The World According to Leslie

A year ago this past Friday, I was informed that my Grandmother only had about a week to live. A year ago this past Saturday, I came home from my student teaching in tears and decided to take an Incomplete. A year ago yesterday, we took Grandmother off of all her feeding tubes and machines that were keeping her alive. We only left the oxygen. That means that a year ago this coming Saturday, my Grandmother went home to see her dad, her mom, and her Heavenly Father! A year ago, I was not sure I wanted to be a teacher any more. Today...I'm pretty sure I'm crazy for wanting to be a teacher, but I know I can do it. A year ago, I had no idea how strong I could really be. Today...I'm still not strong every day, but I know I can be when I need to! I know that God only puts on us what we can stand. So I know that I can do whatever I have to do!

So I haven't been here in a LONG TIME! I have been busting my backside getting finished with my Student Teaching. Want to know how that went? Well.... I got an A!! My 4.0 is still in-tact! Today I'm spending the day uploading all the surveys and paperwork that have to be online. In just a little bit, I'm headed to see my Cooperating Teacher. I forgot to have her sign some things. But.... I'm glad I get to see her today! Later I'm going to pick up my angel girl from school! Even later (5pm), I'm going to UNCC to OFFICIALLY become a teacher! I am going to my final meeting with all the people and we are going to sign my final paperwork. Then *I* am going to sign the CHECK! And....as long as the State of NC Department of Instruction doesn't have any issues with my paperwork or me, I will have an OFFICIAL piece of paper in 6-8 weeks that says I'm a teacher! Tomorrow afternoon, I'm going on my first official "trying to get a job as a real teache...

So.... it's been a while since I've been here. I've been checking out what people are writing, but I haven't taken the time to write for myself. So.... we are still working on getting all the stuff unpacked from the unmove. We are recovering well. Chasity has adjusted well to school....at her "old" school. She's loving it! We even went to the PTO meeting tonight! It's only the 2nd time I've seen her teacher! :) So.... things are going well at school. I have to start planning my big project, but it will be great! :) I pick up my final class tomorrow! Then the "20 Day Countdown" begins! I only have to teach all three classes together for 20 consecutive days! Those start TOMORROW! This is weird because last semester, I only had all three classes for 2 days before I decided to withdraw and try again! So.... Girl Scouts are starting up again! I have a new co-leader! She volunteered herself! I didn't have to ASK her to help! ...

On Tuesday, we moved Chasity's bedroom stuff into the new house. She has a few toys still here and her closet clothes. If the rain will stop, we will probably take that to the new house tonight! If it keeps raining, well, I guess everything else will go tomorrow! :) We also took my China cabinet and my china. You know the kind! The China we do NOT use! lol All the dishes we normally use were there already anyways! :) We've been paper plating and plastic utensilling since last week! :) Everything made it in one piece! So I got that set up in the dining room. The dining room table went also! :) So the dining room is basically set up! Chasity just has a few more things for her room! Tonight, we were supposed to move desks and such, but with the rain, I am thinking I'm not putting anything in an open trailer! We have flood warnings out until early afternoon! It's raining pretty steady today! (Wouldn't that be how it works!?) Anyways.... that's the mo...

Yesterday, August 18th, was Chasity's 7th birthday! It was the first time EVER that I was not with her for the entire day! :( I started my student teaching (with teacher workdays) yesterday! Chasity hung out with my mom for a little bit. Then she went to my sister's house! When Tony got home, we let Chasity pick where she wanted to eat. Anyone guess where we went? If you guessed McDonald's (with playland) you are RIGHT! We were there for a little while. Good thing we left when we did. A horrible storm came through right after we got home. The power even went out for a couple minutes! WOW! (Could you imagine PlayLand in the dark? lol) Anyways.... I think she had a great day! Until next time..... Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Today, I went to meet my cooperating teacher, CT. Her name is Ms. D! She showed me around the school. It's one of the older schools in the district.... not the oldest, but older! :) There are only going to be about 900 students there this year. The school is used to having about 1500. Last year and this year, the district re-districted some of the schools. Plus, last year, they opened a new high school here. So a lot of the kids went to that new high school. I found out that instead of having 3 different lesson plans--preps--this semester, I am only going to have ONE! I have the same subject for all 3 classes!!! I'm excited! I think that Ms. D and I are going to get along well. I'm excited about what's going to happen this semester! Until next time........

