Freebie

I thought since I had been away for so long it was time for a freebie!! It is a way to say thanks for sticking with me!!
Enjoy!

Goodbye 2012

It has been a while since I posted. Part of it was because life has been crazy and part is I had a lot going on and I haven't been sure how or if I should post. I am saying goodbye to 2012 and filling in blog land on my absence. I have two children, 19 months apart. My little boy is 2 1/2 years old and is nonverbal. In August we began the process of Early Intervention. After initial testing he was a 13 month old in terms of communication. He also qualified for occupational therapy because of his fine motor skills. We began in home therapy once a week with both speech and OT. In November we had our meeting with our local school system to see about continued service once he turns 3 in April. We discovered he will probably qualify for the Special Ed Preschool and that testing process has begun. Here is where I get emotional. My son is perfect and nothing will cause me to feel differently. God made him the way he is and gave him to my husband and myself for a reason. The problem is I am a teacher and I know what happens in Special Ed. I see first hand the problems the children, parents, and regular ed teachers face.

In fact this year (also in God's plan to help my journey) I have a little boy that came from the Special Ed Preschool in my district (not the same as where my son will go). Without giving out to much detail just know this year has been a fight and a struggle for me. His mother is wonderful and an inspiration to me. The fighting to get what he needs scares me because I know someday I will be on the other side of the table. Starting Thursday I will add another Special Ed child with similar circumstances. Both boys will share an aid throughout the day. All the meetings, conferences, and daily dilemmas have worn me out, even made me consider a change in careers. This years class also has two children with ADHD, speech and language delays, ODD, custody issues, and I could go on and on.

I realize this is becoming the new norm, and my son will be a part of that. I have been so many places emotionally this year. I have felt guilt, like maybe I caused something to be wrong with Carter. I have felt sadness, because I am not sure I am being the mother I should be to him. I have been worried that I am focusing to much on him and my daughter will suffer for it. I have been angry that children don't always get what is best for them in the classroom, no matter how hard the teacher tries. I have been scared about the future. I have been happy and over joyed at the accomplishments he has made this year. I have selfishly thanked God every time my daughter has hit a milestone on time or even early. 2012 has strained me beyond belief. I feel exhausted.

I come into 2013 optimistic. I know I am a good mother and a good teacher. I know I do the best for both my children. I know I do the best for the students in my classroom. I will not let the politics involved in running schools change my feelings on the job I do and love. I decided that I could not leave teaching. I have felt a calling toward special ed this year. I don't think I want to teach it, I just want to understand it better and do a better job in my classroom. I am considering getting my EdS in Special Education. It is expensive and we don't really have the extra money. It is needed for Lil' Man. So blog land here is where I need your help. Does anyone know a way, grant money, or anything else short of selling an organ know where I can get great financial assistance? This may be a dream that has to wait but it is worth looking into.

As far as Lil' Man goes we have found this great program called Tap To Talk. I am able to design photo albums (board maker only virtual) and put them on my phone, iPad, or even better his brand new Nabi 2 tablet we got him yesterday. I love this tablet specifically designed for children. If you haven't seen or heard about either Tap To Talk or Nabi you should check them out right now. I am not being paid or bribed for this in anyway. I am giving an honest opinion from a mother and a teacher. On January 14 we will take Lil' Man in to see his regular doctor. They are going to refer us to a behaviorist. We will be driving for appointments 1 1/2 hours away. I am fairly certain we are on our way to a diagnoses of Autism Spectrum, but I am not a doctor so I will wait and see. God gave me these two children to love and take care of. I feel honored he choose me to guard these two precious angels, to help them succeed in life, and to love them unconditionally. I am sorry for the absence in posting, and for this long winded, overly emotional, to much information post. I had a lot on my mind and I needed a place to say it. If you stuck with me thanks for reading.

Sharing Saturday

Well it is Saturday again, and I did not manage to post anything all week. I keep hoping it will get better and I will be able to do other things besides work and lay down half dead. I thought this week was going to get better then it just didn't. I also didn't get as many pictures this week as I wanted. Next week won't be any better. It is only a 3 day week, with Parent/Teacher Conferences Thursday and an Inservice Friday! So on this wonderful 3 day week the powers that be decided the Kindergarten county wide meeting should be Tuesday. So on this short week I have to be gone one of those days. It will be insanity. Anyway....

