10 things I learned yesterday
1. Seventh grade boys can listen to directions and not kill each other with golf clubs and non-wiffle balls. Golf practice went so well at the course yesterday, we were excited. We had 11 boys come out!
2. You have 90 days to return things to Target, even if you have no original packaging (returned the iPod car adaptor I bought in December because it's on the fritz and the good news was I got 92 bucks back, bought a new, better one for 50 and had money left over to get a 30 dollar itunes gift card for myself! Yay!)
3. Corn tastes different when it's made by a grandma (we had dinner last night at the Clums' house, they winter here and spend the rest of their time in Howell and they've become our favorite mode of package transportation. And last night she made corn that tasted just like Grandma Cows' corn!)
4. Root canal's hurt less than filings, in my opinion - and take less time. Done in under 30 minutes and pain free! So far....
5. I really like the show What about Brian and last night was most likely the series finale...figures!
6. I can't stand reality shows, namely Dancing with the Stars. We watched for 5 minutes while waiting for Brian to come on and it was incredibly painful.
7. Having your taxes done is well worth the money especially when they find deductions you knew nothing about (i.e., moving expenses!) - my return is over $1100! Yay!
8. I still love Aerosmith songs!
9. Sometimes laundry doesn't need to be done right now and you can manage with what's left in the closet and the underwear drawer.
10. I need to have someone help me reach the back of my neck when applying sunscreen, yep - a little red there after golf practice!
Ok, I am off to Palm Springs. I'll write more if I come back:-) Love you all!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
So much to blog about...
So little gumption. Yes, I am feeling lazy like a sloth. And I don't care:-) I am officially on spring break! And lovin' it.
Here's what I've done so far to begin my 2 weeks away from my children:
1. Played the Mexican Train Game (fun fun dominoe game) for over 4 hours Friday night, and I won!
2. Got a massage. (This sounds extravagant but wasn't really because I don't like thinking I pamper myself with pain. And this massage was painful. I have bad hip flexors and my neck isn't properly untensed so I was in huge pain last night).
3. Got a pedicure - this is where the pampering comes in. I even got the sea salts and a flower painted on my toes!
4. Got fitted (by a professional) for new bras and bought myself a new nightgown.
5. Bought myself 2 books, which I rarely do. And I won the raffle at school from the book fair this week and got to buy 2 books there so I have 4 new reads for the vacation - YAY!
6. Reread some of my novel, beginning the never-ending editing process. And I know this sounds weird and self-indulgent and self-congratulatory but I was choked up when I read Patricia's story. Seriously. It's weird. She's real to me.
7. Took a 4 hour nap yesterday.
8. Cleaned out my closet today and got 2 bags ready for good will.
9. Helped Ang mop the floors (under diress).
10. Ate pizza and talked with friends.
So yep, all and all a good start. Now tomorrow is dicey - I have my root canal at 8am. And I get my taxes done at 10am. So we'll see how the day goes.
Also - can you all please say a prayer for my Grandpa Cows, he's having some tests this week.
Later gators - I have a lot to write about but it'll come later.
Here's what I've done so far to begin my 2 weeks away from my children:
1. Played the Mexican Train Game (fun fun dominoe game) for over 4 hours Friday night, and I won!
2. Got a massage. (This sounds extravagant but wasn't really because I don't like thinking I pamper myself with pain. And this massage was painful. I have bad hip flexors and my neck isn't properly untensed so I was in huge pain last night).
3. Got a pedicure - this is where the pampering comes in. I even got the sea salts and a flower painted on my toes!
4. Got fitted (by a professional) for new bras and bought myself a new nightgown.
5. Bought myself 2 books, which I rarely do. And I won the raffle at school from the book fair this week and got to buy 2 books there so I have 4 new reads for the vacation - YAY!
6. Reread some of my novel, beginning the never-ending editing process. And I know this sounds weird and self-indulgent and self-congratulatory but I was choked up when I read Patricia's story. Seriously. It's weird. She's real to me.
