tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-175437952024-03-05T08:03:43.089-05:00Surviving Life as MeSchool's closed until May 15, 2020
Gov. Cooper NCMelanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-38711274541780431552020-04-05T21:12:00.001-04:002020-04-05T21:12:23.687-04:00Here it is... Sunday!<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, spring break 2020 is over. SIGH. Went on a few walks, cleaned out our storage building and put things back neatly this time. Lastly, got some extra sleep that was needed!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, back to work tomorrow. Work? Isn't NC under shelter in place order? Why YES, yes we are; however, the governor sees educators as essential employees! HUH? What can we essentially do at the school building w/o children to teach? Let me list the things we can do!</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We can clean our classrooms</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Find work for students who do not have access to either their Chromebooks or the internet.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Handout food from the buses as they go to each bus stop so the children can eat breakfast and lunch.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Search the internet for cool things to do with students when we start digital learning.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Walk around the school to get your steps in all the while keep social distancing.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lastly, hope and pray they don't see you leaving school early because you are so stinking bored!!!!</span></li>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, here it is 9:11 PM EDT and I am going to get myself ready for bed b/c I have to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for our Google Chat and Google Meet tomorrow! Still going back and forth whether or not I am actually going into the school or not. Decisions, Decisions!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Peace</span></div>
Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-62124602663336010992020-04-03T00:02:00.000-04:002020-04-03T00:02:04.948-04:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am back and ready to blog again! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">COVID-19 rocks world!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Just a quick update... since 2012...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's see...2013- Still teaching and still married. Johnathan turns 10 and Lee's son Logan comes to live with us. He's from California!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">2014</span></u>- Pretty much the same--- Johnathan turns 11 Logan turns 12. Both boys finish elementary school!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="color: red;">2015</span></u>- WOW what a year! Boys started MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!! I get to go to Ron Clark Academy for professional development, see my goddaughter play soccer, meet her sister's boyfriend, and see my best friend. Hubby and I got to sneak away for the weekend!!! Charleston, SC!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">June 2015</span></u>- My school- my little country school closes š¢</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Packing up 6 years of memories is hard and tiring. Heading across town to merge with another school that has closed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="color: red;">July 2015</span></u>- Met my new principal, moved into my new room and started to mold it to what I wanted! Just not a new building!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">School year 15-16</span></u>- Uneventful, stressful, and nothing really notable. Boys moved to 7th grade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="color: red;">School year 16-17</span></u>- Fourth grade again--2 different teammates during the year! Good kids overall. Principal and AP leaving!! Nothing notable, uneventful, and still stressful! Lee started dialysis due to kidney failure! SIGH. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">School year 17-18</span></u>- Moved to 5th grade- New principal, a friend joins the staff, and VERY STRESSFUL!! Not the year I wanted nor desired. Was moved to the middle school for the next school year!</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>School year 18-19</u>- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6th grade Math and SCI!! Had some of the same kids from the previous year! It was good overall. Kids definitely different. 2 principals that year! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE middle school!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">School year 19-20</span></u>- Well, here we are! Moved from a 2 man team to 4 man team!! Teaching JUST SCIENCE!!! I love my team! We work well together. Kids are very bold and brazen! They try to tell us what they are going to do and not do! HA! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;"><u>November 19</u></span>- I found out my dad had brain cancer- CANCER SUX! I went home for Thanksgiving to see him!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><u>December 19</u></span></span>- Go home for Christmas. It might be his last one!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;"><u>January 2020</u></span>- Dad goes into hospital b/c he has pneumonia. Sad!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Late January 2020</span>- Dad comes home, I go to stay for 8 days b/c he's declining fast. It is bad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;"><u>Feb 2020</u></span>- Daddy left his earthly body here on Feb.13. Family heads from NC to Ohio!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><u>March 2020</u>-</span> Still trying to get my groove back from missing almost a month of work. Kids going crazy not wanting to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>14 March 2020</b></span>- Without warning, without a single word---- Schools closed due to Corona Virus or COVID-19! 3 weeks they say... minimum!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;"><u>Starting 16 March 2020</u></span>- teachers reporting to the school building to plan and help hand out lunches to kiddos. Did what I had to do! Created packets for 2 weeks for my babies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><u>Week of March 23-27</u></span>- worked from home b/c my boys had class too! Also started a flowerbed in memory of my Daddy. Chatted with students in Google chat, did a couple Google meet sessions with students, and worked on new material. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SCHOOLS NOW CLOSED UNTIL MAY 15, 2020!! WHOA?!?!?</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Week of March 30-April 3</u>-</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> SPRING BREAK!!! OH YEAH!!! PSYCH!!!! NC is now "Sheltering in Place" due to COVID-19 as of March 30! OH JOY!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perks of being home--SLEEP on Spring Break, not as stressed, assisting my 2 HS Juniors with work-- what I can, and watching things grow! OH, and spending time w/ my doggies!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am going to make it a concerted effort not to be gone another 8 years. I think I am going to blog about our new normal for the next month or so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today, April 2- Gas was 1.75 at Wal-Mart, we've been sheltering in place now for 4 days, didn't leave the house all day today, and went on 2 walks with my doggies! Loved it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hope you all are staying safe, social distancing, and being smart!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-5359654515463077162012-10-29T22:02:00.003-04:002012-10-29T22:02:54.736-04:00I QUIT--- FROM A NORTH CAROLINA TEACHER<br />
