summer

The weekend has officially begun- Although, I manage to plan out my week and weekends in advance I have no clue what is going to happen. I know that one thing is for sure I am completely finished in one of my education classes. I finished my Capstone as our final project and I am ecstatic. The past few weeks I have worked so hard to complete according to the rubric. The assignment was to choose the grade each student would like to teach once they finish graduating. Of course, I chose kindergarten with a focus in math-learning addition, subtraction, and money, face and place value. On each slide I chose images off of Google and each item was placed into my capstone folder and on my jump drive. Throughout this course I learned how to use windows vista for movie maker and power point. In high school the money funding was provided towards Mac computer which are a bit different than MSSUs. I also had the courage to do a few narrations- where I recorded myself talking on a slide about the specific topic. It was not easy to do so of course I recorded the sound from home and then brought it to the school to add to the power point. Some of the disadvantages were that I do not have an upgraded computer with Power Point 2007 therefore; it corrupted a couple files leaving me to start completely over. One day I got to class and realized that I did not have my jump drive leaving me with nothing to do for a whole class period and then found out Paisly had put it in one of her purses, funny. If my memory was awful I have no idea where I would be right now. I am completely finished – burned the CD and turned it in to the professor. The only downside is I still have four classes including our English class. BOO. I hope these next three weeks pass on by and I can still squeeze in observation hours. I am really getting irritated with one of my teachers because she keeps assigning assignment and I turn them in before the due date and of course she extends the dates for the procrastinators. I honestly could have squeezed in a little more Paisly time; movie, outdoors etc… catch my drift? The assignment is over education in the different countries and to fill out a chart with our own words through the Power Point she shows in class. The students should all be writing down word for word, but instead they do nothing- then realization hits the night it is due and the Power Point on blackboard does not open.
Dear summer,
Please hurry. I need a break!

RANDOM

This is a random blog because my mind is completely scattered today.
This week has not been one of the best times in my life but luckily, I have a great family to support me. I have met a considerable amount of new people in our neighborhood. There is one woman whom is eighty-one years old, lives alone, and still manages to take care of flowers, bamboo tree, aloe vera plants etc… I have been very blessed to meet her and learn about her past. Her daughter passed away at eleven- years old and her soon about a year ago. She was explaining a fire pit that her father built on the farm and how she roasts marshmallows during the summer and asked us to join. As she explained this, I thought about the times when I was a kid and our family would go camping to Grand Lake. Of course, our camping trip was a little too pampered with a TV, VCR and a fan. My sister and I would spend quality time together watching The Parent Trap, laughing all night, and reciting the movie repeatedly. I think about the past a lot and wonder what it would be like to go back into time and re do a few things to improve. I think as a teenager I treated my mom disrespectful but I know by taking care of her when she was sick helped make up for it. I think about girls and their behaviors towards their parents and I would like to tell them you eventually might regret it. Although, it takes a mature person to accept different perspectives in others lives. It has also been a year since my mother passed away and of course, I had these vivid memories in my head. I walked to the cemetery and had the smell of bedsores and could hear the respirator working and then just hum... It was the worst feeling ever. I have not spoken to my mom in almost three years nor have I seen her face/body/expressions in a year. Paisly goes with me to visit and always says “hi nana” and kisses her mausoleum and it breaks my heart because my mom would love to be here with her but I know that she is in a much better place living eternal life with Jesus Christ. This is all a plan that I have not figured out I am just following it and trusting with everything.

WOW..

