Today I get email from my principal asking if I could be interested and willing to take on a student teacher in my classroom for the semester. I was quite shocked. Obviously, I wasn't expecting that to happen. Being the ever-so-cooperative teacher, I graciously accepted the challenge.
My principal came out and spoke with me while I was supervising the car line this afternoon. (One of my many fun responsibilities as a teacher...they put me in charge of managing the unending line of cars, too!) He wanted to talk with me about the student teacher. He told me she (aka the student teacher) was doing her first placement at one of our elementary schools, and she was getting rave reviews. That made me feel better and less nervous. He also told me he selected me since my kids test scores have been at the top for years, and he wanted this student teacher to experience a different style of teaching. Yes, my principal thinks I am a crazy teacher, but we get the job done on my hall! He also wanted to make sure I knew that even though I would not always be directly teaching my kids while the student teacher is in the room I will still be responsible for their success on benchmark and state testing. Yes, I know my name still goes on all those lovely reports, but I am not the least bit concerned. I would never let someone come in and not take care of my kids. I will be there making sure they are learning and retaining the curriculum while trying to help this student teacher experience every aspect of being a teacher.
As I say to my students...SWISS BOVINE (aka HOLY COW)!!!! This is turning out to be one crazy year in teaching. What more can be added to my plate without killing me?
- an insane new evaluation system across the state
- daily concerns and complaints from my teachers about the evaluation system
- continuous talks with state legislators about the new evaluation model
- being the peacekeeper within our schools
- president of the system's teachers' association
- press interviews
- constant meetings
- political action committee
- yearbook advisor
- did I mention I also teach 6th grade?
I refuse to stress about any of this. I will only do as much as I can handle. Not going to kill myself doing all this. It is my life, and I am happy with it most of the time. Perhaps one day I will learn to rest!
September 28, 2011
September 27, 2011
September 26, 2011
I've Got a Date
That's right...I've got myself a date later this week. I am extremely nervous about going, but I am excited at the same time!
More details later. Just thought I would share the news!
More details later. Just thought I would share the news!
September 24, 2011
What Do I Do About Those Bullies
Unless you have been living in total isolation over the past week you have had to hear about another teenager committing suicide after constantly being bullied for being gay. This week, 14 year old Jamey Rodemeyer took his life after years of bullying.
This young man even posted an "It Gets Better" video back in May. It is below.
Today Jamey's family and friends gathered and laid him to rest in New York. My heart goes out to the Rodemeyer family, Jamey's friends, and anyone who has been affected by this sudden loss.
I would be lying if I said his death did not affect me. In fact, it has certainly been on my mind all week. As an educator, I take the issue of bullying any child very seriously. I am fortunate to be in a school and school system that takes a hard stance against bullying of any kind. When there is a bullying issue, we address it swiftly and appropriately. We work very hard to insure students are not bullied.
With that being said, I know someone would say that more bullying happens than of which we are aware. I am aware of that fact. However, we do everything we can possibly do to avert bullying.
On Friday, my students had their monthly guidance lesson. We are blessed to have three of the most incredible guidance counselors in our school. As part of their job, the are tasked with conducting these monthly guidance classes to all 1200+ students. This month, the students on my team had their guidance class during my science block.
The topic of this month's lesson was bullying. Our guidance counselor discussed being a bully, being a victim, and being a bystander, and an upstander. The lesson was fantastic, and the students had great discussion of a range of bullying tactics. Near the end of her lesson she discussed the use of the phrase "that's so gay." I was amazed to hear that from her given her views on homosexuality.
All throughout this lesson, my thoughts went back to Jamey and all the other lost souls over the past few years who have taken their own lives after being bullied. At the same time I was somewhat thankful that I never fell into that pit of despair for being bullied in school.
The last part of the guidance lesson was a poem written by our counselor. She loves to write poetry, and she is rather talented at it. The poem made me almost shed some tears, but I held back. I did ask her if I could share the poem with you, and she sent me a copy. It is written from the perspective of the victim, and as she read it, I pictured Jamey saying this to himself day after day...
