Last Day

Well June 1st was the last day of school. It was a very emotional day for my students because we have been together for the last 2 years. At the end, I went around and told them all what I liked about them and how much potential they each had and how they had really made a difference in my life. My biggest accomplishment is the fact that Kachelle's report card was such an improvement. She managed to get mostly C's and a few B's on her grades and it has been the most fantastic transformation from last year when she was kicked out of school for three months to this year becoming my most improved student of the year. Her mom came up on Friday and told me how much of an influence I had been in Kachelle's life and how I had turned her around. It was a great moment for me. If a teacher can say she truly made a difference in at least one kid's life, it is an amazing feeling. I feel that these kids have touched me and taught me in so many ways.
It was very upsetting to also find out on the same day that it doesn't look good for my return to Monroe. Due to low senority, I will probably be moving to a different school. It really angers me that this is happening because there are several teachers in the building who, in my opinion, should not still be teaching. Yet I am the one being told to move on. I have never been formally observed by my supervisor, and have had no feedback on ways to improve my teaching ability. Yet my evaluation this year was marked as being proficient, the second highest reating that could be given?? There was no explanation as to why I was given that rating, but it was said I would probably get the highest rating next year???? And people ask what's the problem with St. Louis Public School? Where do I start..............

Change is Hard

I still don't know where I will be teaching next year. As of Friday, my principal said he thinks our projected enrollment is wrong and that we may be able to keep my job and the two other jobs that were displaced. On a bright note, Monroe will need a special ed. teacher and I have already taken one test to be certified for special ed, so I signed up to take the other one in June and hopefully I will pass it and be able to at the very least take the special ed position to stay at Monroe, but I have definitely decided that I will need to get out of SLPS next year. Although I do feel that the I am making a small difference in the lives of a few kids, there is just too much political nonsense to make it worthwhile. I want to teach, and this isn't teaching, this is providing a safe place for these kids to spend 8 hours a day before they have to go home to their awful lives. I feel sad that this is how it is but sometimes one person can only do so much!

Turn of Events

Well my leave has had a major upheaval of late, I am being displaced from my job. I'm not fired or let go but they are transferring me to a different school. It is really upsetting because I have made a lot of friends here and I don't want to leave them plus I want to continue my emints training and I may be going to a school that doesn't offer emints. It is also very troubling because I had an opportunity to transfer to a different school next year in April but I turned it down thinking I wanted to stay where somewhere that I knew the principal and the teachers. Now it looks like I will be in a very undesireable location. Plus our district is in such major turmoil that this all may change again before it's all said and done. I started thinking that I must have done something bad to have deserved such a fate but I know that it isn't only me, it is also two other teachers in my building plus a couple hundred across the district. I guess that I have to put my faith in the fact that God has a plan for me and he will lead me to where I will need to go, it just feels so stressful to have no control over this situation. I will keep you posted.

The End Is Near

Well it has been a while since I last blogged but as the school year winds down, the paperwork increases. So that is what I have been doing for the last few weeks. I have also been busy with a project for my aunt. We were celebrating her 60th birthday and I needed to make a project for my emints class using the microsoft moviemaker program. So I combined the two and made a movie for my favorite aunt Sandy. It took about 40 hours to complete but it was well worth it. I combined old pictures and new pictures with words and music into a 20 minute this is your life kind of movie. It turned out great and brought a tear to everyone's eyes at the party. And my teacher was very impressed as well.

I am going to take a class this summer in educational technology through the University of MO-Columbia. It's an online class and the first I will be taking towards my master's degree. I am excited to be getting my masters through Mizzou as that is where I originally started my undergrad but ended up finishing at UMSL. Plus my emints training will count for 9 hours towards my degree and that is very sweet since the traiing has so far consisted of over 100 hours of class time.

