Currently...

This is the first time that I have ever decided to join a linky party but this one was just too cute to pass up. I'm linking up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade for her October linky party.

Feedback

Thinking about updating my blog and making it more visible. I usually just like to come here and talk for my own benefit without feedback from a lot of people. My Facebook and Twitter are overrun with comments from hundreds of friends everyday but this blog is for me. Maybe I will increase its visibility in the near future. All it will take is a link on either my FB or Twitter page but I don't think I'm ready for that yet. This is my little safe  haven for now. I love to come here and not see 1,000+ followers. It's my yoga on the internet.
On another note.........one of my classes requires us to participate in a forum. Not only do we have to answer the professor's original questions, but we also have to respond to 5 of our classmates. Really??? 5 times? It just seems a little like overkill to me..GRRRR....

A Sense of Peace

Wow this semester is certainly keeping me busy. I have decided to halt the search for a teaching job and focus on my graduate studies for now. I am regularly substituting but I can always choose my own days off. I am taking 12 hours of graduate courses (yeah that's a lot, or so I've heard...) and I have recently started taking yoga classes. Yoga has turned out to be really relaxing and I am really enjoying it. I will be satisfied until I have comfortably mastered the pose below :)

I am very happy with the way things are going right now. I cannot remember the last time that I have felt this type of peace.

My current routine:

I'm usually subbing at the same schools, so I am well known by staff and students around the campuses that I do frequent. I am very interested in all of the classes that I am taking and I feel like I will learn a whole lot through this program. I have started yoga and have finally started working out regularly and it feels great.

Things to do:

I still have yet to find a place in my new city. I currently live 45 minutes away from where I attend school and work and I cannot wait until I can move closer and get settled.

I am looking for a topic in special education to research for one of my classes. (possibly comparing the different ways that 3-4 states are implementing RTi and recording their success or lack of success with the program)

Farewell Summer...

August signifies the ending of the summer and the beginning of a new journey for me. This month I will be starting the MAT program in Special Education at the University of Louisiana. I was previously enrolled in an Alternative Certification program but because of unforeseen circumstances I was forced to quit that program. I am happy to be able to continue my studies. This time of the year is also pretty nerve wracking because of the fact that I only have a Practitioner's teaching license. This means I have to wait for a last minute job opening. I have a lot of experience and good references so I'm confident about my chances of getting hired for a full time position. 14 more days until the school year starts and 21 more days until my graduate career begins. I'm so excited.

July Update

I have had a looooong month but thankfully it is almost over. The GRE test no longer hangs over my head and I am proud to say that I did very well on it. I not only made higher than what I needed but I also exceeded my own expectations. I am keeping up with the reading of The Book Whisperer and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am also enjoying my new found hobby of blogging and using the website Pinterest. I am sad to say that one of my favorite blogs has apparently been shut down. I loved reading Apple and Pencil Skirts and I will definitely miss it. I hope she comes back to the blogging world :(

Testing in 3, 2, 1...

Only 1 more day left to study for my GRE test. At this time tomorrow I will be preparing to leave for my 3.5 hour trip to Houston. Why so far? Actually it's the closest place that still had openings for taking the test during this month. I have been studying like crazy and I must admit that my nerves are pretty bad right now. I haven't taken a math class since 2004!!! I am pretty confident about the verbal part but right now the math is still a work in progress. Wish me luck.

The Book Whisperer Read Along

As a beginning teacher I hungrily search for advice and guidance from those who have been in the teaching profession longer than myself. This has led me to turn to teacher blogs and I must say that this has become a new hobby of mine. There are so many great, experienced teachers out there who take time out of their busy schedules to blog about what they are doing and I am one of the people who greatly appreciates this. Through blog stalking, I have stumbled upon this summer read along that is being hosted by several teachers. The chosen book is The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. After reading Chapter 1 I felt like the book was speaking directly to me and about me. I am so ready to learn everything that this book has to offer in terms of setting up my reading program for my own students. I could barely put the book down. Chapter 1 is littered with highlighting and post its.

NOTABLE QUOTES
  "Reading changes your life."
 "...my job as a teacher to equip the travelers, teach them how to read a map, and show them what to do when they get lost, but ultimately, the journey is theirs alone."