On the sidebar of my blog you can find more information about the Stop Bullying: Speak Up campaign and even take the pledge to help end bullying! Together we can make a difference!
This young man even posted an "It Gets Better" video back in May. It is below.
Today Jamey's family and friends gathered and laid him to rest in New York. My heart goes out to the Rodemeyer family, Jamey's friends, and anyone who has been affected by this sudden loss.
I would be lying if I said his death did not affect me. In fact, it has certainly been on my mind all week. As an educator, I take the issue of bullying any child very seriously. I am fortunate to be in a school and school system that takes a hard stance against bullying of any kind. When there is a bullying issue, we address it swiftly and appropriately. We work very hard to insure students are not bullied.
With that being said, I know someone would say that more bullying happens than of which we are aware. I am aware of that fact. However, we do everything we can possibly do to avert bullying.
On Friday, my students had their monthly guidance lesson. We are blessed to have three of the most incredible guidance counselors in our school. As part of their job, the are tasked with conducting these monthly guidance classes to all 1200+ students. This month, the students on my team had their guidance class during my science block.
The topic of this month's lesson was bullying. Our guidance counselor discussed being a bully, being a victim, and being a bystander, and an upstander. The lesson was fantastic, and the students had great discussion of a range of bullying tactics. Near the end of her lesson she discussed the use of the phrase "that's so gay." I was amazed to hear that from her given her views on homosexuality.
All throughout this lesson, my thoughts went back to Jamey and all the other lost souls over the past few years who have taken their own lives after being bullied. At the same time I was somewhat thankful that I never fell into that pit of despair for being bullied in school.
The last part of the guidance lesson was a poem written by our counselor. She loves to write poetry, and she is rather talented at it. The poem made me almost shed some tears, but I held back. I did ask her if I could share the poem with you, and she sent me a copy. It is written from the perspective of the victim, and as she read it, I pictured Jamey saying this to himself day after day...
What Do I Do About Those Bullies?
(written with permission of the author)
I wish someone would notice.
I sure wish someone would care.
But no one seems to even see me,
Yet, there's people everywhere!
I wish someone would stop
And just ask if I'm okay.
I wish someone could sense the sadness
I live with every day!
Getting bullied really hurts.
I feel so empty inside.
It is really tough to be here.
I want to run and hide!
I wish I knew who I could tell.
I wish I knew what I could do.
I wish the bullies would leave me alone.
That would be my dream come true!
On the sidebar of my blog you can find more information about the Stop Bullying: Speak Up campaign and even take the pledge to help end bullying! Together we can make a difference!
September 21, 2011
Wait! Don't I Know You?
This week I was excited to see NBC kick off a third season of The Sing Off. I love a'capella music, so this show plays right up my alley.
This week I was watching the first eight groups compete, and I was blown away be a few of them. However, I don't really want to get into that debate today. I have another motive for this post.
As I was watching one group in particular, I kept getting that odd feeling as though I had seen some of these guys before. I just couldn't exactly pinpoint it for a while...then it hit me. The group I was watching was the University of Rocherster Yellow Jackets. Below is their performance this week.
It wasn't until the judges comments were made, and the cameras kept going back to the members of the group, that I finally realized how I knew some of these guys. I saw a couple of them on a youtube video.
Which video, you may ask...(see below)
This is the shot during the show when I figured it out:
I did some "investigative searching" and found I was correct. I looked up the group's website, and I found both stars of the video:
So now I can finally put faces and names with the video. What made me feel better was the knowledge that I wasn't totally insane...I WAS RIGHT!
This week I was watching the first eight groups compete, and I was blown away be a few of them. However, I don't really want to get into that debate today. I have another motive for this post.
As I was watching one group in particular, I kept getting that odd feeling as though I had seen some of these guys before. I just couldn't exactly pinpoint it for a while...then it hit me. The group I was watching was the University of Rocherster Yellow Jackets. Below is their performance this week.
