Month: October 2004

I feel like ranting, and realized this is the place to do it. Since there doesn’t seem to be anyone out there except my loved ones reading, I will exercise my freedom to rant !
This has been an extremely emotional year for me. I have ventured out and tried many different things. But my emotions have been on a seesaw all year. I credit the election to be one primary reason.
As a baby boomer, I sit back and look at the some in my generation and can not understand them at all. I spent my teenage years watching the war on my television set at supper time. It was the roots of the “reality television” we have today. Granted, it was mild and antiseptic compared to the reality of the war itself. I watched the protesters and even joined them in my college career in North Texas. But my group was mild mannered and therefore, I was still in my safe cocoon. I was disturbed especially when I realized that young men I had grown up with were being killed. I met young men that had been able to come back that were sick physically or even worse spiritually and mentally. Some of those that appeared well, were facing illness and death later in life because of their exposure during the war. Because of the protesters and people who were brave enough to risk censure, we finally were able to get out of the war. For that, I have great respect for Kerry. His words may have been hard to listen to then and now. But the war was atrocious. It was also fought for financial reasons. Therefore, did we learn any lessons’ It appears we did not. Today, I still find that people think that if our country goes to war, we MUST remain steadfastly patriotic to the president. Even when the war is proven to be ill founded. Vietnam is occurring all over again. This time though it is in an extremely dangerous area. An area we have had trouble in since the dawn of civilization. I was blessed to not have my husband lost, but now I must worry about my sons. The drums are beginning to beat for the draft. Funny how those that beat them the loudest, do not have children old enough for the draft or young enough. Even if my sons should prove to sucessfully avoid the war, I abhor the idea that young men and women will be forced once again to fight in a war. I would like to hear from a mother who has a son/daughter eligible to fight that would say “God Bless you, President Bush for fighting in Iraq.” All I hear from those that must endure this trauma, is I love my son/daughter and I pray that he/she will return safely. Yes, 9-11 was an attack against us, and going to war in Afghanistan was probably a necessity. Did we finish it’ No. The “dogs of war” had been let lose. For those, that seem to think that war with Iraq is justified. Well, you have what you want. If it progresses for 10 more years, will you be satisfied. Will it take that long and many more deaths for you to be satisfied’ The only thing I look forward to, if Bush wins the election. He cannot run again in 2008!

I was informed this week, that I was very lax on writing. It was nice to know that I was missed. Things have been very interesting, but extremely taxing on this poor ole soul.
We tested the entire week Sept. 13 thru 17. The first three days, we tested, then we spent the rest if the week, looking at results, and re-grouping accordingly. I now have a different schedule and roughly different groups. My groups are as follows:
K- This is a cute group of kids. Two of them are in there because they just did not understand how to take the test. I feel they will progress well and will not be left behind. The other three will benefit dramatically with extra assistance. One may have problems, because he has missed too much school already.
1st grade- In this group, I had four children that were performing moderately low. (One was special ed.) One child should not have been with this group. She did not know her letters at all. We moved her to another group where she could be worked with more independently. I received another student who will perform better with this group.
2nd grade- This is a very diverse group. (Their commonality is that they are all in special ed. with learning disabilities.) I have one child in 2nd that is performing on the first grade level in some respects especially in reading. One is possibly performing on his level. I will try to put him in a new book and see how he does. The third is a child in fourth grade. I put him in here so that I could work with him as much as possible at the third grade level and allow him to have some success, by being my helper.
3rd grade- I have three very distinct children here. One is silly and could perform very well if he would listen. One is a young lady that is shy. She is doing very well and I have even received positive comments from the classroom teacher. The latter has the ability. Her main problem is that she has small seizures. This causes her to miss out on things in the group. She is on a new medicine, and she seems to be doing better.
Now for the final portion of my day. Ms. Moss has requested that I work with some children that need as much reading as they can get, so that they will perform better on the leap test. I have two groups of fourth graders. We read a book each week and dissect it and reread it and work on fluency. One group I worked with before and enjoyed. I added a fifth child and she can be a problem, but I think we can get along. I think she is beginning to enjoy being with us in a small group. The second group has been a “thorn in my side”. It contained two young boys that have a great deal of difficulty behaving without being silly. I also have one that has problems because he wants to be silly, too and he allows the others to distract him. Well, I am hoping that the problem has been solved. I was able to drop one of my “thorns” if I took on another child who needed extra help. This will enable me to monitor the other and keep him on task. I will keep you updated on this group. The new student and one other are really a pleasure to teach. So I would not want to quit teaching this group because of the “thorns”.
Well, I am definitely working for my money. I still enjoy this type of teaching. I love going into the two classrooms. I am in a different kindergarten class, because my teacher had trouble with the other interventionist. Since I know the teacher very well, I can deal with any problems she has with ease. In fact, I do respect her and enjoy my time in her classroom. My first grade teacher is still doing very well, except she is pregnant. I feel like her mother, because she is constantly asking me motherly questions. It amuses me. I guess I finally have the daughter I always wanted without the headaches.
We had to stop teaching one day last week to “progress monitor”. I felt it was too soon, but of course I am not the boss. This is what happens when the federal government is involved. Until the next time.