On the home front, not much to report. The kids are relaly getting excited about the end of school and our upcoming trip to Disney World June 12-18th. I got our plane tickets last night and booked a reservation for a character breakfast at the Polynesian Resort. It is the Ohana Breakfast, which for Lilo and Stitch fans means Family in Hawaiin. So it will inlcude Mickey and friends and Lilo and Stitch. Should be fun and I can't wait to post the pictures.

Glad to be back in the blogging world, I will have to see about posting my movie to this blog.

School News

News from school, a former student of mine won first place in a National Art Contest for the International Child Art Foundation. This link will take you to see the drawing it is the 6th from the top. http://www.childartgallery.org/usagalleryfinals/index.htm My student's name is Derreon Woods. Anyway, he and I and our art teacher were all invited to Washington DC in June for this annual art festival. They also asked me to write an article for their magazine called CHILD ART. I submitted my article so hopefully it will be published.

Also, our class and Ms. Kozlen's class, the other 7th grade class, made a video for this morning radio personality named Cornbread. You can see the video on www.wil92.com and click on cornbread's world and then cornflicks. You will need to upload the SLAM video. It is really funny. We made it in response to Cornbread's challenge to the St. Louis SLAM women's football team of which Ms. Kozlen is a member. He challenged the team to a man vs woman rumble on Wednesday 4/25 at CBC high school. For two weeks he has been talking about how he would run over those SLAM women and we made a video to show him what he is up against. Really funny stuff!

On another note, MAP testing is over, YAHOOOOOO! Now only 6 weeks till summer. The countdown has begun.

Recent Events

Posing in front of Lincoln in Springfield, IL

Justin and Sparky on Sparky's 3rd birthday.

Adam at the Blue and Gold Cub Scout Banquet


I have been promising to post some recent pics of events from the past few months and finally here they are. The Springfield trip was fun and quite educational. We have been taking the kids on little SPring Break Trips that have an educational aspect to them for a few years now. We have been to Chicago, Louisville, KY, and Hannibal, MO in the last few years. I am already starting to think about where to go next year. Maybe Memphis or Kansas City??

Adam was very proud of his Cub Scout banquet, he earned his Tiger and Bobcat ranks and is eager to participate next year.

Of course I had to include a picture of my Sparky boy. He is truly mom's best friend. Recently he and the kids and Bob went to the Ozarks for a few days with grandma and grandpa while I stayed home and worked. When they returned Sparky was so happy to see me, he jumped in the air, wagged his tail and licked my face for quite some time. Everyone else was pretty happy to see me but I sure could tell that my Sparky baby missed me.

My Rant

Okay, I quickly have to go off on a slight rant. Here it is, I am sitting at school and it is conference day. We have no kids here. We also had conferences last evening after school until 6:30 and today the conferences end at 11:30 so I have a little over 1 hour left and I have had 3 yes 3 parents here, that's it. The only way to fix these schools is to fix the parents and I don't have a clue as how to do that. But it is infuriating to me that these people care so little about their children's education that they can't show up to talk to the teacher. I have tried calling, but half the numbers are disconnected, most of the kids have switched address and can't remember the latest one, sending letters home with student just ends up having thrown away before the kid leaves the building, so short of driving to these people's houses, there is no way that I can let them know that little Javon won't keep his hands to himself and hasn't turned in an assignment in two weeks. UGH!!!

Okay, I am done with my rant. I just needed to get that off my mind.

Time Flys

They say time flys when you are having fun. Well I wouldn't go right to fun but it has been interesting. I can't believe it has been a month since I blogged. Oh blogger fans please forgive me!

Lets start with a quick recap of the last month. We traveled to Springfield, IL to see the Lincoln Museum etc. which was really very interesting and educational. That was the beginning of March. Then at school I have been busily preparing for the MAP which if you don't know is the Missouri standardized tests. Then our district lost it's accreditation, which put everyone into an uproar about jobs, test scores, school closings, you name it. Then came my spring break which was WONDERFUL. I spent the week enjoying being at home, making calls and getting things done that I have put off. I went to the Ozarks with a big group of friends last weekend and now I am back to school preparing to give the MAP next week.

