I'm going to take this quiet opportunity to post, finally! My students are all sleeping (well most) and my assistant is gone. So I am stuck at my desk supervising my snoozing students instead of packing my closet.
So, lets start with that. Yes, I am packing my classroom up. As you know, this is my first year to teach. I am currently employed with the largest school district in Oklahoma. With everyone else, our state is making cuts to their budget and this includes the education department. That means my district will have less money next year and has to budget for that. They have done a good job of cutting EVERYWHERE possible but they are currently cutting some 250 teachers from the classrooms next year. That 250, unfortunately, includes me. There is still a tiny ray of hope. The state budget has not been finalized yet, hopefully we will have less of a cut than expected and TPS will be able to hire some teachers back. If that does happen, it will take some time. Please say some prayers :)
So, not knowing has been rough. I am such a planner and I like to have everything lined out. I have known since March and tried to let God have this problem but I am failing now. As the year started to come to a close (only 10 more days with students!) it has become progressively harder. And EVERYONE asks about it. I told my Sunday school class and bible study class so they could pray for us and of course all the teachers in the building know. So, I am OFTEN asked about it. I know they are simply caring about me but saying "I have no job for next year" can really get to you after the 100th time. And of course, the Tulsa news channels are all over it, so I hear it on TV also.
I did get chosen to teach summer school, which is really great. I only work 4 weeks, for 20 hours a week and I get paid $23 an hour. Our plan is to put that money in savings to use in case I don't get a teaching job in the fall. That will help us pay bills and get by for awhile. But our HOPE is that I will have a job and we can use that money to buy couches and a fence!
Jake is working at Wal-Mart. He currently works undercover to catch people stealing. He really enjoys the job. He has a lot of fun. Unfortuneatly, the hours aren't great but they aren't horrible either. He just applied to get a promotion. He would be a zone manager. Not really management but close to it. He would have better hours and get a $2 an hour raise. That raise would be really helpful. Again, please say a little prayer for us :)
Our home is great. I love it! I am really hoping to actually decorate it with my summer school money. It is starting to feel kinda big for just the two of us... :) but that is tied to the job thing also.
I am sad to be leaving Addams. I have made some great friends here and I was looking forward to watching my pre-k students grow into 5th graders. There are some things I will not miss. There is a lot of politics and not-so-professional things going on behind the scenes.
There is my life these days. I'm sorry I am bad about updating. We don't have the Internet or a computer at home, so it's hard to update often. I need to try to do it more often, it is sort of therapeutic. :)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
My 2009
In 2009....
- I began subbing for Tulsa Public and found out that subs do not have easy jobs.
- Jake transferred to Wal-Mart in Tulsa.
- We helped Sierra and Jerad move and paint their new home.
- I got a long term sub position at Addams Elementary School. I was covering for Susan Henderson while she was on maternity. It was a fifth grade class. I taught reading and social studies. Man, that was a learning experience! The biggest thing I learned was that it is important to balance the "I'm a person you can trust and talk to" teacher side with the "I am an adult and you will respect me" teacher side.
- We joined First Baptist Church Tulsa and began to enjoy ourselves in our lifegroup.
- I went with FBC to San Antonio on a spring break trip chaperoning 5th, 6th and 7th graders.
- Jake spent a lot of time looking for, applying and interviewing at various jobs in Tulsa. None of which gave him a job.
- My 8 weeks at Addams was up and I left to regular subbing.
- Two weeks after leaving, I got a call back from Addams. The other 5th grade teacher had to leave and the principal asked if I could cover his class for the rest of the year.
- We began to think about taking advantage of the first time home buyers tax credit of $8000.
- Jake broke his foot while bowling. Only my husband! This put him out of work for 6 weeks.
- My principal offered me a prek position at Addams for the 2009-2010 school year! My first teaching job!
- I began making friends with my new colleagues.
- I watched my fifth graders graduate elementary school and see how nervous they were about middle school.
- I worked at FBC Day Camp. I was a counselor for the kindergarten class.
- We toured a model home in Sand Springs, OK and feel in love with the idea.
- We went down to Dallas, TX to see my cousin graduate from High School. It was fun to catch up with family and just have time away.
- After a few weeks of talking and prayer, we decided to build a home in Sand Springs.
- I went to Literacy First Phase 1 training and Great Expectations Methodology classes.
- We watched our foundation being poured and the frame go up!
- Jake finally got released to go back to work.
- I spent way to much money on my classroom and began to make it my own.
