Tears and goosebumps

I don't claim to be a runner. I don't run for competition. Truly, I run for me (well and my family). Most of the time, I run to clear my head. It really started this past summer while I was laid off (and still am) when a gal I worked with had the audacity to complain to me about the new job she got and how little it paid. Ummm, hello-you're bringing home a pay check right?! Then STOP  complaining. I digress...that day, I put on my shoe and went for a run to clear my head. I took my phone and ran to some music. There were a few tears shed during that run, mainly tears of frustration and when I got home, I felt so much better.

Lately, I've been training for a 10K run that I am running with two of my best girlfriends. (Love you gals!!) I've been setting goals each week-run 3 times, with a long run on the weekends. Back in May, I could barely run a mile without stopping. I run with my phone and the Nike+ app. I set a goal for my run and then off I go. My "trainer" comes on during my run and tells me my time and pace at each mile. Last week, I ran for the first time ever in the rain-and I went out purposely. I ran a short run and at mile 1, I was above my average pace, but not by much. I made a goal to push it a little harder and see if I could beat my mile pace. At the end, I knew I was going to be close, so I pushed even harder. I reached my goal and she came on with my new mile pace-almost 10 seconds faster than my usual! I got goose bumps all over. I even did a little jump/fist pump on the sidewalk (I am sure people driving past thought I was INSANE, but I didn't care).

Last weekend, I had a goal to run 4 miles. I had downloaded a new 10K training app and had chosen my workout goal (run 10 minutes, walk 1-repeat 4 times) and set my distance goal to 4 miles. Off I went-running and running and running and running....I thought 10 minutes should've been up, so I looked which I usually don't do. I had 6 minutes to go....WTF, that's a long 10 minutes. So during my walk, I checked again and realized I'd set my program to a 15 min run/1 min walk. WHOOPS!! But, rather than start over, I went with it. Those 15 minute runs were a little brutal. I was tired at the end of each one and my pace was getting slower and slower. But I didn't care....I was going to do this. Mile 1 chimed in. Mile 2 chimed in. Mile 3 chimed in! Sonya Richards Ross piped in and told me to keep pushing and I was almost at my goal. I got goose bumps all over. I was going to meet my goal and exceed it. Finally, my training app told me to begin my cool down. I checked my Nike app and had run 4.4 miles. It was my farthest run EVER!! I cried a little. 

Tonight, I ran after being down for 2 days with a cold. I hadn't run since Saturday and I needed a good run. Heck, I didn't even need a good run, I just needed a run. So I ran-a short run (I didn't want to over do it) and it felt good. I had the wind at my back for my first mile or so. It was a beautiful fall day with the sun beginning to set against the clouds with a great breeze (well really 20-30 mile an hour wind gusts). It was amazing. At my first mile, my trainer pops in with my time and pace. I'm a little over. Oh well. I run my second mile into the wind and at times I feel like I am running in place-literally RUNNING IN PLACE. I neared the end of my run and knew I wanted to push it at the end. I passed my distance goal of 2.25 miles and made it to 2.3. At the end of my run, Lance Armstrong came on and congratulated me on my fasted mile ever. SAY WHAT?!?! Looking my my app, I'd run a 9:30 mile! I cried a little, did a jumping fist pump and grinned like the Cheshire Cat for the rest of my cool down. 

Like I said before, I don't call myself a runner. I don't run for competition, I run for me. Sometimes I run when I'm angry and sad. I always feel better when I do. I've actually started to crave a run. When I was down with my cold Monday and Tuesday, Jason had to force me to not run. I'm glad he did-it would have been a BAD idea to run with how terrible I felt. But, I missed it. I had to run tonight. Thankfully, I felt much better and could breathe again. I'm glad I ran-and ran my fastest mile yet! 9:30. Now I've got another goal to beat. This weekends goal is 5 miles. I won't run all of it, I'll stop and walk a while during my run. I'm good with that. As long as I can make that 5 mile mark, I'm good! I've got my route all mapped out and am ready for the weekend. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm excited to run 5 miles.

Being a mom...

Being a mom changes you. Life no longer is all about you. It's about the little people who love you unconditionally at all times. Things have been tough lately, being laid off sucks. I've been trying my best to be happy and put on a brave face, but sometimes that all just breaks down. Thanks to my hubby, I've been living vicariously though him and his classroom. (I spent Tuesday ripping down his 9 year old bulletin boards and today replacing them with much nicer, new ones.)

