First Day of School + New Car

First Day of School was great! I only had eight fourth graders, so my morning was awesome! I'm sure that number will go up as the public school gets going, we started a little early so our families may not know that first day was today.

My third graders are a different story. There's 16 of them (though at times it feels like 40) and only 2 girls in the group. These are the kids I had in Kindergarten and they were a tough crew even then. The whole coming full circle theme came to mind but when I asked one of them, Saul if he remembered having me as a Kinder teacher, his comeback was, "I've had you as a teacher before?!" So perhaps not so full circle at all.

It was really really good to see my sixth grade girls. I feel like I have a real bond with them, especially Fiona, Cassie and Lucia. All three were upset when they found out that I wasn't going to the be their teacher, since it was assumed that I would be at the end of last year. Hopefully, though I shall still see them everyday and be at least a part of their lives.

On top of first day of school, today was also First Day of Car Shopping in Earnest now that The Boy is home. I was also offered another job opportunity with Moonlight Consulting, one that pays big buck but is also so far away that it's an overnight. It's in the middle of September and I would much rather have a new car rather than depend on the not so dependable Harrison. We went back to the Subaru Dealership and The Boy got to test drive the same car that I drove and he liked it just as much as me, but still wants to drive other things. So poop. A few more days of driving around in the Hot Harrison (as there is no AC) and getting in and out of other HOT cars that have been sitting around in the sun all day.

Velco: I love you.

Orientation went well this morning at ADLR. It was the regular run of the mill stuff. Going over the handbooks, standards, other policies and such. The new people seem eager and excited, which is always nice. Johanna was one of the speakers, she went over the Needs Assessment she did for us at the end of last school year and I'm pleased to say that are kids really are improving. This is heartening. Our hard work is starting to show in their test scores.

During one of the insurance presentations (that is most certainly a scam and that I've seen three times already) I started to put my classroom back together. I put up my new calendar system and I got the cursive letters up above the white boards. I love newly laminated things. There's a sense of satisfaction with newly laminated things. It was really just those two things I got done, which doesn't sound like a lot for two hours, but I'm using velcro this year!

The walls of school are cement painted over, which means that tacks don't work, but as the cement isn't smooth tape (of any kind) doesn't work either. Last year, I was coming to school early to re stick things up that had fallen during the night. I figured there had to be a better way and I found it! While I was at Target getting some other things I came across velcro! So after everything was laminated I started putting velcro on everything. All the numbers stick to the calender with velcro, all the candles stick to the birthday cakes with velcro and so on and so forth. At first I was just going to use velcro for those sorts of things, but today while I was sorting things out in the classroom, I realized that I could use it actually put the calendar system up! Light Bulb! It was a fantastic moment.

So here's what I did; I peeling the backing off of the fuzzy side of the velcro and adhered it to the thing that was going on the wall. Then I peeled the backing off of the rough side of the velcro and stuck that onto the fuzzy side. Then I could walk up to the wall and slap it on. Perfection. A little time consuming, but will probably save time in the end because I won't have to constantly re-tape stuff to the walls. Genius. Genius I say.

Here's hoping that all the stuff I put up today will still be hanging tomorrow.

On Meeting the Higher Ups

I love Johanna, the woman who owns and runs Moonlight consulting. I want to be exactly where she is when I'm her age. Did I tell you that she gave me a "Moonlight Consulting" mug at the beginning of term and pronounced me, "part of the team." (I'm drinking out of it right now!)

A few weeks ago she called me with a really neat request. She wanted me to accompany her to a meeting with some of the higher up in the state department of education to present all of the standards based materials we put together. I was so excited.

The day came and I wore a great outfit. The Boy got out of work in order to bring me to the rest stop where I was meeting Johanna and we drove up to Santa Fe together. On the way up, we talked about the presentation and I got to see the first hard copy of what I created a month ago and that its pretty damn cool (of course, there are already things about it I want to make better.)

This might be the time to explain that I have always sort of idolized the people that work for the NMPED in a West-Wing-Aaron-Sorkin-does-the-state-department-of-education sort of way. I imagine them working for teachers and students, putting their all into it...you know, like Josh Lyman, CJ Criag and Toby Zeigler do in the best TV show ever. I like to think, in the end not only do I work for my own students, fellow teachers, parents and my principal, but also for these people. These people that are also supposed to be working for me. I always thought that working for a state public education department would be fab, top of the line, the best I could do kind of job, the place where the changes really happen. Well. Maybe it still would be, but from what I saw that day, it wouldn't be for the state of New Mexico.

We got there in good time. Introduced ourselves to the staff assistent and waited outside the offices. The building itself was a letdown in and of itself. It's shabby and falling apart. The inside is prettier, but still...just sad that that particular department is in such disrepair. Johanna told me that she wasn't going to take the elevator because ten or so years before she had gotten stuck in it for over and hour.

