The Ultimate Virtual Learning Experience

                                   

I'm so excited right now about a new endeavor I'm going to take on with my class.  One that will knock their socks off, and have them not only thinking I'm the coolest teacher on the entire planet, but that will trick them in to thinking I'm going to allow them to play games when really they are going to be learning.

Which, I know, you're probably thinking "Big Whoop!".  Lots of teachers use games to teach.  Lots of teachers incorporate games in to the learning process in order to help build understanding.

But, I'm not talking about card games or pocket chart games or even online math games.  I'm talking The World of Minecraft.

The game my kids never stop talking about.  The game that my kids would MUCH rather spend time playing than listening to a single word come out of my mouth about math, reading, science, or social studies.  If I were to say to them "So, who wants to spend an hour playing Minecraft instead of doing any learning this afternoon?", I'm pretty sure there would be tears of joy and total and utter shock cast around the room.

And, the best part?  I get to do EXACTLY THAT!

A few weeks ago, Mrs. P sent out an email to the entire staff asking for any interest for collaborating on a Minecraft Project.  And, luckily for me, I was the ONLY one to respond to the email.  Which doesn't surprise me.  Hello.  We've missed 20 days of school because of snow.  I'm sure the teachers that declined were probably thinking that the last thing they needed was another project to add to their plate.  Yet, I have some serious issue with declining the offer of a project.  Regardless of how much I already have on my plate and worry about how I'm going to get everything in, that didn't stop me from hitting the reply button to the email with the words "I'm game".  

Little did I know that the response would be so fitted for the actual project she had in mind.

So, there's this website called Minecraft EDU.  It's not just a website, but an entire online platform that was made by teachers for teachers who would like to use the game of Minecraft in their classrooms.  It's an entire overhaul of the original game the kids are all ga-ga over, and has given teachers the ability to mold and shape guide the students to play the game the way the teacher asks them to.

Meaning, it's completely and utterly devoted to education.  Without the kids even realizing it.

Now, I'm not a Minecraft expert.  In fact, I've NEVER played the game.  At all.  My information about the game comes strictly from every student in my class that spends ALL of their free time playing it.  And, from what I hear, it's a combination of The Sims with Lego.  Building virtual worlds out of block shapes, and then supporting and protecting and increasing those worlds with various challenges and scenarios.  

While kids are playing the game, they have no idea how much math and reading they are using.  They have no idea that they are incorporating science and a little social studies in to the mix.  And, with the help of Minecraft EDU, the teacher controls the learning that's taking place and challenges students to use the skills they've learned in the classroom and apply them in to the virtual world.

With Minecraft EDU, a teacher can create accounts for the class.  Then, go in to those accounts and create lists of "challenges" a/k/a assignments that the students have to complete.  It also provides online learning videos, training, and forums so that teachers (like me) who have never played the game, can still create and control the learning process without needing to be experts on the game beforehand.

For example, the students may be challenged to create a building with certain dimensions.  The teacher may give the dimensions and have the students figure out the area with those dimensions, or give the area and have the students figure out what dimensions need to be used to complete that area.   The teacher may then assign students the challenge of buying certain supplies with a given amount of money.  They have to figure out what supplies they can buy straight away, and what supplies they could use to enable them to earn money.  Teachers can also assign students to write passages or scripts to use, or experiments to try out in order to create something.

A whole world of education.  Literally.

And, again, the best part?  The kids have NO idea how much they are applying their skills to the scenarios given in the game.

Not exactly real world application, but I'll take virtual world application.  I know how meaningful it will be to my kiddos because they live and breath Minecraft.  If they want to continue playing the game, they'll complete the assignments and crave more challenge.  

I have been craving for a way to incorporate more technology in to my classroom.

Recently, I've introduced my kids to blogging.  Each student has their own blog, and they've made a couple of entries.  They are excited about blogging, and I can get them to answer questions a lot easier with a blog than I can getting them to write it on paper.  I've also been letting students do minor research on sites such as BrainPop and Discovery Education.  They get on the computer, look up their research topic, and then watch videos and take notes about what they learned.  And, the kids LOVE it.

Now, with Minecraft, I will be able to incorporate ALL subject areas and challenge students to use their learned skills to develop, sustain, and increase their virtual worlds and even collaborate with other students in order to more effectively complete the tasks given.  

Application + Collaboration = Deeper Meaning and Understanding

Yes, Please!!

I just received my Minecraft EDU packet last night, so I haven't even had the chance to login and see what goodies await me in my own virtual classroom.  But, I am just as excited as the kids are.  I gave them the news a couple of weeks ago that we'd be doing SOMETHING that involved using Minecraft, and they went all CRAZY with excitement.  Now, every day since, they've asked when they will get to use it.  

