A Day In The Journey

Yesterday and today my kids are taking the C.A.T.s. It's a little stressful for me--I have this awful fear that there is something I missed teaching them (like in Grammar) that they will need to know for the test. It's funny, the only times I worry about worst case scenarios are when it has to do with my students. I guess I just feel like there is so much riding on this, not just my students performances, but my future job. I shouldn't be worried though: the kids here always do really well on achievement tests.

This week is also a weird school week. The kids are working on learning poems for a poetry recital competition, so I get to use my SP 101 and 102 teacher-type skills again. These kids are actually pretty good. I haven't listened to my upper school students yet, though, because of the testing--I haven't had composition for two days. (I am on high school student withdrawal, I'm afraid--it's going to be difficult next year) So tomorrow I have to cram 13 poetry readings into 45 minutes--that should be fun. I realized that as many work copies as I've done, and as familiar as I am with them, it isn't very easy to explain them to people who haven't done them. But I utilized my syllabi and we plowed through. Mr. Grainger is much better at it than I am! At any rate, while it is a fun change of pace, it makes the school day a little wierd--change-of-paces tend to do that. And to top it off, with testing and the short week, I decided not to give a new history card this week, so we're just filling in and around to finish up the week. It makes things feel disorganized and random. Bleh. It's alright, though, we'll survive--as long as someone doesn't decide to observe me :).

On a completely different note, my athletic director and I had a long talk about the basketball team last week, and the decision that has been made is a good one, but one that puts me in another grow/learn place. Sigh. Actually, it's what we should have done this year but couldn't because of the business he was starting. The decision is that he will be the official head coach of the girls team so that I can learn how to become a better, competitive coach. It's hard for me because I've been in charge of the team for a year, but I know it's what I need to do in order to become the coach I need to be for the team to be competitive in this league. Jeff knows more about which drills to use to develop the skills I know the girls need. So, this should be interesting. Based on what I saw of how he worked with the JV assistant coach, I think I'll have a lot of input and leeway, especially as the year progresses. I also intend to teach myself a lot this summer (which I did not have time to do last summer due to the last minuteness of it all). Sometimes I get so tired of growing!

On an even different note, the varsity softball and baseball teams won last night. My brother has a win for his pitching stats!!!!!!! I'm so proud. They played a great game. The girls played well, but they had an advantage as their opponents are in their first year of play. It showed. But the other school's basketball teams kicked ours this year, so it all evened out. :) They play again tomorrow--the boys have a double header--so I hope they can hold their record. Go Patriots!

Posted by Renee at 09:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Friday night was the school's Victorian Ball. I dragged my sister. :) Neither of us wore actual Victorian gowns (I only have a day-dress for my hoops and she doesn't have any), but it was fun to dress up in formal dresses and dance. It was so much fun. Three of my upper school boys asked me to dance--that was fun--and two others got "stuck" with me. It was just such a beautiful and pleasant evening. I haven't had so much fun in a long time. And one of my friends from high school, Trevor Cangelosi, was there. It was so great to see him--and get a great hug. I barely got a chance to talk to him, though. In fact, we had just finished talking about what I was doing when some guy came up and interrupted to talk to Trevor. And then every time I had a chance to talk, someone else was talking to him. So I feel like a moron--I never got to ask what he's been up to/doing now. Bother. At any rate. I also got to dance with my 5th grade girls--that was very silly and fun. At any rate, I would recommend that anyone who has the chance to go to a vintage dance. It's much more fun than modern dances. much!

At any rate, I have digressed a little from the usual. The 5th grade is making newspapers for history this week--on the Battle of Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris (1783). It is interesting. They are realizing the importance of every individual supporting the team. And of listening to each member of the team rather than interrupting to say whatever they feel like saying. I'm trying to teach them the skill of building a team and of being leaders. We'll see how that works. They're doing okay, but I know they can do better. They still have trouble realizing how to use their time to help others when they are finished with their work. And, of course, they do have some trouble getting their own work finished. :) But we all learn and grow--and I think they are enjoying the project.

On an even different note, I can't even believe it's already getting to the end of the third quarter. It just can't have been so long already! I only hope and pray that I am growing like I need to and becoming the teacher I need to be to take over Dialectic Humanities next year. God keeps putting me in places where I have to be teachable and to live by faith that He will sort things out for me as I grow. I don't particularly like being teachable, but I do like the resulting person I become. It's the faith part that's the hardest. I really want to fret and panic and try to "fix" or "control" the situation, but I know that isn't the right or best way. Instead I have to remind myself that God always has the very best in store for me; I just have to do what I know is right and trust in Him to lead me. On the surface it seems so much simpler than the fretting attempt at control, but in reality my instinct is the fretting control attempt. With each circumstance I do become more and more comfortable with faith, but it still isn't instinctual. I guess that's why God keeps putting on the line. Sigh.

Posted by Renee at 03:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I do intend to write a longer post on Monday, but since I'm sitting at the computer right now, I have a couple of things to insert. I mentioned in my last post the "soap opera" topic. Well, that started a trend with a couple of the boys to continue writing installments. One was really funny to me (the insight into personalities was just great), so I borrowed an idea from someone and made a couple of films based on my student's work. I must submit that it was a bit funnier on paper because a couple things he wrote had to be adapted to the film format (i.e. limited ability to perform actual actions, like punching and falling through portals, other than walking and talking). Also, none of the characters truly resemble the actual looks of my students--I chose them for iconic qualities (and humour). Anyway, enjoy them for what their worth.

All My Comrades, pt1

All My Comrades, pt2

All My Comrades, pt3

Posted by Renee at 06:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Basketball season is over. My girls made it to the state tournament (b/c there were only four teams :]) in New Iberia (really, really long drive--yucko). but we lost that game. Bleg. But the girls played really well. I was proud of them. These girls have learned so much this year; not just shooting and dribbling and passing, but they've really learned to play as a team and put their heart into whatever they do and encourage each other no matter what. That, to me, is far more important than jsut winning some games. Next year, though, I'll have some time to actually get ready for the season, so we can really work on offense (this year we focused a lot on defense since there was none). I have learned so much from these girls--probably more than I taught them. I can't wait for next year!

Previously unmentioned information: because of the changes at the school next year, I'm being looked at for the 6-8th grade Humanities teacher (literature, grammar, composition, history, theology, philosophy, and possibly logic). Because of this, I am under a lot of scrutiny and help. I have always struggled with being teachable--I have a tendency to take criticism as a personal attack when it's just a fact to help me. But, my aforementioned colleague is helping me step by step. I really want the job. It will be a lot of work, and it requires me to reclaim my backbone (I lost it a while back in the midst of a horribly relationship that I should never have allowed to go on so long). Well, it's a step by step process. It's going alright--It's growing me for sure. It pretty much needs prayer and God's grace.

So last week I gave the topic of "soap operas" to the upper school for their free write. Boy did I start a trend! Several of them decided to write snippets of soap operas for me. Hilarious! the disturbing thing: three of them latched on to the everybody-getting-pregnant-with-everybody's-baby theme. Yet, oddly, all of the pregnancies in their snippets were male. Not sure what to think about that. Just thought I'd share.

Posted by Renee at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)