7. Took a 4 hour nap yesterday.
8. Cleaned out my closet today and got 2 bags ready for good will.
9. Helped Ang mop the floors (under diress).
10. Ate pizza and talked with friends.
So yep, all and all a good start. Now tomorrow is dicey - I have my root canal at 8am. And I get my taxes done at 10am. So we'll see how the day goes.
Also - can you all please say a prayer for my Grandpa Cows, he's having some tests this week.
Later gators - I have a lot to write about but it'll come later.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
One more day...
I promise to blog more soon. And return emails. And call you on the phone. And do the dishes (and take the empty cake pan out of the laundry room - I was storing it there so if maintenance came in they wouldn't think we're total pigs). And dust my bedroom. And work on my budget. And paint my chipped fingernails. And clean out my purse. And reorganize the floor of my closet so I can get near the closet and hang up the clothes. And deal with the tiny annoying ants in the kitchen and the upstairs bathroom.
All after we finish parent-teacher conferences tomorrow at 3 pm.
Until then I am going to bed.
All after we finish parent-teacher conferences tomorrow at 3 pm.
Until then I am going to bed.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Just another root canal
Yep, that's what's been causing the tooth pain all these months. I'd gone to my dentist. I'd had the crown from August shaved and refitted. I'd complained and moaned and taken Advil. And I complained some more last week until I got a consult at the specialist. And at 7:45 this morning they told me that an infection is eating away at the bone above my tooth. Fan-freakin'-tastic. So Monday morning at 8am, the first day of spring break, I get to have a root canal and it will only cost me $881. Then the following Monday I get to have a crown put on. Gotta love teeth. I'm looking into a wooden set.
Can someone explain to me when dentistry and oral hygenine became so expensive? Seriously. The last root canal took less than half an hour. It didn't even hurt. But almost a thousand bucks? It's no wonder a lot of people never go or that our nation's kids have horrible teeth (trust me, I see them every day). Dental care is expensive. And I've used up all my insurance benefits for the year already with the last root canal and 2 cleanings.
And get this - the payment plan offered is a dental credit card. Great. Just what I need. At least if I put it on my Chase card I can earn points and get a gift card in the mail.
So yeah, gotta love teeth. And the 2 days of my spring break I'll devote to caring for them.
This really bites!
Can someone explain to me when dentistry and oral hygenine became so expensive? Seriously. The last root canal took less than half an hour. It didn't even hurt. But almost a thousand bucks? It's no wonder a lot of people never go or that our nation's kids have horrible teeth (trust me, I see them every day). Dental care is expensive. And I've used up all my insurance benefits for the year already with the last root canal and 2 cleanings.
And get this - the payment plan offered is a dental credit card. Great. Just what I need. At least if I put it on my Chase card I can earn points and get a gift card in the mail.
So yeah, gotta love teeth. And the 2 days of my spring break I'll devote to caring for them.
This really bites!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Tricky Tires
I decided on Thursday I did not want to be a grownup any longer. Because when you're a grownup you have to deal with stuff like bills and jobs and flat tires. And a flat tire is exactly what I had Thursday morning. So I let it sit until Saturday morning when Angela and I tackled it and guess what?!? We were able to get it off, put on the spare, and get my tire patched - all by ourselves and all for free! I was pretty impressed with us.
That out of the way the weekend seemed very accomplished and overall, good. We did some shopping (groceries, snacks for our trip to Palm Springs in 9 days, and some very cute tank tops for this ridiculously warm spring weather), had brunch today with friends, laid by the pool and read, cleaned up the house, finally got all the laundry put away, and got things situated for our first golf meeting tomorrow.
Ang and I are going to be co-coaches and we're doing all the preliminary stuff like reserving course time, looking into getting shirts made, and figuring out how to teach 7th and 8th graders who've never held a golf club how to golf. Should be fun - I'll keep you posted!
