Texas Tele-Grammy

Blanca Estella Rojas Sifuentes

2011-07-23T17:01:00.005-05:00

You might wonder who Blanca Estella Rojas Sifuentes is - well she is my sister. My sister was born on July 3, 1953 and died on April 14, 1960. She was buried at Our Lady of Victory Cemetery in Beeville, Texas.

Unfortunately, we don't have any photos of my sister but she lives in my memory and heart.

I wanted to honor her and the only way I felt I could do so was to create a marker for her. My parents were never financially able to do so. I made it a goal of mine to make that dream possible.

Well, I did it and my siblings and my husband played an important role in helping me see it through. I could not have done it without their help. As a family we are all unique and I know had my sister lived she would have been unique as well.

Here is a poem I wrote for my sister:

You came to us on angel's wings
Landing softly in our mother's arms

We fell in love with you
but unbeknownst to us God sent you with a secret
and you kept it very well

Secretly unfolding it and knowing when it
was time

You left on the angel's wings that brought
to this earth

Our faith helped us accept your parting for we know
you are waiting on the other side...patiently

Until we meet again, you will continue to live in our
hearts. You have not been forgotten.

Love you,

Josie

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-31T19:37:00.004-05:00

It was a great weekend. Joe and I, as was Cassie and Xavier were disappointed we had to miss Jiggle Jam. There was a very good reason. My sister, Betty, who lives in Georgia was flying in for a visit. I had not seen her in awhile and really wanted to have a chance to visit with her.

First, Joe surprised me by arriving on Wednesday instead of Thursday night from Wichita. I was SSSOOOOO excited to see him. I went to work on Thursday, made some lesson plans for my three classes for Friday.

Friday, Joe and I left to Austin. My sister's flight from Georgia to San Antonio was scheduled for Thursday at 9:30 P.M. but due to inclement weather in Georgia, it was delayed, and delayed, and delayed. Her plane took off at 4:30 a.m. and arrived at 6:30 a.m. My sisters, Janie and Mary picked her up and brought straight to Joe's Bakery where they met up with my brother Barney. Joe and I arrived in Austin around 2:30 p.m. and were surprised to see my brother Daniel visiting as well. Hungry, we all climbed into the Suburban and took off to Lockhart for brisket and sausage! Yum! Yum!

Joe and I ended up staying the entire weekend at my niece, Michelle and her husband, Roger's home. We truly appreciated that wonderful invitation. On Saturday, we had breakfast at my sister's Janie's home. Around 12: 00 noon we left to my brother Barney's home where he out did himself...again with barbeque and all the fixings. That evening we were invited to my niece, Angelina and her husband's home in Kyle where we were served spaghetti and some wonderful dessert. We played lotteria with their oldest son, Javier and he won (on a borrowed dime) nearly two dollars from us!

Sunday, we got up early and left to Beeville, Texas to go and visit my only living Uncle. My mother had nine brothers and three sisters. There are only two remaining siblings. Seven of my nine uncles are WWII and Korean War Veterans, including my own dad.

It was a great visit and I was surprised he decided not to live alone anymore and had checked himself into a nursing home where he could have more human interactions. He was very thrilled to see us and as we were to see him. Thank God he is doing well. He will be 90 on October 17.

On Monday, Memorial Day, Joe and I returned back to Dallas but first we dropped off my brother Daniel in Temple.

Tuesday, Joe left back to Wichita, Kansas so he can get ready to go to work on Wednesday.

All in all, it was a very productive weekend. I am glad I had the opportunity to visit with my son Albert and daughter Sarah and son-in-law Gui, sisters and brothers, uncles, nieces, nephews (great ones too).

Safety is Expensive

2011-05-15T12:46:00.002-05:00

I recently received a coupon card from Babies R Us. The front of the card advertises "Our BIGGEST Car Seat Sale of the Season!" Graco has a new car seat called "The Larkin" for $299.99!!! Oh! But it is on sale for $239.99. How can we actually believe new parents can afford this car seat or any other car seat?

Evenflo, Graco, and any of the other manufacturers of baby equipment need to continue making safe equipment for all babies and children but at the same time make them affordable to their parents.

$300.00 for a car seat is way too expensive an item that only costs a lot less to manufacture. More expensive doesn't mean more safe. I believe parents could use part of that $300 to use on other baby items or begin a savings for their baby.

