Paris

{07.02.10}

We are back in Paris! We left Brittany this morning and this time it only took us 5 hours! Only 5 hours! Thank goodness for the GPS and Maggie's great driving skills. We arrived about 15 before meeting Richard at the hotel! He walked up in a long shirt, jeans and sweaty hot. Instead of taking a cab, he took the subway which is brave after a LONG trip to France and not ever being here. What a guy.

Trying to cool down in the hotel as I type. Reed is looking for a few of the students that are arriving today. Richard is napping. Sabrina is complaining about her sweaty shirt. Maggie is crashed on the bed attempting to cool down.

Tomorrow we will be gathering ALL of the students at the airport and transporting them back to Brittany (oh, boy, a 5 hour drive) in 5 vans. My bet is that we don't get 5 vans and there will be some changes in the plan. This is all part of the fun being in France.

Until next time.

8.13.09

I am back! Back from France that is. The last time I posted here was....well....a long time ago!

Here are the highlights from the past few months:

• completed my National Boards; waiting for results which should be in November
• completed my 6th year of teaching
• went on the Alaska cruise with my folks and Richard's family in July
• left for France mid-July and stayed for three weeks

My summer has been AMAZING! It has been great to travel and see what the world has to offer. Above is a photo of me in France. Alex swoonhoggled these T-shirts from the local grocery store after he explained our love and fondness of their store! We went to this store several times in one day for several days in a row. We shopped and cooked for 27 people. That's a lot of groceries.

I have a few more weeks before school starts. Until then, our schedule is jammed packed. Camping, boating, visiting friends, company picnic, and just plain getting ready for school to begin.

Richard made me a wooden leg..just in case the surgery didn't work.

NB Portfolio DONE!

ACL and NB

On April 1st, I had ACL reconstruction surgery. Way back in Decemeber I was playing kickball after school with other staff members and to make a long story short and less gross, I tore/disconnected my ACL.

I think I am healing well. The first few days were miserable. Hobbling around on crutches is tedious. I am able to move around pretty well by now, but it takes quite a bit of concentration. It is hard for me to believe that I will be able to bear weight on my left leg in the next few days. The past few days I have had some cramping in my calf, but after talking to the nurse this morning, she reassured me that it was part of the process and as long as it is not swollen, hot or red, there is no need to worry. Instead, just keep taking the pain pills to get through it.

As of March 29th, I was done with my NB (National Boards) portfolio. After several long days and nights, I sent it off! It has officially been signed for and is being processed. I won't hear until November...painful. So, I have been forced by my ACL to recover from NB! I have to say it was touch and go for a while. A roller coaster ride that I don't want to go on again.

Happy Birthday, Mara!

Mara has become a dear friend of mine and it was her birthday today! Mara passed away in September from DIPG, an inoperable brain tumor. She was a student at AJ and was in my class up until her death. She was there on Friday, September 19th and passed away Monday, September 22nd. As her mom shared today at her birthday celebration, "Mara didn't come to school because she had to, she came because she wanted to."

The birthday party was grand in my eyes. My students have been anticipating this day for a very long time. They made butterflies and posters to decorate the gym. Family and friends added balloons, pink tulle netting, a banner....add some children and you have a birthday party! It was a beautiful sight.

The family dedicated a plaque to our school. It is amazing. If you are ever in the area, stop in to see it. It is worth the trip! A cherry blossom tree will be planted in Mara's honor on the school grounds. Under the tree, "forget me not's" will be planted.

An amazing day for an amazing child. Happy 7th Birthday, Mara!

3.2.09

March Already?

• STILL working on National Boards. I wonder what I will blog about when I am DONE?!
• Tuckered out because I have been working on National Boards so much.
• Still buying books for National Boards.
• Still need to video tape my classroom setup for National Boards.
• I will be taking my National Board exam in May.
• ACL being replace the day after I turn in my National Board portfolio.

Can you tell what is on my mind?

2.8.09

Quick Notes:

• I am STILL working on Nat. Boards as much as possible. March 31st is right around the corner. Eeek. I have to turn in my portfolio by then. Type, type, type.
• I am taping myself teach several times a week. This is a rough process. I sound like a man on every video. Great.
• I injured my knee in a mean kickball game in December. I will be having surgery in April. Not happy.
• I have one week of teaching left before mid winter break. One week off. Thank goodness.
• I had breakfast for dinner last night and again this morning. This makes me happy.
• I am looking forward to doing some small craft projects when I have time.
• I just signed up to be a captain for Relay for Life again this year. We will walk in memory of my student, Mara Adams.
• I need to get a haircut. Maybe mid winter break.

