Its 2yr olds for the unit (18-30 months tho the GELDS are for 12-36 when you select for that age group and she said that was fine).

I am thinking fall theme, just because it IS fall and that is what my mind is on anyway. Food tasting (fall flavors like apple, pumpkin), Leaf/acorn/stick collecting and using for art or science

• they encourage us NOT to use food for art otherwise I'd say do apple prints (Those are so cute and easy to do for toddlers, but its apparently a cultural thing that some people get upset if food is used for anything but eating, so now we have to avoid using food for crafts) fall coloring (like give them brown, red, yellow, orange crayons and just let them draw after discussing leaf colors or something) maybe explore a pumpkins insides, see if pumpkins and apples sink/float (we did that with our kids and can do it with younger ones too) reading fall books, singing fall songs (we did a cute one that would work for 2yr olds today I think so I'm going to get the name of it)

But we have to do GELDS in all the domains - which are social emotional, physical and motor development, approaches to play and learning, cognitive development and general knowledge (math, science, social studies, etc), and communication/language/literacy Some of the GELDS domains are hard to match with activities. I am trying to figure out if I have to have an activity in EACH GELD, EACH day of the week. That is a lot if so, and she did say we could repeat activities (like read a book one day, and then read it again for a different reason another day, or do drawing one day and also another day) but not to do the same activities EVERY day (like we can't draw a picture EVERY day)

hahah yea I guess being made to do another class is a punishment of sorts. I thought I already had class tho, just a NEW class, until she started talking about it and I looked and realized the new classes don't start until Wednesday :P

Ooooh and.... I was telling the ladies at work about how I went to the health department and hit a brick wall on the certificate. And the lady I work with was like, "well I wasn't sure if you were still looking into this or not, but since you brought it up, a few weeks ago when I saw this lady that I know who works at the hospital, I asked her if there was any way she knew if this happened, and that lady told me that there had NOT been any stillbirths this summer, and had not been any in our county in YEARS" So. There is that. But I guess I am stuck on physical proof. I have all the knowledge and common sense and verbal answers from several people that says NO WAY IN HELL did this happen that day....but nothing physical (like a document stating there isn't a certificate) sigh

ANYYYYYWAY Moving on again. I put up some Halloween decorations today. Am still debating the spiderweb light strands. But I put up jack-o-lantern luminary boxes, and a BOO pumpkin, witch legs and broomstick, other small pumpkin decor, and some spider lights are ready to be hung up. AND some sparkly spiders on webs are going in the window. And Nathan put up Ryans Jabbering Jack (talking LED light up pumpkin)

Oh I got an email reply from DECAL sigh They aren't accepting any applications until after Oct 14 and they'll have a new application system ARGH. I didn't realize it had already started, I was trying to get mine in before they transitioned. Oh well. Guess I'll redo everything after the 14th. And they did say I'd have to reapply every year but then I was confused - I'm not sure if they mistyped or what it said "and you can only get this payment one a year" so does that mean once a year? or for one year? because the question I was asking was how many years will I get the incentive payment? It makes it sound like you can get it more than once....I know its only once a year if I get it, but how many years? Guess I'll ask that question again when I do the application again later.

[edit] 730 TOTALLY not sure its done CORRECTLY. But I have finished everything except stories (need to find some books, going to look at school) for my Curriculum Unit. I think its pretty good. Maybe not perfect/great, but decent. I have Circle Time (whole group) activities, (explore the inside of a pumpkin, guess the item (leaf, stick, acorn, apple, etc), apple graphing, weight (how heavy/light is a stick, leaf, rock, apple, pumpkin, etc) Small Group activities, (color fall picture w/ crayons, finger paint in fall colors, fall item collage, contact/tissue paper apple suncatchers) Outside activities, (rake up leaves and jump on them, explore nature (look at/touch/smell things), gather sticks leaves etc. free play (indoor) activity, (fall activities - leaves in a sensory bin, sticks/leaves in art area, sticks/branches in block area, etc) story times, (books to read) music and movement time, (three videos with easy to do body/hand motions, one is fall colors, one is leaves falling, one is the apple tree song) and snack time activities. (mostly exploring and choosing different "fall" (apple, pumpkin, pretzel "sticks") snacks as well as some helping to prepare and clean up from snack time GELDS lol Had to figure out activities that matched some GELDS and boy was that fun LOL I have some GELDS to keep in mind while I am browsing fall, apple and pumpkin books at school - and really, the books there may be a bit too advanced. I'll have to make sure I find SIMPLE ones. This is for 2yr olds after all, not 4 and up! LOL