It's going to be so great for me to break the news that it starts next week.

And, another bonus is I can totally use Minecraft as an incentive.  

"You want to spend an hour playing Minecraft a couple times a week?  Well, then I guess you better make sure you have completed all of your assignments.  It would be so sad if you have to take work down to the computer lab to finish while your classmates are all playing."

I'm not talking bribery.  I'm talking encouraging the one or two students that are still struggling with following directions or doing anything I ask them to do.  What a better reward than getting to play Minecraft?  Especially when those one or two students talk NON-STOP about the game.

In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I shared that I had a few students that just didn't EVER seem to do what I asked them to do.  They hardly ever finished assignments in class, and then when asked to take it home?  Didn't.  Or took it home and then didn't bring it back.

Since making the announcement about Minecraft, two of those students have made a complete 180.  There hasn't been a single assignment they haven't finished, and they've even asked to take work home that's not finished in class... AND THEY BRING IT BACK COMPLETED!

I am now down to only having two students that are still struggling.  But, even they have improved somewhat.  I'm convinced that when we start playing, that will nip the final few issues in the butt.. and the rest of my school year will be lived out in total harmony.

So, I'm up for the challenge of including Minecraft in to my classroom.  I think it's going to have a major impact to the type of learning my students do, and will also increase their ability to apply their learning to various "real-world" situations.

And, from the little amount of time I've spent looking in to other teachers that have used the platform, it will wholeheartedly increase student productivity and retention.  Which is SOOOOO important.

I am NOT a teacher that teaches to a test.  I am a teacher that wants my students to gain knowledge that will stay with them, be applied to the real world, and will help them reach their goals and dreams.  

I also believe that if I do my job correctly, I don't really have to worry about the state tests, because they will know what they need to know.  And, this is a great way for me to test out that way of thinking.  I plan on gathering and using data to back up my initial hypothesis and see how it pans out.

Fingers crossed!

Right now, though, I need to get ready for work.  I have an exciting announcement to make to my class this morning.  AND I can't WAIT!!

And We Are a Go For School...Once Again

Is it possible that this will be the last time this school year that I say the words, "and we're going back to school after all the snow days"?

I mean, it is March.  Surely we've seen the last of the snow.  It's going to start getting warmer now, right?  Spring is going to start making its way in.  Right?  Right? 

Well, I for one hope so.

Yes.  I like snow days.  Who doesn't like time off work?  I'm not going to complain about more than expected time with my family.  I'm not going to complain about them while I'm getting them, but now that they are over (for the fourth time) I really don't want anymore.

I just want some consistency.  Some normalcy.  I want to know that we are going to be in school for more than a week without having to redo everything and juggle everything around because we're out for one, two, or five days because of snow.

Take going back today, for example.  It's Thursday, and because of the snow, the first school day of the week.  On the first day of the week, I usually introduce new material and lessons and then test them on Fridays.  Can't exactly do that when the week starts on Thursday.

So, my other option is to spend today and tomorrow reviewing stuff.  Go back over the math and reading and science from last week, just to remind them what we were doing the last time we were in school.

Or, I could review over skills we haven't done in a while.  Practice some of the skills we taught earlier in the year, but haven't really gone back over much since.

Or, I could go ahead and make today a "Monday" day, but not test over the new lessons until next Friday, giving myself an extra two days to work on said lessons.

All good options, but none really conducive to being out for another three days.  It just puts us even more behind.  

I think the best course of action would be to spend today and tomorrow reviewing.  Reviewing never hurt anything, and it's always good to go back and go over a few things that were a little tricky to master.  And, I'm a firm believer in if you don't use something, you lose it.  Sometimes, when we move on and not return to a skill for a while, my students will forget how to use the skill.  Reviewing helps them remember, and I like to come up with ways for them to apply the skills to different scenarios so that it's less likely they'll forget what it is we've done.

I read a comment yesterday that someone posted on Facebook that declared "Good teachers don't have to worry about their students forgetting how to do something.  If they taught them correctly in the first place, the student will hold on to the skills for life".

Urm.  Really?

Apparently, that person has never spent ANY time in the classroom.

Kids absolutely DO forget how to do something if it's been a while since they've done it.  I also know that kids often confuse certain skills after being introduced to new ones.

Example.  After spending several months learning how to multiply and divide, some of my kids were completely thrown off when I gave them some three digit addition and subtraction to do.  My kiddos have been adding and subtracting since kindergarten, but after cramming their minds with multiplication facts, scenarios and situations for using multiplication and division, and learning all the different "rules" and steps for multiplying and dividing, something as simple as adding and subtraction was quite difficult for them.

Then, I hear the argument that teachers aren't teaching kids what certain skills MEAN, and instead are just having them memorize and apply rules and facts.  

