After much prayer and consideration, we have decided not to take the job in the Outer Banks. Fiancially we would not be able to afford to live there and with a new baby coming it was a big consideration.
Please continue to pray for us as we seek the Lord and His direction for us. Jeremy has resumes all over the state so pray that the right employer will see it and hire him.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
We have an offer...
At approximately 4 pm today, the real estate company in the Outer Banks called Jeremy and offered him a job at their firm as their graphic designer. I'm so torn.. I don't know how to feel. I'm excited for him and that he was offered a job. But yet, the beach is fun in the summer but not so much in the winter and hurricane season. I have a baby due in hurricane season. Also it's really expensive to live there and I don't think the salary they offered will support us.
I hate to give up a job but is this really the place for us? So we're praying through it. Pray that the Lord will close this door if this is not where we are supposed to be and will open another. Pray that I won't be selfish and really trust in the Lord. We have until Monday to give them answer.
I hate to give up a job but is this really the place for us? So we're praying through it. Pray that the Lord will close this door if this is not where we are supposed to be and will open another. Pray that I won't be selfish and really trust in the Lord. We have until Monday to give them answer.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Cat is Out of the Bag
The little baby bump is starting to make it's appearance so I thought it was about time to finally tell my students my news. They were eating snack and I went over to the board and told them we were going to play hangman. Of course they were surprised because we never play hangman. The children took turns guessing a letter, when one of my jewels raised his hand and screamed out, "Mrs. Cox is having a baby!" The room exploded with excitement and I had a hard time quieting the kids down. They were so cute and of course had tons of questions: When is it coming? Is it a boy or girl? What are you going to name it? The best was...when is your baby shower? I laughed and told her that I don't know because I can't give my own baby shower. Many of them were truly bummed that they would not be in my class anymore when the baby comes. They were like, "So you mean we'll have to come back from 4th grade to see it?" Like 4th grade is so far away...it's 2 doors down. :)
Of course, the kids had to tell everyone they met along the hall or whoever came in my class. All the teachers knew already so it was no big secret. One kid got so confused that he thought that his teacher was pregnant and ran back to his class and told them that his teacher was pregnant. This of course caused an uproar in her room and she had to reassure them that it wasn't her but me. The kids continued their excitement all the way home; many parents emailed me with congratulatory messages telling me it was the first thing out of the child's mouth when they got in the car.
So the cat is out of the bag but I'm sure the excitement will continue to the end of the year. The kids are already taking bets on the gender...put in your two cents while you can...see the poll on the right. :)
Of course, the kids had to tell everyone they met along the hall or whoever came in my class. All the teachers knew already so it was no big secret. One kid got so confused that he thought that his teacher was pregnant and ran back to his class and told them that his teacher was pregnant. This of course caused an uproar in her room and she had to reassure them that it wasn't her but me. The kids continued their excitement all the way home; many parents emailed me with congratulatory messages telling me it was the first thing out of the child's mouth when they got in the car.
So the cat is out of the bag but I'm sure the excitement will continue to the end of the year. The kids are already taking bets on the gender...put in your two cents while you can...see the poll on the right. :)
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Follow up to previous post
Thank you all for your kind words and prayers. I have been overwhelmed by the love that has been poured out on me this week. Monday I shared my prayer requests to Bible study and they prayed over me and have sent me cards all week telling me how they were praying for me.
Your prayers have worked even though it may have not been exactly the way I would have thought. Let me back track to earlier in the week...Tuesday I saw my principal and asked her if she would like to come upstairs and observe in my class before my evaluation on Friday. She told me no, so in return I asked if she had already made up her mind. She said she had because even though I had made this change, this evaluation was to reflect the whole year and I had struggled the whole year. I still didn't agree with her but the Lord has given me a total peace about this whole situation.
In my Bible study on Monday nights, we are studying 1 Peter and we were study how a wife who is married to unbeliever should not be intimidated and give into fear. Though I do not have to worry about this in my own marriage, the Lord was using it to speak into my current situation. He was telling me that in the face of intimidation I have nothing to fear because my identity does not come from man, but from Him. My identity is a child of God, not as a teacher. My worth as a person does not come from my job and my principal's view of me. He was telling me to put my confidence and hope in the Lord.
After the study this week, I really just had a peace in the whole situation, knowing that no matter what happened, I would be ok. Tuesday when she told me she was changing it, I was disappointed but still not upset like I had been in the past. Friday when I went into my evaluation I was at peace with whatever she said and it honestly turned out very well. She had given me great marks for all 8 areas ex. the behavior management piece. On this part, she had not marked me below standard but instead said that I was at standard marginally. To do this, she had to create a mark in between the standards and had gotten permission from the higher officials. She told me that if she had marked me below standard, I would not have been able to receive my tenure (which I would have received at the end of this school year) and she didn't want to take that away from me because I deserved it. She said she saw that I was making progress, even though she would have liked to have seen it earlier. She also praised me as a great teacher, and this group of kids had just gotten the best of me. I was excited to see the mark had changed even though I didn't agree with all her reasoning. Luckily I was allowed to write my own comments on the evaluation and the behavior specialist had written a glowing letter in my behalf that was attached.