I am going to rant about a few things that happened this because I am not quite happy with the ending results. First off I enjoy giving other a helping hand no matter the situation but now that it has involved the school I am little aggravated. A person that I just met this semester recently has asked for help on some assignments of course I offered. The next week I was asked if I could e-mail my assignment that I had recently turned in two days in advance to look over as a reference of course I said “yes”. I thought it would be ok to help where the person did not receive a zero. Well… little did I know something BAD was about to happen. Our teacher had posted on BB that plagiarism is against the MSSU policy, could result in an F in the class, and kicked out of the teacher education program. Of course, my intentions were wow that is awful and I double-checked my work making sure I sited resources etc and I figured I was ok. I then get a phone call from that “friend” saying “Jenny…. We have a problem…. I accidently turned in your chart as mine with your name and nothing changed.” Are you serious? I was not a happy camper afterwards and then receiving an e-mail saying, the three of us need to discuss this incident. The next day the meeting took place of course I got punished as well for letting her “cheat” off my assignment and teachers are technically not suppose to do this type of activity. In the result, I received the same punishment- a zero on the assignment and a write up at MSSU- other (student giving education chart to another student). It was not a great Monday and Tuesday to start my week. I have worked my *** off this semester studying, assignments on time, observation hours, papers and much more. I have often helped others out who work full-time or do not understand. I recently had straight A’s but I now have a B in one class and perfect attendance. I could honestly ring someone’s neck, which I understand it was an honest mistake. I am not dishonest, that is what bothers me the most, and my feelings actually are hurt by this. I have learned never to do this again in the future. After all of this I then asked this person where in BB was our handout that the class was suppose to bring to class and I got a reply saying “Oh… I do not know but I printed it off already. Sorry” I was livid. Luckily, after deep searching on BB I found it and had it for our class discussion. Then I get a call today saying, “Hey have you turned in your assignment” I replied, “Yes… I turned it in the other night” then a reply of “Oh… I am turning it in late because I was busy tonight and I can find the submission for it.” I explained where it was in the assignments but the teacher had taken it down after the time limit. I checked my e-mail seriously twenty minutes ago and the teacher said she extended the submission until Friday at Five pm. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME…. I again turned in my assignment on the due date and I still get in trouble. RAR… Oh and not to mention my advisor is horrible and never once told me that I could fill out a petition slip for almost three classes that I transferred over from PSU. What a rough week… Is it
Friday…YET? ;)

BASEBALL

I have always found a passion for baseball games. I do not know if it is because my dad played as a kid and took us to multiple games. I have vivid moments of when I was kid going to the St. Louis Royals game and playing around with my sister during the games. My parents, now just my father’s home is fully decorated in signed baseballs and jersey from the Yankees and Cardinals. It amazes me how much money he will spend on random collections. When I think of summer, I remember the time our family went to a St. Louis Cardinal baseball game at Busch Stadium. There was a fundraiser held for patients that had been fully confined to a wheel chair. My mother was determined to be down on the baseball field taking her pictures with all the Cardinal players. The security officers took us through the VIP area and let my mom, sister and I explore and let me tell you it was the most amazing place and definitely, lots of money put into it. My mother sat in her wheelchair completely ecstatic and at that point, I knew that she was not thinking about her disease. I think about the movie the bucket list and I know that was one of hers on the checklist, meeting the St. Louis Cardinals-head coach Tony La Russa. The St. Louis Cardinals seem to be playing well in the pre-games, which help them out towards the main season. My mother always focused her disease around Lou Gehrig since that is what ALS is based off in the 1930s. It is a rare disease and completely paralyzes a person. Lou Gehrig was the greatest man in history for his prowess as a hitter, consecutive games-played record and its subsequent longevity, and the pathos of his farewell from baseball at age 36(Lou Gehrig). Lou Gehrig played for the Yankees for over two-thousand games in his career and rewarded with the Most Valuable Player from 1927-1936. This disease affects multiple people every day and one day there will be a cure. Lou Gehrig and ALS patients refer to this note:
Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.
When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift — that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies — that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter — that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body — it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed — that's the finest I know.
So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for. Thank you.
— Lou Gehrig at Yankee Stadium, July 4, 1939

Lesson Plan

Over the past few months, our Art for Elementary teacher’s class has reached the peak and now it is time to teach our own section. It has been a bit of a challenge for me coming up with new ideas instead of coping directly off the internet. I first chose to use book by Eric Carle, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” I think thought of different ideas and research lesson plans. I then used our resources from our book and chose one off http://www.crayola.com. It is called The Leaf Café and the materials consume of paper plates, wax paper, white paper, glue, scissors, hole puncher, markers, crayons, colored pencils and pipe wire. My objectives for this assignment are focused on 1st-3rd 1. The students will learn interdisciplinary connections through the science knowledge. 2. The students will understand an insect’s survival in life. After learning a minimum of the Art GLEs Education system, I kept it focusing on interdisciplinary connections connecting art, non-art subjects, visual and performing arts. The Art of Education follows these requirements and for the Kindergarten classes some of these are not assessed so I chose to go up higher in the grade system. The project is using elements such as color, shape and texture followed with a design of balance. I have chose vocabulary known as habitat, abdomen, thorax, head, insect, leaf and antenna although; some of these will be for the higher grades. This is an emphasis on the science terminology and getting them interest in the biology section and understands that different insects eat leaves and fruit to survive, unlike humans eating regular food and drinking water. The step to this lesson plan 1. Cut the paper plate into two sections and then glue into the shape of a leaf. 2. Color all of it green and with the extra paper plate use it for a stem. 3. Chose which two insects that you would like to draw on white paper. 4. Color the desired portion, cut it out and color. 5. If the insect has wings then the student will use pre cut wings out of wax paper and must be colored w/crayons. 6. Then the items must be glued onto the leaf. 7. Once the leaf is all finished the students may use the hole puncher to show that the insects officially ATE THEIR FOOD. After all this is finished hopefully the student will have learned the science and visual art section of this lesson plan and can then relate it into their schemas. I have inserted different aesthetical questions such as “Why do insects eat leaves? What do you think it tastes like? How many legs does a caterpillar use?” In conclusion, at the end of closing the students will think about these questions later on and will know the answers through the guided and independent practices. I hope that all of this goes well seeing how I have it thoroughly planned out. I hope I have the ability to speak to my peers and one day I can use this actual lesson plan in my classroom.