1.24.08

I am almost positive that other blog posters have more exciting news to share than what I am about to share, but please consider reading on in order to get up to date with the Jackson household....

As usual, time is flying by. I still can't remember the last time I was actually "bored." I can't wait until the day I get to post about being "bored."

I am constantly working or thinking about my National Boards. It doesn't seem to get any easier as the days past, but only more worry-some. After a day of teaching it is hard to come home to work on papers, videos, etc. On the weekends, I concentrate on getting work done, but weekends like this make it difficult. I had a district training today and am meeting with my cohort group tomorrow. This does not allow time to be "bored."

Thinking back, I don't recall Richard being bored either. He is busy with work and keeping tabs on the tenants. Recently, he has been working on site Mondays and Tuesdays and working from home the following days. I take him to the bus on Mon. and Tues. which always is a time crunch, but we seem to manage.

Looking forward to the day I am bored,
April

Office Door

Below are a few pictures of the shoe holder I am using for organization. I punched holes (using my new "BIG BITE" tool), inserted large eyelets, made tags and threaded ribbon throught eyelet to label each pocket.

1.2.09 Photos

Richard and I at Zoo Lights

Christmas lunch at Shari's...oh, the decisions!

Dinner at the Crab Pot in Seattle

Me, trying to escape....I'm okay.

Mom and Dad in front of tree at Zoo Lights.

Snow! 12.22.08

Brrr...

It is cold. It is icy. It is a NO SCHOOL day!

This morning I got another phone call from our school librarian at 5:20AM. He indicated that we would have yet another late start. This has become routine this week and Richard is quite fed up with the process, but what's a teacher to do? Phone rings, light comes on, a few words are exchanged, hang up, dial the next person, exchange the information, hang up, alarm off, light off and back to bed. That's how it should happen but this morning I missed the final step. I couldn't get back to sleep. After watching the news for a few hours, school all around were closing down for the day. I decided to wait until the last minute to leave for school...after all is was Pajama Day! At 8:50, I got another phone call. (See above for the process) School has been cancelled for the day. I am all about the late start, but a day off does not satisfy me nearly as much. Somehow I will make it through the day...bundled up, indoors, by the fire.

Deep Freeze

Call it a deep freeze or arctic blast...either way, it's cold and icy. Today is day three of "late start" at school. This means I have to be to school at 10:40 and students arrive at 11:10. Lunch is at 11:20 then recess. You do the math. Not too much teaching time the last few days! I did go out to "short" recess yesterday. It wasn't snowing, just down right cold and icy. I opted to be the pitcher for kickball. I figured I couldn't hurt myself too much in that position. By the time recess was over I was ready to go inside. The kids of course aren't nearly as phased by freezing temperatures and could have stayed out longer. Since we don't get much snow in Washington, it is always exctiting for them and they soak it all in...literally. Today's forcast calls for more snow. Many schools are already cancelled. This crazy schedule is even more crazy since Friday is our last day before Winter Break. We are scrambling to practice our 1st grade program (which is tomorrow night if weather permits), finishing family holiday gifts, making gingerbread houses, and all the other holiday fluff. Not too mention academics sprinkled in here and there! Brrr......

99 Things: I've done the ones that are bold. WOW!

1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41. Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing- 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie- 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee

December Catch Up

It is been quite some time since I have posted. This has been on purpose. I know there are other things that are more important and I am attempting to stay focused on those items. Blogging got the best of me this morning and I thought equally important is sharing those "things" I have been busy doing and working on.

For Halloween (I know BIG priority!) our first floor staff at school dressed up as Super Mario Brother characters. I made hats for Mario, Luigi (that was me!) and Wario. They turned out great and the day was very fun.

In November, I started teaching again. I had a student teacher and she taught full time in October. I was anxious to be back in my classroom and ADORE my class more than ever. Our school also held conferences in November. This meant 3-half days of school and meeting with families in the afternoon and evening. It is always hectic getting ready, but well worth the time you have to visit with families.

I also met a few times with my cohort for National Boards in November. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about National Boards and what I should be accomplishing. This process has taken much of my time and is my highest priority right now. I am reading A LOT, taking notes (something I didn't really do in college or my master's program), writing, and brainstorming constantly. When should I do this? how about this lesson? will this fit here? what do they want to see? is this right? The weekends are filled with more questions and filling my head with hopefully the right knowledge to move ahead. This process will hopefully be completed by the end of June. That's not too far away....is it?!