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This letter has been sent to the UCPS district by this author, Kris Nielsen. Many teachers in the US feel exactly the same. This letter was locally published and now has national attention! WOW!</div>
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/files/2012/10/i-quit.jpg" style="border: 0px; clear: left; color: black; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1539" height="183" src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/files/2012/10/i-quit.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; height: auto; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px; width: auto;" title="i quit" width="275" /><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The resignation letter below was written by teacher Kris L. Nielsen of Monroe, N.C. and sent to Union County Public Schools. Why is Nielsen quitting right now? āBecauseā¦I refuse to be led by a top-down hierarchy that is completely detached from the classrooms for which it is supposed to be responsible,ā and āI will not spend another day under the expectations that I prepare every student for the increasing numbers of meaningless tests,ā and more. Read the whole letter, which was first published by </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></a><a href="http://unitedoptout.com/" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">United Opt Out National</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></div>
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Kris L. Nielsen</div>
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Monroe, NC 28110</div>
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Union County Public Schools</div>
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Human Resources Department</div>
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400 North Church Street</div>
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Monroe, NC 28112</div>
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October 25, 2012</div>
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To All it May Concern:</div>
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Iām doing something I thought I would never doāsomething that will make me a statistic and a caricature of the times. Some will support me, some will shake their heads and smirk condescendinglyāand others will try to convince me that Iām part of the problem. Perhaps theyāre right, but I donāt think so. All I know is that Iāve hit a wall, and in order to preserve my sanity, my family, and the forward movement of our lives, I have no other choice.</div>
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Before I go too much into my choice, I must say that I have the advantages and disadvantages of differentiated experience under my belt. I have seen the other side, where the grass was greener, and I unknowingly jumped the fence to where the foliage is either so tangled and dense that I canāt make sense of it, or the grass is wilted and dying (with no true custodian of its health). Are you lost? Iām talking about public K-12 education in North Carolina. Iām talking about my history as a successful teacher and leader in two states before moving here out of desperation.</div>
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In New Mexico, I led a team of underpaid teachers who were passionate about their jobs and who did amazing things. We were happy because our students were well-behaved, our community was supportive, and our jobs afforded us the luxuries of time, respect, and visionary leadership. Our district was huge, but we got things done because we were a team. I moved to Oregon because I was offered a fantastic job with a higher salary, a great math program, and superior benefits for my family. Again, I was given the autonomy I dreamed of, and I used it to find new and risky ways to introduce technology into the math curriculum. My peers looked forward to learning from me, the community gave me a lot of money to get my projects off the ground, and my students were amazing.</div>
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Then, the bottom fell out. I donāt know who to blame for the budget crisis in Oregon, but I know it decimated the educational coffers. I lost my job only due to my lack of seniority. I was devastated. My students and their parents were angry and sad. I told myself I would hang in there, find a temporary job, and wait for the recall. Neither the temporary job nor the recall happened. I tried very hard to keep my family in Oregonāapplying for jobs in every district, college, private school, and even Toys R Us. Nothing happened after over 300 applications and 2 interviews.</div>
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The Internet told me that the West Coast was not hiring teachers anymore, but the East Coast was the go-to place. Charlotte, North Carolina couldnāt keep up with the demand! I applied with three schools, got three phone interviews, and was even hired over the phone. My very supportive and adventurous family and I packed quickly and moved across the country, just so I could keep teaching.</div>
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I had come from two very successful and fun teaching jobs to a new state where everything was different. During my orientation, I noticed immediately that these people werenāt happy to see us; they were much more interested in making sure we knew their rules. It was a one-hour lecture about what happens when teachers mess up. I had a bad feeling about teaching here from the start; but, we were here and we had to make the best of it.</div>
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Union County seemed to be the answer to all of my problems. The rumors and the press made it sound like UCPS was the place to be progressive, risky, and happy. So I transferred from CMS to UCPS. They made me feel more welcome, but it was still a mistake to come here.</div>
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Let me cut to the chase: I quit. I am resigning my position as a teacher in the state of North Carolinaāpermanently. I am quitting without notice (taking advantage of the āat willā employment policies of this state). I am quitting without remorse and without second thoughts. I quit. I quit. I quit!</div>
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Why?</div>
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Becauseā¦</div>
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I refuse to be led by a top-down hierarchy that is completely detached from the classrooms for which it is supposed to be responsible.</div>
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I will not spend another day under the expectations that I prepare every student for the increasing numbers of meaningless tests.</div>
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I refuse to be an unpaid administrator of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/school-district-field-tests-52-yes-52-new-tests-on-kids/2011/04/20/AFFbGXFE_blog.html" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">field tests</a> that take advantage of children for the sake of profit.</div>