I'm really at peace with the situation and I'm ready to move forward. I don't know what next year brings as we continue to wait on a job for Jeremy. My principal has asked me to move down to 2nd grade if I stay. I'm fine with that and really excited about something new. Personally, I would rather stay home with my new baby but we'll have to wait and see. Please continue to pray for us. Jeremy had an interview yesterday in the Outer Banks and it seemed to go well.
Sorry for the long post again...
Your prayers have worked even though it may have not been exactly the way I would have thought. Let me back track to earlier in the week...Tuesday I saw my principal and asked her if she would like to come upstairs and observe in my class before my evaluation on Friday. She told me no, so in return I asked if she had already made up her mind. She said she had because even though I had made this change, this evaluation was to reflect the whole year and I had struggled the whole year. I still didn't agree with her but the Lord has given me a total peace about this whole situation.
In my Bible study on Monday nights, we are studying 1 Peter and we were study how a wife who is married to unbeliever should not be intimidated and give into fear. Though I do not have to worry about this in my own marriage, the Lord was using it to speak into my current situation. He was telling me that in the face of intimidation I have nothing to fear because my identity does not come from man, but from Him. My identity is a child of God, not as a teacher. My worth as a person does not come from my job and my principal's view of me. He was telling me to put my confidence and hope in the Lord.
After the study this week, I really just had a peace in the whole situation, knowing that no matter what happened, I would be ok. Tuesday when she told me she was changing it, I was disappointed but still not upset like I had been in the past. Friday when I went into my evaluation I was at peace with whatever she said and it honestly turned out very well. She had given me great marks for all 8 areas ex. the behavior management piece. On this part, she had not marked me below standard but instead said that I was at standard marginally. To do this, she had to create a mark in between the standards and had gotten permission from the higher officials. She told me that if she had marked me below standard, I would not have been able to receive my tenure (which I would have received at the end of this school year) and she didn't want to take that away from me because I deserved it. She said she saw that I was making progress, even though she would have liked to have seen it earlier. She also praised me as a great teacher, and this group of kids had just gotten the best of me. I was excited to see the mark had changed even though I didn't agree with all her reasoning. Luckily I was allowed to write my own comments on the evaluation and the behavior specialist had written a glowing letter in my behalf that was attached.
I'm really at peace with the situation and I'm ready to move forward. I don't know what next year brings as we continue to wait on a job for Jeremy. My principal has asked me to move down to 2nd grade if I stay. I'm fine with that and really excited about something new. Personally, I would rather stay home with my new baby but we'll have to wait and see. Please continue to pray for us. Jeremy had an interview yesterday in the Outer Banks and it seemed to go well.
Sorry for the long post again...
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Behavior Management
For the most part, this blog has been light-hearted and just about surface things. Today however it is not. I am going to be very open and honest in this post and reveal my inadequacies. It's not easy...
This year of teaching by far as been my hardest. I have always struggled with behavior management because I have tried to show my kids love and compassion especially since many of them do not get it at home. In my hopes of doing this, I usually stick myself in the foot by not being consistent or stern enough with the kids. This has hurt me this year more than any other year as I have a couple of really hard kids.
Evidently the administration of my school has taken note of this and have spoken to me about it. With final evaluations coming up, I was given a letter that stated I need to change my ways or my evaluation would reflect it. Needless to say, I was very upset. Many times this year, I have asked for help (at the point of tears most of the time, which later on I figured out that the pregnancy hormones were also to blame!). They offered suggestions and I took them back to the classroom, but many of them were not concrete ways to make a huge difference.
So when the letter came, detailing all my faults, I was rather taken back. I went to both administrator to discuss it with them, which left me feeling like failure as a teacher. They discussed the amount of discipline issues and office referrals these 3 children had this year compared to last year and they felt like if they had been with a strong disciplinarian then they would have been more successful. They also said they had been there to help me and they had offered me workshops and assistance. They also told me that I needed to show significant growth before final evaluations or I would be put on a sort of probation next school year. WHAT IN THE WORLD!? Of course, I cried and began to worry as to what this would mean to my teaching career. My assistant principal was worried that it may affect me receiving tenure this year. Also this letter was now to be put in my HR file in the county office for every future principal to see. I was devastated. What a way to start Spring Break, uh?
