Chains

As of lately I have been reading Chains by Laurie Halse. This book has been my ever present companion of the last couple of days and I am almost done reading it. Although this book is meant for young readers I can not imagine anyone of any age not enjoying this book!

The book takes place in pre-revolutionary times and the central character is a slave, Isabel, who tells of her journey of being a slave and all the heartache she encounters.

I must admit that the only initial reason I was drawn to this book was the cover //I am a sucker for good cover art\\ Even though I should not judge a book by it's cover I did.

I love the two eagles with a British and American flag painted on them!

If you are looking for a book to fall in love with you should check out Chains!

Color Combo

I am loving the color combo of yellow and grey. Typically I do not gravitate towards the color yellow, but I am slowly changing my mind...I think grey has something to do with this!

Don't judge a book by its cover...or something like that

Most of us can recall being told not to judge a book by its cover.  Well the same can be said about people; especially those who have disabilities.  This train of thought came about when I was watching a television show (if you must know what it was I will admit it...I was watching the real house wives of New Jersey...I know shameful), but there was a young man who is an aspiring lawyer and was being denied entrance into the program because he has a disability. 

Now here is a person who is entirely capable of becoming a lawyer, he is driven, intelligent and willing to put in the work to achieve the desired outcome...a law degree, but what is standing in his way?

His disability//NO//

Intelligence//NO//

Perseverance//NO//

Money// NO//

A person is standing in his way because they can not see past his cover...a.k.a. his label! How horrible is this? This young man is being held back from achieving his dreams because someone thinks he is not capable! They are not even willing to give him a chance because all they see is a label and are not willing to see what is behind it! This just makes me sad! I hope he is able to push past all the negativity and achieve what he has set out to do! I wish him the best

The same situation happened to me only a little different. I was going for my bachelors in varying exceptionalities k-12 (special education).  Now I was and still am hesitant in telling others that I have a disability because people tend to freak out when they hear the D word, but being in school I had to let my professors know, so I could receive accommodations (extended time). 

All most all of my professors were fine with me having a disability in fact none of them ever made it an issue, much to my relief! In fact, I would of made it out of school without an major disability judging if it was not for this one professor, who happened to be a special education professor, go figure!

I was taking a class regarding behaviors in the classroom and everyone was required to pick a student in our internship and do a BCP (behavior change plan). No big deal...unless there are literally no students with disabilities that had any major behavior problems in my class! So I had to practically find a minor issue with a student who had a disability and create an entire BIP (Behavior intervention plan) for them.

Now these BCP and BIP are no small tasks they are time consuming! Unfortunately, I did not have any other option this had to be done so I did it and got approval from everyone around me including my professor. I had successfully created a BCP and BIP with a student who had no behavior issues at all, I was on my way to my last year of school...

...except the one professor who was not even teaching the class had an issue with my paper. In the professor's opinion I did not successfully find a behavior to modify therefore I did not create a adequate BCP & BIP which meant that I was not suited to be a special education teacher! The professor thought I had gone far enough and that my disability was preventing me from completing the program!

I remember sitting in her office amazed that she was saying this to me.  Here this special education professor, who has a doctorate, is telling me a person who has a disability and is getting a degree in special education that I can not do something because of my LABEL!

Are you kidding me

I did not know what to say...I just sat there holding back tears because the last thing I was going to do was let this person see me cry. To sum things up I made some changes to my project, which by the time the paper was complete the professor who had an issue with it was teaching at another university, but whatever! I was still in the program and had even more determination that I was going to stand up for students who had disabilities because of what I had faced due to my label.

What I want you, the reader, to take away from these rambling of words is not to judge a person by their cover a.k.a disabilities.   A label is a bunch of letters put together to form a word that does NOT determine what that person can or cannot do!!

Project ugly fabric

Although this was a tiny project it made a huge difference! I have a buffet with drawers and inside the drawers was not so lovely green felt...this needed to be changed! So I rescued two cami's from my goodwill pile to replace the nasty green fabric...here is the project in pictures

Ahhh...so much better!!

VOCAB-u-lous

Donors Choose helps create 'partnerships' between teachers and people willing to give as little as $5 to help fund school projects. Teachers submit project requests to which visitors to the Donors Choose website can donate all, or a portion of the request. Once a project reaches its goal, the materials are delivered to the school. It's as easy as that. You can support as many projects as you like and you can even focus on locations that are close to you and/or projects in areas (such as language arts) that inspire you.

According to their impact page, Donors Choose has raised $38,736,888 to fund classroom projects throughout the country. Just image the impact your dollars could have!

