Party Anyone?

I love Birthdays!

I love celebrating my own and I love celebrating others.

They are such a happy event because it is a celebration of a creation of God!  What could be better?
I am so thankful for all the beautiful people in my life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHELLY!


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Pressing on....

I have been in school for bout 20 years. 7 of those I have been in college.  That is a long time to have been in college.  I was really dumb my first few years of school and I wasted so much time and money getting my act together.  I know that I learned a lot in those years God did use it for his glory, but I still wish that they had been spent more usefully.
I went to advising last week to figure out my classes for Jan term and Spring.  All pf a sudden it hit me...I will be applying for student teaching next semester.  I was so thrown a back in that moment.  I have 3 more semesters of school left!  
There is always a guess part of me that lives with that regret of the wasted years.  So much so that I forget to look at want God is doing at this vary moment. How much I am accomplishing right now. All the things, the dreams that are finally coming true.  I am going to be a teacher!  It is so hard to think of my self as an adult because I have acted like a child for so long.  God is changing that.  He is changing me.

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

-- Philippians 3:12-14

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Start a Love Train....

    Earlier this year I joined an organization called Kiva. They has developed a system where individuals, companies, and small groups, can get together and pool money in order to provide loans for people on poor areas and developing countries. These loans go to all kinds of people such as small business owners, educators, and farmers.  They loans are paid back and you can use that money again to go to another loan. It just keeps on going.

    For the first time last month I made my first loan.   I, and 3 other people, supplied a $125 loan to a woman named Melissa. Melissa is has a small business selling bannas to the community. She is married with 2 kids and is 22 years old, two years younger than me. She wanted the money so that she could expand her business and buy more bananas. After I gave my portion of the loan there was still $50 dollars left that needed to be raised.

    It was very interesting because I started to feel really invested in whether or not the rest of the money was raised.  I started shecing the site everyday, sometimes twice, so see how far along the loan was.  When all the money was finally raised I was no excited because I knew that Mellissa was going to get the money that she needed.

    After a loan is made there is a progress bar that shows the percentage of the loan that has been paid back.  This has only fueled my desire to see her succeed. Just like when I was waiting for the loan to be fulfilled, I check the Kiva website to see how far she has come in the repayment.  Every time I think about her I pray for her.  I pray that her business thrives, that she can make a better life for her self, and most importantly that God would make himself evident in her life. I have even printed a picture of her that is hanging in my room so that I will pray for her more often.
    It is so amazing the power of giving.  How giving such a small amount can make such a difference in the lives of others and yourself.   It is so cool that complete stranger can get together for a common goal and help out so many people.  Some of the these loans completely change the lives of the people that recieve them.  It has been such a neat experience and I can't wait to loan again.


Mellissa Alumios



              

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Let God be God

I really want to jump a head,
To spring forward to what is further on the road
I cannot
It is not ready

All I can do is wait.
All I can do is pray.
All I can do let God be God.




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So Paul, standing before the council,^[addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way,  for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.  “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples,  and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.  From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
  “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’  And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.
  “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.  For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”
 ³² When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.”  That ended Paul’s discussion with them,  but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
 Acts 17: 22-34


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I will declare the Beauty of the Lord

 God has just been throwing it out lately and I have no idea how to describe it....
 Music is a powerful thing ans these artist do a great job of expressing it.
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER!





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"Do not forget to tend the earth"

Facts about weeds....

- If you don't pull them up by the roots they will grow back with vengeance.

- If you don't pull them up at all, they will suck the life out of your plants.

- Weeds are easier to pull when the ground around them is moist.

- If you don't throw the weeds out they will replant themselves right back where they were.

- The roots are usually stronger than that plant itself.

- Some have bases that are easy to see some have bases that are hard to see.  The more you pull up the easier ones,  the easier it is to see that harder ones.

Hmmm...not so sure this is about weeds anymore....







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Pictures

     Since I have been home I have pretty much gone picture crazy.  

     I have had this frame collage (one of those frames that is like 6 4x6's put together) for like 3 or 4 years and have never filled it up.  I finally did last week and it looks great.  It was hard to find the right pictures and at first I was putting pictures of friends and family until I decided that I just have to many pictures of both, that I love.  So I bought another frame collage for the family pictures.  After I filled them both up I still had PICTURE FEVA!  So I went through this drawer of old pictures that we have.  It has pictures from when we lives in Greenville and the first years that we lived in NC.  

