In case you were wondering....

Well, folks, an update on me! I now am the official holder of a master's of education degree in elementary education, with a minor in special education. I am only four courses and a thesis away from a master's of arts in Reading, with a specialization in ESL, with a split minor in psychology and rhetoric/linguistics/composing. Go ME!

I'm applying to the PHD program in Educational Psychology. Yippee!

The future for Carrie

Uggh. What a crappy year! This is the year my son became a father and a divorcee', all well before his 16th birthday! God, talk about me feeling sorry for my granddaughter, Madison or "Carrie".

She was doomed from the beginning. Her mother is bisexual and a serial cheater, as well as a developing addict. Not to mention her tyrannical hypocrite as a father! God, my poor baby!

But I have developed pretty much the same philosophy of my dad...Nick screwed and he can fix it on his own. I did the best I could. I tried to give him a little structure, none of which he had. He thought that getting married to his little flower child cloaked as a country girl was going to make up for something he missed with his birth mom. Sheesh. Psychological problems you say? Unresolved issues? Build a bridge and get over it.

Everybody has problems and issues. Everyone is abused, blah blah. You know what? Get busy living or get busy dying. Enough said on my part!

Hey yall--In Better Spirits--and much more hopeful....

Yes, folks I come to you in April with a lot more hope for the future. As it turns out, I will be in the doctoral program ASAP, as well as the LSSP program. I am stoked!

I am working on my research into the Woodcock Munoz and I am also doing what I love best--mentoring. This leadership class has been wonderful.

I have some pictures to share about sheltered content instruction. Hope you guys enjoy!

Well, welcome to 2009!

Well, welcome to the new year, fellow readers (and lady readers for all you PC types) We are greeted with a new presidency, a sense of strenght, huge debt, promise for the future...Wait a minute? Did I say, "huge debt"?

Actually I did. I inherited my own great deal of huge debt. I inherited three more girls, two grandkids, a newly married son, and a busted relationship. Plus three B's to boot. Go me. Humph....

Yeah, folks had all this hope for the future, yet all they ended up with was writing the auto industry a fat check. And yet, I and my kids are going to inherit their debt...

First off, I would like you guys to meet my girls--Abbie, Chloe and Lily, and my son Nick.

I think that their pictures are in the top left. If not, I will adjust it later. Yes, I have a mountain of debt. And it looks as though graduation is growing further away....Yet, I am still studying my butt off, as my health will allow me.

I am still studying elementary education and reading. I am also applying to the school psychology program. I want my doctorate, but that is in the near future. Right now, I just want this stimulus thing to work and I want to feed my growing brood. Off with me--to the libarry!

Laura's Luck

Page Pets & MySpace Layouts

And you guys thought I was dead or something....

For those of you who are not aware, my youngest daughter is now in PPCD and Pre-K. She is doing quite nicely and enjoying being around her classmates. I visited with her teacher Monday and hope that she remains friendly. I hope to have an allie instead of a force of nature.

My father tried to start school again this fall at Texas A & M at Commerce. He however, dropped out because of finanical worries. Why aren't we subsidising education for more needy individuals.

I am also myself returning to the education sector. I hope that after two more years of recovery time, some more professional development, and a master's degree that I am still marketable.

I am also newly married. My wife's name is Leslie Allison Smythe-Hume. We have been married a month and have a new baby girl, whose picture I will post very soon.

With much adieu, I bid you each farewell for this evening's addition.

The puppet of Eminem--he's funny, but he is sure working my nerves!

I noticed something on t.v. the other day that I caught myself laughing at. Everyone likes Eminem, the rapper, right? Well he has a puppet that he puts in some of his videos and "promotional materials," named "Special ed". He is supposed to be funny because he is constantly gleeful when something "funny" happens.

But I no longer find Eminem funny. As a matter of fact, this damn puppet is damn right offensive. As a former special educator, it was my job to be "positive" constantly. Believe me, having to treat 4th graders like they were in preschool, constantly having to stretch a smile across my face killed me. "Research based best practices" according to my mentor, Mrs. Marth Vincent at the Regiion VIII Education Service Center.

Yet, sometimes, I wanted to hang my head and cry. My first year was so damn difficult, made more difficult by veteran teachers because of literal professional jealousy. No, I wasn't educated to become a special educator--but then again, it wasn't much of a stretch.

I believe that much this sickening positivity is only being practiced in Northeast Texas. I read constantly another blog that makes me a little jaded, even though my friend Janet Morrison, who subsequently writes one of my favorite blogs, http://www.janetmorrison.blogspot.com, doesn't mean to make me cynical.

