Fall Break

Last day of school with 1st graders was definitely a lesson in patience. Wow! Soon it was over and here I am the next morning - all in one piece and ready to enjoy a 4 day weekend.
Haven't decided just what would be the most relaxing, enjoyable way to spend these days. Lets see . . . . . . .

1. Scrapbooking
2. Reading a new book
3. Organizing the closets (you know, if you haven't worn it or used it in the last year) send it to Goodwill.
4. Working on the flowerbeds and preparing the Towle yard for winter.
5. Cleaning the 21 windows and 10 door windows in this house (which didn't get cleaned this summer and reallllllly need it)
6 . Cleaning house - doing the extras that don't get done every week.
7. Or - maybe . . . . . just sitting, doing nothing and daydreaming.

Better yet - I know - I'll do a little bit of all of the above.

ENJOY your

Finally Did it!!!

Checked again today. I am able to put the correct name with every one of the 84 Harris Elementary First Grade students. Yea!!!!

I even do reasonably well with Nathan & Noah - the twin boys in Angle/Bryant's classes. I check each morning to see what color shirt they are wearing and then I am good to go with them for the day. When I have a moment of forgetfulness I look to see what class is surrounding the particular boy I want to call and then I can put the correct name with the correct twin. Is that cheating? No - surely not!!!

Kitchen Faucet

The Towle house needed a new faucet - well the Towle House has needed one for a loooonnng time, but money being in short supply a lot of the time, a kitchen faucet was at the bottom of the list.

The time finally arrived to look for one. One was located at Menard's that the Female half of the Towle house really liked. To make it an even better purchase, it was on sale for a very good price. The Female half asked the Male half at the Towle House if he could install such a faucet. Without hesitation the answer was yes. The purchase was made.

Then the real problems started. The Male half indicated he would need eyes and the Female half stated "No problem". She would be the eyes. Three hours the first day was spent - the old faucet was removed and the new one was out of the box. Yea!!

Day two of the installation dawned and Male and Female halves were on the job early by 7:30am. Broke for lunch around 11:30am. Finally at 6:30pm the faucet was installed. There were only a few problems.

Female half asked at a minimum of 5 - 7 times "Are you sure you don't want me to call Derek or Brett to come help?"

Female half stood in the kitchen praying a lot of the time while the Male half was half in under the sink talking - not to the Female half - just talking. Never did figure that out.

Male half said, guess we have to take the sink out to get this installed. That created another problem all by itself. The sink was originally installed 32+ years ago and really didn't want to come out. With persuasion however the sink finally complied - it was removed - the faucet was installed - the sink was re-installed and the water was turned on - there weren't any leaks and the the Male half said - "Well that wasn't as easy as it used to be." No kidding was the Female half's comment.

14 hours to install a faucet that when the Male half had good eyes could have probably been completed in an hour - check. Faucet is really nice - check. Works great - check. Female half not sure she will ever ask for another home improvement in this lifetime - check. Keeping all this to herself - without a doubt - check!!

All's well that ends well!!!

Old mind - new things to remember!!!

When school started I had 83 new students in 1st grade to put names together with faces. It is so much easier when there are problems to be able to call a name rather than "Hey you, Boy, Girl, etc" when I need someone to look at me.

I have been working on it. Some are easier than others. Those kids that constantly do something they aren't suppose to - their names are learned quite quickly.

Yesterday I had the time and opportunity to test what I have mastered and what I need to work on. As 1st grade filed in from the lunch line to the tables where they were suppose to sit, I had time. As each one came past me, I looked, said a name and waited for the next student.

When all were seated, I knew I had 10 children that were nameless in my mind. I'm thinking that isn't too bad for an old mind and 83 names to learn. Of course it was 4 weeks ago that I started, so guess I better move a little faster. Then as Jaylen W came through and I looked at him he asked me "Do you remember who I am?" I have had trouble with his name (there are only 4 Jaylen's in 1st grade). When I came up with his name, I felt proud of me.

Also there is that set of twin boys who are so alike that the only way I know who they are is if they tell me who their teacher is. Occasionally when I try to put a name to their face, I will say both names and most always they will tell me who they are. But - - - they are learning I can't tell them apart and they are beginning to use it against me - so I must learn and fast -is it Nathan or Noah?

