Happy Holidays...

2007 Christmas Home Tour

I've been living in the fast lane and have not had any down time to post a new blog. Last weekend I was out of town for classes so I did not get to post these pictures as soon as I would have liked to. December 1st & 2nd I assisted Krystal and Steven in hosting the 2007 Christmas Home Tour. Here are a few pictures from the event. Life is finally slowing down. Last night I finished my last paper of the semester and I only have one more week of teaching until Winter Break.

At this point in my life I feel truly blessed with a loving family, faithful friends, and cheery collegues. May you and your family have a blessed holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Get Your Motor Running... Get Out The Highway!

Stone Memorial Panthers Host "Run to Read"

5k/3 miles Run

Get your motor running... Get on the highway! was the tune in my head this morning as I woke up and grabbed my new Nike running shoes to run the 5k hosted by Stone Memorial High School. This event was held as a fundraiser for their library to purchase new books needed to meet the Southern Accreditation of Schools standards. As many of you probably do each year I am faithful to make a New Year resolution. In 2005, I promised myself that I would begin exercising more frequently. In order to accomplish my 2005 New Year resolution I purchased a membership with Rush Fitness and began my exercise regimen with a personal trainer. Then, in 2006 I promised myself that I would become more health conscience. So to accomplish my goal I have continued my exercise regimen and began focusing on my eating habits. I have continued to fulfill both of my prior New Year resolutions and have lost sixteen pounds over the last twenty-two weeks. I feel the best I have since graduating high school in 2000. I can't believe it I've lost six dress sizes and can fit back into my clothes from high school. Well, as many of you are aware another year is just around the corner so I've started early on my next New Year resolution. What you probably do not know is that I have recently picked up a new hobby. Yes, I am running slowing but surely. I remember I hated running in middle school and high school during cheerleading. It is amazing how motivating an IPod, new running shoes and the support of friends can do. Over the past several months I have been speed walking, jogging, and running when and if I have time through the week. I must admit it is not as often as I would like or need. Mom and I ran our first 5k "Tiger Trot" on May 19th 2007. Unfortunately, I was not strong enough to run the entire race, but I was proud of both of our accomplishments. In May's race I finished the 3 mile run in 44:30.5. This week I registered us both to run our second 5k the "Run to Read" hosted by Stone Memorial High School. I am proud to share with you we both improved our time. As I crossed the Race Solutions finish line the clock read 38 minutes. I feel this was a major accomplishment. Race Solutions will post the final time on their website www.totalracesolutions.com. When it is posted I will let you know my improved time. Until next time remember a healthy body promotes a healthy mind.

Halloween 2007

Happy Fall Ya'll

As ususal it has been along time since I have posted a new blog so today you will get a two for one deal. Since my last blog in October, Halloween as came and left. I am surprised that I got to slow down long enough to sit down and carve a pumpkin. Although, pumpkin carving is one tradition I had to make time for because I am perfecting my technique. It was actually a stress relief to sit down long enough and put all other thoughts away for awhile. With working full-time and attending accelerated doctoral courses I have not found the time to balance in time for myself. Living so far from town and in a retired area we do not get very many trick-or-treaters, but this year we estimate we seen about forty children. Take just a moment and check out our pumpkins. Mom and I argued over whose was the best. So if you get a chance help me our and post me your thoughts.

My pumpkin was suppose to be Scooby-Doo wearing a witches hat.

Mom's was a night owl.

A Well Deserved Week Off...

I am sorry for the long delay in new information. I have been out of town for a week. I am now back revived and energized. It's a whole new me. Yes, that is right over Fall Break I took some well deserved time away. Mom and I went to Pigeon Forge for several days of what else downtime. Although, we didn't really get to much downtime we had an awesome trip. During our time there we went to shop at the Tanger Outlet Mall, to play putt putt at the Lost Treasure Putt Putt Course, to laugh at Comedy Barn Show, to eat at the AppleBarn Shops, and to take an hour long trail ride at the Five Oaks Riding Stables. Indeed! You did read that right I went horsebacking riding for the first time in my life. I made a resolution to myself that as I turned 25 I would be more adventurous in order to make some lasting memories of what I hope to consider the best year yet. With working full-time and persuing my doctorate I am as tired and stressed as much as humanly possibly so with this deserved time off I am back at the top of my game and ready to go, go, go. Hope everyone is enjoying the sights and sounds of the Fall season. I have included some snapshots of the memories we made.