As you know, I am going to be doing my student teaching this fall. I am going to be at a local high school working with a teacher who has been teaching for a while! I think that will be good for me! :) Anyways, tonight, I am going to attend the mandatory Orientation! It's going to be the same thing I went through last semester, so this time I am not freaking out. :) I got an email last night from my University Supervisor (US) he/she (there were only initials for a first name, so I don't know if he/she is male or female...yet!) is going to meet with us after the Orientation tonight. That means I should get a copy of my class schedule for the semester! I can hope it's not EVERY week, but if it is.... I will be there! :) For the rest of today, I'm going to be running around getting stuff set up for the new house. I'm also going to be going to visit my Grandfather at the hospital (more on that later)! Until next time........

Yes! I'm saying it again! WE ARE MOVING! Not only that, Chasity is going to start in a new school. My mom, Chasity, and I went to Chasity's new school today to get the 2nd grade "Enrollment Package"!! One of the Assistant Principals gave us a tour of the school. The rooms there are MUCH bigger than the rooms at her old school! The AP that gave us the tour is also the one that does class placement for the students. She said that if Chasity's records from the previous school say everything that I told her today, she is going to "hand pick" Chasity's teacher for this year. That way Chasity will get the attention she needs for the fact that she is a 2nd grader on a 4th grade reading level! So.... What else have I done today? Oh yeah! We asked the landlord if we could paint Chasity's room pink. He said YES! So when we went to get the keys (he had some made, but they didn't work so he had to get new ones) tonight, he said that if we would pick ...

We talked to the landlord around 8:30pm. He told us to go ahead and bring the deposit to him. WE ARE OFFICIALLY MOVING! God is good! Now.... we have to get moved, get Chasity enrolled in her new school, get her bus set up to get her to/from school, and get me ready for my student teacher! God is good! Until next time........

So day before yesterday, I found a house listed on CraigsList. (I love some CraigsList!) It's the right price. It's in the right school district. Chasity could ride the bus to/from school from the day care! Yesterday, we went to look at it while Chasity was at VBS! Tonight, we called the guy (and left a message with his wife for him to call us back). We are going to tell him that we want the house. Then we are going to take the deposit to him! This could be the answer to prayers! Until next time........

I just tried to call my Cooperating Teacher for my Student Teaching in the Fall. We still are not 100% positive I'm going to be able to do it, but I should start making plans to show up....just in case we get our miracle we need! :) I have a list of questions to ask her. However....she wasn't there. So...I left a message with the person who answered. Hopefully I'll catch her the next time I call. Until next time........

I have talked a lot recently about Chasity's school. However, from some of the comments that I have received, I'm not sure if I have been very clear. Normally when I write, I am very upset/happy and my emotional words do not come across clearly. The reason for us wanting to transfer Chasity from her current school to another school has nothing to do with her current school itself. Yes, I've had my share of issues with things at her school these past two years, but in reality, I do like her school. The reason we need to transfer her is so that we have transportation for her. I am supposed to start my student teaching at a local high school in August. I'm supposed to go in on August 18th. The first few teacher workdays, she will stay at daycare with my mom. When school starts, she can't go in before 7:05am (unless we pay for before school care). I will probably have to be at school around 6:45am. My husband can not put Chasity in his company van anymore. The co...

Today is bitter sweet for me. Today would have been my last day as a student teacher. Today would have been the day that I submitted for my NC Teaching License. Today would have been the day that I could have called all the people I talked to in February at the Education Job Fair to let them know I was ready for a job. Today would have been the day that I could say that I succeed. However..... Today is the day that I'm meeting with another Girl Scout leader to plan a camping trip for June. Today is the day I'm looking for deals online for our summer vacation. Today is the day I get to do a couple more loads of laundry. Today is the day I get to think about the reason that I didn't complete my student teaching this semester. Today is the day I get to miss my Grandmother again. Today, I get to work on forgiving myself for being so mad (at me) for not finishing school this semester. Most of all.... Today is the day that God reminded me that He has everything under control if ...

Over the weekend, I had to make a decision. It was a decision I never wanted to make, but I made it. I decided that I needed to postpone the rest of my student teaching until August. I should have a new placement. I will have a new Cooperating Teaching. I will probably have a new University Supervisor. I made this decision because I think I need to spend time with my family right now. With my Grandmother in Comfort Care, we really don't know how much longer we are going to have her with us. We are okay with the fact that she's going.... she's ready.... we know she'll be better off.... she'll be reunited with family/friends that have gone before.... she'll be well again! Even knowing all that, it's not going to be any easier when she really goes. Knowing that we are going to lose Grandmother soon, I knew that I would be missing some time at school. I have to have 20 consecutive days of teaching full-time. Considering I had just taken over the 3rd cla...