Again, using math, I hear that kids are learning how to add and subtract but not what it MEANS to add and subtract.  They know they are putting two numbers together to make a bigger number, or are taking a number away from a number to make a smaller number, but aren't able to comprehend the actual point or deeper meaning to addition and subtraction.  And by deeper meaning, those people refer to using place value, understanding that regrouping is taking ones and making tens or taking tens and making hundreds, and so on.

I don't know about anyone else, but when I sit down to perform math as an adult... say paying bills, figuring out how much food to buy for my family, or grades I add, subtract, multiply and divide without thinking about ones, tens, and hundreds place value.  I just know that when I have a bill for $125 to pay and $200 to pay it, I will have $75 dollars left over.  I know that when bread is $1.25 per loaf, and I have to buy three loaves, I'm going to spend $3.75 on bread.  When I'm grading papers and a student misses 3 out of 20 questions, I know their grade is going to be an 85%.

I know these things because back when I went to school, I was taught how to add and subtract, multiply and divide using algorithms and rules and facts.  Sure, a large portion of the work was memorizing said facts and algorithms, but by applying my learning to real world situations, and continuing to use those facts and algorithms, I remembered how to do it each and every year.

Now, on the reverse, I also know that I remember learning algebra.  I took pre-algebra, algebra 1 and algebra 2 in high school. I also took pre-algebra and college algebra when I went to college.  But, that was the last time I used algebra.  I know I had effective teachers for all of those classes, and I was a straight A student in all of those classes, but when my 8th grader brings home her algebra homework.. I can't help her.  I have forgotten how to do those math problems.  

I can absolutely tell you what 4x-7=35 means.  I can tell you what the x stands for, and why it's in the math problem.  I can tell you what problems like 4(x+y) to the 4th power mean.  I can tell you that the end result can be put on a coordinate grid, and how the coordinates work.  I can tell you what the Pythagorean theorem is, and even the equation to use it.  But for the life of me, I can't tell you what to do with all that stuff when it's put together and written in algebra problems that my 8th grade daughter has to solve.

Why?  Because I don't use that type of math in my everyday life.  I remember the facts and algorithms I was taught and memorized, but because I no longer use those facts and algorithms I've forgotten HOW to use to them...it has nothing to do with WHY they are used or what they MEAN.

So, where I'm going with all of this is just pointing out that students absolutely DO forget how to do things if they're not "reviewed" continuously.  It has nothing to do with whether or not they were correctly taught in the first place, or their "deeper understanding" to the skills posed to them.  It has everything to do with connecting the learning to real life, and developing ways for the students to continue to use what they've learned in order for them to retain their knowledge.

And with 20 snow days under our belts, it's going to mean a lot of review.  

So, I guess I've helped myself make up my mind about how I'm going to approach today.  Which I better think about getting to...it's time to get ready for work.

Have a great Monday... urm...I mean Thursday!!

Just Keep Making Me Stronger

                                    

Snow Day #20.  It's here.  Just as I predicted.  And today, I'm actually glad.  

I had already booked off a half day today, so now that there is no school I don't have to use up that time.  Not that I would have minded.  But there was the whole stress of not preparing for a sub, so that helps too.

You know, I've often wondered about that saying "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger".  Ever thought about that saying?  Ever stopped to think how much stronger you are because of the trials you've been through that didn't kill you?

If the saying is true, then I want to know why there is no Strongest Mother Competitions.  Move over Iron Men, Strong Men, Power lifters, and MMA champions.  Cause there are mothers out there that, with sheer will and determination alone, are the strongest human beings on the planet.

I am one of them.  I truly believe that.

You've all heard the stories about the mothers that have lifted up cars to save their children, have discovered superhuman powers when their children's lives have been put in to danger.  Won't think twice about shielding their children from a bullet, throwing their kids out of the way of an out of control car, and pulling their children from burning buildings.

When it comes to their child, a mother doesn't give two flying hoots about their own safety.  They will gladly sacrifice themselves in order to protect the most precious thing in their life.

But physical strength, to a mother, doesn't hold a candle to emotional strength.  The amount of burden, stress, and worry a mother will carry on her shoulders in order to shield her child away from it, or make their child's load easier to deal with.

It's just what mothers do.

I am convinced that there is a part of the brain that fires the moment their first child is brought in to the world.  Lies dormant through the mother's entire child years, and then the minute a baby is delivered BAM that dormant part of the brain flares up with lights and music and fireworks.

It triggers the sixth sense that tells a mother when a child is hurting, when something isn't right.  It also creates irrational fears in order to focus on nothing but protection.  Every sharp corner, hot surface, or fall potential becomes noticeable to a mother as a death trap.. a possible harmer of her baby...and she springs in to action to make sure that she is on full alert around all potential harm.