People Change...

2007-2008

Today, was that much dreaded and awaited day. Annual pictures arrived at school to be sent home. As a teacher we must take an annual picture each year. I have been blessed with wonderful pictures each year as my co-workers tease me. They come running to the door wanting to see my new picture each year. I was shocked when I came home and looked back at my first annual picture with Crab Orchard. I was amazed in how many ways I have changed and matured, much like my personality. As I reflect on the past three years of teaching the memories began to rush back to me. Times of happiness, sadness and a class filled with love and laughter.

• Please take this time to reflect on your own memories.
  

Busy Bee Indeed...

I know that it has been several weeks since I have posted a new blog. If you are one that keeps up with my updates I am sorry for the long delay of new happenings. It has been a never ending week after another. Last weekend I went to Nashville for my first doctoral classes. O' Wow! I am amongst I group of experts in their various fields. Within the class their are two publishers, one president of a community college, two that work with DCHS through the state department and an administrator. Of course all the others have very influential occupations as well, but that was just to name a few. I must say that I felt a bit out of my league. Although, with much support I feel that I will prevail (lol) or at least survive. So I spent the weekend with my principal in which I am attending the program with. I must say that was an experience too. I had an opportunity to get to know her on more of a personal basis. She is certainly my role model at this point. She is the youngest administrator within our school district. Not to mention married and a mother of a five-year old. She told me this week she is getting up at 4:00 a.m. to work on her doctoral work so that in the afternoons she has time to get school work done. That is a motivation in itself. I would like to thank everyone for the words of encouragement, love and support. To pursue my doctorate has been a long time goal of mine. I never thought it would be possible, but I am working my hardest to strive for the top.

Things to be thankful for:

1. I have the world's greatest parents.
2. I have an excellent group of students and parents this year.
3. I have some great eighth graders helping me within my room.
4. I have a supportive administrator.
5. I have a wonderful set of co-workers.
6. Even though, I have not been able to keep up lately, I have a great group of friends.

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O yea! Still S-I-N-G-L-E, but realizing its probability best at this point in my life. God has a plan for everyone and I am convinced no one is meant to live alone.

Dr. Shadden "Really Has a Ring To It"

This weekend I made the biggest decision of my life thus far! I must say it took much consideration due to the time commitment invovled. I am excited, but at the same time very nervous. I have enrolled to begin the Educational Leadership Doctoral program at Argosy University in Nashville this fall. As many of you know as an educator I have a strong value of higher education. Many of you probably do not know that since graduating high school I have been enrolled every semester in a college program. I consider myself to be a very ambitious person and contribute that to my professional success. At the age of 25 I currently hold a Bachelor's Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies of Human Learning K-8, and a Master's Degree in Instructional Leadership. I am highly qualified to teach grades K-6 and/or pursue a position in administration or supervision. It is estimated with much hard work that I will complete my Ed.D in Educational Leadership within three years. So that by the age of 28 you may be calling me Dr. Shadden. How exciting is that! It is going to be challeging because I am working full-time as a fourth grade educator, but I have a large support system behind me. I have to say that my parents are my number one cheerleaders. They are the best in the world and have provided their unconditional love through each of my professional endeavors. I am also excited to be attending the program along the side of my administrator (our school principal.) We will be each others support system away from home. We will be commuting, studying, and helping one another every step of the way. I have been blessed with a dedicated and loyal administrator which has encouraged me to persue larger dreams than I truly ever imagined. With her gudiance I have been able to see that in the future when I am ready that many doors can open. Please keep me in your prayers because I will be traveling to campus frequently.

Miss Shadden's Classroom

Picture 1:

My First Bulletin Board of the New School Year

Picture 2:
Awards won by my class in the county-wide Science Fair 2007.














Picture 3:
Our classroom Reading corner.




















Picture 4:
Our classroom educational center.




















Picture 4:
Miss Shadden's teaching area.








Finally, as many of you have requested I have posted pictures of my new fourth grade classroom. During my first three years of teaching I taught fifth grade. So this year I requested to be moved down. My request was granted although, I was only moved one grade down and one classroom over. I spent all summer working to move furniture, setup my room, and decorating a new classroom. As many of you that know me well understand I have a very positive attitude and cheerful personality. I consider teaching a true passion. I teach in a very low socioeconomic school so most children have very challenging home lives. I try to welcome every student with a smile and energetic greeting to my classroom. Many students actually have nicknamed me "Miss Smiley." To portray a happy environment I have made my classroom theme each year smiley faces. My collection is rapidly growing, but my heart melts each time a child walks through my classroom door and that overwhelming smile comes over their face as they look around.