- Jake continued to look for jobs outside of Wal-Mart.
- I survived my first day of school and from that I knew I would be ok.
- I began to become very good friends with my colleagues, began the residency process and how learned just how hard teaching can be.
- I started studying the book of John at Bible Studies Foundations.
- I realized I love my students and my job.
- We continued to watch our house go up. We made choices on colors, carpets, layout, stained concrete, door style, fireplace location, lights, appliance, cabinets and many others!
- For the first time, we didn't have to live paycheck to paycheck and had good health insurance.
- I realized how necessary school breaks are for both teachers and students.
- I learned that schools have politics. A lot of politics. Luckily, I had good friends to help me learn how to avoid as much of this as possible and how to play the game.
- We went to Tahlequah for Homecoming and enjoyed visiting Bob and Deb, Mike and Danielle, other friends and our old church!
- We closed on our home, moved in and unpacked all in one weekend.
- We went to Broken Bow, OK to visit my Granny and family for Thanksgiving.
- Jake got a different position at Wal-Mart that he enjoys much more.
- We decorated our home and celebrated our second Christmas.
And through the whole year...
- We saw God working in our lives and our families and friends.
- We continued to grow in our relationship with each other. We realized marriage was something you always had to work on and communicate about.
- We had some fights and we learned and grew from them!
- I missed some old friends, gained some more and grew in my relationship with others.
For 2010...
- We will see what happens...
- My one main resolution is to get healthy! I am calorie counting, eating healthier and trying to be more active. Hopefully, I will stay motivated and continue to work toward this.
I hope your 2010 is all that you hope for!
- I began subbing for Tulsa Public and found out that subs do not have easy jobs.
- Jake transferred to Wal-Mart in Tulsa.
- We helped Sierra and Jerad move and paint their new home.
- I got a long term sub position at Addams Elementary School. I was covering for Susan Henderson while she was on maternity. It was a fifth grade class. I taught reading and social studies. Man, that was a learning experience! The biggest thing I learned was that it is important to balance the "I'm a person you can trust and talk to" teacher side with the "I am an adult and you will respect me" teacher side.
- We joined First Baptist Church Tulsa and began to enjoy ourselves in our lifegroup.
- I went with FBC to San Antonio on a spring break trip chaperoning 5th, 6th and 7th graders.
- Jake spent a lot of time looking for, applying and interviewing at various jobs in Tulsa. None of which gave him a job.
- My 8 weeks at Addams was up and I left to regular subbing.
- Two weeks after leaving, I got a call back from Addams. The other 5th grade teacher had to leave and the principal asked if I could cover his class for the rest of the year.
- We began to think about taking advantage of the first time home buyers tax credit of $8000.
- Jake broke his foot while bowling. Only my husband! This put him out of work for 6 weeks.
- My principal offered me a prek position at Addams for the 2009-2010 school year! My first teaching job!
- I began making friends with my new colleagues.
- I watched my fifth graders graduate elementary school and see how nervous they were about middle school.
- I worked at FBC Day Camp. I was a counselor for the kindergarten class.
- We toured a model home in Sand Springs, OK and feel in love with the idea.
- We went down to Dallas, TX to see my cousin graduate from High School. It was fun to catch up with family and just have time away.
- After a few weeks of talking and prayer, we decided to build a home in Sand Springs.
- I went to Literacy First Phase 1 training and Great Expectations Methodology classes.
- We watched our foundation being poured and the frame go up!
- Jake finally got released to go back to work.
- I spent way to much money on my classroom and began to make it my own.
- Jake continued to look for jobs outside of Wal-Mart.
- I survived my first day of school and from that I knew I would be ok.
- I began to become very good friends with my colleagues, began the residency process and how learned just how hard teaching can be.
- I started studying the book of John at Bible Studies Foundations.
- I realized I love my students and my job.
- We continued to watch our house go up. We made choices on colors, carpets, layout, stained concrete, door style, fireplace location, lights, appliance, cabinets and many others!
- For the first time, we didn't have to live paycheck to paycheck and had good health insurance.
- I realized how necessary school breaks are for both teachers and students.
- I learned that schools have politics. A lot of politics. Luckily, I had good friends to help me learn how to avoid as much of this as possible and how to play the game.
- We went to Tahlequah for Homecoming and enjoyed visiting Bob and Deb, Mike and Danielle, other friends and our old church!
- We closed on our home, moved in and unpacked all in one weekend.
- We went to Broken Bow, OK to visit my Granny and family for Thanksgiving.
