say it ain't so

On our way to New Orleans last Friday and between my navigation duties, I checked facebook, twitter, and email. But I couldn't get into my school email. I had changed my password just before school got out in hopes that I could stay connected all summer - but for some reason my password no longer worked. There was no way to correct the problem at that time, so I let it ride until I could go to the school on Monday. Of course when I got there the floors were being waxed, the principal was gone to a workshop, and the technology guy had just gone home for the day. I knew I was taking a chance by not calling ahead. I went to the superintendent's office and tried to log in on a computer there - didn't work. But the secretary left a message for the tech guy and later called me to let me know that he would reset my account the next morning. All of this to let you know that I had to go to the school yesterday.

July 18th - I think it may be the longest I've ever gone without stopping by the school to work on something in the summer. I have had a few calls to the principal. And I've done some work emails. And of course lots of reading and researching for school. But I haven't gone there in about six weeks. (Well, take that back - I did go by there one night a few weeks ago but it had nothing to do with work, so it doesn't count.)  There have been times that I thought about going. I have driven by several times and almost turned in. But I didn't. Each year I am soooo ready for summer, but then I spend some of my time there working. And this year, I promised myself that I would stay away.

But while I was there yesterday, the tech guy said something about me coming by to let him do some techy thing with my ipad when I came back, and I thought, "I'm not coming back yet." And then I did a quick countdown in my head and thought, "Ohhhhh, I AM coming back." I have three workshop days next week, and the following week I will have to be there preparing workshops for the next week.

How does the end of summer always sneak up on me?

accountability

A few years ago administrators everywhere learned this word, and now teachers hear it at every meeting. I, personally, get sick of it by about lunch of the second day back to school. However, there is something to be said about being held accountable. I have started this running app many, many times. Each time I would say this time I will finish it. But I never have. One time I hurt my knee. One time I got sick for a few days. And several times, I just got lazy or it rained or it was too hot or it was too cold or a million other excuses - but I didn't finish. I'm not sure I ever finished w4d1.

But this time I was determined to finish it. To not only get past week 4 but to finish the entire app and actually run. But hadn't I told myself that a million other times about one exercise plan or another. Haven't we all done that? But something is different this time. This morning I finished week 5. Can I get a Whoop-whoop! Yes, you heard me correctly. I finished week 5. This morning. As in I've already done it. This time I haven't let a million excuses stop me. It hasn't been easy. It ain't pretty! But I'm doing it. I've had this phobia about running in front of people. You know - I'm too sweaty. I'm too slow. I'm too jiggly. But this time, I kept my schedule. I ran at the lake. I ran past my neighbor's house while he was outside. And this week I started running with friends. Two mornings this week I have gotten up before 5a.m. and met friends for early morning running. The broken toe has slowed me down a bit. Sunday morning, I started running with Lovey and had to walk the second half because my toe hurt so bad (I had stumped it the night before). But the next morning I got up and reran that day - and finished it. This time, I started out running my three days a week and walking the other days. And I have only skipped a few walking mornings. I didn't walk or run or anything yesterday. And you know what? I just didn't feel good all day. About halfway through the afternoon, I thought to myself, If I would have gone running this morning, I would feel better. Seriously! I really thought that! And even more importantly, I believe it.

So what's so different this time? What's making me change the way I think. This time I find myself planning my day around my exercise. For years, I tried to fit exercise into my day - it rarely worked. Something almost always bumped it further and further down the list. I couldn't walk after school because I had afterschool tutoring. I would do morning walks all summer and then stop when school started, planning to do it later in the day. But the time was just never right later in the day. This time, I have caught myself saying, Can't do that, I have to run in the morning. or Well I'll have to run first. or even Want to run with me? Just the other day my momma asked me if I was dieting too. My answer to that was a big NO. I haven't let the scales deter me. In the past, I would set myself up for failure. I changed everything at once and then couldn't stick with it. Or I would get on the scales and not see much of a change and get discouraged and quit it all. Oh, I've gotten on the scales almost everyday - they just tell me the same thing over and over again. For the last few weeks, I've lost and gained back and lost again the same 3 or 4 pounds. And I'm sort of okay with that. Would I like the weight to be dropping off? Hell yeah. But I'm just not worrying about it. This is not about me losing weight - this is about me finishing the running app. I'll worry about the numbers on the scale when I can run 30 minutes without needing an oxygen tank. And to be honest, my clothes are fitting a little more loosely. Good enough for me.

