So sleepy...

All I want to do is complain right now.  Mornings are not my thing.

24 days until the end of the school year.  18 more school days.  16 more days with students.  The end is in sight.

I've got to start getting to bed earlier.  Ugh...

Zzzzzz.....

THEY ALL PASSED!!!!!

We have in the rest of the results for our math state assessment and ALL OF MY KIDDOS PASSED!!!!  Praise the LORD!!  What a relief and soooo exciting!!!  :D  Here's the breakdown of how they did:
Academic Warning - 0 students
Approaches Standards - 0 students
Meets Standards - 11 students!
Exceeds Standards - 6 students!!
Exemplary - 5 students!!!

I just can't believe it!!  I'm so proud of them!!

No more weekend traveling

Well, our weekend traveling is done for a while!  Thank goodness!  I mean, I love seeing you all, but it's expensive and I just want to stay home for a while.  We had a nice weekend in Wichita.  We got to see the apartment we'll be moving into.  It needs a little work, but I think it will be nice for the next year.  Hopefully soon after Michael gets a job we'll begin a house hunt.  It will nice to finally be working towards paying off a house and not just throwing money away on rent.  In the 6 years I've been renting in Manhattan I figure I've thrown away about $33,000.  That's just crazy!!  Michael and I will spend about another $7700 this year in rent in Wichita.  Then, hopefully, we'll be ready to get a house.

There are 4 more weeks of school.  I hope I can make it.  It's going to be a long month.  I'm completely exhausted.  I need the summer to recharge and spend some time on me and my hubby and our puppy!  Sis and I are very excited to spend our summer together.  I hope a job will open up for me and Michael so we don't spend the entire summer panicking. 

Here are some pictures of our new apartment!!  I'll post more after we move in and actually have our own things in it.  :)

(Left to Right) Living Room (not pictured),
Hallway, Dining Room looking into the Kitchen

In the Dining Room looking into the Kitchen

All of the Dining Room, including a ceiling fan!

Dining Room window looking out on
a Magnolia Tree.  :)

Kitchen!!  There is another cabinet and more counter
space on the other side of the stove as well.

Master Bedroom (also has a ceiling fan, not pictured) and
Master Bathroom, the door on the left leads to the shower
and toilet, on the opposite wall in the walk-in closet.

More pictures to come!  Stay posted!  Love you all!  Hope everyone had a great Easter!!

Math testing is ROCKING!!!

I don't have scores for all of my kids yet, but I do have scores for 17 out of my 22 kiddos.  Here's what they look like:

Academic Warning - 0 students    
Approaches Standards - 0 students    
Meets Standards - 7 students!   
Exceeds Standards - 5 students!!    
Exemplary - 5 students!!!

How awesome is that?!?!?!  5 kiddos to go!  They are ones that could really swing either way.  Here's hoping for 100% passing in my class!  :)  So far in 4th grade only 1 kiddo hasn't passed.  There are 8 kiddos (3 from Tracy's class, 5 from my class) who haven't finished yet.  I am SOOOO PROUD!!!  These kids have WORKED THEIR TAILS OFF!!!  And it's paying off!!!  :)  Totally jazzed!!

(btw, I still hate state testing and think that it's stupid, but I'm excited to see my kids succeeding)  :)

Change in Moving Plans

Well, turns out the weekend we want to move is Memorial Day weekend.  I should have known that, we got married on Memorial Day weekend, I should know when it is...  But I forgot.  Anyways, because of the holiday the Aragon (Wichita apt.) offices will be closed Saturday (May 28th) - Monday (May 30th).  That means that we're going to have to have everything packed up and ready because we'll be moving to Wichita on Friday (May 27th) instead of Saturday (May 28th).  This isn't a huge deal.  Michael and I will both be off, so we'll have time to get everything done, but that means that anyone who has to work on Friday (May 27th) won't be able to help us move after all.  :(

Most of you probably didn't even know exactly what day we were moving anyways.  That's no big deal.  Mostly it's just a change for Michael and I.  But if you would like to help us load things up (In Manhattan) we will be working on it Thursday and Friday (May 26th and 27th).  If you would like to help us unload stuff (In Wichita) we will be working on it on Friday and Saturday (May 27th and 28th).

