Every year at some point during the week before school every teacher gets ready to meet his new students and parents at open house night. It would probably make more sense to have open house after a few weeks into the school year, but with the education system, common sense is not often followed. Usually it can be a productive night where I get to meet my students and introduce myself to their parents which is key. Parental involvement in education is of utmost importance. Without help from parents teachers are left to deal with problematic kids who face little to no consequences for their poor choices at school. The school I'm currently at has pretty good parental involvement. In fact tonight I don't think I have ever seen that many parents show up to a conference night. The classes that I teach freshman were standing room only in some cases which is fantastic. When the first day of school comes around the kids will be ready to go and few suprises will come their way.
This year I teach freshman and seniors. It has been a few years since I have taught freshman and I just think they are coming to high school smaller and smaller. They were so cute. Their little eyes just looked at me like oh god what are you going to have us do in this classroom. I know from past experience they will look like deer in headlights for a few weeks while barely talking. However once October rolls around, they will make friends and I will be longing for the days when they didn't know anyone.
It is a good change for me though. Teaching American History for me was getting stale. Some teachers will teach the same subject for years and enjoy it. However, I definitely know that I'm not one of those people. Teachers in a way are creatures of habit. If you went to any school for a long enough period of time you would notice a few things. Teachers always park in the same general area everyday in the parking lot, some in the same space. At faculty meetings they sit in the same row everytime unless directed to do otherwise. Many will have their class set up a certain way for years and so on. So asking us to change can be a painful experience.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Monday, August 17th- New Beginings
Every year you always end up circling the important days of your life on a calendar. Whether it is a holiday, vacation, or important meeting, the date is embedded in your mind. August 17, 2009 was one of those days .
Since the end of the school year August 17 was circled on the calendar as the first day I would report back to work for the much beloved teacher pre-planning. For most jobs there is no pre-planning , you just show back to work with little celebration. Pre-planning for teachers is a necessary evil for anyone who has ever stepped into the classroom. This is a week filled of meetings, (lots of them), getting your room ready, lesson planning, and making copies. It is challenging because you are often pulled in so many directions and time mangement is of the essence. For new teachers it can be an overwhelming period of time where you receive so much paperwork, advice, and information which can me hinderance than help. I actually like the pre-planning time because I tend to decorate my room more than the average high school social studies teacher. I just think if you teach a certain subject visitorss show know immediately what that is. Plus I get to socialize with all the teachers that I didnt get to speak with during the summer. Every teacher is different some come in early to get ready, and some don't. I tend to fall somewhere in between. I don't mind coming in early if I can to get ready, but if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world. This year like most years I'm pretty excited to get it started. Don't get me wrong, I love summer it is relaxing, but it is really nice to be on the payroll again. Just ask my wife, she would agree to. I will miss my late nights of playing video games, reading, or playing on the internet.
August 17 also was a special day because we closed on our first house. I really believe the good lord has been watching us and guiding us throughout this journey. I feel so blessed by everything that has happened to me this year, and buying the house was a big reason. When we started to look for a home we knew what we wanted. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, around 2,000 sq feet, decent yard, good neighborhood, etc. We at first really didn't consider a new home not because of cost, but more of lack of knowledge of where the new building was occuring. After going to look at a hand full of foreclosures, we decided that was enough. Seeing the foreclosures just reaffirmed me original belief that some people are disgusting. It was amazing to see the condition of the carpet in some of the homes we visited. After walking around and seeing holes in the wall, missing appliances, and nasty carpet, it was decided upon to start looking for new homes. The day we stumbled upon our new home we actually had gone out with our awesome real estate agent and he recommended a few new developments. So we headed out down the road and found Belmont. We couldn't figure out the theme or our way around. Once we spoke to the sales woman about the availability of inventory homes, we thought about leaving. She wasn't going to win awards for salesperson of the year. However, we decided to go look at this four bedroom, two bath home and what do you know, we liked it. But was it going to work? Living in an apartment would test our availability for this house. This is where I really have to thank the good lord for our wonderful real estate team of Tony and Debbie. You couldn't ask for a better team of trained real estate professionals to work with. They were absolutley wonderful to work with and when they worked out a later closing date, the home in Belmont was ours.
