Donorschoose

People have asked for the donorschoose website and ways to donate... there are two ways to donate you can either a. go to the donors choose website (http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=147542) and directly give to the project which will then allow you to write off your donation as a tax write off, or b. you can send me a check and I can personally apply it to the donorschoose project account using the already created profile.

I REALLY appreciate your help, my kids are thrilled that we are getting books in my classroom.

Much love,
Robert

Just busy teaching Saturday school... the students that are in the middle bracket of likliness of passing the state test come to school for 4 hours on Saturday... they're working on math word problems... I don't usually teach math so it is refreshing to. All is well. The weather is cold and wet, just like home.

My book project is 27% of the way funded, I am excited!

I hope all is well with everyone.

Much love,
Robert

A splendid outlook

Life is going well. I am actually happy in Houston for the first time and very satisfied. Everything seems to be going splendidly well. I have not been switched to a different placement (yet) and still teach 4th grade. I am loving 4th grade right now. My 4th graders are discovering how much fun learning can be... there is a lot of work to do with them but all seems to be going really well and gains are being made. I boosted reading in my classroom so that we are reading a lot more, a majority of my kids are going through this book obsession phase where they literally won't stop reading. I love this! We've been flying through the few books I have in my classroom.

I haven't found someone to take over my lease yet, but I am stopping the search process. A friend gave me a tv, so that has helped. The more I stay away from my apartment, the happier I seem to be. When at home, I have my little suite set up, the beauty of having the master bedroom.

I am making some really cool friends. This has been a huge blessing. Swimming is wrapping up in two weeks with a trip to San Antonio for State Championships. Our boys are swimming fast!

I have lost 11 pounds since I have been back from Christmas break and am training for a big triathalon in Dallas in April. I have been taking a cycling class 3-4 times a week and swimming. However, the biggest thing has been 6-7 mile runs a few times a week--this has helped the increase in happiness.

Thank you to all that have donated money to help buy my classroom books... the donations are adding up and I am so thankful for your generosity. I can't reiterate enough how much we need literature in my classroom!

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=147542

Much love to you all,
Robert

The New Year

Happy New Year to all! I had an amazing trip home for two full weeks and discovered that a big perk to being a teacher is the extended breaks. I had a fabulous time at home and was able to see a lot of people, some who I hadn't seen in years including my best friend from high school, Stephen, who just got back from his LDS mission in Las Vegas. I was super lazy over break and caught up on 7 months of sleep. It was great seeing everyone and catching up on lost time. I realize just how special Portland is. It was funny driving down I-5 and feeling like I was on some country road. The hills and mountains were beautiful and the Christmas day snowfall was breathtaking.

I am back in Houston now and just finishing up my first week back at school. I felt a little more content coming back than I would have thought as I was leaving. I wasn't dreading it as much as I thought I would. I was really jet lagged, something, despite a lot of travel, I have never really felt before. It was terribly hard getting back into the routine of waking up really early and being awake by the time the kids came. However, today I woke up at 5:30 more ready and alert.

I am working on finding someone to take my lease over and move out. I realize that a large part of my distaste for Houston stems from my living situation. I am not happy. I don't like being surrounded by 44 other first year teachers who all have a worst story than the next person. I hope that getting away from the negativity and getting away from the awkwardness in my apartment will help me be a happier person. I am looking at several places to move-in to, all much cheaper than the apartment I am currently in, this will be a blessing!

Well, the kids are finishing up their exams, better get back to them. Much love to you all and thank you so much for spending time with me in Portland.

Robert