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I will not spend another day wishing I had some time to plan my fantastic lessons because administration comes up with new and inventive ways to steal that time, under the guise of PLC [Professional Learning Community] meetings or whatever. Iāve seen successful PLC development. It doesnāt look like this.</div>
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I will not spend another day wondering what menial, administrative task I will hear that I forgot to do next. Iām far enough behind in my own work.</div>
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I will not spend another day wondering how I can have classes that are full inclusion, and where 50% of my students have IEPs, yet Iām given no support.</div>
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I will not spend another day in a district where my coworkers are both on autopilot and in survival mode. Misery loves company, but I will not be that company.</div>
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I refuse to subject students to every ridiculous standardized test that the state and/or district thinks is important. I refuse to have my higher-level and deep thinking lessons disrupted by meaningless assessments (like the EXPLORE test) that do little more than increase stress among children and teachers, and attempt to guide young adolescents into narrow choices.</div>
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I totally object and refuse to have my performance as an educator rely on āStandard 6.ā It is unfair, biased, and does not reflect anything about the teaching practices of proven educators.</div>
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I refuse to hear again that itās more important that I serve as a test administrator than a leader of my peers.</div>
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I refuse to watch my students being treated like prisoners. There are other ways. Itās a shame that we donāt have the vision to seek out those alternatives.</div>
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I refuse to watch my coworkers being treated like untrustworthy slackers through the overbearing policies of this state, although they are the hardest working and most overloaded people I know.</div>
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I refuse to watch my family struggle financially as I work in a job to which I have invested 6 long years of my life in preparation. I have a graduate degree and a track record of strong success, yet Iām paid less than many two-year degree holders. And forget benefitsāthey are effectively nonexistent for teachers in North Carolina.</div>
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I refuse to watch my districtās leadership tell us about the bad news and horrific changes coming towards us, then watch them shrug incompetently, and then tell us to work harder.</div>
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I refuse to listen to our highly regarded superintendent telling us that the charter school movement is at our doorstep (with a soon-to-be-elected governor in full support) and tell us not to worry about it, because we are applying for a grant from Race to the Top. There is no consistency here; there is no leadership here.</div>
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I refuse to watch my students slouch under the weight of a system that expects them to perform well on EOG [end of grade] tests, which do not measure their abilities other than memorization and application and therefore do not measure their readiness for the next grade levelāmuch less life, career, or college.</div>
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Iām tired of watching my students produce amazing things, which show their true understanding of 21<sup style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">st</sup> century skills, only to see their looks of disappointment when they donāt meet the arbitrary expectations of low-level state and district <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/student-video-how-high-stakes-tests-affect-kids/2012/05/09/gIQAsKt6DU_blog.html" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tests that do not assess</a>their skills.</div>
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I refuse to hear any more about how important it is to differentiate our instruction as we prepare our kids for tests that are anything but differentiated. This negates our hard work and makes us look bad.</div>
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I am tired of hearing about the miracles my peers are expected to perform, and watching the districts do next to nothing to support or develop them. I havenāt seen real professional development in either district since I got here. The development sessions I have seen are sloppy, shallow, and have no real means of evaluation or accountability.</div>
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Iām tired of my increasing and troublesome physical symptoms that come from all this frustration, stress, and sadness.</div>
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Finally, Iām tired of watching parents being tricked into believing that their children are being prepared for the complex world ahead, especially since their childrenās teachers are being cowed into meeting expectations and standards that are not conducive to their childrenās futures.</div>
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Iām truly angry that parents put so much stress, fear, and anticipation into their kidsā heads in preparation for the EOG tests and the new MSLsāneither of which are consequential to their future needs. As a parent of a high school student in Union County, Iām dismayed at the education that my child receives, as her teachers frantically prepare her for more tests. My toddler will not attend a North Carolina public school. I will do whatever it takes to keep that from happening.</div>
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I quit because Iām tired [of] being part of the problem. Itās killing me and itās not doing anyone else any good. Farewell.</div>
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CC: Dr. Mary Ellis</div>
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Dr. June Atkinson</div>
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Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-42208473477471403342012-03-10T23:13:00.000-05:002012-03-10T23:13:45.651-05:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Well, what can I say other than I should be blogging more and facebooking less.... Well, maybe not! I have another addiction to add....... <i><span style="color: red;"><b>PINTEREST!</b></span></i> What a great website and idea! Love this!!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I have been adding/ boarding/ pinning all day everyday! You could pay me to pin!!!! LOL </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, I have found many great things for home, school, birthday parties, weddings, and so much more! It's crazy I tell ya!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Come follow me @ </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/mstern70/">Melanie's Pinterest</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Will love to see ya there!</span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-19562588876184310782011-12-30T20:11:00.003-05:002011-12-30T20:11:35.721-05:00Catching up!Here's a catch up!<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">The </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">FIGHTING SCOTS WON THE 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!! </span></div>
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They rocked it! It was close, but in the end they pulled it out!!!! <br />
