Saturday, April 25, 2009

Random Thoughts On The Past Week

Lots of things going on this week...

Last Saturday was Brad's birthday so we went over to his mom's to celebrate with his brother and 'sister-in-law'. John was of course center of attention most of the day. He started to scoot backwards for the first time so I think he will be crawling very soon! He also rolled from his tummy to his back so we were really excited that maybe he would do that at night when he wakes up crying on his stomach (more on that later in the post!). John looked so cute in his plaid shorts and converse sneakers!!!




John is also learning to sit now. He is actually doing really well and can sit and play with a toy for a couple minutes before losing his balance. He just is so advanced for his age! hahaha...



So John had been waking several times at night crying. We couldn't figure out why. He had been sleeping around 10 hours straight for about a month or 2 so we were not used to waking up several times a night with him! We thought at first it was because he had flipped onto his stomach and didn't like it. But then he was waking up crying every 1-2 hours and he was sometimes still on his back, sometimes he was totally awake, sometimes he was still basically sleeping, sometimes he was hungry...we just didn't know what to do. So I called the doctor and his nurse said to come in to have him checked. She said to give him tylenol that night to make him comfortable before the dr saw him the next day. Well, wouldn't you know he slept all night without a peep! The doctor checked him out and said that John had a 'nasty ear infection'. I felt pretty bad but I wouldn't have known to get that checked! Looking back, he was fussy a week before I took him to the dr but I thought it was a growth spurt. Now I realize that he was crying every time I put him down because his ear was hurting! Thank goodness I didn't take him on the plane to Abilene for Brad's grandpa's funeral- that would have been a DISASTER of a ride!!! Anyway...John has been taking his medicine extremely well (he sucks on the syringe of medicine like it is a bottle and cries when you take it away) and he is sleeping like normal again. He is so cute when he sleeps now b/c in the middle of the night he flips over and tucks his legs under so his butt sticks up in the air!



Last night Brad and I took John to his first baseball game! Granted it was Wakeland High School's game (my student made it off the bench for the game!!), but still it was so fun to be outside and let John experience a new situation. Everyone in the stands loved him and he got passed around to my friends and some of my students. He is SUCH a good baby and didn't cry the whole time. (not that I expected him to!) He just really likes to look around and stare intently on people and objects so he seemed to enjoy himself. He doesn't smile at strangers yet (which is odd b/c he smiles all the time at home and at daycare!) but hopefully he will soon!



(Just can't get enough pictures of John? Go to www.sweetbabyjohn.shutterfly.com There a couple thousand more over there!).

For those of you who are still reading the longest post ever, I leave you with a question. Does John have enough pants???



by the way...yeah for Bella gaining weight!!! boo to having an intolerance for milk and soy protein. yeah for Al going on a crazy diet for Bella- I doubt I could do it!!!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Striking a Deal?

So I have been reading some blogs that teachers have (I am getting addicted here people!! You may see me on Intervention or somethig). In just a short amount of time I read that not one, but TWO teachers strike an interesting deal with their students to behave in class. This was the deal- the student behave and the teacher PASSES THEM!!! What????!!! Maybe I am totally naive here but I don't see how it is right to tell a student that they will pass a class simply because they behaved. One example said the kid couldn't read (at the middle school level) and thus couldn't do the work and was a distraction. Well, is passing them helping them at all? Is that the best deal the teacher could have made? I am hoping these are once in a lifetime deals during the first couple years of teaching when you will do ANYTHING to have good classroom management, but even then I think it might be a little unethical. Am I going crazy here???

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Teaching Something New?

My big dilema of the week is deciding if I should try to teach a new class next year. Well, I guess that isn't such a big dilema, but still a big decision! Should I stick to what I have done the past 7 years because I know it and it is easy? I can try to add in more activities and tweak lessons, all the while risking being bored and antsy next year? Or should I make a change and switch to a new math class and challenge myself with creating all news lessons and material? Tough decisions! Here are some pros and cons:

Pros to teaching Algebra II again
- already have TONS of lessons, notes, worksheets, activities, etc
- can use the navigators pretty easily and have some activities made up for that
- would be easier to spend time with family because I can get all my work done during school hours

Pros to switching to a different math
- would gain experience with other subjects (always good for the resume!)
- probably won't be bored and complacent- keep me on my toes with new material
- work with a different group of teachers which is always good for 'networking' among the department
- probably will have a student teacher in the fall so I would have some help getting materials together (may be a perfect opportunity to try something new)

Cons to switching to a different math
- have to start from scratch. (can share with other teachers, but will still need to tweak to make my own)
- could possibly be teaching sophomores and I am spoiled right now with the older and more behaved students
- not sure how to incorporate the navigator with a totally different math such as geometry
- LOTS OF WORK!!!!!!!!!

hmmmm...lots to think about!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

This is Where the Magic Happens

John seems to really like being on his changing table. This is the site of many first so far: first smile, first time he 'talked', first time he 'talked' ALOT, first time he stayed on his tummy and held his head up for an extended period of time, and now his first laugh. Don't know why he loves that pad, but we just need to keep the camera in the dresser permanently or something!

So I was talking to John after changing his diaper about how I was nervous that he hadn't pooped in two days. Guess he thought that was funny (and knew what a HUGE mess he was going to make later that night) and he started laughing. Brad and I were cracking up and then Brad ran to get the camera as fast as he could! This was the first time we heard a real laugh...not just sounds of happiness. I promise that in the video I was crying b/c I was laughing so hard at John and b/c when Brad ran to get the camera, he dropped it on the way which is very typical for him. I am not the sappy mom who cries over everything! :)

He laughed on Saturday and we haven't heard it since. I will just be waiting until he finds something funny again!




For those of you reading this at work in FISD, the video does not appear! :( sorry!