- Jake got a different position at Wal-Mart that he enjoys much more.
- We decorated our home and celebrated our second Christmas.
And through the whole year...
- We saw God working in our lives and our families and friends.
- We continued to grow in our relationship with each other. We realized marriage was something you always had to work on and communicate about.
- We had some fights and we learned and grew from them!
- I missed some old friends, gained some more and grew in my relationship with others.
For 2010...
- We will see what happens...
- My one main resolution is to get healthy! I am calorie counting, eating healthier and trying to be more active. Hopefully, I will stay motivated and continue to work toward this.
I hope your 2010 is all that you hope for!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Gobble, Gobble!
This is my favorite project we have done so far. Each child got a feather to paint.
Then we put them together to make this turkey! I love how great it looks!
And notice the hand turkey's around them? I am not huge on "crafts" but this was too cute to miss!
We also put these turkey's on our Thanksgiving Cookbooks. First, Mrs. Clark sat down with each student and asked them what their favorite Thanksgiving food is. She then asked them how to make it and to draw a picture of it. We used these very creative recipes to create the cookbooks. We made a copy for each child and the cover of their book has their name and their handprint on it. Here are a few samples:
CHEESE PIZZA
Mix together bread stuff with yellow stuff in a pan. Then you put it in the oven on 1 degree for 4 hours. When it is done you top it with marshmallows and chocolate candy. Then you eat it!
TURKEY
Catch the turkey and put m&m candy and Spongebob Squarepants fruit snacks on it. Then you put it in the microwave on high temperature for 6 minutes. Then you eat it!
CORN
Mix yellow paint and that is it. Put it in a pan and cook it on the stove on medium heat for 10 minutes. Then you eat it!
YELLOW JELLO
Mix together yellow mashed potatoes, yellow bananas, sugar and flour. Stir it together and cook it in the microwave on high heat for 50 minutes. When it is done put pizza on top and eat it!
I will be doing this project every year. It is so much fun!
In our life: we have moved into our home. We signed our life away on our mortage and it is officially our home now. We have been there for two weeks now. We had great friends that helped us move and even had a slumber party that first night.
Then we put them together to make this turkey! I love how great it looks!
And notice the hand turkey's around them? I am not huge on "crafts" but this was too cute to miss!We also put these turkey's on our Thanksgiving Cookbooks. First, Mrs. Clark sat down with each student and asked them what their favorite Thanksgiving food is. She then asked them how to make it and to draw a picture of it. We used these very creative recipes to create the cookbooks. We made a copy for each child and the cover of their book has their name and their handprint on it. Here are a few samples:
CHEESE PIZZA
Mix together bread stuff with yellow stuff in a pan. Then you put it in the oven on 1 degree for 4 hours. When it is done you top it with marshmallows and chocolate candy. Then you eat it!
TURKEY
Catch the turkey and put m&m candy and Spongebob Squarepants fruit snacks on it. Then you put it in the microwave on high temperature for 6 minutes. Then you eat it!
CORN
Mix yellow paint and that is it. Put it in a pan and cook it on the stove on medium heat for 10 minutes. Then you eat it!
YELLOW JELLO
Mix together yellow mashed potatoes, yellow bananas, sugar and flour. Stir it together and cook it in the microwave on high heat for 50 minutes. When it is done put pizza on top and eat it!
I will be doing this project every year. It is so much fun!
In our life: we have moved into our home. We signed our life away on our mortage and it is officially our home now. We have been there for two weeks now. We had great friends that helped us move and even had a slumber party that first night.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Teaching
Today was a good day. Let me tell you why.
It was "free centers". This is a time that I allow them to choose what activity they do. (I would let them do this most of the day, but our school has certain requirements that do not allow this). They can move around the room as the please. Of course, as long as they are being safe and kind to their friends. I watched as they were all engaged. Everyone of them was working on a task that they enjoy. Those are the days that I LOVE my job. I watched them work, play and laugh together. I watched them being creative and incredibly focused on their work. They were smiling and enjoying themselves.
Had my principal walked in, she probably would have thought they were simply "playing". Oh no! They were learning so much in this time. This age group learns best through play, I wish more peopled could see this.
She is learning to express herself through art, to concentrate on a task and what happens when colors mix together.
She is learning her alphabet through a puzzle. She is learning the order of the alphabet and how to solve problems.
She is learning to have confidence in herself. She said to me, "Mrs. Meryhew, I did it!"
They are learning to work together, what happens when you stack too many blocks up and a little bit about gravity and balancing things.
