Monday, January 23, 2012

Special Individuals, A Class That Gets You Thinking

I just printed off a bunch of materials for my classes (forms and such that need to be signed) and I swear I have a few dead trees sitting in front of me... I feel like a bad person :(

My class, Intro to Special Individuals, was interesting today. We watched a movie with a teacher trying to explain to adults what it feels like to have a learning disability. Most of these people in the video were not LD but after he went through the elements of F.A.T. (frustration, anxiety, and tension) it made me see how even someone that's not learning disabled could be discouraged in a classroom. The man took the lesson quickly, gave no praises for "students" that got answers right, dished out rude remarks and sarcasm when someone had a wrong answer, and had most of the people not wanting to answer. I could see this as something that occured throughout high school in classes I attended. When the guy started explaining why these methods of teaching were wrong and gave the point of view of the LD child, I started thinking, have I been like this in a classroom or with kids? I sure hope not, I would feel like a complete and total jerk if I did... He gave options on how to avoid that teacher behavior and encourage LD kids to come out of their shells and feel successful. He also explained the differences in perception between the kids and the teacher. The teacher has had more experience so just because a child doesn't know the answer to a question, it doesn't mean the teacher is more superior and the child is stupid. Everybody needs help some time.

Anyway, enough about class! I'm excited about a number of things at this moment
  • I'm blogging! No slobbing around today!
  • I got the Apex space for the wedding
    • This is a double edged sword though... Not only does it cost a lot already, no one has been around to take my check for the past week... How am I supposed to pay if there's no one to hand teh check to??
  • My Business Math class is the easiest class in the world. It's easy to the point of insulting to my intelligence. Thank God I can get an A in something.
Cael is starting to get some sickness :( It involves him waking up coughing and coughing throughout the day. It's a wet cough but it's not "productive." Hopefully it goes away soon... Brad and I have been having sore throat problems and I have a weird cough that comes and goes but neither of us are too ill.

Well, I have to cut off here so i can drive home and pick up my baby boy! Oops sorry, big boy ;)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Back To School, Back To School

Well here I am, sitting in the SFCC computer lab, not doing homework again! ;) Just kidding, I have no homework to do yet and all of my necessary forms to turn in are located on my laptop.

It feels extremely weird being back in an actual school setting. I've gotten so used to the online thing that I almost totally forgot how to act in a classroom lol most of it's easy to remember though. I think I've made a few friends in my MW class. They're pretty nice to talk to. One is the same major as me, the other is majoring in Nursing and hoping to get off the waiting list for UCM. I hope she does! It sounds like she's overly qualified to be in the program.

Yesterday was super entertaining. I got to play Bunco with the ladies I work with. This is my second time going and it has been fun each time! Plus it's a game where everyone wins something. I seem to have the knack for getting picked last for prizes lol but that's cool with me. I love spending time with my coworkers outside of work. They are so funny!

Cael's class has been having a bug going around and I think it finally caught him. He had two super runny diapers within a short time period so he went home with Judy. I don't think he minded being with Dede at all :) I just got a text from her saying that Cael took a long nap and hasn't had a fever or anymore loose diapers. Good, I don't like it when my baby is sick! We've also been through pink eye recently. Poo on eyedrops.

Wedding plans are in full swing now. Brad and I have decided on FBC in Warrensburg, but only if we can use the Apex as our reception space. I'm currently waiting for the call abut their meeting to decide this. The fee for non-members is $900, half paid ASAP and the other half paid after the engaged couples' class ends. If we can't get the Apex though, our budget will be reduced to very little if we stay with FBC. a second option in the Presbyterian church that Judy is a member of. They have a really pretty sanctuary (from the outside at least; it has a beautiful stained glass window) and a small  reception space. We also have to pick out a pastor but since all the pastors from FBC that Brad knew have moved away, we're unsure who to pick. Brad's doing a lot of "I don't care" but I think that's because I always catch him at a bad time.

It's also been hard to pick out bridesmaids/groomsmen. Neither of us is sure who we're going to pick (other than the obvious siblings and such). I'm basing the number of bridesmaids I have on how many groomsmen he picks but Brad doesn't know who to choose for the roles. He's got a lot of options! I'm not sure who my bridesmaids will be even when he does decide on his groomsmen. It's a tough decision :S

Cael has been really talkative. Well, he always has been, just more so lately. He is making whole sentences without being fed lines by someone. The other day I was trying to lay down on the couch with him to watch Brad play Borderlands with a friend of ours. We used to do this all the time before Cael would go to bed. I would lay down on my pillow and he would lay next to me on my arm. This night he pushed away from me and said, "No Mommy. No cuddle." Not gonna lie, it crushed me a little. My baby boy doesn't want to cuddle? I have to keep reminding myself that he's not my baby anymore. As he tells me, "Cael big boy." He has also acquired an affinity for Mario. Monday night, Cael saw Brad playing a game on the XBox and Cael said to him, "Please play my Mario" (He says Mario "mon-nee-no" and it's the cutest thing ever. He also likes "wee-gee," or Luigi lol). He also may be the only kid his age the knows the 1960s Batman theme song. Cael sings, "Na na na na Batman!" when we're in the car. He has Batman sunglasses, Batman pjs, and a Batman cape (the cape's at Dede's house; it's Brad's old cape) :) Birthday planning for Cael has been hard for us, mostly because Cael has to choose between Batman, Mario, Yo Gabba Gabba, Bubbleguppies, and Elmo for themes.

Oh, another odd thing that Cael likes: Rocko's Modern Life. You know, that cartoon from the old Nickelodeon. It's pretty funny to see him giggling along with whatever is happening.

And Cael is pottying! We're not fuly potty-training him yet but he goes pee and poop on the big boy potty (he has an Elmo one from Santa)! He likes getting stickers on his daily sheet at school. He has Spiderman stickers :)

Hopefully since I've started classes up again, I can blog more often (yeah, right, like that will happen). I like having a little downtime and not having to work on my schoolwork at home as much!