Another Broke and Boring Weekend Review

It sounds weird but Friday was the first "real" day I had in my classroom.  I mentioned already that we had to wing the first week as we could do nothing curriculum related.  Then last week, my class was testing all morning Monday through Thursday. So on Friday we just dove in to what will be our regular schedule and the curriculum.  

I am finding out that there are many aspects of this school that I am not totally on board with and one of those is that all reading and math has to be done in centers and has to be ability grouped. For instance, during their 1.5 hour reading period (yep a full 1.5 hours of reading class) everyday they must do something involving the following: 1). silent reading 2). guided ability grouped reading 3) vocabulary 4). spelling 5). phonics and 6). writing.  I have nothing against centers...in fact, I actually enjoy them, but just not EVERY SINGLE DAY.  And ability grouping was done away with years ago. And finding six activities for them to do each day is daunting. But I just keep my mouth shut and do my job. 

So, we did centers in Reading and Math on Friday and the results were mixed.  Reading went excellent but Math went pretty badly.  Last year, this class had 4 different teachers and it is obvious that they have no idea what structure in the classroom is.  It's obvious they were left to their own devices as far as rules and consequences - or lack of.  I've implemented a system I call "obedience training" and I have been seeing steady improvements.  Overall, I'd say they ate are about 60% there.  

After school, I needed to stop and pick up $5.00 from my son for gas and then did my grocery shopping.  Once home, the groceries were unpacked, I took Ollie for a walk, and then I out on my comfy pj's, lit a pumpkin spice candle, and watched some Downton Abbey.  

Saturday I spent the whole day with a headache but still had to do my lesson plans.  I used to be able to do my lesson plans in about 15-20 minutes...HA! These Common Core lesson plans took me almost 4 hours!   (Oi Vey).  Because we had plans on Sunday, I made all my lunches and cooked all the meals for the week on Saturday. 

Sunday we drove over to Daytona Beach to have pizza with my parents and sister (it was her birthday).  Then it was home and mentally preparing myself for another week.  

Real Life Poverty

I have now gone almost a month without a paycheck!

I was supposed to get one...but somehow, my time sheet was accidentally left in the book and now those hours need to be rolled over into the next pay check which won't be until Sept 1.  It was only for two days pay (about 18 hours)  but that would have been enough to pay my cell phone bill and make my car payment.  Both of those I had set up for automatic debit on the 26th.  I called both companies and was able to hold off T mobile until the 1st, but the bank said they needed 3-5 days to process the request for the auto loan and I didn't call until the 23rd.  This morning I found out they did indeed take the payment out of my checking account leaving me with a balance of $5.00!  

Just how poor am I right now?

Today I

- used a textbook and folder to "sweep" my floor at school because I can't even afford to buy a broom and dustpan at the Dollar Tree.

- borrowed $5.00 in quarters from my son so I could put enough gas in my car to get me to Daytona Beach on Sunday when my dad has graciously offered to fill it up for me.

- washed out my unmentionables and socks in my bathroom sink and put them out on the balcony to dry because I don't have the money to do a load of laundry!

Yes...this is my life right now!   I would find it hilarious if I wasn't so frustrated.  

Weekend Review - Minus Pictures

Friday was kind of a difficult day for me. I won't lie...last week seemed to last fooorrreeevveerr!  

I have 14 sweethearts and they really are a great bunch of kids but, because of various reasons, our principal/director did not want us to do anything related to curriculum last week.  Five days...all day!  I kind of felt like I was babysitting and was definitely watching the clock wondering how much longer I had to keep these kids busy.  So, in that regard, this week will be soooo much better.  

But one area that will not change is my schedule.  I have one 40 minute special every day and 1 half hour lunch. That is about 4 hours a week.  Compare that with how spoiled I got at Valley Christian... where I had basically 12.5 hours of specials/lunch/recess!   BUT, also, I am making about $15,000 more a year and for $15,000 more a year, I'd stand on my head and teach. 

However, one thing I am going to have a very difficult time with I can sum up in three little words...Common Core Sucks! I am not used to having curriculum dictate me and what I do in my classroom.  Lesson Plans are 99% more difficult and everything has to be overthought.   

Anyway, on to the weekend

Once I got home on Friday night, my mind was already fried so I decided to skip the grocery shopping but still took Zack to Steak n Shake for dinner.  Then I came home, lit some pumpkin spice candles, put in some Downton Abby, and slipped into a semi coma.  

