Concession Stand Fun

Early last week my program decided to take on the task of running a concession stand for our districts 2nd Annual Special Olympics Track Meet.

What an undertaking! One if my students was so bored in his "guard the money" duties that he decided cat naps would help pass the time. I had to share this picture because it's do priceless!

This was our first concession stand so there was a slight learning curve...like hot dogs sell (and bring a better profit return) and candy is too expensive to NOT sell out of. I believe we made all of $25 due to a lot of product purchased but not sold, so we are making notes and plan to strategize our concessions better next year!

The silver lining: we had a blast!

New doesn't always mean better

Hi Blogger friends! I bet you think I've forgotten about my blog...I can assure you I haven't. For the past month we have been without Internet at our brand new facility. I'd tell you all the excuses reasons I've been given, but neither of us have the extra free time to read through it. So I'm hoping we will have it back soon and I can catch up on picture-posting and blogging about all the exciting things going on in our little corner of the world.
My home computer doesn't have the photos loaded onto it, so I rely heavily that connection for pictures from the camera, instead of my iPhone.

In the meantime, please watch our Twitter roll!

Hello to all of my blogger friends! I'm sorry for the long delay in posts- it has been such a busy semester....not complaining though...I'm on spring break and finally getting caught up on my favorite blogs!

If you haven't looked at the Twitter roll on the right of this page, you'll want to see our gorgeous bluebonnets covering the yard at our facility! Wow! Truly the best time of year in our area...everything is in bloom!

Next Friday we are holding our 2nd annual garage sale. When the program started, the main fundraiser was candle sales. Last year we really looked at how our students would truly "fundraise" in their own lives post-program and opted to do a garage sale. I believe that year we made about $400 which is amazing!! This year our donations are down, but it's really about the experience that our students get in putting on a sale. It will go on to serve many of them in the future, very well, I hope. Pictures will follow the sale!

On an exciting note... Our facility is getting an iPad! I'm thrilled about this because it will allow for my job coaches who need to teach students various tools on the job sites, how to do it, using some really cool checklist apps. Do you have a favorite life application app? If so please comment and share!

Have a great Friday everyone!

It's here!

This is truly my favorite time of the year...

Texas Transition Conference 2012!


If you are planning on being at the conference, please let me know! I would love to meet up with some of my SpEd blogger friends!

Transition Fair

Two of our local 18+ program teachers, from Westlake (Eanes ISD) and Lake Travis (Lake Travis ISD) put on a wonderful Transition Fair this weekend in Lake Travis.

The fair had approximately 50 vendors from various types of government agencies, private organizations and non-profit organizations, with booths set up and eager people ready to tell you about the services they can offer your special needs child or students.

I wish I could post everything I collected because WOW...these vendors provided such a plethora of great information for the very young students up to adults. One of the stand-outs for me was our local NAMI group. I have honestly never heard of this national organization, but they truly blew me away with their passion and transparent eagerness to help educate families, educators and anyone else who may be effected by someone with some sort of mental illness. I'm going to make it my mission to get these ladies connected to my director and hopefully hold an information session to better educate me and the rest of my SpEd team.

If you are in the Austin-area and didn't get to go, please email me and I'll send the packet via PDF email to you...OR...if you are just interested in seeing what types of services would be offered at such an event...email me. I'm so happy to share this great information!

About Me

A huge thanks to my blogger buddy, Karlie, over at We are ALL Special!
So here are the rules:

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!

Fun Facts About Me

1. I live in the same little town I grew up in...only leaving for college at Texas State University- San Marcos Eat'em Up Cats!!
2. I met my husband at a bank...he was the banker and I, his secretary...he loves to tell this story to make it sound scandalist, only he leaves out the facts that we were both in our early 20's and single.
3. I have one daughter...at present...but expecting my next little girl in June. Very exciting!
4. My degree is in Public Relations, but I soon learned it's entirely too cut-throat for me...and went back to my original plan in becoming a teacher.
5. I could eat Tex-Mex every meal of the day...and, admittedly, have before. If you don't know what Tex-Mex is...click the link to one of my favorite restaurants, Matt's El Rancho!
6. One of my favorite writers is Lisa Kogan and I only take the O Magazine to read her columns. I recently bought her book and am enjoying very much!
7. I love to cook and Pinterest makes me want to cook that much more!
8. My celebrity crush is Channing Tatum...he's stole my heart in Dear John and I suspect it will be the same with The Vow.
9. I am a very picky, yet widely diverse music lover...I enjoy old country, classic rock and lots of 90's hip-hop and alternative.
10. My favorite place to vacation is Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Now it's my turn to learn about you....

Mrs. Blanton
Andrea
Michelle
Rachel
Ms. Hall
Kate
Karla

1. Where do you live/Where are you from?

I live in the beautiful hill country of Texas...almost the same place I grew up!

2. What is your best teaching advice?

Ask a lot of questions in the beginning of any new position, and above all...treat the kids like mini adults. They seem to appreciate the respect and give it in return.

3. If you could only keep one thing that's currently in your classroom what would it be?

I have a very unique "classroom" so I would probably say my scanner. It's cut my files in half!

4. What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

Shop of course, but anything that I can do with my daughter and husband is a great weekend...Sea World, Local Zoo, Going to the park, etc.

5. How long have you been teaching?

This is my second year

6. What is your favorite teaching memory?

Doing a community scavenger hunt. I organized clues at various important places around town and they students learned about their community while hunting for some missing pumpkins. It was a BLAST and the places involved got a huge thrill out of it. Win, win!

7. What is your favorite store?

Target

8. What do you typically wear to school?

Right now, maternity khakis, a long shirt and Sketchers...but generally slacks, a blose top and slippers/sandals

9. What is your favorite activity to do with your students?

Anything in the community. That is where they will spend their time post-program and it's a lot of fun to be among our community members.

10. What is your favorite book?

I don't get a whole lot of time to read, but I really enjoyed reading Tina Fey's "BossyPants." Everything is so serious in the world, I enjoy comic relief when I escape to a book.

11. Do you have a Pinterest?

Yes! I'm so addicted. I thought Facebook was bad...geez.

12. What is your favorite restaurant?

When I can afford it, Trulucks...but anytime Matt's El Rancho or Outback Steakhouse

1. Which state/region are you currently teaching?
2. What has been your most awesome "ah-ha" moment in special education?
3. How did you feel your very first day on the job (first year or in a new position)?
4. What age group do you teach and is it your preferred grade?
5. What is one component of Special Education/Teaching you connect to the most?
6. What is your "go to" song when it's just been one of those days?
7. Do you have teacher assistants and what is the best things about having them in your room?
8. What are your hobbies outside of work?
9. Do you have a favorite website that you cannot go one day without viewing?
10. Which store do you find it most difficult not to spend $100 on any given day?
11. Do you have a bucket list and if so, what is one thing you want to do the most?
12. Favorite sitcoms/anticipated movies for the spring?
Thanks for reading! I hope you will all participate so I can learn more about my favorite teachers, inside and outside of the public profession.

The Mid-Year Funk

I am really in search of some inspiration and uplift right now. It's January 26th...about the same time last year I found myself in the mid-year funk.

We've had so many changes in our district recently...and for me...added classes on top of now having to give an assessment test....has me feeling really funky right now. I'm sure these changes are all for the good of the children (or at least I can hope) and I'm trying hard to avoid the negative Nancy's who paint the doom-and-gloom murals during happy hour or in passing at the grocery store. But it's often very hard to overlook their, sometimes, very valid points and even harder not to let it get the best of me.

How do you get through the mid-year funk?