Knowing who everyone is makes this busy year at school
just a little easier. So my new motto is - -

175 Days Left

It is a day to relax. Well....I would like to relax, but now that school is back in session - Saturday is the only day I can get all that housewife "stuff" done.

So ... I have done my weekly food shopping - put it away and have started my weekly laundry - 6 loads worth this week. And it is only 10:30am. After laundry there is still this hugh house to clean.

I may actually make it through to the end of Saturday and have everything done. That would be a blessing.

This has been a tiring week. Guess I really am getting old. I don't remember last years 1st week wearing me out quite as much as I feel this time.

I have 83 1st graders to learn their names which is daunting in itself, then add trying to get the reading theme copied for all those little ones before the second week starts. Also add the Everyday math copies needed and walking my usual 5-7 miles a day at school and I am one tired 'old' lady. The only thing that makes me feel better is that all those young people I work with - teachers, IA's, etc are tired too! So guess I will try it one more week.

I am reminding myself - there are only 175 more days......

Scrapbooking

My newest passion is my way to relax - scrapbooking - what fun and relaxation in making a scrapbook.

This summer I created my 1st school scrapbook. First Grade 2010-11 at Harris Elementary. This was one of the largest I have done - well the second largest.

I took it to school to show everyone what I did over summer. One of our retired kindergarten teachers is a scrapbooker. She made a scrapbook of all the classes she has had over the years. 40 years worth of classes. I have been waiting for Pat to be at school (she is one of our regular volunteer's) and check out my scrapbook. Today was the day.

She looked at it and gave me an A+. Whew! Glad that is over and I am so excited she thinks I did so well.

Indiana - Number Worlds

Number Worlds - sounds like a fun thing. . . .well I am still trying to decide if that is true. Yesterday I went to a Math Orientation at Harris for a new program Greenfield-Central has purchased for our school system this year.

Last year we started a new Math Program - Everyday Math - and even at my advanced age, I was able to get it all together and perform as needed in 1st grade Math with Everyday Math. Now. . . . .they have purchased a program to enhance the Everyday Math - Number Worlds.

I am getting better with "numbers" every year. Math never was a comfortable subject for me when I was in school and certainly not now. I am learning. So now I am going to learn even more - sounds like a fun thing. . .we will see.

I will let you know more later on regarding Everyday Math (last years program) and the new introduction of Number Worlds (this years addition.

August 3, 2011

I heard a quote recently that makes me think. . .

"Life is all about how you handle PLAN B"

Hmmm. . . . . makes me wonder how I am coping with all the things that have been happening in my life since December 10, 2010. . . .hopefully with grace and as much dignity as I can.

Life is interesting!

Last Day of School 2011

School is over for this year. How quickly these 180 days of instruction have passed by. I keep telling myself I notice it more because I am getting older. But then when I hear some of the young teachers and assistants saying the same thing, I realize it is not all because of age.

I was forced to take this last week of school off. Physical problems made it difficult to work. So not really forced, but it seemed easier to be at home resting rather than at school walking and stressing. Therefore my principal encouraged me to take the week off which I did. Fortunately I still had personal time to use and I was able to get paid for these last 5 days.

I went to school on Thursday morning to see all my 1st graders one more time before they are "big" second grade students. Also I had made a scrapbook of each class for the teachers and I wanted to deliver those. To school I went - and I had so much fun. There just isn't any way to describe the feelings of accomplishment in seeing children who in the last 9 months have learned so many things and are on their way to becoming the adults of the future. To have had a small part in that education is most rewarding and I am blessed that I have been given that privilege.

First Grade

How quickly time flies....it doesn't seem quite possible that another school year is almost over.

The 88 - 1st grade students that I have had the privilege of working with and getting to know a little more about every day will very soon be in Second Grade and on to bigger and better things. I will certainly miss each one of them.

I will miss the many fun comments made to "Mrs. Towle" by these little ones like.....