To this day, I still feel as though I being treated unfairly. These children are very difficulty and have emotional issues that stem outside of the classroom. All 3 were referred to the counselor for anger management and two of them have outside assistance for the behavior. They get in trouble in other classes, like specials, but yet it is my fault. Second, the administration has been in my class, once, maybe twice. Both of my observations this year have been with my math class, who are a collection of kids from each 3rd grade homeroom. The only picture they have of my class has been what I have told them or what they have observed in the hallway. I know that I am to blame for some of it. I know that I haven't been as consistent with them as I could have been. I didn't demand respect from them or out of them in the beginning of the year like I should have, and now it's biting me in the butt. But still... Everyone else who interacts with these kids during the day, know what I am up against. Even one of my parents, sees it when she comes in on a weekly basis. I just don't know what to do.
The administration has now sent in a behavior specialist in the county to come and help me, because that's how big they think the problem has become. The specialist is an incredibly kind and helpful guy, who has been very encouraging to me. He has observed in my class and feels like I am doing much better than they give me credit for. He thinks that the letter is ridiculous and wrote something on my behalf. He has come in a couple more times to observe and meet with me and every time he is very complimentary. I feel good about his comments, seeing how he goes all over the county to help teachers.
Yesterday I found out that my final evaluation is this coming Friday, just two school weeks since receiving the letter. Originally I was told it would be towards the beginning of May. I ask you...how can you show significant growth in two weeks? I am afraid to ask anything about it in fear that they have already made up their mind on me. When I asked my peers for advice, they said I should refuse to sign the evaluation until they give me more time and actually come and observe in the classroom. The behavior specialist is very optimistic and thinks that there is no way they will mark me down on my final, but I on the other hand, am not.
Will you please pray over this situation? Please pray that I would be respectful to my superiors even though I feel like I am being treated unfairly. Pray that my new strategies will be effective and make a huge difference in the class. Pray also that I would be able to form relationships with these boys that would help them respect me more. Pray also that I would put my full trust in the Lord with this situation. It is all in His Hands and I need His strength and wisdom to make it through.
(Thanks for reading all the way to the end...I know it was long!)
This year of teaching by far as been my hardest. I have always struggled with behavior management because I have tried to show my kids love and compassion especially since many of them do not get it at home. In my hopes of doing this, I usually stick myself in the foot by not being consistent or stern enough with the kids. This has hurt me this year more than any other year as I have a couple of really hard kids.
Evidently the administration of my school has taken note of this and have spoken to me about it. With final evaluations coming up, I was given a letter that stated I need to change my ways or my evaluation would reflect it. Needless to say, I was very upset. Many times this year, I have asked for help (at the point of tears most of the time, which later on I figured out that the pregnancy hormones were also to blame!). They offered suggestions and I took them back to the classroom, but many of them were not concrete ways to make a huge difference.
So when the letter came, detailing all my faults, I was rather taken back. I went to both administrator to discuss it with them, which left me feeling like failure as a teacher. They discussed the amount of discipline issues and office referrals these 3 children had this year compared to last year and they felt like if they had been with a strong disciplinarian then they would have been more successful. They also said they had been there to help me and they had offered me workshops and assistance. They also told me that I needed to show significant growth before final evaluations or I would be put on a sort of probation next school year. WHAT IN THE WORLD!? Of course, I cried and began to worry as to what this would mean to my teaching career. My assistant principal was worried that it may affect me receiving tenure this year. Also this letter was now to be put in my HR file in the county office for every future principal to see. I was devastated. What a way to start Spring Break, uh?
To this day, I still feel as though I being treated unfairly. These children are very difficulty and have emotional issues that stem outside of the classroom. All 3 were referred to the counselor for anger management and two of them have outside assistance for the behavior. They get in trouble in other classes, like specials, but yet it is my fault. Second, the administration has been in my class, once, maybe twice. Both of my observations this year have been with my math class, who are a collection of kids from each 3rd grade homeroom. The only picture they have of my class has been what I have told them or what they have observed in the hallway. I know that I am to blame for some of it. I know that I haven't been as consistent with them as I could have been. I didn't demand respect from them or out of them in the beginning of the year like I should have, and now it's biting me in the butt. But still... Everyone else who interacts with these kids during the day, know what I am up against. Even one of my parents, sees it when she comes in on a weekly basis. I just don't know what to do.
The administration has now sent in a behavior specialist in the county to come and help me, because that's how big they think the problem has become. The specialist is an incredibly kind and helpful guy, who has been very encouraging to me. He has observed in my class and feels like I am doing much better than they give me credit for. He thinks that the letter is ridiculous and wrote something on my behalf. He has come in a couple more times to observe and meet with me and every time he is very complimentary. I feel good about his comments, seeing how he goes all over the county to help teachers.