So yeah - I know that complaining about our weather seems ridiculous to those of you up in the northeast but it's pretty intense here as well. It topped 100 degrees yesterday which is a record high for this time of year. And what's more - it's not cooling down at night, which meant last night neither of us slept well, despite our fans. I hate to turn on the air already and pay the cost of cooling both stories so we contemplated sleeping downstairs tonight but we'll suck it up and hope it goes better. Also, we went on this savings plan with the electric company today where you pay the same amount every month so we don't end up paying 300 dollars in August while we only pay 25 in January. So hopefully that will help (right now our payment is 115 dollars a month). And if it stays this warm I think we'll be turning on the air. Although that seems insane to me in March but then again, this is the desert.
That out of the way the weekend seemed very accomplished and overall, good. We did some shopping (groceries, snacks for our trip to Palm Springs in 9 days, and some very cute tank tops for this ridiculously warm spring weather), had brunch today with friends, laid by the pool and read, cleaned up the house, finally got all the laundry put away, and got things situated for our first golf meeting tomorrow.
Ang and I are going to be co-coaches and we're doing all the preliminary stuff like reserving course time, looking into getting shirts made, and figuring out how to teach 7th and 8th graders who've never held a golf club how to golf. Should be fun - I'll keep you posted!
So yeah - I know that complaining about our weather seems ridiculous to those of you up in the northeast but it's pretty intense here as well. It topped 100 degrees yesterday which is a record high for this time of year. And what's more - it's not cooling down at night, which meant last night neither of us slept well, despite our fans. I hate to turn on the air already and pay the cost of cooling both stories so we contemplated sleeping downstairs tonight but we'll suck it up and hope it goes better. Also, we went on this savings plan with the electric company today where you pay the same amount every month so we don't end up paying 300 dollars in August while we only pay 25 in January. So hopefully that will help (right now our payment is 115 dollars a month). And if it stays this warm I think we'll be turning on the air. Although that seems insane to me in March but then again, this is the desert.
This is our last week of school before spring break so that means parent-teacher conferences and 3 golf practices, should keep me busy!
Oh yeah, and today I spent 3 hours and 10 minutes watching Blood In, Blood Out - a movie about gangs in L.A. and prision. It's a movie one of Ang's kids insisted she watch and he let her borrow so we had to watch it. Here's my review: Don't rent it. Just don't. It's a lot of what I've seen on The Shield, The Sopranos, and other miscellanous TV shows and movies and the actings pretty bad. This week I think we'll be having a long talk with this student. I really want to know why he idolizes these gang members and prision inmates. I'm interested to hear his rationale. Because I doubt he wants a shank to the gut or a steel rod through the jugular or to see his little brother find his heroin needle and kill himself (all scenes from this epic movie). I'm very curious.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Trees are Singing No More
Yesterday we got to school and they were cutting a big limb off one of the beautiful trees out front of the school. Okay we thought, it must have been dead. Then we noticed the chipper and the caution tape all around the school. And they kept cutting, not just that one limb but the whole tree. It was sad but we figured the tree must have had it coming. So we went on.
Then we got an email from the principal telling us the sad news: Every single tree around our school (and there are tons, they give us much needed shade in when it's 97 degrees outside like it will be today) was to be cut down. Every single tree!
By lunchtime it looked like a tornado had gone through and by the time we left at 4pm it looked like a bad horror movie. The trees are all gone. All gone.
Apparently they stopped watering them several years ago and because we live in the desert, the trees' roots went looking for water. Guess where they found it, yep, under the foundation of the school. So the story is that the roots were starting to hurt the foundation. They tried rewatering this fall to no avail.
We had just read a novella in class, Song of the Trees, in which a family fights to save their woods from clear cutters because the little girl says the trees are singing to her. It's a great story and my class really liked it, even did well on the test. And yesterday it was really sad to have one of my girls come up to me and with all sincerity say, "Miss Knapp, the trees aren't singing any more."
