It all began the same way as any other day. I entered my daily work day as before, rushing to prepare materials that I would need for the day. I worked diligently until my colleague entered and informed me that I was going to be observed at 10:30. Wonderful, I did not know that.
5th grade reading went like clock work, we finished everything for the lesson before class change. 4th grade entered as well as my boss. My colleague went first, Spelling, it was supposed to take 15 minutes and turned into 30. Oh! Well it was time well spent. I jumped into the lesson, set up groups while my colleague checked fluency. At 11:15 my colleague left to go to another classroom. I continue with the lesson until 11:45 and my boss leaves the room. I finish all but the grammar and writing portion of the lesson. The extra 15 minutes of spelling would not have helped much in finishing.
I prepare my students for lunch and find my evaluation laying on my desk. Good Reviews! The day continues after lunch, nutrition class for 4th until 2:00. At 2:30, school spelling bee for 4th and 5th graders. I finally see my students again at 3:30. I prepare them for home, get them on the bus, and then the fun begins.
I was coerced into staying after school to help run concessions at the Anawalt Idol. This program is like American Idol, students practice a talent and perform it in front of an audience of parents and community members. It was a fundraising activity for school trips and parties. I did not expect many people in attendance. Boy! I was wrong.
I was amazed, we probably had close to 100 people. The price for admission was 2 dollars for adults and 1 dollar for children. We made over 200 dollars. Concessions did equally as well. We fixed 80 hotdogs and when I left we only had about 16 left. I left as the last song was being played. We may have sold those, but if not we still made 64 dollars just on hotdogs. We also had nacho's, chips, candy, and drinks. I would guess we made around 150 dollars. I would call that a success in our small school and community.
I finally arrived home at 8:02, my mother was sitting in the drive way with the baby. I ran a load of things inside (Mom, brought me a lasagna for supper! Bless her heart!) and transfered the baby to my car. I traveled the 20 minutes to my grandmothers to pick up my youngest son. He walked to her house after wrestling practice to wait for me. I spent about 45 minutes talking to my grandparents before leaving for Foodlion. My oldest son clocked out of work at 9:30, I grabbed salad fix-ins to go with the lasagna and headed home.
Finally at about 10:00, I am home. I quickly reheat the lasagna, cut up the salad mixture and eat supper. At 11:00, my daughter and I move to the bedroom. After a quick book and lots of laughter and hugs and kisses I turn out the light. Thank Heavens above I don't have to work again till Monday.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Fun Friday
I awoke this morning, glad that today was Friday. I only had to work 4 days this week, but it seems like it has been 7 days. Sabrina woke up at 7:00 and I left her watching Franklin, drinking Chocolate Milk and eating dry Honey Nut Cheerios. I woke my husband and told him to listen for her. She did not cry, she just kissed me and said, "Bye Mommy!"
I knew today was going to be tough. Our resource teacher (gym) was going to take a half a day, so my planning period would be from 8:30 - 9:00. This was going to push my reading classes to 75 minutes long. The new reading series is tough to get in in 90. I did what I could, with what I had.
Today was also what we call Fun Friday. We participate in a behavioral program called "Respect and Protect". Students are give bifs (behavioral identification forms) when they break a rule. If a student has not received a bif in a 2 week period they are rewarded with Fun Friday. The R&P committee, plan fun things to do on these days. Today we had a concert.
Several teachers dressed up like rock stars and pretended to play instruments and sing to CD's. The students ran around the gym, dancing and laughing. I think they had a good time, but I am wore out. I am on the committee, but I was not a rock star today. I guess you could say I was the security/bouncer. I walked/danced around making sure students were not running full force or doing things that could get them or someone else hurt.
I also tried to encourage a few students to dance. I was about 75% successful, mostly with the older kids. They are at the age now that they are self conscious about doing things like this in front of others. I was actually surprised that a few boys began to approach me to dance with them. A couple of my students looked at me like I was crazy. I guess I might be sometimes.
All in all today was a fun friday, for the students and myself. I hope that the two days I have to work next week, will be as eventful as today just not as tiring.