One more thing, if anyone would like to make the whole trip from and back to Manhattan, please let us know.  We can save money by returning the moving van back to Manhattan.  So if someone from Manhattan (or Topeka, I'm talking to you, Glenn)  ;) would like to go down to Wichita with us, then drive the van back to Manhattan and drop it off, we would really appreciate it!  :)  If no one wants to, that's fine, we can do it.  Just trying to simplify things.

I'll keep you posted if anything else changes.  Until next time!  :)

5 weeks left of school, 6 weeks left until we move!

The weeks are dwindling down now.  It won't be long before I will have completed my second year of teaching, my second year of marriage, and I will be moving for the 7th time in 6 years.  My weeks are packed until about mid-June.  It will be nice to have things slow down eventually.  I am certainly in need of some recoup time.

This week at school we're working on our Math state tests.  We didn't meet AYP in math last year, so I feel like everyone is on pins and needles.  We've been working very hard on math all year.  I think my kiddos are ready.  :)  I hope their brains aren't as fried as mine is right now.

This weekend is Easter and Michael and I will be driving to Wichita for the last time before we move.  We need to sign our lease and get everything set to move.  We're hoping to move in on May 28th (Saturday).  If you're around in Manhattan or Wichita that day, we'd love your help!

Next week we'll get back to a somewhat normal schedule.  SFA (Our reading curriculum) will begin again, continuing until the last week of school.  We've taken a break the last month to allow classroom teachers more time to work with their kids and to prepare them for the state tests.  I think students will be glad to have their ready curriculum back and not having to drill state test material every day.  Friday of next week the 4th grade will also be taking a trip to the State Capital!  :)  We're all looking forward to a nice field trip.

After next week we'll be down to 3 more weeks of school!  2 of those weeks have inservice days for the teachers, so they will be 4 day weeks for the kids.  Then the last week will be a full week.  The last day of school will be May 20th.  It cannot come soon enough.

While the last 3 weeks of school will be pretty laid back at school, my weekends are an entirely different story!  The first weekend in May, Tracy (my 4th grade co-hort) is throwing me a going away cookout party.  That weekend is also Mother's Day.  However, because of gas prices, we will be calling our moms and grandmas on that special day. 

The second weekend in May (14th) is when Michael is going to be graduating from K-State!!  :)  I'm so proud of him and all the hard work he's done the last 5 years!  It's going to be a wonderful day to celebrate this great achievement in his life.  Please join us!!  On Saturday we'll have lunch and a party to celebrate Michael (location yet to be determined).  Then at 6:30 in the evening we'll all head to Bramlage to watch Michael walk across the stage and recieve his diploma!  Hooray!!  Our apartment is pretty trashed right now with packing, but if you need a place to stay, we will make room!  :)

The following weekend (May 21st) is the weekend following my last day of school (let the relaxing begin!!) and the weekend of Maggie's graduation from KU with her Master's (Woooohooo!!).  Maggie, you are such a rockstar!  Congrats!!  We don't know yet if we'll be able to come to graduation yet, but we love you and are very proud of you!!

We are now to the last weekend in May (28th), this is our moving weekend!  Michael and I will pick up a moving truck on Friday and begin packing stuff up.  On Saturday we'll have some extra helpers (hopefully) and finish packing.  We'll get checked out of our apartment in Manhattan and head to Wichita.  We'll check into our new apartment in Wichita and begin unloading everything again.  We'll then have about 4 days to get settled before we'll be back in KC for Nick and Maggie's wedding rehearsal!

The beginning of June will be very busy for us as well.  We'll be settling into our new apartment, then on June 2nd, we'll head to KC for the Palermo-Voss Wedding Festivities!!  On the 2nd is the rehearsal, then on Friday the 3rd will be the wedding.  :)  I'm VERY excited!!  I even picked out my outfit this weekend!!  I was excited about the shower gift that I got for Maggie, and I'm equally as excited for the wedding gift we're assembling for Nick and Maggie.  It's a little outside the box, but I think it will be a fun gift that they will enjoy and remember.  :)  I love giving presents!!