I'm already digressing...

Today we had open house, it was a tough day for me to not be in my classroom and getting ready, greeting my new students and meeting parents. It just doesn't seem right to not be with students. So, after open house, we met the hubby for dinner and debriefed about our days. Nothing too amazing, just typical open houses, I just had mine completely as a parent instead of as a teacher.

As I was putting mini me to bed tonight, I was putting some lavender essential oil on some irritation in his armpit. As the oil dripped onto his skin, he giggled. Everything just melted away. All my anguish, my sadness...it disappeared with that laugh. He laughed and nothing else mattered. That's powerful.

I thought about how my life has changed since the boys came along. Pregnancy was wonderful (most of the time) and the moment those two little people entered the world, my whole life changed for the better. Now, when I have a tough day, all I need is a laugh or some love from those little men in my life. Being a mom changes you.

A first time for everything...

For the first time in my short 9 year teaching career, I will not report to work tomorrow. I guess part of me hoped that I'd get a small miracle and get called back. However, that just didn't happen.  I can't think of a fall that I didn't go to school, either as a student or as a teacher and this just sucks. (I'm done mincing words-it SUCKS!!!) My students would probably cheer to hear me use language like that, or they are going "Mrs. SHIKE!! I didn't allow them to use language like that in our classroom. I went and helped the hubby get his room ready today-I ripped down all his old bulletin boards and we got new ones up. It felt good-like it should. But then I came home and realized it wasn't mine and it just made me sad.

I put on a brave face and try and get through my day, but I struggle inside. It doesn't make it easier-knowing that there are games being played all over the place. I've applied for over 100 jobs (87 different postings in many different districts) and have had 2 interviews-one of which I was a token interview. It's disheartening to know that I am a good teacher, I work hard and I can't work this year. Not that I physically can't, but that I am unable to find a job where I can showcase my talents.

I've actually considered leaving educating all together, but I just can't. It's my passion, my love and my life (second to my family of course).  So those of you headed to your jobs tomorrow-if you aren't doing what you love, why do it? Find your passion and work it! Those of you who love your jobs, congrats-I envy you. I want to go to work-I really do. I'm tired of games and being treated like a number. I want to do what I love and love what I do.

Sometimes I wonder how completely selfish people really are.  The oldest boy is turning 6 this week. We’ve been planning his birthday party for about 3 weeks. He picked Lego’s and we got a great birthday kit with invites, thank you’s name tags and Lego men as a party gift. He’s been so excited. He picked ten of his friends from school to invite to his party.

We had it at home. That was probably our first mistake; not having it at some commercial place like Chuck E Cheese or something similar. We’ve been planning and planning. We’ve been prepping and prepping. We drew Lego faces on 30 yellow dinner plates and 30 yellow dessert plates. We drew Lego faces on 14 yellow bags. We made Lego waters. We made a Lego pull string pinata. We cleaned the house. We ordered 12 Lego cupcakes. We got fruit and veggies for snacks. I made popcorn-per his request. We reserved the coolest balloon artist ever (www.BigBalloonTycoon.com). We’ve been working so hard to get this all ready.

Wednesday I started to worry. We’d sent out the invitations almost 3 weeks ago, and I still hadn’t heard one RSVP from anyone. I put my cell number and my e-mail. No one called to RSVP. Not one. Hubby and I talked Thursday about my fear. We were both worried. I had taken my personal day and got all out running around done. We worked hard to get all the stuff ready. Friday comes and goes-we’ve still heard from no one. We got most of our final prep done and the birthday boy went to bed--VERY excited.

This morning-it’s party day. He’s up early and UBER excited. We spent the morning making out final preparations, running around and cleaning up the house. Hubby called the neighbors to invite them over as well. He explained our fears about the day. They’re already coming to our family party next week. Now they are coming twice. They are awesome people!

1:00 comes, the neighbors arrive. The kids start playing. They’re having fun. It’s 1:15-they are still the only ones here. !:30, 1:45, 2:00. The ballon guys arrives. He’s carrying at 3 foot tall Optimus Prime. Birthday boy is elated!!! He starts making balloons for the kids. They are thrilled because he makes the coolest stuff. Birthday boy is still in the shade talking to his Dad. “I wish my friends were here.” Just writing it breaks my heart. He was sad. We made the best of it. They talked about how lucky he was to have the girls there, how he was getting some seriously awesome balloons, how his friends were missing all the fun. He was still sad. (Thankfully Dad handled this one-I would have been a mess.)