And that part of the brain also carries an extra storage unit, so that mother's can tap in to the emotions of their children, and feel whatever it is they are feeling.  Happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disappointment, pain, regret, excitement.  A mother is tuned in.  She knows.  

Over the course of the past couple of weeks, I have felt my Motherly Strength.  I have wondered why I haven't fallen in to a heaping pile of tears, sadness, and anger.  How I am able to stand strong, put on a happy face, and continue my daily routine as if all is OK.  Everything inside of me has wanted to stop, collapse, and not get back up until all the bad is gone.

But I don't.

I stay strong. 

Not for my own sake, but for the sake of my child.  My children.  

Friday, I was finally able to release some of the pent up emotions.  Let some go, but only so that I was able to refill.  You have to empty the emotional bucket now and then...there's only so much it can hold.  But, the minute the emotional bucket is empty, it starts filling up again pretty quickly.

My kids are the most precious parts of my life.  I would literally do ANYTHING to protect them.  There is nothing they could ever do to waiver my love for them.  

They are happy, healthy, and emotionally stable because I absorb the sadness, sickness, and fear.  OK, maybe not absorb, how about take away some of the sadness, sickness, and fear?  Make all of those things a little easier for my little ones to carry.

When my kids are sad, I am there to hug them.  I am there to listen.  I am there to come up with ideas and strategies to make the sadness go away.  I put those ideas and strategies in to effect.  I stick with them until the sadness is gone.

When my kids are sick, I am there to take care of them.  I hug them, wrap them up in blankets, prepare food or drink, administer appropriate medicine.  I watch them as they sleep.  And I stick with them until the sickness is gone.

When my kids are scared, I am there to protect them.  I hold them, I check under beds and in closets, I  make them laugh, and I come up with ideas to help put the fears to rest.  I then put those ideas in to effect.  I stick with them until the fear has passed.

There's not a moment I could imagine myself doing anything else.  

I guess that's why teaching is so important to me.  There are so many kids out there that don't have that strength in the form of a mother.  Or a mother that doesn't understand the strength she's supposed to have.  Or maybe even a mother that's not around enough to give her child the strength they always need.

I am happy to be that person, however temporary my position may be.

Because I know with every fiber of my being that I was put on this planet to protect and help children.  Children in my classroom, and children in my home.  

I am not a perfect mother.  I make mistakes.  I make irrational decisions without weighing all consequences.  I get angry.  I get upset.  

But, all of my children know that EVERY SINGLE THING I do is for their sake.

Always has been.  Always will be.

They are my life.  My breath.  

They are what I live for.

And whatever I do, if it doesn't kill me...it only makes me stronger.

Snow Day Like Today

                                            

Well, it's Snow Day 19.  We are just one day shy of missing an ENTIRE instructional month of school.  And, there's a strong possibility we may see that number hit tomorrow.  

A whole month of school.  Gone.  

In school terms, that's like cutting 10 years off your life.  Think of all that stuff you'll miss out on without those ten years.  Now think about all that stuff our kiddos are missing out on with one less month of school.

Sad and scary.

Thankfully for our kids, they have some of the best darn teachers in the country!!  Teachers that, no matter how much time we miss, will buckle down and do everything in their power to make sure those kids get everything they need in order to advance on to the next grade level.  There'll be blood, sweat, and lots of tears I'm sure... but we'll get the job done.

We have to.

It's what we do.

While I sit around and watch parents and concerned citizens from my area of Arkansas bicker about all the days they are missing, the best way to make them up, and who to blame for snow days in the first place (oh yes, there are people actually being blamed for snow days), teachers in Missouri know that they don't have to worry about when the time will be made up.  Because it won't be.  We've exhausted all of our possible days off, we've extended the calendar out as far as it can go, and the state will forgive the rest.  Which is great for the students... they don't have to worry about losing a spring break or going to school until June.  We don't have a traditional spring break in our county, and the last day of school will be May 23rd no matter how many more days keep piling on to the snow day count.  

That also means that the teachers have to perform miracles in order to make up for lost time and see to it that our kids get the education and skills necessary to be successful as they move on.

Who doesn't like the opportunity to add "Miracle Worker" to their list of accolades??

I'll put that right under teacher, mother, counselor, social worker, nurse, motivational speaker, head hunter, janitor, administrative assistant, and IT tech support rep.

While I should be terrified at the fact that I now have one less month to get in all of the content I need to get in before the kids finish the school year, I'm not.  A little nervous?  Sure.  But terrified?  No.  

Even though this is only my second year of teaching, I am lucky enough to be working with the best. They are masters of getting the job done, regardless of how much their legs are cut off while still having to complete a marathon.  

