Tag Archive | Education

Daily Prompt: Fifteen Credits

Aug22

Another school semester will soon begin. If you’re in school, are you looking forward to starting classes? If you’re out of school, what do you miss about it — or are you glad those days are over?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us LEARNING.

It has been 3 years since I retired… Time has flown by quickly… minutes to hours… hours to days… and now days to years…

Yes… I miss school… I spent 12 years of just attending school like any other kid…

loving every minute of it…

School was fun to me…

cursive writing…k13341811  I loved making those beautiful curved letters…

reading… k0764029 not easy for me that first year… had no pre-school or kindergarten at that time… but, by the next year… I was learning quickly and asked to help other kids…

math…k0866279my torment… but, when learned… felt so proud… Hated reading problems as they were called… but, loved geometry… drawing all of those angles and shapes… using a compass… protractor and ruler… (the art in me I guess)

geography… k13435154learning of different countries… people… places… I would never see… a world opened to me through books and films…

history…x28646849 learning of past presidents and who formed our land… laws… the constitution… discoveries made by people… found it to be quite interesting…

english…k0273001 Loved words… never liked learning all of those names for different parts of speech… nouns… pronouns… adverbs… I did love adjectives… descriptive words… how wonderful!… letter writing was neat… punctuation could give me fits…

literature…u19066330 stories … books… heroes… characters… authors…  fun!

science…k9050519 planets… rocks… experiments… equations (yuck!)… earth… formulas (another yuck!)… bugs…animals…birds… people… VERY interesting…

art… u16211303favorite subject for me… the smell of crayons… paints… the pencils for drawing… colored chalk dust… colored paper…clean white paper to put that first bit of color on… Loved it!

music…u13121621 singing… sometimes dance… instruments… piano playing… harmonizing… chorus… A happy feeling …

play time… k12697727inside and out… jump rope… kick ball… games… What’s not to like???

friendships… k9128274special girlfriends… some to this day!… cute boys…

teachers… sfo0159some good… so memorable… some bad… (Very few)… what each taught and their techniques…

classrooms… 004v0102dc I dreamed of my own…and how I would fix it… teacher‘s desk… seating charts… colorful pictures…bright sun coming through windows… watching first snowflakes and wondering if we would get out early…

field trips… x11279754visiting places I would never have gone to… seeing things I would never had seen… Hearing things I would never have heard… AWESOME!

lunch time… x21738989sack lunch kids… cafeteria food… cafeteria ladies… sitting talking with friends… always rushing to eat fast in 20 minutes…

bus ride… x11574526I was a safety patrol on the bus… badge and all… noisy kids… but, really liked our bus driver… Mr. G… and the trips on that big yellow bus… so fun sitting with friends…

snack time… Milkcookies and milk… Oreos from a boy who liked me…

This was a description of “my school years“… and then I got a job in the school system… a dream come true… working with special children…

30 years later… retired… but, the descriptions of school memories are pretty much the same… work was just like a repeat of my school years… just looking on from a different perspective…

To spend my whole life in school… leaves lots of memories… and yes, k6860167I will always miss those days…

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My Lifetime Dream/Goal Reached! (Sunday Grateful) 7-4-13

Aug4

I’ve had to pinch myself a few times!

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Ask myself, “Did I really get that phone call?”…

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Talk about it… so that I know it’s for real..

Keep thinking about it and smiling…k6688524

Saying “Thank You” hundreds of times to my Lord…k9513818

You see… I finally got the job I’ve wanted ever since I was a little girl…

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My dream…

My hope…

My talent put to use…

and just perfectly fits my life at this time…

God is good!… and when the time is right… prayers are indeed answered…

I have to give praise for this wonderful happening that has been given me…k0266791

I had taken a painting class about two months ago… and while there… I happened to ask the owners, “Do you need someone to teach the painting classes?”…

and they said, “As a matter of fact we will need someone!… in a month or two when we move to a larger location”…

What was so surprising… they were quite impressed with my “natural” talent… and took my phone number… cha0005

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Painting class I took with daughter-in-law…

The new location was only a store over from their immediate shop… so the location was ideal for me… less than 15 minutes away from my home…

I was elated!…k6437384 that they seemed interested…

and this past week the owner called and wanted to now if I was still interested…

YES!… I wanted to shout!… Yes, indeed! …

I bet I was grinning from ear to ear!…k7098880

She wanted me to come in for a class and just paint again along with the customers that had signed up… taking some mental notes as to how they did things…

