Blogging Reflection

So...it is the end of July and also the end of the Blog Challenge with Michelle Brezek.  Honestly, I did not complete the challenge by blogging everyday.  But, I did enjoy the prompts that were given to me everyday and the time I spent blogging.

I will continue to blog as the school year starts and looking forward to linking with other teachers.  I found that sharing stories and ideas helps me stay motivated.  My goals for the school year is to post lessons that go well in the class, entertaining stories, or programs that are working with my students.

As for right now...I am going to enjoy the rest of the summer and finish reading my last book (The Vacationers)

College Memories

Posting memories of college!

Eastern Illinois University was an amazing experience.  I met great people and learned a lot about myself.  Procrastination was my middle name in college.  Now, I am totally different and DO NOT wait til the last minute.

I remember finally moving out of the dorm and into my first apartment.  I was so lazy, that I drove to class and would get parking tickets once in a while.  I loved to meet my friends on campus in between classes.  I loved our library, it was a nice place to chill for a bit or do a ton of work at once.

I absolutely loved my waitressing job too!  I worked at a local pizza place and was liked by the customers because I was from Chicago.  The other employees would make fun of my "accent."  I received great tips because I was so friendly!

Need for Blogging

I haven't blogged in so long!  I have been busy traveling back and forth to my lake house and I haven't had the time to sit or sometimes don't have a connection!  :)

I have learned that this phrase "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is true to my heart.  After being away from my boyfriend, whom I live with, I have realized how strong my love is for him.  Being home with him makes me feel safe and loved.  He is understanding of me being gone and supportive of me to be with my friends up here and now with my mom.  He knows that my summer is important time to relax and be with loved ones.  He is working his butt off everyday and I am very proud of him. He is doing the best for us!

I had a wonderful time up here with my girlfriends.  They brought up all their kids and it just melt my heart to see them have fun.  I have been coming up to my lake house since I was five years old and learned how to take in the quiet, slow paced living, and living at the beach for the day.  Their kids did the same (sometimes).  We would wake up and they would ask, "Are we going to the beach today.  What are we going to do next?  I'm hungry."  They are kids and it's assumed that they would ask a million questions, but they absolutely loved the house and staying here.  They all get along and kept busy with swimming, finding seashells, playing in the park, going for walks, and just hanging out at the house.  Spending time with my girlfriends here was splendid, just splendid.  We never get to have overnighters anymore.  We stayed up late talking on the back porch, watching sex and the city, and laughing the night away.  I will always remember this week and plan to go every year!

Let's see what else.  I have been babysitting my niece and nephew once a week this month.  They are so cute and fun to be with.  I found myself with so much to do at the exact same time (changing a diaper, to clean up a spill, and take the dog out) and I realized, "Just make sure the kids are happy FIRST."  At times, it gets a little hectic but I love it.  I love that I get to see them once a week and spend the day with them all by myself!

Blog Challenge- Friendships

I am loving the cool breeze right now and feeling like this will be the day that I finish my book!  Goal:  Finish "Gone Girl" today!  I have 103 pages left!

Blog Challenge-Day 12:  Share about your most important friendships

     I am so excited to write about my friendships! As I get older :( and challenge myself more with my career and keep busy with my independent life, I know I still have my friends no matter what.  Let's see, my friends now are my friends that I have had since high school.  My three best friends who have been there through it all in my life.  They really understand who I am and why I do what I do.  Back in the day they were there for me within a three minute drive because we all lived so close and we basically lived for each other.  Or one of of us would wake up early and call each one to see what we were going to do that day.  It was routine for us to always be together and figure out where we were going.
     Now, when I call them, I have to answer to their kids.  "Who is that mom?"  I always have to hear my friends have two different conversations (one with me and one with their kid).  It makes me feel proud of them.  They are great mothers and work very hard.  Their children are like my nieces and nephews actually and call me Auntie Chrissy!  These ladies are very important to me and will always be a part of my life no matter how tough it gets.
     My other friends I have are my friends from work.  Gosh, I love these friends!  Sharing the same passion and being able to talk about it all is inspiring.  I'm still in my first years of teaching and feel like I always need to pick someones brain before I meet with my boss, or teach a specific lesson and I am thankful to have those people there for me.  They get how you feel on those crummy days and they get it when a student pushes every button.  NOT ONLY are they there for me during work hours, but they are there for me for a late night call, weekends, and to enjoy a night out.
     Most importantly, my mom is one of my best friends.  I know it sounds cliche, but over the the years I have realized it!  I can still think of when my brother or my dad used to tell me after fighting with her, "One day you will be best friends, so you're going to have to apologize."  I always thought, "yea right."  But she is actually and truly is one of the best!  Her working in the same school district is beneficial.  I get to see her more often ever since I moved out.  Out talks are easy and she sometimes surprises me with how well she understands my feelings towards something/somebody.  :)  I truly am lucky to have a mom who shows her love for me everyday.

A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you today, just the way you are


Here is a great friendship quote/poem about friendship throughout the years.  I love how it ends.  Enjoy!  Thanks Hollie!
http://holliesquotes.com/friendship/ideaoffriend.htm

My mom and I

Blog Challenge- Student's description

How would my students describe me?

