Friday, February 29, 2008
Final Countdown to the Writing test and some Pictures
AH! The state test is in less than a week! The stress level and anxiety of everyone at my school is crazy! My kids are going to rock it, I have absolute faith in them but I seem to be much more on edge than normal and need to relax a bit. I am not working at Starbucks this weekend which is nice, but will be loading up next weekend. Starbucks is much more relaxed than it was in Walla Walla, i think that us northwesterners take Starbucks and coffee really seriously compared to the relaxed baristas down here.
Below are some pictures from today (Texan day) and yesterday... I love my kids despite the stress they bring!
Friday, February 22, 2008
a mid February update
I had my appraisal yesterday, scary stuff. After a 90 minute observation my principal called me out of class to meet! I was terrified! But, she gave me an "exceeds expectations" rating which I was happy with. Of course, it is always humbling, and sometimes hard, to receive feedback even when it is constructive. I felt good about the appraisal but I wanted to be perfect... but I am not.
We're in a frantic panic right now as we prepare for the first state test, the writing test, which is in a week. The stress level of my children, myself, and my school is really intense... so much is at stake with this test! All year we have been prepping for this stupid test. I have complete faith that my kids are going to rock it... but, they're tired and stressed. I have two kids seeing counselors right now because of anxiety related to academics and stress. My students are REALLY competitive with one another and my expectations for them are insanely high. I am trying to reflect on whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. I am known in my school for having high expectations and for producing the hardest workers in the school... but is this good? I need to reflect more and figure out what happens once the test results come in. For now, they'll be commended for their test performance and I will owe them all a big mac meal.
I tried selling my car, because I owe so much more on it than it is worth... but, after 7 dealerships, I can only get $4000 on it. I owe $10,400. I am a little upside down. I had to put $1200 in over the last two weeks, it runs well now. It has caused me so much grief. I really learned a lesson on car buying and patience with this one. I should have waited, I know this. I should have shopped around, I know this. I should have not been so excited for a car I truly couldn't afford, I learned this.
I start work at Starbucks this weekend to try to earn some money to get out of my car debt. I will be working 24 hours this weekend which is too much, but, I hope that after I work there for a couple of weekends, my schedule will calm down a bit.
I am still on a weight loss frenzy trying to get into shape for the Dallas triathalon... I am now the lightest I have been since my senior year in college! I actually feel really good too. I have lost over 18 pounds--weight that I had to lose! I am in love with spinning classes, you all should try them... they're fantastic!
I love you all and miss you a ton! Please pray for my children as they gear up for this test!
Much love,
Robert
ps I had dinner with Chelsea Clinton last week.... i am in love! She rocks!
We're in a frantic panic right now as we prepare for the first state test, the writing test, which is in a week. The stress level of my children, myself, and my school is really intense... so much is at stake with this test! All year we have been prepping for this stupid test. I have complete faith that my kids are going to rock it... but, they're tired and stressed. I have two kids seeing counselors right now because of anxiety related to academics and stress. My students are REALLY competitive with one another and my expectations for them are insanely high. I am trying to reflect on whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. I am known in my school for having high expectations and for producing the hardest workers in the school... but is this good? I need to reflect more and figure out what happens once the test results come in. For now, they'll be commended for their test performance and I will owe them all a big mac meal.
I tried selling my car, because I owe so much more on it than it is worth... but, after 7 dealerships, I can only get $4000 on it. I owe $10,400. I am a little upside down. I had to put $1200 in over the last two weeks, it runs well now. It has caused me so much grief. I really learned a lesson on car buying and patience with this one. I should have waited, I know this. I should have shopped around, I know this. I should have not been so excited for a car I truly couldn't afford, I learned this.
I start work at Starbucks this weekend to try to earn some money to get out of my car debt. I will be working 24 hours this weekend which is too much, but, I hope that after I work there for a couple of weekends, my schedule will calm down a bit.
