Jury Duty

I had jury duty Monday.  I dread being picked.  I don't want to sit there being questioned.  I hate the whole process.

One of the things I did find interesting was that the judge said that our jobs were not an excuse to get out of jury duty but he did make an exception to that rule.

He allowed medical people to be excused and teachers during the STAAR test (our state assessment).  At first I was super excited!  Being an educator would mean I got to get out of jury duty but then he clarified.... Since it was STAAR test time we weren't being excused.

Then I got a little irritated.  Not because I had to keep sitting there going through the process but because that's what the STAAR test has become.

Not only do students and educators dread it but now a judge of the courts thinks it's so important that an educator can get excused from jury duty because of it.

That's where we are in life now.  A standardized test has been made so important not only in education but out in the world too.

I agree there does have to be some standards.  We do need to know we are teaching our students what they need to know.  But all this standardize testing has just become one big monster.

Wordless Wednesday

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving break was MUCH NEEDED!  It has been a stressful begin to the school year.

Not to give to much detail but I had to make the tough decision to fight for what was right for my students and my school even if there was back lash.  The whole situation was stressful.  Really it's been stressful since March of 2017.

It's crazy what stress does to your body and mind.  How it effects you in ways you don't realize until the stress has been removed.

Two Fridays before Thanksgiving break the stressor was removed.  And let me tell you, it was like the actually school building itself took a sigh of relief.  So much has changed for the better since then.

I feel better.  I sleep better.  I'm not worrying (and I'm not really a worrier).  I feel more like myself.  I'm reading more.  I'm joying my school again.  I always found joy in my job.  I love being a librarian but it wasn't always easy to make myself get up and go to work due to the stressor.

I was busy over the break.  Reagan and I went to Houston over the first weekend.  We had a viewing and funeral of an elderly member of our church.  Then we headed to Tyler for Thanksgiving with my in-laws.  Then back here to decorate our tree and rest.

I read 3 books and 2 novellas and watched 2 Christmas movies.  It was fabulous!

What did you do over you're break?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I've been in a little reading funk.  Not a big one.  I just haven't been reading as much as I normally do.  Until Thanksgiving break. 

I devoured 3 books and 2 novella's.  And it was glorious!

I add books pins to my Pinterest "To Read" board all the time.  I scanned through it until I found a series.

I read the young adult, urban fantasy series, Firelight by Sophie Jordan.  This series is from the point of view of a female drakia named Jacinda.  Jacinda is a descendant of dragons.  Their deepest secret is that they can manifest into humans.  Through events that Jacinda can't control she falls in love with a human boy.  Through the whole series Jacinda learns about hunters, who murdered her father, and how to live with her human love.  There's family discord, some adventure and love.

In connection with this series I read the novella Breathless.  Jacinda's best friend, Az is getting ready to take her tour in the human world but before she does she takes a family vacation with her parents near a lake.  Az is a water drakia and while swimming in a local pond she saves the life of a local girl then falls in love with her brother.  Though she tries to fight it she can't get past her attraction to him.

The last book I read was a novella from the Ten Beach Road series by Wendy Wax called One Good Thing.  This series is a realistic fiction, beach read.  It'a always nice to go back to the world of the 5 ladies at Ten Beach Road.  This is a Christmas novella.  It was the perfect book to read heading into the Holiday season.

I started Hot Flash Holiday by Nancy Thayer.  I picked it cuz the title cracked me up.  And I'm starting to have hot flashes.  I figured I could enjoy a funny holiday read while relating to the hot flashes.

Complements

My students always give me complements.  Especially the little ones. 

They like my shoes.  They like my books.  They like my shirt.

This morning from 2 tables away in the cafeteria I hear:

PK student: Mrs. Taylor!  Mrs. Taylor!  I like your make-up!

Me: Ha! Thank you! Ha!

That was a first! Ha!