I have a student who won't talk to me or any of her peers. She comes into class, does her work, and doesn't interact with anyone. I've tried to get to know her. She will answer my questions in yes/no replies but that's it. She shows no emotions, and in fact, sometimes she scares me a bit because she doesn't always have the nicest look on her face. In a classroom full of 30 kids, she gets lost in the crowd (partly her own doing and partly because she's so quiet). I recently sat her in the front of the room so I could at least be near her (she had chosen to sit in the far back when I let them choose their own seats).
My students are working on writing a short story, so today I gave them the entire class period to brainstorm, write, create, discuss, map, etc. All the kids were interacting and doing as they were told, but she just sat there. Again, this girl didn't talk to anyone. She didn't even lift her pencil. She just sat and stared at the floor.
I continued to roam around the room helping students, and as I stopped at another student's desk, I couldn't help but notice this girl was crying. She has tears running down her face, and she was swiping away the tears as they fell. I hurriedly finished up my student, grabbed a Kleenex for this girl, and told her to go to the bathroom.
She left for about five minutes, but when she came back, she was still crying. I was so sad for her, even though I didn't know why she was crying. I figured she had family issues or had gotten into a fight with a friend. I quickly went up to her desk to make sure she was OK. Based on my lack of relationship with this girl, I didn't figure she would tell me anything, but I wanted to make sure she didn't need to leave.
"Hey, are you OK? Is there anything I can do for you?"
"As I sit here trying to think about what to write my short story on, I can't help but think about my cat. That's the only thing that is coming to my mind right now."
A little confused, "Is your cat OK?"
She burst into sobs and she explained, "My cat died on Saturday. I was playing with him, and he had a stroke right in front of my eyes. I saw the entire thing happen. He was fine one moment and paralyzed the next. His left side completely shut down. He tried walking and couldn't. We had to take him to the Vet, and they had to put him down. I've had him since I was two, so I'm having a really hard time with it right now."
Not what I was expecting, and yet I felt very sad for this girl. This was the first time she had ever spoken to me, and she had just shared something personal. I squeezed her shoulder, told her how sorry I was for her loss, and asked her if there was anything I could do for her. She replied that she needed to think about something else, so I gave her a few things to do to keep her mind off her dead cat. She continued to cry through the rest of the class.
Not being an animal person, I have a hard time relating to her loss, but I hope she's OK today as she finished out her day.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Lottery Winner
Josh likes to buy a lottery ticket every once in a while and say, "Baby, tonight is the night. We're going to be rich tonight."
And then we'll sit there and dream about how we would spend the $101 million dollars.
I've come up with a few ideas of my own. Here are my top 10 things I'd do with the money.
1. Buy a house.
2. Pay off any bills of my family and buy each of them their dream house and/or car.
3. Buy a new car. I'm simple; I'd like a Toyota 4Runner, please.
4. Take a trip to Africa.
5. Take a trip to New York City.
6. Pay off all my bills, of course.
7. Put a nice sum of money away for my children's college fund.
8. Put a nice retirement fund together for myself and husband.
9. Buy a vacation home in Portland, Oregon.
10. Live a modest, comfortable life.
Things I would NOT do:
1. Quit my job.
2. Spend wildly and foolishly.
3. Dump any friends or family (sorry, you're stuck with me to the end).
4. Buy a fancy car.
5. Buy a huge, over-the-top mansion.
What would you do (or not do) with the money? Post a comment and let me know. Have fun. Be creative. I'd love to see you dream big:)
Every weekend, Josh and I watch the lottery drawing, and every weekend we don't win. But that doesn't keep us from dreaming.
And then we'll sit there and dream about how we would spend the $101 million dollars.
I've come up with a few ideas of my own. Here are my top 10 things I'd do with the money.