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Christmas break is almost over (sigh) and the new year will begin here soon! I am hoping things will be better after this break!<br />
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Now, time to get down and busy!<br />
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Be back soon!!!Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-50871377070912215842011-11-18T17:55:00.001-05:002011-11-18T18:02:47.374-05:00Fighting SCOTS and what's for dinner......<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's FRIDAY!!!! Today the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Fighting SCOTS </span>of Scotland County take the field for the 3rd round of the playoffs. WTG SCOTS!</span><br />
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<a href="http://assets.matchbin.com/sites/476/assets/4AWM_7QUR_DSC_0185_1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://assets.matchbin.com/sites/476/assets/4AWM_7QUR_DSC_0185_1_.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.gobiggreen.net/2010%20TEAMS/4A/scotland%20county2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.gobiggreen.net/2010%20TEAMS/4A/scotland%20county2.png" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am trying to figure out what to make for dinner and prepare to grade papers.... BOO! Tomorrow I get to go to Fayetteville, NC for a workshop on insubordination, teacher evaluation, and other things. I can't wait b/c I am going w/ a cool teacher, Vanessa Lapre, from my building. She and I are also going to make a trek to Raleigh on Dec. 3rd for a workshop on the new Common Core Standards! It shall be fun!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Well, blogger friends... it is time to say good night for now!</span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-75323364098361014932011-11-06T17:21:00.002-05:002011-11-06T17:21:30.987-05:00Married, happy, and busy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>It has been a while since I have been on here. WOW! Time has flown. On Thursday, hubby and I will be celebrating 2 months of marriage!!! We've been really busy and work has been crazy! This year I have my hat in so many rings, that I do not know for sure what's going on! I am President of Scotland County Assoc. of Educators, on our School Improvement Team, Treasurer of PTO, AND on the district technology team for my school! Shew, that's a lot! I am also thinking about starting a teaching blog, but I am not 100% sure b/c I do not have the time to do so daily! We shall see how that works out!</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Do not forget to thank the Veteran's on Friday!</b></span><br />
<br />Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-86541566046064725102011-07-10T13:25:00.003-04:002011-07-10T13:36:31.917-04:00JULY!!!!!<p>It's July 10th and that means it's 60 days away until I get married!!!! WOW, just 2 short months. I better get on the ball w/ somethings! It's going to be crazy around here and I will try to blog the updates of my wedding plans. Somethings are done:</p><ul><li>Date is set for 9/10/11</li><li>Dress is bought along w/ tiarra</li><li>Grooms attire is settled</li><li>Matron of Honor and Best Man are decided</li><li>Colors are a go</li><li>Day of Lady is ready to put her best foot forward</li><li>Down to 3 locations..... </li><li>Guest list is coming along</li><li>Creating music list for the Computer to play! </li><li>Reception hall needs booked and paid for-- but that's easy!</li><li>Flowers are going to be discussed with a couple florist/friends</li></ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.honeymoonpixie.com/couples/leemelanie/">Honeymoon Pixie</a> is up are ready to go!</li><li>Other items are coming along..... just have to wait and see!</li></ul><p>Have a great week all!</p>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-80389312864781126422011-06-22T12:50:00.003-04:002011-06-22T12:56:53.077-04:00It's back to summer time!!!!!!!<em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#996633;">Yes, it's June 22nd and the first FULL day of summer! It also happens to be my lil sister, Design Goddess's birthday!!!! She's thankfully 29 again with 7 years of experience under her belt! </span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#996633;"><br /></span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#996633;"><br /></span></span></span></em><p><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#996633;">Life in NC has been topsy turvy here! The NC legislature has really put it to education in their latest budget. Teacher assistants, janitors, central office staff and even teachers are being laid off! In my county alone that isn't a good thing. We're the poorest county in the state w/ the HIGHEST unemployment rate and the sixth poorest county in the nation! Laying off just 20 people doesn't help us at all. They are talking upwards to 100+ people being laid off from the school systems. YIKES!</span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#996633;"><br /></span></span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#996633;">In good news, the fiance and I have set a date!!! It is Sept. 10, 2011. 9-10-11!! WOO HOO!!! We're in planning mode now!!! tee hee! </span></span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#996633;">I am hoping my friends in blog land are having a great summer vacation or at least enjoying the weather after work! I hope you all stay cool and hydrated! I know we will here down in NC! We hadn't been below 95Ā° in a bout a month, and it's only going to get HOTTER!!!!!</span></span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#996633;">Stay safe my friends and I just might have more news to blog about later this week/month. I am really going to work at this blogging bit more! I surely need too!</span></span></span></em></p>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-10449348797716996422011-02-06T15:29:00.002-05:002011-02-06T15:31:00.184-05:00Super Bowl.....<p>Well, it's been forever since I dropped by my blog. WOW has time flown!! It's 2011 and time for the Super Bowl. I am going to try to keep up. It's been really hard with facebook, school work, and lil man. </p><p>Until then...</p>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-17615913824313055332010-08-26T21:54:00.002-04:002010-08-26T21:58:46.941-04:00WOW it's been awhile!<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wow, the last time I posted I was just a few short days out of school. Today, I just finished up the 2nd day of the new school year! This summer flew by way to fast! This years class looks to shape up nicely! I can't wait! Johnathan is now a 2nd grader. He's getting so big!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">This summer I accomplished most of my plans with the exception of the trips to the beach! I didn't get to see it at all. :( Well, there's still time left until Fall starts! LOL</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I would like to wish all my blogger friends a great weekend and those who are in the school systems, a great new year!</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-82631373286035955212010-06-25T21:19:00.003-04:002010-06-25T21:26:52.142-04:00One Week and four days down!<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Today marks one week and four days since I started my summer vacation. Last week I slept most of my time away b/c I was a tad under the weather. This week marked a few things:<br /></span><ul style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Lil guy had a dentist appt. which lead to a perfect exam. The only "concern" was the enamel that didn't form right on his top tooth. Darn those antibiotics for ear infections; however, the dentist didn't seem to alarmed right now.