OKAY. It's not as though I have been away from home for a super long time but I am sort of well... I'm in love with my people at home. I don't even think Love is a strong enough word or at least I truly mean it in the way that it is intended to be used. Not in an over used, "I super love my new cell phone and this gum wrapper I found on the floor" kind of way that people use it. I mean I love them. That's all I have to say. No adjectives. No smilies. No exclamation points. Love.
I started to think about all of the reasons I am so excited to go home for a grand total of 32 hours. I realized that I am going to be able to see almost all of the people I am dying to see in that period of time save a few siblings and a handful of friends.
Also, my electric toothbrush must have a demon inside of it because I charged it before I left home like 3 weeks ago and it's still goin' strong. I stole this toothbrush from a certain family member who shall not be named...Let's call him...Step-guy... Thus I have no charger for it. I have been using another family member's charger...Let's call her...Not Emily, Mom, or Winnie... In short my toothbrush may need to spend some time charging while I'm home. So you can see how that is a great reason to be excited to go home as well.
ONE WORD: WINNIE! Enough said. How could such a dog win my heart... It is not hard to say. She is lazy, loves naps and food, she's beautiful, and loves Mom... We are quite similar.
What else... Oh. Today was the first day I had kids in my classroom. The beginning of the year has been weird and I'm not totally sure some of it hasnt' been a waste of time but I'm the new girl...literally, one of the other teachers calls me "New Girl" ALL the time, even in front of students. I'm the youngest employee by 4 years so there you go. The guy that calls me "New Girl" is nicknamed "Stegatron", therefore, he can be and is my friend. ANYWAY, the kids I had in my classroom were chatty 7th grade girls. I had to refocus one of them...Refocusing is what we have the kids do when they have ignored our first warning to stop a behavior. It works for the most part. This same little girl drew me a picture later in the day. No hard feelings. Kids are something else.
One of the things I was scheduled to "teach" the girls was a lesson on self-discipline. We talked about what we sometimes do when we don't exercise self-discipline. I got them talking about what happens when we're angry and what we should do so we don't do or say something we might regret. One little girl suggested that you spend some time alone or with your dog. Another little girl raised her hand and asked, "What if you try to spend time with your dog and it bites you in the face?" .......................................................................... Ummm.......................seriously............................................It's hard to say...
I looked her in the eye and said, "Your dog needs to Refocus."
I finally learned what classes I am teaching this year...today...exactly three days before academic classes start. THRILLING. It looks like I will be teaching the same level of math to a 7th grade class and two 8th grade classes as well as one 7th and one 8th grade science class.
ANNA AND WILLIE D are getting married on Saturday. That is my final note. They are both attractive so I can officially say I am excited for this union. Honestly though... they make each other completely and wonderfully happy which is a true blessing. Pray for them both, that they will grow fully in their love for the Lord together each and every day. I LOVE YOU, Anna :) I can't begin to list the ways you are so good for me and to me. Will is so lucky to have you and you him.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
"Greetings one and everyone"... you'd get that if you were Em or Alice...
Ummm so I met students for the first time on Thursday... I sat at my desk for about 35 minutes repeating, "Gwendolyn Ann you are NOT going to cry!...there's no one here to hold you while you do it anyway..."
For the first four days of school my job is to instruct 7th and 8th grade students in team building games during their introductory PE period. I am not a PE teacher. While I enjoy the sounds of children playing I do not enjoy the sound of my own voice screaming over wrestling 8th grade boys, "DID I SAAAAAAY WRESTLING WAS PART OF THIS GAME! PUT DOWN THE CONE! Oh great, you punched him in the lip... be that as it may, accidents can still cause bloody lips. CASE AND POINT!"
At my school the teachers are supposed to use "teach-to's" to inform the students of our expectations before we set them out to preform a task. I panicked a bit on Thursday. There were no teach-to's. In short, I didn't really do a very good job. The kids had some fun... but it usually dissolved into, "Yeah. You can go to the bathroom...I guess...maybe one at a time? Whatever makes you happy..." The only game one group of 8th grade girls wanted to play was Duck, Duck, Goose. They played that for 20 minutes. I tried not to cry. Imagine if you will a room full of kids who are so super, duper, Justin-Bieber-excited to see each other again and here's a brand new teacher with a name they can't pronounce trying to tell them to PLEAASE play a fun game of tag and something to do with stealing cones and a few hula-hoops...