     We also have some old pictures of my Dad's side of the family from the 30's and 40's.  Those are my favorite pictures to look at. One because I have always been fasciated with the early 20th century but more than that.  I think I am more drawn to those pictures because I never really got to know my dad's side of the family except for his parents, my Mamaw and Papaw.  Though, they were both gone by the time I was 9.  I kind of feel like they are, as cliche as it sound, a link to my past.  I look at those pictures and see the faces of people that I come from and share traits with.  Looking at those pictures gives some idea of what they were like and some of the things that they did in their lives.  Since I can't see my family yet, these pictures are the next best thing and I really do enjoy them.

     It is always fun to go through old pictures.  Seeing old faces and and watching how far you have come. It always bring up good memories, bad memories, and some memories you just assume forget. Pictures and Music has always been what God has used the most to get my attention.  Especially back when I had a camera and I was taking pictures all the time.  He we would always be showing me things through the pictures that I took.  I have been fighting the urge lately to go out and buy a camera.  I miss taking picture so badly!  Though I know I will get one when the time is right. God is helping me to be patient.

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I have no doubt something has changed......

A revamped blog for a revamped life!


- I am a college senior at a college that I love and never could have imagined myself at
- My next year at that college is covered
- Plus extra money to cover almost all of my study travel
- I am about to start another year at a great summer job
- I have amazing friends & family
- I have Mom that words cannot describe her awesomeness.

- Most of all I have a Father in heaven that loves me beyond words!


GOD IS SO GOOD!


I cannot believe that my first year at Converse is over.  It really flew by so fast.  It was a fabulous 9 months filled with lots of fun memories. I worked harder at Converse than I ever have in my life.  I feel like I have finally gotten into a position where I want my dream of becoming a teacher to come true no matter what.  I will not let anything or anyone stop me. It is still an intimidating thought sometimes, becoming a teacher, but the more I learn about it the more I want to do it.


This year I made many new friends. They helped me through some of the tougher times at Converse when everything was piling on top.  They were God sent and are all special to me in their own "special" way!


I also realized just what some of my best friends here at home really mean to me, especially my Mom.  Leaving home was really hard the first few months.  My new atmosphere was so completely different from the one that I was used to and way out of my comfort zone.  It sucked that I could just jump in the car and drive over to Nicki's house, run up to Village Coffee, or pop into the next room to tell Mom something exciting. whenever I wanted.  I couldn't even just pick up the phone and call!  I know that God had reason for it, ans I know that i became closer to him through all this.  I have a habit of sponging off other people faith, instead of leaping out for myself.  I definitely did more leaping this year.


I know that I could have only gotten through the last nine moths with God he has taught me a whole lot and I cannot wait to see what he has next.  He deserves all the credit for this thing, because i would be nothing without him.  I love you Abba!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Something changed inside me broke wide open all spilled out
Till I had no doubt that something changed

Never would have believed it till I felt it in my own heart
In the deepest part the healing came

And I cannot make it
And I cannot fake it
And I can't afford it
But it's mine

Something so amazing in a heart so dark and dim
When a wall falls down and the light comes in

And I cannot make it
And I cannot fake it
And I can't afford it
But it's mine

-- Sara Groves

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Oh Down in Mexico.....

There are so many things that are changing in my life. There are so many new things that I am experiencing and learning. It is so ridiculous to think that my first year at converse is almost over. When I first started her at converse I was afraid that the years would drag on like they had at my previous school. However to my surprise they are going by really fast. Almost too fast!

I do have the opportunity to go to Mexico in Jan term! That is so amazing. I went to Monterrey, Mexico in February of '09 on a mission trip. It was such a life changing experience for me. Meeting the people there and getting to know the culture was awesome. It is such a lively place with color and spice everywhere that you go in the city. It made me think that one day I might like to do long term missions somewhere in Mexico. I have entertained the idea of opening more orphanages and orphan homes to help combat the vicious cycle of poverty that is there in Mexico. While in Mexico I visited and worked in some orphan homes that are set-up like families. There is a husband and wife couple that takes in as many children as they can. One home I visited had 30 children. The love and care that these "parents" have for the children is overwhelming. It was so surprising to me because there are so many horror stories in the news and other media. They tell about how badly kids can and are treated in foster homes and orphanages. To see these children being loves and cared for so well was a breath of fresh air!