I think.. for your own sanity Kat, it may be time to give up looking for proof. I think it might have to be enough that you know what you know. :( Because even if you do get proof, what are you going to do with it? If you show Shane, he'll probably get madder anyway. And I'd say you have enough proof to show that she's awful and a liar. :(

Your curriculum looks good! We tried a bunch of different types of apples at the library last year, and the kids were AMAZED by how many different flavors there were!

Honestly. I do keep trying to let it go. Knowing what I know. But then an idea will pop in my head, like trying the health department for the certificate... I am one of those that does like concrete proof. I also think that I may not be so stuck on it I'd they weren't together, because then I wouldn't have to justify why I don't want to see her.... And as long as they are together and there is no proof, I feel like I have to put up with her in MY life and I don't want to. But I have to if I want to see him Know what I mean?

Thanks. I have 2 books now. Need three more, fall/leaves. I got apple book and pumpkin book.

Yeah but even if you have the proof, if you want to see him, you'll have to see her, you know?

Right. Except I guess my thinking process is that if I have documented proof I have a verifiable reason to say "she is not welcome at my house and if you want to see me it will have to be without her". I know I can say that now if I wanted to but it doesn't feel right to do so without documented proof I guess.

Or I can say "as long as you are with her I am going low contact. Birthday and Christmas only" or something ...which honestly other than the fact they are paying me back $ right now that is what I am trying to do without having said it tho. So they come in on Fridays to give me $. I am nice, polite and say hi/bye. Because he is always ready to go home anyway.

[edit] Morning. 945am. Been to walmart. Got donuts for breakfast. Need to clean house (ugh). Mowed the front yard yesterday and want to do the rest today but am out of gas. Need to get more. Went to my online coursework and responded to 2 people for the first class discussion and made my post for the 2nd class. Now just to work on the diorama. And while re-reading the instructions I realized why I was SO confused by what she wanted us to do - it says, "create a digital environment" and then it says, "make a video or a powerpoint with pictures of your environment" Umm? So yeah. Glad she showed us the dioramas and explained that is what she wants us to do and take pictures of IT to turn in and show everyone.

Pictures

EDIT Wednesday Oct 9th Last wednesday night class for this 8 weeks. I saw my assignment had been graded but haven't logged in to see the grade. Am supposed to "present" it tonight. And then Monday will be the last class for the other class and I have to present my project (of which I posted pictures above).

Sorry, I super disappeared!

My birthday was weird (but actually pretty good!) and then I've just been so busy.

I love your diorama though, it looks great!

How did your class go, grades?

Well I have a 99.45 in the second class which is over now I have class tomorrow for the one with the diorama which is worth 25 points (and I think 1/4 of the grade over all since it's 100 points total to earn if I remember correctly). So I have to wait and see what grade she gives me on the diorama. Also oops I forgot I turn in the observation journal Friday. So I turned it in today. Along with the reflection paper and PowerPoint of the diorama. But I still have to present the diorama Monday. And she better not knock any of the 7 points for the journal off for being late since she gave everyone else a freaking extra week to do toys/games and thus also the dioramas. I was late on one other assignment and she didn't take off points ,but it was also a second attempt that was late, not the original attempt.

Glad you had a good birthday, even if it was weird!! ❤️

[edit] Member For 16 years, 11 months, 3 weeks, 6 days This would indicate tomorrow (Oct 15) would be my anniversary date. BUT NO! My profile says - Joined: Thursday October 18th LOL

I think it's because of leap years actually that messes it up LOL

Probably so!! Either way it's crazy to think Ive been around here that long!

