Art. Creativity. Passion. Am I doing what I’m meant to be doing? Is this it? Every day, I wonder. There are so many options out there, especially in this digitally connected age.

I remember life as a high school student (barely!) and feeling overwhelmed by all of the choices available after high school. Only one life, but so many paths! How do we know which way to go? Opportunities abound. It must really be hard/stressful to be a teenager in today’s world.

Technology offers new lives I never could have imagined when I was that age. Is college even necessary anymore? Was it ever necessary? I acknowledge that it depends on what a person wants to do. Do we have enough resources, enough raw materials, enough resourcefulness to build something for ourselves? Are there not more opportunities now than ever before in history?

What is the individual’s vs. society’s definition of education? Does it mean to follow a preset pattern, to clone ourselves after others, to conform to the status quo? Are we potential dollar signs to future employers and little else? Do we want to work for others, or do we want to work for ourselves?

My views on education have evolved in tune with the rapid changes in technology and education over the past decade. I question sending my children down the same path I chose (college). There is just so much out there today! It’s a different world. At ages seven and five, my two oldest daughters already talk about ways to make money on their own. They love to create, explore, and play.

I hope they never lose the ability to wonder, to dream, to enjoy. I will tell my daughters to pursue what they love and to not conform to society’s expectations of them. What this will mean to them in another ten years is left untold today. The beauty of life sometimes lies in the unknown.

All across America, teachers work hard to motivate students, inspire students, and convey knowledge to students. Yet, from coast to coast, children are still failing. Teachers undergo professional development training on a regular basis, in addition to completing more college coursework every few years.

Yet, the failure rate of American children has reached an epidemic high.

Why?

Surely, multiple and complex factors lie beneath what society sees on the surface. Why are so many students entering middle school and high school unable to read and/or reading far below grade level?

As a parent, literacy takes priority in our family. Reading is, after all, the basis for everything. Without the ability to read and read well, how will students ever succeed in the other subject areas?

Failing students abound in America. It’s not just at the school where I teach. What is going on? Are all or most of the teachers in this country horrible at what they do?

In the past year, I have wholeheartedly researched the teaching of reading and writing, trying to absorb all I can to grasp how struggling readers and writers must feel in an English classroom.

In college, they did not address the teaching of reading. We learned about different learning styles and strategies for increasing student motivation for reading and writing, but they never told us how many students would struggle with all of the reading material in high school. We devised pre-reading, during reading, and post-reading activities, but we never addressed what to do when older students cannot read.

Today we had a professional development day, an in-service. We were asked this question, “If you are teaching seventh grade, and your students do not read at the seventh grade level, are you going to teach reading at the seventh grade level?” What do you think?

Should we “dumb down” the curriculum? Should we make students feel like we don’t believe they can understand the ideas in the texts meant for their age group?

Do learners benefit more from working below or at grade level, or do they benefit more from being pushed to a higher level? Can Shakespeare be simplified, made easier to understand, broken apart and pieced back together to make sense and impact students’ lives? Is there not something valuable to be gained from one of his plays by people who hold different ability levels? Can’t everybody appreciate Shakespeare?

Do we give up on our texts and replace them with something easier? What are we doing to our students? What are we doing for our students? What are we not doing for our students?

We could most certainly debate both sides of the issue: Should we teach at grade level, or should we teach at the individuals’ varying reading levels?

The ultimate question, in today’s world, is “What do we teach? ACT preparation or the curriculum?” If the Common Core Standards align with the skills and concepts tested on the ACT, then are we not indirectly preparing for the state assessment while also teaching the curriculum?

But wait. Perhaps one should read to discover the origins of the Common Core Standards. Who created them? More importantly, why did they create them?

Teachers should not be asking questions like these ones, or so they say. I am not only a teacher, however. I am also a parent. As a parent, I will question the education my children receive or do not receive with all of the “accountability” and “high stakes” testing.

Films like Waiting for Superman show a small, biased fragment of American education. The makers of this movie can slice it any way they would like. It does not represent the whole picture. Really, America? Do you watch one movie that focuses on five students and declare the piece a “know-all” and accurate rendering of the problems and complexities alive in the public school system in our country? Really?