3:00 comes and the Balloon Tycoon heads out. We’re so amazed at the balloons the kids have. He was AWESOME! The girls hung out for a while longer to play. They played the Lego game we’d planned and prepped and had fun. They played together with the Legos.

Our worst fears were realized today. Not one parent RSVP’ed to his birthday. Not one kid showed up that we invited. We did our damnedest to make the best of it for him. We put on our happy faces and complained about it away from him. Overall, we made sure he had a great day.

I however, am PISSED!!! It’s not my money or time I am put out about. It’s the fact that my kid was disappointed. He’s hurt that his friends didn’t come. I don’t blame his friends. I blame their parents. Those kids are six. I know they can’t drive or call to RSVP to a party. That’s their parents responsibility. If they couldn’t make it, they should RSVP, if they were going to come, they should RSVP. I punt an RSVP on the invite-I gave two ways to contact me-phone and e-mail. I got nothing. R.S.V.P. stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply." The person sending the invitation would like you to tell him or her whether you accept or decline the invitation. That is, will you be coming to the event or not? I don’t feel like I asked for much. I asked for you to tell me if you were coming to my almost 6 year olds birthday party. I didn’t ask for a kidney. I didn’t ask for a pint of blood. I didn’t ask for you to murder anyone for me. I asked for an RSVP.

I ask parents to put themselves in my shoes next time you get an invite for one of your kid’s friend's birthday parties. Will you have the common courtesy to RSVP? Are you man or woman enough to talk to the host?

I feel like too many people in today’s society are too selfish. It’s all about them. No one thinks of other people’s feelings any more. People only think of themselves. Next time, think of the little person who will be disappointed. Think about their fragile little egos. Think about the fact that these little things mean the world to them. Give a few minutes of your time and RSVP to a party. It’s the polite thing to do.

Super simple dinner

As a mom, full time teacher and wife, I am always looking for quick, simple, healthy and budget friendly dinners. I've become a bit of a nut about using canned or jarred ingredients, so if I have to I like to try and use natural or organic when I can. This dinner fits the bill.

Undone Stuffed Pepper Saucepan Casserole

2 large green peppers
1/2 pound ground turkey or chicken
1/2 pound ground beef
1 jar Newman's Own Marinara Sauce
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

 Cook rice according to package directions. While the rice is cooking, chop the green peppers in to bite size pieces. Sautee hamburger until cooked through. Add peppers and cook till crisp tender. Into the pan, add the jar of sauce and the cooked rice and cook about 5 minutes. Toss cheese on top and cover until melted. (I am usually to impatient to wait for it to melt and just stir it in.)

 This easily feeds my family of 4 with PLENTY of leftovers.

Enjoy! Andrea

Poo free?! YUP!

I've battled itch, flaky scalp for years--years! I've tried many, many remedies to help with it, but to no avail. I've used just about everything I could think of over the years-from the expensive to the cheap and nothing--I mean nothing--has worked. I love wearing black and dark colors, but hate brushing my shoulders off 100 times a day--and now, since I teach middle school, it's even more important to keep this under control--teenagers can be ruthless you know. So over break, I began doing some research on what causes itchy, dry scalp--lo and behold, what did I find? IT'S MY SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER AND OTHER ASSORTED HAIR PRODUCTS!!! Wait--hold the phones, all the stuff I use in my hair is causing my scalp to be dry and flaky--well, maybe? So I began doing a little more diggin into this topic. I found many people have gone "poo free" in hopes of remedying their hair woes. Poo free-you mean you don't wash your hair?? Yup, that's what it means. In one of the blogs I was reading, she compared shampoo to dish soap-I certainly wouldn't wach my hair with dish soap! So I continued my digging and found that using baking soda and apple cider vinegar is just as, if not more effective than shampoo. I decided to give it a try. So this morning, I mixed up my "shampoo" and "conditioner" and headed to the shower. I "washed" and "conditioned" as part of my normal shower routine, it didn't feel weird at all, but I was skeptical. Would my hair really feel clean? Would it be soft and manageable? Would it smell? So I toweled off and ask the hubby to sniff my head-he didn't notice any weird or offensive odors. Success #1. I dried as normal with my blow drier and my hair was soft and it did feel clean!! Success #2 AND #3!!! This is looking promising. I didn't use any product in my hair today, just teased the back a bit and went about my business. All day, I kept touching it and checking, still soft and still there. Now, I know this is going to take some time, but I am willing to try it and see. I'll keep you posted! Recipe for "shampoo" 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 cup water Combine in container with lid and shake well till soda is dissolved. (I do think a bottle with a squirt top would work best, I used a lunch type storage container and had a hard time getting it on my hair-a bath toy of the boys served well for this purpose!.) Conditioner 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar 1 cup water Mix well. **See above note about a container!