[edit] 8pm Class is over. Phew. I guess my diorama wasn't too bad, but it for sure wasn't as good as over half the class. One of the people joked about what kind of budget did the schools give some of the others...so when it was my turn, I told them I had a shoe-string budget and had to go shopping in my closet and kitchen hahahah But they did like my stuff. So there is that. But I tell you - this group is CREATIVE! and COLORFUL!! They were teasing the teacher that she needed to replace some of the images she showed us with some of our stuff - yeah. NOT mine, but THEIRS for sure!! She said she is going to eat dinner and then come back and grade. So I will try to check back before I go to bed, but I probably won't get to see my grade tonight and I can only hope it will still be open to look at in the morning...as today is the last day of class. So i'm not sure if the class assignment/grading area will be visible tomorrow.

Nothing was open to see if I have class Wednesday so I guess I'll just have to check in Wed morning as well to see about that class. I KNOW I have class next Monday. At 530 the teacher said, and NO DRIVING OR KIDS OR PETS for interruptions she stated quite clearly :P Guess I'll have to ignore my dog if Nathan falls asleep :P That rule will NOT go over well with this group - as two-three of them are always driving home when class began at SIX pm...and at least two-three of them are always having to deal with a kid.

[edit] 940 "Katherine, your presentation for tonight's play project was incredibly creative and captivated the entire class. I'm excited to see what you will come up with for the curriculum course next semester."

Full points! WOW No way! Mine was NOT that good. LOL I could not see anyone's face tho - they DID say some compliments (mostly about the climbing wall to the slide) - while I presented because I did a powerpoint presentation and then held up the actual items to show I did have them. But wow. Ok!! I feel like she maybe mixed me up with someone else, but then again she DID insist on saying I was creative too, when I complimented everyone at the end about how creative THEY all were! LOL

Got full points on the reflection paper as well. 99/100 points atm. 4 more points for participation and I'm sure I'll get that but I know I've got an A now so I'm happy. I almost logged off after the 25 point thing was graded but wondered what she'd say about the journal and reflection paper :P (not really anything, thanks, good job type of thing Lol)

Whoo, congrats Kat!!

You deserve it though, especially since you didn't really spend much on yours. That DOES take a lot of creativity!

Thanks! :) I went to walmart this morning, since I'm on break, and went to Katies over the weekend. That was fun. I took her to the Dollar Tree and she and Wes picked out some Halloween decorations, because they are in this great little neighborhood that I think will be perfect for TOTing, but who knows (only a few people were decorated). But she didn't have many decorations. So I told her I'd buy her some :P She didn't even spend $20 at the DT and got a good bit of stuff. Then we ate out for lunch both days (mexican one day and texas roadhouse the other). We played some games, I learned a new card game I'd never heard of - I'll have to see if I can find it for me and my neighbor Robin to play...after I ask what it was called again hahahaha! Then we played this magic type of card game, super easy, Munchkin I think it was called? Magical characters, cards do certain actions, win a token if you win the round, etc. It was fun. :) We also stopped in at Bealls to look around, and I got Nathan two christmas gifts (one is hot sauce in an ambulance box lol and the other is popcorn seasoning!) I also got myself a Harry Potter (train) hot cocoa mix set :P I will be keeping the jars!! They are labelled as the houses!! I will be good and wrap it up under the tree hahaha Maybe from Santa or something (since its technically from MYSELF) Wes was all like, No one really likes that super HOT hot sauce, and I was like, oh yes Nathan does! he bought some off some website that was super hot, he uses only a tiny touch, but he likes to add it to ramen and chili.

945 Ack. Just checked my email and looks like THIS Wed night teacher will be strict about zoom as well as the Monday one. AND is starting at 530. Argh. I like the 6 because it gives me a chance to eat before class and still not eat super early! (I usually eat around 6, so eating at like 530 is ok, but if I eat at 5 I'll be sooo hungry after class I'll want a snack and then I end up eating again which is BAD for me to do)

1210 Just found some cards in my purse (tiny pocket) and realized one has $39 and the other has almost $7. Guess I should spend those asap lol both are about to expire next month.