Is all of this change because of accountability? I've been posting about finishing the app. A few weeks ago, I committed to #4realfitnesschallenge. My New Year's resolution included fitness - I think I've started the c25k app three times since then. I resolved to lose 5 pounds a month and try a new recipe each week, but neither of those are happening. Running with friends has helped me this week. I really didn't want to get up this morning, but I knew they would be running so I did. They would have gone on without me and not even been upset that I didn't show up, but I wanted to run with them. The broken toe could have been a legitimate excuse to back out of the fitness challenge - but I refused to let that stop me. My little excursions this summer have been reasons to not run, but I've packed my shoes and my headphones and done it. I honestly believe that this time I have forgotten all about being accountable to the other stuff - like diets and scales, and I've been accountable to me. I don't want to fail me. I refuse to let myself down again. I've been asked several times if I plan to run a 5k when I finish the app, and honestly, I don't see that happening - but I just might.

I've got the first 20 minute run coming up soon. I'm debating whether I want to run that on my own or with the group. What would be the easiest? Running with the group increases my pace - not that my pace keeps up with theirs at all. What if I want to quit? Running with someone might push me to keep going. But running with someone might make me want to give up when my running pace slows down to not even someone else's walking pace. (It could happen, believe me.) See. These are the things that go through my mind now. I'm making decisions for me. Not for the scales. Not for the someone's challenge. Not for the blog. For me. What will work for me? I think accountability must come from within. It helps to have encouragement along the way. It helps to be challenged. It helps that someone will suffer with me. But until I want it for myself, none of the technology, none of the cheering, none of the questioning, none of the rewards in the world is going to make me do it. I'm doing it now because I finally decided that I would. I want to finish it more than I want to give in to the excuses. That's what is keeping me accountable right now.  

I'm thinking that I will start my school year by having my students discuss "accountability" and have them write about what is keeping them accountable. Do they know? Have they thought about it before? It could set a great pace for the year.

i think i can, i think i can, i think i can

It seems as though I've been channeling that little engine all day long.

Getting out of bed this morning was a challenge. Last night my back was hurting so I took a muscle relaxer before going to bed. But honestly, I don't think it had anything to do with the difficulty in getting up. My sister tweeted this morning that her body had made the switch to summertime already - I think mine has too. So I had to tell myself, "I think I can. I think I can."

Once at school, I was faced with an overwhelming amount of tasks to be completed. The biggest being packing my room for summer; the most pressing being typing my semester test that kids would take at 10:00. I started typing it twice last week and got interrupted. The test got typed, the test got given, and the test got graded; the packing got, well.... I think I can. I think I can.

After school I treated myself to a mani and pedi. It has become my last day of school treat. But I just didn't thing I could make it until Wednesday afternoon. When I got home, I sat out in my porch swing while the dogs played in the yard. The cool breeze felt so good that I felt guilty sitting there on my butt wasting such perfect weather. So I got up, change, and put on my shoes. I knew that it was time to get back to my C25K. I have started this program many, many times, but never have I made it past week 4 day 1. I am determined that this summer I WILL finish the program. Several weeks I started it again. And then I hurt my foot while stepping off the back deck. I debated starting over but decided to just move on to week 2 day 1. I made it. I. Think. I. Can. I. Think. I. Can. Man, I was chugging up my tiny hill very, very slowly there at the end. And then when my time was over, I looked back and realized that I hadn't run since April 30. Really? No wonder I was huffing and puffing so.

