Well, as I posted earlier, it is that time again - time to think about a new school year as it looms on the horizon. I worked on preparing myself and my syllabi for the fall way back in Summer I, but I will still have some final tweaking to do before we actually begin. I always get excited about new classes and new students! I guess that is the teacher in me, full of hope and enthusiasm about what awaits everyone as we learn together.
But this fall will be something really new for me, as I take on another role - that of consultant. My former boss while I worked at the Tyler Independent School District (TISD) as science, social studies, and health coordinator received notice of a grant award from the Texas Educational Agency, located in Austin. She and I will be working directly with the administrators and teachers in a Dallas ISD high school. She will be focusing on the instructional leaders, and I will be working with the science teachers. The school, housing approximately 1800 students, is made mostly of Hispanic students and is largely urban - although it is located in the southwest quadrant of the district (near Arlington).
I have been reading quite a bit on instructional coaching, 3-minute walkthroughs, and classrooms that work for Hispanic learners. If you have any information that may help me be a better consultant, especially for the audience that I will be working with, I sure would appreciate it. Doing a dance between UCA and Dallas ISD will be interesting, but I know it will be a time of learning for me. And I am also certain that there is research to be had within all of this...it is just a matter of sifting it out.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
I Know It's Time for School to Begin Because...
I noticed it last week when I stepped into Walmart and headed down a main aisle: yet another school year being announced by the displaying of pencils and markers and backpacks. I honestly cannot believe that it is that time again. Where does the time go? I just don't know, but as each year comes and goes it seems that the startup of another back-to-school sale comes even faster. I can remember my parents saying that as you age, time seems to fly faster and faster. Well, I guess I have arrived at "that age" cause it sure does.
I don't think I understand the need to display items that are necessary for school because these very items are always found in the office section of any store. It's not like watermelons that are only out for a short period of time and then they aren't, or winter coats, or swimsuits - even though winter coats and swimsuits seem to appear before the actual time to use them and are then taken up prior to the season ending. This always creates angst in me because it is inevitable that I need something seasonal during the actual season, but whatever it is has already been picked up and stored for the next year. Anyway, pencils and scissors and markers are needed throughout the year. So why the big push for back-to-school sales?
Oh, I hear you saying, "But they are on sale and thus, cost much less for the parents that must buy tons of it to make it through the entire school year." Okay, maybe. But I would be willing to take on the quantitative study of actual costs of pencils and markers and backpacks because my inner self screams that prices are marked up and then down to indicate sales. However, if I were to go in October to purchase the same materials, would the costs be close to the amount spent in August? I don't know, but I always feel as if I am screwed when I shop in Walmart. Sorry, Bentonville-ites!
Nevertheless, as a child, it was the highlight of my entire year (excluding my birthday and Christmas) to buy new notebooks and such. It was as much a fashion statement what backpack and lunch box (nevermind that you never brought your lunch, and if you did, you wouldn't dare it the food found within) you purchased as it is now as to what cell phone you own. There was a lot of pressure to select the perfect accessory to complete that perfect junior high look. By the time you got to high school, you used old notebooks (because you never used the entire thing) and you didn't need a backpack cause it was embarrassing to lug home textbooks - and why would you do that anyway cause you weren't doing the homework.
Now, as a teacher, my actions as a student make me cringe! I was the student that caused teachers to pull their hair out from the roots! I am sorry, teachers. Please forgive me.
"Okay, I hear you calling me to the notebook aisle! I will be there in a minute!" I gotta go and fill my basket with stuff for school. Hey, wait a minute...I am the teacher now! Why am I buying this stuff? Yeah, I know...it is habit forming! Send me to an intervention...my name is Terri Hebert and I am a school-supply bargain shopper! "Hello, Terri!"
I don't think I understand the need to display items that are necessary for school because these very items are always found in the office section of any store. It's not like watermelons that are only out for a short period of time and then they aren't, or winter coats, or swimsuits - even though winter coats and swimsuits seem to appear before the actual time to use them and are then taken up prior to the season ending. This always creates angst in me because it is inevitable that I need something seasonal during the actual season, but whatever it is has already been picked up and stored for the next year. Anyway, pencils and scissors and markers are needed throughout the year. So why the big push for back-to-school sales?
Oh, I hear you saying, "But they are on sale and thus, cost much less for the parents that must buy tons of it to make it through the entire school year." Okay, maybe. But I would be willing to take on the quantitative study of actual costs of pencils and markers and backpacks because my inner self screams that prices are marked up and then down to indicate sales. However, if I were to go in October to purchase the same materials, would the costs be close to the amount spent in August? I don't know, but I always feel as if I am screwed when I shop in Walmart. Sorry, Bentonville-ites!