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Thursday brought some errands we had to do. Nothing big, just a hair cut and groceries.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Today brought the car getting serviced, a pedicure for mom, and a celebration for the Assoc. of Educators I belong to here in NC.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Tomorrow might bring a trip to the beach!!!! YEAH US!</span></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Hope all is well in blog land! Hope your last few days of June are relaxing and enjoyable. We're experiencing August heat in June. Over 100Ā° temperatures each days with the heat index. That's also with humidity in the high 90's. Gotta love it! We've been under heat advisories and told to basically stay indoors from 11-7. Oh the joy~<br /><br />Have a great weekend and 4th of July, for my state side friends, if I do not blog before then!<br /></span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-91634898179540167722010-06-12T12:33:00.002-04:002010-06-12T12:38:38.070-04:00Summer, Summer, Time.......<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Summertime is here and I am so ready to relax and take some time for myself. I really need this time off because of all the sickness, health issues, and other things that have been going on. I am ready to go to the BEACH! Just to sit there and watch the surf roll in and to play with my little guy in the water will be AMAZING!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Summer also brings little guy's vacation to grandma's house x2! He's visiting both set of grandparents this summer. He's so ready to go and see his brothers, great-grandmas, grandmas, grandpas, his aunt, and uncles. He will not want for attention that's for sure.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This will be a great time for mommy to get more rest, relaxation, and time with her significant other. He's been great to little guy and myself. A true blessing!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">What plans are everyone making for their summer? Please share!</span></span><br /></span></span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-70960307865879855892010-06-05T09:29:00.001-04:002010-06-05T09:33:29.725-04:00WOOT WOOT... Summer time is near!Yes, that's right! 2.5 days of teaching (well we'll call it that for now)!! Then I have 3 teacher work days! After that, I AM FREE!!! Free for the rest of June, all of July, and part of August! So, I will enjoy all the summer I can get! This year has been challenging, yet, satisfying! I have an awesome principal and curriculum facilitator! Unfortunately, said awesome principal is leaving for the central office to be the Director of Elementary Education! Geesh, I have to break in another new principal! Oh the joy!! I hope this transition to a new principal goes better than the last!!!<br /><br />So, my plans for summer include:<br /><ul><li>Trips to the beach</li><li>Trip to KY to take lil guy to his grandparents for a visit</li><li>Trip to OH to hopefully be home for the Pro Football HOF festival!!</li><li>Trips to the beach!!</li><li>Oh, and sleeeeepppppppp!!! Not all day, just sleeping in past o'dark 30!</li></ul>What are some of my blogger friends plans for summer?????Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-30838951305432541982010-05-03T16:27:00.003-04:002010-05-03T16:30:22.646-04:00And then there were 7...That's right 7 days until testing begins for North Carolina! This is running up on up like a bad storm! My only hope is that my students prepare themselves for the best! I have given them all I can...... now it is time to show what they know!<br /><br />After testing we have approximately 13 days of school left! YIKES! This year flew!!!<br /><br />I hope everyone's May started out ok. I am praying for family and friends in TN and KY as they watch the waters recede! I hope everyone there is safe and sound!!<br /><br />Have a great week!!!Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-53016616415200703722010-04-18T13:00:00.003-04:002010-04-18T13:54:58.929-04:00and now a message from Tiggy...<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >I didn't realize how long it has been..... WOW<br /><br />March flew by like a Spring wind! I have being either sick, teaching, or finishing up my Master's degree! I am finally finished and will officially graduate in May! Shew! I thought I would never be me w/ a master's degree.<br /><br />Then came Spring Break and Easter! What a needed break for me, my son, and my students. WE ALL needed a break! Now is GO time! 3 weeks until testing. YIKES! My kids are freaking and I am a little on edge. Thankfully we have weekends. If we didn't, I think we all would be a basket case before May 14th!<br /><br />This month is busy w/ Spring cleaning, flipping some items bought @ flea markets, and preparing for testing. It's going to be nuts for the next month. Can't wait for it to be over.<br /><br />May will bring testing, lil man's birthday, Memorial Day Weekend, and 3 weeks left of school after testing! YEAH!!!! Then it will be time for r&r, some travel to the beach, lil man's visits to his grandparents in Kentucky and Ohio. He is so ready to see them and his brothers. It also brings the rite of passage for my oldest step-son (yes I still claim them as mine).! Sam will become a HS graduate in early June!! I am so proud of him and his wise choices he's made. His mom should be very proud of the young man she raised!<br /><br />Have a great rest of April!</span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-79323450060818636652010-02-21T10:48:00.002-05:002010-02-21T10:58:45.005-05:00Olympic Dreams...<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Olympics have been playing now for a week. We have had some major ups and downs from the opening ceremony's blooper to Shawn White and his coach's little chat before his Victory Lap. All I have to say is that this Winter Olympiad had been AWESOME!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">I watched the opening ceremonies in awe! I love the technological effects, so 21st Century! I only have been able to watch bits and pieces, but of what I have watched has be AWESOME! I am going to watch the ladies skate this week. That's one part of the Olympics I love, figure skating.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">In other news, I finished my last class for my master's in Technology!! I will unofficially graduate at the end of March, with the official diploma arriving at the end of May. I can't wait! 22 months of hard work and determination will finally pay off!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">NASCAR has also started and I did get to watch some of the Daytona 500. It wasn't too bad; however, the red flag kinda killed it for me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Down here in NC, we survived an ice storm and a small snow this winter. Both were beautiful while they lasted. Up home, DG and the family have been digging out of snow since Christmas. It's been crazy up there. It seems every weekend they are having 6-12 more inches of snow. Our mom said that they can not even go out into the back yard b/c the snow is too deep. I can't remember a snow this deep since I was 7, and that was over 30 years ago!! FUN FUN FUN!!!</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" >Well, I am off to complete my homework/final project for this last class so that I am able to turn in everything by March 3. I have a lot to do, so I better get a move on!!