I've got two more mornings to pull myself out of bed and go to school. So if you see my huffing and puffing or blowing smoke one of those days, remind me that you think I can.

even big kids enjoy a fun day

Teaching can be stressful, but being the student can be stressful too. Our students are just great kids. I've taught at other schools, and I'm telling you - the "bad" behaviors at our school are very manageable compared to others. The great behavior and small numbers sometimes allow us to do things that larger schools just can't do.

these two were my photographs for much of this post as I was in the pressbox most of the time

Last year we planned a career/fun day. That was during the month of almost weekly treks to Rogers for Lovey's throat surgery, so I missed it. I've heard that it was a success. But this year we wanted it to be even better. And I think it was.

The morning started with speeches and student council elections for next year. Then the student body was divided by classes, and we rotated through speakers for career day. The BETA club is in charge of this part of the day. They invite graduates of WHS from a variety of careers to give speak to the classes. Last year I know we had a high school principal, a pilot, and a dermatologist. This year we had a game and fish officer, a pharmacist, a cosmetologist, a railroad engineer, and a graphic designer (there were a few more, but i had to cut out to set up for fun day and missed them).

Just for the day, we had a combined lunch. Teachers had lunch in the workroom provided by one of the student groups on campus. I honestly don't know which one because so many of the sponsors work together on projects - but it was yummy.

The afternoon activities had a little something for everyone. A video room and board games inside to let students come in and cool off (last year it was brutally hot on fun day), a concession stand, dunking booth, several blowups, face painting, washers, baggo, and several other games. Along with time to just hang out with friends.

Two new activities that were big hits were the kick ball and chess blitz tournaments.

And this blowup boxing ring had a line all afternoon.

The kick ball tournament teams ended up being seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Lulu played for the sophomores.

Chan played for the freshmen.

And, of course, they played against each other. They are very competitive. Chan caught one of Lulu's kicks to put her out. I'm figuring there will be lots of discussion about that play in the coming days.

There was a sudden thunder boom and a lightning strike too close for comfort so the outside games were forced to quickly shut down, and we moved students inside. Until we went in, I had no idea that there was a mini cake walk. They were having fun.

I thought maybe we would interfere with the inside activities. But no.

There were two serious monopoly games, several card games, and dominoes going on.

I'm not sure some of the gamers even realized that we all came in. When the last bell rang, I had to force a shut down of one of the monopoly games because they were so involved they didn't want to stop.

It's great to watch them just being kids. And I am so grateful that we have a school community that allows us to give them that time.

behind the scenes look at making the prom

I know that what I've been busy doing this week may seem trivial to some of you. But to about 90 teenagers, it was anything but trivial. Prom is an important part of of most teenagers' school careers, and I am happy to have been a part of helping to build great memories for the students of WHS.

I dubbed it my marathon week, and last night was the finish line. But I want to show you some of the decorations that we pulled together.

First a look at what we started with.

A huge cave. A black hole with basketball goals. And bleachers.

Earlier in the year the junior class chose a disco style and later chose the theme I Love the Nightlife. I knew that it could be a fun prom, but it took me a while to form a plan. One of the things I had to do was come up with some choices for t-shirt designs so that the students could vote for their favorite. The winning design turned out great - it's one of my favorites of all time.

Another big decision was what to use as a photo area. Of course, it needed to fit the theme. I also wanted it to be interesting and fun. After a few weeks of thinking, it magically came to me one afternoon. Then we had to build it.

Painting the photo background was one of the first things we did.

The day we needed to paint outside was very windy. This may have been an omen for our weather luck all week.

A little rainbow paint.

A few old records picked up at a junk store for a few bucks.

I thought it would be easy to let the boys put the hinges on. I was wrong. But they finally got it together. We added an old turntable, a lava lamp, and a disco ball to finish the picture area.

