Aug 14

Saturday.

Well - the scrimmage didn't happen. Well, it did... but it wasn't for the concession stand - but not for lack of me trying. It wasn't clean even though we said that we would do it. Anyway, that gave me some time to get out to the store and get ready to go to the boat races.

I went to the grocery store and bought at least enough for 80 poppers. That's a lot of damn poppers and they went fast - even when I cooked them at different times! We had people from all over the place saying (when they came by) that they wanted some of that good bbq and some poppers!
At least they were a talking item! :)

The heat though - oh man... was horrible. No air was really moving. THANK GOODNESS for air conditioning in Greg's trailer!

Now that I'm back home in my own house - I'm looking forward to getting into bed and crashing!

Night!

~MJ

Aug 13

Friday.

IF I was superstitious, I would have thought that today was one that would go down in history as the day that my school was going to drive me into the insane asylum. I mean, really. What are they thinking?

My schedule as it stands right now... is thus:
1st period - English 1, 2, 3 and 4
2nd period - English 1 Inclusion.
3rd period - PLC (Professional Learning Community)
Lunch
4th period - World Geography Inclusion
5th period - English 1, 2, 3, and 4
6th period - Conference
7th period - English 1, 2, 3, and 4

I don't know if it's going to be this way for sure or not, but all I know for sure is that it's really helping the school instead of helping the kids. I don't think so.

After work, I went to the boat races in Marble Falls to see the "Show and Shine". Some of the pictures that are on those boats and helmets - so flipping cool. I'll have to put a picture up as soon as I can get it from my phone to the computer.

I left pretty early because when they started up the boats, even from far away, it was so flipping loud that it was heart stopping. I mean, really...

But then again - those big ass boats the TOP FUEL HYDROS are so loud that when they do race, they literally suck the air out of your lungs - or at least it feels that way.

Tomorrow - scrimmages and shopping and boat races again. Just hope that my back lets me enjoy it as much as I can.

~MJ

Aug 12

Thursday.

Last day of Interventionist training.

I wasn't sure if it was going to come to an end or not. I think that I've heard about explicit teaching and that it's the kids educational value that is soooo important about one too many times.

I've also been up to the school and helped out a little with the handing out of new schedules and whatnot - and it's from the looks of it... this new E-School Plus software is going to be rather interesting to learn. Great.

~MJ

Aug 11

Wednesday.

More interventionist training - even though it's not a job that I can have... but interesting none-the less. Very informational.

I found out that I have TBI - It's trauma to the brain without it being from birth defect. It has to do with loss of memory. I could quote it verbatim, but I don't have the paper in front of me to do so. The wreck from 8 years ago proves that I have it.

I was told that most of the time though, it's gone undiagnosed because doctors sometimes don't put two and two together. Imagine that. Who'd have thunk it?

~MJ

Aug. 10

Tuesday.

Second day of Interventionist training. Very informative day.

It was all about behaviour today. How behaviour is learned, how it sticks to a child and is hard to change.

The question that I need to ask myself over and over and over again this year is the following:
What does the child get to do or what are they trying to avoid by putting forth this behaviour?

If I can answer which one it is, then I can start to analyse how to respond to that child as they continue with that particular behaviour whether if it is a good one or not.

Interesting, huh?

Aug. 9

Monday.

An Interventionist. It's an interesting term. It's a para-professional who helps us to work with the students to make sure that they don't slip through the cracks of the school system. I learnt today about their roles and responsibilities.

I'm a Special Education / Resource Teacher. I am not an Interventionist, however, I am going to this training. I did find out that the training that is lasting for four days is one that is going to cover a lot of things that I need to refresh on anyway - so, I'm going to continue on this journey and enjoy - and be paid for as well.

Score.

Aug. 8

Sunday.

I spent the majority of the day either cleaning or relaxing - or working on projects that I have for others.

Tomorrow begins a new day for training for the upcoming school year. It's already started off bumpy and rather irritating. Changes in schedule - I've seen the third one so far for me.

Regardless of what my schedule my be... regardless of who I'm teaching with and the subject area, I'm going to have fun this year. I'm going to smile more, question more, and act like a kid.

I don't see the harm in it - as long as I'm doing what I need to do - which is teaching the kids what they need to learn to succeed.

Yeah.

I'm going to have fun.