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-05-27T23:06:00.000-05:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Hello! .....again

2009-10-27T20:06:00.003-05:00

Isn't that a song? Oh well, first let me write that since my last entry, things have been ahappenin' and ahoppin'!

Let me throw this question out there: Is the "Self-Contained Teacher" a thing of the past? Does departmentalizing really the new way in the elementary school setting?

Just last week I finally decided to make a change in my teaching career....no, I'm still teaching. My administrators have been hounding me and another self-contained teacher to become team teachers. Okay, there are eight teachers in our grade level, 2 of the eight are GE teachers, the rest are bilingual. All, except Ms. J and myself are team teaching. That is one teacher teaches Math and Science, the other teaches ELA, SLA, and Social Studies. Okay, you might think, not so bad, but wait there's more....you teach one section in the morning and then the other section in the afternoon. That means you are responsible for at least 44 students!

Well as it turns out Ms J wanted to teach ELA, SLA and Science. I agreed to teach Math and Social Studies. I am quite happy to do so.

We started last week and it has been going great. I mean I only need to think about Math and SS lesson plans. What more could a teacher ask for....planning is the most important part of teaching two different classes with two different needs and challenges. But I am ALWAYS up for a challenge.

I promise to keep you posted at to how this all ends.

The KING of Pop is Gone!

2009-06-26T22:19:00.006-05:00

Yesterday afternoon I was watching, really more like surfing through the channels. This is something unusual because I rarely have time to watch TV or have the TV to myself. I stopped on the E! channel to watch something when suddenly...BREAKING NEWS flashed on the screen and this woman appeared at the same time they flashed "MICHAEL JACKSON HAS DIED." I heard the woman saying, "We have just learned that Michael Jackson has died of heart failure." I turned the channel to CNN, then Fox. They were reporting MJ had been taken to the hospital with heart failure and they were not reporting he had died. Then an hour passed and CNN/Fox reported MJ was in a coma. Eventually they reported he had died. I will always remember what I was doing when Michael died. I will also remember it, because it was my 15th wedding anniversary.

Michael Jackson was an icon for young and old alike. I remember him from his performances with the Jackson 5 on the Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday nights to his all time best "Thriller" album. Not to mention the best mini movie of Thriller. That is my favorite all time music video. He was a diverse performer and eclectic (of which he had every right to be). He was MICHAEL JACKSON! Many tried to copy or imitate his moon walk (even Marty McFly - Part III of Back to the Future) but none could. I always asked myself whenever I saw the videos when he performed the moon walk, "How does he do it????" There will never be another one like him from here to infinity.

Recently, I read that the College of William and Mary earned an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for attempting to break the Thriller dance record. Here's the article: http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2009/william-and-mary-students-attempt-to-break-world-record-123.php

Here's the performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kntf4kZFrn8

I believe I would like to break the record with our 1,100 students at Burnet. We're going to start it as an afterschool activity! :) Watch out William and Mary!

My own personal words for Michael:

Michael, you "beat it", hands down.
Michael, you didn't need to go to moon to walk it - you floated on earth.
Michael, you didn't have a son from "Billie Jean."
Michael, you thrilled us.

Michael: "I Never Can Say Goodbye"
I will continue to play your music until my time comes. Until then, peace and sweet dreams, you have reached the real Never, Never Land. You are safely Home!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-06-25T15:15:00.004-05:00

Today is Joe and my anniversary!! We have been married for 15 years. Joe and I met on July 4, 1994 in San Antonio, Texas. For me, it was love at first sight. He asked me to marry him on July 31, 1994. We were married on June 25, 1995.

He is quiet. I am loud.
He is patient. I am impatient.
He is peace. I am war.
He loves me for who I am and never judges me or my actions. I love him.

I cannot imagine my life without Joe. He is my rock.

He spoils me and sometimes I do act like a spoiled wife.

He loves my (our) children and most of all he loves our grandsons.

Love is patient (Joe is patient)
Love is kind (Joe is kind)
Love never fails (Joe does not fail me)

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I love you Joe!

It's a Boy! It's a Boy!

2009-05-18T21:52:00.002-05:00

Well, it's a boy from the Tai familia and it's a boy from the Suniga familia. Yep! two boys will be added to our this year. We, especially, I am sooooooo very excited.

More to come later

My BAD!

