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.
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