Testing....Ahrggg

I am all about accountability. I believe our students, teachers and schools should be held to a certain standard. That being said, the accountability standard we have in place, STAAR, is ridiculous. It isn't about Reading, Science or Mathematics anymore. It is about logic and the student's ability to discern that logic. I wish the state of Texas would step back and let our students show what they know instead of what they can do to figure out the "trick".   And...scene. 

Family night at Emma Roberson Elementry

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Jennifer Sullivan
Teacher
Brawner Intermediate
1520 S. Meadows<x-apple-data-detectors://1/0>
Granbury, Texas 76048<x-apple-data-detectors://1/0>
(817) 408-4950<tel:(817)%20408-4950>
(817) 408-4999<tel:(817)%20408-4999> Fax
jennifer.sullivan@granburyisd.org<mailto:jennifer.sullivan@granburyisd.org>
Facebook: www.facebook.com/granburyisd<http://www.facebook.com/granburyisd>
Twitter: www.twitter.com/granburyisd<http://www.twitter.com/granburyisd>

Just a thought.

I'm a mom. I'm a teacher. Do the two combined? I think so. Sometimes I wonder if my children are at an event age or a disadvantage because I'm a mom and a teacher.

I've decided though that they must be at the advantage. I have the ability to love as a mom and work with them as a teacher. It is not always easy for them. I, myself, grew up as a teachers kid.

I choose to believe that my children have a step up from other kids because I know what is to be expected in school. I also choose to believe that my children are a disadvantage, because my standards are high.

All that being said, my two girls are amazing and smart and polite and well-behaved.
Jennifer Sullivan
Teacher
Brawner Intermediate
1520 S. Meadows<x-apple-data-detectors://1/0>
Granbury, Texas 76048<x-apple-data-detectors://1/0>
(817) 408-4950<tel:(817)%20408-4950>
(817) 408-4999<tel:(817)%20408-4999> Fax
jennifer.sullivan@granburyisd.org<mailto:jennifer.sullivan@granburyisd.org>
Facebook: www.facebook.com/granburyisd<http://www.facebook.com/granburyisd>
Twitter: www.twitter.com/granburyisd<http://www.twitter.com/granburyisd>

What more could a mother asked for?

Whiny Dryer

The twins

Back in 1999, I had twins. Not twins like you would think of, like suddenly I'm going to shock everyone that I have two children that no one ever knew of. No, it was the first grown-up purchase I had ever made. I became parents to two wonderful twins named Washer and Dryer.  

Washer and Dryer came into my life in around 1999 when I was roommates with Alma. Alma and I had our first apartment after graduating from college and we decided after six weeks of going to a laundromat that was just not going to cut it. 

We went to Best Buy to purchase Washer and Dryer. Alma had a credit card that had a big limit of $600 and I applied for a Best Buy credit card that came back with the total limit of 500!

Washer and Dryer served us well for 2 years. Then like so many couples Alma and I separated. That meaning she moved in with her boyfriend and I have my own apartment closer to my boyfriend. That boyfriend now being my husband, Frank.

Washer and Dryer went with me from my very first apartment to then my second apartment to then finally my third apartment that was on the third floor. My brother and my dad moved Washer and Dryer up three flights of stairs to what would be my last apartment before I got married and moved into a beautiful house.

Washer and Dryer came to our new house with us. Frank and I were thrilled to have the twins with us. It was one less thing that we had to think of in all of the chaos of moving.

About six years later, Frank and I moved with our beautiful 4 year old and the twins to Granbury, Texas. Now I know you're going to ask "Why all this random information, Jennifer?"

Well, it is occurred to me that Washer and Dryer have now trained me for what I predict it will be like in raising my daughters as teenagers.

You see, Washer and Dryer are almost 16. Washer is the more gentle of the two. She still will actually wash the clothes without too much complaint. Although, there have been a few times where Washer gets so agitated that she shakes herself in front of the laundry room door. This, of course, prevents me from getting into the room. It's as if she has locked herself in her room as a protest to new detergent. I have to literally go around the house through the garage into the garage/laundry door just to get into the laundry room. Washer doesn't throw these fits very often but it is quite irritating when she does. 

Dryer....now he is a whole different kind of teenager. First, it takes him at least 2 to 2 1/2 hours to finish the chore I have given him. No matter how small or large the load, the time is the same.  I have to go in every 30 minutes to check on him. And during all of that, he whines through the whole thing. You heard me, he whines.

Suffice it to say, Washer and Dryer sometimes really test my patience. However, I am grateful to have had this wonderful time with them. Almost 16 years with these appliances has been a blessing. It's one less thing we have had to purchase in our years. I am hoping that our twins can survive with us till they're 18 or 20 or if the gods really love us 22.

I am also hoping that I will have the same patients with Katherine and Emily when they get to this age. 

New Year's Resolution

What a semester!

I can't believe how remiss I have been in blogging.  I've always enjoyed it but I have just let it go by the wayside in the last couple of years.

I hate that because the girls are growing up so fast.  I know that a lot of people read this and it keeps them updated on our family.  Personally, though, I find it very cool to go back and look at our life.

My New Year's resolution is to get my blog back up and going.

Happy New Year!!!

Quotes of the day

Quotes of the day...

Katherine: Daddy, will you turn the music down. I'm trying to sleep

Frank turns it down

Katherine: a little more?

Frank turns it down a little more

Emily: Daddy, I can't hear the music!

Sounds of frustration from Katherine.

My cell phone rings.

Katherine: (in her movie drama voice) Ahh! What is next? A volcano on my head????

Later....

Emily: Mommy! You're a genius for thinking about your phone for a flashlight!

Me: A genius? Well, thank you.

Emily: But only for that, not everyday I mean.

I am a teacher. I am a wife. I am a mother. I am a

I am a teacher. I am a wife. I am a mother. I am a daughter. I am a cousin. However, I'm also a human being.

As I come upon my eight year of teaching, I hope that I can use everything that I have learned to teach my students and to be the best mom, wife, daughter and cousin that I can be.

I am not perfect. Who is? Both of my parents were teachers. Because of this I have always lived in the academic year. My life is governed by August through May and then the summer which is June, July and little bit of August. I spent a lot of time during my summer thinking about how I can improve as a teacher. I ask myself "what can I do to make my students were engaged?" I ask myself "how can I be a better mom and separate myself from being in teacher mode and be in the mother mode". I ask myself "how can I be a better wife to my husband and not just let work and our children rule everything I do?".

Well, here is the answer. I can't. I can't do any of those things. I can try. I can do my best. However, that is all I can give.

My goal this year is to do everything I can to help my students be better learners and better people. My goal this year is to help my daughters be better people. My goal this year is to help my husband be successful in everything that he does. My goal for myself? My goal is to just be a good person. My goal is to be a good teacher, mom, wife, cousin.

See, the thing is, I know I will make mistakes. I know I won't do everything right. However, I hope that I can do most things right. I hope that I can be successful in my adventure. That is what life is,

A piercing situation

Katherine got her ears pierced!!