Life as a teacher has treated me quite well, despite its ups and downs. As a resource teacher, I work with students that have mild to moderate disabilities, primarily learning disabilities. My current position also calls for me to work with students qualified as "Title I", or those who come from low-income families. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my position with these kiddos, I must admit that I learn more from my students on a daily basis than I truly think they learn from me, especially in the area of valuing money.
Take for example one of my students, who we'll call Joey. Joey comes from a home with a single-mother who works very hard to provide for her four children, but ultimately they go without many of the extras that so many kids seem to have these days. I have been teaching students about money lately in my math classes, and as a system to both teach them about money planning and to reward good behavior, I "paid" the students with school money based on their hard work and following of my expectations on a daily basis. Then, on Fridays, I had a store that students could use their money to buy items. As a teacher, the dollar store is my dear friend. Yeah, there is a lot of crap there. Yes, most of it is junk. But these kids don't seem to care! They'll pay anything for a crooked eraser that is supposed to be shaped like a cupcake, and I think I saw one kid in Idaho give up his kidney for one of those bags of wax-tasting chocolate candy bars.
But not Joey.
The first day that my little store was open, all the kids instantly began throwing money at me as they bought cheap pencils, half-eaten candies, and heaven knows whatever else I found at the dollar store. Then, ever so slyly, Joey approached me. "Hey," he said in a serious tone. "You really wanna charge me 10 bucks for this glow-stick? I'll give you 1 for it." Taken back by the seriousness of this 2nd grader, I admitted that 10 bones was a little much for the little guy to pay. "Then $1.00 it is!" he said boldly, and with the flash of a second, Joey placed a fake $1.00 bill into my hand and walked out of my classroom with the glow-stick. I stood there, still processing the events, when it happened.
The revolution.
"Hey, I paid $20.00 for this packet of crayons!" George said. "How about $5.00?"
"Yeah, these stickers were $15.00. What a rip!" Sally said.
Sweat started to bead on my forehead. Here we go, I thought. I am screwed.
After these 2nd graders had their way with me, I decided to close down shop and the "Mr. Cazier Store" was out of business. So much for that money lesson. I just got robbed by a bunch of 2nd graders!
Just yesterday, one of my students with autism was out at morning recess sitting on the grass. Intrigued by why he was just sitting on the ground next to the sidewalk, I decided to go outside and investigate. As I got closer to him, I saw that he had a poster board folded in half with some writing on it. I walked up to Kevin (name has been changed) and asked, "Kevin, why aren't you running around getting your energy out? It's an awesome day!"
Without even looking up, he answered, "I'm working."
"Working eh?" I said, thinking what a cute kid he was for wanting to earn some money. "What are you selling?"
"I'm not selling anything," he replied.
I looked at the sign and saw the words "I NEED MONEY!" Next to the sign was a cup that had about 75 cents in pennies.
After our conversation about "working" vs "begging", you can imagine my surprise when I saw Kevin walking into my office during the afternoon recess carrying his same poster and begging cup. Without a word, Kevin posted his sign on my desk with the cup right next to it, and started to walk out of the room.
"Hey, what are you doing?" I asked.
"Well Mr. Cazier, I figured that you need the income more than I do."
Thanks, buddy.
The sad thing is, I probably do!
The telemarketers may never get our name right, but they always come close.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
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Married!
May 23, 2009
We're engaged!
Dave and I had mentioned getting married and we knew that's what we wanted however I was not expecting to have him propose until the spring semester had started and to not be getting married until the beginning of the fall semester.
Dave had other ideas.
December 12 was the last day that Dave and I had before I headed back to New Mexico for Winter Break. For my Christmas Present Dave had told me that he was taking me up North to walk around Temple Square with all of its Christmas lights, and to the church history museum, to see the new Joseph Smith movie, and to take me to dinner anywhere I wanted to eat. He also gave me a gift card to one of my favorite stores, Deseret Book which he also planned to let me roam through while we were up North.
Others had mentioned the possibility of him proposing but I brushed it off knowing that he didn't want to get engaged this semester. I knew I was right when the week of the trip, Jake and a date (Emily Dutson), planned to join us for the trip.