And every good disco had a VIP Lounge. I had to find a way to include one in our disco. One day I was in the library discussing the decorations with my friend Robin (the librarian), and I was moaning and groaning that I wanted a lounge area. I just wasn't sure where I could find the seating area we would need. And then it dawned on me, the library had three couches. They weren't attractive, but we could temporarily alter that .

Thursday morning we moved three not-so-attractive and definitely not-vip-material couches from the library to the  gym and started the plan.

A large amount of disco fabric and a few staples later.

What an amazing difference.

But the VIP lounge would also need a backdrop. The Beta sponsor was great and offered the backdrop from this year's convention skit.

Again, just a little paint to transform the backdrop, a water feature, a few disco balls, and we had a fantastic lounge area.

And here's a few VIP's enjoy their lounge. These beautiful girls are members of the Lady Bears softball team.

We used those same rotating disco balls as the centerpieces for the tables.

Another important part of a successful party is the food. The stand for the disco ball cake pops didn't workout, and at the last minute I had to make something else work. It's not pretty, but it held the cake pops.

We had cheese dip, chips, and salsa; cheeese and crackers; summer sausage; chicken... there was more. And raspberry lemonade and sweet tea. It was all good.

These rainbow fruit skewers were really pretty.

The juniors choose prom servers from the sophomore class. These kids worked hard to help make the prom a success. And their costumes were perfect.

The boys even added some surprise hair to their costumes - it was too funny.

After just a few dances, I was walking around snapping a few pictures and saw this. It's one of my favorite pictures of the night.

We had some great lighting. In fact, it was so great that when the DJ got all of his equipment plugged in, we flipped the breakers. It was something we battled all night.

Some of the staff got together for a group picture.

And here's some of my creative writing girls - love them.

The night ended with the crowning of the prom king and queen. Well, actually it ended with cleaning, but you know what I mean.

Today a few of us worked for about 5 hours to transform our disco back into a PE building - it wasn't nearly as much fun.

I'm linking up with:

bonnie and trish and uncommonly yours
six sisters' strut your stuff saturday

my marathon

Okay. I'm not a runner. I have started couch 25k at least 4 times in the last year. I've never gotten past the third week. I want to be a runner. I will eventually get past the third week. But right now I'm not a runner. I did however, begin a marathon this week.

Prom week.

We've done the planning. We've placed the orders. We've even opened some of the packages.

And today kicked off our own little hell week.

For those of you who were wondering, a 4X8 sheet of plywood will fit in the back of a Nissan Armada. But it would be best if the driver was a tiny person - like Flat Stanley. After school today I went to Lowe's to get some plywood to make a backdrop for the pictures. I called Lovey on the way there and ask if he thought it would fit. You know, just for reassurance since I was more than halfway there and had to get it tonight. He questioned whether my truck was wide enough. I assured him that it definitely was; and I was right. That plywood slid right in there without even bumping the sides.

The problem came when I tried to close the back. I had scooted the front seats up as much as I thought I could and still fit in to drive, and about three inches of the wood was still sticking out. I ended tieing the door and was good to go. (I have experience with this sort of thing. Several years ago my sister and I fit two ten speeds in the back of my firebird - and the two of us.)

The interesting part was my trip to walmart. With the plywood in the truck. I couldn't leave the back door open, so I had to scoot my seat completely up and tug the wood in enough so that the back door could click shut. No problem. I went in, did my shopping, and came back to the truck. I knew I would have to scoot the wood back before I could  load my things in the truck. But the door would start to open, the rope would tighten, and the door would shut again. I finally clicked the open button, shoved a packaged drop cloth under it, and used it as a wedge to hold the door open until I could scoot the wood back to the needed position. Then I loaded my sacks into the truck, scooted my seat back a bit, removed the drop cloth prop, and climbed in. I probably gave a few people something to talk about as they drove home tonight.

It was just the first leg of my marathon. I think it's going to be a long week.

If you see me this week realize that I am really stressed and will be a bit on-edge. I can't promise that I'll be nice. Let me just apologize now.

thirty days of thanksgiving 10

My students amaze me almost everyday.