FRIDAY (today), however, was a magical day. There were no potty breaks because we are to pee during passing period. Everyone plays every game because it's what I said. I smiled. I gave directions. We played dodge ball. Apparently, children of all ages and races love to throw things at each other. Great! I will let you do that so I can drink coffee and smile at you. I loved it! I learned names, they had fun, we talked about integrity in sports and life. Basically everyone won today...mostly I won today.
I had a class of young 8th grade gentleman that could not follow directions, stand still, listen, or do really anything I asked them to do. I calmly asked them to sit down, listen to the directions again, and try again. This worked for mmmmm I wanna say -56 seconds. I simply told them that I had already played dodge ball three times today so it wasn't really a big deal to me if we all just sat down in silence until the end of the period. WOW. I emanated disappointment at the front of the class for an entire two and a half minutes. As soon as I asked them if they were ready to get it together I heard the most glorious sound I have ever heard in MY LIFE. "We're sorry" in unison with sad little looks and sincere puppy dog eyes. They were my most fun class to watch play dodge ball. They were fun and it was actually really exciting to watch the athletic kids "dodge" balls. I think that little situation saved my reputation. They even said thank you as they left. Why did this work? It's hard to say...
My theory is this, SHAME BASED CULTURES are the answer to our youth's attitudes today. 95% of students genuinely feel bad when you tell them you're disappointed. That's not so hard.
I am still totally in love with my job, the people I work with and now some of the students. HOOOORDAY DODGE BALL!!!
On a non-work based note, I helped one of my new pals pick up a couch she bought on Craig's list Tuesday night. Picture two girls driving around in a rented Home Depot pick-up, listening to ACDC, playing air guitar and drums, and making 7 point u-turns on two lane highways. YES. It happened. Yes I got a free couch out of it. Yes she is actually a 26-year old version of Heather L. I love her! So fun and so unexpected. I had no idea when ACDC came on and Breaking Benjamin that she would even stay on the station let alone sing every word :) So happy!
Still homeless. Still haven't hiked a mountain. Learning how to run all the way up here. I decided I want to buy a kitten after Christmas. Thank you and Good night!
For the first four days of school my job is to instruct 7th and 8th grade students in team building games during their introductory PE period. I am not a PE teacher. While I enjoy the sounds of children playing I do not enjoy the sound of my own voice screaming over wrestling 8th grade boys, "DID I SAAAAAAY WRESTLING WAS PART OF THIS GAME! PUT DOWN THE CONE! Oh great, you punched him in the lip... be that as it may, accidents can still cause bloody lips. CASE AND POINT!"
At my school the teachers are supposed to use "teach-to's" to inform the students of our expectations before we set them out to preform a task. I panicked a bit on Thursday. There were no teach-to's. In short, I didn't really do a very good job. The kids had some fun... but it usually dissolved into, "Yeah. You can go to the bathroom...I guess...maybe one at a time? Whatever makes you happy..." The only game one group of 8th grade girls wanted to play was Duck, Duck, Goose. They played that for 20 minutes. I tried not to cry. Imagine if you will a room full of kids who are so super, duper, Justin-Bieber-excited to see each other again and here's a brand new teacher with a name they can't pronounce trying to tell them to PLEAASE play a fun game of tag and something to do with stealing cones and a few hula-hoops...
FRIDAY (today), however, was a magical day. There were no potty breaks because we are to pee during passing period. Everyone plays every game because it's what I said. I smiled. I gave directions. We played dodge ball. Apparently, children of all ages and races love to throw things at each other. Great! I will let you do that so I can drink coffee and smile at you. I loved it! I learned names, they had fun, we talked about integrity in sports and life. Basically everyone won today...mostly I won today.
I had a class of young 8th grade gentleman that could not follow directions, stand still, listen, or do really anything I asked them to do. I calmly asked them to sit down, listen to the directions again, and try again. This worked for mmmmm I wanna say -56 seconds. I simply told them that I had already played dodge ball three times today so it wasn't really a big deal to me if we all just sat down in silence until the end of the period. WOW. I emanated disappointment at the front of the class for an entire two and a half minutes. As soon as I asked them if they were ready to get it together I heard the most glorious sound I have ever heard in MY LIFE. "We're sorry" in unison with sad little looks and sincere puppy dog eyes. They were my most fun class to watch play dodge ball. They were fun and it was actually really exciting to watch the athletic kids "dodge" balls. I think that little situation saved my reputation. They even said thank you as they left. Why did this work? It's hard to say...
My theory is this, SHAME BASED CULTURES are the answer to our youth's attitudes today. 95% of students genuinely feel bad when you tell them you're disappointed. That's not so hard.