One of my boys asked me what would happen in 50 years when we can't breathe and I said I didn't know because I really don't. But I do know it was sad to see those trees gone. It will be sad to drive up to school today and see the sand and only sand. And to look out my window all day and not see trees and shade but sun and highway.
There's talk of replanting and we were admonished to look forward not complain but I really think it's sad. I grew up with a pretty hefty respect for trees and nature and I wish there was something else they could have done.
Then we got an email from the principal telling us the sad news: Every single tree around our school (and there are tons, they give us much needed shade in when it's 97 degrees outside like it will be today) was to be cut down. Every single tree!
By lunchtime it looked like a tornado had gone through and by the time we left at 4pm it looked like a bad horror movie. The trees are all gone. All gone.
Apparently they stopped watering them several years ago and because we live in the desert, the trees' roots went looking for water. Guess where they found it, yep, under the foundation of the school. So the story is that the roots were starting to hurt the foundation. They tried rewatering this fall to no avail.
We had just read a novella in class, Song of the Trees, in which a family fights to save their woods from clear cutters because the little girl says the trees are singing to her. It's a great story and my class really liked it, even did well on the test. And yesterday it was really sad to have one of my girls come up to me and with all sincerity say, "Miss Knapp, the trees aren't singing any more."
One of my boys asked me what would happen in 50 years when we can't breathe and I said I didn't know because I really don't. But I do know it was sad to see those trees gone. It will be sad to drive up to school today and see the sand and only sand. And to look out my window all day and not see trees and shade but sun and highway.
There's talk of replanting and we were admonished to look forward not complain but I really think it's sad. I grew up with a pretty hefty respect for trees and nature and I wish there was something else they could have done.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
10 on Tuesday
Ten ways to make what started as a bad day (finding out a kid you spent 45 minutes of your time off the clock helping yesterday skipped 7th hour! among other things) much better:
1. Getting all my grades figured and into the computer 2 days before they're due!
2. My friend Angel getting into nursing school! Congrats lady!!!!
3. Planning 3 golf clinics for next week for my team and working out the perfect spring break schedule for golf so it doesn't mess up any big relaxin' plans.
4. Getting new shoes in the mail that I didn't have to go to a store to buy - and they fit perfectly!
5. Sitting down for 25 minutes with my kids and reading the awesome Tuck Everlasting, it's a really well written book - and not just for kids! It makes me laugh constantly, and the descriptions are amazing. This is one of the best parts of my job, just reading with my kids and hearing their spontaneous chuckles or seeing them figure something out.
6. Finding some great war propaganda posters online that printed out in color really well for our big lesson on propaganda techniques tomorrow, I think it will be fun!
7. Calling the Calla Lilly Inn in Palm Springs to inquire about their package deals to find the woman extremely charming and very accomodating. I can't wait to go over spring break!
8. Hearing from my mom that her doctor's appointment went well today and that her heart tests all came out okay!
9. Getting a new DVD in the mail from Netflix: House, M.D. (which is so far a good show!).
10. Getting an email from a friend telling me that something I helped start a long time ago (the tutoring program at MLK in Kalamazoo) is still going strong. That's awesome.
Now it's off to watch some House and then do some reading. Hope you had a good end to your day as well!
1. Getting all my grades figured and into the computer 2 days before they're due!
2. My friend Angel getting into nursing school! Congrats lady!!!!
3. Planning 3 golf clinics for next week for my team and working out the perfect spring break schedule for golf so it doesn't mess up any big relaxin' plans.
4. Getting new shoes in the mail that I didn't have to go to a store to buy - and they fit perfectly!
5. Sitting down for 25 minutes with my kids and reading the awesome Tuck Everlasting, it's a really well written book - and not just for kids! It makes me laugh constantly, and the descriptions are amazing. This is one of the best parts of my job, just reading with my kids and hearing their spontaneous chuckles or seeing them figure something out.