I knew today was going to be tough. Our resource teacher (gym) was going to take a half a day, so my planning period would be from 8:30 - 9:00. This was going to push my reading classes to 75 minutes long. The new reading series is tough to get in in 90. I did what I could, with what I had.
Today was also what we call Fun Friday. We participate in a behavioral program called "Respect and Protect". Students are give bifs (behavioral identification forms) when they break a rule. If a student has not received a bif in a 2 week period they are rewarded with Fun Friday. The R&P committee, plan fun things to do on these days. Today we had a concert.
Several teachers dressed up like rock stars and pretended to play instruments and sing to CD's. The students ran around the gym, dancing and laughing. I think they had a good time, but I am wore out. I am on the committee, but I was not a rock star today. I guess you could say I was the security/bouncer. I walked/danced around making sure students were not running full force or doing things that could get them or someone else hurt.
I also tried to encourage a few students to dance. I was about 75% successful, mostly with the older kids. They are at the age now that they are self conscious about doing things like this in front of others. I was actually surprised that a few boys began to approach me to dance with them. A couple of my students looked at me like I was crazy. I guess I might be sometimes.
All in all today was a fun friday, for the students and myself. I hope that the two days I have to work next week, will be as eventful as today just not as tiring.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
What are we teaching!!!
I attended a book study this evening, arriving home at 6:45. After our book study, my boss had to speak with the group about a student in the school and not requiring homework for him and a few others. I found this hard to take.
I do not assign anything that the students don't already know how to do without help. Often I go over the assignment, giving answers to some and giving hints to others, before I give it to the students. I understand that sometimes students forget it at home or have things that happen to keep them from doing it one day. I do not begin to fuss or keep them in detention until it begins to become a daily problem.
I see homework as a way of reenforcing things that are taught in class. A way for students to remember what they learned during the day and a way for parents to help their children if they choose to do so. I grade homework for one reason, because often the grades received on homework are the only things that save many kids from receiving bad grades on progress reports.
Several of my students can do well with homework, but bomb on tests. This is not caused by them not knowing how to do it, it's because of what I call test blocking. They know the answers until the test is in front of them and then they go blank. I have had it happen myself. Many of my students will not do homework if they are not made to do so, but most do well on them.
I realize that most students today are not raised the way in which I was raised. I know that many students have very rough and tough lives when they leave my classroom, I empathise with these kinds of problems, but not requiring them to work toward their education is not going to help their situation.
When they leave elementary school, beginning middle/high school and eventually real life, people are not going to care what their homelife is like. They are going to expect them to keep up with everyone else. I do not really care for homework or paperwork either, but I can say I have problems that require me to be excused from it. I do not think I would have a job for very long. Do You?
Not requiring/expecting the same things from students that are having troubles at home, is only enabling these students to be a victim for the rest of their lives. I want to give them a way out of their situation by showing that I will not allow them to be one in my classroom. I want them to succeed and excel, and if you don't practice what you have learned you will loose it. It is not like riding a bike.
What are we teaching our kids? Do we really want a student to be judged on what they should do or accomplish by their what their parents/family do or accomplish? I don't. I will ask no child to do what I feel that they can't handle and I will not enable my students to slide through the system unchallenged.
I do not assign anything that the students don't already know how to do without help. Often I go over the assignment, giving answers to some and giving hints to others, before I give it to the students. I understand that sometimes students forget it at home or have things that happen to keep them from doing it one day. I do not begin to fuss or keep them in detention until it begins to become a daily problem.
I see homework as a way of reenforcing things that are taught in class. A way for students to remember what they learned during the day and a way for parents to help their children if they choose to do so. I grade homework for one reason, because often the grades received on homework are the only things that save many kids from receiving bad grades on progress reports.
Several of my students can do well with homework, but bomb on tests. This is not caused by them not knowing how to do it, it's because of what I call test blocking. They know the answers until the test is in front of them and then they go blank. I have had it happen myself. Many of my students will not do homework if they are not made to do so, but most do well on them.