2009-05-10T18:06:00.002-05:00

Yes, I know I have been very, very bad in keeping up with my blog but I have a very good excuse, well it's not an excuse but rather several very good reasons. Let me begin:

The first week in March, there was TAKS. Then at the end of April, there was TAKS. Now we are in May and I am tutoring 5th grade students to pass...you guessed it....TAKS. These students are retaking their Math test so they can move to sixth grade.

The majority of our students already have a mark against them. Many of them are not good readers and they struggle in their every day life at home and at school.

I deeply care about all the students at my school. There is no other place I would rather be teaching than where I am currently teaching.

As the school year comes to an end (June 5) I find myself thinking about what the future holds for my students. I want the best for them and if I have taught them anything, it is that life is not just tomorrow, one week, one year from now, but rather it is who they will be in 10-15-20 years from now. I don't want them to remember me but instead remember what I have taught them about life and living it to its fullest-to be truthful, caring and loving individuals.

Well until the next blog....see ya!

And......we're off to 2009

2009-02-03T18:27:00.002-06:00

Can 2009 be more unexpected and expecting? Huh???? Let me clarify myself.

As I posted earlier my son and his girlfriend announced they were expecting sometime in early September.

Sunday, I found out my daughter and her husband are expecting their 3rd child!! Their due date is early October!

Ahhh! the life of a Grammy and Popo!! I am lovin' it! Bring on the babies!

The New Year Starts with a Kaboom!!

2009-01-07T21:06:00.002-06:00

Today I learned I will be a grammy again. This time it will be my oldest son, CJ and his girlfriend Cassie. I am excited and wish them all the best. I know CJ will be a great father, a caring and responsible one. Cassie, I know will also be a great mother.

The baby is due in early September! :)

Feliz Ano Nuevo - Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T22:28:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year to all. May 2009 bring you happiness, health and prosperity. Well, I know I've been bad and not blogged for such a long, long time, but my New Years' Resolution is to blog at least every other day. I plan on keeping up with my blog so that I can diary my year.

Jan. 1, 2009 - We rang in the new year with Martin and Marisa playing scrabble. It was quiet and very nice evening. Although I would rather have spent it with my grandsons. Unfortunately, J was scheduled for eye surgery on Jan. 2nd.

Jan. 2, 2009 - J and I arrived at the doctor's office by 8:00 a.m. J signed off on some legal mumbo jumbo. It took us a lot longer to fill out and complete the paperwork than the surgery itself (which only took about 8 minutes). J was required to go home and take a nap (which if you know J, is not a difficult feat for him to accomplish). While J napped, I went shopping!

Jan. 3, 2009 - J had to go see the doctor at 9:00 to an eye checkup (just to make sure everything was going well). I got up and began working in the garage and putting away Christmas things. I still haven't taken the tree down but will do it tomorrow. It's so beautiful, I hate putting it up so soon. I love Christmas season and reason.

Till tomorrow, I bid you good night and sweet dreams.

Pecans! - Lesson Plans - Get Over It!!

2008-11-16T13:09:00.002-06:00

Everyone in my familia knows how much I love pecans. Yesterday, I went to Austin for some other business and of course, went out of my way to pick up my annual bag of pecans. I say annual because since 1997 when bought me a bag of pecans from Berdol's, I have gone back every year to pick up a bag 5 lbs or 10 lbs of pecans.

Every year I have promised J I would bake him a pecan pie but noooooooo I continue to eat all the pecans before I can bake that pie. Well, this year I picked up 10lbs of pecans (choctaw, yes, pecans have names too) and I plan on baking that pecan pie to set on our dessert table on Thanksgiving Day! I know this may sound weird, but as you already know (and you should know by know)...I am a weird person...I don't like pecan pie! I'm not sure what it is but I don't care for the pie.

Okay, now I've got to get going with my lesson plans. I attended a workshop on how to build vocabulary in science but I am going to use these ideas in all content areas. I am so excited.

On another note...on Thursday night I was up watching the news when they were breaking for a commercial, I heard them mention DISD more specifically....my school...B. Well needless to say, I stayed up to listen. It was not good. In fact, if we could hold a trial for the teacher or person who did what they did, they would be tried and found guilty of sabotage and treason. Apparently, someone inadvertently threw out some materials that are still under adoption and instead of bringing it to an administrator's attention, they took pictures and sent them to the news! Great move....not! What a low, slimy move...It not only makes our school bad but it makes the entire staff of great and excellent teachers look like we don't know anything about teaching.

