A couple months ago I switched to rice milk. It was a little experiment to try to help clear up my complexion; I was trying to cut down on dairy in m diet. I've tried rice milk before, but never cared for the taste. It was tolerable as long as it was in cereal. This time I just made myself drink it right out of a glass. Over time the taste didn't seem as weird, and I actually started to like it. The other day I ran out of rice milk and poured a glass of skim cow's milk. I was very surprised that it tasted yucky to me. I used to LOVE cow's milk.
I've always been a stickler with my children about trying new foods. When they are little they would turn their noses up at just about half of the food I put in front of them. I kept persisting though because I hoped their tastebuds would eventually adjust. I was right. I have pretty good little eaters and will eat most of what I feed them.
Before I began eating a mostly vegetarian diet, I really didn't care for vegetables. Now, I crave them. I find it fascinating that our tastebuds can reject something initially, but over time accept the taste to the point of craving it.
Suffice it to say, one of my pet peeves is hearing people say they won't eat this or that. Perhaps there are certain foods that your tastebuds will never acclimate too. But I would say over all, we can train our tastebuds to eat healthy and anything less is just an excuse.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Studying, studying, and more studying
This may be a bore to read, but it's my life at the moment.
As you know, I have been entertaining the idea of being done at two children and moving forward with the process of getting certified to teach regular elem. ed. Last week I spent a lot of time researching the steps to achieve that goal. There are two ways to become endorsed in a different area. The first is to take a lot of coursework at a college which would require a lot of time and a lot more money. The second is to renew my KS teacher license (which has expired) and then apply for a MO license. Missouri has what's called a reciprical licensing agreement with the state of Kansas. In other words, as long as I have a valid teaching license in the state of KS, I can apply and receive the same license in MO. Not all states do this. A nice little perk I might say.
So my first step is to get my license to teach in the state of KS renewed. Since I am no longer in state, this requires that I make a plan of courses I will take to further educate myself and get it approved by a licensure board. I have begun this process. Thankfully, since I have a Master's degree I only have to get 120 professional development points rather than 160. This is equivalent to 2 three credit out courses. I received my Masters degree from Baker University through an extension campus in KC. I began to wonder if maybe, just maybe they offered some continuing ed courses online. I started making some calls and wala! I am now in the process of picking out my courses to be taken next Fall and submitting my plan to the board. I'm really hoping it is approved as these are accelerated courses and the most convenient for me and my life right now. I don't particular care to commute to night courses. I also can't afford to stop running my daycare, put Bren in daycare, and then go to day courses either.
These courses are only 6-8 weeks in length. If my plan is approved and I take these courses next fall, I can renew my music teaching license in KS by the beginning of next year. This puts me WAY ahead of schedule!
My next step would be to become endorsed to teach regular education at the Elementary level. This requires for me to take a test called the Praxis II Elem. Ed test. I began researching on what this test entails last week. There are multiple study aids out there. I ordered one and skimmed through it last week.
Let me first say that the bulk of the test is being able to identify instructional methods, assessments, and theories as it pertains to student work and subject matter. Most of the methods and assessments are under fancy names that are hard to remember and there are so many of them it makes your head spin. This part of the test is multiple choice. The second part of the test will be essay and can be questions pulled directly from curriculum. For example, one question on the practice test was as following:
Choose one country or geographic region in Africa, Asia, or the Middle East that
was colonized by Europeans and that achieved its independence after the Second
World War. Write an essay describing the ways in which that country or
geographic region has been affected by European colonialism. Your essay should
address at least two of the following: the economic, cultural, social, or political
legacy of European colonialism.
Can I just say, yuck, yuck, yuck! History was not my favorite subject in school and elementary school was 21 years ago! Then there is, of course, all the things you remember the name of but have forgotten the details too like the 6 trait writing process, number operations, scientific process, etc. I'm not saying I don't enjoy all these things, I'm just saying it's been awhile and the thought of one random tidbit of these things being on the test intimidates me just a bit. I used to make mostly straight A's in school, so the info has to be in that brain of mine somewhere, I just need to figure out where it all went. Basically I have to be prepared to answer a question about any given material in any given subject matter that may be covered in the course of education grades 1-6. I feel like I'm preparing myself to be on that show....what's it called...."Are you smarter than a 5th grader."
I will be studying for months on end for this one. It's no cheap feat either. In addition to all the study materials, the test alone is a $120 each try. That's a lot of pressure for this working Mama! Then if I don't pass I have this self inflicted feeling that people will think of me as incompetent or....stupid. What's that saying, "If you can't do.....teach" or something like that. I think there's this misconception that becoming a teacher is easy. It's really not as easy of a process as one might think. I know one person that had to take his professional learning test 3 times to pass.
