The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree

Happy Tuesday!

Since I was sharing pictures from the Pumpkin Patch yesterday, I thought it would be fun to post some pictures when I was Riley's age at the Pumpkin Patch.  These gems are from Fall 1985.

My sister and I (1985)

Riley (2012)

                                                 

Mrs. Jones (1985)

Mrs. Jones pouting on a pumpkin

Riley in front of the same Oscar sign

One of my favorite pictures of all time is the one above.  I am the one pouting on the pumpkin because my mom told me I had to take a nap when we got home.  My little sister Amy is the cute one smiling. Although Riley was smiling in her picture, she was acting like how I looked in my picture just moments before.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!  Enjoy your day. :)

Sometimes You Have To Stop and Smell the Apple Cider Donuts

Happy Monday!

Sometimes it feels like the weekend is just long enough to get caught up and then it's over. That's how this weekend felt for me. Maybe it's because my mind has been preoccupied with the Phase 4 Portfolio that's coming due in a few weeks. I always get myself so worked up over these requirements. This one has been especially hard because my focus this semester has been on teaching, not on course work. Not to mention it's the last step before graduation!  :)

Anyway, I was getting myself ready to spend the entire day at the library on Saturday when Riley came into the kitchen ready to talk.  She wanted to tell me a story.  She wanted to tell me about something that happened at school.  She wanted to tell me about what she wants to do with her pumpkin and about her costume, and on and on and on.  She needed my attention.  She needed me. As hard as it was, I knew I needed to abandon my plans for school work and spend some time with her and Nick.  So, that's what we did.  We got in the car and went to the Pumpkin Patch.

 It's been years since I've been there and not much has changed. :)

 We had so much fun walking around and seeing the animals.

Ry especially liked her pumpkin with purple hair. 

It ended up being a perfect fall day and I'm glad I didn't miss out on it. I have not always been good about turning off my "school mode" for "family mode".  It's been a difficult at times to balance as I work to finish my degree.  Saturday was one of those days that I realized that sometimes the best moments are the ones that aren't in the original plan. Sometimes you have to stop and smell the apple cider donuts. :)

Learn, Live, Hope

Hey All!

It's been a busy week and I haven't had a chance to post anything in the last few days.  I wanted to share why I chose "Learn, Live, Hope" as my description on this blog.  One of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein reads:

I've seen many variations of this quote, all with the same idea in mind.  Learn from your mistakes and experiences of the past, live fully in the present, and have high expectations for the future. This has been one my my guiding philosophies for my life.

Learn:
I have made more mistakes than I would care to share here.  Although painful and embarrassing at times, I have learned a great deal from the mistakes of the past.  I have no doubts these life lessons have prepared me for where I am today.
   
Learning from the mistakes of the day before also seems to fit appropriately with student teaching.  Every evening I come home, I reflect on how I could have done something differently.  I am constantly learning and adjusting what I do to the needs of the students and the classroom.

Live:
I have trouble with this one.  I spend considerable time reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future and not as much time really living in the moment.  I am trying to get better at this.  I've been making a conscious effort to come home, put the computer away and just play with our daughter.  The other day I picked our daughter up from preschool and instead of rushing straight home, we went to the park and played for an hour.  I know this might not seem like much to some of you, but for me (someone who always has to be "accomplishing" something), it's huge steps forward. :)

Hope:
Hope is my favorite word. Earlier this year, my cooperating teacher had the students share their favorite word during our community circle time.  I had not given it much thought before then.  When I thought about different words and meanings, I came up with the word "hope".  Just the word alone makes me happy.  It gives me the sense that if I keep moving forward, great things are sure to come. It's also been a word that has sustained me through difficult times. Well, it turns out that it's also one of my cooperating teacher's favorite words. Great minds think alike. :)

For me, hope applies to my personal and professional life.  I have high hopes for my daughter, my marriage, my home, my extended family, and my friends.  Hopes for health, prosperity, and dreams realized.  I also have the highest hopes and expectations for my students.  No matter where they come from or their current circumstance, I believe they have the opportunity to succeed.

I hope you find the words that inspire you today. :)

Teach Like a Champion

Hi!

Teachers amaze me. There are so many things they balance with ease- student's academic needs, social needs, behavior management, etc.  Excellent teachers make it look easy.  As a pre-service teacher I want to learn how I can be an exceptional teacher too. One of the best resources I have found is Doug Lemov's book Teach Like a Champion: 49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College. 

I first heard about this book on NPR and knew I needed to order it.  Mr. Lemov has done extensive research on the exact techniques that have contributed to many teachers success in the classroom.  He not only lists the skills but explains how to put them into practice and shows examples.  The book comes with a DVD full of real-life examples. The following clip is one of my favorites and it shows how to ensure you have everyone's attention without constantly interrupting the flow of instruction.  Happy viewing! :)

Digital Story Example

I came across this video the other day that I made during my last field placement.  Its purpose is to provide a way for students and parents to get to know a little bit about me.  I love creating digital stories and it is a great way to engage students in 21st century learning. This particular digital story does not include audio narration; rather a collection of images, text, and music.  I'm not 100% sure it is considered a "story" without the narration but I'm not sure what else to call it. :)

There are some very helpful tutorials online that can help you navigate iMovie if you are new to Mac.  Here is a link for one I found on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFuLi8D-qGk&feature=related

Another helpful link I came across that speaks to the educational uses for digital storytelling is: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/

This would be a great way to engage students in their writing and allowing them to create beyond paper and pencil.

Just thought I would share. :)

Welcome to My Blog!

Hi!  Thank you for visiting my blog.  I have had this blog for quite some time and have not done anything with it.  I think now's a great time to begin sharing and posting-so here it goes!

A little bit about me.  First of all,  I have been blessed with a wonderful family. My husband is a teacher and our daughter is a smart, funny, energetic preschooler. It was after the birth of my daughter that I fully realized my passion for education.  I could think of no other profession that is as rewarding as knowing I am working to make a positive impact in the world she will grow up in.

Prior to going back to school I had many different jobs.  I worked as a leisure & corporate travel agent, a schedule coordinator at a pediatric dentist office, a store manager for Starbucks and too many retail jobs to list. Teaching is my passion and it feels good to finally know what I want to be "when I grow up".

I am currently serving as a student teaching intern in a third grade classroom.  It has been an amazing experience and my cooperating teacher is the best! I'm looking forward to a great semester and for the good things that are sure to come! :)