I realize that most students today are not raised the way in which I was raised. I know that many students have very rough and tough lives when they leave my classroom, I empathise with these kinds of problems, but not requiring them to work toward their education is not going to help their situation.
When they leave elementary school, beginning middle/high school and eventually real life, people are not going to care what their homelife is like. They are going to expect them to keep up with everyone else. I do not really care for homework or paperwork either, but I can say I have problems that require me to be excused from it. I do not think I would have a job for very long. Do You?
Not requiring/expecting the same things from students that are having troubles at home, is only enabling these students to be a victim for the rest of their lives. I want to give them a way out of their situation by showing that I will not allow them to be one in my classroom. I want them to succeed and excel, and if you don't practice what you have learned you will loose it. It is not like riding a bike.
What are we teaching our kids? Do we really want a student to be judged on what they should do or accomplish by their what their parents/family do or accomplish? I don't. I will ask no child to do what I feel that they can't handle and I will not enable my students to slide through the system unchallenged.
Monday, November 12, 2007
KIDS
I love kids! I must I spend every waking hour with them. I have three of my own and 24 at work. I have yet to meet two children that are the same, though.
My oldest son, Shane, is now 17. He is working as many hours as Foodlion will allow him and going to school. He is a junior in high school. He has a girlfriend, Nikki. I rarely get to see him much these days. The days he works he does not see Nikki. The days he doesn't, he makes up for lost time. He is trying to grow up, but still needs me for important things, such as driving him to work and back, fixing him something to eat and occasionally I am his counselor. Prediction: He will get married young, finish high school barely and work a menial job that he will dread doing.
My youngest son, Joey, is almost 16. He is a freshman in high school and has just begun training for the wrestling team. He is very strong headed and independent. He needs me less than his brother. He is more mature, girl crazy, and unpredictable. He has never had a girlfriend for more than 6 months at a time. He changes girls more often than I would prefer. He tells me nothing about his life. Prediction: He will not marry young, he will finish high school although he will struggle, and he will attend a trade school, assuring himself a job that he will enjoy doing.
My daughter, Sabrina, is 3. She is a ball of energy. I written about her previously in another blog. She is the light of my life and I am so glad that God has blessed me with the privilege. I know that she will be my problem child when she becomes a teenager. Prediction: She will be a hard to handle, finish high school without even trying, and attend college (possible graduate school) to determine her calling.
Neither of my boys are the type that do well in school. School is not the most important things happening in their lives. Shane is capable of doing more, with a little effort. Joey on the other hand has learning disabilities that prevent him from doing more.
I noticed there was something wrong when he was in first grade. He was having major problems with reading. Many words in the English language, we are expected to just recognize. Words such as a, the, it, she, he, we, etc... Joey could not do this in first grade. I fought with teachers, principals, and Special Ed. teachers for 3 years to have him tested.
I finally had him tested during his second year of third grade. Now he was not only having difficulties in reading, but in math, social studies, and science as well. Surprise! Surprise! If you can not read, you are not going to do well in any subject. When he was tested, his reading level was that of a first grader. He has worked really hard the past six years to make up this deficit.
He is doing much better in reading, math, social studies, and science with the help of modifications. He has modifications such as extended time on assignments, the use of a calculator in math, word banks on tests and alternative assignments. He still covers the same materials as the rest of his class and is responsible for learning the same content. I just wonder how much better he would be doing, If I could have gotten the system on his side sooner.
My students at school are in many ways the same as my own kids. I have 3 students that I would consider Gifted. They are advanced in most of the assignments that they are given. I have 4 that have been tested and are considered Special Ed. The other 17 are supposed to be average learners.
My oldest son, Shane, is now 17. He is working as many hours as Foodlion will allow him and going to school. He is a junior in high school. He has a girlfriend, Nikki. I rarely get to see him much these days. The days he works he does not see Nikki. The days he doesn't, he makes up for lost time. He is trying to grow up, but still needs me for important things, such as driving him to work and back, fixing him something to eat and occasionally I am his counselor. Prediction: He will get married young, finish high school barely and work a menial job that he will dread doing.