So anyways....I will have my work cut out for me this next year. So if you need me, start looking for the woman behind the books. I'll probably have my nose deep inside of one. Excited about this next step in my life, and very, very nervous too. Wishing I had the chance to student teach in the regular classroom so I was more prepared. Set me in front of a group of little kids with stringed instruments, no problem. Set me in front of class of kids who need to learn to Read, Math, Science, Social studies, English.....scary, but only because I've never done it before. I know I'm very capable, just unfamiliar territory for me. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First things first....study, study, study and then test. What will be will be.
As you know, I have been entertaining the idea of being done at two children and moving forward with the process of getting certified to teach regular elem. ed. Last week I spent a lot of time researching the steps to achieve that goal. There are two ways to become endorsed in a different area. The first is to take a lot of coursework at a college which would require a lot of time and a lot more money. The second is to renew my KS teacher license (which has expired) and then apply for a MO license. Missouri has what's called a reciprical licensing agreement with the state of Kansas. In other words, as long as I have a valid teaching license in the state of KS, I can apply and receive the same license in MO. Not all states do this. A nice little perk I might say.
So my first step is to get my license to teach in the state of KS renewed. Since I am no longer in state, this requires that I make a plan of courses I will take to further educate myself and get it approved by a licensure board. I have begun this process. Thankfully, since I have a Master's degree I only have to get 120 professional development points rather than 160. This is equivalent to 2 three credit out courses. I received my Masters degree from Baker University through an extension campus in KC. I began to wonder if maybe, just maybe they offered some continuing ed courses online. I started making some calls and wala! I am now in the process of picking out my courses to be taken next Fall and submitting my plan to the board. I'm really hoping it is approved as these are accelerated courses and the most convenient for me and my life right now. I don't particular care to commute to night courses. I also can't afford to stop running my daycare, put Bren in daycare, and then go to day courses either.
These courses are only 6-8 weeks in length. If my plan is approved and I take these courses next fall, I can renew my music teaching license in KS by the beginning of next year. This puts me WAY ahead of schedule!
My next step would be to become endorsed to teach regular education at the Elementary level. This requires for me to take a test called the Praxis II Elem. Ed test. I began researching on what this test entails last week. There are multiple study aids out there. I ordered one and skimmed through it last week.
Let me first say that the bulk of the test is being able to identify instructional methods, assessments, and theories as it pertains to student work and subject matter. Most of the methods and assessments are under fancy names that are hard to remember and there are so many of them it makes your head spin. This part of the test is multiple choice. The second part of the test will be essay and can be questions pulled directly from curriculum. For example, one question on the practice test was as following:
Choose one country or geographic region in Africa, Asia, or the Middle East that
was colonized by Europeans and that achieved its independence after the Second
World War. Write an essay describing the ways in which that country or
geographic region has been affected by European colonialism. Your essay should
address at least two of the following: the economic, cultural, social, or political
legacy of European colonialism.
Can I just say, yuck, yuck, yuck! History was not my favorite subject in school and elementary school was 21 years ago! Then there is, of course, all the things you remember the name of but have forgotten the details too like the 6 trait writing process, number operations, scientific process, etc. I'm not saying I don't enjoy all these things, I'm just saying it's been awhile and the thought of one random tidbit of these things being on the test intimidates me just a bit. I used to make mostly straight A's in school, so the info has to be in that brain of mine somewhere, I just need to figure out where it all went. Basically I have to be prepared to answer a question about any given material in any given subject matter that may be covered in the course of education grades 1-6. I feel like I'm preparing myself to be on that show....what's it called...."Are you smarter than a 5th grader."
I will be studying for months on end for this one. It's no cheap feat either. In addition to all the study materials, the test alone is a $120 each try. That's a lot of pressure for this working Mama! Then if I don't pass I have this self inflicted feeling that people will think of me as incompetent or....stupid. What's that saying, "If you can't do.....teach" or something like that. I think there's this misconception that becoming a teacher is easy. It's really not as easy of a process as one might think. I know one person that had to take his professional learning test 3 times to pass.
So anyways....I will have my work cut out for me this next year. So if you need me, start looking for the woman behind the books. I'll probably have my nose deep inside of one. Excited about this next step in my life, and very, very nervous too. Wishing I had the chance to student teach in the regular classroom so I was more prepared. Set me in front of a group of little kids with stringed instruments, no problem. Set me in front of class of kids who need to learn to Read, Math, Science, Social studies, English.....scary, but only because I've never done it before. I know I'm very capable, just unfamiliar territory for me. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First things first....study, study, study and then test. What will be will be.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Crazy bird!