I am still totally in love with my job, the people I work with and now some of the students. HOOOORDAY DODGE BALL!!!
On a non-work based note, I helped one of my new pals pick up a couch she bought on Craig's list Tuesday night. Picture two girls driving around in a rented Home Depot pick-up, listening to ACDC, playing air guitar and drums, and making 7 point u-turns on two lane highways. YES. It happened. Yes I got a free couch out of it. Yes she is actually a 26-year old version of Heather L. I love her! So fun and so unexpected. I had no idea when ACDC came on and Breaking Benjamin that she would even stay on the station let alone sing every word :) So happy!
Still homeless. Still haven't hiked a mountain. Learning how to run all the way up here. I decided I want to buy a kitten after Christmas. Thank you and Good night!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Poor neglected blog...
1st thing's first: I would like to thank my parents for the gift of life. IT'S MY BIRTHDAY :) Also, thank you for raising me in a loving home and pushing me to do well in school....
2nd thing: I LOVE MY JOB!! Everyone is caring, kind, helpful, dedicated, and just plain wonderful! On the very first day of work last week a fellow math teacher found out I was going to have to drive down from Dever to the school and immediately opened her home to me. I've been living here ever since and tonight she threw me a birthday party. On top of that people gave me presents at work and can over to "my house" for the party. I feel truely blessed by the Lord. I am under no delusion that all moves across country go like this. Once again I am reassured that the Lord sent me here for His purpose. I can't wait to find out what that is.
In short, my birthday has been GREAT :)
Not much has happened yet at work. The kids start next week so I've just been in training. I have learned so much in just a few short days... I've also drank more pop in the last few days then I have in the last few years.
2nd thing: I LOVE MY JOB!! Everyone is caring, kind, helpful, dedicated, and just plain wonderful! On the very first day of work last week a fellow math teacher found out I was going to have to drive down from Dever to the school and immediately opened her home to me. I've been living here ever since and tonight she threw me a birthday party. On top of that people gave me presents at work and can over to "my house" for the party. I feel truely blessed by the Lord. I am under no delusion that all moves across country go like this. Once again I am reassured that the Lord sent me here for His purpose. I can't wait to find out what that is.
In short, my birthday has been GREAT :)
Not much has happened yet at work. The kids start next week so I've just been in training. I have learned so much in just a few short days... I've also drank more pop in the last few days then I have in the last few years.
Monday, August 1, 2011
NEVER underestimate the power of a $15 haircut...
I got a haircut. CUT off to give some emphasis on the nudity of my neck and shoulder regions. I am almost positive I left more there then I have now.
'Nother thing: If you want to feel motivated, then Google 212 (degree). CHARGER TRACK AND FIELD MEMBERS. DO IT! Be all you can be and more. The main principle is that water is hot at 211 degrees but boiling at 212 degrees (unless you are living in the mountains where I am then it's like 187 or something...life is easier out here). Boiling water produces steam and steam can power a train. There's a really sweet video and all these facts about the minuscule differences between winning an Olympic gold medal and no medal at all...like 0.nothing seconds in the women's 200m freestyle last year. DO NOT WATCH ANY OF THE YOUTUBE VIDEOS. I pre-screened them all and they are not the real thing and quite frankly ruin it. Watch this Nike video instead. I've been cramming this one down people's throats for years and I'm not going to stop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijTwZNUBhcI... My true love.
It makes you think how much better you could be at everything if you tried just that much harder all the time.
'Nother thing: Tomorrow is mandatory show day at school. The parents and students come in and I say, "Good day to you. I am an educator. You may call me 'Miss Buchhop'. *SMILE*" I'm not nervous. I will be nervous when I'm left alone in a room with my 8th grade boys science class. They can smell fear.
FINAL mind blowing, blog altering, proving-Joel-Reed-right thing: I CAN say, "It's hard to say..." to the students. We talked about "diffusers" today in teacher training. If a delightful, precocious child asks, "Who cares?" or "When will I ever use this?!?" I can just say, "It's hard to say..." and keep on teaching. HA! How do you like them apples?!?
(SIDENOTE: Best line ever from any move ever -- "Do you like apples?" "Yeah." "WELL I GOT HER NUMBER. How do you like them apples?" -- Matt Damon, "Good Will Hunting"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymsHLkB8u3s invest the 4-ish minutes in this so you can understand this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf0OFZexRGs . Great movie. Don't settle for just these clips.)