My youngest son, Joey, is almost 16. He is a freshman in high school and has just begun training for the wrestling team. He is very strong headed and independent. He needs me less than his brother. He is more mature, girl crazy, and unpredictable. He has never had a girlfriend for more than 6 months at a time. He changes girls more often than I would prefer. He tells me nothing about his life. Prediction: He will not marry young, he will finish high school although he will struggle, and he will attend a trade school, assuring himself a job that he will enjoy doing.
My daughter, Sabrina, is 3. She is a ball of energy. I written about her previously in another blog. She is the light of my life and I am so glad that God has blessed me with the privilege. I know that she will be my problem child when she becomes a teenager. Prediction: She will be a hard to handle, finish high school without even trying, and attend college (possible graduate school) to determine her calling.
Neither of my boys are the type that do well in school. School is not the most important things happening in their lives. Shane is capable of doing more, with a little effort. Joey on the other hand has learning disabilities that prevent him from doing more.
I noticed there was something wrong when he was in first grade. He was having major problems with reading. Many words in the English language, we are expected to just recognize. Words such as a, the, it, she, he, we, etc... Joey could not do this in first grade. I fought with teachers, principals, and Special Ed. teachers for 3 years to have him tested.
I finally had him tested during his second year of third grade. Now he was not only having difficulties in reading, but in math, social studies, and science as well. Surprise! Surprise! If you can not read, you are not going to do well in any subject. When he was tested, his reading level was that of a first grader. He has worked really hard the past six years to make up this deficit.
He is doing much better in reading, math, social studies, and science with the help of modifications. He has modifications such as extended time on assignments, the use of a calculator in math, word banks on tests and alternative assignments. He still covers the same materials as the rest of his class and is responsible for learning the same content. I just wonder how much better he would be doing, If I could have gotten the system on his side sooner.
My students at school are in many ways the same as my own kids. I have 3 students that I would consider Gifted. They are advanced in most of the assignments that they are given. I have 4 that have been tested and are considered Special Ed. The other 17 are supposed to be average learners.
The 17 are the ones that bother me the most. They fall in a full range of categories.
- Ones that try really hard and put forth everything they have; 8. These students will become my B/C students. They can and will succeed. They will graduate and attend a two or four year college.
- Those that are just like my sons, not really into school; 5. These students do not have the drive to do their work. They never hand in homework, unless made to. They only do the minimum to get a grade. They will probably become the teens and adults that will drop out of school and work menial jobs for the rest of their lives or get married and continue to pop out babies for welfare.
- Finally those that can't do, but have never been tested; 4. These 4 are the most problematic to me.Knowing what my son has been through, I feel that I should be pushing for a Special Ed determination. Two of the students mother's will not even talk about the possibility and the other two there is not enough documentation to warrant testing. I worry about these students and want to help them, but how? If I modify their assignments, it will most definitely help them achieve passing grades this year, but what happens next year. If I don't they will most likely fail this year and be retained, but I would have enough documentation to warrant testing. I am torn. I want to teach to the best of my abilities and to theirs. I am afraid that these kids will fall through the cracks in the system and will become a detriment to society as whole.
It would be so much easier to teach and be a mother, if all students were the same; They learn the same way, act and think the same. But what kind of world would that be, we would never have the diversity that the world contains today. We would never have greatness. We would never have choice. I'm glad we are not the same, but dang it sure is hard for a teacher.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
THe next couple of days, good golly
It's about 7:45 and I have only been home about an hour. I had a professional development workshop (a book study) this evening dealing with how we teach math and what we should include in math instruction. I would not have attended, but Christmas is coming and the $25 per hour will soon come in handy. I have one more day of this workshop (next Wednesday) and a Math/Reading fun night (the last Wednesday of the month) before Christmas vacation.