You never know what your experience will be in life whether it is your career or looking for a home. Trust me I have heard enough negative stories from the home buying end. I guess misery loves company. Bad news travels faster than good news. However, I have nothing to report but good stories here. If you think positive, most times you will end up with a positive ending. I wish that energy would carry over to the rest of society.
Since the end of the school year August 17 was circled on the calendar as the first day I would report back to work for the much beloved teacher pre-planning. For most jobs there is no pre-planning , you just show back to work with little celebration. Pre-planning for teachers is a necessary evil for anyone who has ever stepped into the classroom. This is a week filled of meetings, (lots of them), getting your room ready, lesson planning, and making copies. It is challenging because you are often pulled in so many directions and time mangement is of the essence. For new teachers it can be an overwhelming period of time where you receive so much paperwork, advice, and information which can me hinderance than help. I actually like the pre-planning time because I tend to decorate my room more than the average high school social studies teacher. I just think if you teach a certain subject visitorss show know immediately what that is. Plus I get to socialize with all the teachers that I didnt get to speak with during the summer. Every teacher is different some come in early to get ready, and some don't. I tend to fall somewhere in between. I don't mind coming in early if I can to get ready, but if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world. This year like most years I'm pretty excited to get it started. Don't get me wrong, I love summer it is relaxing, but it is really nice to be on the payroll again. Just ask my wife, she would agree to. I will miss my late nights of playing video games, reading, or playing on the internet.
August 17 also was a special day because we closed on our first house. I really believe the good lord has been watching us and guiding us throughout this journey. I feel so blessed by everything that has happened to me this year, and buying the house was a big reason. When we started to look for a home we knew what we wanted. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, around 2,000 sq feet, decent yard, good neighborhood, etc. We at first really didn't consider a new home not because of cost, but more of lack of knowledge of where the new building was occuring. After going to look at a hand full of foreclosures, we decided that was enough. Seeing the foreclosures just reaffirmed me original belief that some people are disgusting. It was amazing to see the condition of the carpet in some of the homes we visited. After walking around and seeing holes in the wall, missing appliances, and nasty carpet, it was decided upon to start looking for new homes. The day we stumbled upon our new home we actually had gone out with our awesome real estate agent and he recommended a few new developments. So we headed out down the road and found Belmont. We couldn't figure out the theme or our way around. Once we spoke to the sales woman about the availability of inventory homes, we thought about leaving. She wasn't going to win awards for salesperson of the year. However, we decided to go look at this four bedroom, two bath home and what do you know, we liked it. But was it going to work? Living in an apartment would test our availability for this house. This is where I really have to thank the good lord for our wonderful real estate team of Tony and Debbie. You couldn't ask for a better team of trained real estate professionals to work with. They were absolutley wonderful to work with and when they worked out a later closing date, the home in Belmont was ours.
You never know what your experience will be in life whether it is your career or looking for a home. Trust me I have heard enough negative stories from the home buying end. I guess misery loves company. Bad news travels faster than good news. However, I have nothing to report but good stories here. If you think positive, most times you will end up with a positive ending. I wish that energy would carry over to the rest of society.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday August 16th
Today is the first day of my new blog. I'm not sure how long I will keep up with this, but I usually have something I'm thinking about daily so I doubt it will be hard to think of something to write. Everyday for a whole year well until August 16th 2010.
So today and really this year has been a year of firsts for me. Got married for the first and hopefully the last time to my loving wife. Went on a plane for the first time since I was probably four or five which was a big deal for me especially considering what happened on Sept 11. Before my honeymoon I really couldn't remember where I went or how old I was when I last flew. Boy have times changed. Taking shoes off, removing everything from your pockets, no liquids that are more than 3 oz for carry ons. Well it's not a bad thing when you think about it. I would have never chose to sit by the window now I love it. Nothing is better than the sights I have seen from the window of an airplane, like the Rocky Mountains, the U.S. Capitol, Las Vegas and the beauty of Tampa. Flying was something that I just wouldnt consider. I was that scared of it. Now I can't wait to book our next flight. Don't get me wrong. I'm not crazy about the leg room, the bathrooms, and lack of beverages they give you on board. However, I do think I'm now a big flying fan.