We were led into the offices of these people and began our presentation. I have to say, I was really disappointed. New Mexico is pretty low on the list of states with schools performing at or above AYP (yearly adequate progress) and so I imagined these people ready to embrace anything that would help the kids improve. They were not enthusiatic at all. They don't even have a list of resources that schools can go to in order to find help in upping their chances of meeting AYP. Bascially, they are just sitting up there making lists of schools that are not making AYP, not turning in certain forms and not helping schools do either.

Now I don't expect them to get all excited about every idea that people come in with. I'll admit I'm a little biased about ours because it's...well...it's amazing. It can help students and teachers at every level, including bilingual, special ed, gifted, native and ELL populations. We even have data to back it up. We didn't even get a "Wow, that sounds like an interesting program" or "hmm...I wonder if so and so would be intersted in hearing more about this." We got bland expressions and finally they offered to send someone to one of the presentations to further gauge their interest, but that was only after we pestered them for any kind of response and it was more like, "well...I suppose we could do that."

We got back in the car and Johanna said that she hoped they didn't send the one of the woman we were talking to, to a presentation that she (Johanna) was giving. I said, "No way, send her to mine, she won't know what hit her." I meant it.

I was disappointed by the whole thing. This meeting taught me that I'm not wrong to want vouchers for the kids that are in low proforming schools.

The Boy: Manny you are a Douche-Waffle.

You may remember from last week's post that we didn't make it to the game that Manny Ramirez was playing in near La Pasa because he is on suspension from the MLB for steroids. This was because we were actually holding tickets for the next night. Even though we asked for tickets for last night's game.

We get there the next night and it rains. After covering and uncovering the field a few times we were soaking wet but ready to heckle. Over the loudspeaker came: The L.A. Dodgers have decided that Manny Ramirez will not play due to weather." Oh we were mad. We didn't even stay for the game because we were so wet. The Boy is convinced and he's probably right, that it was Manny that decided not to play as he has done that in the past. I was speaking to one of my father's very best friends about this and he said that he's just done with major league baseball because of all the hype and the steroids. He said that he would rather watch Little League any day. I don't know that I would go that far as the Red Sox are totally awesome (and even better without Manny) but I think he has a point.

Hence the title: Douche - Waffle.

Espanol Uno has been going very well. I've gotten all A's with the exception of one of the compositions because I didn't type it. I received an 88. Not bad. I just had my oral exam today and received a 96. I'm pleased with that. The final is tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I'll pull out a high A. Then Espanol Dos will begin on Monday.

I think I said that I wasn't going to be getting paid as much as I wanted for that creative project that I did for Moonlight Consulting and I didn't. I actually was paid far less than what I thought my work was worth. The project was worthwhile and any extra money is good. I've been working for her for awhile and tax season last year with the addition of the independent work was a bit of a shock, which I explained when coming up with what I thought I should be paid. I received my check in the mail today with a surprise addition an increase for taxes and a note that said on following invoices I was to add in taxes! I was so excited. I started a whole new savings account to keep track of it!

The Boy's parents arrive tomorrow! I really hope that they love what we have done with their future home! It will be so good to see them! It's going to be a busy week!

Proposal

Proposal went over alright. I'm not going to get paid as much as I want, but this is ok. I'm still beginning and this economy is not good. I have a great job that I love (even though I don't always write about it in the best light) and this is just something that will give me a little extra. I'm thankful and all that aside I'm really excited about the actual work. I think it will really help students and teachers stay on track with a standards based curriculum.

Professor today putting his head down, shaking it and snorting after I asked two questions: "Ms. Knitter, Ms. Knitter, you always ask the best questions." What is this guy's deal!

Bah! So much to say!

I feel like I haven't written in forever.

Catch up:

I had mi prueba primero de espanol on Friday. On Thursday the professor passed out a "test," had us take it and than admitted that the real test was the next day and that what he passed out was just practice. I was anxious not because I didn't think I would do well but because it had so long since I had taken a "test." At Bennington, we didn't have any of those. So essentially the last time I had taken one was my high school geometry final (which well...let's just say, did not go well.) I was really nervous. So when he passed out the fake test, I paniked big time. The other kids were mad when it was all over, I was thankful because now the "first test" was over and done with and I was much calmer and made fewer mistakes the next day. Over the weekend, I had a nightmare that I had gotten a 58. On Monday, thankfully I learned I had received a 96. I have another test on Friday...so let's see if I can keep it up.

Johanna from Moonlight Consulting called at the end of last week and asked if I wanted to run some parental involvement workshops this fall. Of course I said yes. She usually gives these out of state, but now our state department says that it's something the schools are really going to need and so she is going to fly in the woman that usually gives them out of state in order to train me. So exciting. There are at least four school already set up that want them. Yeeeeahhh!

Then she gave me an even better opportunity. She wants me to do some serious creative work for her. She gave me the assignment and then asked me to write up a proposal. EEEEK. Have never done anything like that before, have no idea what to charge or how long the project is going to take me and I don't want to ask for too much and make her want to give the job to someone else and I don't want to ask for too little and feel like I'm being taken for a ride. I have to send her something by tonight though so I had better "cowboy up" as my Wyoming man likes to say from time to time.