Yes, there are days when things don't go quiet as I had planned.

Honestly, there are very few days that go anything like I planned.

Sometimes I come home wondering if my students listened to a single word that I said that day.

And some days I know that they learned more from each other than I could have ever gotten across.

The last few weeks have been a bit disjointed. We've had nine weeks testing, Target Testing, reading assignments, written an essay, and taken a novel quiz at some point in between. It's been hectic.

So I worried when I had to leave school suddenly yesterday. It required that I jostle some lesson plans even more and make an assignment that I hadn't discussed with my students. I was worried that the directions wouldn't be as clear on paper as they might be if I could discuss them in person.

This morning I was braced for chaos. I was mentally preparing myself to accept almost anything that resembled my expectations for the assignment. 

But there was no chaos. There were no notes of confusion. No excuses.

There were three stacks of finished assignments (very few didn't finish).

Impressive.

Dear Lord, thank you for blessing me with a job that I love. Thank you for students who come to school willing and ready to learn. Thank you for parents who provide for and nurture these students so that they are focused on learning. Father, I know that you have called each and everyone of us to a specific task in life. Help all of those who haven't heard your call. Be with those who know what you have called them to do but haven't been able find a job.

we're not just playing school

Has the weekend already ended? It went by in a blur. In just a few hours it will be to head to bed and prepare for a brand new week. The second week of school. This is the week where we settle into the year's routine. The second week is real. Real lessons. Real schedules. Real busy.

Not that the first week doesn't count. It's just that there is so much "start up" in the first week. There's the principal's welcome and new rules speech on the first morning. Then in each class the who's who, what do we need, where is everything run down. The changing of schedules. The passing out of textbooks. And each day is a new explanation of procedures. Everything just moves so slow during the first few days of school. But those first days of explanation of rules and procedures are important in setting the tone for the year.

I will have more days of explanation of rules and procedures - lots of reminders of rules and procedures - but things get down-to-business on the second Monday. Schedules are set. Everyone knows where they are going. We've passed the "yes, this is where you are supposed to be" moment. I've got to know my students' strengths and weaknesses. And find a way to increase both.

The second week is real.

i'm not worthy

This year I've been assigned to teach a creative writing class as a free elective for 9-12 grades. It's something that I suggested many times thinking that a colleague would be great at. But for a long time we just didn't have the staff to cover an extra class. And that colleague is not in the classroom anymore.

It wasn't a "sure thing" until late in the summer. And most students had preregistered without the creative writing class as an option. So I had a class but no students. Suddenly I was nervous that no one would take the class. Just before the first day of school, I was told that 6 students had registered. Then 7. And the first few days of school added 3 more. A perfect 10. Whew! A sigh of relief.

And then, panic again - now what do I DO with this class?!?

I decided the first thing to do was to get the girls comfortable with each other. I have taught each of the girls in their younger days, and some of them are a tad shy. It will be a difficult year if the students are comfortable sharing and discussing their writings. We started with poems for two voices and poems for four voices. The assignment was simple - choose a partner, practice your reading, come to the front of the class and read the poem. Repeat with the poems for four voices.

Next up choose your group and write your own poem for 2 or 3 or 4 voices.

And today, they read their original poems to the group.

Their poems were great. And I didn't do any teaching - I just gave them an assignment. One student mentioned earlier this week that she has a blog. Then today another told me that she has a blog. And then another. These girls are going to be teaching me! And I may have a few guests posts in the near future.

This class is going to be such a challenge - for me. I'm definitely feeling the pressure to up my game. I have ask Melissa to be a guest speaker. And now that I know that some of the girls are bloggers, she MUST come. More than once.

Because I heard their poems today, and I'm not worthy.

For the Record

My desk in clean!

There are people who would say that my desk is NEVER clean. They are wrong.

Granted, today is the first day that I have worked at said desk since it had to be cleared for summer vacation.

But today, my desk is clean. For the record.