Day 49/Day 13

This morning, while in the elevator, I saw something that made me laugh.....

.....There is a key hole that says "Stop" and "Run".....I thought to myself.....where can I run to....I am in an elevator.....

Then I got thinking....those simple words can mean so much.....

...Throughout our lives we are often faced with challenges that make us want to simply "stop" or get up and "run"......

Did you ever think back to those challenges and wonder what would have happened if you stopped or ran??? If you didn't continue on???

When the Academy first started, it was chaotic....our staff could have all ran....but thank goodness they didn't!!!! Each day is better than the day before. Carpe Diem has been running for 13 days....a total of 39 hours....that is less than a full work week.....and a TREMENDOUS amount of progress has been made!!

Each day, as I walk through the classrooms, I am in awe as to what is going on.....

.....Students are learning!!! Students are engaged!!! Teachers are seeing success!!!

Today, I walked into a classroom and the students were engaged in centers. One group was searching for numbers in newspaper ads, another group was creating words with easter eggs, another group was doing a rhyming activity, and the fourth group was found relaxing on bean bag chairs and writing. WOW!!!

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Day 48/Day12

Today, I had a flashback.....

....As I was doing an observation, the students were gathered on the rug, so I quietly found a seat in the back row of desks in hopes to not interrupt the instruction.

While sitting, I realized I was sitting in a student chair....I quickly flashbacked to the days of teaching first grade and how I would often sit in my students' chairs. I would sit in their seats for many reasons...

                - To help them color pictures -Something so simple, yet so rewarding. I always found it enjoyable to pick up a crayon and help students color their pictures. It was a great time to "chat" with them, to set aside the academics and get to know them, to laugh with them, to learn from them.

               - To model how to sit in a chair - I can't tell you how many times I showed the students how to sit correctly in a seat so they would no longer "tip over".

              - To let the students teach me - I always looked for an opportunity when a student would go to the restroom, or even get up to get a keelnex....I would hop in their seat and then they had    
to teach. I certainly learned a great deal.

              - To console a crying child - Nothing better than getting down to their level and comforting a child who misses their mom, or doesn't feel well, or needs help with an assignment.

               - To eat lunch with them - Once a month my students would have an opportunity to eat lunch with me in the classroom. Loved the casual conversation!


I started to miss my time in the "student chair"....but soon realized.....that time is still there....just in a different way....you see...I am observing what I once did.....I am observing 20+ staff  build a rapport with children, I am observing 20+ staff  identify their needs, I am observing 20+ staff meet the needs of the whole child, I am observing 20+ staff change the world.....

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Technical Difficulties

Due to technical difficulties there will not be a post tonight....check back tomorrow!

Day 46

Tomorrow, after 11 days, the academy will be back in session and as I sit here and blog.......I wonder......

......I wonder what the students did over the 11 days of not coming to Carpe Diem....

......I wonder if they are anxious to go to school tomorrow knowing that they will be going to Carpe Diem in the afternoon....

......I wonder where the students will be a year from now, 5 years, 10 years......

......I wonder what the staff has planned to kick-off the final stretch of phase 1......

......I wonder how many students will run up to their Carpe Diem teacher with a smile on their face.....

......I wonder why I have been so blessed to be working for the Carpe Diem Academy.....

......I wonder....and as I wonder....the world will change a little bit more......

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Happy Easter

The Carpe Diem Academy would like to wish you and yours a Happy Easter! Thank you for your continued support!!!

Day 45

My entries have changed since I first started to blog....in the beginning they were a little more thought provoking...had a little more substance......however, that has since changed...

Mainly because since the academy has been up and running, I don't have as much down time to reflect on the day....to gather my thoughts that are constantly circulating around the topic of Carpe Diem Academy....

In the beginning, I was blogging late morning or  mid-afternoon.....now I am lucky to post a daily entry before 11:59 PM....