Tomorrow it will be interesting to see how things transpire. Whats the big deal about tomorrow? Well I'll tell you, whether you want to know or not. As I have stated before I teach 4th and 5th grade. The school basketball team and cheerleader squad are made up of 4th and 5th graders only. They have an away game tomorrow that starts at 1:00. They will be leaving school at 11:30, but will have to eat and prepare before.
I teach 4th grade reading beginning at 10:30 or so. At 11:00, all but 2 of my 4th graders will be leaving. I have gained permission from the boss to not teach my 4th grade reading lesson, since no one will be there. But what will I do???? I'm really not sure with only 2 students. I guess I will just have to wing it. The afternoon will be just as difficult. All but 4 of my 5th graders are leaving as well.
Friday will not be much easier. We have a home ballgame starting at 1:00. The only work that will be done will be in the morning. I guess that will be fine, considering all grades at Anawalt teach their math and reading before 12:00. I usually have to teach the grammar and writing portion of the reading in the afternoon. I guess I will be rushing both days trying to get in as much of this as possible before 12:00.
Tomorrow it will be interesting to see how things transpire. Whats the big deal about tomorrow? Well I'll tell you, whether you want to know or not. As I have stated before I teach 4th and 5th grade. The school basketball team and cheerleader squad are made up of 4th and 5th graders only. They have an away game tomorrow that starts at 1:00. They will be leaving school at 11:30, but will have to eat and prepare before.
I teach 4th grade reading beginning at 10:30 or so. At 11:00, all but 2 of my 4th graders will be leaving. I have gained permission from the boss to not teach my 4th grade reading lesson, since no one will be there. But what will I do???? I'm really not sure with only 2 students. I guess I will just have to wing it. The afternoon will be just as difficult. All but 4 of my 5th graders are leaving as well.
Friday will not be much easier. We have a home ballgame starting at 1:00. The only work that will be done will be in the morning. I guess that will be fine, considering all grades at Anawalt teach their math and reading before 12:00. I usually have to teach the grammar and writing portion of the reading in the afternoon. I guess I will be rushing both days trying to get in as much of this as possible before 12:00.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Don't Know what I'm doing!
Have you ever felt like you really have no idea what you are doing? I have felt that way all day long. I rarely get the feeling, but when I do I truly feel it.
I returned to work today after being out sick for two days. I came into a new environment, at least if felt that way. I was not sure what to say to my co-workers and how to approach them. Being out for just a few short days you really get out of the groove of things. I went straight to my room and found that I wasn't the only one arriving early. Everyone seemed to be there.
I had not planned any lessons for today, because I did not have any of my things at home to prepare. I had to do a fast review of what had been done and what needed to be done. I ran to the copy room and made copies that I would need and was told that we were having a visitation today from a group of individuals about our new reading series. Yes! I knew about this, but being absent for a few days, I forgot.
The whole school seemed to be in a pressure cooker. Everyone was trying to prepare and brace themselves for the visit. I was just trying to prepare for the kids, never mind the visit. I checked my mailbox, full, just as I expected. I did not even look at it, I did not have the time to spare. I finally got everything ready just as my students were beginning to enter the room. Several of my students acted differently. One of my students that normally is quiet, decides today that he wants to act out. I guess he wants attention.
Today was Tuesday, so my students had nutrition classes after lunch, OH, Bother! as Pooh says. I will lose time again today. I re-configure my lessons for the afternoon. I decide that while 4th is in nutrition, 5th could access Riverdeep, a computer program, to work on this weeks skill (Fact and Opinion). This worked out great because I could use this time to prepare a script for my students. Our school has reader's theatre one Friday a month to boost reading fluency. I forgot but this Friday is the day. I work diligently to copy, sort and staple a script 11 pages long for each of my 24 students.
4th grade returns from nutrition and I put them on the computers. 5th grade works on grammar, writing, and sentence correction from our reading series. I work with the 5th graders until 2:30, at this time we return to the classroom. Surprise!!!! The counselor wants to take my 4th graders to guidance. I guess the 4th grade will not get their grammar, writing or sentence correction done today. At 2:45 my 5th graders head off to nutrition. I spend the next 45 minutes finding and typing the 4th and 5th grade vocabulary for the month, writing new questions for tomorrow and preparing my stuff for home.