I have always said I work well under pressure.  If this scenario doesn't have me put my money where my mouth is, I'm not sure what will.

But, I've also come to terms with "it is what it is", a saying that is and will continue to run rampant down our hallways.  It IS what it IS, and we do what we need to do.

I still can't believe how many posts I've seen from people blaming PEOPLE because of the snow days. The last time I checked, snow was a natural phenomenon.  It fell from the sky.  It accumulates on surfaces making those surfaces slippery and dangerous.

Blaming school officials for canceling school due to snow?  Blaming road crews for not clearing the roads fast enough?  Blaming city and county governments for not installing some special, anti snow force field around the city?  OK so the last one was all me... but city and county government officials are being blamed for not PREVENTING the snow from accumulating on the roads.  Blaming bus drivers for not being able to drive their buses on ice covered roadways?  Really, people?

I'm only speaking for myself here, but the last time I checked I did NOT live in the north where kids go to school with a foot of snow on the ground.  People up north are used to having that much snow on a regular basis.  We get snow, sure, but not in the amounts received up north.  I also, for one, do NOT want my kid getting on a bus that can't drive SAFELY on ice and snow covered roads.  I refuse to drive my kids around in an SUV during snow, let alone putting them on a bus with no seatbelts.  And, I in no way, shape or form blame school officials for canceling school because of snow.  They don't want to miss school anymore than anyone else does, but they make the call based on safety.  That's a pretty big decision to make, and one that's not done lightly.

But, now I'm just getting on a rant I don't want to get in to.

Instead, I'm going to roll with the punches and enjoy my time at home.  When it's time to go back to work, I'll roll with them punches too.

While I've been off, though, I have been playing around with some new crochet endeavors.  I completed my first pair of slipper socks.  

                                

Not exactly thrilled with the way they came out, and need a little tweaking, but they are warm, they match, and they fit my Peanut comfortably.  Which is good, because they're not actually for me.  

I'm also over half the way done with a bolero (shrug) for Jelly.

                                       

Might not get that finished being that I'm running out of the yarn I'm using.  

If that happens, I'll be moving on to making a drawstring purse.  

                                                           

Being that we're (eventually) moving in to spring, I'm trying to find some ideas that can be used during warmer months.  Found a couple of great lightweight scarf ideas that I know E will get all excited about.  

                                                        

Also a few spring/summer slouchy hats.  

I also have a pattern for an extremely cute spring tunic, but it's toddler sized so I have to figure out the adjustments needed to make it for myself (and E, cause I know she'll probably want one).  

                               

But, before I get back to my spring crocheting, I need to think about cleaning my house.  Yeah, I know, I said I was going to do that yesterday.  I got lazy.  Sue me.  One more day wasn't hurting anything, and I guess it's a good thing I waited another day or I'd just be cleaning up all the mess that has accumulated SINCE yesterday.

Alright, peeps, I'm out!

She's A Natural-Born Leader

                                     

Well, we did indeed get our snow day....and I'm going to go ahead and say that tomorrow will also be a snow day being that some areas received 7+ inches of snow and ice and the temps are not supposed to get above freezing today.  

And on today's agenda is spending time with my kiddos and just having a relaxing day...thrown in with a little fun, family cleaning of our house!!

But, that's not what I'm going to bore you with today.  Today, I'm going to share some more words of wisdom, some more deepness, and shed some light on something my Peanut is currently dealing with and handling like a champ.  Or wolf.  However you want to look at it.

For the past couple of weeks, Peanut and some of her friends have reported to me that there's a whirlwind of drama blowing down the hallways.  Jealous girlfriends, minions, troublemakers, and downright bullies joining forces to make the lives of a select few girls' lives miserable.  

And, at first, I just took it as a run of the mill argument or bickering among grade levels and cliques.  But, from what I've discovered, there's WAY more to it than that.  

Some of the name calling and viciousness I've read in the past few days have made my stomach turn.  Twelve and thirteen year old girls and the language that some of them use is downright DISGUSTING!! 

Peanut being verbally attacked because she is friends with boys, and called some pretty nasty names because of it.  Some of her friends being verbally attacked and called the same nasty names because they choose not to associate with certain people.  Other girls verbally attacked because they, too, are friends with certain guys who broke up with their girlfriends.  

It's ridiculous, childish, and downright MEAN.

But, all those girls made one very BIG mistake.  They honestly didn't know who they were messing with.  

The picture I posted with today's post was a picture Peanut herself found and posted on her Facebook wall.  And, the minute I saw it, I couldn't help but smile.  The words couldn't be more true.

Throw my daughter to the wolves, and she'll come back leading the pack.