This morning I awoke to scratching and clunking of claws, wings, and bird feet against my window pane. I just thought, "Stupid bird. I guess she learned her lesson." I guessed wrong. Still to this moment that bird has been going from window to window trying to get in. The only windows she hasn't tried to get in are the windows in the front, but we were never in those rooms. She has tried to get in so many times I lost count. Sometimes she'll even hang onto the screen and stare at us. It's almost like she follows us from room to room. Bizarre.
We have a window film on our windows to help block heat and cold from coming in. It is reflective. At first I thought maybe she saw her own reflection or the reflection of the trees and that is what was causing her to go for the windows. However, when we changed rooms and she mysteriously went to the window of the room we were in I wondered. I stepped out and yelled at her, she just squacked back and flew off for half and hour. Since then she has been doing this off and on all day. Crazy bird! Proof is in the pictures.
We have a window film on our windows to help block heat and cold from coming in. It is reflective. At first I thought maybe she saw her own reflection or the reflection of the trees and that is what was causing her to go for the windows. However, when we changed rooms and she mysteriously went to the window of the room we were in I wondered. I stepped out and yelled at her, she just squacked back and flew off for half and hour. Since then she has been doing this off and on all day. Crazy bird! Proof is in the pictures.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Easter 2011
A little late, but better late than never. Easter this year was nice...rainy, but nice. In keeping with our tradition the past 5 years, the Bilberry side of the family drove up to celebrate it with us. Bama, Baba, Uncle Jason and his roomate were all here to enjoy the festivities.
There was one excited Easter Girl performing at church to one teary eyed Mama (or maybe a bunch of teary eyed Mamas).
It was a blessed holiday. Probably my favorite part, though, had to been one evening when Bama, Kadyn, Bren, and I were all sitting in circle to do our good night prayers. Kadyn said in her sweet little voice, "....and thank you for giving us your son to die on the cross for our sins." This was not coached and completely her own prayer from her own thoughts. I couldn't have been more touched and more proud to know that she gets it. Despite all the Easter bunny fun, she gets it. Praise Jesus, he is risen! It was a teary eyed moment for both me and Bama, that's for sure. Can't wait to do it all over again next year!
 | |
| There was egg dying. |
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| There was plenty of goofing around. |
 | |
| There was napping, and not napping. |
 | |
| There were pretty Easter dresses on pretty little girls. |
 | |
| There were Easter family photos. |
 | |
| There was an Easter Egg hunt indoors thanks to the rain. |
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| There were Easter baskets filled with fun goodies. |
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| There were matching outfits to wear courtesy of the Easter bunny. |
It was a blessed holiday. Probably my favorite part, though, had to been one evening when Bama, Kadyn, Bren, and I were all sitting in circle to do our good night prayers. Kadyn said in her sweet little voice, "....and thank you for giving us your son to die on the cross for our sins." This was not coached and completely her own prayer from her own thoughts. I couldn't have been more touched and more proud to know that she gets it. Despite all the Easter bunny fun, she gets it. Praise Jesus, he is risen! It was a teary eyed moment for both me and Bama, that's for sure. Can't wait to do it all over again next year!
Screening results
Kadyn just showed up from her Kindergarten screening. I wasn't expecting to see any results, but I got a little handout of all the things they tested her on. She tested as I suspected. Here is a list of what she was screened on:
Catching
Jump, Hop, and Skip
Block Building
Thumb and Finger movement
Cutting
Copying Shapes and Letters
Writing Name
Body Parts
Colors
Rapid Color Naming
Counting Objects and Rote
Position Words
Concept Comparisons
Sorting and Naming Shapes
Telling personal data
Articulating Speech sounds
Naming Objects and Actions
Alphabet, letters, and sounds
Rhyming and "I Spy"
Verbal Problem Solving
She tested at a 6 year old in everything except thumb and finger movement, colors, and articulating speech sounds. In those areas she tested at a 5 year old level. Made me wonder what a 6 year old level was for colors. Perhaps primary colors are a 5 year old level and then colors beyond primary are 6 and above. Sure wish I could've been a fly on the wall in that screening. The only area she didn't test at the appropriate level was catching a ball in which she scored below a 3 year old level. Woops! We've flunked that level in our Parents as Teachers screenings too. I keep forgetting to work on that with her, but something tells me that if she never learns how to catch a ball, she'll still be able to get a job someday unless she wants to be a PE teacher. Let's just say sports and being physical isn't our forte around here.
