The End of the Beginning

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning - Winston Churchill
:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/winstonchu163144.html#ixzz18GX11frR

Wow. Indeed, we've submitted our case reports, but this is only the end of the beginning. Now we must rest and relax, but keep in mind that we've got some reading instruction to complete. I am excited to go and find some reading materials for my student. I am also excited to see what the parent does with the recommendations that that I gave her. She seemed quite interested and willing to help her son. Also, thank you Dr. Rivera and Team Magec for helping me every step of the way and inspiring me each week to be a hard and efficient worker, and most of all to be the best educator I can be.

Image Citation :http://www.buythistshirt.org/the-end-of-the-beginning/

Crunch Time

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford (1863-1947

Crunch Time! This is my blog for December 9th. Boy, I am blessed that my student came to school today so I could conduct my listening test. He missed the first to day and I was getting nervous again, because I don't like to be behind. But, that's okay, we got it, and now it's time to organize and right. But, like Mr. Ford noted, we have to be focussed, keep the hurdles and obstacles in our peripheral vision, and move ahead. So here we go, Diagnostic Case Report, you don't stand a chance against me!

Quote Citation http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henryford101486.html

Image Citation www.nestle.ca

Thankful

http//nickbaines.files.wordpress.com/2009

My prayers have been answered: I have completed my diagnostic report, and the Dean signed my Form-B!! I am thankful that Dr. Rivera had endured countless revisions. I am also thankful for team MAGEC's encouragement and support! I'm looking forward to the challenges that ED644 will bring!! I hope it'll be another "MAGECal" experience!

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love edures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

http://bible.cc/psalms/118-1.htm

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Enjoy your Christmas Break;)

"Giving Thanks"

"So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done." -Marian Wright Edelman

Our final blog for the year...until next year. We actually made it through. I recall during the first class meeting when we reviewed all the requirements for this course and the calendar of events. I remembered how my year started out hectic with work and I prayed that I could get through this semester with the amount of stress that I was encountering. However, as each month had passed, somehow I became more determined. When I stopped focusing on the negative and all the things to be done, the weight on my shoulders became lighter. There are many things that I have to be thankful for. First, praise the Lord for his blessings. Second, I am thankful for having such a positive, supportive "Team MAGECR." We went through our different levels of anxiety and stress...but we went through it together! Finally, I am thankful for family and good health. "God Bless everyone."

Image courtesy of:
http://intheknow.freedomblogging.com/files/2010/11/being_thankful.jpg/

Finally!

"There is no such thing as gratitude unexpressed.  If it is unexpressed, it is plain, old-fashioned ingratitude" (Robert Brault, from http://www.quotegarden.com/gratitude.html).

Before I left I just wanted to make sure I say, "Thank you so much everybody!"  Well, it's 12 hours until I leave.  I finished my sharing session with my student and his parent stand-in this afternoon at the lab (Thank you, Dr. Rivera for making the lab available to me before you had to rush to the SOE Convocation!).  I just focused on the highlights and kept it short and simple.  We really emphasized that he is a really bright young man that has a lot going for him: supportive family, a pre-existing love of reading, and the determination to do well.  Next semester we'll work on his recall with smaller chunks of text and focus on a lot of practice, practice, practice to help his English and schema.  Overall, we have a good plan and I think we're in a great place to start next semester.  The picture above is his homework.  He should read to his little brother and create a comic book with the kit I found.

Have a great Christmas everybody!  We deserve it!  Go Team MAGECR!

My Christmas wish !

This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.

( lynnie buttercup)

This is a rather long quote, but the words really touched my heart, as they are so beautiful. They are also very meaningful since we can all relate to the various situations, that these words convey, at one time or another . We've endured throughout our class sessions with each other and with our students, and I believe that our relationship as a team and as friends, have paved the way to the road of success. We must stand strong and believe in the '"magec" of faith. Merry Christmas, everyone- and may God bless you all!

image: www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/gif/xmas/

quote: http://thinkexist.com/quotations/friendship/

The Very Best: Team MAGEC!

I know we've all been chugging along as well as any aspiring Reading Specialists can be expected.  I've just sent in my Diagnostic Case Report.  There were so many portions where I wished I could have done more with my student to help bolster the data.  While I now have a better plan to help him succeed next semester and my work cut out for me, I also know that I could have done more.  However, reading through some quotes, the following, attributed to Abraham Lincoln, helped me feel better about my progress, and I hope it helps you all too:
 "I do the very best I know how--the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end" (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/end.html).

(image taken from http://blog.cagle.com/news/files/2009/02/lincoln.jpg)

We're here at the end of the semester.  We'll just have to wait for our revisions and comments, but I'm very proud of all we've accomplished despite whatever curveballs we've had thrown at us.  Though I won't be with you all next week, I will be missing you--even as I get to stop missing my husband whom I haven't seen in 6 months.  Thank you for all your help and support.  I know I couldn't have gotten this much done or as effectively without help and input from each and everyone letter from Team MAGEC.  With Dr. Rivera, we're MAGECR--even better!  Merry Christmas to all of you.  Wishing us all a restful, safe, enjoyable, love-and-happiness-filled, well-deserved break!  See you in January!