But my kids our on Spring Break with Bob and his parents at the Lake. They have also been busy with one sports season ending and another beginning. It has just been so hectic. I hope to post some pics of our trip and other activities of late soon.

After MAP though it will be smooth sailing till summer break. YAHOO!

Blue and Gold Banquet/Flu and Other Happenings

Well it's been a hectic couple of weeks. We have all been sick witht he Flu or a stomach virus or something. It started on Feb. 13 with Adam. Affton and SLPS were the only schools around who were actually dumb enough to send kids to school that day but we all go sent home early. So at about 12:30 when we got home for a snow day, Adam started throwing up and didn't stop until 2 days later. He was the worst with it. Then that night I started in with the other end of the body and mine lasted until well into the next evening which was Valentine's Day. (how romantic!) Hannah picked it up on Saturday morning and had coming out of both ends, which lasted until Sunday evening. Monday was President's Day so the kids and I were all home together but Bob was at work. He came home about 7pm and he started throwing up and it lasted about 24 hours for him also. Justin has been lucky it hasn't affected him YET! But he does have a pretty rough cold.

So we have all been playing catch up with school work and house work etc all week long.

Tonight, Adam and I attended his Blue and Gold Cub Scout Banquet. It was cute and fun and he enjoyed seeing some of his new friends outside of school. Tomorrow we have our last two hockey games except for the ALL STAR game on March 17. Hannah also has a basketball game so as usual our weekend will be busy but I thought I would catch up on some blogging. I will download pictures of the banquet and the hockey teams soon.

Other than that, it has been the same old same old around here. NOT, there is never a dull day in this household.

Here's hoping I get a nice dull day at home soon :)

Till then, have a great week.!

A Miracle Occurred

Well, it's been one heck of a week. Kids have been suspended, 2 kids from my room moved, I got one new student and we have been trying to implement lunch detention in my room in effort to deter bad behavior. So you can imagine how hectic it has been. Then to top it all off, one of my 6th grade reading students cursed me out and threatened to, "beat my fat a*#". So as you can imagine I was this close to calling it quits, throwing in the towel and heading for unemployment. But then the miracle occurred.

We were having class meeting when one of my students, Terrance Tucker, who has been the bane of my existence for two years stands up and says, "You know guys we really need to stop jonesing on each other because we are a family and we have to go to school for the rest of the ear so we might as well get along!" Well,I about fell off my chair, tears welled up in my eyes and I said Terrance when did you grow up. It was the moment every teacher dreams of, when finally you have broken though. That moment of clarity!! We all clapped and cheered for him and I hope it is going to be the beginning of great things for him because then another student stood and said, I really want to thank Mrs. Nixon for looking out for us like she does. Again, the water works came to my eyes. But it truly was a great moment!


I hope you have some great moments this week as well.

Big News and Fun Times

Well the big news is that Adam won 2nd place in the Pinewood Derby. He was so excited. His car was really cute, it was a Luau theme this year. He and Daddy worked really hard on it.

The other news is the fun time I had at the lake. We scrapbooked, ate, shopped, ate, slept, ate, talked, and ate. Can you tell the theme of our weekend? We had a really good time just gossiping about work and men and sharing each other's family pictures and scrapbook albums. Although the weather was extremly cold, we stayed in and kept warm all bundled up in our sweats and PJ's.

We enjoyed a delicious Sunday brunch at Black Bear Lunch and had fun eating at Pickled Petes, one of my favorite lake places. We found extra supplies at Wal-Mart and hit the outlet mall despite the cold. I am feeling very refreshed and relaxed now and eager to get back into the swing of school and home. My diet however was blown as you can tell by all the eating we did so I have to get back on track and back to the community center to exercise this week.

Can't Wait

I am finally going away this weekend with my work friends to the lake. We are going to scrapbook and gossip and just catch up and RELAX!

I have been stressed at school, stressed at home, just stressed!!

