Trying to do it all

As I wrapped up my first term toward my Masters in Mathematics Education on January 31st, I realized, for the first time, that I CAN'T do it all.

Throughout my life I have crammed in lots of events, activities and opportunities, both voluntary and paid, with little regard to the possibility of it taking over my life.  

I have been a Girl Scout Leader, PTA Public Relations VP & President-Elect, member of many bowling, softball, basketball, tennis and volleyball leagues (competitive and recreational), head coach for several girls softball teams, and Community Council board member.

This doesn't include performing and running my entertainment company, Funny Girl Productions since 2000, being a full-time mother since 1998, and being a devoted and amazing wife (hubby's words) for 15 years.  Throw in a few jobs throughout that time and finishing my BA in Special Education, and you got the makings of a crazy lady!  

I'd rather describe it as an active girl with ADHD who wants to make the world a better place before she leaves it.  Yeah, that sounds a LITTLE better.

But even with that kind of full-plate experience, I wasn't able to complete all of my classes during my first term of graduate school. 

Friends, family and colleagues have all tried to comfort me in my disappointment by reminding me of the fact that I AM teaching 6th grade, full-time at a Direct Instruction charter school with an extensive academic and character development curriculum, while in my first year of teaching, while still performing and running my company, while having two teenagers and a pre-teen that are involved in a plethora of activities, along with a husband that works over 55 hours a week.

Ok, when it's typed out like that, I guess it looks like I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but I have taken those big bites before.  And although they might have been a bit hard to swallow, I eventually got them down the gullet and moved on.  This bite seems to have stuck in my throat!

I decided that I am not going to kick myself or tell myself that I am a failure.  I am not going to lie in bed with a quart of ice cream and reruns of Grey's Anatomy telling myself that I am a poor excuse of a human being.

I am instead choosing to learn from this experience and will allow myself to understand that it's OK NOT TO DO EVERYTHING! 

My coach did not turn back into a preverbal pumpkin at midnight on the last day of my term, nor did I explode, disintegrate, or die from not getting it all done.  I will not be withdrawn from school, but I will be on academic probation and will need to step it up this next term. 

But it's ok because I realize now that I am human, not a super hero, which I occasionally liked to believe I was.  Lack of enough time in the day, has proven to be my Kryptonite, but I am determined to rise from the ashes, get back on that horse and try-try again. (Wow, was that enough clichés for you?)

I will spend quality time with my kids and husband, stop working by 5pm, and say "no" when I need to.  I will hang up my cape with the big "SV" on the back (Super Valerie; what did you think it stood for?) and know that the world will continue to keep spinning and survive without me taking it all on.  

Maybe I'll keep the cape within reach; just in case!

Organizing for Success

Is your child missing homework deadlines because they can't remember what's due and when?  Are they frequently  getting ZAPPED due to being unprepared?
Help your child to be a successful Patriot by helping them to organize their lives.  

Here are a few reminders and tips for helping your child to be successful.

1: Use the planner the way it's supposed to be used.
A student planner is your child's "to do" list for each day.  It should list what was done in class and what needs to be done at home whether it's study time or homework.  Look over the planner starting with the first subject and work your way down checking items off as they are done.  This way you don't forget what was finished and what still needs to be done. 

2: Use your binder the way it's supposed to be used.
Binders are the student’s main way of transporting homework, finished assignments, class packets and parent communication.  Binders should not have workbooks, tons of notebooks, toys or anything other than the assignments given to the student and the folders that hold those assignments.   A "take home" folder should only have assignments that have been corrected and are ready to go home; and stay home.  
Color coding your folders are a great way to stay organized and not forget where you place things. 
                       Reading - Red
                       Math - Yellow
                       Science - Green
                       History/Geography - Blue
                       Language Arts - Purple
                       Electives (Foreign Language, Band/Orchestra, Health) - Orange, Black
                       Take Home - Manila (Beige)
Clean out your binder at the end of every week so it doesn't become over-stuffed and hard to deal with.  Take the assignments that have been graded and place them in a folder at home for safe keeping until the end of that term. Although teachers are pretty amazing, they do sometimes make mistakes.  It's always better to save the work and show them the graded assignment for credit, rather than do the assignment over again.

3. Keep your desk and backpack clean and clutter free Try having a "no loose papers" policy, which requires you to place papers in the right folders in your binders and keep them out of your locker or backpack.  When loose papers are "floating" in a backpack, they can get torn, dirty, and lost, leaving it hard to do your homework and be successful.  Check your backpack daily and remove any unnecessary items so it's easier to find what you need in the morning and when you get home from school.  Using a binder as described in #2, will help eliminate clutter in both your locker and your backpack!

4. Choose an effective study area.
Choose a quiet, well-lit area for studying and doing homework. Don’t study in front of the television, or in an area of your home where you’re bound to be distracted.  If a library is close to your home, ask if you can do your homework there, so distractions like siblings and technology won't ruin your success.  

Take your binder out, once seated, and open the folders one at a time (according to the order of your planner; science first, then math, etc) so you can work on each subject.  Once that subject's assignment is complete, place the folder back in your binder and move on to the next subject.  Once all folders have been placed back into your binder, you know you're done for the day!

5. Prepare for the next day, the night before
Place your binder, textbooks, workbooks and anything else that needs to go to school the next morning, in your backpack the night before.  Lay out the clothes that you are going to wear the next day as well.  This will help lessen stress in the morning and, if you’re running late from something else, will eliminate being unprepared at school.  If you bring a home lunch, make your lunch the night before so you can grab it and go the next day.  Pictures, field trip, or important teacher/parent meeting the next day?  Make sure you remind your caregiver and give them the required forms for permission, etc, before the due date as well. Getting to school in the morning can be tough, but it's even tougher when you forget your permission form on the day of an amazing field trip and you have to stay at school by yourself!