Awesome Teacher

I've decided that I'm going to try and say something nice about someone everyday. I hope that I can get it in writing on my blog, but that's doubtful that I can do it EVERY day...but I'm going to try. I have no trouble saying something nice about the person that I'm writing about today. She is such a good teacher and person. Here is the story:

Lynsi moved over here from Quanah so that her kids could go to a better school. This is a positve blog, so I'm not going to say anything negative about Quanah, although I could! Anyway, Erick is the middle child and is in third grade. He has been tested for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia and been diagnosed, but nothing was ever done about it. Lynsi tried for 2 years, but Quanah would do nothing (I know I'm not suppose to say negarive things, but I couldn't help it). Anyway, Erick got in Mrs. Jensky's class this year. The second day of school, there was a back to school night that I went to with Lynsi. Mrs. Jensky, without knowing anything about Erick, called Lynsi aside and told her she wanted to show her something. She showed her Erick's paper and Mrs. Jensky said, "when I saw that paper, I said to myself, this child is dyslexic". Lynsi was so relieved that she noticed and was actually going to do something about it. She told Lynsi that she went to the office to see what was in his file, but there was nothing about that in there..which is another story about why Quanah didn't send his record. The next day Mrs. Jensky got a test scheduled for Erick and started doing accomadations on her own. She moved him to the center of the room so he could see the board. With Erick's problems he has a hard time finishing all of his work, so last night there was a paper that was filled out in the teacher's handwriting with a note saying that Erick could not finish this paper so she filled it out for him so that he could study for the test the next day. I thought that was so nice of her, instead of keeping him in from recess to finish or sending it home with him. He has a really hard time doing all of his homework because he gets so frustrated. I was very impressed with all of the help she is giving him. I know he is going to be fine now that someone has taken an interest in him and is not just passing him on from grade to grade.




This is Erick....he is soooo sweet and is always smiling. He's really into spy gear and he's a comedian. He's always making jokes and saying funny things.

13 Thoughts on my mind right now

1. I should be working instead of blogging.
2. I hope Erynn is in a better mood today.
3. I'm glad I went to back to school night with Lynsi...the kids all love their teachers, including Bailey.
4. My house is such a mess....have to clean it this weekend.
5. I need to come up with a character ed. lesson for elementary.
6. I hope Tony finishes the fences this week.
7. I'm wondering how long until the bell rings.
8. This is harder than you think to come up with 13 things!
9. I'm glad my office is cool.
10. I'm ready for cold weather.
11. I have to finish organizing TAKS stuff.
12. I need to talk with the seniors sometime this week.
13. Well...there's the bell...have to go to work now.

Graduation

I finally graduated with my Master of Education in Counseling. It was a really hard summer, but it was worth it. I never walked when I got my Associates or Bachelors degrees, so I thought I would do it this one last time. It was a good experience. I enjoyed it. Some of my family was there and we took lots of pictures and then went to the Texas Roadhouse afterwards to eat. My family got me a gift card for graduation. I'm not going to say how much is on it, but I cannot possible spend it in one shopping trip! It was really too much, but I appreciate it greatly.

As I've said before, I've made many friends in graduate school. Four of them graduated with me last night. LeeAnn, who is an LPC in Amarillo, Emily, who is a counselor at a Jr. High in Amarillo, Fallon, who is a K-2 counselor in Borger, and Grace who is the counselor for WT High. Some of my other friends have already graduated, are about to in Dec. or have just started the counseling program. I would like to mention some of their names to let them know what good friends they are. Hope from Spearman, Anne from Texline, Kimberly from Stinnett, Misty from Idalou, Lyndy from Dimmitt, Janet from Guymon, Lisa from Pampa, Jennifer and Melissa from River Road, and all of these from different schools in Amarillo...Mercy, Pilar, Kevin, Delana, Audrey, Susan, Jane, and Rhonda. I'm sure I left out some, but these are the ones that I'm sure I will stay in touch with.

