This weekend is our variety show, so stay tuned for LOTS of pictures of the performers...it's a REALLY fun show! However, I wanted to give you an update on the chicks.
The chicks are currently residing with the student's family that brought them on the trip. They've been named: 1. Bad Idea and 2. Nicole :) Funny students I have!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Iowa Test of Basic Skills...for teachers?
This morning started out like mornings do once a month at Webster City High School...with a staff meeting. Now mind you, most staff meetings come with kudos from the principal for our efforts, social moments with other teachers, and donuts. This morning also came with ITED results!
As we poured over the data, one fact represented itself over and over...our students as NOT proficient in the basic English language skills, particularly vocabulary and spelling. We spent a good 30 minutes lamenting the futures of these students that don't know how to write without abbreviating every other word and eliminating all vowels (txt tlk), and then went off to our rooms to start the day.
Skip to 6th period (11/12th Grade Choir). Note: we are two days away from our biggest performance of the year...Variety Show! Week of performances always get a little intense during class, and today was no different. And lo and behold...two back-row sopranos start chatting their little hearts away.
1. I give them the look. 2. I speak their names firmly 3. I've had it! "Ladies, this is the multiplest time I've addressed... (slowly drift away from speech as I realize that I've just made a complete fool of myself!) Boy in the front row "What?!"
Chaos breaks out, and the firm moment is lost. How ironic, that on a day we address our student's lack of vocab, I start creating words.
Best part: as I tell a friend the story after school, I say "I don't know what's going on with this ridiculosity. Not kidding.
As we poured over the data, one fact represented itself over and over...our students as NOT proficient in the basic English language skills, particularly vocabulary and spelling. We spent a good 30 minutes lamenting the futures of these students that don't know how to write without abbreviating every other word and eliminating all vowels (txt tlk), and then went off to our rooms to start the day.
Skip to 6th period (11/12th Grade Choir). Note: we are two days away from our biggest performance of the year...Variety Show! Week of performances always get a little intense during class, and today was no different. And lo and behold...two back-row sopranos start chatting their little hearts away.
1. I give them the look. 2. I speak their names firmly 3. I've had it! "Ladies, this is the multiplest time I've addressed... (slowly drift away from speech as I realize that I've just made a complete fool of myself!) Boy in the front row "What?!"
Chaos breaks out, and the firm moment is lost. How ironic, that on a day we address our student's lack of vocab, I start creating words.
Best part: as I tell a friend the story after school, I say "I don't know what's going on with this ridiculosity. Not kidding.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service...and the Chicks.
I'd love to know what you think this blog is about after reading the title...because I am 100% positive you're wrong! This is about the most interesting school trip in the HISTORY of school trips.
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service...
This last Saturday morning our varsity show choir left for a weekend show choir trip at 3AM. Out of 46 students, 45 showed up on time. Impressive for a 3AM call time! But, we were missing one. The plan was to leave and make it work without them, but it just so happened that we drove out of town right by the student's house. SO, we call "Joe". No answer. We stop outside the house and I RUN around the house looking for a light (yep...good thing no cops drove by!). No light. Finally, we get a hold of his brother, and 3 minutes later...
He comes FLYING out of his house! Funny thing is, he has no shoes on, no shirt on, and is holding his pants up because they're barely zipped up! He ran to his car, grabbed shoes, a shirt and a blanket, and comes tumbling onto the bus. The bus was in an uproar, and I couldn't stop laughing for a good ten minutes. Pretty hilarious way to start out what ended up being a very LONG weekend! Unfortunately, I'm going to have to kick him out of show choir. This memory, however, will go down as one of my favorite moments in teacher history!
and the Chicks.
We checked in to the hotel around 1:30 PM after a long bus ride, a great performance, and a morning of watching show choirs. The average person on the trip had an average of 2 hours of sleep in the last 35 hours, so everyone was VERY tired. I got everyone settled, laid down the "hotel room" law, and TOOK A NAP! Our plan was to leave for the competition again at 4:30 PM, so at 3:45 I decided to just sit in the hallway and make sure everyone was following the rules. I was sitting with another chaperone just chatting, and suddenly two boys peak out of their rooms (across the hall from each other, oblivious to our presence), and one says, "How're the babies?" Huh? THEN they notice us, and one just takes off at a rapid walk down the hall. Officially suspicious. I start hearing something...cheap cheap. Cheap cheap. Hmm...walk to the hotel room, open the door sitting in the hotel bathroom's sink are...
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service...
This last Saturday morning our varsity show choir left for a weekend show choir trip at 3AM. Out of 46 students, 45 showed up on time. Impressive for a 3AM call time! But, we were missing one. The plan was to leave and make it work without them, but it just so happened that we drove out of town right by the student's house. SO, we call "Joe". No answer. We stop outside the house and I RUN around the house looking for a light (yep...good thing no cops drove by!). No light. Finally, we get a hold of his brother, and 3 minutes later...
He comes FLYING out of his house! Funny thing is, he has no shoes on, no shirt on, and is holding his pants up because they're barely zipped up! He ran to his car, grabbed shoes, a shirt and a blanket, and comes tumbling onto the bus. The bus was in an uproar, and I couldn't stop laughing for a good ten minutes. Pretty hilarious way to start out what ended up being a very LONG weekend! Unfortunately, I'm going to have to kick him out of show choir. This memory, however, will go down as one of my favorite moments in teacher history!
and the Chicks.