It wasn't until the judges comments were made, and the cameras kept going back to the members of the group, that I finally realized how I knew some of these guys. I saw a couple of them on a youtube video.
Which video, you may ask...(see below)
This is the shot during the show when I figured it out:
 |
| The two guys in the back!!!!! |
So now I can finally put faces and names with the video. What made me feel better was the knowledge that I wasn't totally insane...I WAS RIGHT!
September 18, 2011
Foreign Film Weekend
This weekend I spent some time watching a few movies that have been in my Netflix cue for some time. I have never been one too keen on foreign films. However, I spent Saturday evening reading English subtitles. I loved it.
I focused on gay foreign films, not really knowing what I would find. I knew I was not looking for porn. I wanted drama, something intellectual, etc. What I ended up with were several movies that really made you think, made you wonder what if, and just about tore my heart out.
Here is what I watched so far this weekend...
Time to Leave (France)
David's Birthday (Spain)
Plan B (Argentina)
Saturn in Opposition (Italy)
I enjoyed my gay foreign film weekend. I am now dying to see more subtitles...
I focused on gay foreign films, not really knowing what I would find. I knew I was not looking for porn. I wanted drama, something intellectual, etc. What I ended up with were several movies that really made you think, made you wonder what if, and just about tore my heart out.
Here is what I watched so far this weekend...
Time to Leave (France)
September 14, 2011
What Am I Reading?
As a teacher, I find myself reading a slew of teen literature for pleasure. Not that I have that much free time to read for pleasure, but when I do I find myself going to those teen books. (For the record, I have a fascination with biographies/autobiographies. However, sometimes I just need a different level of book.)
A few months ago I began purchasing digital books to go on my iPad. I gathered quite a virtual library for summer reading. Sadly, I did not get to most of the books I had purchased. They have just been sitting in my iPad's virtual library.
That all changed this week. I was at a point of needing to just sit quietly on my couch for a while and relax. I opened up the first book that I had downloaded, and I read straight through all 272 pages.
The book I was reading is called "The God Box," by Alex Sanchez. Below is the product description from Amazon:
Paul, a religious teen living in a small conservative town, finds his world turned upside down when he meets Manuel—a young man who says he’s both Christian and gay, two things that Paul didn’t think could coexist in one person. Doesn’t the Bible forbid homosexuality? As Paul struggles with Manuel’s interpretation of the Bible, thoughts that Paul has long tried to bury begin to surface, and he finds himself re-examining his whole life. This is an unforgettable book on an extremely timely topic that strives to open minds on both ends of the spectrum.
Since I normally read biographies, my emotional responses to books are rather limited unless it is someone with whom I am infatuated. This teen fiction book, however, sent me into an emotional tailspin. I found myself identifying and inserting myself into the character of Paul. I felt his pain, anguish, confusion, and anger that were raging inside of him as he struggled to find a balance between his thoughts of guys and his Christianity.
I know those thoughts all too well. I had this same struggle all throughout my twenties. I suppressed those feeling for most of a decade. Growing up in the southern baptist church, I was taught that being gay was wrong. It was so ingrained in my beliefs and mind, that any thoughts of being gay sent me into a deep depression. Not being a person who can sit and be depressed for too long, I had to get moving. I threw myself into school work, my career, volunteer work, etc. I did everything I could not to have to deal with any thoughts of being gay.
There is a part of the book when Paul's abuelita (grandmother) talks to him and tells him it is okay to get mad at God. It is quite a revelation for Paul, and there is a scene when he is driving that he finally releases his anger. I have this mental image of him screaming at the top of his lungs at God while barreling down the highway. I can just see the looks on the faces of passersby as they drove past this young man yelling in his car. What must they be thinking about him?
I have to admit that I completely understand this scene. It brought back vivid memories from about 4 years ago when I was so angry that I was literally thrashing around the house screaming and yelling at the top of my lungs during my prayer time. Yes, I was mad and screaming at God. I was finally at a point in my life where I was facing the fact I am gay and trying to reconcile that with my Christian beliefs. It was quite a dark period for me. Never before had I yelled at God. (Perhaps I was always afraid he might strike me dead with a bolt of lightning if I had yelled at him.) I remember the pain!