1. Buy a house.
2. Pay off any bills of my family and buy each of them their dream house and/or car.
3. Buy a new car. I'm simple; I'd like a Toyota 4Runner, please.
4. Take a trip to Africa.
5. Take a trip to New York City.
6. Pay off all my bills, of course.
7. Put a nice sum of money away for my children's college fund.
8. Put a nice retirement fund together for myself and husband.
9. Buy a vacation home in Portland, Oregon.
10. Live a modest, comfortable life.
Things I would NOT do:
1. Quit my job.
2. Spend wildly and foolishly.
3. Dump any friends or family (sorry, you're stuck with me to the end).
4. Buy a fancy car.
5. Buy a huge, over-the-top mansion.
What would you do (or not do) with the money? Post a comment and let me know. Have fun. Be creative. I'd love to see you dream big:)
Every weekend, Josh and I watch the lottery drawing, and every weekend we don't win. But that doesn't keep us from dreaming.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
A Story of Phones
I mentioned a week ago that my brand new phone was broken. I had finally entered into the world of Smart phones about two months ago, and then a month into my contract, my phone broke.
It was the morning of Shannon's marathon. I had charged my phone all night, but within two hours, my battery light was flashing that it was dying. I texted Shannon (while she ran) to let her know my phone was dying and to text mom from now on (Shan had been texting me her mile markers so we knew where she was). My phone died that morning, and I couldn't help but think it was strange that it had died so quickly after charging all night.
Upon arriving home that afternoon, I plugged it in to charge. Nothing. It wasn't charging. It wasn't turning on. It wasn't doing anything.
Not able to live without a phone (yes, I'm addicted), I quickly drove to Verizon thinking my battery was shot. The Verizon man immediately opened up my phone and said, "You got it wet. See this strip here? It's red. That means it got wet. Sorry, there's nothing you or I can do about it. It's not covered under warranty. Insurance won't cover water damage. You're pretty much out of luck."
Thanks, dude. I left completely upset and angry.
My phone did NOT get wet. I swear on my life. However, because that strip had turned red, there was not way I could prove that to anyone. I activated my old phone and started to come to the realization that I was going to have to get used to my old phone again for the next two years.
I started to do some research about buying a new phone. It was going to cost me $450 for a new one. Not happening. I could buy a used one off Ebay or Craigslist, but that was a gamble. Or, I could come to terms with the news and realize I was going to have to live with my old phone until my contract was up in two years.
While visiting Josh this past weekend, I was complaining about my cell phone and Josh said, "Why don't you call a repair shop and see if they can fix it." Why didn't I think of that?
Because I don't like calling people I don't know, Josh did the legwork for me. He found a cell repair place near DU and made a call. Yes, they repair phones with water damage. No, they can't guarantee they can fix it, but for $10 they will look at it and for $45 they will fix it if they can. It was worth it to me, so I dropped my phone off on Monday.
The guy asked me, "Did you try turning the phone on after it got wet?"
"Well, since I didn't know it had gotten wet, yes, I tried turning it on."
"That's not good. Did you try charging it after it got wet?"
"Well again, since I didn't even know it had gotten wet, yes, I tried charging it. I thought the battery was dead."
"Oh, well that's really not good. You probably fried the phone and there's probably nothing we can do, but I'll take a look at it and call you in a day."
I received a VM yesterday. "Shiloh, this is Paul from Yakety Yak. We figured out the problem with your phone. It does show it got water damage, but I couldn't find anything wrong with it. I tried putting in a new battery, and it works perfectly. The battery costs $30, so come on in and pick it up anytime."
So, my phone is fixed. It cost $30. I have my new phone back in perfectly working order.
I never knew a phone could make me so happy.
It was the morning of Shannon's marathon. I had charged my phone all night, but within two hours, my battery light was flashing that it was dying. I texted Shannon (while she ran) to let her know my phone was dying and to text mom from now on (Shan had been texting me her mile markers so we knew where she was). My phone died that morning, and I couldn't help but think it was strange that it had died so quickly after charging all night.
Upon arriving home that afternoon, I plugged it in to charge. Nothing. It wasn't charging. It wasn't turning on. It wasn't doing anything.