And he is learning that he is loved by someone. Sometimes, that is the most important thing I can teach.
It was "free centers". This is a time that I allow them to choose what activity they do. (I would let them do this most of the day, but our school has certain requirements that do not allow this). They can move around the room as the please. Of course, as long as they are being safe and kind to their friends. I watched as they were all engaged. Everyone of them was working on a task that they enjoy. Those are the days that I LOVE my job. I watched them work, play and laugh together. I watched them being creative and incredibly focused on their work. They were smiling and enjoying themselves.
Had my principal walked in, she probably would have thought they were simply "playing". Oh no! They were learning so much in this time. This age group learns best through play, I wish more peopled could see this.
She is learning to express herself through art, to concentrate on a task and what happens when colors mix together.
She is learning her alphabet through a puzzle. She is learning the order of the alphabet and how to solve problems.
She is learning to have confidence in herself. She said to me, "Mrs. Meryhew, I did it!"
They are learning to work together, what happens when you stack too many blocks up and a little bit about gravity and balancing things.And he is learning that he is loved by someone. Sometimes, that is the most important thing I can teach. I am in love with my job in my classroom. I love these kids and helping them learn to read, write, think, solve problems, make good decisions, understand math, computers and science. But I loathe the politics that run through this school. We are on pins and needles about what we say and who we say it to. Some people will run and tattle at the smallest, unimportant thing. This staff doesn't trust each other because we don't want to get written up for simply venting about our day or making a silly joke to the wrong person.
My ability to be a great teacher and love these kids is stifled because I am not given all the information. I had a student in the hospital and one with family issues. Both were gone from school and I simply thought they were sick. I found out the details through the grapevine two days later. I should be told as soon as it is known to the administration so that I can support them and love on them.
Even my time teaching is taken away by things like paperwork and required programs that I don't believe are developmentally appropriate for my kids. Our counselor is required to have 1.5 hours of lunch duty everyday because it is just more helpful to have more hands in the cafeteria. Forget that she has other responsibilities!
I wish that I could simply focus on my job rather than everything else thrown in. I wonder if it is like this at every school?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Almost....
There it is! Our almost finished house. I will post inside pictures when it has our things in. All we have left is our final walk through tomorrow. We will walk through with the builder and point out things that we think need to be fixed. Then they fix them and then we close! It is so soon!Life has been pretty good lately. We got to spend last weekend in Tahlequah for NSU's homecoming. It was nice to catch up with Bob and Deb, Danielle and Mike, other students from the BCM and our old church family. The best part was enjoying our favorite food places. I will never find a pizza place as fantastic as Sam and Ella's!
Jake's birthday was last Friday. We just went out to eat together and spent time with family over the weekend. We went to Hallowzooween with Trysten and the family. It wasn't fantastic. It was just us wandering around in the dark for candy. I was sad that all the buildings were closed and we couldn't see any animals.
Teacher is fantastic. It of course has it's days (like today) but I really enjoy it. Pre-k is a lot of fun. We spent the last two weeks on pumpkins and Halloween. We did all kinds of things with pumpkins. We measured them, touched them, played with them, drew on them, cut them open, smelled and touched the inside, ate the seeds and carved pumpkins. It was a blast. In fact this week seems a little boring compared to all that fun.
I am not feeling so hot lately. I hope I am not coming down with anything. I hope you are well!
Monday, October 12, 2009
House Update
I have had several requests for updated home photos. I am sorry it has taken so long. We don't have a camera so we have to borrow. That is trickier than we thought it would be.
The front of our house. The shutters on that front window will be painted a deep red.
The south side of our house. 
The North side of our house.
The east side of our house (the back).
A look at our front porch. The door will be painted a deep red.
Our front porch light. Just installed today :)
This is our doorbell! I rang it for the first time today!
Our front door and entry way.
The window and light above our entry way. I love this part :)
The left of our kitchen/dining from the living room. That is an island in the center.
The right of our kitchen/dining room from the living. Our table will go in that big, empty space.
A close up on the left side. Look at all those cabinets! And that door is a pantry.
Closer view. The fridge will go in that big empty space (the didn't have any in stock for us).
A close up of the island. That is the dishwasher to the right of the sink.
My living room from the kitchen. The door on the left is our master bedroom.
A look at all the pretty windows in our living room. They are east facing. So, the hot sun will not be in our living room all day! 
A close-up of the fireplace. It is gas and wood burning. 
Laundry room. That is a sink in the right corner.