However, before I can do any of that I do need to learn Spanish first. That is one of my goals while here at converse. Though, I do have to put out there that learning a foreign language is HARD work. There are so many little details about a language that you don't think about when you are first setting out to learn the language. I felt like I was going to pick it up quickly but, I am not. You really start to understand why they say that you need two hours of study time for every one hour of class time when it comes to a foreign language.

In addition to learning more about a language I have come to love, it will be very neat to see another part of the country. Dr. King says that southern Mexico does not have the same history of violence and poverty that seems to define the northern part of Mexico. I am anticipating being able to see the difference in the culture and the people. Also being thirty minutes away from the beach is not exactly a deterrent. Plus, we will be taking salsa dancing lessons. How cool is that? When I went to Monterrey the people were very warm and inviting. I felt so at home with the community. Oh my word and the food! I have always loved Mexican food but, when you finally get to taste the real stuff it makes all the difference. And I cannot tell how beautiful the land was there.  The mountains were the biggest ones that i have ever seen.  I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and they are a beautiful sight in fall but, the shear majest of these was breathtaking.  I only wich I would have had more time to explore the area.

I am super excited about the whole trip. I think it will be another life changing experience. It will be good company for all the other wonderful things that have been happening over the last year. We’ll see how it all goes!

I can't wait......

to get my school ring.
to see if I can study abroad in Reading, UK.
to graduate.
to be a teacher.
to see what God has planned for me.

These are exciting times!







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Can I Stay Here All Night?

I follow all the rules

Well, at least I'm trying

Hoping when my days are through

You'll be pleased

I've lived the longest days

Thinking my heart was so bad

Too scared to look in your face

Oh, if only I had

And is it alright

If I stay here all night

By the shoreline

I cannot believe you are angry or unjust

You've done nothing but have compassion on us

So be near me when I've given up

Be near me

I'm just like everyone else

We are all hiding

Acting like I have a wealth

Of knowledge and peace

But all I've ever wanted

And what men have given their lives for

Is a God who understands my weaknesses

A God that I can love

I believe you are good and righteous

You've given me your reckless love

So be near, be near me.

-- "Be Near Me" Bethany Dillon

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hodgey podgey

I can't believe that my first year at Converse in already more that half over! It is so mind boggling.

Got to hangout with Mom couple weekend and celebrated her birthday, it was really a great day. We went to Greenville to do some shopping and we stopped at Barnes & Nobles. While we were there I was waiting on Mom while she looked at the quilting magazines and i happened to look over in the B&N Cafe. There was a man and a woman there, that i assumed was a husband and wife. The woman was a teacher (I could tell because she had a grade book) and she was grading papers and her husband was helping her. They just sat there so content looking enjoying each others company. It was just such a sweet scene.

I have decided that instead of walking to Trinity on Sunday mornings. I am going to stay at the dorm and have a little service of my own. Trinity is a great church and I loved going there, but I just don't have the time or the means to be able to get to know the people in the church like I want to. That being said I think I will get more by just staying home. I did it for the first time this past Sunday and it wen really well. I did everything like I would normally do. P&W and then some prayer. Then I listened to one of Pastor Terry's sermons. It actually works out better then actually sitting in church because you can pause and replay and really get into the study. I know that i need to spend more on on one time with God especially on a daily basis. I am finding more and more how much I need Him. I need Him desperately. I have have slipped up more than I'd like to lately, yet I know that he is still standing there beckoning me to be with Him.

I know that I told everyone before I left that I might have the opportunity to go a study abroad while at Converse. Well.....There is a study abroad in the UK at beautiful Reading for 6 months. I would go next Jan. and come back in early June. I am really really wanting to go but there are a lot of factors that I have to get figured out. Chelsea, one of my hall mates, are going to try ans do it together. I am just praying that if I am meant to go that all will line up. I meant 6 months in Reading would be amazing.

I am in Reading/Language Arts this semester and I got my assignment for clinical 1 today :) I will be at Pine St. Elementary which in a couple miles down the road. I will be working with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. I am super excited to have the chance to teach a kid how to read and write. Yet at the same time it is so very intimidating. Though i have a great professor that will be glad to help me in any way she can.

Overall thing are going to very well here. I am excited about things to come. Thank you for all you prayers! I love and miss you all so much.




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The Fujita Scale has now been extented to K-10 1/2.











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Take with you what lasts forever....