Gabrielle who said one day, "Mrs. Towle, I really like that shirt you are wearing, but that thing on top is really a mess" - which was a sweater vest I thought looked quite nice.
- - - - - - - - - -
Miles who told me, "Mrs. Towle, you are the prettiest 'old ' lady I have ever seen"
- - - - - - - - - -
Robbie, who when he is doing something wrong, sees me coming toward him to remind him to make good choices, will smile, hug me and say, "I love you, Mrs. Towle"
- - - - - - - - - -
Austin, who doesn't like to read and I have books that he has to read to me will say, "Do you have any candy to give me if I read today?"
- - - - - - - - - -
Avery who has a lot of trouble being quiet and not talking out, and when I have told him for the fourth or fifth time during RTI to be quiet will tell me, "I'm really trying Mrs. Towle,
but it's hard, cause I'm a boy". I haven't figured out why being a boy makes it harder to be quiet, but according to Avery it does.
- - - - - - - - - -
Or Keeley who will ask every time I am reading with her reading group, "Let me be first, please, please, please?" It is difficult to look into those blue eyes and remind her that we have to take turns being first.
- - - - - -
One class told their teacher when I was off for a week following surgery in December. Can we make cards to send to Mrs. Towle. She allowed them to make those cards and another teacher brought them to me. How special each card is to me!

It has been a very rewarding year with 1st grade. I have enjoyed all 161 days we have had together so far. It is a learning experience for me and hopefully I have been able to help each one of them in their education this year.

I am somewhat sad about them all moving forward, but life does move on. I will be delighted to see them in the hall on a daily basis. And I will be looking forward to meeting a new group of first grade students to work with in August!

Life and my 1st Graders

Life is too short for drama and petty things,

So, laugh often, love truly and forgive quickly.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm,

But how to dance in the rain!

I am going to forget the stress at work today, and think about all the wonderful children I was able to see, talk to and give a little of myself to. Who knows they may have a difficult home life to deal with and I need to give them something happy.

Guess I will concentrate on that and pray for a good day tomorrow!

Interesting Quote

I still find each day too short

for all the thoughts I want to think,

all the walks I want to take,

all the books I want to read,

and all the friends I want to see!

by ~ John Burroughs

Reading this quote makes me realize that I can never do all the things I have on my list of things I want to do before my life is over. Therefore to leave as much as I can for my family that I will leave behind someday -

I'm going to spend the day scrapbooking!

Doesn't that sound like a good reason to ignore my daily housekeeping list. If you want me I will be in my craft room today. Talk to you later!!

Sunday!

It is Sunday and I am missing something that is very important to me. Sunday Church!

Friday while walking down one of the halls of Harris Elementary all of a sudden a major, strong pain struck my right hip. Knowing that this is a Fibro pressure point - I thought 'no problem, it will be different tomorrow'. That is what always happens. I guess maybe it isn't Fibro, if not what is it, because it is still here.

Tomorrow arrived and I had multiple jobs on my Saturday list. Did the pain leave? NO! So then I had to think why. Of course, the point could be made "what in the world does Bette know". Most likely nothing, but I continued to try and figure out this problem. Haven't got there yet. Friday I was at the 1st step of the pain ladder, Saturday I was at the 2nd and fast approaching the 3rd step.

Pain meds during the night kept my pain sort of under control. This morning, I am hurting, so I am sitting, hoping for a better afternoon. Glad I have an extra day this weekend to get back to normal.

Therefore I am missing church this morning.

New Blog Background!!

Well, I wonder - did it work? The background changes is what I am wondering if it has worked. For weeks now since I have had background problems, when I look at my computer, everything looks wonderful. When I look at any other computer - it is an absolute UGLY MESS in capital letters. So......we will see when I go to school on Tuesday and check on another computer!!

Hopefully it won't look like this picture above - messy. I am trusting that my blog will be somewhat organized. Looking forward!!!!

13 down - 167 days left!

I can't believe we have been in school for over 2 weeks. But the record shows that we have been there 13 days.

Since I am in 1st grade this year, I am having it easy, I think. I don't have to know as much math as I did last year, I don't have to remember stuff like ordinal & cardinal numbers, line segments, those terms like vertex, obtuse, trapezoid, isosceles, the difference between points, lines and rays and all that kind of stuff. I just have to be able to remember that when the 1 comes before the 3 or the 9 it is a teen number. I think I can handle this.

I was going out the back door to monitor one of the streets as a crossing guard on Friday and Mrs. Cooney, the math coach caught me and informed me we would be having a meeting on Monday to discuss the changes in the "new math" for this year. Oh dear, I may be in trouble. I'm thinking it is a good thing the principal put me in 1st grade. After all, how hard can it be. I recognize all those symbols in the picture. And...how much more can they expect of 1st graders. But, you just never know!!!


