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Ok, so yes I'm cheating. This week has been...draining to say the least. I just didn't have the energy to even think about blogging. So, I ended up getting behind in my posts. To catch up, I have to put a few of the letters together. Mafi mushkila, right? BTW, "mafi mushkila" means "no problem" in Arabic. See, I'm learning a little something something while living here in Abu Dhabi.

Anywho, on to my post...

I'm going to visualize what I want my life to be like...where I'd like to see myself in 10 years. Of course, God has the final say, but He gives us the desires of our heart (if it's according to His will), right? So, here it is. In 10 years, I see myself...

• Married to a wonderful, God-fearing husband who loves and cherishes me. He's the head of the house, but he doesn't mind me being me cos of course, that's who he fell in love with. I see us as sort of a power couple, only for the Kingdom of God. Everything we do, whatever job we have, will be for the glory of God. And people will see Christ through us. Will our marriage be perfect? NO. I have a feeling God is going to send me someone who's the opposite of me, so I'm sure there will be some head-bumping going on. But after all is said and done, we'll work our problems out. I know this can happen cos my parents have done it. 35 years of marriage - 39 years of being together - and my parents are still together...still in love.


• A mother to wonderful children, including twins. Honestly? I'd love to have a set of boy/girl twins and be done with child-bearing. Not so far-fetched considering the fact that my dad was a twin (she died at birth, though). So, it's quite possible one of his children will have twins. I've discussed this with God: boy/girl twins then I'm done. But of course, God may decide to give me more. Or less. My children will not be perfect, but who is? But my husband and I will be rearing them with God's help.


• As Dr. Raenice B. Weakly, EdD. I will finish my doctorate. I'm determined. I had to take a break because of financial hardship, but I will go back. Soon. Prayerfully, if all goes well, I'll be back in school this summer. And since I'm on that final leg of my program - my dissertation - I can be finished by sometime in 2013. My degree will be used more for research purposes. I'd like to research reading education. I'd especially like to research aliteracy, which is when people know how to read, but they choose not to. My main focus will, of course, be on kids - teens to be specific. I've heard of so many tweens/teens who hate reading. They don't do it. Unless they're forced and that makes them hate it even more. I want to research ways to get children and teens into reading. Being a total book nerd myself, I can't fathom people NOT liking to read. I just can't.


• Successful entrepreneur. I'm still panning out the details of my business, but I know I plan to open an enrichment center for youth. I've had this idea in my head since I was about 14 years old. It was an old Cosby show episode - the one with Theo working at a community center - that planted the seed. I saw the kind of work and the difference he was making at this center, I knew that's what I wanted to do. It wasn't until 2 years ago that God reminded me of my dream. So, one of my goals while here in Abu Dhabi is to come up with a business plan and afterwards, start looking for places and funding. Whether or not the enrichment center becomes a franchise, I'll leave up to God. But I plan to do big
  6 Comments on U/V are for... Ultimate Vision, last added: 4/27/2012
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  Bonnie said, on 4/26/2012 1:18:00 PM
  

  What a great list!
  
  I am thankful to say that God has blessed me with point #1. :)
  
  The rest are still dreams for me, too. We would like to have kids but have only been married two years so are not rushing into that yet. I have no degree but would like to furhter my education as well. We've talked about starting business together and it is my dream to be published!
  
  I look forward to reading about your life adventures and seeing you check these items as complete.

  Marquita Hockaday said, on 4/26/2012 4:25:00 PM
  

  You have some awesome ambitions and I think you can do each and every one of them. Good luck on finishing your doctorate! What a wonderful degree to be working toward, too. I am a high school teacher and I hear on a daily basis how much kids hate reading. It breaks my heart. I'd love it if you could figure out what to do get teens to want to read more.
  
  This is a wonderful post and I wish the best of luck to complete it!

  Holly Michael said, on 4/26/2012 5:40:00 PM
  

  You go girl! I'm sure you can do it!

  loveniawrites said, on 4/27/2012 10:25:00 AM
  

  I LOVE it!!! Thinking and dreaming big is the only way to go!! :-)

  Francene Stanley said, on 4/27/2012 10:42:00 AM
  

  That's a good list to work towards. Keep positive.
  
  http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.com/

  Rae said, on 4/27/2012 11:14:00 AM
  

  Thanks everyone. I can't wait to check things off this list. Believe me, every time I get to check something off, everyone will know. :D

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     Most parents notice the talents of their children early on, whether it’s a child who is athletic, artistic or an early reader. But what do teachers look for when they formally identify students as “gifted”?
     As your child moves through school, teachers begin selecting students who have the potential or ability to be included in a gifted program. In addition to teachers’ observations, identification is also based on:

•  Group or individual intelligence tests (IQ tests given in 3^rdand 5^thgrades. OLSATs are given in Illinois’ public schools)
•  Standard achievement tests (In Illinois, these are the ISATs)
•  Grades
•  Parent observations

    Below are some of the most commonly used IQ score categories. NOTE: There are different versions of this breakdown, so you need to find out where the cut-off is for your school’s program, according to the Judy Galbraith, author of “You Know Your Child is Gifted When…”.

• 180   Profoundly gifted (about 1 in 1,000,000)
• 160   Exceptionally gifted (about 1 in 100,000)
• 145   Highly gifted (about 1 in 1,000)
• 130   Gifted
• 115   Bright
• 100   Upper normal
• 85     Lower normal

      What’s important to remember is that your child is so much more than a number, said Joy Bell, a gifted education teacher in Illinois. The intelligence tests identify students who bubble out from the mainstream as having a higher ability in learning. Bell said she is looking for students who not only score high, but are great at abstract thinking, an ability that separates bright students from gifted students.

    “It is in the thinking. Gifted students are great abstract thinkers,” Bell said. “It’s not about, gee, this student did well on the tests because their parents prepared them. Those students will struggle too much in a gifted classroom and could lose their self-esteem.”

  Abstract thinking is a concept often compared to concrete thinking, in which thinking is limited to what’s in front of the face, and the here and now.   In contrast, the abstract thinker can conceptualize or generalize, understanding that each concept can have multiple meanings. Such thinkers might see patterns beyond the obvious and be able to use patterns or a variety of concrete ideas or clues to solve larger problems.

    Bell said she also looks for:

• How quickly students learn. A gifted students needs between 1 and 4 repetitions. An average student needs between 6 and 12. If you have to drill a child to learn something, it takes the fun out of learning.
• Students who are so thoughtful about what is being taught that they jump 2 or 3 steps ahead of the teacher.
• 0 Comments on How Teachers Pick Students for Gifted Classes as of 1/1/1900
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