Nevertheless, as a child, it was the highlight of my entire year (excluding my birthday and Christmas) to buy new notebooks and such. It was as much a fashion statement what backpack and lunch box (nevermind that you never brought your lunch, and if you did, you wouldn't dare it the food found within) you purchased as it is now as to what cell phone you own. There was a lot of pressure to select the perfect accessory to complete that perfect junior high look. By the time you got to high school, you used old notebooks (because you never used the entire thing) and you didn't need a backpack cause it was embarrassing to lug home textbooks - and why would you do that anyway cause you weren't doing the homework.
Now, as a teacher, my actions as a student make me cringe! I was the student that caused teachers to pull their hair out from the roots! I am sorry, teachers. Please forgive me.
"Okay, I hear you calling me to the notebook aisle! I will be there in a minute!" I gotta go and fill my basket with stuff for school. Hey, wait a minute...I am the teacher now! Why am I buying this stuff? Yeah, I know...it is habit forming! Send me to an intervention...my name is Terri Hebert and I am a school-supply bargain shopper! "Hello, Terri!"
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Saying Goodbye to the Goats
I got the phone call...the one notifying us that they were on their way...to pick up the goats. Even though the arrangements had been made weeks before this moment, and I was quite alright with their relocation, it was still hard to accept. In just a matter of minutes, Chico and Dumpy would be on their way to a new home. And we would be left with a rather large space marked off by the chain link fence.
As I waited, I thought I should document the transfer of the pygmy goats through images captured on my camera. So I quickly grabbed my camera and headed for the door. I walked towards the pen, as the goats unhappily commented on my approach without the yellow bucket in hand. The yellow bucket signified feeding time for them, and they absolutely loved to see it swinging towards their feeding dish. However, this time, my hands were empty - except for the camera and a green leash that had been used on Chico many, many months prior. But that is another story for another time.
The truck turned into the driveway carrying three young children and their parents. This would be their new family. This would be their new life.
The kids bolted from the back seat of the truck with the excitement of - well, three kids that were picking up new pets. They chattered back and forth about the goats, and the goats chattered back to them...although I think they were still holding out that someone would produce the yellow bucket!
The dad quickly moved into the pen, holding two collars. He placed the first collar on Dumpy and before the goats knew what had happened, Dumpy was out of the pen and heading for the truck. Once he had been secured into the back end of the truck, the dad returned for Chico. He moved just as fast and with little opposition from the goat. In the blink of an eye, Chico had joined Dumpy in the truck bed and good-byes were being exchanged.
As a last gesture that showed my care for the goats, I quickly ran into the shed and brought out the yellow bucket. I handed it off to the dad, who was double checking the tie-downs that held the goats in place. I told him that they loved to see the yellow bucket coming towards them and filled with their favorite goat chow. I don't know if he fully understood, but the dad took the bucket from my hand and tossed it into the back with Chico and Dumpy.
Awhile later, I walked my puppy out by the goat pen. All was quiet, and Rufus seemed to know that something had changed...that Chico and Dumpy were gone. They will be missed. But in my mind, I can still hear them calling for dinner.
As I waited, I thought I should document the transfer of the pygmy goats through images captured on my camera. So I quickly grabbed my camera and headed for the door. I walked towards the pen, as the goats unhappily commented on my approach without the yellow bucket in hand. The yellow bucket signified feeding time for them, and they absolutely loved to see it swinging towards their feeding dish. However, this time, my hands were empty - except for the camera and a green leash that had been used on Chico many, many months prior. But that is another story for another time.
The truck turned into the driveway carrying three young children and their parents. This would be their new family. This would be their new life.
The kids bolted from the back seat of the truck with the excitement of - well, three kids that were picking up new pets. They chattered back and forth about the goats, and the goats chattered back to them...although I think they were still holding out that someone would produce the yellow bucket!
The dad quickly moved into the pen, holding two collars. He placed the first collar on Dumpy and before the goats knew what had happened, Dumpy was out of the pen and heading for the truck. Once he had been secured into the back end of the truck, the dad returned for Chico. He moved just as fast and with little opposition from the goat. In the blink of an eye, Chico had joined Dumpy in the truck bed and good-byes were being exchanged.
As a last gesture that showed my care for the goats, I quickly ran into the shed and brought out the yellow bucket. I handed it off to the dad, who was double checking the tie-downs that held the goats in place. I told him that they loved to see the yellow bucket coming towards them and filled with their favorite goat chow. I don't know if he fully understood, but the dad took the bucket from my hand and tossed it into the back with Chico and Dumpy.