Wait, stay here and have a drink of time
Wait, before you split yourself in two
There's time for you

If you travel here, you will feel it all
The brightest and the darkest
If you travel here, listen to your heart
And take with you what lasts forever

Sleep, and dream the dream of when you fly
See through traveler's eyes who want to give
To live and give

If you travel here, you will feel it all
The brightest and the darkest
If you travel here, listen to your heart
And take with you what lasts forever
-- "Traveler's Song" -Future of Forestry




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True story....

Lady at the Drive-thru: "Welcome to Zaxby's. May I take your order?
Mom: "I just need two chicken plates, to go"





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That Noisy Air...

I know that I am not a lone in my struggle to listen to God, so I wanted to share this simple story.

I was taking mom to work this morning. It was cold so we had the heat on full blast. At the same time I was listening to a Cd (the new desperation band Cd, it's good by the way) and there are a few instrumental sections in some of the songs that just feel like "soaking" music.
So as I was driving back home, one of the instrumental parts came on. I was just listening to the song and then I decided to turn the air off since it was getting a little stuffy. So I turned it off and the second I did so it struck me how much more of the music I could hear. The instruments and beats were so much more defined with out the rushing air drowning it out.

It's so frustrating sometimes waiting for God to speak. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a hard time sitting still and waiting. I know that if I could just turn the 'Air' off (all the voices and thoughts going through my head) I could hear Him. Like I need to hear Him. Like I long to hear Him.

Just take this for what it's worth.





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Momma always taught me to share....

This is a narrative that I wrote for my English class this semester. I just really love it and wanted to share it.

(Some names have been changed to protect the innocent)

When I was in first grade my teacher was Mrs. King. She was the oldest teacher at St. Patrick’s Elementary school, and probably a few years short of ancient. She was a petite woman: with a hump back and gray hair. She would always sit in this blue plastic chair while she taught our class. I have to say I do not have a lot of vivid memories about Mrs. King; however, the one that I do have is one of the most memorable moments of my childhood. At the time I thought I would never get over it.
It was the first day of first of school, and there was a new boy in our class. “This is Wesley Doe, and he has just moved to Lake Providence from Washington,” announced Mrs. King to the class. He was the cutest boy that I had ever seen, and I knew from the moment that I saw him I was in love.
Wes had this very light, almost white, blonde hair. It was cut short with a cowlick in the front. He had eyes the color of the sky on a clear day, and when he smiled it was enough to make me melt into a big puddle of soupy goo. I sat in the front right corner of the class, and he sat two rows over all the way in the back next to the bathroom. It was hard to see him while sitting in class, but I would watch him out on the playground. He would run around and play ball with all the other boys, and he was always the fastest one. In class he was just as smart as he was fast. He got things very quickly. He always seemed to have the right answers.
The further into the school year that I went, the more I was sure of one thing. Wes Doe was the boy that I wanted to marry. One day the class had just come in from recess, and I had gotten up enough courage to ask. I got out a piece of paper from my blue folder, got out my pencil, and wrote my letter. It was short and sweet; written so carefully as if I was the only girl in history to have ever written a love note.
“Dear Wes will you marry me? Love Kristen.” Ended with two check boxes, one for no and one for yes. I folded up the note as neatly as I could with every corner lining up. Finishing it off with a “To: Wes” on the front of the note.
Now, I just had to figure how I was going to give it to him. I couldn’t just go up to him, give him the note, and demand an answer. These decisions take time and that just was not my style. Then the idea came to me. I would pretend that I needed to go to the bathroom, and on my way I would drop the note on his desk. “He would have plenty of time to answer while I ‘go to the bathroom’,” I thought to myself.
With that I made my way to the back where Wes sat, getting more nervous with every desk that I passed. I finally made it to Wes’ desk. He looked at me, and I looked at him. Then I quickly placed the note on his desk, and darted for the bathroom behind him.
Once in the bathroom all I could think about was that note and what Wes would say. My future happiness was on the line. I had stepped out on a limb, and I was hoping that the limb would not snap. I waited in the bathroom for an eternity. Then when I thought that I had given him enough time, I came out of the bathroom. As I was passing his desk again he handed the note back to me and I made my way back to my seat.
I don’t know when she saw me or how she saw me. All I know is that when I started my way back up the row, Mrs. King clamped her eyes on me. She watched me all the way up the aisle and before I even had a chance to read the note, she held out her hand for me to give her the note. I was tempted to open the note first, but I knew that I was already in trouble and I didn’t want to test my luck. I had no idea what Mrs. King was thinking as she told me to sit back down. She walked back to her chair at the front of the room and sat down. Next, to my horror she began to open the note.
Didn’t Mrs. King know this was a private note? This was a link between me and my one true love, and I didn’t even know what Wes’ answer had been. However, what happened next was the worst thing that she could have done. She read the note out loud, in front of the whole class. I couldn’t believe it. My heart began to beat out of my chest. I wanted to run out of the class, and never come back but I could not. I had to stay right there while she threw my heart open for everyone to see. As she read the note I remembered that his answer was still a mystery. Then with all my heart I started to pray that she would not read it out loud. If she only knew the punishment that I had already endured she would not have wanted to read anything else. Snap! The limb broke, and I came crashing down. He had checked no.
Looking back on it, I think that part of me at the time thought that if Mrs. King hadn’t read that note out loud it would have somehow changed Wes’ response to that letter. He could have said yes and a childhood romance might have blossomed. Who knows? I might have become Mrs. Wesley Doe. It could have happened. In any case it didn’t quite happen the way many seven-year-old girl’s dream when they find their first love. I still have to say I wasn’t scarred for life. I didn’t swear off boys. I don’t even hate Mrs. King. It was just one of those things that builds a girl’s life, gives them stories to tell and memories to write. Just like this.