• Hope you enjoy the snapshots of my new classroom.
  

TEACHER'S NOTE: I created the above bullentin board by hand. I make alot of my bullentin board sets myself to reduce the cost of buying pre-made sets. It's amazing what a projector, markers, and time can do.

Lasting Memories...

Wow! Yet again it has been awhile since I've had time to sit down and post a new blog. As many of you have learned after graduating high school many move away, get marry and have children. The tradegy is that your lives turn in many different paths often leading you away from one another. As the years pass the time spent with your old friends become less and less. Although, last Saturday I was invited to join Carrie (Human) Beavers for a celebration of her new baby boy "Logan." I was so honored to get to share in this wonderful celebration of life. As you may or may not know he was born very premature. He spent several months in Ohio at Children's Hospital while he underwent various surgeries. I also had the chance to catch up with many high school friends. Even though, we keep in touch through email the distance is just too much, so it's hard to believe that I haven't seen most of them in seven years. We spent hours reminiscing about high school, and comparing notes on how others were doing and/or where they were living. I truly treasured the time I got to spend with each of them and hope to see them again sooner than later.

Surprise! Teachers Take a Field Trip

As many of you know by now I am officially back to work for another adventurous school year. This week has consisted of both administrative days and various inservice workshops. However, yesterday was like nothing I've ever experienced before. On Tuesday, our principal told us that later in the week she had planned a surprise field trip for us. She explained to us that all teachers, assistants, office personnel, custodians, and cafeteria workers would be riding a school bus to a undisclosed location. The only information we were given was to wear blue jeans and tennis shoes on Thursday. The anticipation began to build and so did the questions. So she told us... we were not allowed to wear our bikini, we were not allowed to bring our beer coolers, no kids allowed, and if we brought our iPod on the bus she was not responsible for it. Of course, I was busting at the seams with excitement. So we loaded the bus just like a group a children on their first field trip, but we still didn't know where we were headed. The bus driver hit Hwy. 70 and took a right turn. Were we going to the State Park? Were we going to Chuckles to play laser tag? We came to the Interstate ramp, but we didn't get on the Interstate. The anxiety continued to build among the staff as we went straight through town. We were out of guesses and then had no idea where we were headed. Finally, we reached our destination the 4-H camp. We wondered what was in store. As we got off the bus we entered the dining hall for breakfast. Then we broke up into 2 teams for stretches. O' No! What were we in for? The leaders then told us we were there to complete the teamwork challenge course. Each group had to work through 3 activities that required every team member to use their strenghs and knowlegde. We had to balance our weight evenly on this odd contraption. Then we had to complete a rope swing from one side to the other. Finally, was the trust fall. We walked up a set of steps to a platform that was about 7 feet in the air, if not more. Our team lined up in two lines, one across from the other on the ground. We turned around backwards, then crossed our arms and blindly fell backwards into the trusting, loving arms of our colleagues. I now have a new found trust in all of my co-workers, even the chickens. I was energized because I conquered my fear of heights and completed the free fall. On Thursday, I saw a whole new side to my colleagues. It's a memory for the scrapbook. If your workplace has never taken time to share in a day like this I recommend that you suggest it to the boss because it was an awesome bonding experience. To follow was lunch, and a leadership seminar. We wrapped up with fruit snacks and headed back to the bus.

NOTE: I do have photos of this event and my new classroom that will be posted very soon.

School's Back in Session

I have put the petal to the metal since returning from vacation. I have been adding the final touches to my room and trying to get mentally prepared for another year, so it has been a few weeks since I have had the time to sit down and write a new entry. School is now back in session and teachers started a new school year by attending a county-wide inservice. Tuesday's inservice was very motivational and a great start to the new school year ahead.

I have taught fifth grade for three years and this year I requested to move down. So this year I am eager to begin a new journey in fourth grade. I believe that God grants every person with the abilities and patience to succeed in various occupations. I can say without a doubt my heart is in teaching. I am dedicated to both my school and students. I teach in a very low socioeconomic community and must say that most of the time my classroom is the only safe haven for the majority of my students. The majority of my students are struggling to strive in broken homes, have parents that are serving time for crimes, or been abandoned or abused by their loved ones. Every year I get emotionally attached to every child because I quickly realize the challenges of being a child in today's era. I have not been out of school that long, but I know that none of my classmates ever faced the obstacles that our children face today. If you are a teacher you should be able to relate to those thoughts in one way or another.

