I have always wanted to be a stay at home however the powers that be have not yet allowed me to win the lottery (perhaps I should by a ticket). So, today was Day 3 of being iced in with my 4 year old and almost 2 year old and I realize I am a trapped-at-home mom. I am yearning for the ability to leave the house even if it is just to get French Fries at McDonald's, but the roads are so slick that I don't feel as though I can put us at risk for an accident. So, we continue to color, watch Sesame Street (thank goodness for our DVR), and try to keep Emma from attacking Gracie. Isn't this a dream come true?
Gracie some how found a broken piece of glass. I have not broken anything, but yet she found a piece. She comes crying to me, "MOMMA!" I look down and see a trail of blood. Her fingers are spread as if she has cut off one of them off. I clean her up and realize the "cut" is very small.
I am supermom! I know how to fix this. I bet if I give her a band-aid it will stop the screaming oh, I mean crying.
Off we go! Found the perfect band-aid. Attach it. Kiss it and low and behold she cries harder! I am astounded!! I thought band-aids were the cure all for almost anything. The last thing I know to fix this situation is the ever loved sippy, so we trot into the kitchen and I give it too her. Astonished this does not fix the situation...now Gracie's alligator tears are coming so fast she has soaked the edge of her pjs. I pick her up again worried that perhaps there is another piece of glass stuck somewhere. Suddenly the crying stops. "Momma," she says calmly. I look at her as she hands me the band-aid she has ripped off and I take it. Silence. Perfect bliss with her sippy in hand and band-aid gone. I sigh and think perhaps is it time for all of US to go to bed.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Iced In
Well, we are iced in again! Hopefully, we will be able to go to school on Friday. The pics above were taken with my Digital Rebel that arrived last week. It is used, but I am so excited. I am really hoping to start taking some classes next month. Trying to think of some small moments to write in regards to the ice...hopefully I will have one posted tonight.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Slice of Life Challenge: 16 Things
Saw this on Ali Edward's Blog..thought I would try it....
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1. Most of my defining moments as a child involve family members.
2. My parents have been married for 40 years. I am very proud...but I feel as if I let them down because my marriage did not make it past 10 years.
3. I am the mother of a special needs child.
4. I do not want anymore children, but when I see a tiny newborn, I miss holding mine.
5. It took me 30 years to realize who I am.
6. I finally love myself for ME and no strings attached. I accept myself with my faults.
7. I will always give a student a second chance... everyday is a new day.
8. I have an amazing amount of patience when teaching children, but very little patience when teaching adults.
9. I believe that my purpose in life is to teach children that the world has deemed "unworthy."
10. I live for the moments when I read in a student's notebook-"Thank you for not giving up on me. When I switch classes to your room...I get goose bumps knowing you believe in me." Then I try not to cry.
11. I want to write a book on how to incorporate reader's/writer's workshop in special education settings (whether inclusive or self-contained).
12. I miss my grandmother daily. I hope she is proud of me.
13. I never thought I would stay in Oklahoma...I thought I would be singing at the Met by now.
14. I may not always understand where my journey in life takes me, but I cherish the road I am traveling on.
15. I love frappachinos.
16. My life is not perfect, but I will live it to the fullest each day.
2. My parents have been married for 40 years. I am very proud...but I feel as if I let them down because my marriage did not make it past 10 years.
3. I am the mother of a special needs child.
4. I do not want anymore children, but when I see a tiny newborn, I miss holding mine.
5. It took me 30 years to realize who I am.
6. I finally love myself for ME and no strings attached. I accept myself with my faults.
7. I will always give a student a second chance... everyday is a new day.
8. I have an amazing amount of patience when teaching children, but very little patience when teaching adults.
9. I believe that my purpose in life is to teach children that the world has deemed "unworthy."
10. I live for the moments when I read in a student's notebook-"Thank you for not giving up on me. When I switch classes to your room...I get goose bumps knowing you believe in me." Then I try not to cry.
11. I want to write a book on how to incorporate reader's/writer's workshop in special education settings (whether inclusive or self-contained).
12. I miss my grandmother daily. I hope she is proud of me.
13. I never thought I would stay in Oklahoma...I thought I would be singing at the Met by now.
14. I may not always understand where my journey in life takes me, but I cherish the road I am traveling on.
15. I love frappachinos.
16. My life is not perfect, but I will live it to the fullest each day.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Memoir Monday~Water Logged
Saturday night ritual: bath, wash hair, curlers for Sunday, Hee-Haw, and Dukes of Hazzard. This night was just like any other Saturday night. Mom telling us to hurry up as she began the bath. The water shushing as it escapes into the tub.
"Come on, Lynnelle! Hurry up!" My mom yells as I come crashing through the door. I quickly grab a towel and wash cloth as she begins to turn the bath water off. Her hands grab the knobs, but the water continues to splash out. "What's happening?" I ask, "Did the faucet break?
"I don't know...hmmm..go get the wrench, " my mom says calmly. When I arrive back in the bathroom, my mom is no longer calm as the water is climbing higher and higher. As I watch the water climb, my mom taps me on the shoulder and tells me to run next door and get our neighbor. In my bathrobe, I run through the woods in my bare feet. I pound on the door hollering for Dewayne. "Please come quickly! Our tub is getting ready to overflow," I stutter. He grabbed his tools and ran to the waterline. He immediately shut it off. He was the man of the hour.
