Memories from last school year to motivate the new...

Well, I was going through all my files from my old computer to organize them onto my USB and transfer them to my macbook and realized that i have about 280 pictures that have to do with work and the kids I have had over the years! SO many!

I promised that this blog would be dedicated mostly to Pre-K school ideas, classroom organization ideas, etc. so here are pictures from every angel of my classroom the way it was last year towards the end of the year.

This is my desk area corner (really messy, that will change this year). That different colored caddy with drawers is what I use to keep my Circle time materials on hand by my rocking chair.  The little table on the left is where the Writing Center was.  Very cramped, changing that this new year as well.  The green chalk boards in the clear box are for when they need to copy something from the white board and they need something firm to write on.

This is the Pretend and Play Center corner. (formally known a the Home Living Center)  On the far right you see the green box of blocks, they use these on the large carpet area. The center sign for that center has those black dots that are really Velcro pieces where the students place their 'faces' (pictures of themselves) which denotes that they are in that center, once the faces get to the red "stop' sign, that means the center is full, so no one else can go in there.

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This is the third corner of the room, which shows the entrance door, the sink, and lockers.  by the sink I have the Sensory table Center and the Art Center (messy stuff that needs water nearby) I also had the Creativity and Puzzle Canter there on the shelves for them to work on the table.  I strung up the rope to have a place to display work and label tables from above as well.

This is the final corner. Towards the far back is the Reading Center, beside that to the right is the ABC Center, the center in the for-ground is the Science Center.  The Circle Table on the far left is where they work on Math Center things. The materials on the shelving that is out of sight.  That huge kidney table is where my assistant worked and sat.  That has since been removed as well.

This is one of the walls.  Computer Center straight ahead.  Pretend and Learn to the right of that, and the ABC Center to the left of that. On the wall above the Computer Center I used to display graphic organizers we have done as a class in Science or Math, and well as the letter of the week poem.  On the far left on the wall is part of the color behavior system.

This is my Pretend and Learn  when I made it into a Zoo! Cute!  They had a blast being the zookeepers.

Incorprorating Organization in our church vocabulary

As you know, I have been here in Xalapa, Mexico for the third annual International Professionals Reunion and the main issue we have been working on is restructuring the entire church infrastructure as well as working on the Transformation of the Sabbath School Program in the church.

All this is being attempted to be done in an organized and methodical way. Something basically foreign to most people within the church and the church organization as a whole.

It has been as grand a task as you can imagine, trust me! But it has been so satisfying to see so many awesome and dead-on ideas, suggestion, and courses of action that have arisen in the meetings and that have actually been accepted and approved!  It gives me hope that this is possible to do.  Not in a few months, but a lot sooner than I ever thought possible.  The church, through the obvious guidance of the Holy Spirit, has finally taken seriously the imperative need for a radical change in the way many things are done within the church. The best thing about it is that the church has realized that the most effective way to get the results desired is to use the most prepared and capable people for the job = the professionals of the church.  The most amazing part to me, is the  fact that our ideas and suggestions are being accepted and approved by the Superior Council!! 
Finally I feel that we are being heard, our talents taken into account, and our expertise respected.
That may sound self-centered, but all my life my secular education, training, and experience has been a totally separate thing from my 'church' life.  Now the church has realized and embraced what i have always known; I can benefit the church within my expertise! My education is an asset to the church organization I am a part of not a sign of spiritual weakness!  Man!
I am very honored to be a part of this department and that God would allow me to work along side Him in His kingdom work here in earth.  God was the one who got me through school and gave me the abilities that I now use to do the work I love, so giving back to Him with the results of that seems only natural to me.
If you feel the same way and you have some sort of degree or even working on one, please contact me on my blog or e-mail or twitter and let me know how you would like to help.

I'm currently sitting in the last Council Members Meeting where the meeting dates and final assignments are being set and recorded.

I will post up the link to the dept. proff. blog soon! :o)

 God Bless!

Moutain breezes, cat naps, and the dreaded Milk products!