((DOUBLE SIDENOTE: A certain group of freshman happened upon one of those sites where you upload a picture of yourself and it tells you what celebrities you look like. This happened in the fall of 2007... Anyway. They or I may have uploaded a picture of me. The website gave each of the following answers a certain percentage of the time (sometimes more than one of these came up as viable face recognitions)... 65% of the time I look like Sandra Bullock, 45% of the time I look like Kate Bosworth, and 95% of the time it told me I look like Matt Damon ('Team America' drawl). Yes.
I am the dream of every teenage girl from the late 90's and early 2000's. How do you like them apples? How do I like them apples? It's hard to say...))
Best story of the day: A teacher was sharing what not to say when 8th grade boys are ruining your day. She was stepping in for another teacher and the boys said in the most respectful and kind tone, "WHO are you?" to which she replied, "Your worst nightmare." From the back of the classroom she heard, "No. My worst nightmare is getting my balls chopped off." She walked right over to him and whispered, "THAT can be arranged." Respect. Apparently you aren't supposed to say things like that. I think it was awesome.
Question: How does one get Hillsdale College to send you official transcripts? It's hard to say...
This one I am looking for a real answer to. Please and thank you.
Song suggestion: "Lola" by the Kinks. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. Classic rock. I don't know where you have been but I am completely comfortable with blaming our distance on myself. I can do better. I will do better. I promise.
'Nother thing: If you want to feel motivated, then Google 212 (degree). CHARGER TRACK AND FIELD MEMBERS. DO IT! Be all you can be and more. The main principle is that water is hot at 211 degrees but boiling at 212 degrees (unless you are living in the mountains where I am then it's like 187 or something...life is easier out here). Boiling water produces steam and steam can power a train. There's a really sweet video and all these facts about the minuscule differences between winning an Olympic gold medal and no medal at all...like 0.nothing seconds in the women's 200m freestyle last year. DO NOT WATCH ANY OF THE YOUTUBE VIDEOS. I pre-screened them all and they are not the real thing and quite frankly ruin it. Watch this Nike video instead. I've been cramming this one down people's throats for years and I'm not going to stop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijTwZNUBhcI... My true love.
It makes you think how much better you could be at everything if you tried just that much harder all the time.
'Nother thing: Tomorrow is mandatory show day at school. The parents and students come in and I say, "Good day to you. I am an educator. You may call me 'Miss Buchhop'. *SMILE*" I'm not nervous. I will be nervous when I'm left alone in a room with my 8th grade boys science class. They can smell fear.
FINAL mind blowing, blog altering, proving-Joel-Reed-right thing: I CAN say, "It's hard to say..." to the students. We talked about "diffusers" today in teacher training. If a delightful, precocious child asks, "Who cares?" or "When will I ever use this?!?" I can just say, "It's hard to say..." and keep on teaching. HA! How do you like them apples?!?
(SIDENOTE: Best line ever from any move ever -- "Do you like apples?" "Yeah." "WELL I GOT HER NUMBER. How do you like them apples?" -- Matt Damon, "Good Will Hunting"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymsHLkB8u3s invest the 4-ish minutes in this so you can understand this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf0OFZexRGs . Great movie. Don't settle for just these clips.)
((DOUBLE SIDENOTE: A certain group of freshman happened upon one of those sites where you upload a picture of yourself and it tells you what celebrities you look like. This happened in the fall of 2007... Anyway. They or I may have uploaded a picture of me. The website gave each of the following answers a certain percentage of the time (sometimes more than one of these came up as viable face recognitions)... 65% of the time I look like Sandra Bullock, 45% of the time I look like Kate Bosworth, and 95% of the time it told me I look like Matt Damon ('Team America' drawl). Yes.
I am the dream of every teenage girl from the late 90's and early 2000's. How do you like them apples? How do I like them apples? It's hard to say...))
Best story of the day: A teacher was sharing what not to say when 8th grade boys are ruining your day. She was stepping in for another teacher and the boys said in the most respectful and kind tone, "WHO are you?" to which she replied, "Your worst nightmare." From the back of the classroom she heard, "No. My worst nightmare is getting my balls chopped off." She walked right over to him and whispered, "THAT can be arranged." Respect. Apparently you aren't supposed to say things like that. I think it was awesome.
Question: How does one get Hillsdale College to send you official transcripts? It's hard to say...
This one I am looking for a real answer to. Please and thank you.
Song suggestion: "Lola" by the Kinks. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. Classic rock. I don't know where you have been but I am completely comfortable with blaming our distance on myself. I can do better. I will do better. I promise.
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