FINALLY!!!

After a long (and sometimes difficult) summer, I've finally been called back. I'll be teaching 6, 7, and 8th grade Language Arts and 7th grade social studies at a middle school in Kenosha. It was news I'd been waiting for all summer. We'd been preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best. Thankfully, we're going to be okay and will continue on with the nice little nest egg we've built over the summer.

The news of my new position bring some trepidation and nerves, but from what I've heard, the school is great. With Carter starting kindergarten this year, we're now busily looking for after school care for him.  We think we've found a spot, but will have a little more research to do on Monday.

Bittersweet

As the school year ended, I found it very bittersweet. It's always hard for me to say goodbye to a class, but this year it wasn't just my class, it was my Harvey family. It's been tough lately to not be bitter and angry, but I am trying hard to stay positive.  I chose not to say goodbye to anyone really, it would have been way to hard. Four years ago, I had done the same thing, saying goodbye each year to my Pershing family. Being connected to my Harvey family has been so much different in so many ways. There is a possibility that I will be called back, but I am not holding my breath waiting on anything. There are very few jobs out there that I can apply for. Many of them are just way to far from us, and I will not commit to such a long commute.

On a better note, Grandma was released from the hospital and is home recovering. She's a trooper and thankfully was "fixable".

My mornings are now spent drinking coffee and watching the boys get into what ever shenanigans they can. Life is good.

A whirlwind

Since April 1, I feel like my life has been in a whirlwind. As the governor of WI continues to take money from education in this great state, the schools are fighting just to keep up with rising costs. In Kenosha, the district is losing about $555 per student, which in turn translates into a $33 MILLION deficit for the district. That then translates into massive cuts into the education system, the deepest being with teachers. After 4 years in the district and 8 years teaching, I got my lay off notice. I had a good feeling it was coming and in fact some insider information had tipped me off the night before. Knowing ahead of time however doesn't make that information any easier to process.
I cried all day. I was told I could go home if I wanted, that coverage was arranged for my room, but I couldn't go home. I'd go home and what...wallow in my own self pity. I much rather would have been with my students and for good reason. As my co teacher was reading Charlotte's Web with the majority of the students, I was sitting with one reading with her. She has a knack for knowing when people are down and need a little bit of love. She laid her head on my shoulder as I was reading to her, looks into my eyes and says "I love you Mrs. Shike." And that my friends, is exactly why I teach. Everyday, I walk into my classroom and change the life of a child. EVERYDAY!! What I do is powerful, impacting and sometimes life changing. It's worth it.

The second part of my whirlwind started last week. My Grandma sent me an e-mail saying she was having a CT scan. She'd been having trouble with her legs for sometime and it was being attributed to low potassium. Apparently there was more to the story. She called me on Thursday, after her CT scan, to let me know that she was in the hospital in Madison. The saw an orange sized mass in her colon on the CT scan and the doctor in Reedsburg said he wouldn't touch it, so he sent her to Madison. She's been in the hospital since Thursday. She's got an infection and they've put her on antibiotics. She's clearing up the infection and will have surgery on Thursday to remove the mass in her colon. She had a blood test that screens for colon cancer and that was negative, so that was fantastic news. During the surgery she will have a biopsy done on the mass to rule out cancer completely. They are going to take out a pretty large portion on her colon, so she's going to have a colostomy bag. That's the least of our worries. Please pray for her as she heads into this surgery and recovery. She's my last living grandparent and probably the one I've been closet with. she means the world to me and a whole lot of other people, so I am not giving her up, not just yet.
The "rule" is, she needs to live to 100.  At least that's my rule for her, she seems to think I am insane to ask that of her. Maybe I am insane, but 100 is my rule!

11 days

I am officially 11 days from graduating with my Master's Degree in Education Media Design and Technology. 11 days!!! Looking back on the last year, it's been a bit blurry. I realize that I took in a huge amount of information in the last year, and it's going to take me some time to sort it all out. I give my final presentation tomorrow night, and don't really feel nervous...yet. I am sure I will get nervous tomorrow, but I don't think there's anything to get nervous for. Oh who knows...

