Reflections on the National Principals Conference

For the past two years, my sister and I have attended the National Principals Conference together. This year’s conference was in Philadelphia and I had the privilege of presenting a session on Family and Community Engagement along with my principal and our reading specialist. As I reflect on this experience I can’t help but think about my paternal grandmother- Hazel Turner. She was a master at getting families and the community involved in her classroom. You see she didn’t really have choice. She attended Bowie Normal School (now Bowie State University) in 1930 and received her certification to teach grades 1-7. Her first teaching job was on the Eastern Shore of MD in a one room school house. Back then schools and churches were the heart of the African American community. She walked about 2 miles to get to work making sure she arrived early to start a fire in the coal burning pot-bellied stove. She earned $65 monthly until the depression and then her salary was reduced to $56 a month. The state gave the school food staples such as flour, butter, rice, raisins, fatback, etc. and since she knew how to cook she would make rolls, raisin bread (that I remember eating as a kid) Spanish rice, vegetable soup and other items for students who needed food to eat for lunch. Parents and neighbors would offer to bake the bread and bring vegetables to the school for her to cook on the pot-bellied stove. She knew all her students’ families and they all knew her. This was family and community engagement at its finest! Now Grandma knew my sister always wanted to be an educator but she passed away before I decided to become one too. She attended my college graduation and watched me get a degree in political science with the intention of going to law school. But, love and my hatred for a constitutional law class changed those plans. I married a military officer, moved around a bit- worked in the federal government, state government and private industry. Ten years after graduating from undergrad I decided to become a teacher. I hate that I was never able to swap teacher stories with my grandma but I can share her story. And just look at Hazel’s granddaughters now, I’m an assistant principal and my sister is an associate superintendent- I do believe Grandma would be proud!

Almost 5 years since my last post...

Well today I got a text message from my sister...." if you are going to put your blog as the tagline on emails you should at least update it." Yes she is right and actually I forgot I had this blog...so today I am updating it for the first time since 2011. Wow a lot has changed since 2011. Our little guy is becoming a big "little" guy. Stay tuned for my update.

Fall Fun

Well since I have been called a slacker mom for not posting pictures of the little guy in his Halloween costume I decided to do a slide show of all of our fall activities. This is for you SRGN :-)
To think I am a working mom of only one child... and am barely functional, LOL
I was able to join the Pre-K class on two field trips- to an apple orchard and to the pumpkin patch. I originally hadn't planned to go to the pumpkin patch so I asked my parents if they wanted to go with their youngest grandchild. Thank goodness they changed the date of the trip and I was able to go also. Now my parents were supposed to going along to chaperone their grandchild, but it was so cold that day they ditched us after the hayride, got some hot cider at the snack bar and headed back to vehicle. When we got back to the car the heat was on full blast, they had eaten the lunches I packed and they were reading the newspaper. My mom said, "Boy are we glad you decided to come and drive!"

Customize a free slideshow design

Welcome 2011

Well since I posted on the last of 2010 I felt it would only be fitting to post on the first day of 2011. I can't believe winter break is coming to an end and once again I am finding myself behind the power curve with home organization!!! Of course the little one is riding around the house on his Diego big wheel,crashing into walls and running over his new toys. The big one is lying on the couch watching tv. I should be washing and folding clothes, thinking about taking down Christmas decorations, etc. but what am I doing?? sitting behind the computer... I figure if the rest of them are being unproductive so should I. Who in the world came up with the household norms that say I should be doing all the work???
Happy New Year!!!!

This greeting customized with Smilebox

Merry Christmas!!!

I thought I would finish out 2010 with a post to my blog. I admire those of you who can keep this up. I guess I could if I would carve out a block of time strictly devoted to this. But unfortunately I have found that I have a touch of ADD and I tend to jump from one thing to another. As a result I have a lot of undone projects. Perhaps I should incorporate this weakness into a New Year's Resolution!! Ha Ha!!

Free digital scrapbooking design made with Smilebox

Fall Fun

This post is for you know who you are(LOL). Since I hadn't updated my blog since the snowstorm of 2010 thought I would post some fall pictures.

The Big Snow

Well the east coast got hit pretty hard this past weekend! I can't believe how much snow we have had this winter. To think, they are forecasting another major snowstorm for tomorrow. I guess schools will remain closed for the rest of this week and hopefully I can be productive while snowed in. Of course all I feel like doing is laying around on the couch, LOL! The little man loves the snow and we have to suffer his major meltdowns when we make him go in the house to warm up!

Prince Charming

Last weekend the little guy attended a princess birthday party for one of his church friends~ of course I had to buy him a shirt befitting the occasion. The cake was gorgeous and yummy too! fully decorated with Princess Tiana... the swamp...alligators and all! Happy 2nd Birthday A.M.T.! Prince Charming had a ball!

Happy New Year 2010

Well since I just sent out holiday cards last week and the cards have this website on the back of them, I thought perhaps I should post something for 2010. We spent the week after Christmas into the New Year outside of Harrisonburg,VA in the mountains at our timeshare in Massanutten. It was nice being with family- Mommy, Daddy, my brother/sister in law and their 3 kids, my sister/brother-in-law and their 2 kids and us. The little man really enjoyed himself because he had someone to constantly entertain him. He was too little to enjoy snow tubing with the rest of the gang but maybe next year he will be big enough!