I have recently posted a project on Donors Choose that will help middle school students master vocabulary words! If you would like to donate visit:

http://www.donorschoose.org/ms.hall

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Out of the ordinary

I have been on summer break for a little over a week and I am ready to go back. I am currently back at my parents house, for the summer, which meant I had to drag all of my stuff up north and then in the fall me and all of my stuff will head back south. As of right now I am streamlining everything that I own...if I have not worn/thought/looked/used/talked about an item in 6 months than away it must go!

I am finding it a little odd not being in school. This is really my first summer that I have not had a steady job or classes that I am taking. I will be working on school stuff for the fall, but I have 50 odd plus days til school starts back up sooo what to do until then???

On a side note my hair is being chopped off tomorrow :)

Summer Project

Well the first summer project has presented itself...there are others, but this is more exciting than renters insurance. Sooo I am doing a before and after of a "tall boy" dresser (aparently that is what they are called). Supplies: knobs and paint (color: gray, black and perhaps a grey blueish color)

Round One Done

I have successfully completed my first year of teaching! All in all my fist year was very enjoyable. I love the field I am in, ESE, my students may be a bit more challenging, but the rewards are worth the challenge!!

These last few days have been filled with hugs, laughter and remembrance of the fun and learning that has taken place these last couple of months.

I do have to say that my students test scores on their science final were higher if not equal to the schools and district scores. My students have worked hard and they deserve a huge pat on the back!

I am very proud of what they have accomplished and know that if they work hard and stay positive they can achieve anything they put their minds to.

So here is to a wonderful year and an even better year come this August!

A post is a post unless of course...

its just rambilings...sorry...the weekend is among us! Today does not feel like Friday...even though I am in need of a break!

This was a half day of school and there are only two more left!! To make use of the half day I put in some grades and cleaned up my room. My room looks so blan and white.

I picked up a summer read yesterday...When Hitler stole pink rabbit by Judith Kerr. I enjoy reading WWII books. This time in history is my favorite by far.

Book Love

I have some what of an obsession with antique books. Where my parents live are two goodwill bookstores, which is an excellent place to pick up some lovely books. I usually stack them or lay them on their side and place odds and ends on top....they are a good way to add characterer to a room. I have also made frames out of books as well. A while ago I found a book with the word "SISTERS" on it which I transformed into a frame and gifted it to my sister.

Do I have to spell it out?

Lets get one thing out of the way....I am a horrible speller! Ex. In 5th grade the word special was on my spelling list for several months...I know sad!

There are two spellers left and the word is: ochidore...I can barely say the word let alone spell it!

I love the little boy he captures how I feel about spelling! I am enamored by how these little kids can spell such challenging words...it is truly amazing! The last word...Stromuhr...are you kidding me?

Thread this

Saw this in a blog today and thought how colorful, cute and cheap!!

P-O-S-I-T-I-V-E

1. Listen to your words...

Part of staying positive is catching yourself when you're being negative. Thumpers's mothers had it right when she said "if you can not say something nice, than do not say it at all."

This takes us to gossip, which is always makes a situation worse. Gossip can take a simple incidence and drag all the way up to a catastrophic event. If you would not say it to the person you are talking about, than you should probably keep it to yourself!


2. Protect your mind...
We are constantly being invade with images and words that could affect our outlook on life and certain situations. Be wise on the choices you make when it comes to TV shows, music, magazines, books, websites and so on.


Even if you do not repeat the negative things you hear or see, they can impact your mood, energy and attitude.


3. Find ways to bring positive into your life...
It's one thing to avoid negative people and media in your life, but now they need to replace with positivity! Surround yourself with people and items your enjoy and love.


4. When you can, make an effort to be extra nice or patient with someone...
We all enjoy when we are given patience or when someone is nice when they do not have to be. When this occurs we are more likely to do the same to others around us. Even when you encounter a rude nasty person try to kill them with kindness and perhaps they will eventually return the favor.

As I tell my students all you have to do is be nice, polite and have a sense of humor and you will do fine!

Oh those Crazy, Hazy, Lazy days of Summer

Summer is merely just a couple of days away! I really do not have any major plans...which is probably best! My sisters graduation went well she is officially a college freshman//weird// Memorial day is a day away...ahhh three days of rest!!

Side note how amazing is this...it is a good thing I do not live in London

Maybe I shall travel to London over the summer and pay a visit to Susannah Hunter!

Not so little anymore

My little sister, Molly, is graduating on Saturday! I still am in shock that she is actually graduating high school. Not that I did not think she could accomplish the task, but rather that she is old enough to be done with high school.

I remember when she was sooo dependent on every little thing and now she is driving and about to go to college! I actually thought about suggesting to some of her teachers that they fail her so she could stay in high school forever...makes me sound younger having a sibling in high school, but I guess my little sister is getting older and is no longer all that little...even though I am taller than her! \\//Congratulations Molly!!!\\//