Sunday, May 29, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
In other news...
J's best friend Phil is staying here over night in order to hang out tomorrow. Let's just say this: I stayed up until midnight (at least) last night, and I didn't sleep well because of storms. I was kind of in a high of lack-of-sleep today, and I was in a good mood. It's already pretty late, and I have a feeling I won't get to bed until 2 a.m. (no joke). I will then get up at 5:30. This is telling you (and me) that tomorrow could go badly, and I could be super tired. Because I am warning myself of this, I will try to be cheery and get to bed early tomorrow night! :)
Last Weeks of School
Ramble about school/ideas/plans:
I'm having quite an easy time planning for the last two days of school for the seniors (movies and fun), but man, that doesn't take away from the difficulty of planning FUN reviews for the big state tests for 11th grade. I'm trying, but it's hard! Anyway, I look forward to the last day with seniors, but I'm not sure how long that will last. Luckily, I won't have to plan for them anymore, which was a task on it's own, but I will still have to go to school at the same time--even without my classes. Basically, I plan to sit in my classroom during first, teach during second (11th), sit during third?, and relax in the workroom during fourth. I might just sit in the workroom all day in hopes of human interaction. It's going to be wild having three free blocks during the day with only one class to teach. I'm not sure how I will feel about that! I'll probably be super tired everyday :)
My plans for tomorrow are as follows:
12th: movie/senior surveys/share scrapbooks from high school
11th: read a story from book, workbook worksheets from essential life skills series
Wednesday
12th: last day of school, movie, goodbyes
11th: SOL review work--released tests powerpoint??
Thursday
12th: N/A
11th: story from textbook, workbook worksheets from essential life skills series
Friday: 12th: N/A
11th: SOL review, good luck get together?
Leave school at 11:00 a.m. for interview at another school -- wish me luck!!
I'm having quite an easy time planning for the last two days of school for the seniors (movies and fun), but man, that doesn't take away from the difficulty of planning FUN reviews for the big state tests for 11th grade. I'm trying, but it's hard! Anyway, I look forward to the last day with seniors, but I'm not sure how long that will last. Luckily, I won't have to plan for them anymore, which was a task on it's own, but I will still have to go to school at the same time--even without my classes. Basically, I plan to sit in my classroom during first, teach during second (11th), sit during third?, and relax in the workroom during fourth. I might just sit in the workroom all day in hopes of human interaction. It's going to be wild having three free blocks during the day with only one class to teach. I'm not sure how I will feel about that! I'll probably be super tired everyday :)
My plans for tomorrow are as follows:
12th: movie/senior surveys/share scrapbooks from high school
11th: read a story from book, workbook worksheets from essential life skills series
Wednesday
12th: last day of school, movie, goodbyes
11th: SOL review work--released tests powerpoint??
Thursday
12th: N/A
11th: story from textbook, workbook worksheets from essential life skills series
Friday: 12th: N/A
11th: SOL review, good luck get together?
Leave school at 11:00 a.m. for interview at another school -- wish me luck!!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Following the dream..
I've had a few different dreams in my life:
1. Get married and have a family.
2. Become a famous singer.
3. Write a novel
4. Become a photographer.
I'm going to reach my first dream over the years, and I can't wait to live the adventure with my best friend.
The second dream has become more of a silly idea, considering how awful the lives of famous people are (my personal opinion, of course.) Plus, I am humbled with age and know that I am far from Hollywood! :)
The third dream will have to be thought on for years. I don't know what I'd want to write about at this point, and I feel like I will only learn more with age. I'll wait a while on this one...
The fourth dream is one that I'm going to begin to pursue as soon as possible. I plan to read my manual and figure out how to use my camera to its extent. I also plan to research photography and how to start a freelance business. It's going to take a few years, a lot of time, and a decent amount of money to start any kind of business. I'm hoping to work weddings and portraits. It will be a part-time job since I will be teaching, but it would definitely add some spice to my summers! Wish me luck.
1. Get married and have a family.
2. Become a famous singer.
3. Write a novel
4. Become a photographer.
I'm going to reach my first dream over the years, and I can't wait to live the adventure with my best friend.