They definitely read more than "Dick and Jane" that I was familiar with in my days. Okay I know my days don't really count, but even when my children were in 1st grade. What these kids are reading now makes my kids first books look rather juvenile. Therefore this makes me somewhat frightened about my ability to keep up with 1st grade when it comes to meeting with Mrs. Cooney and her "new math". Yikes!

Mrs. Cooney is scary enough just listening to her talk at lunch about all the "facts" in her brain. That's right. If you are as old as me you didn't call them facts, but that is what it is now. It is a new world out there. And this old lady, Mrs. Towle as the kids keep calling me, is trying to keep up. Who am I kidding, I am trying to catch up - not keep up. I'll keep up when I finally catch up. Reading this to Lee just now. he commented, "What in the world are you talking about?" I know, it is confusing to us Grams and Grandpas.

I'll do my best, even though I am just a tad bit worried about this week and Mrs. Cooney's "New Math" facts. Is my best going to be good enough????

Soccer with Paige!

Friday night was my first time to watch Paige play soccer this year. According to her grandmother, she is wonderful and very athletic. Oh yeah - that is me, but I thoroughly enjoyed my 1st soccer game in several years. It surely didn't have anything to do with the fact that I am absolutely in love with this little girl. Don't tell her, but she has to share that absolute love with several other little ones, also known as "Towle Grands"

Good news - Bad news, I guess

Went to see Dr. O'Connor on Monday and he went to look at my x-rays from Saturday and the results of the Radiologist reading. He came in to see me.

Dr. O'Connor: "When did you break this foot"

Me: "Friday night I guess"

Dr. O'Connor: "Well the Radiologist reads it as a two to three month old fracture"

Key word there "old". Hmmmm...maybe that is why my foot has hurt so bad for so long to take even one step without shoes on.

So I guess I have been walking around on a fractured foot for 2 - 3 months. And of course, it is partially healed. Anyway - long story, short I was sent to see Dr. Elliott that afternoon. He is the foot specialist. He decided that the amount of healing that has already taken place shows that I will not have to wear the cast boot. YEA in capital letters. I really hate that cast boot. That is the good news!


The bad news is that I have to wear an ugly black ankle, foot brace. Well it isn't quite as ugly as the foot brace - so that is good news, but it is ugly. The bad news I guess is that I have a fractured foot.

It is hard to say which is uglier~both are horrible, wouldn't you agree???!!!!

One other thing, the boot is the old one I had to wear 2 years ago on my right foot when it was broken, at least the brace is new!

Well, I am mixed up as to what the good news is, and what the bad news is. But I do know I am now in this brace for the next month until I go see Dr. Elliott for a repeat x-ray.

Maybe that is a good side effect of fibromyalgia - I hurt, and I can't tell what the hurt is from, so I just keep going on and eventually it all works out. Sounds reasonable to me!!! Have a good week - I am NOT in the cast boot. Yea!!

When it Rains, It Pours !!!

Recently I went to my family doctor regarding the constant cramping I have in my left leg. He says he thinks it is muscle spasms. Well that is good! What is the cure - or is there one. He decided to send me to physical therapy for some exercises that should help. Key word there is "should". No guarantee! But I'm open to trying!

So I went for my first visit and evaluation this past Thursday. She ran me through all the exercises she decided should help me and sent me home at 5PM. Since my car was in the shop getting new brakes, Derek had taken me to work. I walked to the hospital after school for my appointment and Derek then picked me up at the hospital to take me to the car repair shop to pay for and get my car.

When I arrived home, Lee decided we should go out for supper since it was already almost 6PM. That was good - since he knows I HATE to cook. Therefore it was too late to start the exercises that night.

Friday I did half the exercises in the morning and that evening I got all the necessary and needed items to complete the exercise routine and sat down to do them. I can only assume I was tooooooo vigorous in my execution of the exercise.

Saturday morning I woke up with my left foot swollen, and EXTREMELY painful to walk on. I put on hard sole tennis shoes to go do my weekly shopping, but had constant pain with every step. When 9AM came, I decided I better go get it x-rayed. Sure enough - it is fractured. Yuck!!

