Kassidy May Evie Livingston???

Yes, Kassidy May Evie Livingston. That is what I "thought" one of my students name was on the first day of school this year, however I soon realized that she is in speech and has many difficulties learning. She is without a shadow of a doubt my comedic relief this year. I absolutely LOVE to see her come to class everyday because she makes me, her classmates, and even herself laugh all the time. So I am going to allow you just a moment to enjoy some of the comments that she has blessed me with this year. First, to protect her I am changing the name in this post. I am still not sure how she thinks she is Kassidy May Evie Livingston, when she's just plan old Kandice Jones. I do call her "Kandice May" and she loves it! Then, a couple months into the year another 4th grade teacher at our school sent Miss Kandice May to my room to borrow some tape. When I gave it to her she said "Mrs. Gillespie says thank you really much!" kicked her little foot up in the air, turned, and headed back with tape in hand to Mrs. Gillespie's class. I guess she thought that was a completely normal interaction, but as soon as I realized what had just happened the students in my class said "Miss Ford did Kandice mean to say...thanks very much?" I told them that she probably did. They said oh well, that's just Kandice, and it was pretty funny. I said I think your exactly right. Now, there's a lot of times that we'll say "thank you really much, and just grin!" Today Kandice came up to me and said "Mrs. Gill-st-...Gill-is-...Gill-s-..Oh just forget it that word gets tricky and your not her anyway!" She turned and walked away. I said "Kandice May, dear one, please come back. What do you need?" She said after all that, "I forgot." Well, we had a little lesson on how to say Gillespie and she agreed to try it for Mrs. Gillespie later on in the day. I asked again, "Did you remember what you needed earlier?" She said, "If it was to go to the bathroom I'd know it, so I guess it aint that important!" I said well I guess your right about that, but if you think of it you let me know. Last one for this post. After lunch we all go to the bathroom and she told Mrs. Gillespie "Mo mo's running!" Kara asked her to slow down, repeat, try another word, and so on, but Kara just could not understand her. She sent Kandice to me to get help. She knocks on the classroom door, which is open, then says "mo mo's running! Help...Quick!" I stop teaching go over to her at the door and say "what honey?" She repeats "Help mo mo's running!" I looked back at my class, and we all said in unison. "The commode is running?" She said "YES!" I told Mrs. Gillespie that I had buzzed the office and Ms. Dot was on the way. I know that maybe this seems like a lot about nothing, but when you work with kids all day everyday, you really look for some positive. Kandice came to me reading on a kindergarten level and now is on 2nd grade level. She is almost on grade level in math and as you can tell we are working hard on her speech! The one thing that we do not have to worry about is Kandice's heart! She is the most precious, hard working, sweet spirited little lady. I am so glad that she is in my class and has touched my heart this year. To Miss Kandice I say "Thank you really much!"

