Actually, I know many of you would have read that sarcastically, but it's not bad. I am actually thankful to have some meaningful PD for once! Yesterday and today I am in "assessment alignment" training. I know that means nothing to most of you, but it will be helpful when it comes time for my students to take standardized tests, especially the MEAP and the MME! So, it's long, my sister's here and I would rather be hanging out with her, but it's nice to have some training on how to do something I actually should be doing (some of which I already do, just didn't realize!).
Hope you are all getting ready for school too. Let me know about your schedules and stuff!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
In my new room...
Well, I am sitting in my new classroom, staring at the Spartan green and white, nervous, yet excited. Kids don't start for another two weeks, but I have to be here on Monday, ready to meet a new staff and learn about a new school. It feels like the anticipation for the seventh grade all over again. I thought I would wet myself I was so scared, but excited too...a new challenge. Change is always difficult, especially when you really adored to people you had been around. I will miss seeing all of you in the hallways. Michael and Jon giving me the hardest high-fives imaginable, or calling Mike Sanjaya. I will miss clapping on Fridays while wearing my "It's All Good!" t-shirt (my smiley face is hanging on my cabinet in my new room though). I am going to miss Matt always saying "whatever Capy", and Katie and Veronica making sure I knew the latest teenage gossip. I will miss Gary complaining about my shoes and Ben sharing his new favorite vocab word or astrophysical discovery or whatever. I will miss my DC kids "shutting the door", Criss-Cross and Bible Phone. I am going to miss D so much...not getting to stop in her room to complain about life, or share big moments is going to be so hard. But, as these relationships took time to form, I am certain that same level of report will happen here too...I just have to remember it didnt' happen over night. Gosh, I think the first three years or so my students hated me and called me all sorts of names. (save for a couple of kids of course). Now, I know there are those who didn't connect with me, but I certainly tried my hardest to find something to connect with everyone about.
So, my smiley face stares at me as I sit at my desk and type on my laptop. That will be where I see all your faces and hear your voices...and it better be on this blog too:P
Have a fabulous last two weeks before school starts up again and keep writing! Remember, we are going to change the world. Make sure D doesn't forget that!!! (and get on her case about the nuns too)
So, my smiley face stares at me as I sit at my desk and type on my laptop. That will be where I see all your faces and hear your voices...and it better be on this blog too:P
Have a fabulous last two weeks before school starts up again and keep writing! Remember, we are going to change the world. Make sure D doesn't forget that!!! (and get on her case about the nuns too)
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Tahquamenon Falls
Now that I can finally spell it, Tahquamenon Falls was magnificent. Jason and I just spent a long weekend up there camping. We hiked, played in the falls, went on little excursions through geocaching and just spent some quality time together. This was our last real weekend of relaxation before the wedding. There is something planned every weekend until then. Of course, three of those weekends are dedicated to me and two are races we're going to run. I have been training to run a 10k, but have been in Physical Therapy all summer for a number of leg and foot problems. My therapist thinks I will be ready, but I am very nervous. I will sign up anyway and hope that I don't have to walk any of it. So, think about me and that race on Sept. 15.
Well, you only have a couple of weeks left before school starts back up. Good luck and keep in touch. I am continuing this blog, so please let the others who aren't here frequently know that all are welcome:)
Hope you are all having fabulous summers!
Well, you only have a couple of weeks left before school starts back up. Good luck and keep in touch. I am continuing this blog, so please let the others who aren't here frequently know that all are welcome:)
Hope you are all having fabulous summers!
Monday, August 6, 2007
My Day was Made!
I just wanted to say that Katie Livingston really made my day today! Jason and I went to the mall in Muskegon to look for sun dresses for the honeymoon (well, I really looked for dresses while he walked around aimlessly), and lo and behold, Katie Livingston walks out of JC Penny...! How amazing and sweet for me! Just thought I would share. I miss you guys!