I am still on a weight loss frenzy trying to get into shape for the Dallas triathalon... I am now the lightest I have been since my senior year in college! I actually feel really good too. I have lost over 18 pounds--weight that I had to lose! I am in love with spinning classes, you all should try them... they're fantastic!
I love you all and miss you a ton! Please pray for my children as they gear up for this test!
Much love,
Robert
ps I had dinner with Chelsea Clinton last week.... i am in love! She rocks!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Getting there...
I am 35% of the way toward raising the funds for my book project, I have $750 left to go! Could you pass my link on to anyone that may want to make a donation supporting urban education and my efforts in Houston, TX?
Thanks guys!
Robert
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=147542
Thanks guys!
Robert
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=147542
Thursday, February 14, 2008
another student writes...
Last week, I was welcomed to school with the following story in my my email (please note, this was totally out of the blue and was not an assignment of any sort... and I have no idea why they are all of a sudden using email!)
The story of Mr.Street starts with him in a club ,there is a dude,so cool and bad.He was rocking the club with his guitar. His guitar was named,Guitar.He loved that guitar so much that he gave it a kiss to it.Mr.Street had long,dazzling ,blonde hair with highlights so big ,so long .He always ran and made his hair wave like a shampoo comercial.He had a black,fluffy jacket and blue shorts with diamonds on the pockets.His shoes were red .Every Saturday night, he went to Cici's Pizza to eat one-thousand pizzas to eat.He was fat , he weighed five-hundred pounds.Sometimes,when he was bored , he just layed on the couch eating all kinds of chocolate stuff.His favotite thing to do was to eat donuts,and jump on the trampoline at the same time,sometimes he would fall of.His friends were fat too. Their names were Jack weighted 500 pounds,Grease 600 pounds ,Jello-o 500 pounds ,and 700pounds.They called butter,butter ball.They always eat donuts. When they went to the club,they made a party that was called "The Big Fat Party".
They ordered a moonwalk, Butterball jumped in the moonwalk, and accidently ripped it and got stuck .Mr.Street lives in apartment full of rock&roll things. He sleeps on a waterbed.His girlfriend is named,Ms.Calle.Ms.Calle's favorite thing to do is to laugh at jokes that make her want to pee.Ms.Calle was also fat , check it out she weighted 303 pounds .They had to get two beds because when they had one bed , they would both fall off even though it was king size.What they loved doing was to play sumo, but without the giant diaper.They both made a race about who could eat the most donuts in 60 seconds . Butterball couldn't stand it ,so he ate all of them.He had to go to the hospital because he ate too much.
NOW THAT IS A STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The story of Mr.Street starts with him in a club ,there is a dude,so cool and bad.He was rocking the club with his guitar. His guitar was named,Guitar.He loved that guitar so much that he gave it a kiss to it.Mr.Street had long,dazzling ,blonde hair with highlights so big ,so long .He always ran and made his hair wave like a shampoo comercial.He had a black,fluffy jacket and blue shorts with diamonds on the pockets.His shoes were red .Every Saturday night, he went to Cici's Pizza to eat one-thousand pizzas to eat.He was fat , he weighed five-hundred pounds.Sometimes,when he was bored , he just layed on the couch eating all kinds of chocolate stuff.His favotite thing to do was to eat donuts,and jump on the trampoline at the same time,sometimes he would fall of.His friends were fat too. Their names were Jack weighted 500 pounds,Grease 600 pounds ,Jello-o 500 pounds ,and 700pounds.They called butter,butter ball.They always eat donuts. When they went to the club,they made a party that was called "The Big Fat Party".