PAISLY

This is another chapter in our life but another reoccurrence. I find myself in the doctor’s office every month either for a checkup, shots or ear infections. Of course it seems like the ear infections happen at the beginning of the week and lead all the way to Friday where I am left with the weekend full of tears, sorrow, pain and sadness for my daughter Paisly. She is now nineteen months and not once has the doctor considered tubes. I do not want to look into an ear nose and throat doctor because then David and I have to schedule a surgery to follow. It breaks my heart that every time this happens she is cutting teeth which leads to more pain. I often though when she was younger that it was because of the pacifier but again after her first birthday I decided to only let her use it during nap/bed time. I read articles about how the pacifier will increase ear infections and also slow down their speech. The speech is not the problem. She has a vocabulary of almost thirty words and defiantly knows that she is miss independent which is hilarious at times. I often worry how she will react once I fully take out the pacifier or better yet sleeping in her own room. These are the choices parents take when they decided to become parents. It is a blessing to have a child and become a mother. Although, once you take on these responsibilities it often brings different emotions as a parent. I often wonder if I am missing out on the time spent with her because I have school during the days or homework once she goes to bed. I know that I am raising her in a home where she is loved, accepted, valued and nurtured. Entering the Education department I often see kids who suffer with a lot of ADHD and Autism which sometimes leads to very bright kids. I decided when I first got pregnant that I would enter the Head Start Program since I was working full-time and attending MSSU. It has worked out great other than people often say it is just for poor people who can afford anything living off the government. Well, actually it is for people who do not make much money and a full time student BUT shouldn’t every child have the opportunity to learn? YES! Why does every judge a person by their cover? It should matter about the education and the future. It just annoys me so much that i would love to teach lower-class students or even go to another country. As for this blog Paisly is now telling me UP MAMA. That means it is time for me to spend time with her in this beautiful weather with our new dog Charlie. Enjoy.

MISSION

Realistic thoughts are crossing my mind as I ponder about Gods plan. My focus is on children and their ability to learn new characteristics whether it is God, school subjects, gymnastics or life in general. My Uncle Mark lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia working in the Bykota Home (this website has blogs from our family who is there.) with children who need a better home life and learning curriculum to receive a high school diploma. Cambodian children have free public schooling but in order to sit in a desk, receive worksheets and a book they must pay five to ten cents each day. Therefore, this does not make it FREE. It is a messed up system. Luckily, five years ago my Uncle, Aunt Rhonda and cousins sold everything they owned here in Carthage, MO to move to Cambodia to offer a better school system. It is defiantly a different life than the United States but Gods words were to sell everything and teach about him. I am focusing my attention on a mission trip through Forest Park but have not yet decided between Kenya, Brazil or Cambodia. It is a week long fulfilling duties through God with VBS, construction, handy work, and people accepting God and believing in him through mind, body, spirit and strength. I know that God will show me the path and make the right choice. I am very excited to go out of the country and open up a new world to my “inside” judgments and environment.

I also find it interesting the different groups that help raise money towards causes in need. I know that multiple people raise money through garage sales, baking cookies, carwashes and donations. The most interesting cause that I have joined is the TOMS Shoes. Each time a person buys a pair of shoes then another pair goes to a child in need. I think this is the best way to help other in need in a different country. I find it amazing how many people actually join in and how it has become over populated. People have over ten pairs of Toms. Once you purchase a pair of TOMS, you cannot feel dissatisfied because a child now has shoes instead of barefoot. Today they held a public ONE-DAY WITHOUT SHOES (un dia sin zapatos) a great day to inform others about this world wide donation. They are also very comfortable and different designs can be chose OR if someone wants to get creative-PAINT. It would be nice to have enough shoes bought so children do not have to suffer with cuts and infections.

