Monday, December 17, 2018

Winter Break 2018

Winter Break Day #1:
1. Awaken by big boy when he realized that we had all overslept!
2. Rushed boys to school in my jammies and no shoes.
3. Started about 10 different house projects... not completing any.
4. Noticed that the mouse in Bryce's room looks suspiciously round around the tummy today.
5. Picked up big boy who has half-days all week.
6. Stood in line at the post office on the official busiest day of the year at the post office.
7. Paid more in postage than the package content was worth to mail it to Brooklyn. (No cheap rate over 2 pounds)
7. Got another Starbucks envelope because the attendance lady that takes care of your kid at AHS's name is Brenda and not Debbie like he told you... Debbie/Brenda same thing right mom?
8. Back to projects...
And how was your first day of winter break?


November! #Year32

Some quick highlights of my November...
I have always loved to walk. I walk fast.  I can walk everywhere.
I discovered that you can get four year olds to walk everywhere too!
We took the Metro. 
Then I took them to view the city from the top of City Hall.
#experiencesmatter
I agreed to help level text for an exhibit at La Plaza de Cultural y Artes.
It was a wonderful learning experience for me.
I learned about our city and the history of Olvera Street.
In November, 
I had the opportunity to take my students to learn from the exhibit too.
It's amazing seeing your words on a wall.
Thanks Calle Principal.
We discovered why Big Red is named Big Red.
There were four other crayfish in the tank.
Now there is only Big Red.
Yes. Science learning at it's best!
After two years of waiting, we got a scholarship grant to the Aquarium of the Pacific.
They were generous enough to give admission scholarships to all of ECE!
200+ students and chaperones spent a day observing and learning.
What could be more perfect?
#touchingsharksandjellies
Just when you think that Hamilton is the Broadway musicals of all musicals...
Along comes this one.
Maybe it's because I am a single mother of a special needs child.
Maybe because we all want the best for our children.
Maybe because we all just want to belong.
It's was beautiful.
#generousgiftfromakindsoul #thanksmere
Sometimes family adventures are more stressful than staying home.
But the experiences are worth it.
I hope they realize that later.
Long road trips to beautiful places.
When you start at 30 seconds and work your way up to nearly 5 minutes
of Read to Self with four year olds. It's special!
Midway through Thanksgiving break my BFF sends me a link to NPR.
They were looking for stories from teachers of their favorite gifts.
I have so many, not all objects mind you.
Wrote blogs about them.
But these two represent many gifts from students...
Paola was in my first grade class.
Fresh from Guatemala speaking no English.
She's given me many gifts over the years,
but this one symbolizes more than a trip she took to Paris with her middle school class.
This reminds me of all the places my former students have gone,
where my current students will someday go.
Places and milestones they continue to share with me.
That is the best gift of all for a teacher...
watching your students live out their dreams.
#blessed 
This gift was a collaboration from my multiage class at White House Place.
To me, it symbolizes my other family.
I moved from a small apartment to a large apartment with a dining room.
I didn't have a table.
Anya and Ian's mom repainted and gave me their old one.
The other students in class chipped in for chair money.
It's over 20 years old,
and my favorite piece of furniture.
Oh, new project. 
I'm learning to be a webmaster...
whatever that means.
#lifelonglearner #notatechie #havedesiretolearn