They would say that I am fun and approachable.  I like to consider myself as a "go to teacher."  They can come to me for anything.  This past year, my students were dealing with many issues at home, having trouble staying on task, or social issues.  With a little talk or redirection from me, they were comfortable with my ways of helping them out.  I like to make connections to their own life during a lesson so they can stay engaged and participate more.

Posting this makes me miss my students and I can't wait to start again in August.  I really want to build more positive relationships with my students in order for them to succeed in the classroom.  We have a brand new team of teachers this year and I hope this benefits them in many ways.

Blog Challenge Day 6 and 7

Good Morning!  I am back to a routine for a week or so now.  I was in Michigan at my lake house and was having horrible hotspot connection.  Have you ever tried to use a hotspot on your phone?  I have seen it work, but it wasn't working for me too well.

My summer, so far, has been back and forth to my lake house.  This year I said I was going to be up there as much as possible.  It is beautiful, relaxing, and I even get to spend time with extended family members!  Next week, I am going with some of my girlfriends and their kids!  It will be busy with kids but I enjoy it!

My other prompt for today is:  Favorite books

Here are my top three favorite books!

1.  Room by Emma Donoghue
2.  Lovely Bones
3.  The Giver

Blog Challenge Day 5

Which team do I cheer for?

I love the cubs!  I have some great memories of going to the cub games when I was little.  When I go there now, I think that everything tastes better.  The sound of the ball getting hit, the cheering of the fans, and the beautiful sites of Chicago keep me happy.  

Favorite subject-Blog Challenge Day 4

Hey...it's the fourth of July and I apologize in advance for the short post.

I love to teach reading, especially new reading strategies to students.  My favorite lessons were non-fiction text structures.  I will post those in the future!

Family Post- Blog Challenge Day 3

My family is amazing.  I am thankful that I have them nearby and don't have to JUST see them on holidays or travel far to get to them.  I am also lucky to have my extended family close by.  To read more about my family, you can just read my "About" tab on my blog!  When I think about my childhood, I only think about my brothers and I.  I added some great memories of growing up below:

We used to help my grandma deliver avon books to her clients around town!  We would fight who got to sit in the front seat!  Then she would take us out to get ice cream or have lunch at Connies!  

I used to be at every single baseball game for my brothers.  

Making memories at our lake house in Michigan

Playing nintendo.  I only played if they weren't home.  Sometimes they would hand over the controller to me and make me believe I was playing but it was on the default screen.  :(

Watching classic movies and learning words to all of them

 

 
 

Challenge Accepted-Day 2

Good Morning!  I am so excited to wake up and begin my morning with a blog.  It is a beautiful day...but I must give some TLC to my house before going anywhere!  The prompt for today is

     How long and in what capacities have you been in education?

Since 2005, I knew I wanted to be a special education teacher.  I started working for WSSRA (West Suburban Special Recreational Association) and I fell in love with the responsibilities in caring for individuals with disabilities.  I began with preschool aged kids and then as the years went on I even did programs with adults with disabilities.  

In college ,at Eastern Illinois University, the classes were tough in the beginning and there were perquisites one after another.  I enjoyed the challenge, but at the same time realized that teaching in classroom was even a bigger passion for me.  I wanted to help students reach goals and have them love to learn.  I loved to learn about behavior management and understand how to teach students to manage their behavior in the classroom.  I always thought I would be teaching younger students until I met my mentors at Heritage Middle School.  

Julia Bray, Michelle Brezek, and Michelle Hauer all helped me each and everyday through the teaching, classroom management, collaboration, and even how to be a coach for a sports team.  I knew after working with them that I wanted to be in middle school.  Of coarse when I began my interviews the following year, I wanted a job anywhere, but Heritage Middle School accepted me and hired me in 2012!  

I now teach 7th and 8th in co-taught classrooms and love it!  I also met my friend and colleague, Rachel Belkov and have the pleasure to work with her everyday.  We mesh very well together and she has taught me to think positive and grow relationships with the students.  By doing this, students have more trust with you and their willingness increases within the classroom.  

I am ready for my third year of teaching and can't wait for what will come in the future!  

I also want to share this link because it's very interesting and I would love to keep this in mind for my students.

http://flippengroup.com/education/ckh.html

 

loving the blogging

Hello out there! I just wanted to say that I love blogging! I am going to take words of the wiser from my principal. She said, "just write, even if you don't know if anyone is reading." Thanks Sue! By the way I figured out how to use social media icons! Follow my steps below: 

 1. Take a screen shot of an icon from google (facebook or pinterest) 

 2. Size it to a circle shape by using the tool on the top in your screenshot and click the button all the way to the right

3.  Then click the button all the way to the left (blue outlined box and choose elliptical) 

4. Next make your size of your icon 

5. Finally click at the top of the screenshot where the name is and save it as whatever icon it is 

 TO MAKE THEM CLICKABLE: go to this youtube video and follow the directions! She is great! I will help if needed too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqkInO6vxaI

Doin' it

I'm linking up with Farley for July Currently.  This is my very first Currently!  I'm excited to be here.  

First Post!

Hello!  I am new to blogging and this is my first post!  I love to write and have been inspired by my close friend to keep this as a hobby.  As of right now, I am enjoying my summer break.  Since I am a teacher I have off and this is my first summer without working.  I feel refreshed and love to wake up everyday with something new to do.  

I have spent most of my time at my lake house in Michigan, spending time with family, and catching up with my friends.  

  Thanks Michelle Brezek!  Love ya!

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