Today, it is mandatory for all UNCC student teachers to attend the Education Job Fair on campus. We have known about this day for awhile. However, just a couple days ago, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced they are cutting almost 900 jobs and might have to close some schools because of budget issues for next year! I'm really in need of a full-time paid teaching job for next year! Pray that God will open doors for the job I need. Until next time........

Tonight at my assigned school, we have Open House. So, when the kids get out at 3:30pm today, I get to make a mad dash for Chasity. Then I get to come home and freshen up (comb the hair, brush the teeth, etc) and head back to school. I do hope to meet some of the parents tonight. Unfortunately, unless they did a "ConnectEd" (phone tree type system) message, most of the parents I'd like to meet probably don't know about the Open House. You know, there are parents who are "on top" of everything. The kid shows up for EVERYTHING at school. Then there are the parents that either don't care or just can't do it all. Those are the ones I want to meet; I'd venture a guess that those are not the ones who will attend tonight. I think the Open House is a great idea. The students generally get new teachers each semester. So, Open House is a time for parents and students and teachers to all be in the same room. I really like it! (I might have a diff...

So...a couple of days ago, I posted about my Sticky Situtation . Well, my mom went on Thursday of this week (2 days ago) to see Chasity get her Perfect Attendance Award for 2nd quarter. (She hasn't missed a day since she started Kindergarten last year!!) And, my mom ate lunch with her. So, in that time, Mom had time to talk to Chasity's teacher. Her teacher said that Chasity is "talkative" and will be getting marks below the line for talking. Well, that's ok with me! I'd rather have a "talkative" child than one who sits there and asks afraid of anyone who speaks to her. Plus, I can't say much about it. She definitely got the "talkative" gene from her momma! :) I talk all the time.... non-stop.... and... I used to get in trouble for it too. (My dad reminds me of that every time I get frustrated with Chasity!) Right now, I think we're in a place where I can be ok with her getting in trouble...as long as she keeps her hands ...

So today, I officially taught my first class. It went really well. Unfortunately, I did what I was told! Wait! Did I say unfortunately? YES! I listened to my University Supervisor (US) and my Cooperating Teacher (CT)! I'm a good student! So what did they tell me? They said plan more than you'll have time for.... so.... I did! I had WAY more in the plan for today than what we actually accomplished. However, Monday is not that far away. I can pick up with the end of today's lesson and carry on from there. Overall impressions? I handled myself really well! :) I think I might be able to do this "teaching thing" after all! Until next time........

So in January (the 9th to be exact) I took the Praxis II for English Language Literature and Composition. No, unfortunately, the name is NOT longer than the actual test! lol Anyways, I got back part of my results today. However, I am still waiting on the written test results to come back. I can hope that I get enough points in this second part so that I don't have to retake it! I HATE taking tests! On a different note, I'm giving my students a quiz tomorrow. This one, is made up by my Cooperating Teacher (CT). However, I have one made up to give in a couple of weeks. It's nothing hard....5 questions....10 blanks...10 points. I have to keep all the grades too. OMG! I have to figure out a way to do that. I might need to check out the "Teacher Store" (I don't know the name) at the mall this weekend. I might need to get a different kind of book for keeping my grades. Anyways... I'm having fun. I teach my first FULL LENGTH class tomorrow. If I li...

So, I'm sure you've noticed that I haven't been around for awhile. Ok...maybe you haven't noticed. :) Ever since my student teaching began on January 11th, I have not had time to think or do much that was not connected to it. However, today is Sunday, and church has been cancelled due to the snow/ice that are still on the ground from Friday night's storm. Actually, it snowed/iced most of the day yesterday too. So, we have several inches on the ground this time! It's exciting. Considering that I do not (in the foreseeable future--you know--today) see the NCDOT or the Concord DOT getting all the roads clear, I think we will probably have a snow day tomorrow from school. If the roads are just a LITTLE better on Tuesday, we will probably have a delay. However, if the weather stays in the 10s and 20s as predicted, we very well may have a snow day on Tuesday too. :) I am supposed to pick up my first class tomorrow (Monday) to start teaching. I have only been observing...