Very tired from this week and been staying late so sleeping in so heavenly right now. 

Good Night!

I finished my first offical IEP from Alaska!!!  Next Tuesday, I will have the meeting and be on the phone from Alaska!!!!  This is my Alaska week!!!  LOL!!!  I been doing the Alaska IEP format and I am going to a baby shower for my best friend who lives in Alaska right now!!!  She is visiting!!  No big things as it is too expensive to ship and gift certicate for Walmart, JCPenney or Sears but nothing else!!! 

Just so glad I don't have to work on Saturday!!! Whew!!!

Today doesn't feel like Friday at all.  I am just really tired today.  I had trouble sleeping because I step on a nail that was sticking out of the carpet.  I finally found it and need to tell my dad!!  OUCH!!!  My big toes is still throbbing from it. 

I am growing up!!! It is call being on the journey and facing the reality out there!!!  Let me learn and by the way, I am not sitting on my butt doing nothing!!!

I going to start my 2nd job very soon!!!!  Today, I went to get fingerprint and in about couple of weeks, I will be starting and I will be able to afford to get an apartment. 

Just let me goes on the journey and realize life is not fair!!  Right now, I am thinking of me because I am in it right now and learning.  I need to think about me.  Life for me starting later than most people.  My couselor told me and said it is not my fault.  I was in abusive marriage and my parents' pulled me down.  Going to counseling was the best things I have ever done.  She said what I am going thru is what most people goes thru in their early twenties.  She said it is normal for me because of what I been thru and being deaf!!! OH no, did I say the D word!!!  Yes, deaf people are delayed because they don't hear around.  They mature later then hearing. 

So just let me be on the journey!!!

My afternoon students worn me out!!!!  My 4th class was soooo crazy with 3 elopment, 3 people provoking and stopping a fight.  And my staffs (4 of them) were scattered in different direction.  One one point, there was just me and 1 staff trying to handle it and that staff was 1:1.  One teacher told me she is NOT looking forward to that group in Jan when we swap.  It is also the biggest group and got a student who does not belong there and it is really a sad story.  I need to do different behavior plan for him and hopefully he won't be part of that group and back to the group where he suppose to be but he is high risk without 1:1 which his state or insurance won't approve.  AHHH!!!   Then finally they left and my last class which is the youngest went crazy.  One boy was running around and around and around and around.  The staff and me had to chase me and finally got hold of him and told him must have cool down.  It didnt' work and send to time out.  Wow!!! That boy have some energy!!!  He need to share with me!!!  Then the class was giving me attitude and provoking and I had enough and I said, I am going to get mean if you don't cooperate! And then signed I want to see 3 red block! And the kids started working.  Now pay attention, I want light green block and top it with purple and top it with light green. They told me it is the full moon!!  You should have see what my boss did when kids would not cooperate.  She gave mean face and said and yell (boy is hearing) PUT ON YOUR SHOES NOW!!!!!! and he did it while other try to sweet talk him and it didn't work.  LOL!!!  We were just laughing.  Sometimes, we just have to put on the mean face when we can't deal with it and can't request cool down because of shortage in staff!!!

So I need to rest up for tomorrow!!  Morning class is not too bad and i have the same group for first class and then after lunch but they are trying to wake up in the morning but afternoon, they are just wild!!!  That group need to spilt!!

Better goes to bed!!!  Good Night!

 

http://blogs.ebay.com/tjsttng/entry/Please-read-my-previous-post/_W0QQcommentsyncidZ287325014QQidZ286592014

This morning, I was attack by a few blogger.  I got a depressing news yesterday at school and suddenly certain blogger attack me and then I got other people attacking me.  I couldn't believe it.  (103-stuff, it isn't you!!) I was venting and I decided to show the other teachers what those who did comments.  It created a very lively discussion during lunchtime.  We discuss how people do not understand about FL teacher and the cost of living then it lead to which state have the worst.  One teacher said MA is really bad!!!!  The cost of living is really high and the teacher salary is low (it is higher than our but not match cost of living there).  They also said OH.  Another teacher said she was first year teacher in SC and it was comfortable, enough to get by and if wanted more of want then must get 2nd job but the need is cover with 1 job.  Then it lead which state have the best salary that meet the cost of living.  Then we talk about people from other state have no ideas what the cost of living is until they move down and try to live there. 

Then we talk about no blogger who said that she couldn't believe that I didn't do the research before I decided what I wanted to do.  That was a big talk too.  When I decided to become the teacher, cost of living was not high.  It suddenly sky rocket about 1 1/2 years ago.  One of the teacher who work for 15 years told me that she saved her money for a house and finally got to where she could do it and suddenly the housing was triple the costs between 2005 & 2006.  She was so shock and couldn't do it.  We talked about how the 3 hurricanes that hit us in 2004 was one of the responsiblity of costing the huge jump in the cost of living that FL are trying to caught up with it. 

