An Update

So in the footsteps of Jennifer, I too am going to assure ( again) that I am not out of the blogging loop permanently...just temporarily. Here is an update on what is going on with us:

- I am two weeks away from completing all the classes for my Masters degree. Woohoo! This is such a great feeling as it will free up my at home time and my Meredith time. While the next two weeks may be hard ( finishing a powerpoint, one more test, an article summary, research proposal and another test), I can do it and then I can enjoy my after school life.

- My internship for my Masters degree is starting in March and will run through next March. I will complete it while I work full time as a gifted teacher. The beautiful thing is that there is some overlap in my Gifted responsibilities and counseling. These would include all the assessment I do and the plans for education. However, I am also going to be the counselor during summer school and talk to students about how they can improve in the areas that they fell short in on the first attempt on the CRCT.

- In regards to my gifted teacher position, I am really proud of myself. I started the year with:
5 second graders
10 third graders
10 fourth graders
16 fifth graders
After a whole lot of testing ( which I am not even done with), my numbers have really skyrocketed...
7 first graders
5 second graders
20 third graders ( and counting)
10 fourth graders
19 fifth graders
I like to give myself credit on giving kids who show the slightest potential a chance to prove themselves. Right now my biggest challenge is that the legal limit for gifted children served by a FOCUS resource teacher at any one time is 19( and that is observing next year's limit due to the budget cuts....it really is 17) and third grade has surpassed that. So right now I am looking at having some third graders come with fourth grade. That is fine except it makes next year challenging when some of the kids have already done a unit and others haven't.

- Brad and I are working on planning two trips. One of which is in April for our one year anniversary and has had little to no planning effort put toward it at all and a cruise in May to celebrate my "graduation" for my Masters degree. That one has gotten more attention and seems to be taking us to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Ocho Rios and Haiti.

- My goal once I am done with my Masters class is to start working out again. Pick back up with walking/jogging 2-3 days a week and Wii fit 2-3 days a week. I still weigh in at a weight my Wii Fit tells me is underweight but the packaging of it all is shifting and I don't like it. I just want to be in good health and good shape. I am not looking to lose weight.

- I used my crockpot for the first time last week and made a roast with carrots and potatoes. The meat lasted for two meals , appearing the second time as BBQ. My next goal is to make homemade spaghetti sauce in the crockpot.

- Healthwise Brad and I have done pretty well considering we both work in schools. However, I am trying to pick up a cold. My inlaws may have nipped it in the bud by giving me Zycam Nasal Swabs yesterday. I feel better congestion wise but I have a headache. It will get better.

That is about it on this end. I will be back full force in two weeks.