Back on Track

It has been a fabulous week! Why, you ask? I feel like I"m getting back on track with a few things.

Number 1: Run, Cat! Run! 

Ran to the Brooklyn Bridge 

I finally started running again. I have been a serious runner on and off since high school. I have a very bad habit of quitting for months at a time then starting again. Well, this week I started again and it felt great! A friend of Peter's has started a mileage challenge with me so I've got the motivation to keep it up!!

I have been bringing my running things to work and running around there (because the views are much better before going home on the train. My goal, as the weather starts to warm up, is to begin running in the mornings. I have to get ready for that 'Bama summer!




Number 2: Ridin' Dirty

My bike has been stuck inside my apartment through most of this winter.  For a while it was close to impossible to ride with all of the snow and ice. Then I was deterred by all of the salt and how quickly it would eat up my bike. In the past week we've had a few days of above freezing weather, enough to melt away the snow and ice and rinse the roads. Yesterday it was 50 degrees and first on my to-do list was to get my bike tuned up, road ready, and OUTSIDE.  I am so excited to start riding my bike to work again. Bring on the Roads!



Number 3: Organization

This school I work for just opened this September so we are still figuring out organization and storage. We have a room that will be a classroom for summer camp and school next year but currently does not have any children. It turned into a massive storage closet that was a complete eye sore. A co-worker and I decided to stay late and organize. We got so much done and actually ended up organizing all the classrooms as well. The only thing as satisfying as organizing your school, is organizing your apartment... which I did as well. I straight up love organizing. It was also great this happened because I'm having a very hard time curbing my desire to start packing for the move. I really, really like organizing but I LOVE packing... weird I know.



Number 4: Healthy Eating

In addition to getting my exercise routine back on track I finally went grocery shopping and stocked up on lots of healthy food options. I have a messed up metabolism so I try to steer clear of sugars and breads because they make me crash, and crash hard, sometimes into the floor. So I've got lots and lots of chicken and veggies, and some sweet treats like clementines and yogurt. I'm already feeling more energetic and healthy.

In summary, life is good. Preparations for the move as well as some trips we might take this summer are coming along. I've been spending more time with friends. I've got lots of NYC adventures planned now that the weather is a bit warmer and my bike is back in commission. So stay tuned!

Love my Girls! Love my City! 

Special Ed tricks for a Regular Ed classroom

Teacher Certification is a headache. Let me summarize for you, I have an M.Ed and in...

North Carolina: I am certified Birth-Kindergarten in regular and special education

New York: I am certified Birth-2nd grade but was told I needed 6 additional credits to obtain a Special Education license. 

Alabama: Will be giving me a Preschool-Third grade teaching license but not a Special Ed license unless I complete an additional graduate program. 

P.s. I have no coursework or experience teaching children older than kindergarten... but neither NY or AL seem to have a problem certifying me for older grade levels. 

In turn, I'm pissed and sad and feeling a little rejected by AL and NY. I was a good special ed teacher! But I have been feeling like those skills are being wasted. I recently spoke to a wise, wise, WISE friend of mine who reminded me that I am using my "Special Education" knowledge everyday in my regular education classroom. 

So for you fellow teachers out there, here are 5 skills I learned in the Special Ed world that have made a huge difference in my Regular Ed Preschool classroom.

1. Visual Cues   

The BEST thing I ever purchased for my classroom was the Time Timer. In the special ed world, especially when dealing with children on the spectrum, we are taught to fill our room with visual cues for everything. The Time Timer provides a visual reference for time remaining until a transition, which is so helpful for all young children. I point out to the children when I am setting the timer for a transition, "When the red is gone it will be time to clean up!" I also provide 5, 2, & 1 minute warnings with a musical tune (sometimes with a slide whistle). By the time "the red is gone" the kids are prepared for the transition, and often very sick of my prompts. :) 

2. Prevention

"Prevention is the best Intervention." In high school and college I worked in group homes with adults with special needs. I was trained, lectured, and taught again and again about "triggers" and "de-escalation." In other words, being observant so you can resolve a situation before it gets out of control. Paying attention to body language, who interacts well with who, if someone seemed particularly irritable, woke up extra early or missed breakfast. This attention to what seem like tiny details will save your life in the classroom. I know a few pairs of students who love each other but just drive each other nuts. I know that if they are going to play together they need an adult close by or facilitating. I have learned to watch my students as they arrive in the mornings and spend time asking parents how the morning has been.  If your children are particularly obsessed with a toy, in my classroom it is Magna-tiles, limit the amount of time or the amount of children who are able to play at a given time. Itty bitty classroom management tools like this can turn around a tough day. 