Here are a few pictures from last night.

Summer

Summer is almost over and I haven't had much of one since I've been in school so much, but I will get a little break. I have 2 more days of class at WTAMU, then I get to graduate with my masters of education in counseling on August the 8th. I still have one more class in the fall in order to complete the counseling program, but then I won't have to take anymore classes unless I want to be an LPC. I haven't decided on that yet, but if they put the 2 classes that I need...psychoparmacology and ethics...online, then I might do it.

I will be keeping the kids when I get done with school. Lynsi's house is not ready yet so they stay with use during the week. I wish I had a swimming pool to keep them occupied, but I guess it's too late in the summer to get one now. We'll find something to do, though. Bailey will probably come over and play with Erynn. Here are some summer pics of the kids.

Hope and Healing

Yesterday, as part of my class assignment, we had to go to a place called Hope and Healing. It is a counseling center that mainly deals with grief counseling, but also deals with other problems as well. It was the most awesome place. It was downtown Amarillo among those old beautiful houses. There are 2 LPCs there that do the counseling. One specialized in art therapy, which is what we did yesterday. One thing that they do with everyone who comes in for grief counseling is for the child or adult who has lost someone to make a birdhouse in honor of the one that they lost. There were bird houses all over the backyard on the fence and it was so sad, but at the same time it was comforting. I could tell that some of the birdhouses were made by very little kids. The counselor said that everytime they come back, they want to go and see their birdhouse. The room that we did our art therapy in was called the tree house because it was upstairs and had lots of windows and there were trees right outside of the windows so it seemed like you were in a tree house. It was great.

I am on my last 2 classes of the counseling program, but if I took 2 more classes and did an internship, then I could become an LPC. Everyone that we have talked to in the last 2 weeks have strongly encouraged us to go ahead and do the LPC. I just don't know if I want to do any more classes, although I would love to have a place like Hope and Healing in Childress. There are no counselors here that I know of. They all have to come from Amarillo or Wichita. If I thought that there was a great need for one, I might consider it. I would love to be an LPC. I'm just going to concentrate on these last two classes right now, but I'll definitely think about doing the LPC thing soon.

If you would like more information about Hope and Healing their website is:
www.hopeandhealing.org

Graduation

Well...I finally get to graduate. It's August the 8th at 7 PM. I didn't walk when I received my associate's degree or my bachelor's degree, but I'm going to this time. It will be my last chance and I deserve it!! I have two 10-day classes in July and then I'll be done. I'm ready. I don't want to write any more papers or read any more textbooks. It has been a good experience regardless of those things. I'm in classes with people just like me who are or are going to be counselors. I've made some good lifelong friends. And if I need help or advice, I have a whole lot of other counselors that I can call and they will be glad to help me. Despite the fact that I've had to drive many, many miles to college, it's been worth it. I wouldn't want to do this whole thing online. I wouldn't be a good counselor because I would not have that one-on-one practice that I've had to do in many of my classes. When they say practice makes perfect, they are right, even though I'll never be a perfect counselor, I think having to actually counsel people in front of my peers and my professors has helped me a lot. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I'm going to get a lot of experience in Chillicothe so I'll be ready when there is a spot for me at home, if that ever happens. I think it will sooner or later and I'll be ready.

One more day!!

School is officially out for the summer tomorrow. The teachers have to come back Sat. morning, but everything is basically done. I am the senior sponsor so I have to be at Graduation and Project Celebration. Usually that's done by parents, but over here the sponsors have to go. I don't have to come in as early as everyone else on Sat., though. Then I am going to see Lacy on Sunday, then Monday morning I have to be in Canyon at 7:30 AM. I will be there every week from Monday through Thursday until July 23. Then I will be done and will graduate in August.....finally!! So I won't have much of a summer, but this is the very last summer I will ever have to go to school!!!!!!!