Also they told me that my feeling and what going thru my mind is very typical for first year teacher.  They said first year teacher is floating.  They said they see me swimming instead of sinking.  They told me that I am in a very tough position than when they first started.  I just happened to start my first teaching in the most difficult school in the USA, and the state haven't catch up with the cost of living in salary.  The jump was so high, that they just can't get there right now.  They told me when first started, they were able to get their own apartment and was just comfortable and didn't have a lot of want but they had their need. 

Also, I just want to say and I am going to stand up, but don't attack me about being a first year teacher or soon being on my own.  I am on a journey and facing all this.  Doesn't mean I am going to do nothing, I am going to get out of my parents even if it means a 2nd job.  I have a 2nd job and one more in giving my application (a book basically) next week and wait for background check and I start!!!  I rather see you say, "TJ, Yep that is life", "TJ, Yes you finally getting it.  Keep learning."  "TJ, things will be better in couple of years, just hang on and keep going." or see what 103-stuff said!!  She didn't attack and she said something encouraging or reminder!!!!

Just valid my feeling cuz that is my feeling at the moments!! And it is typical for first year teacher especially in hard school and stuck in the middle of state trying to caught up with the cost of living.  Remember where you live doesn't means the same in your state.  Every state is different.  It is finally out!!!

Live help told me to go to Internet Explorer instead of aol to see if I can do body and I cannot in AOL.  Live Help said that AOL is the biggest problem with ebay and the blog!!  I wonder if that is the problem with listing.  GRRRR!!!!!

 

Sorry, CJ, they told me it wasn't you and that I need to say I am sorry!!!  They told me that I am grounded!!!!!  LOL!!!!

In the comment, I wrote again.  Someone pretty much said to quit complaining but I wrote something about it.  So maybe you get clear understanding what going on.  By the way, I am not changing career but you can be depress about being undervalue!!

I am feeling depress this morning.  I was driving and been thinking about how undervalue exceptional education teacher are.  Yesterday, in the teachers meeting, my boss announce that she will not be doing the paperworks for Merit pay.  They reason is that there is soooooo much paperworks and that we will not get 1 cent.  The merit pay is bonus pay for the teacher according to how well the students did.  The problem is the one that benefit are the regular teacher and not the exceptional education teacher.  My boss said her friend who is exceptional education student for HS have student who is not potty trained and finally got them to to go potty and she got a student who wrote their name for the first time n 14 years and was turn down for the Merit pay.  Our school have about 70 students but only 4 students count since they are from FL but they are mild mental retarded, deaf and servere emotional problem.  One of them are ausitic.  We do have normal deaf but none are from FL.  So we are a "F" school based on those 4 kids.  It didn't matter how much they improve, they must do the same as their peer because of the stupid law "No child left behind"

Then I was driving to school today and I realize something.  If I get the same pay as general education teacher but they get merit bonus pay and we don't, then why is substiting teacher get more money.  For regular students, they get pay $75.00 a day but for special need kids they get $100.00.  The state and county know there is a big difference.  Then I started the calucation, and I realize I make $32.00 more a day then the substitue and they don't have to do paperwork.  They come in and then they leave when it is time.  I come in do bunch of stuff.  I stayed in late.  I so far worked 12 hours for 3 days this week and will be doing it again tomorrow.  And I have to work Saturday to get my paperwork done that is due on Tuesday.  So I started thinking substitute teacher works 7 hours and I have already work 12 hours and there is $32.00 differences.  So subtititue make about $14.00 an hour for 7 hours.  And I made for 12 hours - $11.00.  That is sooooo depressing!!!!   And the total week I will work total is about 61 hours and I will make only $10.80.  Something is wrong with the pictures!!!  That is ONLY .80 more than my job as a bookkeeping at law office with working 8 hours instead of 12 hours a day to finished my work. 

Now I am really depressed and I found out that I am not getting a raise this year at all.  I have to wait until next Sept to get my raise when I started in April.  I felt like crying.  And I have to work 2nd job too!!!!  I am going to be burned out!!!

Some dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.  He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:  "Those who can, do.  Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie.  Be honest.  What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?" (She paused for a second; then began...) "Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.  I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.  I make kids sit throught 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental..."

"You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.) "I make kids wonder.  I make them question.  I make them criticize.  I make them apologize and mean it.  I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.  I teach them to write and then I make them write.  I make them read, read, and read.  I make them show all their work in math.  I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while perserving their unique cultural identity.  I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.  I make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, because we live in the United States of America.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.

You want to know what I make?  I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?"