3. All Children Fidget!

My first semester of graduate school I walked into a class and was surprised to see a table surrounded by large stability balls. Our teacher instructed us to sit on a ball around the table. After everyone was seated she told us we needed to sit still because some of the slight bouncing was distracting the students around us. Now, I'm a fidget-er.. I am usually tapping a pencil or twirling my hair and this professor actually snapped at me to put my hands in my lap. I was shocked! So a few minutes later the professor asked if anyone could figure out where she was going with the lesson. Of course, we had all gotten it pretty clearly. 

Early childhood teachers often forget that not every child is comfortable sitting still, not to mention sitting cross legged on the floor for an inappropriately long group time. In my special ed classroom many of the children had difficulties with muscle strength and tone so some of them sat in chairs, some would kneel over cylinder pillows. some would lay on their stomachs. I also had children with sensory processing disorders so I would give them a mound of playdough or specially designed "fidgets" to hold. Most teachers would shriek and say, "But didn't that distract them?! Didn't all the other children want one too?!"The answer is... Yes... sometimes. But guess what? I'd rather them be distracted for a few moments by something in their hands than the child next to them. In my regular ed classroom I have a few children who are more comfortable in chairs, a few who listen better when they have a small object to fidget and some who sit "criss-cross applesauce" on the floor and our group times are spectacular! 

4. Be Resourceful

My first teaching job was in a Non-Profit school. We had enough supplies but often not enough to keep the kids engaged and excited about materials. I leaned early on that "homemade is the best made" and that the smallest changes to toys or activities can make it new and exciting again. For example: Not only can you make your own playdoh, but the kids can help! Flowers that are about to die can be turned into a science activity. Another example is the Magnatiles mentioned above. Typically they are in a bucket to use at the table but when I stuck them on the magnetic dry erase board the kids went nuts! Sometimes it's the smallest things that can make a huge difference in keeping your students excited and engaged. Bored children are troubled children...

5. BE SILLY

Guys, being a teacher, no matter what age/grade or if you're in regular or special ed... is f*cking hard sometimes! But you know what makes it better? A smile. I swear on my life that sometimes even if it's just the worst day and you're in the worst mood, if you force yourself to smile, it'll turn the day around. The kids can see that too. If I've had a stern talking with any one of my students I will make sure to smile and end it with a "Kapeesh?" or "okie dokie artichoke?" Ending on a positive note with a silly comment and smile will cheer your kiddo up and yourself! Try it sometime! 

Lastly... specifically for Early Childhood teachers. Even if your kiddos don't have developmental delays or congenital disorders.. THEY ARE JUST KIDS. They have no idea what they are doing or why they are doing it most of the time. They have no advanced reasoning skills and can be impulsive little beasts on occasion (but we love it!). I often find peace in how simple children's actions really are. Larry was irritated by the high pitched music but didn't have the words to express this so he threw a toy at the stereo. Lucy wanted the toy that Jackie had, but Jackie wouldn't share. So Lucy smacked her and then Jackie slapped her back.  I totally get it! Who hasn't wanted to do that in their adult life (refer to ever news report of Black Friday sales)?! Taking a moment to try to understand where they are coming from, or if there is something else going on with them that day (refer to #2) will help you manage your classroom and remain calm and collected through those tough situations. Also, these are not moments to punish, these are moments to teach. Give them the tools and words (or body language) to respond differently next time rather than just telling them they did something wrong.

I am no expert, but have been surrounded by amazing and wise teachers over the years. If you are reading this and have tips or tricks of your own, please share them in the comments. We teachers have to stick together!!!

Teach On!