Anyhoo...I find these screens fascinating and they really help me know what I need to work on to help prepare my daycare kids and Bren. I only share it more for my benefit to document my daughter's development so I can see just how far she's come year to year. I am so proud of her!
Catching
Jump, Hop, and Skip
Block Building
Thumb and Finger movement
Cutting
Copying Shapes and Letters
Writing Name
Body Parts
Colors
Rapid Color Naming
Counting Objects and Rote
Position Words
Concept Comparisons
Sorting and Naming Shapes
Telling personal data
Articulating Speech sounds
Naming Objects and Actions
Alphabet, letters, and sounds
Rhyming and "I Spy"
Verbal Problem Solving
She tested at a 6 year old in everything except thumb and finger movement, colors, and articulating speech sounds. In those areas she tested at a 5 year old level. Made me wonder what a 6 year old level was for colors. Perhaps primary colors are a 5 year old level and then colors beyond primary are 6 and above. Sure wish I could've been a fly on the wall in that screening. The only area she didn't test at the appropriate level was catching a ball in which she scored below a 3 year old level. Woops! We've flunked that level in our Parents as Teachers screenings too. I keep forgetting to work on that with her, but something tells me that if she never learns how to catch a ball, she'll still be able to get a job someday unless she wants to be a PE teacher. Let's just say sports and being physical isn't our forte around here.
Anyhoo...I find these screens fascinating and they really help me know what I need to work on to help prepare my daycare kids and Bren. I only share it more for my benefit to document my daughter's development so I can see just how far she's come year to year. I am so proud of her!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Raising a bright child
As most of you know I have always thought of my oldest child as an exceptionally bright child. She will be screened for placement in Kindergarten on Wednesday and I'm antsy to hear what they say after working with her. She's reading very well now, she can almost read all the instructions on her worksheets with minimal help. She is able to do simple addition and subtraction equations. She draws and colors things that just blow my mind. She has even started learning how to count in multiples of 2, 5, and 10. Since I work with other children her age I have only affirmed that things that most kids are challenged by come very easily to Kadyn. In some ways this delights me, in other ways it drives me bananas.
One thing that gets old really fast about raising an exceptional child is the endless questions. They are, by nature, curious creatures. Therefore, suffice to say, questions are a big part of their lives. It seems I can't do ANYTHING without Kadyn asking a gazillion questions about what I'm doing, how I'm doing it, and why I am doing it. If it's raining, she'll ask why it's raining, where the rain comes from, how does it start there, etc. etc. etc. If I answer a question it only leads to another question and that question leads to yet another question. I seriously think I'm going to have to put a cap on the questions at some point because I'm getting tired of answering a gazillion of them! Bless her little heart, I'm glad she is curious and loves learning, but this is exhausting! And of course you can't sneak anything by her. Now that she's starting to read our days of spelling things out to keep things secret are coming to a close quickly. And every conversation I have with Jeff will be interrupted by a question about what we are talking about, which always leads to more questions...sigh .....of course.
The second thing that is challenging about a child who gets things easily is that when they finally do reach something that challenges them, they can become easily frustrated because after all, nothing else is hard, why should this be any different? For Kadyn this typically means anything that is physical. I have never seen her get quite as angry about not being able to do something as the day she got her bicycle. It wasn't coming easily to her and at one point she threw it to the ground and shouted, "I hate this bike!" This worries me a bit because I want her to face challenges with determination and a drive to conquer, not anger and frustration. Of course by day two she kept at it and once she got the feel for her bike, she was like an ol' pro in no time.
Despite the challenges of having a child like this, I also have a great admiration for her love of learning. Getting to see the excitement and wonder in her eyes when she learns something new fills up my cup. That to me is the real allure of being a teacher. It makes it all worth it. Today when she finished her lunch she noticed that her strawberries left behind some pink juice on her plate and that her baked beans left behind some brown goo. After she stared at it for awhile she said, "I wonder what color it will make if I mix the pink with the brown?" Of course she asked me first, gotta ask those questions ya know. Then she proceeded to give it a go. I love watching her mind work. It makes me wonder what she will be someday. God has blessed her with a brilliant mind. I'm sure it will take her far if she lets it.