The second dream has become more of a silly idea, considering how awful the lives of famous people are (my personal opinion, of course.) Plus, I am humbled with age and know that I am far from Hollywood! :)
The third dream will have to be thought on for years. I don't know what I'd want to write about at this point, and I feel like I will only learn more with age. I'll wait a while on this one...
The fourth dream is one that I'm going to begin to pursue as soon as possible. I plan to read my manual and figure out how to use my camera to its extent. I also plan to research photography and how to start a freelance business. It's going to take a few years, a lot of time, and a decent amount of money to start any kind of business. I'm hoping to work weddings and portraits. It will be a part-time job since I will be teaching, but it would definitely add some spice to my summers! Wish me luck.
Happenings.
The happenings of this week are as follows: Justin's birthday, last week with seniors, sernior exams, vet visit, SOL review for 11th, travel, job interview, meet with pastor, bachelorette party, order flowers, officially sign on the new place. Let the week begin!
p.s. Thank God I have next Monday off!!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Proud Teacher
I am a proud teacher.
I look around to a classroom filled with unique individuals looking up to me for advice on life and literature. They ask me what the weather will be one day, and I try to always know! They ask me what I've done the weekend before on a Monday, and usually I have some story to tell--and they want to listen. They ask me advice for college and the future, and I try to guide them wisely.
Then they do other things.
They tell me my shoes don't match my shirt, and I look like dorothy, and I'm okay with that. They say I look like Pam from the office--okay, I can see that. They tell me I'm crazy if I think I can beat them in Super Mario or Ping Pong (both topics in which I claim to be talented). They tell me when I look really tired or if my hair is messy. They also tell me if I'm acting ADD or if I'm crazy. I accept all of these assumptions.
Teaching is hard. Teachers are in a fish bowl being surrounded and criticized by everyone around. Teachers are blamed for everything, and they are thanked for far less. People do not always see what teachers do behind the scenes; therefore, they do not appreciate it. Some teachers are "bad" while others are "good," but there is a strange line separating the two, all based on personal opinion. In other words, teachers will never please everyone.
Somehow, it all works, though, and I like it. Teaching is a crazy fast-paced learning experience, and I'm always adding to my knowledge. I know that some of my students are smarter than me, or maybe understand something more, but I love working with them to find out more. There are days where I feel like I've been hit and I just don't want to be on stage anymore, but that's usually right before something silly happens and the whole class bursts into laughter--which just brightens my day, my mood, and my heart.
There's something to be said for this low-paying job, and it's a huge something.
I have students that have lost family members early on in life, and they have lived without a father, a mother, or a sibling for years. I have others whose parents have been in jail. Some go home to no electricity because the bills are too high. Others are struggling to pay off their textbook debts of fifty-five dollars, and all I want to do is sit down and write the check.
But what I want to do and what I can do are sometimes two different things.
I can't write checks, and I can't delve into personal lives. I can't call parents and tell them how to treat their child, and I can't go bowling with a kid who may otherwise be lonely because it would look bad. I can't really e-mail them or talk to them too in-depth because then it turns into a friendship not a teacher-student relationship. I can't make up for the sadness of losing a loved one.
What I can do is smile at them in the morning and show them I'm happy to see them. I can play Michael Jackson Pandora while their doing work, just so they can hear the ABC song and sing it out. I can laugh at their jokes and watch their youtube videos they made. I can be a support, a confidant, and an advisor. I can go to their sports games and their choir concerts. I can act like a kid in class--because, well, that's what makes me feel good, and that's when I laugh. I can be their crazy English teacher. I can try my best to make English fun.
I write all of these things, and I know that I haven't always done them. Some days I fail to show them I care, and I fail to be excited about the next piece of literature in the textbook. I annoy them by not grading their papers soon enough, or by forgetting something previously said. I struggle to have the outgoing, joyful personality some days, even if I feel it on the inside.
Even with the trials of teaching, I have been so lucky with the students I have had this semester. They have been a joy to have everyday. Most of them are seniors, and I can't wait to see what they choose to do with their lives. I absolutely love seeing them decide on a dream, or a college, or even a part-time job. They have been so helpful to me in learning how to be a better teacher, and they have given me a reason to be that better person. The appreciation I have for them is sometimes silent; when I don't feel well or when I'm having a bad day, I notice how hard they try to get me to laugh. When I forget my lunch, they offer their mozzerella sticks, buy-one-get-one-free apple pies, peanut-butter crackers, and frozen smoothies (even if I don't accept them). The joy in them brings out the joy in me; they're probably the happiest group of students I have ever worked with--it's hard to catch them in a bad mood.