Yesterday I found out that my final evaluation is this coming Friday, just two school weeks since receiving the letter. Originally I was told it would be towards the beginning of May. I ask you...how can you show significant growth in two weeks? I am afraid to ask anything about it in fear that they have already made up their mind on me. When I asked my peers for advice, they said I should refuse to sign the evaluation until they give me more time and actually come and observe in the classroom. The behavior specialist is very optimistic and thinks that there is no way they will mark me down on my final, but I on the other hand, am not.
Will you please pray over this situation? Please pray that I would be respectful to my superiors even though I feel like I am being treated unfairly. Pray that my new strategies will be effective and make a huge difference in the class. Pray also that I would be able to form relationships with these boys that would help them respect me more. Pray also that I would put my full trust in the Lord with this situation. It is all in His Hands and I need His strength and wisdom to make it through.
(Thanks for reading all the way to the end...I know it was long!)
Saturday, April 05, 2008
What I Did on My Spring Break :)
Many times I make my kids write about what they did over their break so this my..
What I Did on My Spring Break:
For the first time ever, I have not wanted the weekend to come. This week off has been so great that it makes me dread going back to school. Here is why this week has been so great....
1) I've gotten to hang out with many old friends. This week I have had coffee, lunch, and dinner with a variety of friends that I don't usually get to see and it has been fabulous.
2) I have slept in every morning until about 9!
3) I have gotten to rest and watch MANY episodes of the Gilmore Girls from my new boxed set.
4) I haven't had to do school work or deal with students!!
5) I have gotten to spend more time with my husband!
Spring Break has been wonderful and makes me yearn for summer! Only 9 more weeks!
This week though the Lord has really been speaking to me about how I have lacked joy in my circumstances. I have let my circumstances change who I am. I wonder what my friends and co-workers think we they look at me? Do I reflect Christ in my life and the hope I have in Him? I feel like I don't. I know the reason is that I have shifted my priorities and have put my time in the Word on the back burner. Sunday in small group the ladies discussed how we can tell when our time in the Word has been lacking because our temper, patience, and joy is affected. It is so true! This quarter I want to try and wake up earlier or go to school later so that I can spend time with the Lord before school starts. I need to start my day with Him instead of ending it (when I'm sleepy and marking it off my checklist for the day). Please help keep me accountable to this!
In other fun news, my brother got his first job this week! After graduation, he will be moving to Charlotte to work for a financial planner. He is excited about the position because he already has a relationship with the owner (through his current internship) who is also a believer. Also by moving to Charlotte, he is able to live with one of his good friends, therefore sharing the bills. Congrats BP!
Please keep praying for Jeremy's job hunt. He has sent out TONS of resumes and we haven't had any call backs. Graduation is quickly approaching and our lease is soon to run out, so we really would like to know the next step.
Ok that's enough for now..
What I Did on My Spring Break:
For the first time ever, I have not wanted the weekend to come. This week off has been so great that it makes me dread going back to school. Here is why this week has been so great....
1) I've gotten to hang out with many old friends. This week I have had coffee, lunch, and dinner with a variety of friends that I don't usually get to see and it has been fabulous.
2) I have slept in every morning until about 9!
3) I have gotten to rest and watch MANY episodes of the Gilmore Girls from my new boxed set.
4) I haven't had to do school work or deal with students!!
5) I have gotten to spend more time with my husband!
Spring Break has been wonderful and makes me yearn for summer! Only 9 more weeks!
This week though the Lord has really been speaking to me about how I have lacked joy in my circumstances. I have let my circumstances change who I am. I wonder what my friends and co-workers think we they look at me? Do I reflect Christ in my life and the hope I have in Him? I feel like I don't. I know the reason is that I have shifted my priorities and have put my time in the Word on the back burner. Sunday in small group the ladies discussed how we can tell when our time in the Word has been lacking because our temper, patience, and joy is affected. It is so true! This quarter I want to try and wake up earlier or go to school later so that I can spend time with the Lord before school starts. I need to start my day with Him instead of ending it (when I'm sleepy and marking it off my checklist for the day). Please help keep me accountable to this!
In other fun news, my brother got his first job this week! After graduation, he will be moving to Charlotte to work for a financial planner. He is excited about the position because he already has a relationship with the owner (through his current internship) who is also a believer. Also by moving to Charlotte, he is able to live with one of his good friends, therefore sharing the bills. Congrats BP!
Please keep praying for Jeremy's job hunt. He has sent out TONS of resumes and we haven't had any call backs. Graduation is quickly approaching and our lease is soon to run out, so we really would like to know the next step.
Ok that's enough for now..
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
UPDATED: 13th week
Today was my 13th week appointment. The doctor said everything was going well and I got to hear the heartbeat. We are scheduled to go back in 5 weeks for my next appointment and my ultrasound. That means MAY 9TH we'll find out the gender of baby Cox!!! Woohoo! What a fun Mother's Day present for the grandmas (and me)!
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