The book's climax scene is something that tore my heart in two. I literally had a lump in my throat, and I was fighting back tears. My imagination was definitely allowing me to see the scenes play out in this book. Again, I think part of it had to do with the fact I had put so much of myself into Paul's character. I was sitting here feeling every ounce of Paul's sadness and fear throughout the last part of the book. It really is rather difficult to describe without giving away parts of the book, and I don't want to do that. Let me just say this...be ready for your heart to be ripped out.
By the end of the book, I found myself wanting what Paul had finally found in this story. Yes, I found myself envious of what a senior high school character from a teen fiction book had finally found in his life. It is exactly what I want for my life.
Is that wrong? I don't think so. I believe it gives me hope and a goal for the future.
So, with that, I will end with this off-sided review. I would like to say that I am extremely surprised and uplifted by this new genre I have discovered...teen LGTBQ books. As a teacher, I think it is important to help out youth through life. There will always been teens who are questioning who they are in life, and some of them will turn to literature for stories, guidance, etc. I am glad to see there are books like "The God Box" that offer students a look into a teenager's struggles with his orientation and his religion. I am thankful to those authors who are making an effort to support our youth with a genre of books that they go to when needed. Consequently, I think books such as this one should be read by anyone who is facing the same struggles I and Paul found ourselves in at different points of our lives.
I have moved on to another of Alex Sanchez's books. This one is called "So Hard to Say." This one is about a 13-year old growing up trying to discover who he is in this life. I am only about 50 pages into it...I only began it today. Looks good so far!
A few months ago I began purchasing digital books to go on my iPad. I gathered quite a virtual library for summer reading. Sadly, I did not get to most of the books I had purchased. They have just been sitting in my iPad's virtual library.
That all changed this week. I was at a point of needing to just sit quietly on my couch for a while and relax. I opened up the first book that I had downloaded, and I read straight through all 272 pages.
The book I was reading is called "The God Box," by Alex Sanchez. Below is the product description from Amazon:
Paul, a religious teen living in a small conservative town, finds his world turned upside down when he meets Manuel—a young man who says he’s both Christian and gay, two things that Paul didn’t think could coexist in one person. Doesn’t the Bible forbid homosexuality? As Paul struggles with Manuel’s interpretation of the Bible, thoughts that Paul has long tried to bury begin to surface, and he finds himself re-examining his whole life. This is an unforgettable book on an extremely timely topic that strives to open minds on both ends of the spectrum.
I know those thoughts all too well. I had this same struggle all throughout my twenties. I suppressed those feeling for most of a decade. Growing up in the southern baptist church, I was taught that being gay was wrong. It was so ingrained in my beliefs and mind, that any thoughts of being gay sent me into a deep depression. Not being a person who can sit and be depressed for too long, I had to get moving. I threw myself into school work, my career, volunteer work, etc. I did everything I could not to have to deal with any thoughts of being gay.
There is a part of the book when Paul's abuelita (grandmother) talks to him and tells him it is okay to get mad at God. It is quite a revelation for Paul, and there is a scene when he is driving that he finally releases his anger. I have this mental image of him screaming at the top of his lungs at God while barreling down the highway. I can just see the looks on the faces of passersby as they drove past this young man yelling in his car. What must they be thinking about him?
I have to admit that I completely understand this scene. It brought back vivid memories from about 4 years ago when I was so angry that I was literally thrashing around the house screaming and yelling at the top of my lungs during my prayer time. Yes, I was mad and screaming at God. I was finally at a point in my life where I was facing the fact I am gay and trying to reconcile that with my Christian beliefs. It was quite a dark period for me. Never before had I yelled at God. (Perhaps I was always afraid he might strike me dead with a bolt of lightning if I had yelled at him.) I remember the pain!