Week 4: Frameworks

 

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "...the dream of a land where every man will respect the dignity and worth of human personality." As a teacher in the great state of Wisconsin, right now I don't feel that my dignity and human worth are being appreciated or respected. So in the spirit of Dr. King, 100,000 plus people assembled this past Saturday in Madison to be sure that the governor of our state understands how much we dislike his 'dis' to state employee unions. 

As Zander says "The 'leader of possibility' invigorates the lines of affiliation and compassion from person to person, in the face of the tyranny of fear. Anyone of us can exercise this kind of leadership whether we stand in the position of CEO or employee, citizen or elected official, teacher or student, friend or lover."
So, collectively, 100,000 people stood at or near the capital building in Madison to be the leader of possibility. All 100,000 of those people being their own leader of possibility.

I've been the person, in the past, to think I won't write to the senators or legislators, someone else will do it and voice my opinion on the matter. Well, that time has passed. I've realized that I create my own destiny and I am my own leader. This makes me want to stand up for what I believe in.

Week 4 Publishing and Leadership

Well, after much deliberation last week and right up until WIMBA on Tuesday, I decided to stick with presenting. To be honest, I am nervous as all get out that I might be chosen to present. I would like to share my research with my peers, but the thought of being the expert on the topic at a conference terrifies me to the core. I've decided to go forth and submit my presentation to WEAC  (Wisconsin Education Association Council) for the state teachers convention in October. For many reasons, this makes the most sense to be, but ultimately, it boils down to three things: 1. These are my peers, 2. It's close to home and travel wouldn't be difficult and 3. I can make a difference in my own
state and for possibly for my own future students.


This is the link to my final project:

files.me.com/ashike/olqlu1.key.zip



Post #1: Initial thoughts:

http://4shikes.blogspot.com/2011/02/week-3-publishing-and-leadership.html


Post #2:  Some confusion about the project, leads me to rethink my options.

http://4shikes.blogspot.com/2011/02/thinking-about-presenting.html

Beyond the #$%^ It.

All right, I have to laugh, this was really the last thing I expected to find in this book, although really it makes sense. I've been at that point in my life, and thankfully, like the cellist in the book, it worked to my advantage.

I had spent the previous 4 years working in a building as a building substitute. I worked everyday in the same building and when I was needed in a classroom, I was in. When I wasn't needed, I worked with small groups of students in all the grades.  The problem was, I made minimal money and had no benefits or contract. The last year I was in that position, I was asked to be a second teacher in a third grade SAGE classroom that was seriously over "capacity."    I should have been given a contract like a regular teacher, or at the least been considered a long term sub, but I wasn't. The administration had interviewed me a few times for various positions, but I was always passed up for the job. I was too good at what I was doing as a building sub. It was disheartening.

I was on vacation that summer with my family in Vail, CO. We were visiting my brother out there for the first time. It's beautiful out there. I had been applying to various districts around where we lived and we were in the middle of a serious hunt for our first house. I got a call from a principal in Kenosha for an interview, she wanted me in the next day and I was 1200 miles away.  She offered me a phone interview and I took it. I was BTFI.  I went for it and put it all out on the line. She thanked me and asked if I'd be available the next morning for a second interview. I figured, what the hell?  Why not, I've gone this far. So I had the second interview and we took the day to drive up the mountain.  My phone had no signal, so I couldn't have taken the call if she called to turn me down. We returned and my husband and I went with my two brothers to have a drink together. My phone beeped in my pocket and I knew this was my call. It was my answer.

I listened to the voice mail and there was the principal, offering me A JOB!!! My first real classroom and first real position. Not that what I was doing before wasn't real,  but this was a classroom.  four years in the waiting and I finally had what I want.

Going beyond the #$%^ it was worth it. It gave me the job I wanted, and my husband and I bought our house in Kenosha. It's all been uphill from there.

Week 4_comments to Brian

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Wk4 Reading

I admit I am skeptical person, and a lot of people I know would say I’m hard-headed. While blogging about the book The Art of Possibility, I have questioned a lot of the tactics as they do not always align with my personal theories.

But I really liked the section on “enrollment”. That is something that I think can be helpful in any person’s life, including my own. While I’m not sure about the terminology and associating it with college or a yoga class, I fully support the idea of being excited about things, especially in the workplace. While people may not adopt or agree with your ideas, the concept of offering your excitement, to put it out there, is a wonderful idea.