6. Finding some great war propaganda posters online that printed out in color really well for our big lesson on propaganda techniques tomorrow, I think it will be fun!
7. Calling the Calla Lilly Inn in Palm Springs to inquire about their package deals to find the woman extremely charming and very accomodating. I can't wait to go over spring break!
8. Hearing from my mom that her doctor's appointment went well today and that her heart tests all came out okay!
9. Getting a new DVD in the mail from Netflix: House, M.D. (which is so far a good show!).
10. Getting an email from a friend telling me that something I helped start a long time ago (the tutoring program at MLK in Kalamazoo) is still going strong. That's awesome.
Now it's off to watch some House and then do some reading. Hope you had a good end to your day as well!
Friday, March 09, 2007
Hallelujah
We had our school-wide T4S (Teach for Success) sweeps today which means every teacher was observed and evaluated. We stressed and agonized over lessons, over whether or not we understand verbal scaffolding and whether or not we have all students engaged. We have to have all the little boxes checked by these strangers and then we get the golden egg: instructional time maximized. And guess what we did it! Angela, Shannon and I and a bunch of other friends all made it! Whew. It was nerve wracking but we did it and we're pretty excited so we went to Lute's and celebrated with cheeseburgers and fries and friends. Good times!
It was pretty funny too the way we found out. After school we were all standing around outside of the principal's office and we saw her in there with the vice principal and we knew they were going over our sheets so we peered in and smiled and they told us to come on it. She announced that we were her group of "over-achievers", it was great! Success.
So we can breathe - but only for a moment. 12 school days left until the AIMS test, the big standardized state test that tells us whether or not our school makes AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) and gets to get off the school improvement plan. If we don't, that means trouble, trouble in river city since we are on year four of our school improvement plan already. If we don't make AYP the powers behind No Child Left Behind will swoop down. Eeek!
But I am going to enjoy tonight and go to sleep happy since I aced yet another evaluation this year! Hooray! That and I am getting a massage tomorrow so maybe my back will stop hurting!
It was pretty funny too the way we found out. After school we were all standing around outside of the principal's office and we saw her in there with the vice principal and we knew they were going over our sheets so we peered in and smiled and they told us to come on it. She announced that we were her group of "over-achievers", it was great! Success.
So we can breathe - but only for a moment. 12 school days left until the AIMS test, the big standardized state test that tells us whether or not our school makes AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) and gets to get off the school improvement plan. If we don't, that means trouble, trouble in river city since we are on year four of our school improvement plan already. If we don't make AYP the powers behind No Child Left Behind will swoop down. Eeek!
But I am going to enjoy tonight and go to sleep happy since I aced yet another evaluation this year! Hooray! That and I am getting a massage tomorrow so maybe my back will stop hurting!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
$87,000
$87,000 - the reported amount per week that several stars of Lost get paid. And they are complaining that they don't get to work enough and spend most of their time sitting on the Hawaiian beaches, waiting.
Seriously.
Oh, and then there's Zach Braff (whom I adore!) who's reportedly going to get $350,000 PER EPISODE for the 7th season of Scrubs. Now I love Scrubs but 7.7 million dollars for just the one actor! Come on. It's of absolutely no surprise that this is all my kids want to grow up to be - famous. Not even actors, just rich and famous. I want to be paid that kind of money for what I do. Don't we all? I mean really, I bring home about $11.25 an hour if I only work 40 hours a week. And that rarely happens. I need to write a script and fast.
Speaking of what I do, today was another 10 and 1/2 hour day. So we had pizza tonight, at Round Table, which was really good. And a big salad. And I was feeling guilty. But it was so good. And I didn't have to cook it or clean up (they serve on paper plates there - gotta love it!).
Tomorrow will be even longer, afterschool program then prepping for the big Yuma Plan Day observations on Friday. We're all on pins and needles. Can't wait 'till Saturday.
Seriously.