She won't retaliate with hate or nastiness.  She won't stoop down to the level of some of the trash that's being thrown her way.  She won't threaten bodily harm to anyone.

Her attack uses one of her many strengths....her leadership.  

There's something engrained in my child that won't allow her to become a victim.  Theres' something engrained in her that won't allow others to become victims.  She is powerful, strong, a worthy leader.  She will stand up for what she believes in, fight for what's right, and will protect anyone that doesn't have the ability or courage to stand up for themselves.

She has reported to me that several people in her grade have made the claims that they can't WAIT to get out of their school and move on to high school.  They are just sick of the troublemakers, sick of the drama, and just want to leave it all behind and forget about it.

This makes Peanut very sad.

She has looked forward to her 8th grade year for a while.  Last year, I know that's all she talked about. How she couldn't wait to do all the fun things that 8th grade offered, be the leaders of the school, and go out with a Big Bang of fun, memories, laughter, and happiness.

But, there are people that are now invading on that happiness, and Peanut just won't stand for it.  

This is only the second year Peanut has attended her school, but it's been long enough to mean something to her.  

The group of kids that took her in, made her apart of their group, even though those kids have been together since birth.  She was an outsider, yet that didn't stop them from welcoming her, accepting her, and treating her like she's been there her whole life.

The teachers that push her, challenge her, recognize her potential and use it to empower her.  They don't treat her any differently because she's a "teacher's kid" and she absolutely ADORES that about them.  She's like everyone else.  She has her favorite teachers, and her not so favorite teachers... all joining together to mold the beautiful, smart, and powerful young lady she's becoming.  

The assistant principal that, before becoming the assistant principal this year, helped her find a love for athletics.  She enjoys sports.  She enjoys the challenge and the memories that are created just by being a part of a team.  He helped her find strengths she didn't even know she had.  He helped her discover talents that were waiting to be discovered.  And, as assistant principal, he continues to remind her with a few quick words of banter in the halls.

E.  Who maybe one of my best friends, but is a staff member that works very closely with the kids and builds strong relationships with them.  Peanut has looked to her for guidance and counsel.  E has provided her some cold, hard truths but does it in a way Peanut can respond to.  E has embraced Peanut's leadership qualities and helped Peanut focus them to be used in the best of ways.

And Mrs. P.  The one and only principal that Peanut has EVER bonded with.  Peanut knows that no matter what the situation, what's troubling her, Mrs. P is ALWAYS there to listen, offer advice, and support.  

And all of the above goes for EVERY SINGLE STUDENT in that school.  

The students that welcome new kids.  The faculty and staff that build special bonds with their students.  The administration that go above and beyond to make sure that their students' time in their school is educational, fun, and meaningful.

Peanut feels that it's EXTREMELY important to fight to ensure that every kid that moves on to high school next year does so excited about their new adventures, but keeping their homeschool as a special place in their hearts.

She will NOT allow for those students to spend the rest of their 8th grade year counting the days down to "get out of the place" with a bad taste in their mouth because of some of the nastiness that's causing the time to be anything but amazing.

And because of that, I couldn't be more proud or honored to call her my daughter.

Way ahead of her years... but, in a good way.

She doesn't tattle.  She doesn't go running to a teacher anytime someone says something or does something she doesn't agree with.  She doesn't try and shield herself away or pretend like nothing is happening.

Instead, she rallies the troops.  Offers words of support and encouragement.  Seeks out assistance and guidance.  She delegates and strategizes.  

Think Mel Gibson in Braveheart with that blue paint all over his face, giving that powerful speech to his people.

Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live -- at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!!!

Except I think Peanut's would be more along the lines of...

Fight, and you might get hurt.  Run, and you'll escape the bad... at least for a while.  And in that high school or on graduation day, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to think back of your days at our jr. high and tell our enemies that they may have tried to take away our happiness, but they'll never take our memories!!!!

I know, at the end of the day, Peanut will NOT stand by and allow a select few to make people's lives miserable.  She will not stand by and watch her friends get called nasty names, get treated badly, or their happiness taken away.  She will not stand by and allow others to say nasty things about her.  

She will act.  She will lead.  And she will fight tooth and nail to ensure that the last few months of her Jr. High days are fun, happy, and memorable.  

So, in a way, I kind of feel sorry for those unaware kids who are laughing and high-fiving over the misery that they are causing.  I feel sorry for the fact that they have NO idea who they are messing with.  They have NO idea how passionate my daughter is.  They have NO idea how much it means to Peanut for her and her friends to be happy and enjoy their last few months of Jr. High.

Because she has been thrown in to the wolves....and is emerging as their leader.