After the wedding, Michael and I are planning on staying in KC until Monday and having a little mini-vacation.  At that time we'll probably celebrate our anniversary (May 23rd!  Don't forget!!), celebrate Michael finishing school and hopefully getting a job (Graduation is May 14th!  Don't forget!!), and celebrate me surviving another year of teaching and hopefully getting a job (Please be on the lookout!!).  We've already booked our hotel, so we'll just have to save a little bit of money to spend while we're there.  It should be a GREAT time!!  :)  Can't wait!!

Well, I don't think you wanted to know EVERYTHING that is going on in my life for the next 2 months, but there you have it!  :)

Weekend Plans

My kids aren't going to know what to think tomorrow when I come to school.  They are starting to get used to my short hair, but tonight I have an eye appointment and am getting my contacts again!  On Friday they won't know what to think when they see me.  :)

Also tomorrow, we're going to Topeka for the weekend.  On Saturday Linda and I are going to Topeka for Maggie's bridal shower.  I would tell you what I'm getting her, but as I'm not sure whether or not she checks the blog, I'll just have to tell you later.  :D  What I can say is that it's something WAAAAAY COOL!  (Also, I bought one for myself because I liked it so much!)

Next weekend we'll be traveling again (I know I said we weren't going to be traveling anymore, but we need to sign a lease!!) to Wichita.  On Saturday Michael and I will get a chance to see OUR NEW APARTMENT!!!!  Ok, it's not ours yet (they still want our money first), but Michael and I have picked out a place to live and have talked to the Landlord.  Let me tell you a little bit about the place... 

• The complex is called Aragon Apartments
• We will have an apartment on the 2nd floor (it's a little cheaper)
• The apartment will have 2 balconies (like we have now), one out of the living room, and one out of one of the bedrooms
• It will have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
• Off of the hallway bathroom (Our room has a bathroom in it!  WOOT!!) is a storage/laundry room!!  We will finally get to buy our washer and dryer!!
• There is a very nice sized living room and a seperate dining room, not like our "hallway" style dining room that we have now
• Best of all (well, maybe not, there are so many things I love about this apartment) it has a HUGE kitchen!!  Just to remind you, right now we have 1 section of counter space and a little space on either side of our sink.  This new kitchen has a lot more space and can be entered from the dining room or the living toom (L-shaped)
• The complex has: a pool, tennis courts, a basketball court, and a fitness center (I know not all of those sound like us, but I think Sis and I will be enjoying the pool and the fitness center together this summer.  I bet Michael will use the fitness center some too.  I think he might want to do some weight training.)

That's about all I have.  Looking forward to a couple of weekends with family around Easter, then we won't see anyone else again until moving time!  Only 6 weeks away!!  :D

I did it! Short hair!!

I got my hair cut!  Woot!!  I absolutely love it!  I haven't had it this short in a while.  I hope I keep up on the styling.  :)  We shall see.  Hope you like it too!!

Not About School

Hello again!  I'm posting again because I'm tired of talking about school and work.  I want to let you know what's happening elsewhere in our lives.  :)

As many of you know, I'm working on packing 3 boxes each week until we move, that way we don't have to do as much right at the end.  I got another 3 boxes packed this weekend!  Woot!!  However, one of the boxes was decorations, so now our apartment looks kind of boring.  Also packed up all my winter clothes, bring on Spring!!  :)  I feel very accomplished each weekend getting a little more done.

Michael's interview went well!  Hooray!!  They will let us know sometime in the next 2 weeks (well, week and a half now).  Also, they help pay moving expenses!!  So all you friends and family members who were dreading having to help us move, might be in the clear!  I really hope we can hire movers.  However, Michael and I made a deal that since I'm packing everything, he'll work on moving it all out of the apartment (which is the part I hate).  However, I know I probably won't be able to sit around and do nothing, but maybe my moving experience will be a bit more relaxing.

Tracy is throwing me a party!  (Ok, I know I said I wouldn't talk about school, bear with me)  Because Tracy and I have spent our first 2 years teaching together, it's going to be hard to part ways at the end of the year.  So Tracy asked to throw me a Going Away party.  :)  She's the greatest!  We're going to have a BBQ at her house at the beginning of May.  It will be sad to leave all the great people here behind.  The not-so-great people are easy to leave.  ;)

I'm considering a drastic haircut...  About 4 years ago I cut my hair pretty short.  Looking back at pictures, I thought, Wow!  That looks cute!!  So I'm thinking of cutting it again.  Take a look at these pictures and let me know what you think...  (These are from 4 years ago, I have not cut it yet)

 

That's about all that's going on these days.  :)  Hope your day is going well.  Thanks for checking out what's going on in our lives!  :)

A week without testing...