Have been keeping up with the gym in the early morning hours on alternate days. Except for last night, The Boy and I were out late catching up with a friend who was home for a few days after being out of the country for a while. I hope I get to see him again before he goes back next week. So we will gym it up later this afternoon.

Have been knitting like a fiend. Two of my cousins are having babies within the next few weeks, months and so many things need to be knitted. Have a kitchen set to knit for another cousin, a dishcloth and washcloth to finish for my kitchen and felted boxes. Pictures to follow!

I think my professor doesn't like me.

Over the next few days look for posts about my dislike of the setup of the cardio equipment at the gym as it relates to my fear of yoga in high school, my thoughts on Gay Rights, Gay Pride and Gay Marriage, letter grades and why I think my profesor doesn't like me.

I did a good job!

Both days of workshops went really well. I think both sets of teachers were able to take something away that they would really use. Both groups of teachers were easy to talk to, lively, asked great questions and seemed genuinely appreciative of the changes we were offering. Johanna (the owner of the company really liked what I did, how I answered questions and how upbeat I was throughout. Both days I felt really successful.

On Monday when I got home I had a voicemail from her asking if I was free on Wednesday. I said that I was and she explained that she had hired a women to do a workshop outside of Gallup, about two and half hours away from here and that she had been in a car accident and had to cancel. She asked if I was willing to step in. I said that I most certainly was. This lady was planning on giving a presentation that I actually know nothing about, so she asked me if I wanted to create something based on what I have done for her in the last year or so. She explainded that because it was so last minute and it was going to take some time to put it all together that she would give me the whole budget for the presentation. Uh. I said yes.

So I spent Monday and Tuesday night putting things together, creating an outline, making notes and rehearsing in my head. I made some CDs for the ride out there. I got the atlas out and mapped out the best route, got up early went to the gym (still loving the gym in the mornings btw.) I found the place exactly on time. It was a BIA school out literally in the middle of no where, my cell phone didn't work once I left Gallup, so I really had to trust in the directions that Johanna had given to me. I made it though, exactly on time; much to my dismay.

Everything went really well. These teachers were really receptive as well. I found out later why. The school is in the lowest tier of restructuring according to NCLB. If they don't bring up their scores one way or another, the principal is just going to hire different teachers to see if they can do a better job. So he's giving them all these professional development opportunites (where Moonlight Consulting comes in) and if they don't use them to better their students...well...bascially they are gone.

During the workshop I asked them what sort of curriculum they were working with. They could answer me when it came to Language Arts and Math, but when I asked them what they were using for Science and Social Studies they drew a blank. So I asked how they teach it. One of them admitted that they just don't because they feel like they don't have enough time to teach that and bring up the students' scores in Language Arts and Math and because niether of the other subjects are on the state test, they just don't teach them. Everyone else nodded. And me? I stood there with an incredulous look on my face taking in all the nodding heads. I couldn't beleive it. They are just digging themselves a deeper hole because those subjects are eventually going to be on the tests.

So on the spot I revised our plan for the afternoon. Part of the presentation is getting online and using lessonplanet.com to create lessons that are directly tied to the state standards for a subject. Instead of just one subject, I made them create lesson plans that worked with the state standard for more than one subject. They were actually quite successful at this and I really hope that they use this method in the future because if they don't...that hole is just going to get deeper and deeper.

Best part of all this; I made enough money to fix my car all in one go! It's at the repair shop as we speak! It may even have air condtioning when I get it back!

Moonlighting!

Today and tomorrow, I'm giving presentations on Standards Based Checklists for a lady I love working with. I'll call it Moonlight Consulting because hey, that's what I'm doing, moonlighting!

I've done some longer presentations for her before, some in state, some out of state, but these two are only about the one topic and will last two hours each. I really look forward to these opportunities because it reminds me that teachers are versatile and I don't HAVE to be in the classroom for the rest of my life if I don't want to be.

Today I'm speaking at a BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) school. It's always interesting going there because the cultural education those students receive is more intense than the one that the students at ADLR receive. Which in turn is completely different from the what I received in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. I always feel a little nervous addressing these teachers because I'm so young and so anglo and so blonde and we're coming in and "helping" (though more often forcing because the principal has made a certain decision) them change the way they do things.

I remember the first long presentation I gave was in Arizona and it for a school that was completely changing their tracking (yes, tracking in an elementary school) and report card systems. I was on my own that day too. (Usually, the owner of the company is with me, which is the case for today and tomorrow.) The teachers didn't want the change, but the principal made the decision and now they were being forced to stay after school and learn this new way of doing things after using the same old (bad) system for years. I was so very nervous. I began by talking about the states that I personally knew of that were making these sorts of changes; Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming. They looked at me skeptically, but when I said Vermont they perked right up and took me a little more seriously. That was such a nerve racking afternoon for me. But each one after has gotten a little easier.

Off to make some notes!

*Also, have discovered that I love going to the gym first thing in the morning.