One thing that gets old really fast about raising an exceptional child is the endless questions. They are, by nature, curious creatures. Therefore, suffice to say, questions are a big part of their lives. It seems I can't do ANYTHING without Kadyn asking a gazillion questions about what I'm doing, how I'm doing it, and why I am doing it. If it's raining, she'll ask why it's raining, where the rain comes from, how does it start there, etc. etc. etc. If I answer a question it only leads to another question and that question leads to yet another question. I seriously think I'm going to have to put a cap on the questions at some point because I'm getting tired of answering a gazillion of them! Bless her little heart, I'm glad she is curious and loves learning, but this is exhausting! And of course you can't sneak anything by her. Now that she's starting to read our days of spelling things out to keep things secret are coming to a close quickly. And every conversation I have with Jeff will be interrupted by a question about what we are talking about, which always leads to more questions...sigh .....of course.
The second thing that is challenging about a child who gets things easily is that when they finally do reach something that challenges them, they can become easily frustrated because after all, nothing else is hard, why should this be any different? For Kadyn this typically means anything that is physical. I have never seen her get quite as angry about not being able to do something as the day she got her bicycle. It wasn't coming easily to her and at one point she threw it to the ground and shouted, "I hate this bike!" This worries me a bit because I want her to face challenges with determination and a drive to conquer, not anger and frustration. Of course by day two she kept at it and once she got the feel for her bike, she was like an ol' pro in no time.
Despite the challenges of having a child like this, I also have a great admiration for her love of learning. Getting to see the excitement and wonder in her eyes when she learns something new fills up my cup. That to me is the real allure of being a teacher. It makes it all worth it. Today when she finished her lunch she noticed that her strawberries left behind some pink juice on her plate and that her baked beans left behind some brown goo. After she stared at it for awhile she said, "I wonder what color it will make if I mix the pink with the brown?" Of course she asked me first, gotta ask those questions ya know. Then she proceeded to give it a go. I love watching her mind work. It makes me wonder what she will be someday. God has blessed her with a brilliant mind. I'm sure it will take her far if she lets it.
2011 Garden part 1
After my challenging daycare boys left (due to a move to Springfield) and I also lost little daycare gal (due to her mother having a hard time finding someone to cover the vacation days I asked off for in July), I had NO desire to do anything. I was so exhausted physically and emotionally that I couldn't wrap my brain around doing even the things I loved like sewing and gardening. I felt gloomy and depressed and knew that maybe what I needed to snap out of it was just getting out there and doing something. So last weekend we went to Walmart and started buying flowers and garden plants. Suddenly I felt my mojo coming back. I was happily digging in the dirt planting pretty flowers and vegetable plants with the promise of a great rewards. It's amazing how a little digging in the dirt can lift your spirits. Next thing I knew, I was off to home depot to buy a few more pots. When I was done, I stepped back and marveled at the life I had just started in the form of a little plant in a tiny pot. It felt like a new beginning, a breath of fresh air. Now when I look out my window, I feel little tingles of happiness and pleasure.
This is Gardening post part 1 as I will be having a second Garden planted on the side of the house when Jeff gets done making it.
So here is my potted Garden. Last year I had 2 pepper plants, 2 tomatoe plants, basil and cilantro. This year it starts with 2 squash plants and 1 Tomato plant (I may add another tomatoe plant in my ground garden). I have no idea if squash will grow in a pot, but I'm going to try. My fear if it works is that it will take over my deck. I'm going to try to wrap the vines around the railing.
Next up I have 4 pepper plants. I use SOOOO many green peppers when I cook so this out to net me as many as I need and plenty to freeze for the winter.
Next up I have a pot of basil and a pot of cilantro that have yet to pop up, but they are in there somewhere.
Then I have a new pot that will be hung on my railing of just pretty flowers, I think (not sure) but these flowers will eventually cascade down over the pot and dangle around the railing once I hang it up. I sure hope so, that was my plan anyways.
I have more flowers planted in the front of the house, but no pics. Now I'm excited to get that garden done on the side. If it works, we'll have all kinds of veggies and fruit to munch on during the summer months. Who knows. Maybe I will have enough to can. Never canned before, but I've been itching to learn. Maybe this will be the year.
This is Gardening post part 1 as I will be having a second Garden planted on the side of the house when Jeff gets done making it.
So here is my potted Garden. Last year I had 2 pepper plants, 2 tomatoe plants, basil and cilantro. This year it starts with 2 squash plants and 1 Tomato plant (I may add another tomatoe plant in my ground garden). I have no idea if squash will grow in a pot, but I'm going to try. My fear if it works is that it will take over my deck. I'm going to try to wrap the vines around the railing.
I have more flowers planted in the front of the house, but no pics. Now I'm excited to get that garden done on the side. If it works, we'll have all kinds of veggies and fruit to munch on during the summer months. Who knows. Maybe I will have enough to can. Never canned before, but I've been itching to learn. Maybe this will be the year.
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