What is the ultimate goal? Easy? Quick? Stellar bubbling skills? Mad test taking strategy-busters? Or critical thinking? Creativity? Lifelong learning?

What is it?

Why are students in America failing? What are the real reasons? How do you explain students who perform well and those who fail, both of whom sit in the same class with the same teacher?

Mostly, though, I retire for the night asking, why can the people who should be providing answers to the questions posed here not offer anything?

What is the root of the failure epidemic in America?

On Saturday, Addie, my five year-old, participated in her first gymnastics meet of the year. Everybody but Jolie attended. She stayed behind with Grandma.

Addie was so excited for her meet! The few nights leading up to the big day, she greeted me each day after school with “Let’s talk about my meet.”

I am finally starting to see some improvements in Addie’s progress in gymnastics. In June, it will be three years all year-round since her first gymnastics lesson. She goes all summer, and, with the exception of breaking her arm a year ago and sitting out for two months, she has been at the gym every week–two times a week!

At the meet, Addie saw the girls who were on her team last year. Her favorite friend from last year’s team ran up and gave Addie a big hug when she saw her. There were five girls on Addie’s team last year. Now the five of them are spread out on three different teams and levels.

It was fun for me to see and talk to the moms from last year, too. Who knows what will happen at the end of this season in June? Will Addie get moved up a level? Time will tell. She’s much more serious at this point, but she’s still only five, so we’ll have to wait and see.

We now have her at the gym three times a week: Mondays and Wednesdays for practice for an hour and a half each time and Saturdays for two hours for open gym. I believe the “fun” environment of the open gym has helped Addie enjoy her time at gymnastics much more. I am happy she is doing so much better! She still has a long way to go to improve her skills and gain more strength.

Today included some fun, too. From catching up with a good friend to shopping on a day I usually do hours and hours of homework, I would say that yes, today felt much freer than most Sundays!

Michaels, Meijer, and Qdoba with Jolie. Food and baking supplies. Addie helped me make “Heathy” cookies tonight (made with Heath Toffee Bits). We made 45 cookies.

Now I am working on two Red Velvet cakes from scratch. Next on the list (this week) will be Valentine’s Day double-layered heart cookies filled with homemade cream cheese frosting sandwiched between them.

I’ve been cranking out the cake balls. I bought little treat bags for Valentine’s Day at Michaels, and I plan on putting a single cake ball in each bag for all the kids in Reilly and Addie’s classes for Valentine’s Day and then tying them with ribbons: pink for the girls and red for the boys.

I also finished reading a book this weekend: My Life from Scratch. It is the baking story of Sandra Bullock’s sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado. I really enjoyed it! The author is very funny on top of being knowledgeable about baking, all from scratch. I was entertained, and I learned plenty of new information!

http://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Scratch-Journey-Starting/dp/0767932730

Now I’m just writing lesson plans and weekly assessments for the upcoming week of school. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful weekend filled with warm memories and lots of laughs!

***I have got to start uploading photos on here! I’ve just been so busy with day-to-day life with work and my kids. Hopefully very soon!

How about coming up with four words to guide ourselves in 2012? This was the first writing assignment I gave to the students in my writing class on the first day of the new semester. I thought it was a fitting idea for a writing class–and a great way for me to get to know my new students!

Family: I want, I crave, more family time. Time and time again, my mind says, “The sacrifices are not worth it.” The little things matter. One-on-one time with each of my children. More fun and less work. I want to spend more money; I want to visit more places. Just live.

Artsy: Lately, I love to work on my house. It’s relaxing and challenging, in a fun way. I’m a little bit creative and very motivated. My style says, “different from the norm.” Less commercial and more unique. I want to seek and buy items for the house that stand out in their own way. Surprising touches, here and there. It’s a form of expression. More color, more personality. I’m working on making it truly ours. This year, I want to deliberately visit more art shows and galleries and off-brand shops and take some classes. To be surrounded by beauty, a silent voice that speaks, and style.

Freer: Time frames? Who cares? I’m on my own time, which means my own life and family time. I want to embrace the moment, to approach everybody, especially new people, with an open heart and mind. I want to notice more, inquire more, and be more. Be uninhibited in new places and situations. Open to all possibilities.

