AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! #SOLC15 - 3/6

I feel like I am flying 1000000 mph right now!  I know if I don't squeeze this little blog in now, it might not get done today.

Left at noon for a track meet. Track'd it up, now I'm on a bus w the loudest, worst rap battle, ever.

My throwers did pretty well. Shotput boys took 3rd,6th, and 8th place out of about 20-25 kids, discus boys took 3rd and 6th. My freshman girl, who has never thrown, almost quit, and is constantly negative about her ability, placed 4th in a varsity meet! She said she didn't do well, but I'm extremely proud of her.

I have some more things I wanted to say, cool moments I wanted to share, but the day is almost over and I still have to pack for a trip/wedding tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure I got my slice in!  Day 6! Woooo wooooo!

Haboobs in the era of Climate Change #SOLC15 - 3/5

Haboob Season
It traps us inside
Dust in the streets, Dust in the air,
the sky a haze of red and brown

the wind gusts and howls
the dirt fills the world,
fills your house, your car,
your mouth, your lungs.

We live in the dust bowl
We never left.


This year, the sky is grey, the streets white
The dust is tucked in under sheets of ice,
blankets of snow

The snow does not fall here though,
ice does not settle,
it pelts; it drives; it bites.
Snow surges across roads,
Streaks sideways through the sky
as if gravity has shifted.

The winds of West Texas
do not care what they blow
But they blow without end
dirt
            ice
                        snow

We live in the dust bowl
We never left...
We put cotton on top of it
And wait for the wind
to settle

Promise Yourself #SOLC15 - 3/4

 Today's slice has been inspired by Kendra's post here about her own personal creed, and Darlene's #FirstWorldProblems post from yesterday.

My personal creed is a borrowed creed but I believe it and live it (or try to) with every particle of my being.  However, recently, I have been letting myself be dragged into some negativity and nonsense.  I believe, and need to remind myself of some promises I made in my creed.

Promise Yourself...
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile (except bugs)

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.


There are a lot of people who focus and dwell on the negatives.  They take for granted the things they have been given, and rather than be grateful, demand more!  I have been surrounded by teachers lately that have been angry and negative and down about all kinds of things and I have allowed myself to be swallowed up whole by their negativity.  I am too noble for anger; too happy for trouble.
I work in a school where we have daily internet access.  We have 4 full computer labs, a mac lab, as well as mobile labs.  The majority of my students have their own device to use in class.  The majority of my students have loving, caring parents that provide them with food, shelter, and love.  I work in a community that is quick to give, and gives generously, to those students who don't have all of those luxuries.  I have a job that actually *PAYS* me to share information I'm in love with.  I have a job that I love to do.  I get to be a part of so many kids' lives, help them, and guide them as they become little adults.  More importantly, I get to have these kids be a part of my life.  They bring me so much joy and have taught me so many things in just two years!  Two years!!!  Who knows what's coming next?!

I promise myself...
To remind my coworkers of the good in the world, and more importantly in our own classrooms.

To give a smile to everyone, even when I'm tired, even when I'm busy, even when I lose my keys, drop my breakfast, or things don't go according.

To be too large for whining, too noble for grumbling, and too happy to allow others' negativity to bring me down.




Some things that make me smile and remember all the beauty of my life.

 Nuka and Ali in hiding from the new dog

A few of the THOUSANDS of Canada geese that show up in Lubbock each year. 

A Confident Decision #SOLC15 - 3/3

WHAT A DAY!  Today we went to a leadership training with Dan Korem: Magician, Investigative Journalist, Creator of the Korem Profiling System.  One thing he does at the end of each workshop really got me thinking.  How confident are you when you have to make a decision? To become a person who can make more confident, good decisions, and in turn become a more confident person in all areas of your life, it starts with a single decision.  Make a decision confidently, separately from what you're good at.  If you are a confident, experienced surgeon, it's not a challenge to make decision regarding your surgeries.  You know what you are capable of, what you are comfortable with, and what is best practice.  The same with most veteran teachers.  They have a system, they know how to make confident classroom decisions.

Instead, choose something you are not confident or experienced with, and journal about what you did, how it went and what the next goal is.  Some examples from our session of teachers, administrators, students, and community leaders were: looking at their phone less, starting with one class for one day; focusing on the positive and good things a teacher's own children do, starting with tomorrow, instead of nagging them for their mistakes, accidents, or shortcomings; actually doing the math homework, despite it being easy and not fun to a student, because it's what he *should* be doing. 

