Puppy Love...

Today we were able to get outside after dinner for walk.  Well... I walked and my girls rode their bikes. :)

While we were outside, our neighbor brought his dog outside named Samson. I have to admit that I am not a pet person.  I think dogs, cats and other animals that are kept as pets are adorable, but they are not for me.  We did not have pets while growing up since our house was full of kids. Maybe that's why I don't feel the connection to these animals, but our oldest does.  She adores this guy.  They are buddies.  And it's weird.  He knows her.  I mean like really knows her.  When he comes out, she says, "Sit!" and he sits.  He's calm with her and listens to her commands.  Our neighbor has let her start to walk him and she's in heaven!  But, he just told us last week they are moving. :(  I'm sad because they are great neighbors, but now, seeing Sici with Samson, my heart is breaking for her.  She cried herself to sleep the day we told her they were moving.  Actually, all three of our girls cried their eyes out. Sici and Samson have such a special bond and I never really understood that bond so much until now.  Today he came out to go "potty" and instead of taking care of business, he rolled over so Sici could rub his belly. He's so smart, he tricked his owner into bringing him out.  He didn't have to go to the bathroom, he just wanted to see Sici.  I'm starting to get it, but no.... we will not be getting a pet in the near future..... or ever!  :) hahahaha  

Sick

Strep.
I have it.
I'm tired.
I'm achy.
I don't want to be touched. (Sorry girls!)
It's like I'm swallowing razor blades.
Milkshake... no help.
Popsicle.... no help.
Maybe I'll lose that extra 5 lbs. I've been needing to get rid of.
Strep.
I hate you, you stink!

Mindsets

Today I decided to jump on the bike for my cardio.  When I'm on the bike, I like to read something to pass the time because quite frankly, I DESPISE the bike.  But.... it's easier on my knees and feet, so I humor myself once a week and get on that stinky thing for an hour.  :)

The book of choice today is, "Mindset  The New Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck.  It's a pretty easy read, even for a slow-ish reader like me. :)  This book is all about fixed and growth mindsets.  How we, as people, can have one or the other but we can also have a mixture of both.  Our mindset can also be changed (phew!).  There was one thing (out of many) that stood out to me.  It was about how students with fixed mindsets allow tests to define them. Here's what she said about students with fixed mindsets:

"They granted one test the power to measure their most basic intelligence now and forever.  They gave this test the power to define them.  That's why every success is so important."

I feel like when I was younger, like grade school age, this was me.  As I grew, I became more of a growth mindset type of girl.  I think it came out of the athletic side of me because I was never satisfied with being just ok at sports.  I practiced and practiced to better myself and my skills.  As I grew up and entered high school, my mindset about school changed too.  It grew into the same mindset I had in sports. However, I did take the ACT and thankfully, I never let the test that said I was just "average" define me into college and adulthood.

I can't help but to think about the testing our kids take and how with the Third Grade Guarantee, some of our youngest, brightest students are allowing themselves to be defined by this assessment if they are in the fixed mindset mode. What do some of these kiddos do if they don't have sports or some other avenue to help them know they can do it if they keep on trying?   Luckily, we have the power to help them change their mindset. Even though I'm not in a tested grade, I need to work on my firsties now to help change the mindset of... I can't into I can't...yet.  (Carol coined this phrase I think)  Luckily, I can work on this when I have my one-on-one writing conferences, but I do have a few kiddos who I'm not sure if one year is enough to change what is already in their minds.  I am going to try and I'm also going to use the word "yet" a LOT!

From my Brown eyes to yours...

Memories

Family.  It's such a strong and powerful thing.  Family helps you to develop into you.  I have so many great memories from being a kid.  First let me tell you that I'm one of seven. Just like the VonTrap's only there are 6 girls and 1 boy in my family.  I'm second in the pecking order.  Here's what it looks like:  Sister, me, brother, sister, sister, sister, sister.  We were all born within 10 years.  Being younger, I had no idea.  I just knew our house was always loud, crazy and fun!  I don't know if I appreciated it as much as I do now having my own family.  Why am I thinking about it now????  Well, my daughter's love to listen and dance to music, nightly. We have a party rocker that has disco lights on the top, which makes the experience so much more fun!  It takes me back to when my dad would put the 8-track (or sometimes the reel-to-reel) of Air Supply, Linda Rondstadt (sp?), Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, in and we would just dance and dance. We would laugh, my how we would laugh.  It was our weekend fun.  My mom would make a GIANT bowl of cheese popcorn (I have our old popper and do the same for my girls) and we would just dance the night away.  These memories are so dear to me as I hope they become dear to my girls one day.  