340pm Just finished the new DECAL incentives program paperwork sigh I hope the transcript I sent on Oct 3rd is acceptable because I don't know how else to get it to them. Its supposed to be an "official" transcript, but how do I get it to them if I sent it to me and then upload it then its not official anymore from my understanding. Whatever. I ordered it from Parchment and sent it Oct 3. So I uploaded the form saying I'd ordered it, and then a form from Parchment saying they'd received it! :P So hopefully that works. And now its going to my employer (GSCS) for verification sigh Those people are probably going to wonder what the heck! Since I tried to do this in Jan. And then JUST got them to redo the form in the beginning of OCT and NOW they have to verify me again? LOL Stupid site. But I'll be happy if I get approved.

haha, we eat at 4:30 pretty much every night :P

Whoohoo for finding gift cards, that's always fun!

Good luck with your DECAL stuff!

Being on break is also bad for my eating habits LOL I have had wayyyyyy too many pieces of candy today.

430. Way early. I'd be so starved at bedtime. Do you eat a snack later in the evening?

No, not normally.. but I go to sleep around 930 LOL. SOMETIMES I'll have a snack later at night, but what's the difference between snacking after school and eating late and eating early and snacking late?

Not really much I guess, except it is that I'm so used to having a snack either AT school or right after I get home (2-4pm) that if I ate a snack then, and then ate dinner - I would STILL WANT a snack LATER TOO!! LOL A lot of my family thinks I eat early. They don't eat until like 7 or 8 and even 9!! (Like, Shane, and Katie and my mom - goodness my mom - she doesn't eat dinner until like midnight but that is because her days and nights are switched I think LOL) And although Nathan is used to the dinner schedule - HE often gets up around midnight and fixes himself something else to eat. Ramen. Eggs. Sandwich. Pizza. LOL

I am normally in bed by 10pm. I REALLY hope these teachers don't keep us til 1015 on zoom. Ugh. That is a fear EVERY time a new class starts. I guess we will see what happens.

[edit] 825 BLECH I just logged onto campus to see what came up for my classes....and todays teacher wants us to use something called ECHO360 - a video recording thing - to do our discussions. Meaning I gotta record myself and post the video. Meaning I gotta learn how to use something DIFFERENT. Argh. Why is it always something different? I barely learned how to do the other recording thing. sigh I'll live. I just HATE recording myself. I sound so weird to myself. And I won't be surprised if we have to record our replies as well.

[edit] 1045am Ooooh I just got THIS from the balloon pop! [item2=Bloody Lips Candy]

There are none in shops OR trades! I set it at 10mil.

This way Iz doesnt' need a snack when she gets home, and neither do the rest of us.. though Alex often eats his dessert while he's cooking?

He'll eat a snack when he's in bed later normally, but the rest of us generally don't.

Ooooh congrats on the win!

Oh yes. Thank goodness. Class is over for tonight. This teacher acted like we were all brand new students and totally went over how canvas works, how we find our assignments, turn them in, etc LOL Its funny when that happens, I mean, come on, we are in 3rd year classes....I wonder if there actually are brand new students who take this class? I don't see how. Its a level 3 class (meaning JR year). There is a LOT we are going to have to do for this class. FOUR online modules on one site (3 are 60mins, one is 180 mins!!) PLUS a module on a completely different site. An in-depth observation (60min, written notes, power point, reflection AND this observation project goes into the teacher certification thingy.

AND guess what!!! OMG YES I AM SO EXCITED (Sarcasm there). We get to do....ethics on ourselves. YES OH YES. She has a whole freaking template we have to fill out WEEKLY about how we felt we did time-management, peer-interaction, communication and attendance/participation. For crying out loud sigh

On the bright side, the video recording this is just like animoto recording so it'll be easy to do, once its set up so that we can actually ADD our videos to the classroom. :P She tried to show us how, but the "plus" button for adding it wasn't showing for us, only for her.

I don't ALWAYS eat a snack, but if I don't - I do usually feel hungry. I try to drink some water instead if its later at night. Tho then I end up waking up to potty :P

Ugh. Ethics AGAIN?! It's literally EVERY class you take?! That's so annoying!

Yep, every week, in this specific class. I'm thankful it hasn't been every actual class doing it.

Tho who knows what Mondays class will bring. Hopefully NOT ethics lol

I've read 2 of the 3 chapter. I did the syllabus quiz and recorded my "who am I" video. On to the next parts. Another chapter to read. Ethics. Quiz. Another video. Iris module. Another ethics. Going to try to do as much as I can this weekend before next class starts on Monday. Try to stay ahead of it all!