Resourceful: Crafty, creative. I am really into DIY projects these days. Step-by-step, I am (slowly) learning how to fashion my own do-it-yourself projects. What fun! From decorating—art work and make-shift vases—to personal items for hair and accessories, I am making my money and my mind stretch! I’m a perfectionist who loves a start-to-finish challenge! I’ve always been practical. I don’t own a fancy phone, a wii, an iPad… I prefer to save my money, so reusing materials and scraps I already have and making new products all on my own, resourceful is the word for 2012! And I’ll definitely be sharing!

What are your four words for 2012?

Transitioning from one semester to another creates a challenge for everybody involved! Things went well overall. Next week will be busy, too. For now, I want to enjoy the weekend!

What’s on the agenda for us this weekend?

• Saturday morning basketball
• Saturday open gym gymnastics
• Yoga/pilates
• Lots of baking
• I started watching a TV show (shocking, I know!). I bought the first season over Christmas break, and I am still watching season one. I plan on watching more of this TV show this weekend–and laughing. Care to guess which show I am watching?
• Catching up with some friends (making plans for the next couple of weeks)
• Ordering some decorative items for the house
• Editing photos to share on the blog!
• Taking some random photos!
• Working on the house
• Lots of planning for school
• Reading from a couple of books–I haven’t had time to read any books of my own choice since Christmas break!
• SLEEPING!

I love to sleep. I just don’t do it enough because there are so many other things I want to do. I’m afraid Addie acts just like me. She just said to me, “I have so much to do this weekend!” And two nights ago, after gymnastics, she told me, “I want to go home. I have so much to do!” Addie keeps herself busy with her “art” projects. Right now, she’s focused on creating homemade valentines for all the kids in her class. I believe she dropped them in the class mailboxes today at school already. She’s a motivated kid!

Here’s to a fun and relaxing weekend!

I didn’t blog last night because I fell asleep at 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. Eight full hours of sleep–for once! On a school night! I went to work sick today, but I made it through the day. My symptoms include body aches from head to toe (even my eyes), runny nose, sore throat, chills, sinus “stuffiness”, fatigue… All I wanted to do was go home and crawl back in bed for the rest of the day.

I just need to survive tomorrow!

Even though I felt exhausted tonight, I had promised Reilly a “Mommy and Reilly Night.” Off we went to Grandville! We shopped at the mall and then had dinner at the Kobe Steakhouse. I had sushi (no gluten), and she had the chicken hubachi dinner. She loves these types of places!

It was nice, but I felt like I was dragging through the night. A day of sleeping and resting sounds great, but I do not want to miss work!  Hopefully this weekend will allow for some extra sleep and restoration. I’m looking forward to the end of this week. It’s been a long one!

I would blog all about today–the new classes, the new ideas, the new students, but I all I want to do is go to bed. It’s almost midnight. I’m still grading a few papers that were handed in at the end of the first semester. I’ve been checking over grades tonight, and I will continue to do so in the morning.

Tonight, Reilly and I worked on reading skills. As a seven year-old, she tells me, “I want to be at least two years ahead of my grade.” That’s my girl! I have researched and purchased supplementary materials for her. In the evenings, we have been working our way through these materials. Reilly’s a smart girl and easy to teach! She has a photographic memory. I love working with her. I love listening to her read!

Tonight I gave Jolie a banana for a snack. She said to me, “I got a ‘banna’!” and laughed. Then she held it up and said, “It’s cute! It got a sticker on it!” Jolie says the cutest things.

More than any other week this year, I want this one to end NOW!

An Ice Day!

After all the hours I spent doing homework this weekend, I really needed some extra sleep! I was shocked that we did not have school today. It was such a gift, all things considered.

But I was ready!

Reilly and Addie had school. Jolie and I slept until 10:00 a.m.!  Ahhh… Sleep. I had planned on starting more homework at 12:00. The kids’ school called at 11:30 and said they had Addie in the office. She had puked all over herself. Dave picked her up, and when she arrived home, she ran into the house with a big smile on her face, played the rest of the day, went to gymnastics, came home again, ran around some more, ate dinner, and went to bed. She appears to be feeling perfectly fine! We’ll see if the pukes come back.