THERE IS MUCH TRUTH IN THIS STATEMENT: "Teachers make every other profession."

I am sooooooooooo tired of students provoking each other, not respecting me or cooperating.  I guess this is the FULL MOON in effect!!!!!     AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!  These students are lucky that I am sooooo patience!!!!!  Is it Friday yet???  

I think they need to make a movie called, "Is it Friday yet?"

I didn't get much sleep last night!!  It is too hard to work late and then drive for an hour and doing some errands and then finally home at 8:30 at night.  I was gone from home from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Then needed to ebay before I went to bed. It is very differcult to UNWIND to be able to sleep!!!  I am normally the kind of person who need to unwind for couple of hours at home before I can fall asleep.

Anybody have any suggestion as tonite will be the same thing but hopefully, I will be home earlier than 8:30.

P.S. I saw the pictures of the eclipse in today newspaper in my city and it was excaltly how I first saw it so I saw the times saying 5:54 and I was out on the road!!!

GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!  It tooks me alittle longer to get my coffee!!!!  I waited for someone decaf coffee to be finished and then I started the regular coffee.  And while it was brewing 1 put in cup in while brewing and the one that made his decaf find out that it is mess up with coffee ground and I offer to make new pot for him (since he is really busy getting the place ready for people in the morning) and while I am making the new pot of decaf, people went and got coffee and no more left!!!  GRRRRR!!!!!!

So I waited for the decaf to finish brewing and then finally made another regular. Funny thing is that those who didn't leave me any that I HAVE MADE, were guys.  Not one were woman.  They can make they own coffee.  GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

Several of my auctions ended with a bid yesterday.  One person had paid and I always make sure I read the paypal to see if there is any message for me.  I was surprised to see this

Note: Please let me know when my item has been shipped, please leave positive feedback right away, I will do the same for you right back when I get my cream.  Thank You!

I do not leave feedback first since I have been burned and ebay's advice to me was to leave afterward.  I also check to see their feedback and there doesn't seem to be any problem and she is also a seller so that surprise me further that I got this message.  I will not be changing the way I leave feedback as I remember the nightmare I went thru with scammer and I couldn't warn.  I think there is certain items that seller need to leave feedback afterward because buyer tend to scam in certain area.  The one I got scammed over and over actually have a pattern!!!  I cannot goes thru that again and keep losing my money or the red negative when I left green positive.  Plus there that performance thing going on and I still like to be able to sell. 

Better goes!!!  Got to get to work.  Be on in about 45 minutes.

I left work today at about 6:15 and I realize I needed to stop at the grocery store for science project and a few things and then stop at my aunt's house to ask her or a huge favor.  I cannot pick up the check since I am working on that long Alaska IEP!!!  It is for fingerprinting for my 2nd job.  Glad that she will be picking it up tomorrow!!!  I am able to leave work early on Thursday to be fingerprint that close at 4. 

Good Night everyone!

I was thinking about what someone said about Hurricane Kartina (spell it wrong) and the New Orlean and saying the government mess up.  I know what it is like to be hit by 3 hurricanes in 6 weeks.  And more than 3 weeks there were no power.  It seems like we finally get power back to only lose it within 4 days.   I know how hard it is to supply the need when there is no power.  They will have gas ready but many gas station don't have power so they can't pump it.  It is very hard work to cut down trees and power lines.  They are working as fast as they can. 

My uncle is in trees business and he would get send all over including New Orleans to cut down trees so that power can fix the lines.  That is a lot of man power and basically people need to remember that not enough people to take care of everything.  Our house finally got repaired last year!!!!  Everybody have a need.  Everybody need roof professional but there is not enough man power.

Truth is when I hear about people saying government mess up during hurricane.  I just want to say give me a break.  There are ton of people in the same place as you.  People risk their lives to rescuse people.  I have read ton of stories where government heard the cry of people of not having job since lost it because of hurricane.  They organize a job fair and even provide transporation.  They got 150 buses to transporate the people to the job fair.  They had many opening for these people from New Orleans and guess what only 1 person shows.  All those money wasted for bus and people ready to give the job. 

It is NOT the government resposible to be sure you have your need met.  You have to work for it.  You cannot cry foul to government when you just sitting at home complaining.  Government can provide you the tool and a start but if you don't use it, then it is their own fault.

I just get tired of hearing people say about the government with hurricane.  It is not the easiest time and yes there is stress about money and so on.  But you can't expect someone to do it for you.  You must goes thru the process and it is slow because we are not the only one.  My uncle was overworked with sawing down trees and clearing the path for power company.  He worked in the heat and he even got bit by poisonous spider and end up in the hospital overnight.  he is only just 1 person and not able to work as a 1000 people.