Awhile later, I walked my puppy out by the goat pen. All was quiet, and Rufus seemed to know that something had changed...that Chico and Dumpy were gone. They will be missed. But in my mind, I can still hear them calling for dinner.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Wintry Weather
Tonight I am listening to the sleet coming down...and I am reminded to be thankful for a warm home with electricity and all the luxuries that many Americans have. Yet each night on the news the reports continue to come in regarding others who have lost their jobs. So many at this time of year are struggling to make ends meet, to provide for their family, and to have something under the tree for their children. I have to ask myself why am I so fortunate? I don't know the answer, but I do know that I am thankful.
It is winter, but inside of this home there is a warm glow of grace and love. As long as the light glows from within, I will do my best to help others. This Christmas, I have shared my blessings with others and have found that I find joy in giving away that which I have giving meaning to the saying: tis better to give than to receive.
My prayer is this: that I continue to have opportunities to help those around me. And even more, that I may see the needs before the opportunity has passed me by.
I love winter, and the weather that comes with it...for stolen days inside of the house, to reflect and to write.
It is winter, but inside of this home there is a warm glow of grace and love. As long as the light glows from within, I will do my best to help others. This Christmas, I have shared my blessings with others and have found that I find joy in giving away that which I have giving meaning to the saying: tis better to give than to receive.
My prayer is this: that I continue to have opportunities to help those around me. And even more, that I may see the needs before the opportunity has passed me by.
I love winter, and the weather that comes with it...for stolen days inside of the house, to reflect and to write.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The Ceramic Teddy Bear
My son will be twenty-one years of age later this month. As a mother, this is a monumental milestone for I have witnessed my firstborn son grow into a man. I realize that many have done this very thing, somehow losing its sense of uniqueness. However, I cannot help but wonder where has the time gone. I mean, really; one minute ago he was holding my hand. Now he is holding someone else's hand.
Since the time of his birth, I have had a ceramic teddy bear hook with me. First, it appeared in his baby room as a decorative piece. Later, as I divorced his father, the teddy bear became a remembrance of a time gone by, of days when even though disagreements appeared more frequently than I wished they would, there remained a symblance of hope that the marriage would work. I placed it on a hook in my bathroom, upon arriving in my new home.
It was a Saturday morning, not unlike other Saturday mornings. I was in the shower preparing for the day, when my friend with whom I share the house stepped into the bathroom to retrieve something from the dryer - also situated in my bathroom.
I suddenly heard a loud crash and then silence. I peeked from behind the shower curtain to see my friend leaning over the shattered pieces of the teddy bear. Feelings within raged inside of me, and I immediately began to sob uncontrollably. I don't know what came over me, but I was surprised of the enormity of emotions all wrapped up into that one ceramic teddy bear. I felt bad for my friend, for I knew that it was merely an accident. You could tell by her expression that she felt terrible for breaking the bear. I tried to comfort her amid my tear drops, but words would not come.
I reentered the safety of my shower enclosure and wept uncontrollably. I knew that the bear was gone and there was no recovering him from the ashes. All that he represented was lost forever - or at least that is what I thought.
Time has passed now and the two hooks that once held the bear still remain on my bathroom wall. I eventually quit crying that day and was able to verbally extend my forgiveness to my friend. However, the little teddy bear will always have a place in my memory reminding me of my little boy, my broken marriage, and a time gone by.
Since the time of his birth, I have had a ceramic teddy bear hook with me. First, it appeared in his baby room as a decorative piece. Later, as I divorced his father, the teddy bear became a remembrance of a time gone by, of days when even though disagreements appeared more frequently than I wished they would, there remained a symblance of hope that the marriage would work. I placed it on a hook in my bathroom, upon arriving in my new home.
It was a Saturday morning, not unlike other Saturday mornings. I was in the shower preparing for the day, when my friend with whom I share the house stepped into the bathroom to retrieve something from the dryer - also situated in my bathroom.
I suddenly heard a loud crash and then silence. I peeked from behind the shower curtain to see my friend leaning over the shattered pieces of the teddy bear. Feelings within raged inside of me, and I immediately began to sob uncontrollably. I don't know what came over me, but I was surprised of the enormity of emotions all wrapped up into that one ceramic teddy bear. I felt bad for my friend, for I knew that it was merely an accident. You could tell by her expression that she felt terrible for breaking the bear. I tried to comfort her amid my tear drops, but words would not come.
I reentered the safety of my shower enclosure and wept uncontrollably. I knew that the bear was gone and there was no recovering him from the ashes. All that he represented was lost forever - or at least that is what I thought.
Time has passed now and the two hooks that once held the bear still remain on my bathroom wall. I eventually quit crying that day and was able to verbally extend my forgiveness to my friend. However, the little teddy bear will always have a place in my memory reminding me of my little boy, my broken marriage, and a time gone by.
Friday, August 1, 2008
The Boy Behind the Mask
This week I have been involved in an intensive five-day training. On the 7th floor, we have been studying various teaching vignettes for quality of instructional methods. The day usually began at 8AM and concluded at around 5PM. Needless to say, we were all very tired when the evening would arrive. However, this one afternoon, we were given an early departure to go and enjoy the town in which we had been staying.
