Monday, October 4, 2021

Still Here!

Last April I told my school that I couldn’t come back this year, just too much going on and I can’t meet all my obligations. Well, new headmaster came in July to realize that no new special Ed teacher had been hired. She begged me to stay until they could find someone. I am the only special Ed teacher at the school. I said yes to the first quarter and then to the second quarter….. I am so behind! In everything..

Not to get political or anything, everyone in our family has the covid vaccine except for Benjamin (because he is too young). So far we have not had covid. However, we have been quite busy. Larissa started back to doing fashion shows. We decided to start our own design company along the way. Benjamin started back and Anthony decided to join. Last show Larissa, Benjamin and Anthony walked, I participated as a designer, Michelle was my back of house helper and make up person and Sarah watched and took pictures for us. We are doing another show this weekend for I’m Possible, a show encouraging model of all abilities. I am currently designing a piece for a woman in a wheelchair.

So, no time to post! Follow Larissa on Instagram at Larissamelville, our company Larfeldesigns, me at felmel1 or even Benjamin. Or follow me on Facebook. I can answer any questions or you can just follow our journey. If they ever hire a teacher I will get back to posting!









Friday, March 26, 2021

Update


 Where has the time gone! I am so busy with kids and work. When I took the teaching job it was supposed to be part-time. Well, then they added special education coordinator to the mix and it became full-time. Now it feel like full-time plus! I have added a lot of kids to my load in the weeks leading up to our break. Montessori is a great place for kids who are struggling with the regular education classroom. But now that they have gone Charter two year ago they are having to meet all the federal guidelines for special education. I am the only special education person in the school, first year teaching, during covid, learning virtual and mix. It has been crazy. Half the kids attend school and half are virtual. Benjamin has been going in person since July, it is a year round program.

I love teaching. I don't love all the paperwork! I have kids from K to 8th grade. I am responsible for all my own curriculum and all the paperwork. I have learned a lot! Always looking for resources for materials. I don't like to teach special education virtually! I just don't feel that it is as effective. However, it may just be me and my lack of experience in that area. Some days I feel as though I need a computer degree!

My husband is still working from home! I think that has made it possible for me to work. Sarah is home as well and finishing her last semester for her master degree. She helps with homeschooling Larissa. The school has asked (begged) me to come back next year. I have concerns since John will be back at work. However, it takes two years to finishing with licensing so I have decided that I will work next year to finish my licensing and then stop. It just takes too much time away from home where I need to be and homeschooling Larissa. She doesn't function in the morning so doing evening works but some days I am just tired. 

I have so many kids who do not enjoy writing. One day I decided to have them write a short story. I told them that I wanted them to write down the description of their main character and I would paint what they wrote. A few had to be sent back as there wasn't enough information to paint it. In the end they all did great on the descriptions. Some have finished their stories and some are still in the process. It has been a great little project and a lot of fun. The headmaster wants to have an art show and put out the art with their stories. I said I would only do that if there was kids art as well. Ha, guess who gets to go into each classroom and give a painting class. That is my project for April and May we will have an art show.





I was real picky, if it wasn't described it wasn't painted. One student had her teacher and parents thinking she couldn't write, she wrote me a very detailed description of her dragon and master and had it very well outlined! Her parents wanted a copy of her writing since they hadn't seen the level of level of legible writing she had done. No more slacking in class for her.


Friday, February 26, 2021

Neglect

 We are well, we are alive! I know I have neglected this site! I have a three week break coming up March 12th, I will update then! Promise