I struggled.  At first I couldn't think of what I was uncomfortable with.  I feel like I'm pretty open to trying things and I put a pretty solid effort into anything I do.  Most teachers were doing goals with technology or organization, but I think I'm okayish there.  I finally decided on two:

1) Write and publish every day for 31 days (heh heh).

2) Focus on the good things that third period class of Monster Boys does this week.

3) (I know I said two) But apparently I talk to my boyfriend with my mouth full of food.  I promise I don't do this in public, but he swears I do.  So maybe working on being more aware of what I'm doing.  I think this comes more from multitasking and being in a hurry... No excuses.  No more. 

What is a small, specific, obtainable decision you can make right now, today, and complete in a small time frame? It needs to be something you aren't already good at doing, and something you can commit to with a quick return.  This isn't a bucket list type thing.  What would you like to be better at?  What is your first step to becoming a better, stronger, more confident self? 

As a short BONUS SLICE! We found the most loving, calm, beautiful dog today. She is a sweet little pit mix with black and white spots all over like a dalmatian, and she wags her tail in her sleep.  She is maybe 8-12 months old, cuddly, and patient! She even let us give her a bath.  We are trying to think of a name in case her parents don't come and we adopt her:  So far, the only things we have are Ahsoka (we are huge Star Wars fans), Bruce Willis (I pitched out leiloo like 5th element, went to "multipass"> Corbin Dallas > Bruce Willis, couldn't stop laughing), or Moon Unit (As in Moon Unit Zappa).  We clearly aren't good at coming up with names.  I fear for our hypothetical future kids.   Any name suggestions are welcome! 

VICTORY!!! #SOLC15 - 3/2

Most of the stories I've read from past slicers are touching, deep, very personal life stories.  This story isn't really about me though.  And I know there is the "celebrate" writing on weekends, but I just couldn't wait to share this!

Today started off rough.  School was delayed, which means my CDL driving test was cancelled, which means my sub plans were now unnecessary.  I can't waste a good sub lesson as a coach, so I frantically planned a different lesson in my extra 2 hours this morning.  I was really worried about my half-baked plan using some technology we haven't really used yet, especially with my 3rd period.

Let me describe this class.  If you are a high school teacher, I think you will sympathize.  This class is huge.  I mean, I have 26 kids in the class, one of my larger groups, but this is a class of ALL JOCKS.  I have some basketballers, some baseballers, and SEVERAL linemen.  My class is BIG.  There is a grand total of 3 girls in the class, the rest are West-Texas-Howdy-Maam-I'm-A-Human-Tank athletes.  They are all growing and in constant competition on who is bigger. They are all best friends.  They are all very excitable.  They are all loud.  This class is also split in the middle by lunch.  As soon as I get the group settled and working, the lunch bell rings, and we start allllll over again, except now with sugar rushes and food comas.  It is a daily exercise in patience and love.

They were to read some articles about the Moai on Easter Island, and then imagine they are the head of the team trying to study the mystery of how the statues were moved. Post answers on my Google Classroom page.  I expected sighs, groans, eye rolling, and "do we have tooooo?"  Or more commonly, "I'll just take a zero. I'll probably pass." Instead...

OOH! What if they rolled it on logs?!  Do we get logs? How many?  How strong are they? Are they thick or thin?  Easily crushed or sturdy?  You said we get rope right?  How much rope?  We're near an ocean right?  Do they know about the wheel yet?  What if I made a cart?  NO WAY! That won't work, think of the weight!  We need a sled.  How do you make a sled?  OH I HAVE AN IDEA!!!

I was blown away.  Where did these little physicists and engineers come from?  I have rarely been asked for anything more than a bathroom or drink pass; now they're asking for more time to think of more ideas.  I try to always have a discussion piece, a culture part of each chapter, I share human interest pieces with them, I try playing games, stations, everything I can think of... and this is what sparked them: a lesson thrown together in an hour.

This is not a story about my family, my personal life, it's hardly about me at all.  All I did was ask a question.  But as teachers you know they are my life.  These are my kids.  Their successes and failures aren't mine, but they affect me deeply.  I spend more time with these kids and in this building than I do in my own home.  I am so excited for them to be excited about something I'm teaching!  I am never happier than I am when I have a day full of learning, of thinking, and excitement of others to be learning and thinking on their own.  Today, I am victorious!!!