I got all my scrapbook stuff out and ready to go and packed up, I got pictures printed and ready so now all I have to do is wait for the weekend.

So here goes a recap of the resolutions. Flossing and Moisturizing- Check
Exercising- Check minus (hoping to go tonight) Eating out- unsatisfactory (way too much) Scrapbooking -Check (should be taken care of soon) Not too good I know but it's only been a few weeks and I really do have the whole year. RIGHT?!?

Boredom and other such musings

Well winter is in full gear and to say my kids are bored with it is an understatement. They are having a little touch of cabin fever, constantly fighting, or arguing about what to watch on TV, video game to play, or chores they don't want to do.

As for me, I am very busy at school trying to prepare my students for the state MAP tests that occur in April. It is very stressful because our school really needs to show some improvement in order to make state sanctioned Annual Yearly Progress. For the last 2 years our school's scores have gone down, so we really need to improve them but it is such an uphill battle.

Anyway, as far as the resolutions go I am doing okay. Still flossing and moisturizing and I joined the Affton Community and have started exercising which I like but wish I had more time for. I am still cutting back on what I eat especially at school. But the eating out part is a hard habit to break. I think I have definitly failed in that area of my resolutions. I need to retrain my kids into seeing that we have food at home that can be eaten. It is a hard concept to teach though as I am usually the first one to say let's go out.

But I will keep trying. I am looking forward to my scrapbook weekend with the girls in 2 weeks.

Update

Well, a week into my resolutions and it's not going so well. The weather has been very nasty and that has hampered my exercising. I am trying to cut back on portion size and eating out though. My kids seem to think that we need to eat out every meal ( I wonder where they got that idea) so it's hard to breakt hem of that habit. But I have stopped eating fast food for breakfast and stopping to get a coffee which always turns into a cappucino (way too many calories to think of). And I am trying to bring lunch to school instead of ordering it.

I have been very good about flossing though so I guess that is one resolution I am keeping.

Family time is hard because the kids are so busy with sports but we do manage to watch a movie together or play a board game now and then.

As for me and Bob, we are planning to go out next weekend or possibly have friends over so I guess that counts as doing something together.

I have a scrapbook weekend set up for Feb. with some friends and that should help get caught up in that department.

I am also moisturizing every night and I have seen a real difference in my hands, they don't look like a 60 year old woman's anymore.

On the whole I would give myself a 60% for keeping up my resolutions which for my class would actually be a good grade but for me it's unacceptable. I promise to do better!!

Resolutions

Well this year I plan to publicly post my New Year's Resolutions in hopes of actually keeping them. I am trying to be very specific about this so I can really stick to it. Encouragement is always welcome!

1. Lose 30 pounds by spring break (March 20)
2. Exercise at least 2 times a week
3. Floss my teeth every day
4. Moisturize face and hands everyday (yes I have found crows feet)
5. Spend one evening a week in family time
6. Eat out no more than once per week
7. Go out with my husband at least twice a month
8. Get caught up with my scrapbooks by summer

It seems like a lot but I am at an age where I really need to start taking care of ME! My hands and skin need some work and my dentist has warned me that my nice, clean, teeth won't stay that way if I don't floss.

I am determined to make some lifestyles changes that will affect my whole family. Wish me luck!

The Christmas Loot

I love all these photos, they turned out especially good this year. Well, Hannah got the cell phone she wanted plus makeup, clothes, jewelry, shoes, slippers, and so much more. Grandma made her a pretty new blanket for her bed and she got a slurpy machine and is dying to try it.

Adam got a new bike and a Nintendo DS game system which he has been playing non-stop. He also got clothes which he didn't like and movies and games and other toys. He loves his new UNO Splash game and his Tractor Tipping game. We have to play both games consecutively when his DS is being charged.

