June 2009

We just had Kylie, Nate, Kendra and Ryan visit us and we had a great time. School finished up on the 10th and I have been asked to teach a 1st and 2nd grade combination class. I said yes and am working to learn another curriculum again.

Having the family here was wonderful. Kendra is such a beautiful and fun little girl. Kylie is a wonderful mother. We hung out at the house and got a pool; went into Raleigh for concert in the park; went to Wrightsville Beach; Wilmington; and had some BBQ's. It was a great visit.

Kory is still looking for a job, but we are getting closer I think. I am enjoying my summer and start tutoring in July. All continues to be well for us. Kory and I are one month away from our one year anniversary. Very exciting! Time flies.

Kory's been working hard...

I know Kory doesn't write on this or anything....but I wanted to show off what he's been doing. Here is a link to see his online portfolio:
http://korysherman.mosaicglobe.com/page/8939

He's very passionate about his art and the designs he makes and spends a lot of time perfecting them. I'm very proud of him. This is only his first semester in school. Hope you enjoy his work.

March Update

Well...this has been an eventful month. Kory and I went to Boston to visit Ryan and had a great time. Kelly drove out and we celebrated St. Patty's together.

A week later...Rachelle and Jon flew down for a visit and we had another great weekend celebrating St. Patty's and seeing Kelly and Joe's daughter, Taylor. Everyone is doing great!

Things have been tough on Kory this month, work continued to get slower and slower. He is applying and looking for work every day and will hopefully find something that is a little more dependable.

School is fine, my kids are doing well and the upper grades are prepping for their end of grade test. I am hoping to work this summer to get more involved in the development of testing within the state. Not sure how I'm going to do this, but I'll figure something out.

I believe that is it for March. It's been a great month with some sore spots here and there. Family is good, so that's what counts.

Getting discouraged with our education

Anyone who knows me knows that these two years in public education have opened my eyes to many new things. One, I don't like to be confronted by children who are taller then me. Two, I do NOT agree with state testing. And three, there is soooo much wrong with the no child left behind act that I can't even pinpoint where to begin reform.
Anyways....I have had another week in which my school has disappointed me and made me feel inadequate as a teacher. My "leader" referred to school as a business. I have always thought of a school as a learning zone. I wish that it was only my school that is doing so horribly for our children, but am thinking and hearing there are schools all over our nation failing our students. Let's keep blaming the teachers. Cause we are not trained well enough or have enough time to have lives and plan for 25 individual students. When will our government start paying attention to why these children aren't passing these tests. They can't read in 5th grade! They go home to no one each night. They have no home....they have no support...they have parents who don't speak English.....they have parents who can't read....they are from a culture that doesn't support education...etc. There are a million reasons that the children in our schools are not persevering, and most of them stem from how they are being supported outside of school. Maybe this should be an area we are addressing. We have millions of single parents now who are working jobs to support their families...but don't allow them to be home for their families. We have accepted people from all nations to live here....but we don't offer free schooling for them to learn too.

So...I have some issues in my head right now that are really bothering me. I haven't figured out the solution yet....but am trying to get my concerns out there.

On a side note...I had a lovely birthday...kory got me my own dolphins jersey with the Sherman name on the back. We went out to dinner and he made me a birthday cake..a lovely time was had.

B-day bash day

We got up really early today because we have someone coming to look at our house. Hopefully they love it. We were supposed to go look at houses today but the realtor we are working with is sick...so maybe tomorrow.
Tonight is our bowling birthday celebration. We are looking forward to it. Kory's already got his bowling balls sitting by the door...such a geek. I'm sure he'll have the high scores though. If we take any good pics I'll put them up.

procrastinating

I just realized that I came on the computer to write up things for work tomorrow and haven't even touched it. So, on that note, I should move on to my workload of being a teacher. The work never ends.

First timer

Hey...I thought since we are away from everyone we would try this out to let you know what we are up to. As of this week, we have been starting to look at houses again and try to find a place to start our family. Kory has been working hard on his classwork and is actually at a Epic game showing tonight. My 28th birthday is creeping up on me and I'm not too excited about it....not fun to celebrate at work. Kory and I are having a joint birthday party this Saturday with our friends Kristen and Mary. It should be a good time. Other than that..all is well here.