Let the Organizing Begin...

So, cognitive coaching buddies...my garage organization is well under way. I'm turning out 3-ring binders by the dozens...ok, maybe at least 12. Anyway, I just wanted to share with you the sense of accomplishment I have. I am so excited that I am going to start next school year with so much already planned and ORGANIZED. Have I mentioned how much this organizing is exciting me?? I've been spending my mornings wearing Gavin and Aubree out and working like crazy during (long) nap times to 3-hole punch every piece of paper I have! It's going great...just a couple more days and I'll be dangerously armed with an arsenal of (organized) balanced literacy resources...look out Missouri!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
p.s. I tried to attach my word file with all the labels of the binders, but it wouldn't let me! Barb, HELP!

The Catalonia Royal Tulum on the Riveria Maya is a georgous place to visit. Walk to the beach anytime of day and this is what you see (not necessarily with the sailboat in the background, but what a photo opportunity that was).

Doggies

My doggies were feeling left out! The daschund is Bella Serra, named after a wine by the same name. She is my daughter's dog and lives in Chicago, so when she's at my house, she thinks laying by the fire is like being at the beach. Libby is my black lab and the love of my life. She is a rescued dog, by actually she saved me after Stephanie moved to Chicago. Dogs are funny like that. Traveling mercies to all of you out of towners and let me know if you need Pet Meds. Anita

Memorial Day

A lot of you have been asking about my book, so I am sending the link. If I can get some in by Literacy Camp, I will have them there for sale as well.

ALSO, since so many of us are pet lovers, I want you to know that my sister works for a vet and is happy to get Frontline/Heartguard at her cost for anyone that I ask her to. So just email me at laelsas.1@sbcglobal.net if I can help you with that. It is a huge savings.

Judy

Hi, I am Judy. I have just recently been adopted by the nicest family. I have a sister named Sandy and 2 "cat" cousins, Mr. Snow and Ms. Jinx. I'm not sure Sandy really likes me though. She will let me sleep with her but don't get close to her food!! I have been in several homes so I hope I get to stay here. When a stranger comes in-- I run and hide. I don't trust anyone except my new mom and dad. I may just need a few more months of adjustment before I begin to feel comfortable with knowing that this is my home and when someone strange walks in the house, they are not going to take me away.

For I Ne'er Saw True Beauty Till This Night: Finding True Beauty

So...you might be thinking...What's with all the dog pictures and Barb? and I have to admit that I just love an excuse to share personal pictures...and Blogger makes it so easy. When you click the button "new post," you will see a row of icons in the tan area above the box where you can type your text. When you hit the icon that looks like a picture (second from the end on the right), you will get another screen that offers a button to "browse," and that's where I can go to the pictures that I've uploaded to my computer... or you can also just "google" an image and paste the location in the URL box. I have a very cooperative dog -and grandbaby- who provide me just the illustrations I want (sometimes) for a point I want to visually make. So...in the picture above, Katie was a perfect model for a subject on beauty.

The topic of beauty comes up so many times in our culture, and I don't know about you, but it also comes up when discussing what happens to our students in school when they hit that "dress code distraction" age and their idea of beauty becomes a whole new issue. (When is that...about second grade now?) Sometimes the discussion comes up in my schools when we talk about classroom atmosphere. Last time I was in Waynesville, we talked about some of the clothes kids wore (or didn't wear). This led to a focus on body image and issues like that.

I forwarded them the web site on Dove's campaign for true beauty and self-esteem. It sure has a lot of relevance, and my own students really connected with it. (In fact, one boy's aunt saw this on our blog and used it in her Sunday school class! Several moms commented that they appreciated this lesson.) I actually introduced it when we were studying the gods and goddesses and discussing beauty. It just seemed to be popping up in our all shared literature... To Kill A Mockingbird (as Scout ages, they expect her to dress like "a lady")...Romeo and Juliet( the title to this post comes from Act I scene v. when Romeo first sees Juliet, and up to this point in the play all he can talk about is another girl's beauty...poor, shallow Romeo).

Anyway, I was wondering whether you had seen this site and the films on the site. It reminded me of the book Reviving Ophelia, a must read for anyone interested in adolescent girls...oh, heck...maybe anybody.

So...I just wanted to share this with you, fellow trainers. So many of us are mothers of daughters...or aunts...or some, like me, a grandmother!

Have a great weekend!

Moving into this Century!

I don't have a clue what I am doing or if it will even work, but here goes nothing! I tell my teachers to jump in and try things, so I guess I should do it as well. Thanks to Barb for her patience and trying to teach an old dog new tricks. In some ways, I think my dog might learn it faster. Isn't it funny how dogs really do have an edge on most things in life. I think we could all learn many lessons if we would just listen and live like the dogs. (It would just be great to have

my food bowl full when I walked up to it !! : )

I'm not going to go on forever because I am curious to see if this even posts, but word for today...

Live like the dogs!! : )

Hello Everyone!

I just had to try this blogging again today before I forget how to do it. Also...I am looking for the just right family to adopt this sweet lab-mix female dog that the Haseltine's rescued from peril. Her name is Chloe, and she would make someone a wonderful companion. Our home is overflowing with pets right now or we would keep her. So...any takers out there. Let me know, and I'll even include a bag of dogfood.

Crap

I had a message typed, tried to import some Mexico pictures then somehow deleted my message. Of course the pictures never made it, hence, the deleted original message. It is absolutely too late (11;30) to learn anything new so it is bye-bye for now. I may need a private lesson on how to upload pictures into the blog. I don't even have a camera phone or know how to text, let alone upload pictures to send in a blog!! I did, however, phone in my American Idol vote for the first time. It has to be the 17 year old cutie pie!!

Hopefully I can eventually figure out all the ins and outs of this this website.

Doodoo
AKA Jennifer

You Are The Bomb!

You can tell by the title of this post that I have probably been watching too much American Idol! (Side note: I still can't believe that Michael and Carly have been voted off! Who will go next? I'll be watching tonight...that's for sure.)

So...kudos to our new bloggers, Dr. B and Shonna...and as Randy Jackson would say (judge on American Idol for you nonviewers), "You are the bomb!" The more of us sharing, the richer our site. I can't wait to see the possibilities unfold...

Barb
a.k.a. Katiedog

Trying this out...

Hi Everyone!
The focus for the coming year sounds great and perfectly applicable to a school like Highlandville. They have smart boards in every room. I've used them several times during modeled lessons, but pretty much have to ask the teacher to totally get it ready for me. :)
I love the blog idea...that would be a great thing for us to have going with each school.
Barb, how do you find time to keep up with it??
Willing and WANTING to learn,
Shonna :)

Embedding Technology in MRI Training

MRI has come so far in the nine years it has been in existence. I am proud of the work so many trainers have done during the program's history. However...it is time that "this old dog" starts learning some new tricks, namely in TECHNOLOGY. Many of our schools are using so many technological tools that we need to utilize in our training. Sooo...this year we will be doing some professional development work related to the use of different elements of technology, and how it can enhance what we do. It is time we start to rethink how we can better connect to our teachers and the students that we serve. I know we have all been invited to this blog spot. This is the time I would like to see everyone facing the excitement of "new learning." Let me know who is out there and who is using this great tool. I would love to hear from each trainer what you think of our focus for this year. Leave me a comment.