It was personal and if the guilty culprit(s) say it wasn't personal maybe it wasn't person to him/her/them but it was personal to me and all the other teachers and administrators who are working hard at building cohesiveness and achievement for our students who have always been the center of my attention. So, guilty person(s) if you are reading my blog....stop....build a bridge and get over it...better yet....jump ship....leave....evaporate...adios...GO! That's all I'm going to say about the subject.

Recycling Has Its Rewards

2008-11-08T19:39:00.002-06:00

Carrollton will be the first city in Texas to reward recycling. The program called "Recycle Bank" begins Dec. 1. While Carrollton has always had a recycling program, there will now be rewards for recycling. Families will now earn recycling points...in essence, the more you recycle the more points you earn. An ID tag has been placed on each recycling cart. The RecycleBank will track the recycling effort and households will earn rewards.

What kind of rewards? That will be a followup post.

See ya! jv

Dell Computers

2008-11-05T21:39:00.002-06:00

Several years ago I purchased a Dell desktop computer and financed it through Dell Financial Services. Well, you would think I would have learned my lesson dealing with DFS which has by-the-way no real relationship with Dell Computers. Yes, I purchased a laptop from Dell and financed it with DFS. Let me tell you this, DFS does not know the first thing about building a user-friendly website. I login but there is no place where I can update my profile, such as my address, phone, or email address. The only thing I can update is my email and password. Believe me I could give you my username and password and it wouldn't matter, there is no information about me that someone could use. I guess I should look at it that way, it's so well protected, not even I know how to view my balance or update my personal information.

Come on people become more technology driven. I wonder if Michael Dell has ever tried logging on to the DFS website. I guess not, he just builds his own computer to his own specs. I really feel DFS likes to torture its clients. Now, I'm not swearing, but, I swear I will not be purchasing another computer from Dell. Their customer service stinks and DFS stinks even more!

==========================================
On another note...DISD

Say you've been a teacher at an elementary school for 4 years and suddenly you realize the administrators are being unethical and you bring it to their attention. Their attitude is don't worry about it you just do your job. Then suddenly you are told you are going to another school AND you will not be getting your performance pay because you have transferred to another school. Double whammy!! I say, "Get the union behind you or go see an attorney."

Get ready to see a mass exodus of teachers from DISD at the end of the school year. I mean it will be so large, it will make the exodus from Egypt seem tiny. DISD has done many teachers who have given of their life, wrong. The school board will also be reckoned with when elections come around. People are furious and I believe the forward moving progress DISD has shown in the last few years will go down the drain. Their motto: Believe/Achieve has turned into "Make-believe/deceive"

When the layoffs were inevitable, the Super said, "The children will continue to learn, they won't be affected." Well, school started August 25th and just in 3rd grade, at least 30 kids have had 3 teachers from August 25th to October 31st. Tell me how do children benefit from all this movement?

Exercise Your Right to Vote -- Today

2008-11-04T18:56:00.001-06:00

VOTE!! enough said.

Update of Happenings

2008-11-03T21:52:00.003-06:00

1. Well I wasn't laid off from DISD. Not sure whether that is good or bad.
These are the results of how the layoffs affected our school. There were 9 third grade teachers (2 GE, 7 Bilingual), one was moved to 1st grade, the students from that classroom were split among the six bilingual teachers. Last week, we learned a bilingual 5th grade teacher was being moved from another elementary school to our school to teach....you bet....3rd grade. Not that I am complaining because we do need another 3rd grade teacher. All bilingual classes have about 23-24 students in their classrooms. So, the students who were split were reunited today with the new teacher. This has not been the only move. Some moves were senseless. Enough of DISD.

2. I took 2 days off and drove with my son, Albert to Kansas to spend Halloween with my grandsons. What a blast! It was a surprise for the Tai familia. My daughter called me a nut. Well, I am guilty of being just that...a nut....for my grandsons. I have spent birthdays, Christmases, New Years, MLK, probably every known holiday or unholiday...yes, even April 15-Tax Day with them except Halloween. Well let it go down in the history books that I have done Halloween too! The should expect me next year since I believe it falls on a Saturday! :)
Next year, I'm going to keep a log of the mileage or dates I spend in Kansas and then I'm going to propose J and I move there for obvious reasons. He!He!He!