This week is the one week this month that my school isn't completely obsessed with state testing!  While we're testing a few kids this week (finishing up reading tests from last week and starting math tests to get some out of the way for next week), it's nice to be back to our normal schedule for a little while.  My students are working on their writing assessments this week, but they aren't as stressed about these as they are the other tests we've been working on.

State Test Results Update!!
As many of you know, we've been stressing a great deal about state testing around here.  Our results are almost entirely in.  My class is done, so I can tell you how we did (although whether or not we make AYP depends on 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, not just one class or grade level)...  In my class 19 out of 22 students passed.  Our school needs 88% of our students to pass the test, that's 86% passing in my class.  Sadly, 3 of the students don't count; coincidentally, all of those students passed.  :(  I'm glad they did well, it just stinks that their scores won't count.  That means that 16 out of 19 students that count passed, bringing my percentage down to 84%.  My class got close, but are not quite where we need to be.  However, 3rd grade is doing really well, that will help.  5th grade is struggling, but we can't tell yet if we'll make AYP in reading or not this year.  Only time will tell.

I hope you don't have to take a test this week either!  Have a great week, friends!!

Interview Update

well, several people have asked already how michaels interview went, so i thought i would give you all an update.

yesterday afternoon michael had a phone interview with boeing.  they started the interview by telling him that fifteen hundred people had applied for the job.  then, they explained that from that fifteen hundred they were down to twenty three candidates.  woooohoooo.  my phone wont let me type exclamation points in this box, but im super excited.  from the twenty three people that had phone interviews, they have six jobs in various boeing divisions that they have to offer.  being one of twenty three already give michael better than a twenty five percent chance.  wooohooo.

michael said that the interview went well and that we should hear something back in the next couple of weeks.  hopefully we hear something soon as they call and want to set up another interview.  we are assuming they will want a face to face interview before people are actually hired, but on the phone they werent specific, so we are left to guess.

the job that michael would be doing for them would be deminsioning and recording data about various piping systems.  its not his ideal job, as many of you know, he would prefer to design, but this is the stepping stone type of job that could lead him to that point.  we are both very hopeful.

so continue to pray for michael as he continues these steps looking for a job.  i know he will find something and we will be cared for, its just frustrating waiting to find out whats going to happen.

in the meantime, to keep up with my spring cleaning goal of three boxes packed each week until we move, i have some work to do this weekend.  i think its finally time to get all the winter clothes put away.  one step closer to the end of the year, the summer, and wichita.  awesome.

We Need A Spelling Lesson

I love my students.  They love drawing me pictures, especially today for my birthday.

Today I got a picture that had this note written on it
"Happy Birthday
have a osm Birthday"

Can you decifer what my student was trying to say?  :)  Time for a spelling lesson!  ;)

* Edit *

I needed to add a few more things...  Tracy let her class make me birthday cards today!  They are AWESOME!  Lot's of stuff about K-State and wishing that I get lots of presents.  :)  Here are a few of my favorite lines...  I love kids!!

"We all love you for your wonderful teaching SKILLS!"  :)

"You'll have a birthday full of mystery's and suprise's."

"This day will be filled with dream and hope to share.  I wish I could tell you in person but I'm in class now."

"To Mr. Voss"

"You are younger than you seem to be!"

"I hope you have a good one because you are special and sweat."

"Happy younger than Miss McElroy day."

What sweeties!!  :)

Job??