The book's climax scene is something that tore my heart in two. I literally had a lump in my throat, and I was fighting back tears. My imagination was definitely allowing me to see the scenes play out in this book. Again, I think part of it had to do with the fact I had put so much of myself into Paul's character. I was sitting here feeling every ounce of Paul's sadness and fear throughout the last part of the book. It really is rather difficult to describe without giving away parts of the book, and I don't want to do that. Let me just say this...be ready for your heart to be ripped out.
By the end of the book, I found myself wanting what Paul had finally found in this story. Yes, I found myself envious of what a senior high school character from a teen fiction book had finally found in his life. It is exactly what I want for my life.
Is that wrong? I don't think so. I believe it gives me hope and a goal for the future.
So, with that, I will end with this off-sided review. I would like to say that I am extremely surprised and uplifted by this new genre I have discovered...teen LGTBQ books. As a teacher, I think it is important to help out youth through life. There will always been teens who are questioning who they are in life, and some of them will turn to literature for stories, guidance, etc. I am glad to see there are books like "The God Box" that offer students a look into a teenager's struggles with his orientation and his religion. I am thankful to those authors who are making an effort to support our youth with a genre of books that they go to when needed. Consequently, I think books such as this one should be read by anyone who is facing the same struggles I and Paul found ourselves in at different points of our lives.
I have moved on to another of Alex Sanchez's books. This one is called "So Hard to Say." This one is about a 13-year old growing up trying to discover who he is in this life. I am only about 50 pages into it...I only began it today. Looks good so far!
September 5, 2011
A Day Just for Me
Rarely do I take the time to just let go and be free from responsibility. Being that this is a holiday weekend, turns out I have Monday off of work. That gives me some extra time to spare, so I decided it was time for a "Me" day.
I awoke this morning around 7AM. I had to get an early start to my day. I showered, got dressed, and dashed out the door by 7:45. It took me about an hour to drive into Asheville, NC. I knew I had to be in Asheville before 9AM. I parked downtown and walked to my favorite restaurant in town...Tupelo Honey Cafe. It truly is an amazing restaurant. They open at 9AM, and I arrived at 8:55. There was a long line to get in even before they opened the doors. I got in and sat at the bar, which is right in front of the kitchen staff. I find it fascinating to watch their kitchen staff. They are truly seamless!
I got my order in by 9:05. I looked around and the restaurant was already full, and the wait staff had already started a waiting list. I was shocked! My waiter brought me a giant biscuit with a homemade blueberry jam and some Tupelo honey. It is a delicious way to start the morning. A bit later they brought me my order, fried chicken and biscuits in a spicy white gravy. Every bite was heaven. Ugh!
After breakfast, I made the drive over to the Biltmore Estate for my tour. I ended up purchasing a season pass (I know I will come back for at least Christmas), which took forever. The 2-mile drive up to the main house is peaceful and beautiful. I drove extra slow just so that I could enjoy the beauty of nature.
The house is beautiful. It is in phenomenal shape for a 116 year-old house. Every time I go to visit, it feels like the first time I saw it. It is awe-inspiring! The tour took me about 2 hours. I did take some extra time to sit outside of tapestry room enjoying the beauty of the mountains and the cool breeze.
After my tour, I spent some time touring the grounds. You can literally spend a full day or two just touring the grounds. They have added so much to the grounds, and I was surprised. You can now take a bicycle tour of the grounds, a tour on a Segway, a carriage tour, and even an antique car tour of the grounds. I didn't do any of those, but it gives me something to do in the future.
I decided to have lunch on the grounds. I chose to eat at the Bistro outside of the Winery. I began with a bowl of roasted tomato and fennel bisque. The main course was a deep-dish quiche Lorraine. Every bite was sheer bliss. Then my wonderful waitress offered up the dessert menu. Rarely do I have dessert, especially at lunch. However, I was in the mood to treat myself, thus is chose to have the buttermilk pie.
