SL Trib

I have the greatest job in the whole world (at least for me). I love it. I work at Spectrum Academy, a charter school for kids with High-Functioning Autism. 

So, last Thursday some guy from the trib came to our school. He took a bunch of pictures, asked very few questions, and that was that. Well, guess who got into the newspaper... a picture of me doing vocabulary drills with one of my kids!   http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10813783 I'm in pic 2. The article isn't specifically about Spectrum, but about charter schools in Utah. (which, we just got approved to start making way for a "Spectrum" high school! yay!

Here's my 15 seconds of fame.

Throw-Up Shoes

So, I got these WAY cute brown sandals for my birthday! I love them! They are so practical and I wear them often.


A few weeks ago, I was wearing them to work (Spectrum Academy). I was helping some students heat their lunches up in microwaves, when another paraprofessional said, "Jack, you need to sit down." She was not standing near him, and when he didn't follow directions I walked over to him. I touched his back and said, "Jack, lets go sit down." He turned around and PUKED all over my shoes.

I got them all cleaned up and had been wearing them for about 2 weeks when we went over to my parents' house. I took them off (because I HATE wearing shoes). While we were eating dinner, my parents' cat PUKED all over them.

They're not my favorite shoes any more.

My Kids

I work at Spectrum Academy, a charter school for children with autism. I love my kids. Here is a hilarious story that happened today.

My dear friend (aka the boy who is a tough one to teach), lets call him Mike, decided he wanted a blue folder for his social studies project. Well, he wasn't making good choices and he had to wait until the kids who where making good choices picked theirs. Mike let us know he wanted the only blue folder. In fact, he screamed it in my ear.

My other friend, lets call him Adam, was having a great day! He was following directions and he was being a nice friend! He was great! So, we let him choose which folder he wanted. He chose the blue folder.

Mike was VERY angry. He hurt a student and was yelling "The blue folder is mine!" I sat him on a chair to get him away from the group, and he said, "I hate you." I said, "That's fine. It doesn't hurt my feelings." He kicked me and said, "Does kicking you hurt your feelings?"

Mike and I walked, holding hands, to the Principal's office. The whole time he said, "The blue folder is mine! I'm going to get it back."

While I was with Mike at the Principal's office, Christina talked to Adam. She said, "Did you know you made him mad?" Adam said, " Well, he was making me mad acting like that." Christina said, "Do you feel a little bit good for making him mad?" Adam's face went red. Christina said, "You're not in trouble."

I think it's hilarious! Adam did a great job giving Mike classroom justice. Getting punched wouldn't have hurt him as much as taking that blue folder!

Woodland Park

I was asked to give a talk at a nursing home called Woodland Park which is in our stake. Every few months our ward is in charge of sacrament meeting at 3 different nursing homes.

It was a great experience. Everyone is under the assumption the church is the same no matter where you go, but going to Woodland Park today just reassured that knowledge I had. It also changed me perspective a little bit. Heavenly Father loves us. He doesn't care if you can where Sunday best cloths or even get yourself to church. The church was brought to the people who wanted to be there! It was awesome.

I was a little sad. The bishop came and talked to me before the meeting started. He told me that everyone can undestand what I am saying, even though some of them cannot communicate back. Of course, that had not crossed my mind. I knew they would understand me (working with special needs has instilled that in me). It's horrible the bishop would need to tell people that! Of course the residents there do not want to be talked to like they are stupid. I don't know why people would do that.

Twilight

I started reading Twilight on Thursday. I read the whole book in 2 days. I am half way through the 2nd book! This is my new favorite series.

At first I was sceptical. I really don't enjoy the "Mormon" movies that people have made in Utah, and I was thinking "A vampire, Mormon book is not going to be very good." After hearing all the hype and seeing the books on Best Seller lists, I decided to see what I was missing. If you have not read them, I highly recommend them. Stephanie Meyer has not mentioned anything about religion, but the characters have values! It's great. FYI... it's a chick flick book!

Simmons Reunion

Brandi said blogging is fun... so here I am!

Erick and I had lots of fun at the reunion! I took lots of pictures! 

Be patient while I learn how to do this!