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Hope everyone has had a great 1st two months of 2010. Mine is getting better!!!</span></span><br /></span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-66565204737298076262010-01-30T09:55:00.000-05:002010-01-30T09:59:22.562-05:00The Pro-Bowl is when????I was reading news on Yahoo when I received an e-mail from the Browns that the Pro-Bowl was this weekend! What's up with that? I thought it was played after the Super Bowl so that those players have a chance to play too. Craziness is as craziness does. I guess since the Saints are in their first Super Bowl the whole world has gone crazy.... LOL I am so excited that the Saints are in the Super Bowl! Now, for the Browns to get there.<br /><br />... Oh wait Hell isn't freezing over. Well, I am looking out my window as freezing rain is falling. Is that close enough since I live in NC?<br /><br />I guess not..... LOL<br /><br />I hope everyone had a great start to 2010. Mine started out slow. We shall see what the other 11 months hold.<br /><br />Have a great weekend!Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-12860903266918075442010-01-17T09:50:00.002-05:002010-01-17T09:57:32.919-05:00Ah, at last a post from Tiggy!!!<span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" >Hello friends of blogland. I finally have a minute or two to blog and to say how much I have missed reading your blogs and posting. It's been a crazy month or two. It's just been crazy!<br /><br />November ended with nothing much to write about.<br /><br />December had:<br /></span><ul style="font-family: georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">school finishing up for the calendar year</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Driving to Ohio for Christmas with DG and the family.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Glad that it wasn't snowing on either way to and from Ohio</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Lil guy missed a great snow the day after we left; so much for a snowball fight, even though he had a small one w/ Grandma</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">The New Year rang in while we were celebrating w/ friends, who will be moving to TN this summer. :(</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" >January so far brought:<br /></span><ul style="font-family: georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">A week of reviewing things taught for the nine weeks (5 days for 9 weeks!)<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Benchmark testing... always a fun week!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">A three day weekend followed by a 3 day work week, followed by another 3 day weekend! (How's that for scheduling!)</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" >I hope all of you are doing well and are having fun while doing it!<br /><br />Hopefully it won't be a month and a half before my next post! HAHAHAHA</span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-7786655258481006442009-11-26T10:46:00.003-05:002009-11-26T10:52:19.606-05:00Thanksgiving Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Uax3xwfp7HTlQoUXS0hPaEuTFi0JrQ6eS0HHqA43eGGR0wBS53AN5ZGT7DuYET6OtcTqKJtiBbWF-bX67WYsrcFwBEy4ds3fQxZsMUsXT6zU9UTk5CkbBAuhbU2mtGcwEYVHvg/s1600/hug-club-clip-art-089.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42H8lrWJITtcWIJR9HtN3Php7GjjlmTlczGZfKymNIqBNNBOe8gTos4waqoHSsxq8ea8OXyPULOmCfApqeSoZS8nNwRfwen-759tJYQ2TeP0T_0ezVQLJVaGpkk99IIOuAyT9oQ/s1600/happythanks.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42H8lrWJITtcWIJR9HtN3Php7GjjlmTlczGZfKymNIqBNNBOe8gTos4waqoHSsxq8ea8OXyPULOmCfApqeSoZS8nNwRfwen-759tJYQ2TeP0T_0ezVQLJVaGpkk99IIOuAyT9oQ/s320/happythanks.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408439210531758642" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy Thanksgiving to all family and friends!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">I am truly thankful this year. I am 3 months away from obtaining my masters degree. I have a very special significant other in my life who has been a true light where there was dark. I have a wonderful son who is surpassing what's expected of a 1st grader, even though we have other areas to work on. I have a good job w/ good kids and good people to work with! Overall, the health is good; could be better ; however, I am still working on it!<br /><br />I have a great family and friends who have been very supportive and loving! I wouldn't have made it w/out them! THANKS!<br /><br />To all my blogging friends, I wish you the happiest of holidays. I will try to blog a tad more the rest of this year. Once the masters is complete, I will be a tad more free!!!</span><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Uax3xwfp7HTlQoUXS0hPaEuTFi0JrQ6eS0HHqA43eGGR0wBS53AN5ZGT7DuYET6OtcTqKJtiBbWF-bX67WYsrcFwBEy4ds3fQxZsMUsXT6zU9UTk5CkbBAuhbU2mtGcwEYVHvg/s1600/hug-club-clip-art-089.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Uax3xwfp7HTlQoUXS0hPaEuTFi0JrQ6eS0HHqA43eGGR0wBS53AN5ZGT7DuYET6OtcTqKJtiBbWF-bX67WYsrcFwBEy4ds3fQxZsMUsXT6zU9UTk5CkbBAuhbU2mtGcwEYVHvg/s320/hug-club-clip-art-089.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408440406549238034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-size:180%;" >Have you hugged your Turkey today???</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div></div>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-44560820083604344102009-11-09T17:44:00.001-05:002009-11-09T17:45:17.037-05:00Love this video!<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script> <object id="myExperience" class="BrightcoveExperience"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /> <param name="width" value="400" /> <param name="height" value="346" /> <param name="playerID" value="10032373001" /> <param name="publisherID" value="1612833736"/> <param name="isVid" value="true" /> <param name="autoStart" value="false" /> <param name="@videoPlayer" value="24579753001" /> <param name="linkBaseURL" value="http://music.aol.com/video/you-belong-with-me/taylor-swift/bc:24579753001" /> </object>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-27171633385468826622009-10-24T09:21:00.003-04:002009-10-24T09:29:41.594-04:00Gone too soon......<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" >Yes, I know that's a title of a song done by Michael Jackson, but this week it fits the news down here. The week of the 12th, one of my former students passed away due to complications of diabetes that no one knew she had. They haven't come out and said what actually made her sugar spike over 12000, but there are a few theories floating around. The week before she took the Flu Mist and then took ill later in the week. By Sunday she was worse, then by Wednesday morning she was gone. From what I was told an autopsy was performed and we won't know when those findings will be released or if they will be. <br /><br />On the 19th was her viewing, which was also my birthday. The next day they laid her to rest. A sixth grader is way too young to pass. She was a great person deep down and had dreams of wanting to become a doctor. Now, those dreams are gone along with her presence. Many of my former students took it very hard b/c they have been classmates since 1st grade. How do you say good-bye to a friend that you've known most of your life.