Which Flower Do the Rats Like the Best? 

The Bandwagon

Many of my friends have been participating in, "find the positive in everyday" sort of challenges. #100daysofhappy is the one I have stumbled across most often. Well, I have also accepted this challenge although have been doing so privately, except for today. Being a preschool teacher, I am almost constantly smiling throughout the day. My coworkers and I get along and make sure to make each other laugh as often as possible. So, it's pretty easy to find positive in each day... but today was an extra happy day.

Why you ask? Well, when I was in MN I bought a shirt. I am not typically a graphic tee kind of gal, but this shirt was spectacular and I NEEDED it, so I bought it. To get the most out of the shirt I decided to wait until Wednesday (today) to wear it. It was agony waiting, but totally worth it.  I know some of you might be thinking, "this doesn't seem appropriate for a work environment." Well, you're right.. but the parents and boss loved it. In conclusion: Win.

 Happy Hump Day!

Home is...?

Home is where the heart is.

Home is where the house is.

Home is where the Army takes us.

Home is where you dance in your underwear.

Home is where the Wifi connects automatically.

Home is where...

This past week I have been home in Minnesota visiting my parents. I've been thinking a lot about what home means... and for me it's a tricky concept. There are all sorts of sayings and descriptions of what and where home is, but it's really not that simple is it? 

"Where is home?"

"There are a few..."

"Yeah, Yeah, but... where is home?"

"They're all home"

"????"

I was born and raised in Maplewood, MN. For 18 years of my life, there was no question that Minnesota was home. Then I moved to Charleston, SC for college. Soon after Charleston felt like "home". My job, belongings, friends, everything except my family was there. I'd even argue that my "heart" was in Charleston. I quickly adopted the deep south way of life. Minnesota was still home, but Charleston was too. 

After graduating, for no reason in particular I moved to Charlotte, NC. Soon, Charlotte felt much more like home than Charleston ever had. I was an established adult with a full time job, lots of friends, a car that I purchased and paid for myself, and my very own health insurance (exciting right....?). Two years after moving, I met Peter. Most of his family is in Charlotte which added to the feeling of home-ness. 

4 years after moving to Charlotte I decided to move to New York. Not only to be closer to 

West Point but because... it's freaking NEW YORK! Now New York feels more like home than any of the previously mentioned cities. So here comes the real conundrum... 

Where the heck is home?! 

In the past week I have said both of these things, "I'm going home to Minnesota." Then, " I'm going home to New York." In the past month I've also said, " I'm trying to get home to Charlotte soon." I"m fairly positive that in the next 6 months I'll be adding Alabama to my list of "places that feel like home". So my answer, although not profound is a slight variation 

"Home" is all the places your heart may be. 

It's okay to call more than one place home... right?

50 Miles to Montauk And...

I didn't even see the Lighthouse

With the impending move and the (not-as-fun) Moving To-Do list building up, I decided to take a minute to reminisce about one of my favorite (and most difficult) trips from this fall.

Last summer/fall, much like now, I had a very extensive to do list. There were two items that I was incredibly excited for but also dreading... just a little bit. The first was a bike ride around Manhattan. It was a very long bike ride, and during the heat wave of all times.. but I was so glad I did it. The next item was biking from West Hampton to Montauk. It was going to be at least a 50 mile bike ride and I had read very mixed reviews about the bike "path" leading out there. Regardless, I really wanted to do it. It took quite a while to build up the courage but (as per usual) I impulsively woke up on Sunday, October 13th and decided to go! (See my route here)

The weather was absolutely perfect, and along the way I was greeted by an abundance of fall colors.

The ride was absolutely pristine... until I hit mile 35 and my legs gave out. I hadn't been riding as much in the weeks prior to this trip. I also must not have eaten correctly because I hit mile 35 and literally couldn't lift my legs to pedal. I pulled over to the side of the road and just sat there. I chugged water, ate a few cliff bars and waited... hoping that my muscles would recuperate. I had planned to bike all the way to the lighthouse and then back to the train station, which would have added 10 miles to the trip. Obviously... I didn't make it. The ride to the train station was absolutely agonizing despite the beautiful scenery. I also missed the train by about 10 minutes and had to sit and wait for 1 1/2 hours for the next train. Looking back, it's pretty humorous despite my discomfort in that moment.