I had been one other time for a class with a friend of mine… so I was learning their ways already… and liked what I saw…

                                                        Painting I did with friend… 130522_008

We painted a Lake Scene… and I talked to all of the customers just to get a feel of what that would be like…

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I love that part of course!… I love people… listening to them… and connecting…

I do think I have a natural teaching ability too…

I’ve never had the opportunity for college… but, the jobs that I have had… have prepared me well…

This company will also be opening a new shop in Elizabethtown, KY… not too far from Louisville… So, I feel I am getting in on the ground floor as to speak…

( There was a movie called “Elizabethtown“ out a few years back… filmed in this small town)

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The company called KOCH and CO. … have become busier since I first painted with my daughter-in-law over two months ago…

That’s a good thing for sure!

So it will be part-time… Money is good k9179637… will have a helper and all I have to do is teach the class…

How awesome is that! … BLD067144

I will have a couple of practice class sessions to begin with… being critiqued as to where I might need some help…

but, then will be on my own…

My goal / dream k8377680being reached in my lifetime…

How blessed I feel!  k1589151

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Daily Prompt: Back To School

Jul30

If you could take a break from your life and go back to school to master a subject, what would it be?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us MASTERY.

I would like to take classes in Art Therapy…

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The following statements pretty much sum up why I would like to do this…

The tenets of art therapy involve humanism, creativity, reconciling emotional conflicts, fostering self-awareness, and personal growth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

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“Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication. It is practised by qualified, registered Art Therapists who work with children, young people, adults and the elderly.

http://www.baat.org/

I worked with mentally handicapped children for 30 + years… and in doing so … I would often use my natural talent of Art  to work with these “special” kids…

I saw that through the process of art which can include drawing, painting, coloring, creating… moods/behaviors changed… self-confidence was built… and a calmness came into the bodies of these children…

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A feeling of pride emerged… and I… in turn… learned about them…

their needs…

their desires…

their wants…

their talents…

Being able to contribute to these changes… by doing something I loved to begin with… was so rewarding and fulfilled a small part of my dream…

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Going back to school and mastering the techniques needed to fulfill this wish… would make my life pretty complete!

http://youtu.be/exRRwiIFNUU               Video: Wonderful info on what ART THERAPIST do all over the world!

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Vase of Flowers

Jun1

Another painting class… This time with a friend I made at the YMCA… She picked a picture of a vase with flowers to paint… The store… KOCH’S Painting… lists several different choices to pick from… on a monthly calendar…

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I always like the choices but, usually end up making it my own… in some way… The flowers in the picture were all pink…

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This was the one we were to copy…

I made them the colors I have in my bathroom… I had the same picture up for so long… I decided I needed a change…

I’ve painted a long time… so I’ve learned from trial and error as I go… but, can always learn a new technique… a new way of doing things…

130522_001 My beginnings…

130522_006 My finished painting…

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA   OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHung in my bathroom…

My friend painted hers pretty much like the picture offered… It was really nice… It takes about 3 hours to complete… By using acrylic paint … the paintings dry pretty quick with the aid of a hair dryeru10800296 …

130522_004My friend Janice…

Beginning of painting… 130522_003

130522_007 Finished painting…

The girl who owns the store and her partner have said they would like me to teach some of the classes… I would jump at the chanceyta0013 … It would be ideal!… A few days a week… teaching what I love… doing what I love… Talking to people and seeing the joy on their faces as they make something with their own hands… So when their new store opens… I hope to be working again… Retirement is good… but, having a job like this would be right up my alley!

130522_008 Showing off our artwork…

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Middle School!… Here I Come!

May18

My youngest Granddaughter is moving on up to Middle School…

Where has the time gone…bwo0021

She is such a joy!…

I always say, “She makes me smile!”… yun0006

full of energy…

loves sports… u13441388

has many friends… 130517_015

smart… k7018160

and that smile and mischievous grin gets us all… 130517_010

Talking so fast… I have to slow her down at times…

So, yesterday she had “Her Day”…

Mom, Dad, “Paps” (her other grandfather), Uncle Doug and Bobby (Poppy) and I … came to sit in those unbearable bleachers just for her!… k8170836

The gym was crowded with parents, grandparents, brothers/sisters and friends to wish them well in their next step… Middle School…

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Kennedy accepting her certificate…

Being that I worked in a Middle School for such a long time… I know these will be stressful years at times… happy years at times… and personalities will appear that you never knew existed…

The program consisted of a talk from one of the Principals of a Middle School… songs were sung about moving on to new adventures…

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and the receiving of an Award of Completion of Elementary Years…

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A video on a big screen depicting all of the graduates… pretty neat!

