Journal: Week of June 24, 2024

It has been a pretty calm week around here.  Temperatures have been a bit warm, but it is to be expected as we get closer to July in Texas.  The temperatures have been hitting 100 degrees with heat indexes ranging between 105-110 resulting in heat warnings.

I created a Donorschoose project on Monday.  The request focuses on basic supplies such as pencils, new sets of color pencils and markers, paper, graph paper, and cardstock.  A few years ago, I requested folders using Donorschoose and we created growth folders to allow students to track their growth and progress.  Together, students tracked their growth throughout the school year which helped them acknowledge and see they were learning.  Students tracked and set goals for themselves.  Allowing students to see their success which many times were small, helped them push through when the work became challenging.  

Pen and pencil holders have been popular this week!  I have received orders from California and Kansas this week for them.  Time to work on making new ones for my Etsy Shop!  As of this morning, I have reached 175 sales since starting my shop almost two years ago.  

This year, I signed Ashlyn up for Kids Bowl Free since Main Event was one of the locations.  So far, we have gone twice this summer and we have had a good time.  I had a lucky first game on Wednesday with three strikes in a row to begin the game.  Normally my first game is better than my second game.  Ashlyn primarily did not use the bumpers on these games.  She set them up to use, but they were broken and not working correctly.  About halfway through, she took them off entirely.  However, she's getting better at getting her ball to go straight and actually has a bit of a spin to her ball based on how she is releasing it.  

Journal: Week of June 17, 2024

While away, I had a few more items purchased on my Etsy shop.  When we returned, the items shipped to Maine, New Jersey, and North Carolina. :) Items sold this past week included lanyard pen holders, classroom window curtains, and a dog bandana.

Ashlyn and her friend, Andy, went swimming on Tuesday afternoon for about an hour.  Our HOA in the neighborhood was sponsoring, Pops at the Pool, so we had a popsicle along with enjoying the pool for a bit.

Tuesday evening, Ashlyn completed her BSA Astronomy merit badge.  They were able to complete everything but one requirement while camping at the Rocky Mountain National Park.  Her last thing to complete was to draw a sketch of the Big Dipper's orientation in the early evening sky.  Then a few hours later, sketch it again including the North Star in both sketches and the position.  I could sure tell the difference between the views from our campsite, Glacier Basin, in comparison from our house with all the light pollution.  It was much harder to see, but it was there.  Saturday evening, Ashlyn submitted her last requirements for her BSA Camping merit badge.  

Journal: Week of May 20, 2024

Ashlyn earned her Star rank with BSA Scouts on Monday, May 20, 2024.  She is getting one step closer to Eagle!  Jakob earned his Eagle rank about the week before he turned 17.  Her current goal is to beat him by earning Eagle before the time he earned his rank.  However, only time will tell though.  She still has a bunch of Eagle required merit badges to complete.  Back in January, she switched troops to an all-girl backpacking troop and has been extremely happy with the challenges along with the other girls in the troop.

We finished off the last day of the 2023-2024 school this past Friday.  It was a busy school year as always.  Ashlyn finished off her 7th grade school year.  I finished my 15th year teaching.  In the past fifteen years, I have taught 7th grade math, 7th honors math, 8th grade math, and Algebra on my campus.  

Part of our check-out for the end of the school year was to put our big tables in the hallway.  My room is changing next year.  I will be downstairs and I will have windows!  I am excited about having windows again.  It has been quite some time since I have had windows, so I am looking forward to it.  Prior to leaving last Friday, I was able to pack everything up and store most of it in my classroom along with the math closet.  After our school finishes with all the cleaning, I will work towards moving everything to my new classroom when we return for the next school year.

My Side Stitch Creations EtsyShop is slowly picking back up which is fantastic.  Last week, new pen holders and a keyfob shipped out to North Carolina and Illinois.

Jakob started back to lifeguarding again this summer.  He appreciates the hourly pay rate and really likes the management team where he is currently lifeguarding.  He completed his first year at college and did well overall for his first year away at college.  Thankfully, due to his scholarship, he was able to live on campus.  This past spring break, we found him a fully furnished student housing apartment where he will live for his next school year.  I know he will appreciate having a private room and private bathroom.  He will have a shared living room and kitchen area with one other student.

Journal: Week of May 29, 2023

We moved a bunch of furniture around this past Monday.  By moving the queen bed out of our front bedroom it opened it up for me to use it for a craft and exercise room.  Last year in September, I started sewing more which included making classroom window curtains for everyone in our eighth grade hallway.  After pondering on the idea, I created Side Stitch Creations.  

The past few months I have even been classified as a STAR seller which is fantastic news.  In order to receive the badge, sellers must have speedy replies to questions, good reviews, on-time shipping, along with a minimum number and dollar amount of orders.

STAR Seller Badge - June 2023

Ashlyn has been enjoying her afternoons at her friend's house for VBS.  She had a good week which included swimming yesterday afternoon.

Jakob has had off from work majority of this week due to his graduation.  He starts back to lifeguarding at the of this week.  I suspect he will have a busy summer.