3. It is pecan season (remember I am a nut). Around three weeks ago, I drove to Berdoll's Pecan Farm to buy some pecans but they were just beginning their 2008 harvest so I settled for the 2007 crop. They're not bad, but they're not great either. I bought the Kiowa and not the Choctaw which are great for baking. Yes, pecans have names too! You can checkout their website at http://www.berdollpecanfarm.com/. You can order pecans online too but I love going out to the little store they have on their pecan farm. Another website I like perusing is the Georgia Pecan Commission. http://www.georgiapecansfit.org/
They have lots of information about pecans. Oh! If you love butter pecan ice cream (an who doesn't?). Archer Farms - the Target brand ice cream has Georgia Butter Pecan Ice Cream. It is better than BB and I love BB so you know AF is really GREAT! The ice cream is smooth and the pecans are in pieces not halfs. It is so delicious. Honestly, the whole line of Archer Farms ice cream is probably great. I should try the strawberry.

On the Road to "Broke"

2008-09-20T22:56:00.003-05:00

Surprise! Surprise! DISD is in trouble....again! It involves...whatelse?...$$$...to the tune of $64 million shortfall.

Apparently, the person in charge of creating a budget must have been asleep while he prepared the budgets for last year and next year. Is this expected? Of course! It's DISD! My solution would be not only to fire the head of the financial department but to fire everyone else too in that office. How much could we save? Then, have them reapply for their jobs...opening the jobs to the general public. Who knows, we may find some great applicants who really know what a balance sheet is used for.

Since the superintendent began his job at DISD, he has been working towards achieving the title of "The Best Urban School District" in the nation. He has given it the title of "On the road to Broad [Kaufman-Broad Homes] Apparently, Mr. Broad sold his share of the business (and in good time, I would say) and decided to create an organization that rewards urban school districts. Anyway, the superintendent believes we can achieve this award by 2010. Go figure! (no pun intended) how he plans on doing it.

So, having said all the above, many teachers, aides, etc. are worried about their jobs. I'm not, if I lost my job tomorrow, I know I could find a job somewhere in this large metroplex area. I wouldn't like it but I could do it. But I believe before anyone gets laid off, the super should give up some of his salary towards the $64 million deficit; and if any of the top dogs (including the super) received a pay raise....give it back!

How Things Really Do Change

2008-09-10T18:56:00.003-05:00

I guess there are things we never will understand but let me say that WE ALL change no matter how much we try not to or fight it, in the end, Change will win! Let me explain:

Oddity #1
When I moved to the DFW area last year, I, for some odd reason started craving or enjoying salsa. Yes, salsa! In all my life I have never craved or even had a desire to eat salsa and chips or even have it on breakfast tacos or whatever you put salsa on. Now, I really like it. Growing up my dad used to eat hot sauce/salsa at nearly every meal. The smell would fill the air and choke me. How I long to see my dad cooking his salsa and my mother making tortillas. If they could see me eating salsa they would probably say, "Josie, you are so odd!"

Oddity #2
My whole family knows, I do not like to eat leftovers. I don't know why, but I just have never liked leftovers. I would bring home leftovers from a restaurant and if my son, CJ didn't ask if he could eat them, they would just go to waste. But believe me CJ never once allowed them to go to waste. Thank you CJ :) . Okay on with the story of leftovers.

Teachers are only allowed 30 minutes for lunch. Okay, maybe that is the harsh payment we have for having the opportunity to be off one week off for Thanksgiving, two weeks off during the Winter (Christmas and New Years) holidays, Spring Break, and off from June to mid-August every year. I guess that is not a huge price to pay. Okay, back to the 30 minute lunch. Well, I now eat leftovers! Yes, I do. When I cook the night before, I make enough for Joe and I to take to lunch as leftovers. Yes, that's what I said, leftovers. I eat leftovers! Now that is odd!

Okay, I wasn't to go say anything but since the lipstick's on the pig comment from Senator Barack, but here goes: Cain and Palin: If the lipstick's the right color, then wear it!

Seriously, how many times did Cain use those same words? Plenty, but oh, now the shoe is on the other foot. Nanananana! Build a bridge and get over it (If you know the meaning of over it)!