So yeah, Special Ed, kind of works my nerves, in the way that white folks in black face might offend Al Sharpton. But then again, I'm just a sourpuss.....

A Current Reading List--in case you're wondering what I do with all my free time....

What are you reading?
Here is my current (06/06/2008) booklist

• 
  A Primer for Roschach Interpretaton. Exner. Rorschach Workshops. copyright 2001.
  
• A Rorschach Workbook For the Comprehensive System. Fifth Edtion. Exner et al. Rorschach Workshops. copyright 2001.
  
• Global terrorism. Lutz and Lutz. Routedge, copyright 2004
  
• Making Content Comprehensible for English Language Learners. The SIOP model. Third Edition. Echevarria, Vogt. & Short. ABLongman. copyright 2007.
  
• Racial and ethnic groups. Eighth Edition. Schaefer, R. Prenhall, copyright 2000..
  
• Sheltered Content Instruction Third Edition. Echevarria and Graves. ABLongman. copyright 2007.
  
• Theories of theories of mind. Carruthers and Smith. Cambridge, copyright 1996.
  
• Terrorism: Opposing viewpoints. Greenhaven Press., copyright 2008:

Updated Resume--what's happened since the bus stopped at the school corner.....

LAURA KAY HUME
1039 CR NW 1080
SULPHUR BLUFF, TEXAS 75481
(903)632-0072 OR (903)573-7930

dd68@hotmail.com, lhume@leo.tamu-commerce.edu

Skills

Have extensive background in abnormal psychology
Can speak some Spanish
Have computer experience as well as record keeping
Good with children of any age
Qualifications
Discipline style is firm but fair
Enjoy challenging situations
Can work as a team player, but especially behind the scenes
Effective as an advocate for students and parents

Work Experience

• 
  2007-2008 Self employed, Senior Consultant, Mary Kay Cosmetics
  Position: Senior Consultant
  Description: I run my own Mary Kay business, which entails talking to customers
  of all persuasions, managing the day-today schedule of my assistant, ordering stock and
  inventory, and developing leadership skills through mentoring of recruits
  Fall 2007 Texas A & M University-Commerce
  Position: Writing Tutor, Department of Literature and Languages
  Description: Helping students who are in the first year writing program by guiding them
  through the development of their writing skills, teaching "brainstorming" and "idea development" to undergrads
  
• Spring 2007 Texas A & M University-Commerce
  Position: Graduate Assistant, Department of Literature and Languages
  Description: Was assistant to three faculty members, as well as helping instructors manage an online teaching environment. Assisted lead faculty member with development of curriculum for Organizational Behavior, Principles of Management, and Principles of Marketing. Assisted with grading both lecture and online assignments. Performed research under the guidance of faculty regarding management and organizational behavior.
  
• 2006-2008 Sulphur Springs Independent School District
  Position: Substitute Teaching
  Description: Worked in a variety of classroom situations, including behavior and special education
  
• 2005-2006 Pittsburg Independent School District
  Position: Life Skills Teacher/Homebound Teacher
  Description: Taught and supervised children with low incidence disabilities, adjusting instruction to meet each child’s individual needs, designed Local District Alternative Assessments (LDAA) for students who were required to be tested in reading, math, and writing activities, created lesson plans geared according to each student’s Individualized Education Programs (IEP), designed behavior programs for students with low incidence disabilities, Performed routine record keeping of both student progress and SHARS (School and Health Related Services) related activities, directed activities of the in-class aid and/ or nurses, provided assistive technology services, and adapted physical education instruction ; as homebound teacher, made sure students who were unable to attend school completed in-school assignments as well as adjusting instruction to meet each child’s individual needs
  
• 2003-2004; Spring of 2005 Mount Pleasant Independent School District
  Position: Long-term substitute, student teacher
  Description: Performed instruction in the absence of
  Regular instructor or assistant; became familiar with
  Behavior and discipline policies of larger school
  District; came to campuses prepared for any and all
  Instructional situations; Student taught in Life Skills
  Classroom in functional academics, content mastery,
  Severe and profound
  
• 2002-2003 At Home Healthcare
  Position: Provider
  Description: Performed personal care tasks for elderly and people with disabilities, included cleaning, laundry, meal preparation and assistance with personal care, also provided personal companionship
  