Santa's Elf ( Year 2)

When I bought the little elf outfit last Christmas I bought two. One for last year's size and a bigger one so he would have something cute to wear Christmas Eve night this year. He was so cute when he headed down the stairs...he could see presents and he started walking so fast he almost tripped down the stairs. The highlight of the morning was his GeoTrax train set.

Cookies for Santa

This year I could put my cookies for Santa plate and milk for Santa cup out and actually have something in them. He had a ball making cookies. Of course S.R.N. had to make me feel bad when she told me her nieces left healthy snacks for Santa and the reindeer...apples and carrots. Well Santa told me that he preferred cookies and milk. He has to maintain that fat belly. It's cold in the North Pole...he needs the body fat :-)

It's Time for the Summer Bubble to Burst...Back to Work

Scenes of Summer...the birthday party...playing at the park...chasing bubbles... mowing the lawn...at Sesame Place...cruising in the Corvette











Summer break is officially over... it was nice not having to get up at a specific time and I am sure the little guy appreciated being able to stay up late and sleep in but now his little bubble is about to be burst! We didn't do anything spectacular this summer..we celebrated his second birthday at a park that had a train and carousel so I could do a Thomas the Train theme, we went to Sesame Place, NC and to MD's Eastern Shore several times to visit family. It was nice to not have to think about grading papers, lesson plans and grad. school but now it's back on the wheel! I am very thankful that my parents help ease me back into the school year by coming and staying with us my first week back to work so the little guy can still stay at home,I can stay at school late and we can have home cooked dinners nightly!! The hubby even gets breakfast in the morning before going to work. Boy I wish my parents could move in!!! I guess I am a bit spoiled and I am so sad when they leave!

Summer Break is almost here!!!

Now that the school year is coming to an end, I reflect on how crazy it was to go to grad. school, work and try to be a great mom. I think my classroom suffered this year because part of me felt I had to be Mom of the Year to my son and the another part felt I had to be the Straight A Graduate Student. Well, I didn't achieve that balance too well. I guess on the outside it looked like I did, but the reality of the situation was that I always felt like I was running...like the little hamster on the wheel. Grading papers, lesson plans, papers due, reading assignments, taking time to play with little one, etc... I am really ready to get off, thank goodness summer break is around the corner!!!!

The Ladies Man

On Friday night the elementary school where I teach hosted its first dance- The Spring Fling. We had a great turnout and I took the little guy as my date. Needless to say he spent most of the evening hanging on my leg or in my arms. I think the kids running around on the dance floor was a bit much for him to handle. Although he was acting a little shy he did spend a little time with the daughters of two of my co-workers. He was quite a little gentleman!!!

The Snowy Day

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Today all schools were closed at 12:00 pm for the weather. So I was able to spend time with the little guy on his first snow day. At first he was a bit hesitant about walking in the snow. I think he had difficulties walking since he was bundled up in his snowsuit. But once he started running around, he had a blast! He had a fit when it was time to come in.

A Day I Will Never Forget

While the little guy watched the inauguration at home on the television, I braved the cold to witness history when Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. It was freezing!!!! But the excitement of the crowds made it bearable.

A Future President??

Everytime our little guy sees President-Elect Obama on tv,newspapers, magazines, etc. he has to point him out to us. He refers to him as OMama. Recently, however, when he sees him he says OMama and then he says his name. Hmmm, do we have a future president in the making? (Is it time to amend the constitution to allow foreign born citizens the right to run for president?)

Santa's Busiest Elf

As you can see, Santa's busiest elf was the highlight of our holiday season this year. We are trying not to be over indulgent parents so on Christmas morning Santa left an Elmo chair for him and Elmo Live. As we walked down the steps the first thing he saw was his chair so he exclaimed, "Elmo, Elmo!" Everyone had already told us he would probably find more enjoyment from the packaging, so I probably could have wrapped up empty boxes :-).

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I actually think we enjoyed his reaction to Elmo Live more than he actually enjoyed the toy.(But isn't that what parenthood is all about?)

A Perfect Gift

This weekend I received the perfect gift to mark our referral anniversary. A friend of my mother's is a quilter and when we first heard about the little guy she said she wanted to make a quilt for him. Once we decided on a pattern for the room she started working on his quilt. She usually works on several quilts at one time and as she quilts she keeps a journal about the process. The words in her journal brought tears to my eyes. It was filled with her thoughts about his future and on being parents. She explained the meaning of the symbols on the quilt and she placed a pocket in the back to hold the journal. The quilt squares she used were from the pattern used on a quilt presented to Nelson Mandela.

It looks absolutely wonderful in the room. It was truly the perfect referral anniversary gift!

Time Flies

We got our referral call on the day before Thanksgiving last year. It is hard to believe that a year has passed. We spent this Thanksgiving with my parents. Last year we passed around his referral picture and this year our little blessing was being passed around.