With each new school year my heart fills with joy of seeing the students again, my smile of happiness begins to peek through, and laughter fills my classroom as colleagues come in to see me. However, today made a turn for the worse. This morning as we met in the library for today's inclusion inservice our administrator announced to our faculty that one of our students had been severely injured in an ATV accident this morning. One of my fifth grade students from last year's class had a serious ATV accident this morning and was airlifted to UT Medical Center where he is in critical condition. He has a room in pediatric ICU where he is still unconscious. My heart broke when I heard the news and I have shed many tears since hearing the news. Our faculty held a moment of silence and prayed for his recovery. This is an extremely difficult way to start to the new school year. I hope that if your reading this entry you will pray for this 12 year old boy and his family that this accident not end in a tragic situation. May God Bless and Keep You Safe...

Celebrating 25

Wow! I can't believe that tommorrow I am celebrating my 25th birthday. What's even harder to imagine is that I have been out of high school now for seven years. I think with each passing year the years are moving faster. As a teacher I often use the phrase "you can't fool me with that trick, it wasn't long ago I was your age." Although, it really has been awhile, but I remember it like it was yesterday. The girl fights, sleepovers, the skating rink, and every moment of cheerleading. Instead of looking back to the past I hope to blast into the future. With another year of my life around the corner I plan to make the best of every moment during this next step in my journey of life. I hope that 25 will hold the best to come in my life so far. We will see what happens as the journey continues.

My Greatest Accomplishment!

After graduating with my Masters Degree in Instructional Leadership and Supervision this May I began to wonder if I would ever decide to pursue a Principal's position in the future. If I did decide to pursue that position I would have to take the School Licensure Assessment Exam in order to be highly qualified for the position. After long consideration I decided that I would take the exam and leave my fate in the hands of God. I took the eight hour exam in early July. The entire eight hour exam was an essay exam. The exam was very exhausting, and complex. I left the testing center and said that if I passed the exam then God wanted me to pursue that pathway in education one day and if I did not pass the exam it was not meant for me to pursue that path. While I was on vacation I received the news of a lifetime. My scores arrived through the mail while I was out of town. I decided to have my next door neighbor open the score report. She was so excited to inform me that the wait was over and I had passed the exam with flying colors. I feel that this is a major accomplishment in my career. Most people do not understand how hard I have worked to get to the point I am now in my career, but I still wanted to share this major accomplishment with those who do value hard work and dedication to education.

Life's A Beach

Summer is not complete without a trip to see the ocean. I have been traveling and away from technology for the past week, so I have not had a chance to post any new blogs. This year mom and I visited Charleston, South Carolina. We stayed three nights in downtown Charleston at the historic Vendue Inn. While downtown we visited the South Carolina Aquarium, watched the dolphins swim, shopped on King Street and ate fresh shrimp nightly. Then we continued our vacation by moving to a hotel on the beach. We stayed four nights on Folly Beach. While in Folly Beach we saw Morris Island Lighthouse, walked the pier, listened to a bluegrass band play Rocky Top and met some very nice locals. Of course we lied on the beach and walked on soft shore for hours upon hours. I'm home now and geared up for my 25th birthday that's just around the corner. After I have a chance to print pictures from our trip I will post them for you to enjoy. I hope everyone is having a relaxing summer vacation....

WOMAN'S POEM

WOMAN'S POEM

Before I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for a man, who's not a creep,
One who's handsome, smart and strong.
One who loves to listen long,
One who thinks before he speaks,
One who'll call, not wait for weeks.
I pray he's gainfully employed,
When I spend his cash, won't be annoyed.
Pulls out my chair and opens my door,
Massages my back and begs to do more.
Oh! Send me a man, who'll make love to my mind,
Knows what to answer to "how big is my behind?"
I pray that this man will love me to no end,
And always be my very best friend.

Keeping in Touch

Hello everyone! I am very new to this type of technology. I am setting up this website in order to keep in touch with old friends from high school. I have lost touch with most because they have either moved to another area or state, started a new family, or lead a very busy lifestyle. I discovered this site through a friend and was very interested in finding out how everyone's lives had changed from getting engaged or married and having children, even traveling with their jobs.

• Hope to hear from many...