We're all celebrating our lives in different ways soon. Most of them will be graduating and moving to their college of choice, and I will be celebrating my marriage, changing my name, and moving to a location I've been waiting for for a while. It's an exciting time. I will never forget my first half-year teaching--it's been a happy time.
Sure, teaching has it's downfalls--including the salary. But you know what? I get to laugh and smile more each day than most people--and to me, that's one hell of a high-paying job.
I look around to a classroom filled with unique individuals looking up to me for advice on life and literature. They ask me what the weather will be one day, and I try to always know! They ask me what I've done the weekend before on a Monday, and usually I have some story to tell--and they want to listen. They ask me advice for college and the future, and I try to guide them wisely.
Then they do other things.
They tell me my shoes don't match my shirt, and I look like dorothy, and I'm okay with that. They say I look like Pam from the office--okay, I can see that. They tell me I'm crazy if I think I can beat them in Super Mario or Ping Pong (both topics in which I claim to be talented). They tell me when I look really tired or if my hair is messy. They also tell me if I'm acting ADD or if I'm crazy. I accept all of these assumptions.
Teaching is hard. Teachers are in a fish bowl being surrounded and criticized by everyone around. Teachers are blamed for everything, and they are thanked for far less. People do not always see what teachers do behind the scenes; therefore, they do not appreciate it. Some teachers are "bad" while others are "good," but there is a strange line separating the two, all based on personal opinion. In other words, teachers will never please everyone.
Somehow, it all works, though, and I like it. Teaching is a crazy fast-paced learning experience, and I'm always adding to my knowledge. I know that some of my students are smarter than me, or maybe understand something more, but I love working with them to find out more. There are days where I feel like I've been hit and I just don't want to be on stage anymore, but that's usually right before something silly happens and the whole class bursts into laughter--which just brightens my day, my mood, and my heart.
There's something to be said for this low-paying job, and it's a huge something.
I have students that have lost family members early on in life, and they have lived without a father, a mother, or a sibling for years. I have others whose parents have been in jail. Some go home to no electricity because the bills are too high. Others are struggling to pay off their textbook debts of fifty-five dollars, and all I want to do is sit down and write the check.
But what I want to do and what I can do are sometimes two different things.
I can't write checks, and I can't delve into personal lives. I can't call parents and tell them how to treat their child, and I can't go bowling with a kid who may otherwise be lonely because it would look bad. I can't really e-mail them or talk to them too in-depth because then it turns into a friendship not a teacher-student relationship. I can't make up for the sadness of losing a loved one.
What I can do is smile at them in the morning and show them I'm happy to see them. I can play Michael Jackson Pandora while their doing work, just so they can hear the ABC song and sing it out. I can laugh at their jokes and watch their youtube videos they made. I can be a support, a confidant, and an advisor. I can go to their sports games and their choir concerts. I can act like a kid in class--because, well, that's what makes me feel good, and that's when I laugh. I can be their crazy English teacher. I can try my best to make English fun.
I write all of these things, and I know that I haven't always done them. Some days I fail to show them I care, and I fail to be excited about the next piece of literature in the textbook. I annoy them by not grading their papers soon enough, or by forgetting something previously said. I struggle to have the outgoing, joyful personality some days, even if I feel it on the inside.
Even with the trials of teaching, I have been so lucky with the students I have had this semester. They have been a joy to have everyday. Most of them are seniors, and I can't wait to see what they choose to do with their lives. I absolutely love seeing them decide on a dream, or a college, or even a part-time job. They have been so helpful to me in learning how to be a better teacher, and they have given me a reason to be that better person. The appreciation I have for them is sometimes silent; when I don't feel well or when I'm having a bad day, I notice how hard they try to get me to laugh. When I forget my lunch, they offer their mozzerella sticks, buy-one-get-one-free apple pies, peanut-butter crackers, and frozen smoothies (even if I don't accept them). The joy in them brings out the joy in me; they're probably the happiest group of students I have ever worked with--it's hard to catch them in a bad mood.