The Challenge Begins! #SOLC15 3/1

Hello!  I have been reading Michelle's "10 Tips for the Challenge" and trying to decide what to write about for day 1 of the Slice of Life -2015 challenge.  She says not to stress, but that's basically what blogging is for me.  Stress about people reading my writing, what they think about it, what if I sound dumb? What if I misspell a word? What if my grammar and punctuation is all wrong?  What if one of my students reads this and they hate it?  None of that matters, and I know that.  You have to write to get better at writing, just like anything else... the stress remains....

So let me start by saying this: I am not a writer.  I tried writing a clever little poem about how I am not a writer.  It went badly.  I consider myself to be a professional appreciator.  Writing is so romantic and beautiful, and it's just something I've never felt very confident doing, so I appreciate the art and the images others are able to create with just words. 

I read.  Everything.  I prefer fiction, usually YA, fantasy/sci-fi books to historical fiction, but I am in the middle of one of my new favorite books ("All The Light We Cannot See") about a little French girl and a German boy during the rise of Hitler and the bombing/invasion of France.  It is because of the writing in this book I have really had an itch to start writing.  If I can ever come close to making someone feel the way his writing makes me feel, it will be one of the greatest successes of my life.  I bought a journal and have been trying to write at least once a week.  I keep my favorite quotes from the books I read and try to write for the sake of writing.  Writing for myself is cathartic, it's the publishing that is scary.  Here's to trying! 

Just so you know me a little, I am a 2nd year Spanish teacher in West Texas.  This year, on the day two-a-days started, I was hired as an official volleyball and track coach!  I come from a long line of teachers.  Both of my parents, my grandparents, my great uncle, and my maternal grandmother are/were all teachers.  Science, Art, Economics, Government, Geography, Math, Basketball, PE, and Piano.  And I added Foreign Language to the list.  

If I won/found/was gifted a billion dollars, I would do a bunch of adult things that I now would consider victories.  I'd pay off all of my student loans, I would pay for my master's degree with cash instead of taking out more loans.  I'd buy a house on the good side of town and a new couch for my new house.  The current one is... well loved... by humans and cats.  I would buy a new car and pay off my brother's truck.  I'd invest a good chunk into my IRA and the stock market, and save the rest for my hypothetical-future-kids' college.  It's expensive now, I hate to see what it's going to be like in 20 years.  

I hope this isn't too long!  I'm so excited to be a part of the SOLC15 and am looking forward to getting to know you all! 

Senior Project Day!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!!  My students were very excited for "Mexican Independence Day".  I hated to be the one to break it to them they'd have to keep waiting until September.  But we had a such a great day of learning.  They now know that Cinco de Mayo celebrates a victory of a battle at Puebla.  They know that the French returned to conquer Mexico and installed their own Emperor (Maximilian, one my favs), and that, though Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration, it is really only celebrated in Puebla and the United States.  We discussed why this might be so, they had their own fantastic ideas!, and talked about how we can celebrate here in West Texas. Boom.  Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities.  Though we did not use a lot of Spanish today, the kids learned a lot and I am really excited to be a part of that!!

Tonight is also Senior Project Grading day.  At our school, it is a requirement for all senior class members to complete a senior project.  During the first semester, they choose a project and theme, and write a research paper of the topic they got approved.  Second semester the kids pick mentors in the community and create a project which is then judged by a panel of teachers, community members, and professionals.  It really is such a great opportunity for them to complete a major project like this and have a professional portfolio to prove it before they go off into the world!  Today is presentation day.  The kids come in and present their final product, their research, and what they've taken away from this whole thing to a group of teachers and community members. 

Some of the kids have done some REALLY impressive things!  One student learned to rock climb and set routes, one made an anti-bullying website (a good looking one too), we had someone learn falconry, one student composed an original score for a woodwind quintet.  The most impressive one I've gotten to see is a complete redesign of a room in a house.  The student chose interior design for her product and designed/created and entire room.  They did a wood paneled accent wall, reupholstered salvaged chairs, upcycled some things like pallets for furniture, and created something you'd see on HGTV!  I am really impressed at the lengths these kids go to for some of their projects. 

Anyone else have a program like this?  At my high school it was optional for everyone but required for GT.  This is the only school I've heard of that does an whole project as a requirement for all students.  We even have a class for them to take so they have time to work on it and someone to help guide them.  For or against a project like this?