The humidity begins...

As many of you are still frozen from the freezing Northwest temperatures... i am melting in the hooooot Houston heat. It has been in the mid 80's for the past week or so and very humid. But, I really will not complain... as I was, during swim practice last night, in a sense of euphoria as I watched the sunset from the outdoor pool and felt the warm, balmy air as I swam. Last night I swam my first workout in quite some time and it felt amazing. It was nice being in the water and a good break from running and spinning. However, I am really sore today! I went to Chilis last night with a good friend and ate a salad only to discover that I ingested over 1300 calories and 40 grams of fat, from a salad! Salads do not mean "healthy" at least not down here in fat land.

I am really happy at school right now. I was given a group of 15 of the lowest 4th grade readers... they're making fast progress and are getting excited to read and excited to succeed... I was really afraid of how I would do with them after having my Gifted and Talented kids this past year, but they're doing really well and are making gains everyday. I am excited to continue to push them and see where they can end up. I discovered that one of the boys I was given on Monday cannot read at all and has been ignored this past year, maybe longer... he's 11, almost 12 and knows 22% of the second grade high frequency words (100 word list that all second graders must know in Texas in order to be, theoretically, passed on to the next grade level)... this is so sad. My principal gave me permission to basically adopt him as my little buddy for the remainder of the year, so I can teach him to read. He had a stroke in December and has a speech impediment and does not have friends... however, since this past Monday he has really began opening up to me and talking, a lot. This boy joins me while I work with the second graders that I am working with. I am teaching a small group of failing second graders how to read and comprehend texts to recall information, summarize, draw conclusions, etc as well as their high frequency words... My 4th grade boy has been joining me with the second graders as my "helper" but really, he needs to develop these same skills.... My gifted kids continue to do really well... we're preparing for the state Reading test which is kind of fun. I am giving them a variety of passages to read dealing with social studies and science. By doing this, I am able to have really cool conversations with them about the topics we're reading about. The other day we read and discussed the Cherokees reaction to European Settlers and the Trail of Tears, Reservations, etc Yesterday we talked about JFK and the Civil Rights and Peace Corps for an hour... it was so fun. They ask such brilliant questions and are really intrigued... I know this because they go home and bring back things they found in the newspaper, online, or the public library, all on their own! They're amazing!

I am coaching at the Houston Racquet Club and loving it. It's great to be coaching again and getting paid to do it! I am glad I quit Starbucks and so happy to be at the Racquet Club (the nicest club ever, and I get to use all the facilities for free :) ) My swimmers are in 2nd-6th grade and are a bunch of fun. VERY spoiled and not used to someone telling them no, but a good group nonetheless.

I ended up deferring the Clinton internship until next summer. I was selected to be Bill Clinton's intern in the Boston office working on his Global Aid's Initiative project as well as Global Climate Change (clintonfoundation.org). By deferring the internship, I will be able to take the mandatory course I have to take this summer here in Houston as well as just coach and teach private lessons and enjoy a fairly lazy summer. I want to camp, go boating, and have a good time. But, I was told I can accept the internship next summer which could lead to a job immediately following my TFA two years... not a bad idea.

I am thrilled that my book project got funded, I can't wait for the books to come in and see the kids fight over who gets to read what first. Thank you to all those that donated your money, I REALLY appreciate it and am so thankful that there are people like you in the world to help me out as I teach in Houston. Also, a huge thank you to Jake for donating some pretty marvelous pencils that the kids are thrilled to write with, Mom for her donation of pencils and love, Pettersen family for a large donation of OUTSTANDING books that kids will not put down, and the Canby Kiwanis for all their work in putting a box of books together for my classroom library---you guys are all amazing!

I began playing with my friend Michael in a sand volleyball league... I should use the word playing loosely, because, well, I am starting from scratch and don't have much experience other than Intramural volleyball in college (Erin, remember those days?! haha). It's really fun... we play on an outdoor sand court in a complex with 15 or so volleyball courts, there are a ton of people out playing in a fun atmosphere. I will be looking forward to Wednesday nights now!

Man, I have a lot to say! I think I am going to possibly live with Mr. Jackson next year (David), he teaches 4th grade at Gallegos and we'll be teaching partners next years. He's a very cool, laid back guy who I greatly admire. He is from the Woodlands, TX and went to Emory University in Atlanta. I think we'd live really well together... he lives in a nice apartment in the medical center in a good part of town. I can't handle living where I am living anymore with the people I am living with, I can't do it anymore!

This week i have been dealing with kids with pink eye, chicken pox, shingles, and head lice... they're so gross! Someone asked why the kids come to school and don't stay at home, well, a lot of my kids don't have parents and live with various relatives or friends, for those that do, most are from single parent households and work 2, some even 3 jobs supporting their kids... Taking a day off work for them is the worst thing ever and would throw them into financial turmoil... school is the best option for a lot of these kids even if it means sitting in the nurses office all day. I seriously teach in the destitute ghetto... i woke up this morning to my school's neighborhood on the news for two shootings a block away from school and another story about a robbery!

Ok, I am done writing a novel, thanks for reading if you got this far!