We're all celebrating our lives in different ways soon. Most of them will be graduating and moving to their college of choice, and I will be celebrating my marriage, changing my name, and moving to a location I've been waiting for for a while. It's an exciting time. I will never forget my first half-year teaching--it's been a happy time.
Sure, teaching has it's downfalls--including the salary. But you know what? I get to laugh and smile more each day than most people--and to me, that's one hell of a high-paying job.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Weekend of Progress
I had quite the successful and busy weekend. It's Wednesday tomorrow, and I feel prepared to finish the rest of the week, but I'm already ready for the weekend!
J graduated with his M.A. That was spectacular to witness, and we enjoyed celebrating it together. After the graduation, we headed home to enjoy time with family and friends, and check out some places. Laurie also graduated, so we ended up at her place for a nice cookout Sunday night.
In other news, we finally found a place to live--after all the hours and hours of searching--and we're really happy with it. The only problem is that it's a brand new location, so it does not have a lot of grass/yard for our dog, but we'll get creative. It's a great location, and it's a really nice little place. We're pretty excited, and we'll probably be moving much earlier than expected.
Here are some pictures from the weekend with my wonderful family and my friends:
J graduated with his M.A. That was spectacular to witness, and we enjoyed celebrating it together. After the graduation, we headed home to enjoy time with family and friends, and check out some places. Laurie also graduated, so we ended up at her place for a nice cookout Sunday night.
In other news, we finally found a place to live--after all the hours and hours of searching--and we're really happy with it. The only problem is that it's a brand new location, so it does not have a lot of grass/yard for our dog, but we'll get creative. It's a great location, and it's a really nice little place. We're pretty excited, and we'll probably be moving much earlier than expected.
Here are some pictures from the weekend with my wonderful family and my friends:
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Tuesday Night
As I relax and watch Myth Busters, I am reminded how nice a regular weeknight can be. After school, I went to the pool with Laurie to roast in the sun for a bit. It wasn't for the color; rather, it was a kind of sun-therapy. I have had an extremely stressful, frustrating, and infuriating couple of days, so enjoying the padded lounge chair with the sun pleasantly covering my body like a blanket, was amazing.
The school week is going to be over very soon because I have Friday and Monday off. Justin graduates this weekend, and we will also be traveling a bit, so it's going to be really crazy; however, I'm really looking forward to it. I get to see my adorable little blonde neice :)
The school week is going to be over very soon because I have Friday and Monday off. Justin graduates this weekend, and we will also be traveling a bit, so it's going to be really crazy; however, I'm really looking forward to it. I get to see my adorable little blonde neice :)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Ahhh!!!
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| photo by tigergoose |
NO! It has happened again..but worse. It has been almost two weeks since I last posted! This blog has been but an empty, deserted place. Le sigh.
Well, I am now one year older, and I had a wonderful birthday! My friends and I got together to mess with hair for the wedding (not my thing, but fun!), and we had a wonderful cookout--with help from Justin, of course. My birthday present (well, our birthday present) was a craigslist find pool, air-hockey, and ping pong table combo. It was cheap, it's in great shape, and it provides hours of entertainment! Turns out, I'm kind of amazing at ping pong. Who would have thought?
What else has been going on? I've been working on finding a place to live next year, and it looks like I'm going to settle on a townhouse in a nice location, rather than a house out of the way. We haven't finalized anything, but that's what I'm scoping out at this point.
WEDDING PLANS are going well! I only have a little over a month before I change my name.This is kind of a scary thing..any thoughts on it? I'm probably going to drop the middle name and put my last name there, then take J's last name. I've thought a lot about it, but I still can't decide between that and just leaving my name as-is but replacing the last name. I have been doing SO MUCH with the planning it's just crazy, but not as much as some people might do. I'll create a blog post later about everything I've done, what I have planned, and the basic run-down. I just hope it's fun for everyone!
As far as school--I have 2.5 weeks left with seniors. It's been the slowest week this past week, and I'm afraid it's just going to continue to be slow. However, it should be enjoyable, as long as everyone behaves.
There's a strawberry festival about 30 minutes away, and J and I might go to that later. Then we're going to the high school musical that my students have been working on for months. They are extremely talented--their concert was awesome--so the musical should be fantastic. I think I might even dress up!
Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!
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