Today's Not the Day

My first article with the Journal of the Colorado Language Arts Society--just happens to be about one experience I had in the classroom...the only time I was ever frightened. And yes, it was because of a weapon. It's just a glimpse at the love I have for every kid that enters my classroom.

Today's Not the Day

Go Get It

My latest Glass Heel article!

Go Get It

The Substitute.

Recently I've had a student teacher in my classroom--an absolutely amazing student teacher, I might add.  So after spending a lot of time working on the publication side of my first novel, planning my next few units out, and reading a ton of short stories that I plan on using, I've more or less been a substitute in my building.  With the flu season kicking in, substitutes are needed.

And what an experience it's been thus far.  Oh yes.

I've learned a few things in the past few weeks that I thought I'd share with you.  Here goes...

1. Nose pickers gross me out.  They have no shame as they dig in there and pull out a doozy.
2. Booger eaters make me want to yack.  Especially when they are chewing away on the slimy ooze, then look to their fingers in hope of finding some more delicious goodness.
3. 6th graders love, love, LOVE cheesy jokes.  And I love the 10 second pause they take before actually getting the joke.  (The one I told "Why was the nose sad?  Because he did not get picked"--I was hoping the nose picker/eater would get the double entendre I was exposing him to...but no such luck).
4. I have no clue about science.  Seriously.  Lights on, but nobody is home.  I should've paid more attention in school.
5. My math skills versus today's math skills are completely different.  As a matter-of-fact, my way of performing mathematical functions are "old-fashioned", as in "Dr. Collins is that the old-fashioned way of doing math?"  Bite me.
6. Our special education teachers are actually angels, goddesses, saints--you name it.  Of all the substitute experiences I had these past few weeks, this particular class took the cake.  I fell instantly in love with the kids, who were the kindest and sweetest little kids ever.  Except perhaps the boy who wanted to discuss weapons, drugs, and body parts--just typical conversations I have on a daily basis with students--NOT!  Or the poor little girl who burst into tears because she couldn't find her paper.  Some of us are equipped to handle complete meltdowns every 30 seconds, and some of us simply are not.  I don't think I need to say which category I fall into.  Regardless, to do this work every day is without question a gift from above given to a few.  Thank God for them!
7. The "Dr." in front of my name confuses the young.  They asked me countless times what hospital I worked at and when I found the time to be a doctor.  Funny!  Especially since I am extremely nervous around anyone who looks, acts, or is ill in the slightest of manners.
8. I have a presence.  I am little, but I am fierce.  And I don't even have to say a thing.  Pretty cool.
9. These kids adore their teachers.  And they love the other teachers in my building.  I loved when they asked if I could always be their sub--how cute is that?  
10. The gullibility of 6th graders is priceless.  When asked who was teaching my class, I told them 8th graders are so together they don't need teachers.  I leave the instructions on the board and they just get it done (yeah, right).  "Wow, can't wait to be in 8th grade" was heard more than once.  

So yep.  Here's to all you substitutes out there.  Whew.  It's quite the experience.

My latest Glass Heel Article!

Advice--So Easy to Give...So Hard to Take.

Enjoy!

~Meredith

Fall Is in the Air!

I love fall.  I love the crisp, cool air.  I love the way the trees turn into golden, mystical creatures or vibrant orange and red.  I love the way I suddenly have the urge to eat apples (which I've been doing every day for the last three weeks.  There's just something special about fall.

Years ago, when my kids were little, Fall meant shopping for Halloween costumes, decorating the house with feign spider webs, and buying a TON of candy (we were on the one for the kids at the door and two for us type of system).  We carved pumpkins every year, got lost in the corn maze, and prayed for good weather come Halloween night.

And then, somewhere along the way, my babies grew up.

Here it is, October 26th, and everything has changed.  I'll still go shopping for my daughter's costume, but no longer for the trick-er-treating that used to occur.  No, instead for a Halloween dance that she's dying to go to.  My son is long past the costumes, not even mentioning getting a mask this year.  And the candy?  What candy, unless it's for me.  Being the only house on the street means no trick-er-treaters, unless I force my kids to stand on the porch, ring the bell, and yell "Trick-er-treat!" like I did last year...

With this being said, I can't tell you my delight when my son said to me last night, "Mom, when are we carving pumpkins?"  And my daughter busting at the seams to get her costume perfectly in place.  So while things have changed in my home, I'm still so thankful we're doing SOMETHING to ring in the Fall.

I don't know what I'll do when both my kids are too old to care about the season.  Well, I guess that will mean dressing up the dog (can't wait to show off his costume for this year) and maybe my hubby... haha  =)

Getting the Workout ON!

I'm sitting here at my desk, shoveling a Hostess cupcake into my mouth, and thinking how great I've been doing at working out.  Yeah, I'm a walking contradiction over here.  Seriously though.  There's something about hitting the gym 3-5 times every week that makes eating this cupcake simply A-OK.

There's no guilt.  There's no worry about it staying on my ass for the next few weeks.  Nope.  Nothing of the sort.  Because I know, I'll be zumba-ing it all off tomorrow.  So for now, I'm going to take another bite and enjoy.  Yum.

Time to Thank Those EMS Providers

Here's my latest article on Glass Heel!

Time to Thank Those EMS Providers