VerMeer's Top 10 List for Graduates

Congratulations graduates of 2015!  You are now ready to start your next adventure...here's a little help from your beloved teacher.

VerMeer's Wisdom List:

1.  Kindness is MORE important than popularity or being right.

1 Cor. 16:14 Let all you do be done in love.

2.  Today's choices build tomorrow's reputation.

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is MORE desirable than great riches.

3.  Get comfortable with being Uncomfortable; life is challenging and requires you to stick to your guns.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

4. Work at something you enjoy; something that is worthy of your time and energy.

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; In your right hand there are pleasures forever.

5.  Forgive - yourself and others.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ forgave you.

6.  Happiness is NOT based on money, beauty, possessions, a killer pair of heels or prestige, but on loving and respectful relationships.

II Cor. 9:8 God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things and at all times, having all that you NEED, you will abound in every good work.

7.  Be Honest - give credit and take blame.

Phil. 4:8  Whatever is TRUE, whatever is HONEST, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY; think on these things.

8.  Don't Gossip!

Ephesians 4:29  Do not let any unwelcome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is useful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

9.  Discipline yourself to save money, pray daily and NEVER kiss on the first date!

Isaiah 58:11  The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, whose waters do not fail.

10.  Never lie to your Doctor, Minister or Mother!

Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

Therefore, graduates remember your path is ordained and as Romans 8:31 says, "If God is for us, then who can be against us?"

Teamwork Employability Game

Working Together – Employability Skill Practice

Equipment required: Pens/pencils and paper.

Split the group into random teams of three or four.

Instruction to group:

One person in each team starts by drawing a shape or outline.

The drawing is then passed to the next team member who must add to the drawing.

And so on.

Time spent by each person in turn on the drawing is limited to 10 seconds. (The facilitator will say 'change' when time is up.)

No discussion is permitted during the drawing!

The drawing must be completed in two minutes.

Discussion & Review:

•  Don’t tell what was drawn! Just talk about the process.

•  Did the team draw anything recognizable?

•  How easy was the understanding between team members?

•  How did team members work differently on this task?

•  What was the effect of time pressure?

•  Was there a natural tendency to draw supportively and harmoniously, or were there more conflicting ideas?

The drawings are then displayed on document camera so the other teams can tell what they believe the drawing is or represents.

Final Review:

•  What factors enabled teams to produce recognizable drawings?

•  What factors led to drawings being unrecognizable?

•  Are 'drawing' skills especially helpful in this exercise, or are other capabilities more significant?

•  What does this exercise demonstrate about mutual understanding and how to achieve it?

•  What obstacles to understanding and teamwork does this activity illustrate?

Courtesy of www.wagonwheelsandhighheels.blogspot.com

Back to School

Labor Day weekend is the end to a carefree summer of fun. On Sunday, the boys and I packed and prepped for our first day of school on Tuesday.

It is always a bittersweet time for our family. The transition back to school is tough on my family.  I move from stay-at-home mom to full-time working mom.  The boys have to adjust to a regimented schedule and schoolwork once again.

I love my work, both at home and school, but the burden of responsibility is often a weighty yoke.  I have vowed this year to better balance my work and home energies.  I want to influence my students positively but without the cost being my own young men.

My goal is lofty.  I will need several factors to improve to see the level of success I desire.  My first line of attack is to arrange a bi-monthly house cleaner.  I have struggled over having the energy and organizational talent necessary to uphold the quality of cleanliness that makes me feel comfortable. I live in a small farmhouse surrounded by dirt and dust.  It is a full time job beating back the impurities that mar my little home.  I decide to take action in asking for help.  God sent me to a fine lady who believes her mission is helping others by cleaning their homes.  She scrubs, changes sheets, vacuums and dusts.  Our home is a sanctuary after long hours away doing my own missions work at the public school.

The second arm of my plan is organization and planning at school.  I preach daily about the wise use of time.  I teach these of a daily planner, long-term goal calendar and the all-mighty Post-It note.  Now the teacher/preacher must DO.  I printed a year long calendar by months off my computer using WORD.  Then I checked my online IEP platform to list the due dates.  Placing them on my calendar a week in advance with phone numbers and emails if listed, would hopefully help me arrange meetings well in advance on the impending annual review dates.

Next, I created an email list of all my student's parents and guardians so I could send information out quickly.  I also created a list of just my senior students as they will need different emails forwarded or sent to them.

I also needed labels printed so I could send all my original paperwork to our local consortium for review and audit.  I again had to ask for help.  A sweet secretary in our office offered to simple print them for me when I asked her for guidance.  So armed with my labels, housekeeper, and calendar I am hopeful that I will be an effective teacher and a wise, sweet Momma as well.

My school district requires the use of a Moodle, which we received training on the last week of August.   I have yet to see how I might organize this tool to help me be more efficient in the classroom.  I am looking forward to learning this new format of curriculum delivery and curation.

I will let you know if my plan works...