The day we had set to leave, I was a stressed out mess. I had packing to do, and a final to finish. Dave, Jake, and Emily all arrived at my apartment while I was still in my Pajamas finishing the last of my work. I very quickly showered and got dressed (thank goodness my roommates had already picked out my clothing for the occasion). We left town and I slowly de-stressed as we continued the drive. By the time we made it to Salt Lake we were all starving. We stopped and got the soup and sandwich at the Nauvoo Cafe, which was absolutely amazing and incredibly delicous. We then found the times for the Joseph Smith Movie and left to walk through the Church History Museum. On the way there Dave and I realized that his camera had no batteries so Jake and Emily walked through the museum and Dave and I went to buy the batteries. We all made it back in time for the beginning of the Joseph Smith Movie. It was a fantastic movie which also had me crying by the end of it. When the movie finished the lights were all on at Temple Square so we decided to walk around. As we walked Dave began tossing his keys in the air. He dropped them and I stopped to wait for him while he picked them up. It took me a few seconds to realize that he was proposing to me! I said yes and he slipped a beautiful ring on my finger.
Dave had other ideas.
December 12 was the last day that Dave and I had before I headed back to New Mexico for Winter Break. For my Christmas Present Dave had told me that he was taking me up North to walk around Temple Square with all of its Christmas lights, and to the church history museum, to see the new Joseph Smith movie, and to take me to dinner anywhere I wanted to eat. He also gave me a gift card to one of my favorite stores, Deseret Book which he also planned to let me roam through while we were up North.
Others had mentioned the possibility of him proposing but I brushed it off knowing that he didn't want to get engaged this semester. I knew I was right when the week of the trip, Jake and a date (Emily Dutson), planned to join us for the trip.
The day we had set to leave, I was a stressed out mess. I had packing to do, and a final to finish. Dave, Jake, and Emily all arrived at my apartment while I was still in my Pajamas finishing the last of my work. I very quickly showered and got dressed (thank goodness my roommates had already picked out my clothing for the occasion). We left town and I slowly de-stressed as we continued the drive. By the time we made it to Salt Lake we were all starving. We stopped and got the soup and sandwich at the Nauvoo Cafe, which was absolutely amazing and incredibly delicous. We then found the times for the Joseph Smith Movie and left to walk through the Church History Museum. On the way there Dave and I realized that his camera had no batteries so Jake and Emily walked through the museum and Dave and I went to buy the batteries. We all made it back in time for the beginning of the Joseph Smith Movie. It was a fantastic movie which also had me crying by the end of it. When the movie finished the lights were all on at Temple Square so we decided to walk around. As we walked Dave began tossing his keys in the air. He dropped them and I stopped to wait for him while he picked them up. It took me a few seconds to realize that he was proposing to me! I said yes and he slipped a beautiful ring on my finger.
Engaged!
I know this picture isn't the best quality but this is right after Dave proposed to me and was putting the ring on my finger!
How We Met/First Date
Dave and I first met when he and his best friend Jacob Thomas ( a fellow resident on Castilleja Dorm like myself) decided to decorate Duke Dance's apartment before he returned home from his honeymoon. At the time they claimed that they needed help knowing how to decorate it and therefore were looking for the help of a few girls. They roamed the hallways until they found a room of about 6 girls (including myself). We agreed to help and set up a time for later in the week. Later that week we all met up and made a trip to Walmart to get the needed decorations. While there Dave and I ended up separated from the rest of the group. Dave and I talked while we looked for the right decorations...he asked what brought me to Snow and I answered honestly. "The Lord. This is where he wanted me and there is no other explanation for it." He claims this impressed him...and I think I believe him. The next Friday, I had the apartment to myself for one hour before my next class. I had just succeeded in splattering miracle whip all over after dropping the bottle on the floor when someone knocked on the door. Lo and Behold it was Dave. He came and we talked for the next hour. He invited me and my roommate Marsha to go on a hike the next day. I thought carefully and decided it would be fun. I was almost late for my next class which I just happened to have with Jake. Jake and I started talking and the plans changed so that we ended up turning the night into a double date and doing the hike that night rather than the next day. Sadly enough I am not much of a hiker and I gave a little over halfway through the hike. Dave, ever the gentleman stopped with me and we again talked for the next hour while Jake and Marsha finished the hike and came back to us. The men had brought with the makings for a sandwich which we all ate while watching the sunset. Afterwards we headed back to the car and went back to Duke Dance's apartment to watch the Emperor's New Groove and Mountains of Ephraim (most of you won't know this one..it's a home video Dave and Jake made before their mission) and enjoying a bowl of ice cream. Before ending the night Marsha and I invited them to join us for the rodeo in Manti the next night. They agreed and that concluded our first date!
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