Michael has a phone interview with Boeing on Friday!!!  I'm pumped, but trying not to count my chickens.  Please pray for him and us as we continue to look for jobs.  I hope something opens up before the end of the school year, but if not, we will step out on faith and trust God to provide.  :)

Economy Limits Traveling

Hey Friends,
I realized that I haven't been posting as much lately as I did in the beginning, so I'm trying to be a little more consistant.  Today I wanted to let you know the sad news that gas prices in Manhattan have reached $3.60/gallon.  Michael and I usually don't pay much attention to gas prices.  We have to drive, so we pay what we have to and move on.  However, one thing we can control and can help us save a little is the number of trips out of town we take.  I filled up this morning when my low fuel light came on, it cost me $45 for 12.5 gallons of gas.  Going to and from Wichita for the weekend takes about 250-275 miles, two thirds of a tank of gas, $30.  Going to and from Topeka for the weekend takes about 125-150 miles, one third of a tank of gas, $15.  Going to and from Kansas City for the weekend takes 275-300 miles, over two thirds of a tank of gas, $35.  I'm not going to even mention what it costs to go visit you guys in Colorado!!  (Although we will, I promise, once we have the money)  As you can see, it adds up quickly.  We love you all, and we want to come visit, but it's just getting to be a little too much for us for now.  So we're going to try to conserve and stay in Manhattan the next couple of weeks.  You are more than welcome to come visit us!!  Although, after seeing those numbers, I'm wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to.  ;)

Happy Wednesday!  More state testing for me...  Boooo!  [See previous post]

State Testing Has Begun!!

I'm going to get on my soapbox here in a minute, but I'll say the happy stuff first, then you can leave if you don't want to hear me gripe and complain.  :)

Today we begin our state testing.  In 4th grade we basically take 4 state tests.  The computerized tests are in reading, math, and science.  We also do a writing test which is all on paper.  Today we began our reading test.  Students take this test for 3 days.  Each day they read 2-3 passages and answer 8-12 questions on each passage.  This test asks them questions about the main idea, identifying details, setting, characters, making inferences, understanding the author's purpose, and classifying.  I think my students are soooo ready for this test!  I also think that after it's done it will be a big burden off their shoulders.  4th graders shouldn't have to worry so much about this, but that's the world we live in. 

Next week we'll begin our writing test, this is something we do in class.  I can't help at all.  It's entirely up to the kids.  We have until halfway through May to finish, but I thought we might as well get all of our testing out of the way, then enjoy the last 3 weeks of school without that stress.

In 2 weeks we'll take the math test.  This is another computerized test and like the reading test, it counts for AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) with NCLB (No Child Left Behind).  Last year our school did not make AYP in Math, so we have been working our tails off this year.  I think my students are ready for the math test.  We have 2 more weeks to get ready, so we'll see how it goes.  They are pretty burned out in math, so we're doing centers in math this week.  They are enjoying it so far.

The last test we'll take here in April is the science test.  It does not count for AYP.  It is also a shorter test that only takes 2 testing sessions instead of 3.  4th grade is the only grade in elementary to take the science assessment.  Boy, did I pick a fun testable grade!!  Seems like all we've been doing is preparing for tests all year...  Which brings me to my next point...

For all those of you who don't want to hear the griping, I hope you enjoyed the blog, have a wonderful day!  :)

For those of you who don't know, let me explain No Child Left Behind to you.  While I think it began with good intentions, I don't think it was well thought through towards the end of the program.  No Child Left Behind says that each year a school has to make AYP (addequate yearly progress), basically, that means that each year the school has to be getting better and test scores need to be increasing.  By 2014 100% of students are expects to be able to pass the assessment.  First of all, it's crazy to think that all students will be able to pass.  We will always have students with special needs, with learning disabilities, students who are not native to this country who struggle with language, and students who just don't give a rat's hiney. 

Each year the "Meets Standards" percentage is going up, along with the percentage of students who must meet standards to make AYP.  Let me now explain "Meets Standards".  There are 5 categories students can score into.  I'll talk about the math scores because I have those numbers memorized. 
Academic Warning (1) is a student who scored 0-53% on the test, this score does not pass. 
Approaches Standards (2) is a student who scores 54-62% on the test, this score does not pass.
Meets Standards (3) is a student who scores 63-79% on the test, this score passes!!
Exceeds Standards (4) is a student who scores 80-88% on the test, this score passes!!
Exemplary (5) is a student who scores 89-100% on the test, this score passes!!
This year we need 88% of our students to score "Meets Standards" or above.  That means in 4th grade 40 out of our 45 students have to pass the test. 

To give you a little demographic of my school, in the 4th grade we have 6 students who don't speak English as their native language.  We have 4 other students who speak English as a second language, but are proficient enough in English to be exited from the program.  We have 6 students in 4th grade who are in special education because of mental impairments, learning disabilities, or behavior disorders.  We have about 5 students consistantly performing below grade level.  And out of all that adversity, all but 5 students have to pass the test.  It's ridiculous!!