Email from Erin
Hi everyone! I just wanted to give you a little update as to what's going on with the Freedom Writer teacher stuff and me.
We received an email from Erin this weekend. The FW teacher's guide went to print last week and will be released in October! How exciting. I have a lot of the stuff already that's in it since we got it at the institute. There's a third group going through the institute right now too. It's really cool being a part of this group, but I sometimes struggle with a comment that one of you made to me when the documentarians were in our classroom...I don't really know what I did to deserve any of this. I feel so honored to be able to do all of this, but I feel like all I did was bring a book into your lives that I felt would touch many of you and hopefully help light a fire to want to read. Now, I understand that many of you read already, but believe it or not, a lot of kids, even in ACC classes, don't enjoy reading and feel like no book they are ever given to read for school in HS is something that will actually stay with them...I felt that would be different with the FW diary!
Anyway, back to what's up. Also in her email, Erin mentioned that she's meeting with her publishers about a possible FW Teacher's Diary that would chronicle the 150 of us that there will be at the end of this year (and no more...). Also, we're having a reunion in April, probably in DC! I can't wait for all that. I miss my FW teacher friends so much!
As for me and school and the book and everything else. Well, I just got word that there aren't enough kids enrolled in the school in 11th grade for me to teach that class and they lost their Spanish teacher, so they need me to teach French I! YEAH! I love French! (even though I know Spanish would be better for the kids). Also, I plan on using the FW diary, but maybe in 9th grade...not sure yet. Still finalizing my curriculum. I am planning a program with some of my FW teachers in some of the other eastern states (Ohio, Penn, NY and NJ and even Kentucky) We're planning on doing some common projects, being pen pals, inviting Freedom Writers to join us and meet in Cincinnati to go to the Underground Railroad museum together!
Well, I have tons of wedding stuff to do today, but just wanted to pop in and tell you all that, as school draws closer, I am having an even harder time knowing that I am not going to be seeing all of you...but I am still exciting for the new challenges! And, I am so excited to meet my new kids!
We received an email from Erin this weekend. The FW teacher's guide went to print last week and will be released in October! How exciting. I have a lot of the stuff already that's in it since we got it at the institute. There's a third group going through the institute right now too. It's really cool being a part of this group, but I sometimes struggle with a comment that one of you made to me when the documentarians were in our classroom...I don't really know what I did to deserve any of this. I feel so honored to be able to do all of this, but I feel like all I did was bring a book into your lives that I felt would touch many of you and hopefully help light a fire to want to read. Now, I understand that many of you read already, but believe it or not, a lot of kids, even in ACC classes, don't enjoy reading and feel like no book they are ever given to read for school in HS is something that will actually stay with them...I felt that would be different with the FW diary!
Anyway, back to what's up. Also in her email, Erin mentioned that she's meeting with her publishers about a possible FW Teacher's Diary that would chronicle the 150 of us that there will be at the end of this year (and no more...). Also, we're having a reunion in April, probably in DC! I can't wait for all that. I miss my FW teacher friends so much!
As for me and school and the book and everything else. Well, I just got word that there aren't enough kids enrolled in the school in 11th grade for me to teach that class and they lost their Spanish teacher, so they need me to teach French I! YEAH! I love French! (even though I know Spanish would be better for the kids). Also, I plan on using the FW diary, but maybe in 9th grade...not sure yet. Still finalizing my curriculum. I am planning a program with some of my FW teachers in some of the other eastern states (Ohio, Penn, NY and NJ and even Kentucky) We're planning on doing some common projects, being pen pals, inviting Freedom Writers to join us and meet in Cincinnati to go to the Underground Railroad museum together!
Well, I have tons of wedding stuff to do today, but just wanted to pop in and tell you all that, as school draws closer, I am having an even harder time knowing that I am not going to be seeing all of you...but I am still exciting for the new challenges! And, I am so excited to meet my new kids!
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