(I just want to add this little blurb to anyone that may read this and get alarmed or concerned.  First, I made the situation sound a lot more dramatic with how I wrote about it.  Second, the majority of the "issues" take place outside of school on social media sites.  Third, the kids are not fighting this battle alone, and the adults that need to be notified have been and are acting on the situations.  Fourth, there have been no violent acts or threats of a violent nature made.  This really is something I felt passionate to write about just because of the way Peanut is approaching the situation.  I am proud of her leadership qualities, and her passion for defending and protecting what is important to her.  She has absolutely NO TOLERANCE for bullying or even the slightest hint of nastiness towards people for no rhyme or reason.)

Looks Like We Might Be Adding Some More Snow Days

Well, the weather has been a little crazy around here this morning.  We've had a little freezing rain, some sleet, some snow, and even thunder and lightening mixed in with it all. CRAZY STUFF!!!

Right now, there's a dusting of snow covering the ground, and it's lightly snowing.  The radar shows that there's still plenty to come, and there's a possibility of seeing 2-4" of snow by the time it's all said and done.  I'm going to go ahead and assume we won't be having school tomorrow.

The temps tomorrow won't get anywhere near the close to above freezing, so there's not any real chance it will melt off tomorrow, either.  So, that gives the possibility that there won't be school on Tuesday.  Then, that becomes a problem.

On Wednesday, I have an appointment I HAVE to go to at 8AM.  I booked half the day off that day, but didn't think to get sub plans ready before I left on Friday.  And it was really stupid on my part, because I KNEW there was a possibility we'd be getting this weather.  

Now, I'm beating myself up and worrying what the heck I'm going to do if we are out until Wednesday.  

I know that I have all of my materials ready for Monday, which would be taking place Wednesday if that's when we go back, but I didn't exactly organize everything so it's easy to find if someone else needs to go in and take over.  

Best case scenario would be not getting as much weather as predicted meaning we could go back on Tuesday, or more weather than predicted meaning we stay out until Thursday.  But, I doubt that either will be the case.

The other option would be that the roads are safe enough to travel on Tuesday and I can get in to the building in order to leave the sub plans for Wednesday morning.  That would be ideal.  Hopefully that will be a choice I have.  

What I have to do now, though, is try to not worry.  Just let the situation play out and see what happens.  What I do know is, whatever happens, my team will take care of me.  They will make sure that my class is taken care of.  I hate putting that burden on them, but they know that I would do the same for them...not that they would ever be as unprepared as I am... but stuff happens.  I am thankful that even though I will be worrying my head off and smacking myself upside the head for not thinking ahead, they will take care of me.  

The sad part is, this has to be the first week in FOREVER that I've walked out the door and not had everything nice and orderly for Monday morning.  I usually make sure my Monday folder has all the Monday copies needed, I make sure my desk is cleaned off, and I make sure that all I have to do when I walk in on Monday morning is turn the computers on and write the objectives on the board.  And wouldn't you know the one week where I'm so tired and just not thinking straight and run off without doing ANY of those things would be the one day I needed to do it the most.

STUPID, STUPID ME!!!

Oh well.  There's nothing I can do about it now.  Lesson learned for the future, but right now I just have to pray that I can take care of it Tuesday or that my awesome team will be able to wade through the junk on my desk to get the stuff needed on Wednesday morning.

Until then, I'm going to finish grading and entering in my grades, finish up putting all of my plans online, and then snuggle up with a new crocheting project.

I have a scarf that I have to make and I have some boots that I've been promising a co-worker that I still haven't started.  Should probably get both of those knocked out before I move on to something else.  

OK, that's it from me today.  I need a day to relax...unwind...and not worry.

Hopefully, I can get two of the three taken care of today.

I Feel Ya, Mother Nature

                                   

When I saw this little meme this morning, it made me giggle.  Especially after the post I wrote a few days ago about the Frozen song "Let it Go".  

From what all the news reports are saying, we are looking at another winter storm hitting our area late tonight, in to early tomorrow.  Ice, sleet, and snow accumulations are all possible.  We are currently under a Winter Storm Warning, and I keep hearing the words "ice storm" every time I watch a news report.  

Apparently, Mother Nature just isn't ready to let winter go just yet.

Either that, or Mother Nature is angry.  Sad.  Disappointed.  Frustrated.  All of the above?

If that's the case, I know how she feels.  If I had the power to shoot snow and ice from my fingertips every time I got a little down, this whole area would be under about 14 feet of snow and ice right about now.  

I'd be the living Elsa, and would have created an ice castle on top of a huge mountain and would be locking myself and my family up in it... just to protect us from the crazy that happens on a daily basis around here.

But, I'm not Mother Nature.  I'm not Elsa.  I'm just me.  And, I can't deal with my emotions by shooting out ice and snow from my fingertips.  Although, in the past 24 hours, there have been plenty of precipitation falling from my eyes.  