NCLB was designed to keep teachers accountable and to ensure that students were learning the curriculum that the state said they needed to.  While I do think that teachers should be held accountable, I think it's absolutely unrealistic to think that 100% of students will be able to pass the test, ever!!  This year in math my 4th graders have to score a 63% to pass.  Next year 91% of students will be expected to score 66%.  In 2013, 96% of students will be expected to score at least 69%.  Then in 2014, 100% of students will be expected to score at least a 72% on their tests!  Can you believe the nerve of these legislators?!?!?!?

I propose a new reality show.  Let's put those snotty law makers who are cutting state education funding *cough*brownback*cough* into a classroom for a month.  Make them teach and grade and plan lessons that meet state standards.  Then, at the end of the month, we'll test the students and see if they have learned what they were expected to.  If they don't, we'll take away money and supplies from the legislator/teacher and make them go another month, always with the promise that if students don't make gains, we'll cut your funding.  Eventually, we'll give that legislator 25, 30, 35 students to deal with, claiming that the budget caused us to have to cut teachers and now class sizes are bigger.  Also, keep making gains, or we'll take stuff away from you, no more money.  Also, I propose that during this reality show, these legislators have to live on a teacher's salary.  UGH!!!  It drives me crazy how they keep cutting our funding, yet insisting we make gains.

This is not a good time to be a teacher.  I'm happy that I have a job right now, but as I look forward at moving and finding a new job in a new town, I wonder if teaching is the way to go.  In a field that always promised job security, even teachers who have been in the classroom for a while wonder if they get to return the following year.  I wonder, as NCLB approaches 2014, if I even want to be a teacher.  It's a sad reality, but this is not the job I signed up for.  I hate worrying whether I will have a job.  I hate worrying that my class size will get up to 37 again before we hire another teacher.  I hate having to stress students out about testing.  I thought this job was going to be different.  The government is punishing the public education system.  I know we will see the effects of these changes on schools in the years to come.  I weep for the state of this world in the future.

That's my rant.

Mama's don't let your babies grow up to be teachers. 

Harlee's Rough Week

hey everyone, if youre on facebook, youve aleady heard some of whats been going on with harlee lately, but i thought i would enlighten you all.  before i begin, let me just say that harlee is fine.  it just turned out to be a rather long week for her.

tuesday night at about midnight, harlee started howling out of nowhere.  one idea is that we went to bed kind of early that night, so maybe she needed to go out once more.  either way, we were both asleep, along with our neighbors, i assume, when she started howling. i had to go to work the next day, plus im extremely grumpy when im woken up, so i wasnt putting up with it.  when michael was moving around and i realized he was awake too, i angrily said, will you go beat your dog?  michael went in and flipped her on her back and let her know her behavior wasnt going to work.  she still made a little noise and got a couple swats and flipped again.  after that, she was quiet the rest of the night.

wednesday when we were home from work michael and i were watching tv and harlee went into our bedroom.  this is something sheks allowed to do, usually she likes sleeping on our bed.  however, a few minutes later she came into the living room with a white piece of plastic that had been chewed to smithereens.  on closer inspection, and after looking in the bedroom, we realized shed chewed the lid off of an extra strength tylenol bottle, also, there were no pills to be found.  i made a frantic call to the vet who said to give her hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting.  we thought we were going to have to give her between one and two cups, but after about a quarter cup she started vomiting.  luckily, there didnt seem to be any pills in her system.  what a stressful evening.

thursday was harlees big day.  with our money from our tax return we had enough to go ahead and take her to the vet to get fixed.  we also had her microchipped.  if you know anything about harlee, you know she likes to run off.  having her microchipped will make her easier to find if she ever got away and we couldnt find her.  so when we got her home on thursday she was sore and taking things pretty slow.  she made the mistake of jumping onto our bed, she hasnt done that much since.

the last couple days have been pretty good for her.  we went on a long walk yesterday and she did great.  coming up the stairs is going a little slower, but overall, she seems to be healing well.  it was a rough week, but shes fine.  hope we dont have anymore weeks like this in the future.