• 2001-2002 Hospitality House
  Position: PRN/Mental health technician
  Description: Worked in many capacities in the facility, including nurse’s assisting (mental health technician), teaching and social services (rehabilitation technician); had experience with a behavior program; assisted clients with activities of daily living (ADLs), wrote some personal care plans and did routine record keeping
  
• 2001-2002 Citadel Security
  Position: Non-commissioned Security Officer
  Description: Monitored the gate of the Winfield South Mine (TXU), greeted visitors at front gate, kept watch for fires and accidents, monitored rainfall and number of trains going and leaving the facility; also measure temperature with a thermometer
  
• 1995-1996 Northeast Texas Community College newspaper The Eagle
  Position: Student reporter
  Description: Reported and wrote news and feature
  Stories concerning college and surrounding community;
  Took photographs; did proofreading and paste-up

Volunteer Experience

• 
  Safe-T Crisis Center- Battered Women’s Shelter and Sexual Assault Program
• 
  Cypress Basin Hospice
• 
  Fairview Cemetery Association
• 
  I AM SPECIAL Too,-organization for students with special needs

State Board of Educator Certification

• 
  Generalist (EC-4) Expires (09/10/2010)
• 
  Special Education (EC-12) Expires (09/10/2010)

Texas Commission on Private Security

• 
  Licensed Non-commissioned Security Officer 2001-2004

Professional Development

• Attended training on PDAS evaluation system at Region 8
  
• Attended T. R. I. P. I Academy for teachers of students with low-incidence disabilities
  
• Received training on adapted physical education
  
• Received training on Autism
  
• Sat on Student Intervention Team at Pittsburg Primary for students at-risk of being referred for special education because of academic failure, low performance or behavior
  
• Served as a mentor in-class to undergraduates seeking teacher certification in bilingual/ESL

Publications; Presentations

• 
  Collaborated on a study with a teacher from Greenville Independent School District on therapy animals and their use with children; Tentatively scheduled for publication
  
• Presented Bilingual/ESL and Special Education in the Digital Age. This is a learning concept developed for students identified for both bilingual/ESL and special education. Based on the Sheltered Instruction Observaton Protocol and Universal Design for Learning. My concept will be called "Universal Design for Sheltered Instruction". Going to use this as I apply to the doctoral program for higher education

Education

• Texas A & M University-Commerce
  Master’s of Science
  Major: Reading
  Specialization: English as a Second Language
  Minor:Psychology
  Scheduled graduation date: May 2011
  
• Texas A & M University-Commerce
  Master's of Education
  Major: Elementary Education Minor: Special Education
  Scheduled graduation date: May 2010
  
• Texas A & M University-Commerce
  Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice
  Major: Criminal Justice
  Graduated: May 2001
  
• Texas A & M University-Commerce
  Bachelor’s of Science
  Major: Psychology Minor: Sociology
  Graduated: May 1998
  Northeast Texas Community College
  
• Associate of Science
  Major: Social Work Minor: Applied Psychology
  Graduated May 1996
  
• Sulphur Bluff Independent School District
  High School Diploma
  Graduated: May 1995

Future Plans

• 
  To teach in a Discipline Classroom
• 
  To design a good discipline program per the campus administration
  
• To teach at least three years in a public school
  
• To become certified in EC-4 ESL
  
• To become certified in 4-8 English Language Arts and Reading
  
• To become an all-level Reading Specialist
  
• To obtain doctorate in Higher Education with a minor in criminology and educational psychology
  
• To open a not-for-profit ministry mentoring program for youth at-risk both academically and personally in my community
  
• References
  Available on request

Simulation vs theories of theory of mind

Well, folks I am now three days into the semester. I am taking a doctoral level psychology, as well as a criminal justice class. I was going to take a reading class, but the drive to Dallas was going to kill me and the gas is too expensive.

I am hearing a lot of folks are doing without this summer. Some have cut back on their use of utilites so that they can save greenbacks. Schools this year won't start until around the 25th of August because of the rising energy costs to the state. You know what would help this budget with the state? Eliminate the governor's salary!

A friend of mine wrote a blog about the state of education in the US. His question--are schools really failing? My answer: Yes. We fail not only our teachers and students, but our parents and communities. Our state ranks right in the middle of the list of poor performing schools. Imagine, the president comes from our state and we have low performing schools!

But let's place the blame on everyone where it belongs. Bill Clinton was actually the first president who pushed for the now infamous NCLB legislation. The Democrat party are actually the folks calling for teachers to be "highly qualifeid." This crappy piece of legislation is actually bi-partisan.