Saturday, after sleeping in and taking Ollie for a walk, I ran to the Dollar Tree and Publix and did all our grocery shopping for the week for under $30.00 (we are still recovering from going two weeks without a paycheck).  In the afternoon, I watched a little of the LLWS and then at night, we met C.J. at Universal for probably the last time this summer.  It was annual passholder night so it was very busy.  But it was so so exciting seeing HHN stuff starting to go up!   

Today was a stay at home day.  I did my lunch prep, meal prep, and clothes prep for the week and made dinner and took a shower.  

Ready for another week.  

And Welcome to Florida

I  have to write this down because it is just so so ridiculous and if it wasn't costing me so much money - it would be actually be comical.  

When I drive to work, I have to take I4 to the Florida Turnpike and then pick up the 408 from the turnpike.  In particular, this is the exit I take. 



The odd thing is that once on the 408, the first exit is exit 2...and yep, I need to exit at exit 1.  This entails exiting at exit two (and paying a toll) and then turning and getting back on 408 going west ( and pay ANOTHER toll) to get to exit 1.  

And before you ask, "why not take the 408 west exit instead?"  I will answer, "THERE IS NONE!"

So this whole fiasco is going to cost me $30.00 a month in tolls!

In the Midst of the Chaos - School Started

According to Orange County, I am still not fit to be a classroom teacher so I had to be hired as a sub until we get the green light.  This stinks for a couple of reasons...even though they came up quite a bit from the hourly pay they normally pay their subs, it is still $700.00 less than I would be making under contract...and no benefits yet.  

Needless to say, I hope Orange County gets their crap together soon.  

I have a herculean task before me this year.  I have 14 second graders who went through 4 different teachers last year.  Looking at their test results from last year, it was very apparent that their academic progress halted in the middle of the year and then took a nosedive from there.  Bring it on...we can...we will!!!  

As is usual, I have a vast mixture of personalities among the 14.  I have a drama queen (or two or three maybe),  I have one boy who won't really talk and one boy who won't stop talking (haha).  But, overall, 14 sweet, adorable kids.  

My room

  
It's a work in progress.  Someone else set it up for me since I was sitting on the couch from August 1 - August 11 waiting for Orange County to decide if I was eligible to be hired as a teacher - seeing as I have 25 years experience teaching and all.  

Universal Again

We are winding down our "summer of Universal" and have only a couple times left.  Last week we were not able to go because Zack's ticket wouldn't work.  I had accidentally canceled the credit card that was being used for the monthly payments and, after standing in line for nearly a half hour at what I thought was Guest Services, I was told I needed to go over to Guest Services which would have been another 45 minute wait.  So, Zack and I just went home, I straightened the situation out on the phone during the week, and we went last night. 

Universal closed at 6:00 for a private event so we, along with a million other people, headed to Islands of Adventure.  Despite being overly crowded, we had a really good time.  

First, C.J. sought out a friend who could take him and Zack to the front of The Hulk line.  Even though they by-passed the long line, they still ended up waiting about 20 minutes or so.  Zack was not at all on board with going on it...but he ended up loving it.  

And after the ride

Then we went on the Cat in the Hat and Forbidden Journey.  

And then walked along a hidden path in Toon Lagoon and walked around on Popeye's ship.

We then waited an absurdly long time for Storm Accelerator before leaving.  

I'm gonna miss our summer nights but the end of summer means the beginning of Halloween Horror Nights!

So...NOW I Understand!

So the final word from the agent was that I was short two classes necessary for a Florida Teaching License.  

According to her I had two choices.  I could take the two classes or I could take the ridiculously expensive exam and get the license.  

MONEY!  I am now positive that this was all about money! The  Florida Department of Education wants my money!   

I am now almost certain that my transcripts were delivered before yesterday too...why would mail delivery take 13 days???? What are the odds that my transcripts were "delivered" the very same day that we decided to actively do something about replacing them?  And finally, what are the odds that the very page they need to verify my certification is "missing" from the sent transcripts?  

It all sounds like WAAAAY too much of a coincidence to me.  

Anyway, I called the registrars office at UW-O to verify that my transcripts did indeed state my degree was a BS in Education, which it did (of course it did) and paid for another copy to be sent overnight delivery to ME!  

I should get them Friday.