Thursday, October 27, 2011

Dog and Pony

 It is raining and the temperature is dropping! Praise the Lord. I have been awol from my blog for the last few weeks. Time gets away from me this time of year. I walked into Lowe's last night and they are decked out for Christmas!! What the heck? My brain cannot even go that direction right now. So many things to post about that have been going on in our lives but today I am on a rant. Just what everybody wants to hear, right? I love my job. I know without a doubt I am fulfilling God's call on my life right now. BUT....... some days I wonder why do I do this????? Yesterday I am certain I could have walked to the office and said, "Hey I am done. Not just for today, but for the year. And all the ones to come after that!" Then I remember I can't. Baby girl is still there. Bill still must be paid. Benefits are needed. And, oh yeah, I do love my job.

The last several weeks have been very frustrating. I teach great kids. GREAT  KIDS. I cannot stress that enough. Actually I feel all kids are great, some of them just don't know it yet. There is one particular group I teach that are so fun, but they cannot stop talking. They feel the need to comment on everything, to make an inappropriate comment about everything, to behave ten years younger than their age but want to be treated like adults. As my granny would say, "They slap wore me out yesterday." Could not get them interested in what we were doing in any way and I don't have issues that way. Then I question my teaching and that really makes me mad. Not that I am above reproach or above bettering my self as a teacher, but I can make all things relevant.

Why the frustration? Well, today (after yesterday) I had to go to an inservice where we were instructed that kids are different these days and whether we like it or not we have to teach differently. I can embrace that . BUT THEN....... we were told, "Gone are the days of the teacher having the students respect just by virtue of being the teacher. We have to EARN THEIR RESPECT."

EXCUSE ME? It was further stated that we have to make the students understand the relevance of what we are teaching so that they can feel it is worth their time. - I think my head almost spun off my shoulders. That is a problem with this generation - that they think they have to be entertained all the time and hey teacher if you aren't putting on a dog and pony show that I feel is "worth my time" I am going to talk, make inappropriate comments, and basically let you know you are wasting my time and make your day miserable.

This is not true of all students, but if the teaching pendulum is swinging toward what I mentioned we are going to have issues. You know when I was in school if a teacher said, "Would you pick that book up for me?" I would have done it and not responded with, "That is not mine." Or if I didn't see eye to eye with a teacher I could voice that at home but I still had to be respectful to them. They were an authority figure. And if they abused their authority there were appropriate measures to be taken by my parents.

I don't want anyone to have pity on teachers or think I am complaining - well I am complaining so scratch that, but I do want people to see that we need to make kids understand they have to be accountable. Even adults are accountable. I wonder what your boss would think if you said, "Hey, you really need to make me understand why this task you gave me is relevant because, hey I am just not feeling it today." Umm..... I think it is called a paycheck! And not everything in life is supposed to be "WOW this is so exciting" Even though I cannot understand why Shakespeare doesn't knock everyone's socks off  :)!

Sometimes I wonder where we are headed as a nation. Sometimes I wonder where education is headed. And I really wonder how long my "dog and pony skills" can hold out.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Graham and his Gator

This past weekend was so much fun. We ran a cross country race (baby girl had to sit this one out because she was headed toward pnemonia), then headed to our farm. My sweet grandpeep Graham loves our farm just about more than anybody. He asks everyday can he go and when they tell him, "Not today." He says, "But PawPaw said." Oh Lord help us all. PawPaw has a brainwashing on his two grandboys like you wouldn't believe. This trip was extra fun because Graham got a new toy:

Is he not the cutest thing you have ever seen? He must have put 200 miles on that thing. He drove everywhere and very well I might add. Only mutilated Mimi's bushes two or three times.:)
He even gave Aunt Nanna a lift!

He was all farm business when he decided there was work to do.

There was trash in Mimi's yard that needed picking up and hauling off.

Loaded it up......

Making sure it won't fall out.......

And dumping it out!

Off to pick up some more!

He said,"GiGi, I working hard!"

Good times and fun memories! Love my sweet boy!
Have a great week and count your blessings!
Michelle

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Homecoming


I knew our fall was going to be a busy time but my goodness...... It is all going by like a blur! Homecoming week was WILDLY hectic. Baby girl was sick and is going on two weeks of sick. She and her classmates worked hard all week on their float to have in the parade. It was so good and they were proud but at the last minute the parade was cancelled because of lightning. They still won second place, which is pretty great for the sophomores.

Friday morning was dress up day for the formal presentation of the court. Baby girl was pretty.

Then we made a mad dash to Baton Rouge and ran a cross country race, where we ran into some old friends! We love and miss you Sydney. Thanks again for coming to see us! Our boys and girls team won first place. They are awesome.
Then it was a mad dash home to get ready for the big dance. We had some company while baby girl was getting dolled up! It won't be long and he will be with the big boys all the time and won't care about being with all us girls. :(

Our sweet friend Becky, who has known and loved baby girl since she was about two, got her all beautiful. I think she didn't have much work to do :). She looks too grown up.

Sweet Christine is always my sidekick and right hand girl on days like this. And yes, she did make her famous sugar cookies for the occasion!

Then...... a boy came and picked up our baby girl.

I still like her with this boy: My goodness but they are a handsome couple. Daddy and his little girl who is growing up way too fast.

Then we rushed downtown for pictures with all the crew. The girls were so pretty and excited for the big evening.

Baby girl and her best friend. They are gorgeous.

Jon and Christine amused themselves by doing a little Homecoming pose! That mum is as big as Christine!

It is a sweet baby girl who will come find her momma who is chaperoning her high school dance and want their picture made!


Busy, busy times for us. They are going by so quickly and I want to cherish every minute of it. Just seems like yesterday and it was our boys and other baby girl doing all this. Our oldest son celebrated his ten year high school reunion at this Homecoming. Good times and good memories.

More posts and pics soon of our other recent adventures!
Blessings,
Michelle