballot. The last 5 levies have failed. What today's news shows our already non-supporters is this: Why should my tax dollars pay your teacher's salaries when our superintendent just received the equivalent of 2 teacher's salaries in return for his signature.
I'm just torn tonight. The district I work in seems to be doing OK, but I never in a million years thought I would be so close to these other events. My thoughts are jumbled tonight. I certainly did not get into education for this.
I hope tomorrow brings better news and a more positive outlook.
I'm torn about how I feel. On the one hand, I support the teachers who are defending what we deserve. On the other hand, how could teachers walk out on their students, leaving the schools in chaos. The news is reporting that there are 140 substitute teachers replacing the 380+ who are striking.
On day 2 of the strike, in the district which I earned my diploma from, the district in which I currently reside, and send 3 kids to school in, made local breaking news. Our superintendent, just today, signed an $83,000 signing bonus. This on the heals of yet another levy being placed on the May ballot. The last 5 levies have failed. What today's news shows our already non-supporters is this: Why should my tax dollars pay your teacher's salaries when our superintendent just received the equivalent of 2 teacher's salaries in return for his signature.
I'm just torn tonight. The district I work in seems to be doing OK, but I never in a million years thought I would be so close to these other events. My thoughts are jumbled tonight. I certainly did not get into education for this.
I hope tomorrow brings better news and a more positive outlook.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Outside My Comfort Zone
Today's slice is a link to the Ohio Middle Level Association newsletter. In the winter edition I had an article published; my first ever published writing. I began the article in an unfinished slice last March during this challenge. I never finished it on here, but I continued writing and sent it in to OMLA this past fall. It was accepted and published and I'm quite proud of it. So I thought I'd share. Just click the link and the title of my article is "Outside My Comfort Zone". It gives a pretty decent description of who I am as an educator. Enjoy! :-)
http://ohiomla.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2012-13-Winter-Edition.pdf
http://ohiomla.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2012-13-Winter-Edition.pdf
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Updating Students
My husband just made a comment that inspired this morning's slice.
He works in marketing for a local TV station. They change software often; he just told me that they update and have to learn new software every 3 years or so. He's in that transition right now and last time around, 3 years ago, I got to spend a long weekend with him in NYC while he was training.
What does this have to do with me? I feel like every year teachers are learning new acronyms for intervention with students, new curriculum, testing expectation, administrative expectations, new political changes, and the list goes on! Every year!! I am flexible, I can bend and adapt like the best of them. But why is it that big businesses get three years to master their craft and of top of that they get training? While educators, just as they're mastering their craft, are expected to change yet again. We're lucky to get a half day of PD (training) and then we're set to figure it out, differentiate, and leave no child behind.
I think I'd like to update my students less often, so that they get a chance to master and perform what I'm asking them too. And on top of that, I'd like to get some training in NYC. :-)
He works in marketing for a local TV station. They change software often; he just told me that they update and have to learn new software every 3 years or so. He's in that transition right now and last time around, 3 years ago, I got to spend a long weekend with him in NYC while he was training.
What does this have to do with me? I feel like every year teachers are learning new acronyms for intervention with students, new curriculum, testing expectation, administrative expectations, new political changes, and the list goes on! Every year!! I am flexible, I can bend and adapt like the best of them. But why is it that big businesses get three years to master their craft and of top of that they get training? While educators, just as they're mastering their craft, are expected to change yet again. We're lucky to get a half day of PD (training) and then we're set to figure it out, differentiate, and leave no child behind.
I think I'd like to update my students less often, so that they get a chance to master and perform what I'm asking them too. And on top of that, I'd like to get some training in NYC. :-)
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