Not able to live without a phone (yes, I'm addicted), I quickly drove to Verizon thinking my battery was shot. The Verizon man immediately opened up my phone and said, "You got it wet. See this strip here? It's red. That means it got wet. Sorry, there's nothing you or I can do about it. It's not covered under warranty. Insurance won't cover water damage. You're pretty much out of luck."
Thanks, dude. I left completely upset and angry.
My phone did NOT get wet. I swear on my life. However, because that strip had turned red, there was not way I could prove that to anyone. I activated my old phone and started to come to the realization that I was going to have to get used to my old phone again for the next two years.
I started to do some research about buying a new phone. It was going to cost me $450 for a new one. Not happening. I could buy a used one off Ebay or Craigslist, but that was a gamble. Or, I could come to terms with the news and realize I was going to have to live with my old phone until my contract was up in two years.
While visiting Josh this past weekend, I was complaining about my cell phone and Josh said, "Why don't you call a repair shop and see if they can fix it." Why didn't I think of that?
Because I don't like calling people I don't know, Josh did the legwork for me. He found a cell repair place near DU and made a call. Yes, they repair phones with water damage. No, they can't guarantee they can fix it, but for $10 they will look at it and for $45 they will fix it if they can. It was worth it to me, so I dropped my phone off on Monday.
The guy asked me, "Did you try turning the phone on after it got wet?"
"Well, since I didn't know it had gotten wet, yes, I tried turning it on."
"That's not good. Did you try charging it after it got wet?"
"Well again, since I didn't even know it had gotten wet, yes, I tried charging it. I thought the battery was dead."
"Oh, well that's really not good. You probably fried the phone and there's probably nothing we can do, but I'll take a look at it and call you in a day."
I received a VM yesterday. "Shiloh, this is Paul from Yakety Yak. We figured out the problem with your phone. It does show it got water damage, but I couldn't find anything wrong with it. I tried putting in a new battery, and it works perfectly. The battery costs $30, so come on in and pick it up anytime."
So, my phone is fixed. It cost $30. I have my new phone back in perfectly working order.
I never knew a phone could make me so happy.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Things I Hate Lately
1. A broken phone: Remember that brand new phone I just mentioned that I loved? Well, it's broken. Verizon claims it got wet, which caused it to quit working. I claim it did not get wet (which it didn't). Nonetheless, my new smart phone is fried and I am back to my old phone for the time being. I am working on a claim to get a new phone.
2. Parent/Teacher Conferences: We had conferences last night from 4-8 and tonight from 3:30-7. Very long days!! While the parents have been nice thus far, it's stressful to remember names, remember each individual student's writing, where he/she sits in the room, and all the other questions parents ask. I have 150 students. I can't always remember specifics.
3. Proctoring Tests: I had to proctor the SAT yesterday, and it's just not a fun job.
4. Cleaning my bathroom: Enough said.
5. Getting gas: If I could hire someone to pump my gas every week, I would. Especially as we get into winter. I drive until I know I better not go another mile before filling up.
6. The gym: I hate it. I hate every moment of the gym. But I go.
7. Grading: By far, the worst part of my job. When I have to take a day off work just to grade, I know I am behind. It's never ending. Even after I grade one thing, there's always something else being turned in.
8. Meetings: There are constantly meetings in my job. Every Wednesday. First Thursday of every month. During my lunch. During my off hour. It's never ending, and this is the second worst thing about my job.
9. Nasty parents: Last week a parent yelled and screamed at us for charging her to get into the volleyball game. She eventually threw her money at us and stormed away. She then came back and pointed out her "large daughter who would have been better to been born a boy with her giant body." No joke. She said that.
2. Parent/Teacher Conferences: We had conferences last night from 4-8 and tonight from 3:30-7. Very long days!! While the parents have been nice thus far, it's stressful to remember names, remember each individual student's writing, where he/she sits in the room, and all the other questions parents ask. I have 150 students. I can't always remember specifics.
3. Proctoring Tests: I had to proctor the SAT yesterday, and it's just not a fun job.
4. Cleaning my bathroom: Enough said.
5. Getting gas: If I could hire someone to pump my gas every week, I would. Especially as we get into winter. I drive until I know I better not go another mile before filling up.