Jason, a good friend of ours, called the first part of November to ask if we were coming to eat turkey with his family. So, went to Indianola for Thanksgiving. Our "adopted" mom and dad live there. They were anxious to have us over again this year. We stayed for the day and then drove home late that evening. As usual, we had a great time and had an excellent dinner (and lunch and dessert).

On the 29th, we went to a Brandi Carlile concert in Seattle. We had dinner with friends prior to the concert and then went to Benaroya Hall. The Seattle Symphony was a part of this concert which was a great combination! On the 30th, Richard turned 34. It was a pretty low key celebration. He worked in Tacoma that day and I worked on National Boards. That night I made dinner and we enjoyed a quiet evening together.

The beginning of December is here and before I know it, it will be Christmas! On Tuesday night, I hosted our Bunco Holiday Party! There were 12 ladies from our neighborhood in attendance. We had a potluck dinner and then had an ornament exchange. It was fun. Today and tomorrow will be spent reading a few books I just received for National Boards. Richard has work to do in Tacoma.

I have two weeks left of teaching before Winter Break! I can't believe it. My mom and dad are coming to Washington from South Dakota for Christmas. We are anxious to show them around again. This time they will get to see our new house, my classroom! (I had just graduated with my teaching degree the last time they were here), some fun little towns here and there, and of course we will make it to Seattle for some sightseeing. I can't wait!

10.19.08

Balloon Launch in Mara's honor

Nearly a month has gone by. My last post was the day Mara Adams passed away. Since then, Mara has been on my mind often. Just yesterday, our school had a balloon launch in her honor. It was amazing. Since Mara's passing, my class has been honoring her in the way they know how...impressive for 6 and 7 year olds. We have created a "shrine" on her table in our classroom. Tissue paper flowers in a giant vase sit upon the top with butterfly messages scattered about. The legs of the tables are wrapped in vines because they thought it should look like it was in a garden. The process has been healing and students add objects and notes daily. They also look at the projects that Mara worked on while in class. Eventually those will be compiled and given to her family but for now we are treasuring them.

I am continuing to work on my National Boards. It is mind boggling and confusing all at once. I think I have something going on and then I doubt myself. The expectations are clear, but with no examples or particular writing guidelines it is daunting. My goal everyday is to do something in regards to National Boards...somedays it is more than others.

Richard is off work for a few weeks. He plans to work on houses and apartments. I am sure the days will scoot by faster than he would like, but it's nice to have an opportunity to take time off.

9.22.08

I am at a loss for words. Mara Adams passed away this morning. I am not quite sure how I made it through the day at school, but I did. Mara was in class on Friday. Weak, but alert and gave us her half grin we can thrive on for days. Today was a somber day around school and I am sure there will be a roller coaster of emotions running through everyone as the days pass. I can't begin to think about removing her belongings from my classroom, but know the day will come. On her table today was a self portrait she had been working on for Open House. I couldn't move it. Mara and her family has touched so many lives. I am deeply saddened by the news and hope to find some strength in knowing she fought for as long as she could and as hard as anyone could possibly imagine.

9.21.08

On Tuesday night, four teachers ventured to Seattle to see Phantom of the Opera. Maggie and I recieved tickets from the Adam's family. Of course this meant we had to wear our Mara shirts and take photos! See below. (Maggie is on the left, she teaches K at our school and that's me on the right.)

Mara is constantly on our minds and in our thoughts. She is making it to class almost daily, but only for about an hour. She tires quickly, but I am thrilled each time she is able to be part of class. For updates check out her website: http://www.maraadams.com/. I adore my job and Mara has taught our class about compassion, perserverance, love, hope, being grateful for the little things in life, acceptance, etc...the list goes on and on. Thank you, Mara, for teaching us.

9.15.08 Life is Busy

Since school has started, I have found myself wanting more down time. Go figure! Quite the opposite has occured. Mornings are now filled with list making while driving to work,(Usually I can't remember my list by the time I get to school.), getting children settled in the classroom even if they have forgotten their lunch and refuse to eat school lunch, finding my planbook open with no plan and listening to 25 stories about what happened the night before....Still, I wouldn't change a thing!

In other news....Richard and I traveled to South Dakota this past weekend for my brother's wedding. It was a great event with great memories. (I am exhausted from the trip and excited that bedtime has arrived!) Aric and Janean looked fabulous and the ceremony went smoothly. We danced the night away at the reception and they opened gifts on Sunday. It was a BUSY weekend with barely enough time to catch our breath! I went back to school this morning feeling both energized (wanting to see my class) and exhausted (from the travel and a cold). Life is busy, but good.