<br /><br />Just in the last 4 months, I have had too much loss affect my life. I can't take another loss this year. Please make sure you protect yourself from that dreaded H1N1 by washing your hands or at least using sanitizer. Also, drink hot liquids and gargle w/ salt water or Listerine. Those steps help kill the bacteria that enters your body via the nasal passages, and mouth. I don't want anyone to have to go through what these families are going through losing children to this flu!<br /><br />I will hopefully be blogging more.... just been very busy w/ school and graduate school. Only 4 more months and 2 classes!!!! Then I will have my masters~!<br /><br />Have a great weekend and Halloween!</span>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-89120581743140269342009-09-27T10:15:00.003-04:002009-09-27T10:18:14.840-04:00Time to get back to blogging!!!!!<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">There's been so much going on in my every so simple, no stress, can't get anything accomplished life over the past few months; that it would be insane for me to apologize for not blogging. Since the end of July, things have been just feet to the ground and I'm off...... literally!</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWiv_pD8N2IwnYKOQ6PKjvfo9CfjIY0Zp9AbVuTOOf5I8iFfbUMmY5PfYnjkPfm1vPAiNdV0i5aL7hjZvl-jdfzxva55KdLH7yTgZPyk8XLJKVAgP2tocr8kAFCekGvcbxFYe2w/s1600-h/possible.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWiv_pD8N2IwnYKOQ6PKjvfo9CfjIY0Zp9AbVuTOOf5I8iFfbUMmY5PfYnjkPfm1vPAiNdV0i5aL7hjZvl-jdfzxva55KdLH7yTgZPyk8XLJKVAgP2tocr8kAFCekGvcbxFYe2w/s200/possible.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386151159281672706" border="0" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" >The end of July found me in Ohio for my Aunt Janet's funeral. She's finally free of that ugly disease Cancer! After that, I found out that just a day earlier a May babies 2003 friend of mine lost one of her triplets to Leukemia the day before my Aunt passed. Talk about torture for that family. (Long story)</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6eeJcQr5qBRS9iV4_JUBFo7SYwMB8JyDGuxzAIqtij-Lfk8uGcB6zh9y4vFpZTwAZk2AdZYUv7ybIViugCm6U7x4i-GAd5dkuIN2rZb3I6bBXWU4Skyg07C8d7yytSJG1n9jEQ/s1600-h/loveangels.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 28px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6eeJcQr5qBRS9iV4_JUBFo7SYwMB8JyDGuxzAIqtij-Lfk8uGcB6zh9y4vFpZTwAZk2AdZYUv7ybIViugCm6U7x4i-GAd5dkuIN2rZb3I6bBXWU4Skyg07C8d7yytSJG1n9jEQ/s200/loveangels.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386146455172614594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">August found me: </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg68LHns1gCDwlUCpp0Ly3x2g8UclZ3dIJdSNJVo9EzF4hujn4SeUADdBN3xeNJiJGQ8tF3GAvKrQxK3syI9VmL-mUSJyx-U-yu4UzY4FN2Q_sfWByLRoIeKnPySiOdr5TVX4zBw/s1600-h/atschoolgvshadow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 87px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg68LHns1gCDwlUCpp0Ly3x2g8UclZ3dIJdSNJVo9EzF4hujn4SeUADdBN3xeNJiJGQ8tF3GAvKrQxK3syI9VmL-mUSJyx-U-yu4UzY4FN2Q_sfWByLRoIeKnPySiOdr5TVX4zBw/s200/atschoolgvshadow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386146761015978850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;"><li style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Preparing for a new school year at a new school at a new grade level</span></li><li style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cleaning this said classroom because it was just NASTY!</span></li><li style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Having everything up and ready for the first day of school- tough job b/c there was SO MUCH cleaning to be done!</span></li><li style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lil man having a week's vaca in Ohio w/ the folks and DG!</span></li><li style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Having the first day of school.... which brings this every so not simple part</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">First day of school-<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">---- started out great. Met my students, gave them the rules and we were off to a great start... then around 9:30---- </span></span><br /></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">heart starts racing and I am feeling faint</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Take kids outside for recess... heart still beating like crazy...<br /></span></span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">another teacher says, go to the nurse. I walk up to her office, she takes my BP it is ok, but not normal. Heart rate.... 140 beats per min. WTH!!!<br /></span></span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Sit in her office, chilled, sweating, and well, just not feeling right.<br /></span></span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">About noon she and the principal rush me to the hospital..... Lucky me!</span> </span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Get to the hospital, sit in wheel chair, nurse starts vitals.... rips cuff and stuff off me and rushes me to room.</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is where it gets good:</span></span></div></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" > </span><ul style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">1st EKG 250 BPM---- WTH!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Doc comes in tries some really cool things, but no luck</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Doc orders meds, these meds stop the heart to get it back into a rhythm. Talk about scared!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Heart stops for a second and starts right back up.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I get to stay for a couple hours. OH THE JOY!!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">No work on the second day of school! WHAT??? Do you really know what you're asking here......<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Go to my dr. on Wed. Tells me the following-- no unusual stress, no heavy lifting, and no exercise programs! Oh Darn and I was going to join the gym that day..... NOT!.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now, for the no stress/exercise/ lifting part that doesn't help any......</span></span><br /><ul style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Go back to work Thurs and Fri. Then on Fri afternoon.... again something comes up!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I was told, we need you to move schools b/c of numbers.... get this... BY MONDAY! WTH???</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I am not to be stressed--- oh ok</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I am not to lift heavy stuff-- who's going to do it???</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">I am not to exercise---- who's going to take the stuff to my new school???</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, the latter two were taking care of the WONDERFUL maintenance staff @ my school district. They brought it to me. Thankful that one of my teacher friends packed all my stuff in less than an hour... WTG Jodi!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">New, school.... no stress.... YEAH RIGHT!</span></li></ul><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now, it's September:</span> </span><ul style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;">The ex leaves for Afghanistan again... lil man is worried and sad</span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Been trying not to catch that ugly flu virus that's been going around our school....<br /></span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cardiologist said my heart is ok, the CVT won't kill me, however got to take it easy!