Justin got clothes, and shoes, games, a Nintendo DS, and two framed Cardinals posters that he had been wanting. He is really into Monopoly and got two versions of it both of which we have already played. He also got both Pirates of the Caribbean Movies and has been watching them day and night. I got a microwave for my classroom, some new silverware, bath stuff, a movie, dish towels, and we got a new gas barbecue grill. Bob got a paint ball gun and so did Justin and they can't wait to try them out. Bob also got some cologne and shaving kit and we also got a new coffee maker. After almost 12 years of marriage, stuff starts to wear out that's why we got all the new kitchen stuff. Sounds boring but it's what we wanted.

We had a really good Christmas, I was glad to see my 78 year old grandmother and all my aunts and uncles that I only get to see about once or twice a year. This weekend we will see Bob's aunts and uncles that we also only get to see once or twice a year. There are some new babies added to the family to show off.

No plans for New Years as Bob is working nights (someone has to)! I may let my kids have friends over and just hang out with them. I plan on watching The Devil Wears Prada and the Davinci Code, my two new favorite movies, and eating the last of the holiday junk food.

Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Happy Holidays

It's Christmas evening and all is well. We have survived another holiday of monumental proportions. In the course of two days we have seen about 50 relatives and the kids have opened about 30 presents each. Our house is over flowing with wrapping paper and discarded tape, half eaten cookies and chewed up candy canes. We are truly blessed to have our family around us happy and healthy to share in this joyous season.

I will post more post-Christmas news soon including pictures but for now I am basking in the sound of happy voices from the other room and a full belly as I type.


Season's Greetings to you all!

Christmas Blues

I really don't feel like it's Christmas. I have been so busy with the kids' activities and Adam's birthday (which is today) and my school work that I am very stressed about Christmas. The kids seem to want everything and nothing all at the same time. I am still not finished and have a class tomorrow night, and a work Christmas party on Wednesday night. I am off on thursday but my kids aren't so that will be my day to finish shopping, wrap everything, finish those last few Christmas cards and decide what everyone will wear on Christmas and CHristmas eve.

We just finished decorating our tree on Saturday that's how far behind I am.

I kow in my last post, I was bragging about how caught up I am at school but in a week where all the kids have been sick with strep and Bob has worked day and night, I am exhausted and now behind with school stuff also. But still I have time to blog.... don't know how that works except I have a rare few minutes to myself at school because there is a dance this afternoon that I don't have to go to so I am blogging after I graded a stack of papers.

I think I really need to get back to church. I have been reluctant to go to another church because of the hypocrisy I felt at Hope over the last year or so I was there. I need to focus on the main reason for the season and stop letting all the commercialization get me down.

I hope your pre- Christmas hype is less stressful than mine!

Skipping School

Well, my kids are sick today. Justin has a sore throat and Hannah's asthma is acting up so we are staying home from school. I am really upset about it :) I let Adam stay home also, probably shouldn't but he hasn't missed any school yet and he thinks it's fun to skip school with mom. Better not get him into that habit........

Anyway, it's great, I slept late and so did everyone else. We go to the doctor at 11 but until them I am going to finish decorating the tree( no I 'm not done yet) and catch up on some wash.. It is so hectic around here but I still have time to blog.

I am caught up at school, all papers graded and recorded. The end of the quarter is the 30th which doesn't make sense since we are off school then but whatever. I will still make my kids work the rest of this week and next but.... you know how it is my grades are pretty much done since I do my gradebook with excel and it calculates it for me. Anyway not much else to say, finished my Christmas cards and am getting those in the mail they turned out really really good and I did all myself using Word, and Publisher. I may try to link it to my blog if possible.

Oh one more thing, Justin and Hannah's hockey team won their first game. YEAH! Justin scored and he played great and Hannah is finally getting the hang of it.

Adam's 7th Birthday

Adam had his birthday party at Happy Joes again this year. He enjoyed seeing his friends Josh and Kyle and playing games, eating pizza, and ice cream. He also had fun with his cousin Megan, grandparents, parents and brother and sister. Adam was excited to get some new video games, clothes, shoes, a sleeping bag and other toys.