Donations, Donations, Donations for CPES

The way others show love amazes me. It has been a pure blessing to be able to help the staff at CPES. I received the classrooms that I would be adopting; ironically I had already met her earlier that morning and subbing for her Friday. When I told her that I was supplying her classroom tears filled her eyes. Tears of pure joy and happiness. That right there, made every bit of of the sweat, blood, and tears that was put into this worth worth every bit of it.

Next adventure in my life, I know I'm always looking for an adventure, is to write a book. I have had a passion for children's literature for ever! Karl hates going to the bookstore with me because I can spend FOREVER in the children's section. I have been super moved and touched by the teachers, students, and staff at CPES that I have decided to write a children's book to help kids who might not have the best home life cope with situations that are beyond their control. Somethings in life cannot be controlled, but how a student overcomes them is what matters. The students at CPES couldn't control the tornado and the fact that it destroyed their school; however, they made the best out of the situation and moved forward- that is what my book will be about.

Stay tuned!!!

C S D

Out pour of love

Since the tornadoes hit three weeks ago, I have organizing a school supply drive to help those in need. I have been amazed at the out-pour of love and support for the Centerpoint Community. Schools from all over the city have joined forces to help. I had the amazing opportunity to work with some graduate students from UAB who helped get a school system involved. This past Friday, we went around to all the schools and collected tons of boxes that were filled with supplies. It was amazing. Then the next day, a dear friend of mine, helped me sort through all the supplies and organize them. We are now waiting on a specific list from the teachers before we box things up and deliver. Pictures are below from Friday.

Items from one school

Another area of my garage full!

Items before we sorted in my garage

Donations from a school

Brooklyn, my friend, who helped us for the day!

Leigh, a grad student from UAB who helped organize a lot of this, and me

A truck full! The bed was full too!

Devastation at the school

The area to which I call home was hit with a horrible tornado on Monday, January 23, 2012. Many houses were destroyed, and two lives were taken. Also, a school was destroyed. Everything that those teachers have worked for is gone. I can't imagine losing everything that you have bought, worked on, and collected for many years. It's heart breaking.

I have been subbing in that community a lot and the school where I would be tutoring, Erwin, is there. The school that was hit, Centerpoint Elementary School (CPES), houses grades K-2, Erwin Elementary, is grades 3-5, the middle school is grades 6-8, and the high school is grades 9-12; therefore, they feed off of each other and they are one community. This devastation brought us closer together as one community. Since the tornad,o CPES and the other schools have been closed. The CPES teachers have been relocated into Erwin Elem and Erwin Middle School for the rest of the year. The teachers at all schools have come together as one to help the teachers at CPES move and prepare for the arrival of the students. Donations have been to help aid the teachers and students.

A close friend of mine, Megan, grandparent's house was also in the path of the storm. Her words express what the Centerpoint community is going through.

"In the wee hours of Monday morning January 23, 2012 the little town of Center Point was devastated by a tornado. Within a few short moments lives were torn apart, sprits broken and memories scattered. My beautiful grandparents were included in the many lives that were touched by this powerful storm. By the grace of the Almighty, their lives were spared but their home of 50 plus years was not. Yesterday was the first chance I had to see the remnants of my childhood. For me it was my home away from home. A place filled with so much love, laughter and amazing food!!! But I can not comprehend exactly what my grandparents or even my father feel. Looking at the destruction, all I can do is fall to my knees thanking my Lord and Savior for protecting these irreplaceable people!!!! With tears in my eyes and a knot in my throat, I walked through what is left of this special place. Memories flooding my brain. Hugs and praises flowed freely. This is what families are built for. Not just love and support through the good times but love and support through the unknown and fear. Homes and objects can be rebuilt and replaced but lives are irreplaceable!!!! Especially these lives!!!! Thank you to all the men, woman and children who have spent the past week sorting through chaos, making sense of what was left behind, passing out food and water and opening your homes to the people who have lost everything. You are the reason I still have hope in man kind. To all the people who were affected by this terrible act of nature my prayers go out to you!!!! May God be with you whatever you decide to do. To everyone else lift these broken people in your prayers. You never know if or when your life will be turned upside down.

Dear Father, amazing, gracious, loving and forgiving Father I do not understand why this has happened to your faithful servants but as humans I know we only see part of Your plan. Thank you for protecting Nana and Papa!!! You know we aren't ready to let go of each other!!!! My sorrow and tears go out to all Your people that were affected by this storm. Be with them in this time of need. Comfort them and hold them close letting them know that you are there and you will never leave them. Thank you for all the volunteers that have given countless hours and abundant energy to helping people they don't even know!!!! This is where Your love is shown!!!!!!! Bless each and every person that is involved, victims and volunteers alike. And I pray that at least one lost person has come to know Your amazing love and comfort through this pain and suffering!!!! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!!! I can not say it enough!!!! Blessed be Your name. May Your will be done. In our Holy Fathers name. Amen"

Please keep this community in your prayers as the students and teachers start back to school today. It's going to be a bittersweet day for the teachers and students at all these schools.

