Sunday, May 15, 2011
State Bound!
Two of my girls qualified for state a few weeks ago. Here they are competing. We got to take them to north west Arkansas for the night and day. We had three competitors - two in discus, and one in hurdles. We didn't win anything, but the discus girls got top 10 in the state! Congrats to all three, I'm very proud of you!
Fleeting Moments
I feel reinvigorated. I had a fab weekend (two in a row) coupled with an awesome email about a potential lead on housing in the RGV. I have been pretty nervous about that whole process, and if this works out, so much pressure would be off. I'd have somewhere to ship my stuff, a date on when I could ship my stuff, and a place to sleep instead of La Quinta.
I am having a surprisingly easy time starting to separating myself from the Delta. I like it here, I like my roomies and friends, but I have not been too sentimental or sad in general. I am ready for a new start. I am ready for a job that ends when I finish my work. Teaching never ends. There is always something you should be doing, or somewhere you should be. I was thinking today on the way home about the enormous task list I had if I wanted to do it. I didn't want to do it. I am ready to be done teaching, so ready.
I am having a surprisingly easy time starting to separating myself from the Delta. I like it here, I like my roomies and friends, but I have not been too sentimental or sad in general. I am ready for a new start. I am ready for a job that ends when I finish my work. Teaching never ends. There is always something you should be doing, or somewhere you should be. I was thinking today on the way home about the enormous task list I had if I wanted to do it. I didn't want to do it. I am ready to be done teaching, so ready.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Stressed OUT
I thought this last 6 weeks was going to be reflective, calm, conclusive. Really, just relaxing.
I do not currently agree with that. I am stressed about where I am moving, when I am moving, when I am telling my kids, what I am doing for the last two weeks when I am done with this novel, how to close that classroom up, amongst other things.
See ya blog.
I do not currently agree with that. I am stressed about where I am moving, when I am moving, when I am telling my kids, what I am doing for the last two weeks when I am done with this novel, how to close that classroom up, amongst other things.
See ya blog.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
ACT Academy
15 students were accepted to the University of Arkansas ACT Academy this summer!! That's up from 5 last year!! More to come....
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Happy Happy Happy Birthday, Abbs!
To one of the best around: Happy Birthday to Miss Abigail Pamela Smith!
Closing Up Shop
Time is running down. Only 6 more weeks in my commitment to Teach for America. How does it feel? I really can't believe we're already two years past college, two years past living in the South, two years teaching in a classroom. It has really made me think about how people make it through this experience.
To be thrown into a classroom without much training, in a place you've never been before, with people you've only just met ... and all in a failing school. What makes us push through that experience? How does Teach for America truly select people that will succeed through that experience? Or even, how do they select people that will simply last the two years? I have much respect for this organization and their ability to figure information that like out. Obviously there are some mistakes they make, but overall, with a 90% retention rate in the program nationally, they are doing pretty damn well.
When I think about why I've made it - I don't really know. What are the qualities that I exemplified that made them think I'd make it? Maybe my competitiveness or intense disinterest in failing anything. As I transition away from the Delta and into the Rio Grande Valley, I think it will be interesting to see what I identify in CMs as they push through their first and second year.
As for these next few weeks, I've got a lot of loose ends to tie up in Arkansas. Then, deuces.
To be thrown into a classroom without much training, in a place you've never been before, with people you've only just met ... and all in a failing school. What makes us push through that experience? How does Teach for America truly select people that will succeed through that experience? Or even, how do they select people that will simply last the two years? I have much respect for this organization and their ability to figure information that like out. Obviously there are some mistakes they make, but overall, with a 90% retention rate in the program nationally, they are doing pretty damn well.
When I think about why I've made it - I don't really know. What are the qualities that I exemplified that made them think I'd make it? Maybe my competitiveness or intense disinterest in failing anything. As I transition away from the Delta and into the Rio Grande Valley, I think it will be interesting to see what I identify in CMs as they push through their first and second year.
As for these next few weeks, I've got a lot of loose ends to tie up in Arkansas. Then, deuces.
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