Renaissance

Recently, I have been flooded with a flurry of new ideas for my students' learning, classroom décor, and ways to make the school day run more smoothly for the school as a whole.

I'm not quite sure what exactly inspired my new ideas, but if I had to pinpoint it down to one thing, I would say that with time comes understanding and confidence with teaching.  I have just as much travel time to and from work as I used to when I rode the bus, but for some reason, I spend more time thinking about how to make my class better instead of just thinking about making it day-to-day.  All of a sudden, I have more clarity and focus now on how to be the best teacher I can be.

When I graduated with my teaching degree in May 2010, I had so much hope that I would have a classroom of my own within three months of graduating; but, after sending many, many, many applications all over the Midwest, Northeast, and Eastern coast of the U.S., I had no replies so I became a substitute teacher in my hometown.

After a roller coaster of events, in April 2013, I finally became a teacher with a class to call my own--even though it was part-time, so I was only in charge of them from Mondays to Wednesdays.  Because of an unexpected chain of events, by September, I became a full-time teacher.  My first two years, I taught two different age groups of children so I never really felt like I got a chance to wrap my head around where the students were headed.  I did the best that I could at the time and tried to apply what I had learned in Ohio to fit in with the English school system.

Now, toward the end of my third year of teaching--I took one year out for maternity leave--I feel like it took me until this point to start truly thinking creatively in the classroom, other than when it came time to make a new worksheet.  It also took me until this point to have the confidence to try what is on my mind without worrying about what other teachers will think or say.  It's as if I have a blank slate again in the classroom, but I am able to apply my mixture of experience, education, and newfound openness to change.  I am excited to be at the dawn of this teaching renaissance and to apply all of my ideas to the rest of this school year and begin again in September with these grand plans in place.

Our Saturday family activity was walking around the beach and the sand dunes.  This is the perfect activity for a little boy with tons of energy because there is hardly anything around for him to trip over and he can run until his heart's content.

Strolling and talking to us about his day

The hills were pretty steep, but Jackson went to any lengths necessary to climb to the top

There were many little clumps of sand that looked like rocks and Jackson had to squeeze all of them between his fingers to crush them.  Luckily, they were all just clumps of sand.

Jackson leading the way down the sandy trails

One more trip to the top of the sand dunes with Daddy

P.S.  Happy Mother's Day to my mom!  Thanks for always reading the blogs and calling to check up on me.

Developmental updates:  Jackson can now locate his shoulders and knees when asked to do so.  He gets really excited when he is waiting for the train to come while we wait at the level crossing.  (Consequently, something that used to really annoy me--waiting for the trains--is now something I look forward to on the drive to and from work.)  Jackson seems to have outgrown throwing a fit when it is time to have his diaper changed.  It took months of patience and routine, but we've cracked the code and now Jackson will even fetch his changing mat on his own when he knows it's time for a change.  (Our next goal is for Jackson to get into his car seat without kicking and screaming.)  When Jackson watches his cartoons, he seems to be connecting more with the plot lines because he gasps and laughs at the appropriate times.  Today, we asked Jackson to open a door and he must have understood what we were saying because he tried pulling down on the door handle, and with a little help turning it, he was successful.

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.

Know When to Hold 'Em, Know When to Fold 'Em

In middle school, I was an avid Dr. Phil watcher and if I wasn't going to play rehearsals or basketball practice, then I was usually doing my homework with Dr. Phil McGraw giving his advice in the background.  Knowing that I would most likely be a mom someday, I stored-up the parenting tips he offered and knew that in the future, they might come in handy.

Once he told a story about his wife, Robin, going grocery shopping and on her way to the check-out with a cart full of food, her son had a huge temper tantrum because he didn't get what he wanted.  Instead of pushing through the screaming and crying in order to finish her shopping, she left the cart in the middle of the store and went home.

Even though I avoid the grocery store by ordering my weekly shopping online, toddlers can have temper tantrums anywhere.  I was beginning to think that our little Jackson would never make such a public disruption of the peace, but alas, the time had come today.

This weekend is the Southport Festival, which if I hadn't seen a billboard advertising it, I wouldn't have known anything special was going on this weekend in town.  I looked at the upcoming events earlier this week online and saw that today there would be a "music gig for children" at one o'clock.  Knowing that Jackson loves to dance and seems to be entertained by live music (at least when we've encountered it by chance before), I bought tickets for our little family to go enjoy a live concert.  I had high hopes of Jackson dancing along to the beat and maybe even trying to sing along as we've been working on singing different pitches during our long car rides to and from school.  Then, if he really liked the music, we would buy a CD on the way out and maybe even get the singer to autograph the album!

We headed to the show at about ten til one so that Jackson wouldn't have to wait too long in a seat.  With our tickets in hand and within about fifteen feet of the usher, a family of five with Bohemian, flowing pants on, nearly knocked us down so they could get to the usher first.  Poor little Jackson, thinking that he needed to join the running stampede, trotted alongside the youngest child of the vagabonds up to the ticket-taker.  The parents both very loudly announced, "HE'S NOT WITH US!"  (Yes, our tiny toddler is trying to get into a £3 show for free by sneaking in with your bolting brood.)  This annoying scene should have been our foreshadowing that something was stirring in the air and we should turn back.

Some pleasant background music was playing to serve as an overture to the singer's repertoire and Jackson took this opportunity to go straight to the stage (which was a cleared space in the library with chairs set-up in a semi-circle around it).  He did his spinning moves and classic baby bounce and then returned to his seat, all the while holding his milk bottle.