[edit] 105pm Took a break from reading (got about 1/2 thru the chapter and am bored out of my mind with technical words) And attempted to REDO my video recording, as she changed how we are going to do it (not Echo360 anymore)...It wouldn't let me SAVE the media recording like she said, so I went and re-watched her directions to make sure I was doing it right (I was - it just wasn't SAVING it) and then saw that the assignment said I had submitted it....I was confused so clicked on the submission and it shows a classmates video....but says I submitted it? So I emailed her. Now I get to zoom meet with her and share my screen to show her what it looks like and what is going on when I try to record my video sigh

Oh yes. This morning I went to the Dr to get my prescriptions. The poor lady there doing the bloodwork was in pain and I know she didn't mean it, but I swear she bruised my arm when she did the needle as she was stepping a bit to relieve her leg cramping. It still hurts. Not too bad tho. Anyway they also suggested I get my tetanus shot, as its due every 10yrs and said they had to send it to the pharmacy and I had to get it there for insurance to cover it. Ok fine. My pharmacy didn't have it. They sent me to another pharmacy. They had it. BUT didn't have a pharmacist who was able to administer the shot. Seriously? So I will try to remember to go back Monday and if I forget, oh freaking well. I also went to walmart, ollies AND harbor freight to kill time for my other prescriptions to be ready. GAH. Harbor Freight only for a new line for the air compressor. The hose got a hole in it :P I bought printer ink at walmart yay. So expensive. I probably don't need to print off half of what I do, but I feel it helps me to print the power points and stuff....

430 Zoom went fine. I showed her what was happening on my screen as a student, and she explained to me that she'd been in touch with IT again, and they misunderstood what she wanted when she wanted the group to be able to work together on the assignment, they thought she meant group project, so one person turns in it and others can comment, vs what she wanted, all classmates to see everyone else's videos and be able to comment. So, she made ANOTHER assignment and is having to email the classmate that turned in on the OLD assignment....sigh I haven't tried recording yet. Nathan was showering, so I took my quiz instead. Got 22/25 correct. TWO I had a feeling I had them wrong, but the way they were worded made me think the other answer was correct. Oh well! :P Belle is now barking at the neighbor, so I don't want to record until he goes inside, and she shuts up. So i'll do the video in a bit. She wants me to let her know if all goes well or if I have more issues :P

545 I am about to lose my mind. I have tried and tried and tried. I even got on my laptop and tried. It will NOT let me SAVE the recording to be able to turn it in!! I emailed her to let her know. She said she will talk to IT. I tried, but it refused to log me into the site to talk to them? I looked up other ways to contact them and might email them myself - I don't think its problematic enough to need to call them after hours. But I AM so FRUSTRATED

[edit] Saturday 330pm I am about to lose my mind AGAIN. So I get on zoom witih my teacher again at 3. and I attempt the video. Just a fake short one, like 5-10seconds long. AND IT WORKS FINE Then I record myself. AND IT FREEZES again. I just let it sit. 5 minute later it FINALLY saved it. ARGH. Then I went to view 2 peers. I was assigned them by the teacher (fine whatever, easier than choosing who to respond to maybe), and one of them HAS NO SOUND. I can see her talking. The volume is up on the video AND on my computer. NO SOUND. The other video has sound. I am like, do I email the teacher and this student or what? OR IS IT JUST ME AGAIN? But since the OTHER video I had to watch had sound, and MY video had sound, I think it was her video..... BUT ARRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH

Oof.. like when you go the mechanic and your car OF COURSE doesn't make the sound anymore! :(

Hopefully you got it all figured out!

Sounds like you had a busy weekend..

We uh.. did not :P Friday was a crazy day.. work, food share, Christmas Market accidental meeting, straight to the orchard for a few hours..

Yesterday we did a bunch of yard and housework, then I brought Lily (and Sean and Isaac) to the school for competition and then uh.. nothing. Well, I shaved my legs for the first time in uh.. jesus.. 17 days! I felt like a were-Mieke :/ Lifes been too busy!

And today uh.. not much of anything. I'm planning on making pumpkin rolls I think?