Well, it's day two in my visit to Mexico for the annual Church meeting for Educators and Professionals Meeting.
Last night was nightmarish!  Yesterday it seems i ate too many milk products throughout the day and by 1 am my digestive system had had enough. It quickly made sure that all offending products were dispelled from my body from the two most common orifices. You know what those are.  Yeah, throwing up is traumatizing enough but the experience becomes even more desperate when you have to do it alone, millions of miles from home and with roaches watching you do it! Thankfully Juana Vincha woke up and helped me out with sympathy and warm compresses. I look back and can't imagine how i survived that!
Long story short, i slept a total of 6 hours but in fragments of 2hrs then 6 hours. I was up at 630 and out the door by 730 to catch my ride to the institute.  (don't ask me how)
I was so sleepy and my abdomen was sore, but i got threw it falling asleep only twice during the meeting.
At lunch time, I had to take a nap before I ate, and I crashed on the sofa of the little lobby.  Felt so much better afterward, and even more so after I got internet where we were and was able to talk to my sweet husband by facetime! That really made my day! i was started to worry that i would lose my English! (yeah right)
One nice thing about this place is the weather. nice balmy 70 with mountain breezes blowing all day.  The institute overlooks the mountain side and it is surrounded by other mountains dotted my building and houses.  It looks quite beautiful, I was able to snap 3 pictures before my phone went dead.  I will post it as soon as I get a chance back home. 

I'm ready for my shower and bed. I'm ready to sleep straight through tonight!
Night all!

In Xalapa

So I arrived to Vera Cruz last night and was reminded how advanced we are back home when the airplane stopped mid tarmac and we disembarked down a narrow ladder straight outside.  Some of the luggage was at the foot of the stairs for people to pick up... then we came in and there was a sparse area where Immigration was at.  it was only the people from our flight. Then the rest of the luggage was sent in through the conveyer belt.
The worst part was that when i finally made my way to the receiving area, there was no one there to greet me! I figured I might not know it if the guy would be there since i did not know who he was (name or face) just that he was the pastor of the church here.  The automatic sliding doors leading outside are the kind that do not allow for you to go back inside after you go through and they close. There was a sweltering heat and I didn't know how long it would be so as someone came out I snuk back in.  I had turned off my phone so as to not incur the extra roaming charges for using it this side of the boarder, but I had to find out what happened and so i turned it on.  Instantly I noticed two things, I had an e-mail from one of my contacts here and my phone was almost dead.  The e-mail said that the pastor (Antonio Diaz) was running late due to an accident on the road there and the road was closed. 
I felt better and just sat down to wait.  I looked around and saw that there was a grand total of 5 shops in that terminal/gate, and they were all closed....except the bar. No joke.
Anyway, they found me after not too long and we were off. The trip into Xalapa was pretty lengthy and we had time to get to know each other and we had a good time. Very nice and respectful people. I have always had such a welcome experience here. This is my second time coming here and I know this wont be any different.
The streets and houses here remind me so much of Italy. One right beside the others (like they share a wall) and the streets narrow and without lane lines! Needless to say, the driving here is precarious at best and everyone seems to have standard cars (as opposed to automatic) so the ride is fast, dangerous, swerving and jerky!  And you know how much I LOVE those kinds of rides.  But I made it through without getting car sick. (so far!)
Now I'm here at the school where we will be holding all the meetings.  It is at the top of multiple steep and winding roads that over looks the next mountain side where you can see green trees interspersed with houses and buildings....very quaint and peaceful.
Wish I had my camera but I didn't think to bring it. (among the things I forgot)
The weather is certainly an improvement! A nice breeze and about 70 I think now. Real nice. The doors are open and there is no AC and it feels very comfortable.

I will post more later. In the middle of Bishop Benjamin Cardenas right now. :o)
Lord willing we will be able to cement more of our goals and objectives for this project.



 

Sabbath

So today was our monthly English Sabbath Program and it was good!
With my Macbook where ever i am I can post whenever!  Love that! I also have found a new purpose for this blog..... I was ready to throw in the towel!! 
Talking to Lisa about it, i realized that I can use this blog to post ideas and tools I use in my classroom that coudl help homeschooling mom's or even other teachers. :o)
That I know how to do.

So here goes nothing!
More to come soon.....

wow, my blog sucks!

After spending too much time checking out other beautiful and interesting blogs, I realize that mine really sucks!  I think something like this takes up more time and effort than I think I could ever employ on a regular basis.
The only thing I can do is post when I can what I can. 
Not sure that anyone is even reading these posts anyway. :)

I better get to sleep!

Never fear, Im still alive!!

So it been like over 5 months that I don't blog, but it was necessary.

 Another school year has ended and it was a doozy!  I dont recommed teaching two grades at once to anyone! Heavens!  But I got through it by the grace of GOD!  I managed to guarentee my current position will be the same for next year.  A major victory for me!  I am so excited about tecahing Pre-Kinder agina this year. I have tons of new things, books, ideas, etc to try out this year. Can't wait!

Well, it's late and I have to get some sleep.
Next time i wont take so long to post since I now have a new Macbook Pro that I can use right on my lap in bed!
 
Michelle