Vanity in master bathroom. That is two sinks and plenty of drawers. :)
My bathtub. Jake says this is the only reason I wanted to build this house. :)
Private toilet in master bath.
Linen clost in the master bath.
The LEFT side of the master closet. (There is more on the left of this picture that I couldn't fit in.)
The RIGHT side of the master closet.
Other bathroom for guests and way future children.
Bed Room #1. This will be our office for awhile until we need a 3rd bedroom. 
Bedroom #1 closet
Bed Room #2. We will just close this one up until we need a second bedroom :)
A look at all the pretty windows in our living room. They are east facing. So, the hot sun will not be in our living room all day! A close-up of the fireplace. It is gas and wood burning. Laundry room. That is a sink in the right corner.
Master Bedroom
Master Bathroom. The door closest to the tub is our closet. The open door is the private toilet. There is another door for the linen closet and I am just realizing that I did not take a picture of the shower.
Vanity in master bathroom. That is two sinks and plenty of drawers. :)My bathtub. Jake says this is the only reason I wanted to build this house. :)
Private toilet in master bath.
Linen clost in the master bath. The LEFT side of the master closet. (There is more on the left of this picture that I couldn't fit in.)The RIGHT side of the master closet.
Other bathroom for guests and way future children. 
Bed Room #1. This will be our office for awhile until we need a 3rd bedroom. Bedroom #1 closet
Bed Room #2. We will just close this one up until we need a second bedroom :)
(A couple of years still!)
Bed room #2 closet 
Garage: Standard two car garage.
Bed room #2 closet Garage: Standard two car garage.
That's all folks!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Wow!
Man, it has been a long time since I actually updated everyone. What have I been up to?
Teaching is going fantastically! Well, most days anyway. Yesterday was a bad day. I had a little girl just have a complete melt down. The other teacher had to take her for awhile just to give me a break. But she had a good day today. I have most of my routine and procedures in place, it is just figuring out what to teach and how. Then what to assess and how. I have learned that it is very easy to just let them play without really helping them learn. I have had to stop myself a few times and remember to put their best interest at heart. I have also learned that this job is not always rewarding but when the thank yous and hugs come, it is all worth it. And, I love to see them trying their hardest and engaged in a learning task.
I joined a bible study last week. It is called Bible Study Foundations (BSF). This is an international, nondenominational group with bible studies in 30 countries, including China, Japan and Uganda. It is a very in depth study. All the groups in the world are all studying the chapter of John this school year. I think it is going to challenge me and I am excited about that!
My house looks like a house! I need to take another picture for you guys. The outside is almost finished. I have walls, plumbing and a fireplace. The further it goes, the more excited I get. I can't wait to move in and make it my own!
I got to go to an OSU game last weekend with my mom. I used to go all the time with old friends of mine. It was nice to be back there. I forgot how much fun it is to be a part of a crowd and cheering for the same goal. It was not fun that it rained and we lost, but still it was a great experience! Not to mention, it was great to spend the day with my mom. I was surprised at how much she knows about football.
That's about all I have to say. I will try to update sooner next time. :)
Teaching is going fantastically! Well, most days anyway. Yesterday was a bad day. I had a little girl just have a complete melt down. The other teacher had to take her for awhile just to give me a break. But she had a good day today. I have most of my routine and procedures in place, it is just figuring out what to teach and how. Then what to assess and how. I have learned that it is very easy to just let them play without really helping them learn. I have had to stop myself a few times and remember to put their best interest at heart. I have also learned that this job is not always rewarding but when the thank yous and hugs come, it is all worth it. And, I love to see them trying their hardest and engaged in a learning task.
I joined a bible study last week. It is called Bible Study Foundations (BSF). This is an international, nondenominational group with bible studies in 30 countries, including China, Japan and Uganda. It is a very in depth study. All the groups in the world are all studying the chapter of John this school year. I think it is going to challenge me and I am excited about that!
My house looks like a house! I need to take another picture for you guys. The outside is almost finished. I have walls, plumbing and a fireplace. The further it goes, the more excited I get. I can't wait to move in and make it my own!
I got to go to an OSU game last weekend with my mom. I used to go all the time with old friends of mine. It was nice to be back there. I forgot how much fun it is to be a part of a crowd and cheering for the same goal. It was not fun that it rained and we lost, but still it was a great experience! Not to mention, it was great to spend the day with my mom. I was surprised at how much she knows about football.
That's about all I have to say. I will try to update sooner next time. :)
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