As the book says, they may not always be receptive, but the possibility is there that they could be receptive. And at what cost to you? Very little. Maybe exposing some passion you have for you job? Big deal. That’s a good thing. And sincerity goes a long way. Maybe they won’t be receptive the first time, but upon seeing numerous, sincere attempts on your part, you could whittle away at any barriers.

In such a busy, stressful time for me, this was a nice closing section to reflect upon.

1 comments:

4Shikes said...

Sometimes, it all about putting it out there. It's hard to take a risk and walk out on that "limb" but sometimes it needs to happen. How many times did Edison fail when making the light bulb? 600? There's something to be said for taking a risk and perseverance through the tough times.

Week 4_comments to Gregg

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Wk 4 Publishing_Leadership Project

My initial plan is to propose my Action Research Project to be published into two educational technology journals. Since my project deals with the idea of using age-appropriate social networking in the classroom (Edmodo), I wanted to aim for two publications that might be interested in publishing the research that I discovered. My first choice of publication is through the nonprofit education organization, Computer-Using Educators, or CUE. This organization's goal is to advance student achievement through technology in all disciplines from early ages through college. CUE publishes a quarterly journal entitled OnCUE and I thought my research would benefit the audience and readers of this publication.

My second choice for possible publication is through a journal dedicated to informing and educating educators from the K-12 levels in improving and advancing the learning process through the use and integration of technology. This journal is entitled T.H.E Journal and is perfect for the possibility of publishing my Action Research Project findings and discoveries. In fact, T.H.E. Journal recently published a whole article on the use of social networking in the classroom and Edmodo was one of the featured sites. So hopefully the journal would take note of my research and possibly publish it in lieu of their recent articles on social networking in schools.

* Link to Publishing/Leadership Think Out Loud BP1

* Link to Publishing/Leadership Think Out Loud BP2


* Eilers_Gregg_PubLeadProject.docx

2 comments:

antosb said...

That is fantastic that you have found some very apt journals to publish your paper! I am beginning to question my choice of doing a presentation as there seems to be very few places for me to showcase it. On the other hand, there are dozens of business journals out there if I had went the paper route. Did you look at places to present during any of this? If so, I was just wondering what your search tactics were...

February 23, 2011 12:26 PM

4Shikes said...

I think both choices would be honored to have you. You've put so much time and effort into your AR, and I think sharing the results would motivate people to start using more technology in the classroom. I think you should take this into a presentation as well. I think hearing a teacher who's used it and had success makes people willing to task a chance and use something new.

February 23, 2011 7:18 PM

A moving video

Those of you who know me, know that what's happening in WI has really rocked me to the core. This video was so moving and beautifully done I had to share it with you.

The video and editing was done by Matthew Wisniewski and the song is Mumford and Sons-The Cave.


Wisconsin "Budget Repair Bill" Protest Pt 2 from Matt Wisniewski on Vimeo.

Thinking about presenting

Such an open choice.

Ok, so I've been thinking about this publishing and leadership project and have decided to take the publishing route instead. It's too scary for me to think about getting up in front of my peers and really not knowing what I am going to talk about. I know I'd be talking about my AR project, but what makes me the expert, other than the fact that I've done the research. Nothing about this makes me an expert, just a researcher.
Then again, I think about it and I feel like I do have good information to share. I feel like what I did in my AR gives teachers an option and an avenue to increase parent communication. This in turn, creates more engagement in the classroom with the kids and the parents.  They want to be involved, the want to know what's happening and they want to be able to talk with their kids about what they did during the day and get an answer other than "I don't know."
 To be honest right now, I just don't know! I don't know which way to go.

Week 3-Publishing and Leadership

Well, I have to admit to concept of presenting my Action Research scares the poo out of me. I have never been much of a public speaker. I struggle to speak in front of the staff at my school.  However, I don't feel that publishing a paper really gives people a good idea as to what I did and what happened during my Action Research. 

I started looking at Dr. Bedard's list of journals and conferences. That was even scarier for me. But, in all reality, I need to step out of my comfort zone and reach further. I came to this program for it's quality and am coming out of it with so much more knowledge than I ever expected.


I've looked at a few of the conferences that are listed there and many seem to be too broad for me. I looked in ISTE and SITTE, but again both seemed too broad for me and I guess a little part of me doesn't feel progressive enough to go that far.