If you've been keeping up with my NYC To-Do List. You'll see that "See the Montauk Lighthouse" is one of the items. I would absolutely love to do this ride again, but also decided it would be really nice to have a friend (maybe even a special guy) come with me out to Montauk. I have discovered that it is pretty difficult to convince my friends to go on a 50 mile bike ride, so I would be more than happy finding a friend who would take the train out there with me to explore.

I'm very, very ready for this snow to melt, and the salt to be rinsed away so I can get back out on my bike!

Until next time Montauk....

So close yet so far...

So Much To See and Do!

So as you may have read I will be moving to Alabama this summer. Why you ask? Because my boyfriend of 4 years is in the Army, and that's where he's headed.

When Peter found out he branched Aviation in November, I was ecstatic but still not sure if I would go with him or remain here in NY. Life is great here. I love my friends and am absolutely in love with my job, and just wasn't sure if I was ready to leave. After months of discussion, and many pros and cons lists, I decided I was ready to make the move. So when Peter found out his report date a few weeks ago I felt a bit more like this...

So the move is happening. We don't have an exact date yet, but it's happening and I am very excited about it. Before meeting Peter I had made 2 large moves on my own. The first from MN to Charleston, SC and the second from Charleston, SC to Charlotte, NC. After meeting Peter and graduating with my M.Ed I thought, " NYC?! Heck Yes!" So I packed up once again and drove a large truck from NC all the way to the Big Apple by my lonesome. I like the process of moving, but this time around am a bit concerned about the culture shock of leaving NYC and moving to rural AL ... more on that later.

 In the meantime my desire to explore New York City has gone into overdrive. I have so much left to see and not much time to do it. For me, step one for just about anything is to make a list. So I've revamped my NYC To-Do List from this summer. It's a hefty list but I am confident I can make it happen.

I will keep everyone updated on the moving situation as well as my upcoming adventures in the city. It's going to be a very exciting and busy few months.

NYC To-Do List

Astoria Beer Garden

Ride my bike down the Bronx River Path

Visit the Guggenheim

Explore the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on my bike

See the Montauk Lighthouse

Bike around (not literally) on Staten Island

Complete a 5-borough Bike ride

Explore Pelham Bay Park

Relax at Far Rockaway Beach

Explore Astoria
Explore Central Park above 86th St. 

Take the Staten Island Ferry

Run the steps in Morningside Park

Visit Washington DC

Bike to the North Fork of Long Island

Do more exploring in Fort Tryon Park

Visit Green Acre Park

Visit the Cloister Museum

Go to a race at the Belmont

Visit the Titanic Memorial

Visit the African Burial Grounds

Visit Brooklyn Brewery

Go to the Brooklyn Flea Market

Go to a taping of The Daily Show or the Colbert Report

Go to a Speakeasy Bar

Bike around Red Hook Piers

See more Broadway or Off-Broadway shows

Do more Walking Tours with Nan (Brain Droppings)

Visit Watkins Glen

Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Try the Trapeze

Bike from Westhampton to Montauk

Drink at McSorleys 

Explore Roosevelt Island

Ride the Roosevelt Island Tram

Explore Governor's Island

Explore Greenwood Cemetery

Bike the Manhattan Greenway Loop

Visit Grant's Tomb

Mountain Biking

See Kaaterskill Falls

Explore St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Bike to 2 different beaches in 1 weekend

Bike from my house to the Rockaways

Summit Mt. Taurus

Hike Breakneck Ridge and not break my neck

Explore all the Central Park sites

The Lobster Award?

WARNING! TANGENT AHEAD:

In my preschool classroom we are constantly pretending to mishear the children (anything for a  giggle right?).

"Yes, we can read Goldilocks ate Three Pears. "
" NOOOOOO, MS. CAT!!! It is Goldilocks and the THREE BEARS!"
" Oh, I'm sorry. This is the story of Goldilocks and her dry hair."
" NOOOOOOO!!!"