Here's to a little (or a LOT) of dancing tonight!

From my Brown eyes to yours......

Project Runway Jr.

It's Friday! I can't believe we made it through the week. I also can't believe I've blogged for 11 days in a row! For those who have made it too, congrats! We're doing it!

Last week my girls decided to play Project Runway Jr.! It was super fun watching them create their outfits!  This is what our middle daughter came up with! She just cut up a piece of material. She seriously made it a racer back and it had pocket slits! I think she's got a bright future ahead of her! I need to have my mom or my sister teach her how to sew.  I can only sew in a straight-ish line.  :)

I love sitting back and just watching my girls play.  They can be so creative and then...... they start fighting.  Haha

What have your kiddos done lately to show their creative sides? 

I'm a Runner....well.....

I'm a runner.  I was never a runner until I stopped playing volleyball in college.  I felt like I needed to do something when I stopped, so I started to run.  Not Forrest Gump run, but run.  I would run a mile and think I was amazing.  Then, I ran more.  And more.  After running three miles for a few months, I thought.... hey... I can run a marathon.  So I did. I've run 5k, 10k, and several half marathons. Running became a part of me.  It was when I would think and be with my thoughts.  It was when I felt closer to Jesus because my mind would be open and clear.  But now I'm old...er.  My mind and cardiovascular system (hahaha) are willing but my body is weak. The last few years have been tough on me physically (due to injuries) and mentally.  I don't get the "runner's high" now.  I don't get lost in my thoughts or in the "zone" anymore.  I can spend an hour on a machine and it's never enough.  I miss running.  I miss being with my thoughts. I miss disappearing into the cadence of my footsteps on the pavement or treadmill. There was something soothing about the repetition that I could just sit in and be for miles.  Now I'm down to running about once or twice a week for only about 3-4 miles.  Whatever the body can handle.  I hate it, but it's my new normal and I'm growing to accepting it. Can I still call myself a runner? I don't know. I don't know if I'm ready to throw in that towel. 

From my Brown eyes to yours....

A Little Peek into Departmentalizing

I know a few of you asked for more information on departmentalizing.  I'm here to fill you in! ;)  I hope I can answer all of your questions, but if not, send me an email and I'll do my best to answer everything. :)

First of all, when our principal approached us about doing this our initial response was, "NO! This is not the best thing for children."  But.... we are a team. And as a TEAM we always problem solve, persevere, and figure things out.  My friend Em, is SUPER good at scheduling, so she started there. We also had to decide who would teach what.  Our teammate Karen is an amazing reading teacher... check.  We were being gifted a teacher from another school and she would teach math... check.  I was blessed with teaching writing, which was a secret passion of mine. :)

Fast forward to today and we're all head-over-heels in love with what we do.  We've been working the last four years to perfect our craft in each subject area. We have 60 first graders that we see during the day, switching classes three times (actually 5 if you include specials and our school wide intervention block).  Each class is about 90 minutes. Here's what one class looks like:

Spelling (10 minutes), Phonics (20 min.), Mentor Text (5ish minutes), Minilesson (10ish minutes), Writer's Workshop (the rest of the time)

I do a LOT of one-on-one conferencing and this year I've been trying to do more peer conferencing as well. Some days it works!  I only know because when I was having a conference with one of my firsties and one part she added I had commented on.  She said, "When Karen and I were talking, she suggested I should add that part."  My teacher heart melted. :)

There is also another little secret.  We are leveled too.  Now I know what you're thinking.  WHAT?!?!?!?!  But yes, we are.  I'm not saying everyone loves it.  I don't mind it at all because my writing class is naturally differentiated even if I have a "high" "middle" and "low" class.  I do love that I can push my higher kids.  

There you have it friends!  

From my Brown eyes to yours....