In all of this discussion, I feel that this is my calling… missions, teaching and caring for others in some particular way whether it is in a classroom or 2309482084 miles away with my family. Please PRAY for this chapter in our lives. Phnom PenhPhnom Penh

First off, depression hurts. Over the years suicide has increased here in America with six people out of every 100,000 will attempt suicide. There are seventeen different facts about suicide each one with a fact. The past few weeks our education classes introduced us to the topic of the teenage girl involved in bullying with classmates and it resulted in suicide. At least five people know someone who think/done this to a friend, family member or acutance. Did you know that a suicide happens every seventeen minutes in America? That is just ridiculous. If all of us could reach out to someone in need instead of judging based on gender, race, religion and age. What are we teaching? In addition to this article, the teachers knew about this bullying and never once reported which results in malfeasance: 1. Perform your duty as a teacher fully 2. Performs the duty inadequately or poorly 3. Fail to perform the duty at all. The faculty from South Hadley School said they were aware of the bullying a week before the suicide although, the parents complained for months. Teachers have to fulfill their position as a teacher, mentor and sometimes a nurture position and if these can not met then it leads to the Principle or even the main Counselor. This type of bullying is much worse that the movie “Mean Girls” In all honesty grade school girls can be awful which I was one of those preppy brats. Definitely, regret that part of my life. I feel for some girls whom are going through puberty, emotions and life changing situation from elementary to middle school and then high school. The transitions can be overwhelming and the attention to fit in with some type of crowd or friends. Now today’s society has learned to judge other by what they look like.

After my mother was diagnosed with ALS, depression was all my body felt. It is hard for girls that are ages twelve through fifteen experiencing changes and not being able to reach out for the correct help. Medicines that doctors prescribe are to strong for their metabolism which results in Lilly (Cymbalta) approving only eighteen and older. This result in younger adolescents to trust in their own instincts or in God that t will resolve. For others the only way out is to change school districts and learn new atmospheres or the devastating suicide. I hope that the Courts overrule in the parents side and make sure that teachers report incidents whether they are small but could lead into bigger actions. The parents should have offered more options instead of forcing her into the school where she did not feel safe attending. In the end of all this sadness, I hope these girls will get a good glimpse at reality and realize they took an innocent life. No texting at this age.

Spring Break

Spring break is a time for excitement, relaxing and for a few that enjoys the party scene. I like to think of my spring break as laughter, enjoyment, sadness and a celebration in the end. Although, I had to work nine-hour shifts at work Monday through Thursday I managed to succeed. I enjoy Sunday mornings at Forest Park and listening to the sermons and I go into deep though about life in general. The youth pastor encouraged us to go out into our community and be disciples to encourage other to come to church on Easter. What a great way to get people to know about God. I felt a sudden passion that my life is following in God’s plan short and long term. I then woke up Monday morning praying that God show me the path. After the days passed, my boss informed me that I was going to lose my job because the company needed “full time” positions which is understandable I am only obligated to “part time” availability. I typed up a resignation letter and quit instead of terminating on my record. I did not like leaving the kids but I know God is holding something else in store for my family and me. The next morning I baked cookies with pink sprinkles and decided to meet the neighbors after a year of living in Webb City. I have met some wonderful people who also go through different struggles. If my mother were still on earth, her birthday celebration would be Saturday March 27 turning fifty-five. Paisly and I spent a few hours remembering the courageous person she was while battling ALS. The weather was peaceful, calm and beautiful which was God’s way of saying she was in a better place.

I eventually went into depth thinking and tried to broaden my horizon into an educational thought of “how could I teach this.” I have learned a lot about God and the creation of Jesus and resurrection and I feel more knowledgably to my surroundings. After going to the Bow the Knee, it helped me to understand parts of the Bible and a better communication through my mother in law who is a strong Christian. After losing my mother, it has been difficult to know whom I trust and can talk to that will understand. My soon to be mother in law has helped David and me out with our relationship, daughter and finances. Karen would do anything for the three of us. I feel that through her strength and compassion she has helped me open up to another part of myself I had lost. In addition, I love God, family and friends.