Focusing on the POSITIVE

Second week down for 2010-2011, and we're focusing on the positive.  I am finally not behind.  I worked 12-15 hours a day for two weeks, but my grades are in and my planning is on track.  Mr. Goering, who teaches one block of reading, is completely unneedy, which is nice.  He doesn't know the content, but he knows instruction.  Real teachers can teach anything.  That must mean I am not a real teacher, because I don't think ANYONE would learn if I taught science.  Gratefully, Mr. Vasquez is doing that.  He's very upbeat ans seems to be confortable.  Chmids is teaching math. She has a very different perspective on things, but she is solid and I love her.  Although I MISS Bobbitt and Mesa so much it is painful somedays, it is nice to have a team that where everyone trying to be effective and collaborative.  I know as we move along, I will further appreciate this team and realize more deeply that Mesa and Bobbitt are serving better where they are. I still have Mr. Smith here and he reaffirms my belief in character and integrity everyday.  It will be nice to get together with the guys and not have our jobs in common.  I was a very different teacher.  Although they were always so supportive of my "giftings,"  there were days that it brought hard feelings (mostly unspoken, but not always).   In my heart, I believe we have a group of cools human beings in our building;  they just need solid leadership and TRUE vision, not just one that sounds good and looks impressive on the wall.  Northwest kids must not continue to suffer under the legacy of NW mismanagement.   We have a chance, I hope we take it.

On the home front,  I am trying to find my house.  My kids are tired from undersleeping every night.  I hope to get them back on track this week.  They tend to stay awake until I can read with them or tuck them in.  Sometimes, I find that pressure overwhelming when I got a million work things to do, but it would be more overwhelming if they stopped wanting me in their lives that way.  Emily has been riding with me.  That is fun.  I can't go as fast, but it is nice to have the company.  I bought her and Emily those super nice bikes, and they have hardly used them.  I am going to sneak over and steal Ashley's because it cost twice as much as mine and she doesn't use it.  I am going to ride the Tour de Shawnee tomorrow and the MS 150 in two more weeks.  After that, I hope Em and I will keep riding, but once the pressure of training is over, I tend to get lazy and put on my winter 15.   I would love to avoid that this year.  I take my shoes to school so I can run the stairs, but I never have time to do that.  I'll figure it out because it sure has been nice to get back to better shape.  It got a lot harder to do once I gave up youth ministries: no more mountain climbing or building houses in the 115 degree Mexican heat.  Those were the days. 

Well, I am off to meet with Susan Hodges about backward design.   I am sure I will learn more than I can give her.   Later.