I walk over to the boss's office to have her approve my reader's theatre scripts, only to be told that she informed everyone yesterday that we would not be having it this week. She has planned an in school basketball game for Friday. Wonderful! I spent all of that time for nothing. I handed her my vocabulary for the month. She smiled and asked me if I read the memo's from my mailbox. I didn't remember! She no longer wants this list.
I really feel like I am in another dimension today. I walked into a new school, under new management, with newly transferred students and faculty. In a few days it will be back to normal, I hope, until then I will just try to go with the flow.
I returned to work today after being out sick for two days. I came into a new environment, at least if felt that way. I was not sure what to say to my co-workers and how to approach them. Being out for just a few short days you really get out of the groove of things. I went straight to my room and found that I wasn't the only one arriving early. Everyone seemed to be there.
I had not planned any lessons for today, because I did not have any of my things at home to prepare. I had to do a fast review of what had been done and what needed to be done. I ran to the copy room and made copies that I would need and was told that we were having a visitation today from a group of individuals about our new reading series. Yes! I knew about this, but being absent for a few days, I forgot.
The whole school seemed to be in a pressure cooker. Everyone was trying to prepare and brace themselves for the visit. I was just trying to prepare for the kids, never mind the visit. I checked my mailbox, full, just as I expected. I did not even look at it, I did not have the time to spare. I finally got everything ready just as my students were beginning to enter the room. Several of my students acted differently. One of my students that normally is quiet, decides today that he wants to act out. I guess he wants attention.
Today was Tuesday, so my students had nutrition classes after lunch, OH, Bother! as Pooh says. I will lose time again today. I re-configure my lessons for the afternoon. I decide that while 4th is in nutrition, 5th could access Riverdeep, a computer program, to work on this weeks skill (Fact and Opinion). This worked out great because I could use this time to prepare a script for my students. Our school has reader's theatre one Friday a month to boost reading fluency. I forgot but this Friday is the day. I work diligently to copy, sort and staple a script 11 pages long for each of my 24 students.
4th grade returns from nutrition and I put them on the computers. 5th grade works on grammar, writing, and sentence correction from our reading series. I work with the 5th graders until 2:30, at this time we return to the classroom. Surprise!!!! The counselor wants to take my 4th graders to guidance. I guess the 4th grade will not get their grammar, writing or sentence correction done today. At 2:45 my 5th graders head off to nutrition. I spend the next 45 minutes finding and typing the 4th and 5th grade vocabulary for the month, writing new questions for tomorrow and preparing my stuff for home.
I walk over to the boss's office to have her approve my reader's theatre scripts, only to be told that she informed everyone yesterday that we would not be having it this week. She has planned an in school basketball game for Friday. Wonderful! I spent all of that time for nothing. I handed her my vocabulary for the month. She smiled and asked me if I read the memo's from my mailbox. I didn't remember! She no longer wants this list.
I really feel like I am in another dimension today. I walked into a new school, under new management, with newly transferred students and faculty. In a few days it will be back to normal, I hope, until then I will just try to go with the flow.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
The doctor, insurance dilema
I took a day off Friday to try to get in to see a doctor. I do not have a family doctor, because I do not regularly go to one. I might see a doctor once or twice a year if that. I woke up at 8:00 and called every doctor in the phone book within the Tazewell area. The majority of the time I never got an answer. I guess most doctors work so hard during the week that they need a three day weekend to recoup. Yea! Right!
Other times I tried and got the answer that is hard for me to believe: He/She is not taking on anymore patients. I just need to see a doctor for 10-15 minutes tops, I'm not going to be a permanent fixture in their office. Give Me A Break! Lastly I got the answer, Well, we can see you but we don't accept your insurance, you'll have to pay cash for the entire cost. Like I have that kind of money! I'm a teacher for God sake!