It was time to let it out.  To let it go.  I'd been holding it in, trying to stay strong.. but it was time to just let it all flow from me.  To release what was pent up inside.  And I have to admit, it helped.  And I imagine that sometimes, Mother Nature handles situations in the same manner.  She holds things in, goes about her daily business trying to stay calm, but after a while.. she just has to let it all go, and the precipitation flows.  She and I both need to probably seek some help in dealing with our emotions and not bottling them up, I suppose.

But, I've always been one of those people that stays strong for the sake of others.  My kids, my family, my friends, my students, my co-workers.  I am the person that can take a beating, soak in and absorb all negativity that surrounds me, and figure out the best course of action to deal with it.  But, even a sponge can only hold on to so much water before it all starts to spill out all over the place.

Yesterday, as I let out all the emotions that have been building up, it took every ounce of energy out of me.  The release didn't just come in the form of tears, but also the stress and energy I'd been putting in to staying strong, not crumbling.  But, it was time to crumble... completely collapse... just so I could work on building myself up again ready to face the next round that will be coming my way.

I cried until there were no more tears, and then slept like I've never slept before.  I fell asleep around 7PM last night, and was woken up this morning at 10:30 by Hubby.  There was a short break where I woke up for a little while to talk to E around 2AM this morning, but the rest of the time I was sleeping and recuperating.  And, I have to admit, that today I feel genuinely better.  Rested.  Stronger.  Ready to face whatever is going to come my way this upcoming week.  I squeezed out all the water from my sponge, and ready to start the absorbing process another time.

My entire life, I have heard and used the phrase "The Lord works in mysterious ways".  Whenever something happens or a situation turns out in a weird way, that's the best sentence I can think of to explain it.

Maybe a person receives an extremely high bill that they just can't figure out how to pay, and then someone comes along and offers to buy that beat up pick up truck that's been sitting in the driveway for years collecting rust.  

Maybe a person spends a few years working in a dead end job feeling like they'll never break free, and a customer walks in an offers them an interview at a company that is perfectly suited to the talents of that person.  

Maybe a person spends years in an abusive relationship, finally finds the courage to break free, and then ends up being the person another victim in the same situation opens up to one day that provides that person the strength to do the same.

All hardships a person struggles with, but comes out with a resolution.

I know that my entire adult life has been guided by that very phrase.  I've been in tough situations that I just don't know how to deal with, and all of a sudden an answer comes.  Not just an answer, but a solution and plan for moving on and learning from that beginning situation.

I vividly remember back when I was in the abusive relationship.  Sitting on the couch, crying, wondering what on earth I was going to do to get myself and my kids out of that situation.  Then, wouldn't you know, a commercial came on TV specifically for a hotline number women could call if they were or knew someone that was in an abusive relationship.  It was that commercial that pushed me in to action and the follow up phone call that gave me the way out.

I vividly remember sitting on the couch one night, crying about another rejection letter I had received after interviewing for a teaching job.  That was letter #3 I had received in a matter of a couple of weeks.    I then remember the phone call that came from one of my friends a few days later about a teaching assistant job that had opened up in the school she would be teaching in. Not my own classroom, but a foot in the door.  I interviewed that same day, and got the call offering me the job the next.

I remember thinking that the teaching assistant job was going to be the key to securing a classroom teaching job the following year.  Little did I know that the teaching assistant job was NOT the key to getting a classroom in that school, but was most definitely a key factor in getting me the job I did get in my current school.  

And I could go on and on with these examples.  

Sometimes, hard situations come along.  For no rhyme or reason.  They leave me confused, dazed, an emotional wreck.  But NEVER have these situations come along without some resolution.  Shocking resolutions that end up leading me to something better, or answers I never knew I was even looking for.  

The Lord really does work in mysterious ways.  And, I just have to keep remembering that.  I am willing and able to continue taking on the tasks and challenges thrown my way.  I am ready to fight and battle through each one, however difficult they are, to get to that resolution on the other side.

During this tough situation I'm currently dealing with, I have found that I have support and love on my side.  I have people that have listened to the entire story, have made no judgements, and have offered nothing but support.  I know that I have Good on my side.  Ready to battle all enemies.  Because Good is God with an extra helping of O.  As in "oh it's ON" or "OK, let's do this".  

But, I definitely think that both Mother Nature and I still need to work on our anger/stress management techniques.

What I do know, though, is that IF Mother Nature does give us another snow day or two, they will be spent with me soaking up the time with my family.  Loving on them, enjoying their company, and not taking a second for granted.  

So, release away Mother Nature.  It really does help to let it go and start off with a fresh plate.  

Which is exactly what I'm doing today!