I will be seeing the doctor again tomorrow morning - am wearing a cast boot at this time. This is not a fun thing - I am no longer laughing. Well sort of not. It is too funny not to laugh. Oh my goodness, when it rains, it pours...I guess that is all I can say.

One sweet adorable little girl

As you know I am working with 1st grade this year. GCSC transferred the hearing impaired program to Harris this year. We have 3 of the children in 1st grade. 2 boys and 1 girl.

I worked in the little girls class one day checking the children with their new words for the week. Had to wear the microphone and the interpreter stood by telling "Kari" what I was saying to her. She hears some tones, and can read lips a little, but relies on her interpreter for most everything.

When we talked that first time, all went well. She is extremely bright and knew her words as soon as they were presented. I told her "thank you, you did very well. She informed me "you are welcome Mrs. "T" - with a question in her eyes to her interpreter as to whether she was saying my name right.

Friday I took two classes to lunch at the same time 46 - 7 yr olds. They are put in alphabetic order and told to walk in one straight line - well two lines behind Mrs. Towle - one line for each class.

When we arrived at the cafeteria - Kari came up to me and pulled on my arm and started telling me something - rapidly in sign language. Of course I had no idea what she was telling me, and I frantically looked around for her interpreter - she was not anywhere near me, nor could I see her. So I got down in front of Kari and tried to carefully say - tell me slowly what is wrong. She took my hand and pulled me to one of the little boys, "Will" and pointed at him and then pointed to where she had been standing, then pointed at several other boys - threw her arms out wide and said "No". I asked if they weren't in line where they were suppose to be? She smiled a wide smile and said "Yes, yes". I told the boys to get back in line where they are suppose to be. Turns out there were 5 boys out of line.

Her interpreter showed up about then asking if there was a problem. I told her what had happened and that Kari had alerted me to the problem and I was very proud of her. Mrs. Krantz was signing to Kari, and she again smiled that beautiful smile of hers and said, "I know". She is one sweet little girl and a joy to work with. Makes me feel so blessed that my own children and grands do not have a physical disability. Kari makes a person realize though that it really doesn't matter if you have a disability or not. I think she is one very special little girl and I am so happy to be working with her.

What else can Happen???

School has started - here we are already at the end of day #4. My teachers give me the impression that they are satisfied with my performance so far. I haven't heard from my Principal that I need to improve in any area, so that is a source of contentment for me. This is a blessing during these days of "Things are falling apart at the Towle House"

And the rest of the story is....

Three weeks ago, the air-conditioner on our car went out. We took it to Lee's favorite car repair shop and the answer was $875. to fix. Okay, we can probably live without air-conditioning in the car. We just don't drive any time it isn't absolutely necessary.

Two weeks ago my washer gave up half a ghost. It will wash, spin, rinse, spin and allow me to put clothes in and remove them when it stops. That is all good, but .... It won't fill with water. So Bette being the resourceful senior that she is, carries buckets of water from the extra sink to the washer, 3 buckets to wash, 3 buckets to rinse, each and every load. You know that really isn't so bad. When I had four little children, ages 4, 3, 15 mo. and a newborn, I took all our laundry in the car with the 4 kids to the local laundromat, so carrying buckets of water didn't seem too much of an inconvenience.

Doing my laundry this past Saturday, I was filling one of those many buckets of water when the phone rang. I answered the phone and since it was a family member I hadn't talked to in a long time, I enjoyed our conversation. Yeah, you guessed it - I forgot the bucket was filling and when it filled the sink then filled and when I didn't return, the water ran out and out for a realllllly looooonnnng time soaking the carpet in that room, and part of two surrounding rooms before I hung up and returned to a BIG MESS. After turning off the water, bursting into tears and feeling sorry for myself, I began to clean up the MESS I had created.

So I started this week of going to school thinking - what else can happen? Well, on my way to school this morning it happened! The brakes on the van went out. They can't start working on it until Thursday morning. Oh well, Shelley, our speech teacher at Harris, consoled me by telling me "Well, things happen in three. Your three are the air-conditioner, the washer, and now the brakes. Nothing else can happen". Thank you Shelley.

I am posting this on black background - seems somewhat appropriate! The rest of my week is going to be sooooo good!

I am going to leave you with a quote I read recently......"Aren't 'the good things that come to those who wait' just the leftovers from the people that got there first?"

Well I am waiting and I will be happy with whatever comes, even the leftovers.