As of Monday, I have started a part time, afternoon job teaching Home Economics, cooking and sewing, to junior high students at a local St. Paul school. I am the 3rd teacher for these kids this semester. Their first teacher was returning after a long term illness and found it was too much for her, so gave up her afternoons, which were fulfilled by the retired home economics teacher, who found it was too much for her. So, the school offered the job for placement, I applied and was not the original choice, but their first choice declined for some reason, so was then offered the job and here I am. The school has a 6 day rotation schedule, so they do not get the class except once in 6 days. That is not many classes in a semester actually, but enough to teach some basics in cooking and sewing. They are done at the end of January and I will only see them for 3 classes. The classes are 2.5 hours long though, whew.
It is difficult to interest students in doing something that they did not chose in the first place. Sewing and cooking are mandatory essential classes that all students must take. So, the boys and girls who do not want to learn to sew, simply do not want to learn to sew. It is hard. How does one interest some one in something they have no interest in? I will skim the internet for sewing projects done by grade 7 boys and girls that might seem more applicable than pyjama bottoms. My daughter sewed pyjama bottoms in home ec twenty years ago and hated it then too. I recall one leg of her pjs was at least 2 inches longer than the other. I have no idea, nor did she, how that happened.
Fitting in the teaching along with the farm is a little tiring. ONce I am better adjusted to the schedule, I am sure my energy level will return. I am used to getting up and going to bed when I feel like it and both of those are late times according to most people. I like to go to sleep around midnight to 1 am and get up around 10 am. I have been setting my alarm for 9, only an hour earlier, and it is already affecting me. But if I can go to bed by 11, then it will get better and eventually, I would like to rise at 8. I am able to get the chores done before work as long as I stick to just watering and feeding. There is no time for any extras, which will have to be done on the weekends and holidays.
Today, after school, I spent a little time with the vice principal going over some details, then hightailed it to the Hutterite colony in Glendon, another half hour away, to pick up dog meat. The dogs have not had dog meat for 2 weeks because they were closed for the Christmas holiday and they were forced to eat dog food, which they do only if there is absolutely nothing better. It is a good thing too, because they will eat an 8 pound bag of food in 2 days easily and that is very expensive at just over a dollar a pound. The dog meat and bones helps balance the budget and although I pay for the scraps, it is much cheaper than dog food.
I may have to take Daphne, the Nigerian Dwarf goat, to the veterinarian's if she does not improve. She has been losing weight constantly since coming in off pasture and she is usually robust and plump. I have dewormed her twice and have been giving her a shot of Redcell every few days to boost her blood because she seems to be anemic. I purchased a new wormer today and will administer it tomorrow and hope she improves rapidly because she is too thin and it is very cold. I do not want to lose her. She has been my absolute best goat for the past 5 years, giving me quads every year that are beautiful and healthy. My fingers are crossed.
So, it is a little challenging so far to make the timing work. The dogs are upset that there is less time to play with me, especially Robbie and Sofi. They like to play with the stick while I am working outside and that is limited to 2 hours in the morning now. I am sure it will work out and hopefully the job will continue until the end of the year somehow. That would really help with the bills. Let's hope for the best. Til then....onward ho!
It is difficult to interest students in doing something that they did not chose in the first place. Sewing and cooking are mandatory essential classes that all students must take. So, the boys and girls who do not want to learn to sew, simply do not want to learn to sew. It is hard. How does one interest some one in something they have no interest in? I will skim the internet for sewing projects done by grade 7 boys and girls that might seem more applicable than pyjama bottoms. My daughter sewed pyjama bottoms in home ec twenty years ago and hated it then too. I recall one leg of her pjs was at least 2 inches longer than the other. I have no idea, nor did she, how that happened.
Fitting in the teaching along with the farm is a little tiring. ONce I am better adjusted to the schedule, I am sure my energy level will return. I am used to getting up and going to bed when I feel like it and both of those are late times according to most people. I like to go to sleep around midnight to 1 am and get up around 10 am. I have been setting my alarm for 9, only an hour earlier, and it is already affecting me. But if I can go to bed by 11, then it will get better and eventually, I would like to rise at 8. I am able to get the chores done before work as long as I stick to just watering and feeding. There is no time for any extras, which will have to be done on the weekends and holidays.
Today, after school, I spent a little time with the vice principal going over some details, then hightailed it to the Hutterite colony in Glendon, another half hour away, to pick up dog meat. The dogs have not had dog meat for 2 weeks because they were closed for the Christmas holiday and they were forced to eat dog food, which they do only if there is absolutely nothing better. It is a good thing too, because they will eat an 8 pound bag of food in 2 days easily and that is very expensive at just over a dollar a pound. The dog meat and bones helps balance the budget and although I pay for the scraps, it is much cheaper than dog food.
I may have to take Daphne, the Nigerian Dwarf goat, to the veterinarian's if she does not improve. She has been losing weight constantly since coming in off pasture and she is usually robust and plump. I have dewormed her twice and have been giving her a shot of Redcell every few days to boost her blood because she seems to be anemic. I purchased a new wormer today and will administer it tomorrow and hope she improves rapidly because she is too thin and it is very cold. I do not want to lose her. She has been my absolute best goat for the past 5 years, giving me quads every year that are beautiful and healthy. My fingers are crossed.
So, it is a little challenging so far to make the timing work. The dogs are upset that there is less time to play with me, especially Robbie and Sofi. They like to play with the stick while I am working outside and that is limited to 2 hours in the morning now. I am sure it will work out and hopefully the job will continue until the end of the year somehow. That would really help with the bills. Let's hope for the best. Til then....onward ho!
Sofi wears a fleece and a jacket when it is cold outside because she is thin from the cancer. She still plays with the stick. This time she chose a BIG one!
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