I have never been the kind of person to go to the doctor, or dentist for that matter, unless it is an absolute necessity. I have family insurance which includes myself, husband, and three children. I pay monthly premiums, deductibles and co-payments and the majority of the time my insurance might have to pay out 1 to 2 hundred dollars a year, if that.
I hate to see people in the hospital for minor things such as colds, but I can see why they do now. If doctors won't accept new patients, work on Fridays or accept insurance that you have, people will not have a choice but to go to the hospitals to get seen. I did not go myself! Why? Because I really did not want to sit in a hospital waiting room for a couple of hours and then wait in the patient room for another hour or so to be seen. Plus I had my daughter, no way I was about to put her through that.
I probably need an antibiotic, but right now Dayquil and NyQuil are keeping the symptoms under control. My daughter is still running a fever and beginning to show the same symptoms. I did get through to her pediatricians office Friday, she has an appointment for 12:00 Monday, yes he was out Friday too. I guess I will be taking another day off work. Maybe Monday after I take her to the doc, I can find one.
Other times I tried and got the answer that is hard for me to believe: He/She is not taking on anymore patients. I just need to see a doctor for 10-15 minutes tops, I'm not going to be a permanent fixture in their office. Give Me A Break! Lastly I got the answer, Well, we can see you but we don't accept your insurance, you'll have to pay cash for the entire cost. Like I have that kind of money! I'm a teacher for God sake!
I have never been the kind of person to go to the doctor, or dentist for that matter, unless it is an absolute necessity. I have family insurance which includes myself, husband, and three children. I pay monthly premiums, deductibles and co-payments and the majority of the time my insurance might have to pay out 1 to 2 hundred dollars a year, if that.
I hate to see people in the hospital for minor things such as colds, but I can see why they do now. If doctors won't accept new patients, work on Fridays or accept insurance that you have, people will not have a choice but to go to the hospitals to get seen. I did not go myself! Why? Because I really did not want to sit in a hospital waiting room for a couple of hours and then wait in the patient room for another hour or so to be seen. Plus I had my daughter, no way I was about to put her through that.
I probably need an antibiotic, but right now Dayquil and NyQuil are keeping the symptoms under control. My daughter is still running a fever and beginning to show the same symptoms. I did get through to her pediatricians office Friday, she has an appointment for 12:00 Monday, yes he was out Friday too. I guess I will be taking another day off work. Maybe Monday after I take her to the doc, I can find one.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Halloween and its after effects
What a day! It's the day after Halloween and I'm so sick I can barely breathe. Yesterday was a long, cold and tiring day. It wasn't the ideal situation to help me feel better.
I left home yesterday at 7:20 to go to work. I spent all morning in the computer lab giving my students a Unit 1 benchmark test on computer. At 2:00, we toured a haunted house set up by the parents in our library and proceeded out to the parking lot for trunk or treating. Trunk or treating is our schools way of trick or treating. Parents, faculty and community members decorate the trunks of their cars and hand out treats to the students as they walk by.
We have less than 100 students in K-5 and each vehicle gave out treats to each student. My students walked away with a bag overflowing with treats. I left school at about 4:00, drove home to pick up my youngest son, Joey, and headed to my mother-in-laws. I arrived about 5 to dress my daughter for Halloween.
We did the house to house running in Brewsterdale, WV and finished at around 6:30. I loaded everyone up and headed to Thompson Valley, VA to my Dad's home. We left there around 7:45. I arrived at my grandmother's in Tazewell at around 8:00. We finished there and headed to my Aunt and Uncles. We left there at about 9:30 and went to Foodlion to pick up Shane, my oldest, at work, at 10:00.
I finally arrived home at around 10:20, cold, tired and sick. I bathed the baby, fixed her a quick bite to eat, and began my homework. I finally crawled into bed at 12:00 am. My daughter enjoyed herself and I liked getting to see and talk to family. I do not get that privilege much these days, because of the overload of work I have this year. But today, I'm feeling the after effects of stretching myself to the limit.