With about two minutes to go until show time, Jackson wanted to leave.  Usually if we let him roam and explore where he wants to go, then he settles down and joins in with what everyone else is doing eventually.  But by the singer's first song, we didn't seem to be winning the battle this time.  The screaming and crying and throwing of himself on the floor were disrupting the show and echoing throughout the Cathedral ceilings up the winding staircase.  Milk, snacks, and even offerings of chocolate didn't work to calm Jackson down.  We were at a loss of what to do so we had to abandon the show and leave by the third song.  Of course as soon as we stepped out of the building, everything was hunky-dory again without a tear in sight.

After much discussion about what went wrong, our theories are that Jackson didn't care for the music or that he didn't want to share the stage.  We will never know the true problem that sent Jackson into such a state, but we are happy that we decided not to force the situation--and we bet the other patrons are, too.

2017 Family Photo--it was a bit trickier this year as Jackson can walk and run now

Jackson meeting a cow and talking to it with his 'moo' sounds

A miniature railroad that leads to a secret stop on the farm

Jackson was embracing the wind at Windmill Farm

Windmill Farm trip 2017

We got our own little carriage on the miniature train!

Lots of adventures to be had down on the farm.  There were little tractors that Jackson could ride along by walking his feet on the ground, but he wanted to ride the pedal-powered tractors like the big kids.

Today Jackson had his first haircut from a professional.  I asked for the 'Prince George' when the lady asked how I wanted it done.  He was calm and patient until about the last five minutes; then it was total meltdown mode.  The hairdresser was really nice and helpful with the whole experience and we managed to distract him with some glittery trinkets and nail varnish in the window for just enough time at the end so she could complete her final snips.

Developmental updates:  Jackson turned 19-months-old on Thursday.  He likes walking himself out of nursery to the car, with his coat draped over one arm and a milk bottle in the other.  If I try to hold his hand, then Jackson will hang on if he feels out of his depth, but for the most part, he wants to be independent while we walk together.  During our car rides, I've been singing simple patterns of vowel sounds with varied pitches and Jackson repeats them back to me.  (His low notes are the cutest because they aren't that low, but I can hear him trying his best to lower his baby voice.)  Jackson's new animal noises are howling for a wolf and 'cock-a-doodle-do' for a rooster.

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.

Speedsters

In England this week, the punishments were intensified for not driving under the speed limit.  There are speed cameras galore where we live in Southport (the average speed limit around us for miles is 25 mph).  But on three of the long stretches of road that Jackson and I travel on every day in order for us to get to school have a speed limit of 70 mph--which means that many people drive 80 or more--yet there are no speed cameras to be found in these areas.

One road had a speed limit of 70 until Friday when the new signs must have been installed over night.  Either way, there were multiple signs warning drivers of the new speed limit and 'repeater signs' for the entire two-mile stretch.  I had sixteen cars pass me and when the dust cleared, there was no one left behind me on the road.  And, the people who overtook were nowhere to be seen after a minute or so.  Maybe they didn't hear about the new sanctions for speeding?

Here is what will happen for drivers who are caught going at least one to ten mph over the speed limit:  a Band A fine and 3 points on the driver's licence.
For those who are caught driving 11 to 20 mph over the posted speed limit:  a Band B fine and either 7-28 days of disqualification or 4-6 points on the driver's licence.
And for drivers travelling 21+ mph above the speed limit, they will receive a Band C fine and either 7-56 days of disqualification or 6 points on their licence.
The maximum fine anyone can ever pay for one offence is £1,000, and it is £2,500 if on a motorway.
(Band A=25-75% of weekly income; Band B=75-125% of weekly income; and Band C=125-175%)*

I know that it can be annoying sometimes to drive right on the speed limit.  For instance, we have a downhill drive leading to our village on the last stretch home and I have to brake the entire way down the hill to keep the speedometer on 20.  The other annoying part of following the speed limits is having other drivers ride too closely behind in an attempt to make me speed.  If they only knew me, then they'd know this is a lost cause.

Hopefully the majority of drivers will begin adhering to the speed limits for fear of the harsher fines.  And hopefully the police will be firm in enforcing the law because although the changes are new, those sixteen cars that passed me and going at least 65 in a 50 didn't seem to have any respect for the rules of the road.

Doing his best Tom Hanks impression

"This town ain't big enough for the both of us."

"Draw!"

Dancing at the outdoor food fair in New Brighton and cheering at the end of every song.  He brought a smile to all of the concert-goers' faces.

Developmental updates:  Jackson can point to his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, toes, belly, belly button, and head accurately and is starting to pronounce all of these words, too.  His other new words of the week are ball, door, more, and bowl.  Jackson seems to have a close bond with the other little 'lads' at nursery because Jackson tripped and fell this week and all of the boys apparently huddled around him and took turns giving him hugs to make him feel better.  (It's amazing to me how at such a young age these babies can be so sympathetic.)  We have been noticing that Jackson likes to play while holding onto a toy or other object.  For instance, today we went to New Brighton to an indoor play zone called Bubbles.  Jackson was climbing up ramps, going down slides, and bouncing through the ball pit all the while holding onto a spongy ball that he found in the big kids' area.  The other day, in the backyard, Jackson picked up a stone and carried it with him while he played on his climbing frame.  Holding onto these things obviously made his play more difficult, but he insists on carrying something while exploring.

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.

*Information gathered from www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk