I still feel horrible... I am waiting to hear back on my test results to figure out what the urinary tract infection actually is.... meanwhile, I think I now have the stomach flu or something like that... I don't even feel good enough to drink my coffee :(

The link below this post is to the really cool site called Adopt-a-Classroom... basically random strangers wanting to contribute to low income classrooms are able to log into the site and deposit money into a classroom bank. For instance, I randomly received $75 this morning that I was able to use toward a new pencil sharpener, pencils, and folders. Pretty sweet! I like it because then, whenever I need something I can just use that "bank" and then not have to fork out even more money on classroom necessities. If you want to pass it on to anyone, please do!

I am really stressed! I don't even know why. I have been teaching after school tutorials for the past couple of weeks. Basically, it is extended day for the kids needing remediation... it can be taxing to have to stay here until 5, but after today I will only have to do it one more time. I also have been teaching Saturday school from 8-12... this Saturday we're bringing in a bigger group as a last ditch effort to prepare the kids for the state reading and math test next Tuesday and Wednesday.

I found out there are a couple of young Whitman alums living in Houston, including one that is an astronaut. I look forward to hopefully getting together with them in the near future.

I don't really 100% know what to do about the living situation for next year. Mr. Jackson really wants me to live with him and he's a really chill and very nice guy. But, we will both be teaching 4th grade next year at Gallegos... and he's not one to leave work at school... I know that work will follow me home every day... but perhaps that's a good thing? After all, I am here to devote myself entirely and unselfishly to the service of eliminating the education gap in our urban schools and bettering the lives of my students. Any thoughts? Would you live with a co-worker?

Who reads this? Random thought, but seriously, I wonder who reads this? While rereading past entries I get a little frustrated and disappointed with how I write and my inability to articulate certain feelings, stories, and events. I was never very proud of my writing.

I had my summative conference yesterday with my principal which is the end of the year conference where we meet to discuss my final appraisal and all that jazz... I received exceeds expectations, the highest ranking, on all areas... I was pleased with that. She had some wonderful things to say such as that she absolutely loves my classroom environment (it was video taped last week for HISD media purposes) and my demeanor with my students. She likes the scholarly environment I have created. I need to work on not being so random with curriculum and being more aligned with the state specific objectives. I also need to work on planning more effectively and looking more at the big picture... I do a pretty good job at winging it and just figuring out what my kids need and attacking it... things seem to fall in place. But, I can't really explain my methods so therefore I need to be more careful and diligent in what I am doing.

Hmmm... what else to say... more pink eye in my classroom, i have kids that are growing too fast and can't buy new school uniform clothing... they're beginning to smell and some of them need me to go to Goodwill for them although of course that's against school policy!

Ok, I have ranted enough... love you all.