HomeOwnIversary

This is the official anniversary of owning my home. It has been just about five years since we stumbled upon this beauty back in 2008. It certainly wasn't much to look at back then. It was the height of the market, I was young, we were eager. But I think owning a home has been one of the greatest learning experiences of my life.

5 Tips for Single Lady Homeowner's

1. You can do it. Don't be afraid to get dirty.
2. Experiment with style, you never know what you will like.
3. Paint makes everything prettier.
4. Always know someone with a truck.
5. Make a blog!

Here's just a glimpse of where this place started I have so many plans for where else it can go!

.Before we did all of our renovations the house was pretty nasty. I must say that I am very proud of how far the place has come and the fact that I was able to do it with the help of my wonderful friends and family. I look forward to being able to make the exterior even more wonderful and am excited to reveal to everyone the big changes from the living room remodel. It is almost done!

10 Things I've Learned Owning a House

1. Water doesn't magically appear out of a faucet, you have to pay for that.
2. If you put a tractor tire on your porch it is highly likely it will collapse and your Dad won't like that.
3. It is worthwhile to invest in doing maintenance work, such as painting, cleaning, watering, etc. It feels good when people walk into your home and are impressed.
4. Just because it's a manufactured home doesn't mean it's trash, just means it requires more creativity.
5. Caulk is always going to be a funny word.
6. DIY is a ton of fun but it's better to get a job done right. Leave the hard stuff to the pros (like roofs, major plumbing, etc.)
7. Don't over spend on your house. For example as much as I love my house, it's still a manufactered home. Meaning that it's value will only ever be so much. Knowing where to make smart budget choices is key. You wouldn't buy granite for a trailer because it's probably too heavy and you'd never see any return.
8. Thrift stores are your friend for furniture. Don't go into debt for a table, refabulous it.
9. Know your own limits and when to ask for help.
10. Your homeowner's insurance agent should be your friend. :)

My house isn't perfect, but I'm proud of it. I will continue to try and take my house from trailer trash to fabulous still . At this point I will probably be here for another year at least. My next place will be even more amazing and creative because I have learned so much from this experience in my life, all before the age of 25. I think that's pretty great.

10 Tips for Student Teachers

Since I have finally finished my student teaching and am now in the realm of subbing (happens to a lot of December graduates) I feel that I should share some of the major things I learned while student teaching. Obviously each school district is different in their requirements for your student teaching experience but here's just a few tips...

 

 

10 Tips for Student Teaching

1. Ask your mentor teacher before hand if you are going to be using their existing plans or need to create your own new material. A lot of colleges WANT you to do that however it is a lot to take on when you are trying to learn what your classroom management style is plus try to make lessons.

2. Invest in some comfy shoes, walk around a lot, proximity is key. Especially when working with middle school and up.


3. Dude. Don't fight the cell phone fight, you won't win. The key to teaching is to be firm but flexible. Cell phones aren't going away, ever, therefore what you need to teach kids is how to be respectful with their cell phone. It's not a big deal unless you  make it one. Honestly I never had a single problem with phones when student teaching.

4. Do your research. In Colorado there is a new thing called Senate Bill 191 which essentially has to do with how teachers are "graded" and evaluated each year. Understanding these major shifts will help you with understanding what your focus will be in the future as an educator.

5. Make friends with the Special Education teachers. They are your best resource. You can talk to them about various differentiation strategies that you never learned in college. Behavior strategies, learning strategies, scaffolding... all those things. SpEd teachers are #bombdotcom.

6. Build relationships with staff and students. If the principals see you high fiving kids in the hallways, them getting excited to see you everyday, the principal feels more comfortable having you in the building (read: future job kudos).

7. Ask questions. Lots of questions. Don't wait for someone to tell you. Get to know the counseling office, talk to the office ladies, leave nice notes for the custodians. Even if you are just commenting on the weather or that you like their hair. Make a good impression.

8. Keep a journal of your experience. Jot down ideas for your classroom in the future, things you noticed about kids, different lesson plan ideas. Those are the best.


9. Be the "real" you to kids. Believe me they can tell the difference. Of course I don't mean to go about telling them how drunk you got this weekend, that's a bad idea. But be goofy, be funny and have a good time.  However one thing I will say, especially for anyone student teaching in their twenties. Decide where you stand on social media. Do you want to be friends with the kids on FB? Is it cool if you follow them on Twitter? Decide and communicate that to the kids.

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10. Most of all, love teaching. Allow yourself those moments to just reflect on your experiences. I think most of my "holy crap I'm happy" moments were while I was teaching. The relationships you form with kids can last a lifetime and you never know when a friendship with another teacher will help you out.