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Long enough… and with a DJ and a party being planned k7554116 … We took photos and expressed our congratulations! k10548896…

and waved good-bye…

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Her smile lets us know she was glad we came…

Red Rosesu15353311 , an Autograph Dog 130517_002 , cards with money… k13956203

and many hugs…

“Good Luck Kennedy… Enjoy these wonderful years!”

Love, Grandma 

Painting for Fun!

May16

Last Thursday Night my daughter-in-law and I went to a painting class… k0338309

Painting classes have become very popular in Louisville in the last year…

Some classes are held in restaurants… some at their own business sites…

They might serve wine… cheeses/fruit… crackers…sfo0818

maybe cupcakes for kids… k6245566

I’ve been to three…. so far…

I love to paint!… but, having never had professional training…  I dare not say that I’m a true painter…

I have painted murals on walls at several schools… wall murals in people’s homes… and just for my own pleasure… to sell at craft bazaars…

I guess you can say I’m self-taught… and have God-given talent…

Some find my work quite good…

This painting class was not far from where I live…

Koch’s emailbanner…

They do framingk2983089 … display and sell art of different artists… and have painting classes for all ages… Parties may be on their agenda as well as the pre-set classes for any age…

They were painting an interpretation of the Louisville skyline for a booth they were setting up for a fair… “Louisville Independent Business Alliance” …when we were there…

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Painting still wet …

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Painting at the fair with our Louisville Mayor… that weekend…

There are many designs to choose from on their monthly calendar…

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My daughter-in-law chose the artwork we were to paint… I wanted to treat her… since she was excited about the fact that she would be painting something she could actually hang in her new home…

It was called “Magical Tree”… I called it “whimsical”… and it was fun to do…

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You could follow along and do just as taught… or change it up a bit to make it your own…

Melanie chose bright colors… so fun!… 130509_001

and I went with a more subdued coloring to fit with my decor…130509_002310051_478260112253576_233174985_n

This photo was posted on their Facebook Page… how neat!

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The swirly lines for tree branches were so fun to make…

and leaves were just depicted by dots…

Melanie has already hung hers and mine is still sitting there… waiting for me to decide on an appropriate place… or I might even give as a gift k7390209…

I am going to another class next Wednesday… with a friend from the YMCA… She chose the subject also… as this was new to her…

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Looks like fun to me!

Some day I will pick a subject… but, for now… I’m enjoying seeing my friends paint who never thought they could…

I knew they would love it!…

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Daily Prompt: Million-Dollar Question

Apr25

Why do you blog?

Really… the question is directed to me… so…

Why do I blog?

I started blogging k6584220after viewing a friend’s blog and just enjoyed her thoughts on many subjects…

I learned more about her by reading than I ever did actually talking face to face with  her…

Isn’t that a shame!…

It seems we are way more truthful when we blog… It just flows from our fingertips…x10900469

I also had retired… What to do with some of my time?…

I had been wanting to write about my adventures while working with Special Education students for 30+ years…

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There were adventures to tell…pgi0201

There were funny incidences to tell…

There were personalities to share…k10454203

There were sad stories…

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There were humorous stories…

There were heartaches…k12483651

There was love…u10961440

There were teaching moments…k0337539

There were learning moments…

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It was pure joy!…

It seemed to have a lot of details that could capture an audience…

So, I wrote for a year combining tales of mine with tales from my “Special Kids”…

It was amazing!…

I now write to express myself…

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I enjoy “Other’s writings” also…

It makes me think… k11242244

It has given me friends…k9896399

It keeps my mind busy…k12351686

It keeps me up on world news…

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It keeps me up on happenings that I’ll never encounter…

It makes me more aware of people and the different facets of others lives…k0248957k0248957k0248957

It gives me contentment…cfr0252

It makes me proud…k6050565

I belong to a special “community” now…k7481127

I like the way others have accepted me … even has raised my self-esteem… I’ve received a clearer picture of who I actually am…k10359530

and it doesn’t seem too bad!