I wouldn't vote for a man who could keel over the moment he would take office and then we'd be stuck with the wrong woman in the White House. She can't even keep order on her own household in Alaska, what makes us think she can run the White House. !Por favor! We've been duped by dubuha wwwwaaayyyy toooo long. We won't be duped by some wireless rim, never heard of before, can't keep her daughter from being a statistic, from a state that only sees the light of day once in a while woman. A pig can wear any color of lipstick and any brand but it is still a pig! Keep the Republicans from getting richer! Vote Democrat!

Politics, Pregnancy and Palin

2008-09-06T20:28:00.003-05:00

Okay, now that the D&R conventions have ended, let the battle begin. McCain chose a woman from Alaska as his running mate. Seriously, what was he thinking? Perhaps he is already getting senile. My daughter blogged about what good has experience done us during these last 8 years. Well, it has done us any good in fact, experience should not come into play here rather it should be who (if anyone) can help turn our economy around and put an end to this war. There will be a generation of young people in about 10-15 years who will have grown up without their mother or father because of this war. A war because a tyrant leader in another country was hording weapons of mass destruction....he thought.

I remember when Bush was sworn into office...he said if one of my family members or someone in my cabinet does something wrong...it will not be covered up. That's because they've covered up for him. He is an embarrassment to all Americans. When he speaks he looks like a bobble doll you could place him on your dashboard and if he could speak he would say, "yep, yep, yep, yep" If you think McCain isn't another carbon copy of Bush, then by all means vote for him and the Palin woman who can't even take care of her children as governor how does she expect to do it while in the White House. Her daughter is 17 years old ... okay...she's pregnant...okay...keep the baby...but why try to make it better by allowing her and the baby's father to marry...What she should have done is spoken to her daughter about abstinence-first or about making sure she used bc. Palin acts as if all is so normal for a 17 year-old to have a baby. She is promoting teen pregnancy. Well if the future want to be VP of the USA's daughter can have a baby at 17, then why not every other 17 year old. I wonder how long she thinks their marriage will last. I'm taking bets....I say less than 10! :) Come'n, how many people do you know that were married at age 17 and are still married...happily. Okay, I do know one couple, but they are the exception.
Should McCain and Palin win this election...then....GOD help us all. There will be many more people out of work, gas prices will continue to rise...again...crime, food, health will rise. This sounds a lot like Bush's era...oh yea, he's a Republican too.

New School Year - New Attitude

2008-08-18T19:01:00.002-05:00

Change is constant! Today was the first day for all teachers to report to their schools. I woke up at 5:15 am, showered, dressed and then prepared my lunch and then I headed out at 6:30 a.m. To say I am little too excited is an understatement...I love teaching. I love the challenges I face everyday...and everyday is different and of course....the students are the ones who make it challenging.

This year comes with many changes. First, we have a new principal. She is quite young but the most important thing is that she does not speak Spanish. Why is this important? Well, it normally wouldn't matter but 98-99% of the students at our school (along with their parents) speak in their first language....SPANISH.

I have seen and worked in a similar situation...and must say I wasn't sure what the school district was thinking at the time but apparently it all worked out.

Okay, continuing on with change...Our new principal, told us today, there will be no Saturday school or afterschool tutoring! Woohoo!! Last year, we tutored nearly every Saturday and Tues, Wed., and Thursday until 4:30 p.m. NOT FUN!!

Another change will be that I will teaching in Dual Language - one way. This means that all students will receive instruction in Spanish in Language Arts, Science, Social Studies. Math will be in English. Language Arts in Spanish must be taught for 90 consecutive minutes as is Math. Then Language Arts will be taught in English for 45 minutes. I know this sounds very confusing, but hopefully we (the 3rd grade team) can come up with a plan that will work for all our students so that they receive the best possible learning.

So, here's to the New Year and all its changes....bring them on!!

Organizing my Past and Present

2008-08-13T10:19:00.003-05:00

Well all this week I've been organizing photos and all sorts of other documents from the past and present. The other documents consist of the following: birth certificates, certificates and awards for all four of my children. The majority of the awards are for my daughter Sarah. I mean I will need to purchase an expanding envelope just to put all her awards and certificates in one place, along with other pertinent information (BC, immunization records, etc.).

As far as the photos go....I'm still working on them. My idea is to purchase photo boxes and organize them according to event....Christmas, Easter, Birthday Parties (I never realized we had so many birthday parties every year for each of the kids! Do the math...1st year bdp for 4 kids and then each had a bdp for the next...say....10 years....wow!