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Clinical

            This is a copy of my report for my clinical.  I just though I would share my experience with everyone.  There is some teacher jargon but it captures the day pretty well I think.

My clinical was completed at Soar Academy.  It is a self-contained school specifically for student with disabilities with approximately 11 students.  The teacher I interviewed taught 5 children ages 4 through 8.  Her student’s disabilities were developmental delay, spinal bifida, Noonan’s syndrome and Autism.  Students come to Soar through an application process.  If there application is accepted then they begin at the school on a trial basis.  This is so that the teachers, parents, and student can see if the school will be a right fit for everyone.  When deciding what to put on an IEP the teachers observe the students and collaborate with the student’s parents.  When dealing with disciple problems it seems that the most common method is using time-outs.  Though they try to talk with a child first to teach them how not to do that behavior and understand why they can’t do it.

Parents at Soar Academy are very involved.  The teachers keep their parents involved though daily reports and they talk to the parents twice a day.  They also do so through IEP meetings, fundraisers, report cards, and conferences.  Their Administrator gives them total support in anything and everything that they do and even helps in the classrooms if needed.

The teacher that I spoke with said that the problems she saw with inclusion are that it is disruptive, more time consuming, and there is not enough attention for all the students in the classroom.  The good things about inclusion are that the disabled students get to see a model of how certain things should be done and it allows for friendships to develop.  She says that it makes the students with out disabilities more comfortable around the students with the disabilities. She says that the hardest part of the job is trying to make sure that each student gets an equal amount of time.  Plus being able to get everything else done in a day such as progress reports and take-home packets.   She said that the best thing about her job is when she sees the progress in her students after working with them for so long.  She also likes the staff and getting to know the parents. She also does not feel that her job is too demanding.

Overall Soar Academy seemed to be a very well organized school.  One example is that they have a room with the entire curriculum.  The curriculum in separated into units.  Each unit and all the teaching tools that go with it are put into one box.   The boxes are then shelved in order of the units to make it easier for the teachers to find each one. Teachers take the boxes in and out as needed.  There were two main classrooms one with five students, one with six students and were separated by age.  The older half was in one room and the younger have in another. There are two teachers in each classroom with one of the teacher as the lead.

Soar has many things to make life for the families of disabled student easier.  I found it cool that they have there own physical therapy room equipped, so that the students that need physical therapy can get it at school.  Then parents do not have to take their child to a separate facility afterschool for physical therapy.  There is also a playroom used therapeutically to create a calming space.  They have a ball pit and many big pillows all over the room with beanbag chairs.  They also have a cushioned harness that hangs in the middle of the room for students with autism.  A student is put in the harness when they are agitated. It restricts their movement and helps to soothe the student.  My favorite part of the playroom was a machine that they have that projects scenes on to the wall, such as a beach scene, while calming music is playing. 