It all paid off...

My student teaching experience was wonderful. My fabulous second graders taught me so much in a short time. I was blessed to be placed with an amazing cooperating teacher. It amazed me how they placed the each student teacher with their cooperating teacher. The majority of my UAB peers were placed with teacher who were just like them. This was the case for me as well. Mrs. G and I were too much alike in many aspects, we looked similar to each other, we acted like each other, and some of our teaching methods were the same. The time flew by while I was in second grade and the next thing that I knew I was graduating. There is a word that I thought I WOULD NEVER SAY: GRADUATION!!!! The day was spent surrounded by those who helped make the LONG journey possible. Karl and I went to brunch before commencement and afterwards, the family met for dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner, Karl and I welcomed close friends over for a holiday party. So what's the next step?? Good question.....

I have been subbing at several local schools, and have interviewed with a principal about a part time job tutoring struggling math and reading students during the school-day. This would be a three-day-a-week job. After a couple of weeks since the interview with the principal, I found out that the tutoring program was approved for funding. The next step is to discuss with the teachers about what students need the extra help. Hopefully this adventure will start at the first of February.

I'm hanging on to see what happens next.... hang in there with me!

C S D

Training, Training, and more Training.....

This past week was the beginning and the end... It was the beginning of my student teaching experience, but the end of a era- the college era. The internship has officially begun. I have been waiting for this semester for YEARS- No Joke!

The week began with the first day of school at the elementary school that I will be working in. Then lots of seminars and training courses. Wednesday was orientation at UAB, followed by 3 days of ARI (Alabama Reading Initiative) training, which will end tomorrow; then the experience begins.

This next week will be observation in the classroom the main goal is to get familiar with the teacher's schedule, students, and her lesson plans. The following weeks will be teaching, but starting at slowly- teaching one subject at a time, until I am teaching all day for at least 10 days straight.

I'm excited about this journey, and looking forward to see how the Lord will bless me and the students throughout this semester.

C S D

First Day of School

Well, it's that time of year again- First Day of School. This video will describe how I will feel Monday morning as I wake up and prepare myself for the first day of school as a student teacher. I was able to attend "Meet the Teacher" day this week, and met lots of the students, parents, and grandparents. This was a super exciting time for them and me.

It's going to be a great year in second grade, looking forward to the impact that these students will have on me, and pray that I will have the same impact on them.

Catch Up

This summer was full of many amazing experiences for me personally and professionally. I was able to provide a group of second and third graders with academic enrichment from 8-11:30, 5 days a week. I tried to make them have fun while learning. We weren't placed in the best learning environment but I made it work. We were in the lunchroom for the entire summer; I was determined to make my area a learning zone instead of lunchroom eating zone. I brought in dividers to section off a portion of the lunchroom; this helped us create our own personal space. We did lots of fun activities throughout the summer. We learned about the human body,simple machines, basic fractions, created our own restaurant to incorporate money, focused on some of the states and capitals (goal was to learn all of them), poetry, butterflies, and the rainforest.

On a personal level- this experience brought me closer to a co-worker, another education major. She is majoring in art education and has just graduated and about to start her student teaching. We were able to collaborate and work together for several topics. I'm thankful for our friendship!

On a professional level- I was working with two grade levels, students just leaving second and third grade, age wise there isn't much difference between the two of them, but developmentally there is a HUGE difference. I had to adapt my "lesson plans/activities" for each grade level. Some of the second graders weren't able to comprehend the directions for an activity like the third graders; therefore, their directions had to be broken down into steps.

Also, there was an autistic student in the group. This boy was precious, but at first his ability not to comprehend what I was saying frustrated me, and I would just let him color or free draw. One day while everyone was working in centers, a older student was paired up with him in the social studies center, they were working on a certain region of states and their capitals. The older student was taking their time working with the autistic student helping him learn the states and their capitals. All it took was time. That was my mistake, and a lesson learned. From then on I took time with him. I would rotate centers with him, helping him figure out how to do the activity at the center.

I was able to engage my self in reading books on how to teach students about poetry, and what poetry really is. I was able to get the book Awakening the Heart by Georgia Heard. This book helps teachers create a classroom where poetry is present, and helps them integrate it with many different subject areas.

This summer was full of lots of learning, not just for group of second and third graders I worked with but for me too. I was blessed to have this opportunity.

Now, on to the next chapter in my life-STUDENT TEACHING! This is the semester that I have been waiting for, my final and last semester!!! I received my placement for this semester and...... drum roll please........ I'm a Gwin Elementary School working with second graders! So excited!

C S D