Three Day Training

A few weeks ago I was asked to join the Preschool Work Group that is one of the sub-committees of the Boone County Empowerment Board. The aim of this group is to brain storm ideas to improve the lives of preschool children in our county through the local daycares and preschools.

It was through this group that I was able to attend a Creative Curriculum training seminar on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Creative Curriculum is a method of teaching preschool that is developmentally appropriate for young children. It compliments everything that I learned in college but puts the information in more practical terms for everyday use. I think that the number one thing that I learned is that it takes the average teacher 3-5 years to implement all the different aspects of the curriculum. Boy, does that take the pressure off! I don't have to feel like I need to be the perfect teacher and have it all figures out the first day.

I really appreciate the Empowerment Board for making this training possible for so many preschool teachers to attend. It normally would have cost $350 per person for this training. Since Empowerment funded it, it only cost $50 each, and that included lunch for three days as well as the Creative Curriculum book that retails for $45. What a deal! They are planning another segment of the training next March on assessments, and I'm already planning to attend that, too.

Trip to Chicago

Jeff and I headed to Chicago last Wednesday. My sister-in-law works at a Best Western Hotel and got us a room. It was really nice with a whirlpool tub and all the amenities. The next morning, Jeff went to a Cubs game with my sister's husband, Rob, while I got a chance to visit with my sister, Leslie, and my three nieces. It was a great visit. I even got to spoil the girls with big lollipops that we got at Cracker Barrel. I forgot my camera, so I didn't get a picture of them this time, but this is them when they were here in Iowa last spring. We were only able to stay until the game was over and then had to head back home. It was a short trip, but it was fun and I'm glad I could go.

Exhausted

Yesterday was a busy and crazy day of working at church, doing chores at home, and running errands. Jeff had to fly to Colorado for meetings yesterday and didn't get home until 2:30 a.m. this morning. (Yes, I stayed up and waited for him.) We did manage to get about 5 hours of sleep last night, but I don't think it was enough. Jeff's day included meetings and performing a wedding and I worked at Hy-Vee for a full shift. It is now almost bedtime and I think we are just going to get a pizza for dinner. I hope I am awake to eat it!!

Football Pictures

Josh is #35. Click on the picture to see him close up.

Football at Crown

Friday Jeff and I drove to Crown to visit Josh. We went up to his dorm room for a while and got to see it all unpacked and then took him out to dinner. It was really nice to get to visit with him. We stayed overnight and went to his football game on Saturday. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect day for a game (except for a million yellow jackets swarming everyone). I did get a pretty good sunburn, though!

Josh did really good in his game. We are so excited for him that he started in his freshmen year! His is a fullback and plays on special teams, too. He made a carry for 3 yards and many tackles. He has decided that going up against college players is different from high school; they are MUCH bigger! Josh is a little sore today with a bruised ACL and a deep back bruise. He'll be up and ready for Saturday's away game though! I'll add pictures of Josh when I get some.

Laboring on Labor Day

Today has been a busy, but fun and productive day. Jeff and I worked for just an hour or two this morning at church. Then we came home and finished the yard work that Jeff started yesterday. We mostly trimmed trees and dragged the branches to the burn pile. I do believe that grass might actually grow now that the sun can shine through a little. We will plant some grass this fall. Now we're fixing a nice lunch (pork chops on the grill, fresh green beans, and macaroni salad) before I go to work at Hy-Vee tonight.