Oh, and then there's Zach Braff (whom I adore!) who's reportedly going to get $350,000 PER EPISODE for the 7th season of Scrubs. Now I love Scrubs but 7.7 million dollars for just the one actor! Come on. It's of absolutely no surprise that this is all my kids want to grow up to be - famous. Not even actors, just rich and famous. I want to be paid that kind of money for what I do. Don't we all? I mean really, I bring home about $11.25 an hour if I only work 40 hours a week. And that rarely happens. I need to write a script and fast.
Speaking of what I do, today was another 10 and 1/2 hour day. So we had pizza tonight, at Round Table, which was really good. And a big salad. And I was feeling guilty. But it was so good. And I didn't have to cook it or clean up (they serve on paper plates there - gotta love it!).
Tomorrow will be even longer, afterschool program then prepping for the big Yuma Plan Day observations on Friday. We're all on pins and needles. Can't wait 'till Saturday.
10 on Tuesday
(Stealing from Jamee's fabulous idea)
I am thankful for:
1. God's little reminders that I do have it very good, and I should remember to be thankful
2. Cool mornings and snuggling under the covers
3. Friends who send Bible verses and inspire me to get back to what matters
4. Laptop computers so I can balance my checkbook in bed
5. Salad in a bag
6. Kids who make me smile at the end of the day
7. Long emails reminding me of good conversations
8. Stretchy pants (and no, not the Nacho Libre kind but the dress up kind!)
9. Angel food cake and strawberries
10. Co-workers who listen to you bellyache and sympathize
So what are you thankful for today?
I am thankful for:
1. God's little reminders that I do have it very good, and I should remember to be thankful
2. Cool mornings and snuggling under the covers
3. Friends who send Bible verses and inspire me to get back to what matters
4. Laptop computers so I can balance my checkbook in bed
5. Salad in a bag
6. Kids who make me smile at the end of the day
7. Long emails reminding me of good conversations
8. Stretchy pants (and no, not the Nacho Libre kind but the dress up kind!)
9. Angel food cake and strawberries
10. Co-workers who listen to you bellyache and sympathize
So what are you thankful for today?
Monday, March 05, 2007
My head's above water - barely
So I might not be as burned out today but I am still a bit toasty. We have spent the last 4 hours grading papers. Ang helping me with tests, me doing essays, and it's now 10:30 and I need sleep. And I need to do the hundred other things on my to-do list but we'll see which wins.
Today went well, I was finally observed! Yay, sixth time is the charm. I guess it went well - I am never sure. My last observation - a week or so ago, with my mentor teacher went really well and I could feel it. Today I was very anxious, thinking he wasn't going to show. And because I'd just learned our big AIMS (standardized test everyone lives and breathes around here) might be pushed up a week which really throws off the teaching calendars. So yeah. Best thing is it's over. We have our school-wide observations Friday and after that I think my head will be much higher in the pool.
On the up side it's 70 degrees right now and it's lovely. Might even need to open the window before bed. Wore sandals today, what a great feeling in March. (No, I am not rubbing in it Northerners because I spent 28 years there!)
Ok, off to bed. Didn't hit 10,000 steps today -only 8436 but I did walk 2 miles this morning before putting the pedometer on. Oh, and Ang broke her 3rd pedometer today. I have decided her forcefield just cannot handle such a contraption!
Today went well, I was finally observed! Yay, sixth time is the charm. I guess it went well - I am never sure. My last observation - a week or so ago, with my mentor teacher went really well and I could feel it. Today I was very anxious, thinking he wasn't going to show. And because I'd just learned our big AIMS (standardized test everyone lives and breathes around here) might be pushed up a week which really throws off the teaching calendars. So yeah. Best thing is it's over. We have our school-wide observations Friday and after that I think my head will be much higher in the pool.
On the up side it's 70 degrees right now and it's lovely. Might even need to open the window before bed. Wore sandals today, what a great feeling in March. (No, I am not rubbing in it Northerners because I spent 28 years there!)