After going back to the hotel room and changing clothes, I stepped onto the elevator and hit the lobby button. I waited patiently as I listened to the cubicle moving past each floor, sometimes stopping to pick up a guest or drop one off. Eventually, the bell sounded announcing our arrival on the lobby floor. The wooden doors slid open and I began to step out.
My eyes immediately went to a small boy standing beside his father, and waiting to enter the elevator. The boy was wearing a very scary mask. My mind immediately searched the month, thinking momentarily that it may be Halloween. However, it was August so I put that thought aside. Then I began to wonder exactly why a young boy might walk around the hotel lobby wearing a scary mask. I couldn't come up with any substantial reason.
As I walked past him, the father said to me, "He's scary, isn't he?" I commented, "Most definitely" and smiled at the boy. How easy it would be to exchange masks for the many moods that I go through each day: a happy clown mask, a sad mask, an energetic mask, and even a scary mask. Too bad we think that masks are only for children or for Halloween, when we all have a vast array of them just waiting to pull the right one out to fool those around us.
After going back to the hotel room and changing clothes, I stepped onto the elevator and hit the lobby button. I waited patiently as I listened to the cubicle moving past each floor, sometimes stopping to pick up a guest or drop one off. Eventually, the bell sounded announcing our arrival on the lobby floor. The wooden doors slid open and I began to step out.
My eyes immediately went to a small boy standing beside his father, and waiting to enter the elevator. The boy was wearing a very scary mask. My mind immediately searched the month, thinking momentarily that it may be Halloween. However, it was August so I put that thought aside. Then I began to wonder exactly why a young boy might walk around the hotel lobby wearing a scary mask. I couldn't come up with any substantial reason.
As I walked past him, the father said to me, "He's scary, isn't he?" I commented, "Most definitely" and smiled at the boy. How easy it would be to exchange masks for the many moods that I go through each day: a happy clown mask, a sad mask, an energetic mask, and even a scary mask. Too bad we think that masks are only for children or for Halloween, when we all have a vast array of them just waiting to pull the right one out to fool those around us.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
We're Having a Heat Wave!
Today is blazing hot...yesterday was blazing hot...tomorrow promises to be blazing hot! I am not into blazing hot!
For several weeks, we have been "making do" without our heating and air conditioning unit because the freon leaked out. After having several repairmen come out and provide installation quotes, we decided to wait and save up the money, instead of buying a new unit on credit. This decision was made in light of the fact that we are trying to make wiser decisions about our money, about how we spend it and who actually provides it in the first place. However, we have been tested to the limit this week with several days of 99+ temperatures.
After making this decision to postpone our purchase, we rearranged our home and moved two twin beds in the back office area where the window unit is located. The remainder of the house is left unattended much of the day, except for meals and for bathroom stops. So far, it has worked out and I've actually come to enjoy the quaintness of the smaller living area. The living room has become our hang out, and nighttime movies have become our time of relaxation (I am referring you to an earlier blog where we turned in our cable boxes; so we have no television other than DVDs) prior to going to bed and reading.
Last night we decided to work outside for just an hour, and when we stopped due to the last bit of light slipping below the trees, I thought how good that window unit would feel once inside. It was at that moment that I realized how our perception shifts to fit our surroundings. Where once I thought that cable, AC throughout the house, and other conveniences were an absolute necessity to life, I have now realized that I can actually make it on much less and be even more happy and contented.
Never mind about the blazing hot temperatures...
For several weeks, we have been "making do" without our heating and air conditioning unit because the freon leaked out. After having several repairmen come out and provide installation quotes, we decided to wait and save up the money, instead of buying a new unit on credit. This decision was made in light of the fact that we are trying to make wiser decisions about our money, about how we spend it and who actually provides it in the first place. However, we have been tested to the limit this week with several days of 99+ temperatures.
After making this decision to postpone our purchase, we rearranged our home and moved two twin beds in the back office area where the window unit is located. The remainder of the house is left unattended much of the day, except for meals and for bathroom stops. So far, it has worked out and I've actually come to enjoy the quaintness of the smaller living area. The living room has become our hang out, and nighttime movies have become our time of relaxation (I am referring you to an earlier blog where we turned in our cable boxes; so we have no television other than DVDs) prior to going to bed and reading.
Last night we decided to work outside for just an hour, and when we stopped due to the last bit of light slipping below the trees, I thought how good that window unit would feel once inside. It was at that moment that I realized how our perception shifts to fit our surroundings. Where once I thought that cable, AC throughout the house, and other conveniences were an absolute necessity to life, I have now realized that I can actually make it on much less and be even more happy and contented.
Never mind about the blazing hot temperatures...
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