Both the classrooms were very colorful.  There were multiple teaching aides on the walls such as the seasons and days of the week in every room.   I did not see very many assignments being worked on at the time that I came in.  The lesson that I did observe was on the Solar system.  This was a very neat lesson because they were able to use the Smart Board, which had a program on it that displayed the planets.  The planets appeared on the board as they would appear in space.  The students were able to go up to the board one at a time and choose a planet by touching the board.  Then information about each planet came up and the information was talked about.  Each of the students were asked to repeat the information that they had learned. By the end of the activity the students were able to tell the name of the planets and some of the characteristics of each one.  This was a very effective activity that the students really enjoyed.  The teachers used lots of repetition and were redundant in order to get the information into the student’s brains. 

After the Smart Board activity the students went back to their classrooms where they were given a worksheet on the planets where they were told to color each planet using a diagram.   Again the teaching technique was repetition. The assistant seemed to be responsible for the handing out worksheets for the students to work on.  The classroom size was small enough that when a student needed help they were able to just call for the teacher with out having to raise their hand.   The students asked for help quite easily and it was obvious that they were comfortable with their teachers.  The students really love their teachers and the teachers really love their students.  It was a very relaxed atmosphere. The teachers were constantly watching the students to make sure they were on task with the worksheets.  In the older class most of the children we interested in their assignment and were able to pay attention with out a lot of prompting. 

Most of the discipline problems came from the younger group.  When a discipline problem arose the teachers tried to talk to the student and make them understand what they were doing was wrong.  If that did not help then they would put the student into time-out until they calmed down.  They really tried to help the child see why the behavior was bad instead of just making it stop. 

One particular kid named Franklin that most likely had autism really caught me.  He was such a cute kid.  He was always looking around the room and looking for something to do.  There was two moments when, out of the blue, he would come running up to me and gave me a hug. I had not even seen him coming.  I played with him later in the afternoon.  He brought over some play dough for me to open and the teachers said that I needed to watch him or he would try to eat it. So we began to play with it and sure enough I could tell that he was just waiting for a moment that he could stick some in his mouth, and he finally found one.  So I put the play dough away even though he brought it back to me so that I could open it again.  I told him that I could not open it for him because he had done something he should not have done.  He didn’t say a word the whole time I was there but I think that I could tell he was very smart.  He seemed to know when he was doing wrongs things, just like all boys do, always looking for trouble.

One part of the day that stood out to me was when the kids had naptime.  It was like any naptime, the kids got out there mats and each of then had their blankets and pillows.  They had their own spot in the room that they chose and the teacher put on some calming music.  What I really noticed about this is that the teacher really had to utilize this time to get things done while the kids were sleeping. The teachers were able to eat lunch and do a bit of socializing with each other.  The teachers seemed to really enjoy each other company.  The teacher’s relationship with their executive director was a very casual one as well.  They were able to talk to each other as if they were friends, as I believe they were.  The teachers then had to work on getting together their lessons for the next day and assembling the take-home packets.  The take-home packets consisted of the work that student had done such as worksheets and coloring projects.  Then once a month they include a book that the child takes home and it too read with their parent for that month. The teacher that I interviewed said that one of her least favorite things about eh job was trying to find the time to get everything done.  This was proof that they really did have to use there time wisely and not waste any.

I really enjoyed my time at Soar Academy.  It was a little uncomfortable at first because I felt like I was invading their space.  However, the teachers were inviting and I eventually was able to talk to the kids and ask the teachers questions.  The only thing that I wish that I could have done is split up my time so that I could have gotten experience and two different days.  I really enjoyed being with the kids because you could tell that the environment they were in had allowed them to flourish.  I hope that when I finally become a teacher that I can find a place that is like this.  Where the needs of the students take precedent over anything and are able to have good relationships with the people that I work with.

And I am open to any teachers opinions too :)

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So I know have all my major things for the week out of the way.  I feel good about both the test that I took.  The Psych test went better than the last time even though there were some things that my mind completely blanked out on, wich is frustrating, but there were more this time that I was sure of what the answer is.  Human growth isn't so much a hard class it just has loads of information that you have to memorize.  Also the spanish test this morning I think went really well.  I am starting to think more "spanish-like" and that allows you to use common sense when constructing setences and such.  My biggest problem is memorizing vocab, which basically boils downto practice practice practice!

One conundrum I have found myself in is that anytime I am reading in or studying one subject, my brain wanders to another.  For example earlier I was doing my reading for English Comp I was simultaneously thinking about Spanish and the forms/meanings of ser, estár, and tener.  It's like my brian is multi-tasking because I am soaking in info from both subjects at the same time.  It's not really a problem that I can see yet, just very interesting.

Anywho, I guess I better get back to reading.  Dios bendice!


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