I don't need to blog everyday....however, it's more of a personal challenge to do so....each day I have learned something.....each day something new happened....this is the next stepping stone in my life and I want to remember all that I gained from this experience!

So...today I am off....have a little more time to reflect....here it goes....

Yesterday evening, I was sitting in my office getting ready for class and as I was grading mid-terms, something (I really can't identify exactly what it was) reminded me how much I love my job.....

Personal happiness is something that we all strive for....I am happy now....I have been happy since I was notified that the proposal for the 21st Century Community Learners grant was accepted....

But why am I happy? I am happy because I made a positive change in my career. I am happy because I work for and with dedicated educators. I am happy because at 5:30 children are still smiling even though they are still in school....

Children....smiling....school...5:30....those 4 words you don't often find in the same sentence! The other day someone asked me about how I always blog about how we are going to change the world .........those 4 words in the same sentence proves that we are! Children want to be at school.....they want to learn....they are happy!

Happy Easter!

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Day 44

Today is going to be a day that I will always remember.....

.....Today....without sweating or as Penelope (name has been changed to protect actual person from being embarrassed) refers to sweating as "water flowing profusely off the body", without the feeling of an ulcer returning, without eating a handful (or container) of tums.....today....I was able to complete a task that required me to work with the budget....readers....that is a major accomplishment!!!

....Now....by "complete" I mean I was able to fill out a check request form and identify the correct budget line.....I have not turned that actual request in yet....so it may bounce back with a stamped ERROR message going across it.....

.....but for now....I am going to find peace in knowing that I was able to hold the budget in my hand without water flowing profusely off my body!!

Don't worry folks.....the academy will be up and running again on Tuesday....so only a couple more days of me blogging about myself!

Day 43

Today, I spent the day (or a good part of the day) trying to get organized....mainly organizing my filing cabinet and documents. I spent some time contemplating exactly how I should organize the filing cabinet....should the files go by content - invoices, applications, etc. or should I alphabetize them....I went with the organization by content....my mind seemed to respond to that with less confusion!

I continued on with organizing documents into separate binders....some of you may know...I have this thing with sheet protectors....in fact, while I continue to "get organized" I encourage you to buy some stock in sheet protectors....and then donate all profits to the academy!

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Day 42

I have been sitting here trying to figure out what to blog about. I have decided that rather than staring at the computer screen for another 20 minutes, I am just going to type....tonight we shall see what keys my fingers land on....

....As I stated yesterday, the district is on break, so the past 2 days and the remaining 3 days will be "slower paced" days.....

When the academy is in session, the days are pretty crazy....fast paced....try and picture this...

8:30AM - 1:00PM: Meetings, phone calls, picking up snack, dropping off snack, sending emails, and the list could go own....

1:00PM - 6:00PM: This is when the adrenaline kicks in....staff begins to arrive....copy card is passed from staff member to staff member....snack is divided amongst the 12 classrooms....ideas are shared...questions are asked....we depart to the schools....attendance is taken......snack is eaten.....instruction is implemented....physical activity is incorporated....dinner is served....students are dismissed.....

7:30 - whenever the phone dies: text messages are exchanged regarding how the day went and what needs to be done to prepare for the next day....

Last week I was looking forward to having this week to "catch -up".....but today I had difficulty focusing....I miss the above schedule.....but it will be back in one short week.....

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Day 41

This week, the district is on break...therefore, the academy will not be running. It almost feels like vacation....there is much work that needs to get done, so this week will be spent playing catch-up....and perhaps catching up on a little sleep.....nah....forget that....who needs sleep?!?!

Leanne said we have been working like dogs....yes, we have been working hard...but....can't we say we have been working like chimpanzees....has a little more pizzazz to it....

.....now that has me thinking....can you imagine if we could work like chimpanzees....do you know how much time I would save if I could swing by the trees to visit the site locations, or swing from wire to wire up Peach St. when supplies need to be purchased...

....ok...perhaps I am losing my mind....but I am willing to lose a little of it in the quest to change the world....