And it goes on and on, so when a fellow blogger nominated me to participate in the Liebster Awards... I immediately thought of lobster, and at least 6 other words that (sort of) rhyme with Liebster.

THE ACTUAL POST:

After some grueling (not really) Googling, I figured out that the Liebster Award is a great way to connect with new bloggers. It also fits so perfectly into my new *gulp* inclusion of personal life details. So here it goes, 11 random facts about myself, responses to fellow blogger Mrs. Witt's 11questions for me, and my own questions for new "nominees".

11 Random Facts

1. My parents, and people who met me before 4th grade still call me Cathy.
2. I am extremely proud to be a Minnesotan.
3. I have one sister who lives in Ireland.
4. The only food that I do not like is olives... but I still still eat them if I have to. 
5. I have been reading the A Song of Ice and Fire (aka Game of Thrones) series for a year now. The books are so freaking long!
6. I have a newly cultivated interest in WW2 history specifically,  the Pacific/Western theatre. 
7. I am one of those people who is mediocre at a lot of things, but not particularly skilled at any of them. 
8. In 4th grade I was the official "tail measure-er" for our pet rat. I have loved rats (who are lab bred and don't run wild in my apartment or the subways) ever since. 
9. I love making Excel spreadsheets. I even use Excel for my lesson planning. 
10. I am a morning person but my boyfriend is a night owl. This is often a problem.
11. I have horrible grammar. In high school after taking the ACT, I decided to take a grammar class. I then retook the ACT and my score went up 2 points, just from the rise in scores from grammar and writing. 

A Bit of Witt's Questions for Me

1. What is your fondest childhood memory? In Minnesota, even when the weather was in the single digits, our parents made us play outside. My favorite game was, "Arctic Explorer" where we would go into the woods with all of our "supplies" in a sled. There were often bears, abominable snowmen, wolves, and the threat of starvation to keep us going. Luckily we usually packed sandwiches. Once we tried to get a dog to pull the sled for us... it didn't work. 
2. Who is your style icon, or which celebrity's style do you most often wish to match? I don't really have one. I feel like my style might be a bit nicer if I found someone to match though. I'll work on this...
3. Why did you start blogging? Mostly to document my adventures in NYC but also to provide a place where people could go to see different, off the beaten path, things to do in the city. 
4. What is the one thing you would do if you knew you couldn't fail? Win the lottery.
5. What is your favorite movie? It changes very, very frequently. Right now my favorites are the Hunger Game movies. 
6. Where was your first kiss? In a friend's house in 7th grade. We played Spin the Cordless Phone because the recycling had been picked up that morning and there were no bottles. 
7. What motivates you? Friends, Family, and the threat of being slapped. 
8. If you could pick the next president of the United States, who would you choose? Michelle Obama
9. Which current artists do you think will still be respected and noteworthy decades from now? Jennifer Lawrence, Banksy, & John Legend 
10. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you bring and why? I have always struggled with this question because the planner in me has a list of emergency supplies I would bring, one of them being an inflatable raft.  I would definitely hope there was another person with me. I often crave conversation and interaction after being alone for only a few hours. 
11. If you were stranded on a dessert island, what would it be made of?  If I were stranded on a dessert island it would either be made of Cinnabon's or Auntie Anne's pretzels. Hmm... I haven't been to the mall in a while...

Questions for my Nominees

1. What is your fondest childhood memory?
2. What was the first movie you saw in a theater?
3. Who was your favorite teacher and why?
4. What is your favorite food?
5. What is your least favorite food?
6. Tell us about your favorite vacation spot. 
7. If someone were going to visit your hometown, what is one thing they have to see?
8. What was the last book you read?
9. Do you prefer mountains or beach? Why?
10. If you could move to any city in the US where would you go?
11. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Nominees

Kaitlyn at Kaitlyn Lusk

Lindsay at Newly Missus

Emily at Lost on the Turnpike

Nic at Sippy Cup Sojourner

Amanda at Luke and Manda

Kate at Plastic To Pearls

Nanette at Brain Droppings

Ingrid at Steve and Inggy

Shayna at The Hughes'

Stacey at One Beautiful Thing