</span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Started the 3rd to last class for my masters!!!!!!!!<br /></span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Graduation is getting closer and closer!!!!</span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Birthday's galore of my friends of this month!! One is turning </span><span style="font-size:130%;">40--- sssshhhhhh</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">October brings:</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWEcMEp5czlRM5cs88Q2HcIS7Ns9J9v4YQfTYfnAROxiPOFC7_7qq5sM4DlFYdW9E1Z9qsVI1ECTbUuMqTRnaDsUVU7m8AtTSQ5MmR-d_pOXm2UsmpuptsacQLMBMN0z9k9EPWA/s1600-h/OH.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 92px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWEcMEp5czlRM5cs88Q2HcIS7Ns9J9v4YQfTYfnAROxiPOFC7_7qq5sM4DlFYdW9E1Z9qsVI1ECTbUuMqTRnaDsUVU7m8AtTSQ5MmR-d_pOXm2UsmpuptsacQLMBMN0z9k9EPWA/s200/OH.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386146034539267570" border="0" /></a><ul style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Trip to OHIO to see DG and family b/c I've been out of HS now for 20 years.... WHAT 20 years how is that possible?????</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">My birthday and birthday's of many friends</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Halloween!!! Last trick-o- treat w/ my best bud, Rachel and her kids. Her hubby has been transferred to Ft. Campbell for Feb. :( Stupid Army!</span></li></ul><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">More to come----- Hopefully I will get some more information out there and quicker this time. I am also on Facebook, MySpace, and I might just look into Twitter...... we shall see!<br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nY4EkUGrgZiI53ltYN0mrtbfhzntKPAn8YWEJRqiTNCA7N6C54eD1MDfJfPeP5t7SzncPUiTM1ZhpPU5CA6jfTOlvurYsIgm0uMItcKEcdeVdc4Qrpm1wFhmbPFndzJbCc2oqQ/s1600-h/MAM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 27px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nY4EkUGrgZiI53ltYN0mrtbfhzntKPAn8YWEJRqiTNCA7N6C54eD1MDfJfPeP5t7SzncPUiTM1ZhpPU5CA6jfTOlvurYsIgm0uMItcKEcdeVdc4Qrpm1wFhmbPFndzJbCc2oqQ/s200/MAM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386148235621452914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEh_HoQlRJGUFX_aB86qmAEp7JwVcZh5n1MMgxmZuvEHCoZSgC1uQBPcyyMz_gm7otLB1cJwqGPBAElEA6TfJctwO4_bg95ckdbiv121d_lqlzhaKExZc76cRV8WFIWhFwIWrQg/s1600-h/3479tk0ayi6dmy.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 26px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEh_HoQlRJGUFX_aB86qmAEp7JwVcZh5n1MMgxmZuvEHCoZSgC1uQBPcyyMz_gm7otLB1cJwqGPBAElEA6TfJctwO4_bg95ckdbiv121d_lqlzhaKExZc76cRV8WFIWhFwIWrQg/s200/3479tk0ayi6dmy.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386147218280888818" border="0" /></a></div>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-78055866387377243972009-08-23T14:22:00.002-04:002009-08-23T14:25:37.141-04:00<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" classroomid=" target=_blank schoolid="><img src="http://www.blogger.com/" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am trying to raise funds for these hand-held remotes to improve my student's learning with technology. If you know of anyone who would like to donate or a company that's looking to help a school in need, please forward this information to them. I really did not want to ask via my blog, however I do not have any other outlet to get my word out. I have researched these remotes and they have improved learning by over 80% in a year. My student's would make great growth in Math if I had access to these; however, the cost is to high for just me to purchase them.<br /><br />Thanks for reading.Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17543795.post-41912439646775170852009-07-24T00:16:00.002-04:002009-07-24T00:40:10.473-04:00Sorrow and Joy<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" >Over the past few days, I had a major loss in my family unit. This evil disease call <span style="font-weight: bold;">CANCER</span> took the life of my Godmother/Aunt Janet. She fought a long hard battle. Diagnosed in Oct. 2007 and passed away on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, just 7 days after her birthday. She was 55 or 56. Too young to be taken from her devoted and loving husband and her two incredible boys.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" >However, I know that she's in heaven with the Lord, Jesus, and the angels. She's probably walking around right now talking to her dad, who she lost back in 1989. Twenty years almost. He passed away on Nov. 14th, 1989; his birthday was to be on Nov. 21st. Ironic isn't it? It also was the day of my first anniversary as a single woman. The date my divorce papers were signed.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br />I just learned today that a friend, who's triplet girls are 9 days older than my lil guy, lost one of those girls to CANCER! This one they call Leukemia. Only 6 years old and wiser than I this little girl was. She knew so much in the short little time she lived. Her sisters are grieving because they always slept together, now there's this empty space. Her mother, not accepting the fact that one of her first born is gone. Another family separated by a deadly disease!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" >If anyone has in their family a history of cancer, please request that your doctor take the necessary tests that might just save your life. A colonoscopy, a blood test, a MRI or CAT scan, are all ways to detect early signs.<br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br />Our family is requesting donations to be made to St. Jude's in Memphis, TN. This wonderful hospital has done great research and development in Cancer treatments and has cured some children who have walked through their doors, some never walked out, but they had the opportunity to receive top notch medical treatment that they would never had at their home hospitals due to high cost.<br /><br />Thankfully St. Jude's does not turn away those who are unable to pay. That's where the donations come in. They help pay for those tests, treatments, and even for a place for their parents to stay if they need it.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.healthecareers.com/emp_banner/emp_logo/emp_67343_lg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 267px;" src="http://www.healthecareers.com/emp_banner/emp_logo/emp_67343_lg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" > Maybe your school could do the Math-a-thon. A wonderful way to sharpen math skills and to raise money for the children of St. Jude. You or your family members may never need their services; however, there may just be one child in your county or school district that will. I know in two schools that I taught at did Math-a-thon and raised significant funds for this wonderful hospital. We later found out that two or three children from those districts were at St. Jude's for treatments. What a feeling it was to help someone we didn't even know! To make their life a little more worth living.<br /><br />My joy is that I know that my aunt and little Izzy are now with God and they are not being tormented by this crazy disease they call <span style="font-weight: bold;">CANCER!</span> They are whole again with those they have mourned for just a few or for many years.<br /><br />God rest your souls, Aunt Janet and Izzy!<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">I love you!!!!</span></span></span><br /></div>Melanie Miday-Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01066635258362116624noreply@blogger.com2