When I walked into the bathroom the water was skimming over the edge of the tub. He came in the house and fixed the faucet. And wouldn't you know it, I still had to wear those darned pink rollers that night for church the next day?
"Come on, Lynnelle! Hurry up!" My mom yells as I come crashing through the door. I quickly grab a towel and wash cloth as she begins to turn the bath water off. Her hands grab the knobs, but the water continues to splash out. "What's happening?" I ask, "Did the faucet break?
"I don't know...hmmm..go get the wrench, " my mom says calmly. When I arrive back in the bathroom, my mom is no longer calm as the water is climbing higher and higher. As I watch the water climb, my mom taps me on the shoulder and tells me to run next door and get our neighbor. In my bathrobe, I run through the woods in my bare feet. I pound on the door hollering for Dewayne. "Please come quickly! Our tub is getting ready to overflow," I stutter. He grabbed his tools and ran to the waterline. He immediately shut it off. He was the man of the hour.
When I walked into the bathroom the water was skimming over the edge of the tub. He came in the house and fixed the faucet. And wouldn't you know it, I still had to wear those darned pink rollers that night for church the next day?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Slice of Life Challenge: Letter to my future self
I borrowed the idea from Stacey to write a letter to my future self. My students did the same. Not sure it is actually a slice of life, but here goes.
Dear Lynnelle,
What a day in history! It is exciting, hopeful, and awe-inspiring. Today is the inaugural of our 44th president-Our 1st African American President, Pres. Barack H. Obama. To think forty years ago, Dr. King marched on the lawn of capitol hill extolling his "dream from the American dream." He and MANY others who fought for equality were able to see a multi-racial democracy grow today. To be a witness to the sea of people, to the sea of colors-All races coming together to form a truly United States of America. How life changing one year can be for a people, for a nation, and for me.
This last year I may not have become the most powerful person in the US, but I have conquered my fears. I have stood alone and stayed strong. I have realized at 30 life isn't over because a marriage ended, but that my family still remains intact. It is not the end. I have just begun.
In 2010, I know life will be different from today, but I stand behind the ideals for my life that have kept me strong and will continue to give me the strength to be the best me.
CHERISH yesterday
LIVE today
DREAM tomorrow
Take care,
Lynnelle S.
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Dear Lynnelle,
What a day in history! It is exciting, hopeful, and awe-inspiring. Today is the inaugural of our 44th president-Our 1st African American President, Pres. Barack H. Obama. To think forty years ago, Dr. King marched on the lawn of capitol hill extolling his "dream from the American dream." He and MANY others who fought for equality were able to see a multi-racial democracy grow today. To be a witness to the sea of people, to the sea of colors-All races coming together to form a truly United States of America. How life changing one year can be for a people, for a nation, and for me.
This last year I may not have become the most powerful person in the US, but I have conquered my fears. I have stood alone and stayed strong. I have realized at 30 life isn't over because a marriage ended, but that my family still remains intact. It is not the end. I have just begun.
In 2010, I know life will be different from today, but I stand behind the ideals for my life that have kept me strong and will continue to give me the strength to be the best me.
CHERISH yesterday
LIVE today
DREAM tomorrow
Take care,
Lynnelle S.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Strategic Mini-lessons
Today students responded to a simple statement by writing their name where they felt they belonged. They had two choices: I have written at least 1 story to support each topic sentence and I am still writing stories to support each topic sentence. Yesterday's lesson was on revising so I sent the first group to continue and I will confer with them tomorrow. The second group continued working on the importance of writing specific stories to support our topic sentences. I was able to confer with all 12 of the students in the morning group. In the afternoon, I was only able to confer with six of my kids, but was able to reteach the importance of specific stories to support our topic sentences.
Tomorrow we will have a whole group lesson involving using other sources to gain examples to support our topic sentences!
Love Lucy's Units of Study. I just found out today that one of Lucy's developers is coming to our site at our professional day on Feb. 16. I am so excited. After seeing Lucy in November and in my second year of the Units of Study...I can't wait to see what other exciting things they have to offer.
Tomorrow we will have a whole group lesson involving using other sources to gain examples to support our topic sentences!
Love Lucy's Units of Study. I just found out today that one of Lucy's developers is coming to our site at our professional day on Feb. 16. I am so excited. After seeing Lucy in November and in my second year of the Units of Study...I can't wait to see what other exciting things they have to offer.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Great Conferences
What a fantastic Monday! My conferences were fantastic as I visited with over half of my class. I had one other teacher come in to help, so that all who wanted to talk with a teacher today could. I really tried to keep in mind the points Ruth and Stacey made last week. I made sure that each student received what I liked best and the teaching point. Most students were still not restating their topic sentence at the end of their mini-stories. I don't believe anyone felt deflated...all kept writing even after I left.
One funny story...one of my young ladies was writing about her favorite pet and that you can't leave them alone. Only in my classroom would you hear about a dog peeing on the carpet, but that being said...I wish you could have heard her voice in the piece and it was an essay piece. It just goes to show you can have great writing even within an essay. Genre does not matter; creating great writers matters.
One funny story...one of my young ladies was writing about her favorite pet and that you can't leave them alone. Only in my classroom would you hear about a dog peeing on the carpet, but that being said...I wish you could have heard her voice in the piece and it was an essay piece. It just goes to show you can have great writing even within an essay. Genre does not matter; creating great writers matters.
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