So Close Yet So Far Away

I have to admit that I am writing this post with many mixed emotions. Many of you know that I was so excited to be named "Wellford's Distinguished Reading Teacher" this year. I work really hard in my classroom, especially the way I teach reading. I work many long afternoons and some weekends trying to decide what each child in my classroom needs for the up coming week. I try to use what the children do in class each day as the springboard for what I introduce to them next. I try to remediate the students that need it without the fear of rejection or being made fun of by others while at the same time challenging those that are ready for more advanced books and comprehension skills. This is one of the hardest things about being a teacher, but one of the things that I love about this career. But before I start chasing rabbits, like I normally do, I think that so much of the way I feel about school is due to the way I preformed in school. I was not the Principal's Honor Roll kid for many many years. I went all through elementary school making mostly B's and C's with an expensive tutor for two hours a week and sometimes more! I was not the "natural" smart kid. There are some in the family, but I was not one. I was one that had to work really hard for the B's and C's I got. Mom, Dad, Kerrie, and I would do the craziest things when I spelled a word correctly, or actually read a page in a book all by myself. We used to dance to our favorite songs, or belt out a New Kid's on the Block jam! I can remember mom making tapes of the multiplication facts I had to memorize in third grade, and for half a year Kerrie and I went to bed hearing 4x2=8, 4x3=12, 4x4=16. I think you get the drill. The point of all of this is that I was so honored when it was announced that my fellow teachers thought I was the best reading teacher at Wellford School. I felt like I had really come a long way from that shy, quiet, (believe it or not) kid that sat in the back and couldn't read to the person and teacher that I am now. It was a great day, and totally unexpected! I immediately got on the phone to call Mom, Dad, Mema & Papa, and I even dialed Nanny and Pop in the excitement of it all! Then, I called William to let him in on the news, and just as I had planned a dinner date was in order! I love that guy:) The next few days brought cards, flowers, and notes from many of my friends and fellow teachers encouraging and congratulating me. Then, the work load of winning an award hit. I had a 500 word essay due, an interview, a lesson to video, and a few ofter things to complete before the district interview in just a few weeks. Then the winner for District 5 would go on the the county on October 7th! I worked on the essay and to be honest I could a have written a book easier than condensing that essay into 500 words. I thought how ironic it was the whole time I wrote the paper. I began to think of questions that the judges would ask, and how I could concisely yet completely answer them. I went into the interview on Tuesday at 2:30. I was the first one which in any competition is usually not good, but once again it was the luck of the draw! I wasn't worried about the people skills because lets face it that's a relative strength of mine. I went in and the ladies were from other districts and agencies and were fairly pleasant. I left the interview feeling ok about it. I knew it wasn't spectacular, but not a vague waste of time either. I knew that I was up against other teachers that were held in high esteem by their fellow teachers at their respective schools. I knew it was a challenge, and like in anything else in life all I could do was my best. I did just that my best, and the following day the District winner was announced............It was not me! Oh well, I'd like to think that I have a lot of time to have a chance to get another award in the field. I also realize that their are lots of great teachers out there that are never recognized by there own schools after putting their whole life into this career. I will always remember this honor and be thankful to the family and friends that helped me so much along the way! Always, ~Ashley~ Here's a link to the essay if you're intrested in reading it.

Start Of School 2008 - 2009

Ashley has her classroom set up for the new year. She had to move classrooms again this makes twice in as many years. She has moved back to the room she moved from last year when she changed from third grade to second grade. We have unpacked about 38 boxes of stuff ,that she says she really really needs. Things from pencils, pens, paper, markers, posters and books and more books, she has so many books. The school district has opened new schools this year and moved the 4th graders back to the elementary schools. She is so excited to be meeting the new students and learning their names and what makes them tick, she talks about how sweet and precious they all are, she has 15 little ones this year in her class. This is her bulletin board, she added the students names to the board on gold stars as they arrived on meet the teacher day. As you can tell she even adds her sense of fashion to the bulletin board. You may not be able to tell from the picture but she added jewelery, lipstick and her face to the lady in black, I really thought she would have had a red dress, because we all know what she says about being dressed in red, ha ha.

Ashley Graduates!!!!

Our day started early, we had to be at Southern Wesleyan at 10:00 A.M. for Ashley's Graduation. As we were waiting for the commencement exercises to begin, I was remembering her first day of school, walking her in to her class and thinking what will you be when you grow up. Never thinking she would still be in school 22 years later. She says she will start classes again in the spring, she going to be like her Aunt Cathy always in school.

Back to the Grindstone

Yes, it was back to work for me today after a two week hiatus. I always forget how hard it is to get back into a routine after some time off. I am one of those people that can really get wrapped up into my career, or whatever the project at hand is very easily. So, I made myself leave school at the school over the Christmas break. I wanted to enjoy my family, friends, do some much needed cleaning and organizing, and shop (of course) in true single 26 year old fashion! I did all of that and it was wonderful. Here is a photo of the Thursday night gathering gals. We usually all pitch in and bring something over to eat and then watch Grey's Anatomy. It is so good to have a weekly gathering to hear what's going on in other women's lives, and constantly be reminded that everyone has their own triumphs and struggles. On Monday I started feeling a little under the weather, but thought that I could kick it before it got me down. Not the case. It is now Thursday and I'm back at work and on an antibiotic for yet another sinus infection. The second one in less than three months (Yuck). I am praying for better health in 2007. It seems that my Dad and myself have been more sickly than normal since the house fire. Mom and Kerrie are the ones that don't seem to get sick as bad or either they just keep on going and no one ever knows they don't feel well.

I have gotten completely off track and did not even post what I had intended to. That's OK that just allows for another posting opportunity for the end of the week. I hope all is well with everyone. Happy New Year,

Ashley