On another issue, I learned (by logging onto the website) that we have a new permanent school principal (permanent until she is reassigned). Our school has over 1500 students...the school was built back in 1955 and has had been remodeled several times and has many, many, many portables used for classrooms. This is not acceptable and for the district to expect anything different is also ridiculous. 1500 students in an elementary school only spells D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R for any administrator. Teachers, parents, and administrators are working as hard as they can for the success of all students but when the school across the street only has 800 students or some that only have 500 students, this is not fair...to entire staff and to the students.

Nonetheless, I am looking forward to the new school year with the new principal. As for my new students...they better be ready for the best year of their lives thus far!

Back to Texas

2008-08-07T22:03:00.003-05:00

Well, yesterday morning I left my grandsons (NAW) in Kansas after being there since Friday (August 1st). On Sunday, W was baptized after the 11:45 am mass. It's funny because Nathan, Popo and I sat on the front pew which doesn't have any kneelers but you can use some cushioned boards. Anyway, it was Nathan's idea to sit on the very first pew...that's where I like to sit. I figure if you sit in the very front, chances are you won't miss anything. Actually the Homily by Father Tom was very good.

It's hard for me to leave my grandsons and live so far from them. My own children (4) grew up with their grandparents in the same town and visited them all the time. N came into my room nearly every morning and asked me "Grammy, do you want to play R2D2 with me?" The game consists of just making up dialog about R2D2 (Star Wars robot) and Wall-e (Wall-E movie). They "play" together and sometimes Princess Leah joins in as well as Mo. You must be very good at make-believe.

W on the other hand enjoys the bat and ball or just jumping around. He is such a little firecracker!

I'm making progress on going through all the boxes and organizing them into sections in my living room. I already have about six boxes that will be going to my classroom (not sure where I'll put them once I get them there!)

I promise I'll put up some pics as soon as I can.

2008-07-31T22:26:00.000-05:00

Today, was the last day of training and it really wasn't too bad. In the morning, we were asked "What is your definition of formative assessment?" Everyone (including myself) had a pretty good idea but it was only after reading the article from Educational Leadership the presenters asked us to read, that we had a much clearer understanding of what formative assessment is and what it isn't. After that we were required (in groups) to come up with presenting formative assessment in either a song, play, poem, etc. Needless to say, I came up with the idea of a storybook about "Jack and Jill Go to School" So we put our heads together and rewrote the story of Jack and Jill went up the hill nursery rhyme. I created a book of course my illustrations are nothing but stick people with rectangle and triangle heads. It turned out very good and we had lots of fun!

On another note, for the past 22 days I feel the people of the DFW area are in an oven being slowly roasted by Mother Nature. It has been well over 100 degrees. This is ridiculous! I got into my car yesterday after my meeting and the car thermometer read 112 degrees!! After turning the AC and driving a few miles, it went down to 106!

Tomorrow I am driving to Kansas to because my William is getting baptized! I am excited. I won't try to film this episode but rather just take pictures while my daughter (William's mom) does the filming.

Okay, that's all for now. I am...

Signing off: Goodbye, Adios, Au revior, arrivederci

My decision to blog

2008-07-29T22:15:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about beginning a blog for various reasons that I can't recall at the moment. Well, this is a fine way to start.

Today, I had to cut short my vacation in order to attend three days of professional development...believe me, if I had a choice, I would have said "No thank you, I'll keep enjoying my vacation until August 18th" but if I want to have the whole week of Thanksgiving free and clear, then I must endure another two grueling days of PD!

I know my daughters would really dislike the room environment....as hot as it is outside...it is an icebox inside. I am usually not a cold-natured person, but even I had was freezing and lucky for me I had my denim jacket in the car.

On another note, I found out through the grapevine that the principal Ms. M will not be returning to the school. One former teacher of the school knew more about it than I did...she said that Ms. M was demoted. You know, school boards and superintendents really need to take a good look in the mirror when deciding to fire and hire administrators. Many times, administrators are placed in schools without so much as resources. So who are they kidding when they say, "We really want this school to be successful."? Schools need to be run like a corporation. Look at the charter schools...they have accountability...if those students don't perform well...the people running the charter schools must explain it to TEA.