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Daily Prompt: All About Me/The Daily Post

Feb24

Explain why you chose your blog’s title and what it means to you.

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My blog title comes from my initials… x10661944

Marilyn Kay Griffin

M= Memories

K= Keepsakes

G= Gifts

These are things that represent me and my passions…

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I first used this on my invoices when I was doing some painting jobs for a couple of Public Schools… and also for individuals in their homes…

I painted the first and second floor hallways for an Elementary School… depicting school scenes/activities… with children…

and also many areas of the Middle School I worked at… The court-yard outside… and many areas throughout the school… library… hallways… fish tank base…etc. …

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When I decided to start a blog when I retired… I felt the name I already had was  a great fit…

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Memories of childhood and events in my life…

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Keepsakes I talk about given to me by some very special people… and items I’ve collected that I cherish for their uniqueness…

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Gifts that I make for people … gifts I have received… gifts that I make special when wrapping…

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So you see… This is me!… a hint of what I like to do and who I am…

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Daily Prompt: Mentor Me

Feb19

Have you ever had a mentor? What was the greatest lesson you learned from him or her?

I guess you could say I was a mentor…

I was a Teacher Assistant… later called a Paraprofessional… sps0427for 30 + years…

We were to instruct (teach) our Special Needs Students… under the guidance of the Teacher in charge…

I stayed in that profession as I said… for many years…k0675493

People asked me…”Why don’t you go back to school and become a teacher?”…

“You already know how to do most everything there is to teach”…

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and my answer was, “I like my position!”…

I like implementing the assigned work prepared by the Teacher…

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I like being able to give one on one instruction to our students…

I liked following them to classes where they were mainstreamed into classes with the “regular” students…

I liked taking care of their needs… either physical or mental…

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I liked the freedom I found with the wonderful teachers I worked with…

I liked the repertoire I had with the kids parents…x10724768

I liked that I was doing a service that all would not like… and even heard others say, “I could never do that!”…”That requires such patience!” vmo0891

I mentored by teaching these special children… math, grammar, spelling, reading, science, phys ed, art, geography, writing and training them in situations that they being… “special” … would encounter in their lives…

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The teachers became friends… not just co-workers…

My mentors were the fantastic teachers I had the pleasure of working with… They taught me… as I taught the students in their class…

I learned so much!…

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Things I would never had been in touch with if I hadn’t been placed in my position…

I thank the Lord every day for my experiences I was taught at the hands of some very good teachers…

and the smaller mentors (the kids I had the pleasure of working with)…

I tell everyone… THEY… these special kids…

Taught me… as I was teaching them!…k0662770

They taught me…

self-reliance…

strength…

determination…

caring…

fortitude…

and love…k5113531

and I thank them in my heart every day for the lessons learned!

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“Peace Out!”

Mar11

Memory…Keepsake…

There are four of us friends going to meet for lunch … We haven’t done this in a long time… years to be exact… but, as soon as we get together it will be as if we talked every day … That’s what true friendship is…never-ending…faithful…loving  … I’ve known one of the “girls” since First Grade and the others since High School  … We are all quite different in appearance as well as our takes on life…We have each gone our separate ways…made a life with husbands, children and grandchildren…We’ve had good times and bad…We’ve all lived life as it came to us …Not probably our dreams …but, a good life…We are having a class reunion in the Fall…will be 45 years since we were the “Panthers”…our High School mascot … There were more popular kids…but, our little group has sustained… I read some of the names of fellow classmates…and realize how few I actually knew!… High School is pretty clicky…and to be included now with people wanting to get in touch is really quite amazing… I believe it’s the time we grew up in… We are called the “Baby Boomers” … A pretty tight-niche group of people with ideals, compassion and heart!…The Viet Nam War   was being played out and many of us were effected by that … “Hippy Days”  with our long hair, bell bottoms, flowers  and hate to admit it but, drugs were coming in on the scene… We were supposed to be free-spirited… peaceful and full of love … Hate to tell everyone… Life is life whenever and wherever it happens!… Happiness is what you make it… Work ethics are what you make them… Friendships are kept if you make them… So that is where I am today… Not longing for by-gone days…but, happy to remember the good times and friends made… Peace Out!