This week we did Max Takes The Train and talked transportation. We also started rotating through our stations (without help from me!). I think they are ready for me to start pulling groups. I will wait until after our 3 day week though. I also have some before pictures of my classroom to share with you. I plan on doing the after pics on PT Conference Day.

Anchor Charts

Our New Little Friend

Literacy Stations

Before Pictures of My Classroom

Forever

Wow, not counting last nights quickie post from my Ipad, it has been forever since I have posted. I have a ton I want to post about. Eventually I plan to post pictures of my classroom from this year. I have been working on a Red and Black Theme. The room turned out looking great (at least in my opinion). With two little ones I don't put a lot of money in my classroom, and we don't get a lot of classroom money. So some of the stuff I am changing a little at a time. I also made (had some one much craftier than me make) some crate seats. My K team and I begged the milk company to give us black crates for free. That ended up being an ordeal but I will make a whole post about that! So there are two up coming posts for you to wait on! Today I thought I would do a peek at my week in pictures! These are some of the things we did this week. I hope to do this each week, but I can't promise anything this year. That leads me into my explanation as to why it took so long for my to post. It has been a rough start to the year. This class is a very large mix of super strong personalities. They are all so sweet, they just don't mesh well together. We have a class motto this year and it is proving difficult to learn (learn to do, not say!). Our motto is "I worry about me!". We need this because some of my friends need a different teaching method or behavior plan than the others, and in kindergarten they just don't understand life isn't fair. We are getting there, it is just a slow process. Anyway enough about that, on to my week.  Hope you like it!!!

That's what I got this week. We did a lot more, but I was out two days with a stomach virus, so no pictures!!!

Kindergarten Common Core

Okay K teachers have you seen the new Common Core Resource Book? It looks great! So many resources for each standard clearly labeled.
You need your own copy. Head here to get it Kindergarten Common Core .

Tell Me More

Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs.. Lemons is hosting a linky party and I love a good linky party. The purpose of this one is to get to know each other better, and I love it! So here we go some things about me!

1. I am a people watcher. Once when my sister moved into an apartment and I had a hurt knee and was unable to help I sat out front and watched her complex. By the end of the day I knew all kinds of things about the people in her neighborhood. I don't ease drop I just watch. (My daughter is already doing that too and she is only 8 1/2 months old!!!)

2. I am an Alabama fan!! ROLL TIDE! My dad was a military brat and was born while stationed in Alabama and it stuck with him! And he passed it on to me. I am such an Alabama fan I negotiated with my husband to ensure my children would grow up Alabama fans. Sorry Atlanta Braves but we are Cubs fans now!



3. My sister and I are 10 years apart in age but we are like best friend. We just spent a month in Florida together with our kids.


4. I live on my family farm in VA, but work, shop, and do everything in TN. I even once said to a lady on the phone who was giving me directions "I don't know where that is, I don't go to Virginia" she responded "Don't you LIVE in Virginia"!!!!! I live really close to the state line, so it doesn't really feel like I live in VA, other than at tax time :(

5. I have an addiction to Coach purses and items. I love them! Before I had kids I got bags and such like crazy! I have slowed down since have the little ones though!!!

This is from 2008, so pre-babies. I have added a couple more things since then, but not too many! I do have a blue diaper bag that I love! My dad and my husband have spoiled me with Coach!

6. I love Nascar! I think it comes from living in Bristol Motor Speedways back yard and my dad being a huge fan. One thing on my bucket list is to go to a race at every track on the circuit! So far I have been to 3 different tracks, hoping to add one or two more next year.

7. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I am a Daddy's girl. I want nothing more for my little girl to be the same way with my husband. I love my Dad and we do so much together. It is a great relationship, one that I wish every little girl had!

From Left to Right: Me, my little boy, my dad, my sister holding my little girl

My husband and his Daddy's Girl!!!

That's me! Hope you enjoyed a peek in my life! Link up so we can all learn a little about you!

Giveaways

Wow there are a lot of giveaways popping up right now! Check out a couple of them:




This one is on day 4 of 10, so lots of chances to win! Plus I am excited that the winners will be announced on my birthday, so maybe I will get lucky!!!!



Anyway that is just a couple so go check them out and!