They ordered a moonwalk, Butterball jumped in the moonwalk, and accidently ripped it and got stuck .Mr.Street lives in apartment full of rock&roll things. He sleeps on a waterbed.His girlfriend is named,Ms.Calle.Ms.Calle's favorite thing to do is to laugh at jokes that make her want to pee.Ms.Calle was also fat , check it out she weighted 303 pounds .They had to get two beds because when they had one bed , they would both fall off even though it was king size.What they loved doing was to play sumo, but without the giant diaper.They both made a race about who could eat the most donuts in 60 seconds . Butterball couldn't stand it ,so he ate all of them.He had to go to the hospital because he ate too much.
NOW THAT IS A STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
High Expectations
From one of my students (my brightest) who thinks she is not meeting my high expectations (I got this in my email about 5 minutes ago)
Hello Mr.Street,thank you for the extra homework that you gave me to accomplish.I hope that this that extra homework helps me get a 4 on my writing.I also hope that everybody gets a 4 on their writing assingment.I know that you were mad with me because I overused the word "said",but I hope that The work helps me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Mr.Street,thank you for the extra homework that you gave me to accomplish.I hope that this that extra homework helps me get a 4 on my writing.I also hope that everybody gets a 4 on their writing assingment.I know that you were mad with me because I overused the word "said",but I hope that The work helps me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Cruisin
I don't really have much to say but thought that I'd post anyway. Life continues to sail and I seem to be much happier than before. Two things have really allowed for this to occur, 1. ensuring that I work out 5 times a week and eat really healthily and 2. I developed a financial plan that will ensure better financial stability which has been the root of A LOT of stress. Once my tax returns come back I hope to put a cushion in the bank so that emergencies like wrecking my car won't out be in absolute financial turmoil. In addition, I need to trade in my car. I made a huge mistake and bought it when I should not have. Now, I am paying for it. I owe much more than it is worth. I am completely upside down. In order to rectify this problem, I am going to trade the car in and not get what I owe on it. But, I will take the loss, add it to the price to a cheap reliable car like a 2000 honda or toyota, so say I buy a car for $6000, I will add the $2000 loss from what I will owe on the volvo, so now i will finance $8,000 and take out a 48 month loan and I will be upside right within a few years... until then, I will owe more than any car I own is worth but I made this mistake and need to get out of it. It isn't worth keeping the Volvo because a. things are going wrong on it by the day, b. I am not able to pay it down because of the interest rate, and c. the depreciation on the volvo is horrible. Plus, my insurance rate will be lower, thus I will be saving more and more money.
I took the day off work on Friday and Saturday morning to go to state swimming championships with my high school team in San Antonio. They swam pretty well. Swimming State was not the same caliber from what I experienced in Oregon. I think it is simply because in Texas, private schools and public schools are separated athletically, whereas in Oregon we compete together. The private school league in Texas is simply not as competitive as anything I experienced in Oregon. I am glad swim season is over... with over 200 hours of what ended up being volunteer hours, I am ready to have some more time to spend at school, etc.
It's Super Bowl day, not sure what I am going to do, perhaps watch it with a couple of TFA teachers that I teach with. I want to go to church at 6 pm which will cut into the game... but I wonder now, will there even be a church service in the middle of the game... if there is, I wonder how many people will attend the service?
I am rambling, obviously, a bit bored. Time to go for a jog. I miss you guys.
Robert
I took the day off work on Friday and Saturday morning to go to state swimming championships with my high school team in San Antonio. They swam pretty well. Swimming State was not the same caliber from what I experienced in Oregon. I think it is simply because in Texas, private schools and public schools are separated athletically, whereas in Oregon we compete together. The private school league in Texas is simply not as competitive as anything I experienced in Oregon. I am glad swim season is over... with over 200 hours of what ended up being volunteer hours, I am ready to have some more time to spend at school, etc.
It's Super Bowl day, not sure what I am going to do, perhaps watch it with a couple of TFA teachers that I teach with. I want to go to church at 6 pm which will cut into the game... but I wonder now, will there even be a church service in the middle of the game... if there is, I wonder how many people will attend the service?
I am rambling, obviously, a bit bored. Time to go for a jog. I miss you guys.
Robert
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