I've been looking at the Wisconsin Education Association Council's state teachers convention. This would meet my needs in many ways. One, it's close to home. Two it's my state. Three, these would be my peers.

Week 3-The Art of Possibility

Rally on the capital steps.

It's been a difficult week here in Wisconsin. I am sure most of you have heard by now that our governor is trying to take away our collective bargaining rights here in WI. This will affect 157,000 public unionized employees. Teachers, sanitation workers, nurses, health care workers, etc.  This "budget repair bill" has divided our state and created huge conflict. I am going to admit, it's been very hard to focus on anything else this week. I've been doing my best to keep my head held high, but it's been tough.

I became a teacher because I had a teacher once tell me I was stupid to my face. I never wanted another child to feel the way I did at that moment. I set out to make a change in the world, small little me...making a change. I never thought the day would come that our union rights would be threatened and our bargaining rights taken away. I never thought I would see the day that an elected official (not by me!) would find so little value in education. It makes me sad.

Ok, so I am sure you are wondering how this all connects to this weeks reading. Here goes.

"Being present to the way things are is not the same as accepting things as they are in the resigned way of the cow. It doesn't mean you should drown out your negative feelings or pretend like you really can't stand."
"It simply means, being present without resistance: being present to what is happening and present to your reactions, no matter how intense."

The capital rotunda at 8:00 on Wednesday February 16, 2011

This seems so fitting to the personal turmoil I've been dealing with this week. Last Friday this bill was introduced and the state began to panic. My husband and I followed it all weekend, but there was little news coverage about it. Monday it began to pick up and Tuesday we were in full force. Unions began peacefully protesting at the capital.  Teachers began to plan days to go to Madison and protest in solidarity. (I do want to say I don't condone "sick outs" and not showing up to work.) I've been very vocal about my feelings at school, something I usually don't do. I like to keep politics out of my workplace.  But I couldn't stay quiet about this! Wednesday we got an e-mail from our union saying the district would allow teachers to leave upon student dismissal. (Wednesdays our students are released early for collaborative time within the building.) So almost all the teachers walked out together and 8 of us piled in the car and drove two hours to Madison to make our voices heard. I couldn't sit still anymore and not take part in what was happening.

The capital rotunda at 8:00 on Wednesday February 16, 2011

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous. I've never been a political activist or any type of activist for that matter. But I had to do this. I had to make my voice heard. I couldn't stand by and do nothing anymore. Being there was the experience of a lifetime. It was peaceful, inspirational and motivating. Seeing thousands of people come together to fight for something they believe in was amazing.

The capital all light up at night.  2-16-11

Week 3-comments to Beth

EDM 613 MAC Week 3 Wimba " The Art of Possibility" and Leadership Project

Although this was one of the shorter Wimba sessions, the information was pretty intense. After reading the Art of Possibility with its inspirational stories and authors peaceful purpose, it was WILD and AWESOME to see Van Halen's Right Now video!!! I was not expecting that. However, the context and correlation were very appropriate. People do forget how one act of kindness, one responsible choice, one hug, one positive word, can change a lot in a domino effect. I was reminded of an email my husband sent me about 2 years ago about a project that a HS class did- each student made 6 ( with 30 extra) ribbons that said something like " you made a difference in my life" and gave them to 6 people with 6 ribbons. Those people gave them to 6 people and so on. A guy gave one to his boss, the boss gave one to his son, the son gave one to a teacher... etc. I was amazed at what a simple story made such on impact on so many people. The Art of Possibility has the potential to touch more than one life....

The power of positive thinking has to be incorporated with motivation and willingness to change....And have the ability to let things go... you will feel better.....see life in the broad scheme of things.... not the scope of the day.

I am very nervous about the Leadership project. I have such a specialized group of students and the research is so limited. I hope that my peers will be able to understand the impact technology has on students with Autism. I am committed to having a great school program, being an up to date and informed teacher, and using my skills learned at Full Sail to promote an technology. I want to tell others about my success with technology in my classroom.

1 comments:

4Shikes said...

The power of positive thinking! That's an issues all WI public unionized employees are facing right now. We are all trying to think positive so we can make a change in what our governor is trying to do to our state-rip apart unions. It's a sad and scary time right now, but I have yet to stop thinking positive and that we can make change happen. Just call me Polly Positive!!

February 18, 2011 7:03 PM