Blog Post #1

A Bit About Me

Hello all! My name is Brittany DeFalco. For the purpose of this class, it looks as if I will be going back in time to my pre-marriage days of being known as "Brittany Collins" because I am too lazy and not enough of a trouble maker to go through the process of changing it. I am currently enrolled in this class because I am seeking to renew my teaching certificate before it expires. I am a native to Mobile and have lived here ALL 26 years of my life.

I first attended the University of South Alabama during the years of 2004-2008, graduating with an Elementary Education degree in May of 2008. Two months later I married my husband James in July after dating for almost four years. In August of that same year I was fortunate to begin my teaching career at E.R. Dickson Elementary School as a third grade teacher. There was a hiring freeze that year, but because I had completed my student teaching at E.R. Dickson the principal at the time was able to hire me. Three months into my career, James and I were blessed with the news that we would be having our first child the following summer.

My first year of teaching was challenging due to pregnancy and inexperience in the teaching world, but it was an enjoyable learning experience that helped me to grow as a professional and prepared me for motherhood. When Isabella arrived in June of 2009 my husband and I made the decision that I would remain at home as a stay-at-home mom and would temporarily leave my teaching career behind.

Now, almost 3 years later, I have yet to return to the teaching world in the official sense, but am currently using my degree in other ways. Thanks to my hard-working husband, I am still a stay-at-home mom, loving every minute of mothering Isabella (almost three!) and my son Nicholas who was born in December of 2011. They are precious gifts from God who challenge me each day to become more of who God created me to be. Also, I am the director of the CCD program at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Mobile. (For those of you who are unaware, CCD is the religious teaching program of the Catholic church used to teach Catholic school age children who are not attending Catholic schools the basic doctrines of their faith.)

As a creativity outlet, I also have begun an unofficial business called "Gifts from Above" of designing and selling diaper wreaths for moms who are expecting their own gifts from above. So, if you know a woman who is expecting, check out my website! GiftsFromAbove

After sitting through our first class this morning I realize what a challenge it is going to be for me to be a student again! I left class today with my head spinning glad to return to the mess in my kitchen, laundry on my couch to fold, Nicholas hollering for me to nurse, and my daughter Isabella refusing to eat her last bites of chicken on her plate. But, I do have a desire to teach again. If God calls me back to the world of teaching one day, I want to be ready--certified and all! So for the next few months, I'm going to suck it up, put my big girl panties on, and become a student again. With the support of my husband, my fellow classmates (the few times we meet), and a patient teacher (thanks in advance Dr. Strange!) I know that I can make it through and maybe learn a thing or two that I can apply to my future career.

Time Management

My kids and hubby are in bed and I have finally gotten a chance to get on the computer to finish my blog. (Oh, the life of being a student again.) I have a few thoughts I would like to share in regard to Dr. Pausch's video on Time Management. This is my first time ever hearing about this guy so this video is my only experience of him.

I have to say, though, I think that Dr. Pausch sounds and looks like the actor Jim Carrey. Anyone else have similar thoughts? (No, I am not a huge Jim Carrey fan.)
Also, I agree with his thoughts on the importance of time, establishing goals, and setting a plan. For instance, in order to feel accomplished at the end of the week, I set plans and goals at the beginning of each week of what I would like to get accomplished. I've learned that in order to be productive each day with two kids I rely on managing my time and not just "flying by the seat of my pants" (or however that old saying goes). Although, we do have those days too.
Time management is about making the plans and setting the goals--kind of like using an outline-- and just filling in points as you go along so as to not let time get away from you before you get anything done. I have experienced this in my friendships. I have friends who don't like to make plans because they are afraid of having to make a commitment that is set in stone. What happens? Weeks or a month passes by without contact. Time is precious, so let's make time for it.
I have a feeling that Dr. Strange was completely right when he spoke this morning on the importance of managing your time for this course. I could see how not doing so or doing so poorly wouldn't work out so well. So here's to my planner and a timer! But for now, I plan on going to bed.