Ok, off to bed. Didn't hit 10,000 steps today -only 8436 but I did walk 2 miles this morning before putting the pedometer on. Oh, and Ang broke her 3rd pedometer today. I have decided her forcefield just cannot handle such a contraption!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Burnout
Reader's Digest lists the job with the number one rate of burnout as...(drumroll please) Teaching! Yep, surprise! And after today - I know why. I am there. At 8:30 I was asleep on the couch. It's now 9:30 and I am headed to bed after forcing myself to put dishes in the dishwasher and wash my face. It was one of those days.
Oh, let's see...a little taste of what today was like for those uninitiated like I was just a few short, sweet months ago:
- Remember how my room was tagged on Tuesday? Well today I found a handmade gang posted in my room (complete with a misspelling of terf instead of turf) which I now have to take to the police officer tomorrow after I confront the kid who I think drew it.
- I am grading a 5 paragraph essay they turned in last week. So far I have some with 7 paragraphs, some with 3 and one with 1 paragraph. And the AIMS (the big deal standardized tests) are coming up asap.
- We had 2 kids for detention today and 10 for tutoring afterschool. It was a madhouse and I helped the situation by offering Mike and Ikes for good behavior. Well, for at least pretending to be good.
- One of my kids decided to skip getting on the activity bus at 5:30 after tutoring, went to the basketball game instead (illegal in Middle School without a parent present) and then had no way home. So guess who had to take her home?!?! Yep, the other Miss Knapp and I. After a very loud, very public dressing down by yours truly.
- After reading 41 pages of the novel Tuck Everlasting, which is very good so far, I still have kids who are saying, "I don't get it."
- After lunch, when us teachers are all coming back from our 30 minute bell-to-bell break, there was a fight in the hallway and the huge eighth graders who's parents have bullied the principal into dropping any and all disiplinary referalls, were blocking our access. Fan-freakin'-tastic. Another day in the hood.
- Our school police officer reported that we have more gang activity and violence problems at our campus then the local high school does this year.
So this and so much more is why I am going to bed now.
Oh, and yeah, I wore heels today and guess what? Only got 5200 steps in instead of my usual 10,000+. Interesting. Can't wait to get back to the tennis shoes tomorrow!
Oh, let's see...a little taste of what today was like for those uninitiated like I was just a few short, sweet months ago:
- Remember how my room was tagged on Tuesday? Well today I found a handmade gang posted in my room (complete with a misspelling of terf instead of turf) which I now have to take to the police officer tomorrow after I confront the kid who I think drew it.
- I am grading a 5 paragraph essay they turned in last week. So far I have some with 7 paragraphs, some with 3 and one with 1 paragraph. And the AIMS (the big deal standardized tests) are coming up asap.
- We had 2 kids for detention today and 10 for tutoring afterschool. It was a madhouse and I helped the situation by offering Mike and Ikes for good behavior. Well, for at least pretending to be good.
- One of my kids decided to skip getting on the activity bus at 5:30 after tutoring, went to the basketball game instead (illegal in Middle School without a parent present) and then had no way home. So guess who had to take her home?!?! Yep, the other Miss Knapp and I. After a very loud, very public dressing down by yours truly.
- After reading 41 pages of the novel Tuck Everlasting, which is very good so far, I still have kids who are saying, "I don't get it."
- After lunch, when us teachers are all coming back from our 30 minute bell-to-bell break, there was a fight in the hallway and the huge eighth graders who's parents have bullied the principal into dropping any and all disiplinary referalls, were blocking our access. Fan-freakin'-tastic. Another day in the hood.
- Our school police officer reported that we have more gang activity and violence problems at our campus then the local high school does this year.
So this and so much more is why I am going to bed now.
Oh, and yeah, I wore heels today and guess what? Only got 5200 steps in instead of my usual 10,000+. Interesting. Can't wait to get back to the tennis shoes tomorrow!
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