It only added to my bliss. Lunch was worth every expensive penny! One side note about lunch was the couple that was seated to my right. It was a gay couple who were just enjoying their equally expensive lunch. They looked so happy together, and I found myself wanting to be just like them. Ironically, I ran into them again while I was shopping in downtown Asheville.
Speaking of shopping in downtown Asheville, I found a huge sale on summer sandals. For those who know me well, they would tell you I live in sandals and flip-flops. The sale going on was 30% off the already reduced shoes. I ended up purchasing several pair of Teva flip-flops for less than $10 each, and I got a wonderful pair of Chacos for only $30. I was in "hog heaven."
I enjoyed the rest of my time in downtown Asheville just walking from shop to shop. Asheville is by far on of my favorite cities to peruse.
I got home just in time for the thunderstorms to hit. I sat with the front door and the living room windows open just to hear the rolling storms pass. It was a nice way to wind down the evening.
It was so nice to have a day to myself. I so rarely get to have those anymore.
I awoke this morning around 7AM. I had to get an early start to my day. I showered, got dressed, and dashed out the door by 7:45. It took me about an hour to drive into Asheville, NC. I knew I had to be in Asheville before 9AM. I parked downtown and walked to my favorite restaurant in town...Tupelo Honey Cafe. It truly is an amazing restaurant. They open at 9AM, and I arrived at 8:55. There was a long line to get in even before they opened the doors. I got in and sat at the bar, which is right in front of the kitchen staff. I find it fascinating to watch their kitchen staff. They are truly seamless!
I got my order in by 9:05. I looked around and the restaurant was already full, and the wait staff had already started a waiting list. I was shocked! My waiter brought me a giant biscuit with a homemade blueberry jam and some Tupelo honey. It is a delicious way to start the morning. A bit later they brought me my order, fried chicken and biscuits in a spicy white gravy. Every bite was heaven. Ugh!
After breakfast, I made the drive over to the Biltmore Estate for my tour. I ended up purchasing a season pass (I know I will come back for at least Christmas), which took forever. The 2-mile drive up to the main house is peaceful and beautiful. I drove extra slow just so that I could enjoy the beauty of nature.
The house is beautiful. It is in phenomenal shape for a 116 year-old house. Every time I go to visit, it feels like the first time I saw it. It is awe-inspiring! The tour took me about 2 hours. I did take some extra time to sit outside of tapestry room enjoying the beauty of the mountains and the cool breeze.
After my tour, I spent some time touring the grounds. You can literally spend a full day or two just touring the grounds. They have added so much to the grounds, and I was surprised. You can now take a bicycle tour of the grounds, a tour on a Segway, a carriage tour, and even an antique car tour of the grounds. I didn't do any of those, but it gives me something to do in the future.
I decided to have lunch on the grounds. I chose to eat at the Bistro outside of the Winery. I began with a bowl of roasted tomato and fennel bisque. The main course was a deep-dish quiche Lorraine. Every bite was sheer bliss. Then my wonderful waitress offered up the dessert menu. Rarely do I have dessert, especially at lunch. However, I was in the mood to treat myself, thus is chose to have the buttermilk pie.
It only added to my bliss. Lunch was worth every expensive penny! One side note about lunch was the couple that was seated to my right. It was a gay couple who were just enjoying their equally expensive lunch. They looked so happy together, and I found myself wanting to be just like them. Ironically, I ran into them again while I was shopping in downtown Asheville.
Speaking of shopping in downtown Asheville, I found a huge sale on summer sandals. For those who know me well, they would tell you I live in sandals and flip-flops. The sale going on was 30% off the already reduced shoes. I ended up purchasing several pair of Teva flip-flops for less than $10 each, and I got a wonderful pair of Chacos for only $30. I was in "hog heaven."
I enjoyed the rest of my time in downtown Asheville just walking from shop to shop. Asheville is by far on of my favorite cities to peruse.
I got home just in time for the thunderstorms to hit. I sat with the front door and the living room windows open just to hear the rolling storms pass. It was a nice way to wind down the evening.
It was so nice to have a day to myself. I so rarely get to have those anymore.
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