6. The gym: I hate it. I hate every moment of the gym. But I go.
7. Grading: By far, the worst part of my job. When I have to take a day off work just to grade, I know I am behind. It's never ending. Even after I grade one thing, there's always something else being turned in.
8. Meetings: There are constantly meetings in my job. Every Wednesday. First Thursday of every month. During my lunch. During my off hour. It's never ending, and this is the second worst thing about my job.
9. Nasty parents: Last week a parent yelled and screamed at us for charging her to get into the volleyball game. She eventually threw her money at us and stormed away. She then came back and pointed out her "large daughter who would have been better to been born a boy with her giant body." No joke. She said that.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Things I Love Lately
Emails: Josh and I stay connected by emailing every day, and I love chatting with my other dear friends, Katie, Brandi, Shannon, and Liz.
Fall TV: Ringer, Glee, Survivor, Castle, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice. I can barely keep up with all of them, but thank goodness for Tivo!
Peaches: They have been sooooo good (and cheap) all summer, and I am already dreading the day when they are out of season. I eat one every morning for breakfast.
Snack Time: Wheat Thins, Turkey Pepperoni, and Baby Bell Cheese.
Coupons: I saved $20 on my groceries this week by using coupons.
New Phone: I finally caught up with everyone else and got a smart phone. I LOVE it, and I especially love the games---Angry Birds, Nertz, Speed.
Fall(ish) Weather: The leaves are changing and blowing, and I love the warm days and the cool nights. I don't like the wind, though.
Peach Tea: So refreshing.
My Students: I have an incredible group of kids this year. I haven't had discipline problems, and I enjoy getting to know then. I also have an awesome schedule at school, which is loaded heavily in the mornings but then I am done teaching by 1 p.m. and can enjoy my afternoons.
Job: Despite a 3 percent pay cut this year, I am ever so thankful to have a job and so blessed to be at Chatfield for my third year.
Recipes: My all time favorite magazine is Taste of Home. I get it every month, and I spend hours going through the recipes and making them myself. I wish I could be a stay at home cook/baker.
Chili: Now that it's football season, I've already made my first pot of chili.
Game Manager: I really am enjoying my position as game manager at my school. It's good pay for watching my students play sports. I do not enjoy the nasty parents, though.
Quitting Enterprise: I'm officially done with that job forever, and I no longer work Saturdays. What a huge relief.
Fall TV: Ringer, Glee, Survivor, Castle, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice. I can barely keep up with all of them, but thank goodness for Tivo!
Peaches: They have been sooooo good (and cheap) all summer, and I am already dreading the day when they are out of season. I eat one every morning for breakfast.
Snack Time: Wheat Thins, Turkey Pepperoni, and Baby Bell Cheese.
Coupons: I saved $20 on my groceries this week by using coupons.
New Phone: I finally caught up with everyone else and got a smart phone. I LOVE it, and I especially love the games---Angry Birds, Nertz, Speed.
Fall(ish) Weather: The leaves are changing and blowing, and I love the warm days and the cool nights. I don't like the wind, though.
Peach Tea: So refreshing.
My Students: I have an incredible group of kids this year. I haven't had discipline problems, and I enjoy getting to know then. I also have an awesome schedule at school, which is loaded heavily in the mornings but then I am done teaching by 1 p.m. and can enjoy my afternoons.
Job: Despite a 3 percent pay cut this year, I am ever so thankful to have a job and so blessed to be at Chatfield for my third year.
Recipes: My all time favorite magazine is Taste of Home. I get it every month, and I spend hours going through the recipes and making them myself. I wish I could be a stay at home cook/baker.
Chili: Now that it's football season, I've already made my first pot of chili.
Game Manager: I really am enjoying my position as game manager at my school. It's good pay for watching my students play sports. I do not enjoy the nasty parents, though.
Quitting Enterprise: I'm officially done with that job forever, and I no longer work Saturdays. What a huge relief.
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