Besides flying going on a cruise was something I would have never considered as well. Wow did I live in a box or what? Just the thought of being in the middle of the ocean and not being able to see land scared the holy crap out of me. Going on a cruise changed that. It was the best vacation I have ever been on. How can you beat a vacation where they do all the driving, you eat as much as you want, and spend your free time working on your tan. Don't get me wrong the bathrooms are a bit of an issue with the lack of deodorizing options, but it is an experience.
So what else did I do that was a first? Went on my first metro train thanks to the good people of our nation's capital. It was quite an experience and definitely was better than walking all over god's creation to the next landmark. However, today was something I never, ever thought I would do. I definitely thought my man card would be revoked for good. After much thought and recommendation from one Mr. Greg Ault and the wife, I decided to get a manicure and pedicure. I know I'm sure to get some laughs and jokes made at me for this. It was really nice. You sit in this massage chair that rubs your back, bum, neck, shoulders while you have your feet given the utmost attention.
I'm thinking someday this would be a great business venture for me. Open up a haircutting place much like the place I go know that is sports themed that offers hair cuts, back massages, head massages while getting your hair washed, with pedicures and manicures. I think if it were sports themed guys would like it. You can't open it up and name it something fruity. All guys get haircuts and who wouldn't wanna get a haircut, head massage, and back rub while you watch Sportscenter. Plus guys feet are nasty. I know. Mine were until today.
So today and really this year has been a year of firsts for me. Got married for the first and hopefully the last time to my loving wife. Went on a plane for the first time since I was probably four or five which was a big deal for me especially considering what happened on Sept 11. Before my honeymoon I really couldn't remember where I went or how old I was when I last flew. Boy have times changed. Taking shoes off, removing everything from your pockets, no liquids that are more than 3 oz for carry ons. Well it's not a bad thing when you think about it. I would have never chose to sit by the window now I love it. Nothing is better than the sights I have seen from the window of an airplane, like the Rocky Mountains, the U.S. Capitol, Las Vegas and the beauty of Tampa. Flying was something that I just wouldnt consider. I was that scared of it. Now I can't wait to book our next flight. Don't get me wrong. I'm not crazy about the leg room, the bathrooms, and lack of beverages they give you on board. However, I do think I'm now a big flying fan.
Besides flying going on a cruise was something I would have never considered as well. Wow did I live in a box or what? Just the thought of being in the middle of the ocean and not being able to see land scared the holy crap out of me. Going on a cruise changed that. It was the best vacation I have ever been on. How can you beat a vacation where they do all the driving, you eat as much as you want, and spend your free time working on your tan. Don't get me wrong the bathrooms are a bit of an issue with the lack of deodorizing options, but it is an experience.
So what else did I do that was a first? Went on my first metro train thanks to the good people of our nation's capital. It was quite an experience and definitely was better than walking all over god's creation to the next landmark. However, today was something I never, ever thought I would do. I definitely thought my man card would be revoked for good. After much thought and recommendation from one Mr. Greg Ault and the wife, I decided to get a manicure and pedicure. I know I'm sure to get some laughs and jokes made at me for this. It was really nice. You sit in this massage chair that rubs your back, bum, neck, shoulders while you have your feet given the utmost attention.
I'm thinking someday this would be a great business venture for me. Open up a haircutting place much like the place I go know that is sports themed that offers hair cuts, back massages, head massages while getting your hair washed, with pedicures and manicures. I think if it were sports themed guys would like it. You can't open it up and name it something fruity. All guys get haircuts and who wouldn't wanna get a haircut, head massage, and back rub while you watch Sportscenter. Plus guys feet are nasty. I know. Mine were until today.
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