I was already sick, but today I can't go for more than 20 minutes without sneezing. I have wiped my nose until its raw and my chest feels like someone has poured oil into my lungs. My mouth is dry, no matter what I drink and my whole face hurts. Its like someone has placed a balloon behind my cheekbones and then blew them up. The pressure is terrible.
I am not going to work tomorrow. I stayed after school for 30 minutes today to prepare lessons for the sub and got into trouble with my mother-in-law for doing it. She had a fit because I was late today. Man! I just can't catch a break! She knows that I have been sick, and that I probably need to see a doctor. What does she expect? For me to take a day off, I still have to do a great deal of work to get the privilege.
I was planning to go see a doctor tomorrow, but now the baby is running a fever. I may end up taking her instead; if I can get an appointment for either one of us. Her pediatrician never works on Friday and I do not have a family doctor. I will have to get up early in the morning and begin chain calling all the doctors in the area until I find one that will be able to see us or her.
I hate feeling this way, but I would gladly take on her fever if I could. She is very irritable and you can tell she does not feel well this evening. She has eaten very little, but she is drinking. I'm not worried about dehydration at this point. I on the other hand, am starving. I just finished eating and I am still hungry. Odd isn't it! Normally I eat very little and sporadically.
I guess I will try to get some rest tonight and hope that tomorrow brings better health for everyone.
I left home yesterday at 7:20 to go to work. I spent all morning in the computer lab giving my students a Unit 1 benchmark test on computer. At 2:00, we toured a haunted house set up by the parents in our library and proceeded out to the parking lot for trunk or treating. Trunk or treating is our schools way of trick or treating. Parents, faculty and community members decorate the trunks of their cars and hand out treats to the students as they walk by.
We have less than 100 students in K-5 and each vehicle gave out treats to each student. My students walked away with a bag overflowing with treats. I left school at about 4:00, drove home to pick up my youngest son, Joey, and headed to my mother-in-laws. I arrived about 5 to dress my daughter for Halloween.
We did the house to house running in Brewsterdale, WV and finished at around 6:30. I loaded everyone up and headed to Thompson Valley, VA to my Dad's home. We left there around 7:45. I arrived at my grandmother's in Tazewell at around 8:00. We finished there and headed to my Aunt and Uncles. We left there at about 9:30 and went to Foodlion to pick up Shane, my oldest, at work, at 10:00.
I finally arrived home at around 10:20, cold, tired and sick. I bathed the baby, fixed her a quick bite to eat, and began my homework. I finally crawled into bed at 12:00 am. My daughter enjoyed herself and I liked getting to see and talk to family. I do not get that privilege much these days, because of the overload of work I have this year. But today, I'm feeling the after effects of stretching myself to the limit.
I was already sick, but today I can't go for more than 20 minutes without sneezing. I have wiped my nose until its raw and my chest feels like someone has poured oil into my lungs. My mouth is dry, no matter what I drink and my whole face hurts. Its like someone has placed a balloon behind my cheekbones and then blew them up. The pressure is terrible.
I am not going to work tomorrow. I stayed after school for 30 minutes today to prepare lessons for the sub and got into trouble with my mother-in-law for doing it. She had a fit because I was late today. Man! I just can't catch a break! She knows that I have been sick, and that I probably need to see a doctor. What does she expect? For me to take a day off, I still have to do a great deal of work to get the privilege.
I was planning to go see a doctor tomorrow, but now the baby is running a fever. I may end up taking her instead; if I can get an appointment for either one of us. Her pediatrician never works on Friday and I do not have a family doctor. I will have to get up early in the morning and begin chain calling all the doctors in the area until I find one that will be able to see us or her.
I hate feeling this way, but I would gladly take on her fever if I could. She is very irritable and you can tell she does not feel well this evening. She has eaten very little, but she is drinking. I'm not worried about dehydration at this point. I on the other hand, am starving. I just finished eating and I am still hungry. Odd isn't it! Normally I eat very little and sporadically.
I guess I will try to get some rest tonight and hope that tomorrow brings better health for everyone.
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