Finally, while I was doing laundry, I made a sandwich for Jolie. The little stinker decided to fake choke. I bolted from the laundry room to the kitchen…to discover that she was actually happy and not really choking. What a relief, but my heart was a-pumpin’!

In public, Jolie has this habit where if she hears somebody coughing, she starts fake coughing, very obnoxiously, mimicking the person she does not know. I whisper to her to knock it off, and she just keeps on going. I usually remove her from the scene. She thinks it’s hilarious!

My least shy girl!

We may not have school tomorrow. That wind is blowing big time! Dave said the roads were very icy in some spots. Another day would be fine with me. I always have homework to do, and I like having time to do extra things, like write nice letters home to parents.

And sleep is good, too!

I love creating new assignments, researching the latest technology, teaching myself more computer and electronic skills to integrate into the classroom, and reading my students’ work.

I just have too much of it all to do right now!

I’ve been productive this weekend, but I have spent little time with my own kids today. After life calms down a little bit (hopefully), by the end of this week, I am hoping my at-home workload will be lighter and that I can enjoy more time with my girls!

Right now, I am trying to teach myself how to use various types of software so I can instruct my students on how to create E-Portfolios and not just the basic “paper” (boring, outdated) portfolios. This semester, I will be teaching two Business Writing classes for juniors and seniors. One of the units involves creating a Senior Portfolio that ultimately gets submitted for the local scholarship application process. The requirements for those portfolios are minimal. I would love to move far beyond that “template” and move students into a much more modern, technological world. How cool would it be for the students to have their portfolios online? I think this would make the learning process more fun and relevant!

Tomorrow we begin a new semester. It’s a fresh start. My schedule is different than the first semester. I have two literature (reading)-based classes, one writing-based class, and two Business Writing classes where we work on resumes, portfolio building, college research, and workplace skills. With the literature-based classes, I’ve had to create all new materials this year. I love it, but it’s time-consuming!

I am hoping my students love the lessons I have planned for them tomorrow! I am excited to start anew. Everybody gets a clean slate. They all start off with “As” is what I tell them.

Here’s to a successful, exciting, brand new week!

I almost forgot to blog. I’m so busy doing homework! Today was a productive day. I cleaned and did laundry. Reilly and Addie went to basketball this morning and then to open gym for gymnastics this afternoon. That’s three hours of exercise for them today. Not bad!

Jolie and I stayed home until the later afternoon. She smeared my makeup all over the white cabinets in my bathroom. Another mess to clean! Not only did she do this once, but twice! You’d think I’d learn my lesson the first time! She also covered her entire body with makeup. I think she took three baths today.

Nothing new.

Jolie and I made a quick trip to Grandville. We went to Younkers to exchange a couple of the Fiesta dishes I had received for Christmas. I wanted different colors. While we were there, I also found cute items for the girls’ “new” bathroom. It’s been a few years since I’ve redone their bathroom. Around Christmas, I ordered a new shower curtain, a rug, and some wall art/decor from Pottery Barn. Everything was on sale. Of course. That is how I shop. I got some great deals and some nice products! Today I found a toothbrush holder, a soap dispenser, and a tumbler to add to their counter in colors and patterns similar to the Pottery Barn items. It’s all flowery and girl-y. Of course!

I also looked for towels today, but I did not find anything that would match. I brought the Pottery Barn items with me to shop. The towels through Pottery Barn were too expensive, even on sale. I’ll still be looking for towels. Then I can give their bathroom a makeover! I’ll have to take some photos.

I don’t know how other people shop, but when I go, I am on a mission! In and Out! I knew I wanted to enter one store and accomplish two goals: exchange the Fiesta dishes and look for towels. The bathroom items for the girls just happened to be right by the towels, and they were 60% off already reduced prices. As much as I hate shopping, I always seem to luck out with some great deals!

Jolie and I then ate at Qdoba, and I have never seen her eat so much! She ate everything, and it was all serious business to her! She didn’t even want to talk. She ate all of her quesadillas. Usually she does not even eat half. She ate all of her applesauce, and she drank all of her juice. I think she was starving!

We didn’t eat much for lunch.

Then she came home and ate more food! She’s a growing girl! Jolie tells me she wants to be in gymnastics. Maybe this summer she can take a toddler class.

For now, we are busy enough!