This couple was enjoying dinner with their two children..... please notice the children!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A scare with God by my side
I went to the doctor on Monday due to an embarrassing issue.... painful urinating. The doctor did not know what was really going on, his guess was kidney stones and a urinary tract infection... so he prescribed two different antibiotics, zithromax and cipro... he gave me a single dose of both until all my test results come back identifying what the problem actually is. I was very reluctant to take the antibiotics, meanwhile, my friend Jake convinced me to drive all the way out to Spring, TX (an hour + drive due to traffic) to watch a movie with him and our friend Jessica. So, a little pissed off having to make the journey all the way out there in the midst of the 6:00 rush hour and missing my spinning class to do so, I drove out there and took my antibiotics once I got there. Well, Jake is a paramedic and about 5 minutes after taking the antibiotics my eyes started burning and I turned cranberry red and my eyes became incredibly blurry and nearly swollen shut while my throat tightened to where I could feel only the slightest amount of air go in and my heart began racing uncontrollably. Jake rushed me to the hospital, only 3 minutes away. I don't remember a whole lot of being in the hospital just that they gave me several IV's and a couple of different breathing treatments and said the word "tracheotomy" if my throat didn't relax so that I could breath. Thankfully all ended up being ok and I was around friends who could take care of me. I convinced the doctor to not make me stay in the observation room and that in fact, I would be staying only a few minutes away from the hospital if I indeed needed to return. I was released and slept very well that night and ended up taking yesterday off of work. I was perhaps most upset to miss work as the students have 4 more instructional days until our last round of state tests-- reading and math. I am back today, although feeling incredibly lethargic and not on my "a" game, I am here. My students are progressing so well, at least progressing in the way they need to in order to pass the state test.
My book shipment came in last week from the donations of many of you guys. I wish you could have all seen their faces light up as the books came in box after box. They were so eager and excited. My principal gave me an additional $1,000 to spend on books! She also is giving me a Smart Board and a new US pulldown map, yes! A smart Board, which Lisa, you know all about and I know about them because of you, is like a large computer monitor that is about 60x60 inches, has wheels so you can roll it around and you can write on it with special colored pens. I am thrilled.
29 days of school left, kind of crazy. I got my car back from the body shop after they fixed the last of the many things that were not fixed from the accident in November...my car got a new hood, grill, headlights, etc. It looks pretty, but I need to get rid of it sometime soon.
Last Saturday I volunteered at the MS 150, the largest bike tour in the country. I volunteered at the first overnight site and had a blast. My assignment was to pour wine and beer in the VIP tent. A pretty fun job leading to many bottles of free wine.
I am posting pictures of various things--books coming in, hanging out in Old Spring, Texas.
soon to come... a blog on my first Texas festival--Crawfish Fest 2008 where for the first time ever, I realized, yes, I am indeed in Texas and yes, Texans have a stereotype for a reason.
Friday, April 4, 2008
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