We checked in to the hotel around 1:30 PM after a long bus ride, a great performance, and a morning of watching show choirs. The average person on the trip had an average of 2 hours of sleep in the last 35 hours, so everyone was VERY tired. I got everyone settled, laid down the "hotel room" law, and TOOK A NAP! Our plan was to leave for the competition again at 4:30 PM, so at 3:45 I decided to just sit in the hallway and make sure everyone was following the rules. I was sitting with another chaperone just chatting, and suddenly two boys peak out of their rooms (across the hall from each other, oblivious to our presence), and one says, "How're the babies?" Huh? THEN they notice us, and one just takes off at a rapid walk down the hall. Officially suspicious. I start hearing something...cheap cheap. Cheap cheap. Hmm...walk to the hotel room, open the door sitting in the hotel bathroom's sink are...
TWO BABY CHICKS!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Three boys had conspired to pull off "Project COB" (Chicks on Bus). FLABBERGASTED! They were feeding these chicks peanut butter for "protein", and setting them in a puddle of water so they could drink. In the case of high school boys, I have concluded that more heads are actually DUMBER than one.
If I weren't a teacher, this situation would be pretty hilarious...but I am, and there is NO precedent for how to deal with two chicks in a hotel room on a choir trip. I ended up calling one of the dads, and we ended up with three options. 1. The chicks stay the night in my room (where they cheap all night and keep me awake). 2. The parents come back up to the hotel and pick up the contraband (which they were NOT excited about). 3. The student takes the chicks outside and kills them. As soon as that option was suggested I just lost it. I felt so upset that a thoughtless decision could potentially end up in taking an innocent life! I never would have let it come to that, but just the suggestion pushed me over the edge (for those of you that don't know, this time in the school year is EXTREMELY exhausting, so I have very little emotional reserve).
This last week two show choir students got picked up for drinking, and another student admitted to using marijuana...and the combination of ALL these thoughtless decisions was just WEIGHING on my heart! SO, we had a big heart to heart on the bus, and I strongly (and somewhat tearfully) encouraged them to really think about who and what their decisions would effect. I got heartfelt apologies from all involved, and hopefully the chick incident will result in actual "thinking" to occur next time a stupid decision is being contemplated!
Oh yeah...the parents ended up coming to get the chicks. I bet they never saw that one coming.
If I weren't a teacher, this situation would be pretty hilarious...but I am, and there is NO precedent for how to deal with two chicks in a hotel room on a choir trip. I ended up calling one of the dads, and we ended up with three options. 1. The chicks stay the night in my room (where they cheap all night and keep me awake). 2. The parents come back up to the hotel and pick up the contraband (which they were NOT excited about). 3. The student takes the chicks outside and kills them. As soon as that option was suggested I just lost it. I felt so upset that a thoughtless decision could potentially end up in taking an innocent life! I never would have let it come to that, but just the suggestion pushed me over the edge (for those of you that don't know, this time in the school year is EXTREMELY exhausting, so I have very little emotional reserve).
This last week two show choir students got picked up for drinking, and another student admitted to using marijuana...and the combination of ALL these thoughtless decisions was just WEIGHING on my heart! SO, we had a big heart to heart on the bus, and I strongly (and somewhat tearfully) encouraged them to really think about who and what their decisions would effect. I got heartfelt apologies from all involved, and hopefully the chick incident will result in actual "thinking" to occur next time a stupid decision is being contemplated!
Oh yeah...the parents ended up coming to get the chicks. I bet they never saw that one coming.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Some Little Things...
Overlooking Paris.
Death can be beautiful sometimes...
In Ireland.
Names of victims from a holocaust.
A violinist on the streets of Prague.
A cemetary in the Jewish Quarter.
True love in Venice.
Picturesque!
Titled: Naked boy choking goose.
Cinque Terra beauty.
Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes...and ages!
I love this one...
A mossy wall on a Switzerland mountain.
Parisian lighting outside the Louvre.
The world's biggest summer sausage.
A little Italian cutie!
Apparently, the Swiss' drinking fountains are a little different.
The Swiss' slugs are a little different too.
Anyone up for climbing the Eiffel Tower...in a thunderstorm?!
We're at Versailles on the first day of our Europe vacation, and we saw Kent Goodroad, a fellow music major from UNI! What are the chances?!
Some of the most BEAUTIFUL little Costa Rican girls ever. Aren't they cute?
A street fruit market in Paris.
A Costa Rican national holiday...apparently it comes with huge puppets!
When life is simple.
These are some of my very favorite moments, and I thought I'd share them on my first blog with pictures. Hope you enjoy!
These are some of my very favorite moments, and I thought I'd share them on my first blog with pictures. Hope you enjoy!
Monday, March 02, 2009
Aicha
Today was a really long day, and I'm really tired. BUT, there were two things I just couldn't wait to share. First, we watched our weekend show choir performance, and for the first time the student's DECIDED they want to be good for themselves. Not because I'm pushing them, but because they really want it! We critiqued the performance for almost an hour, and spoke the WHOLE time about how we could get better.
Second, I ended the day with a variety show practice with a group of senior boys that are re-enacting the YouTube video "Aicha". Check it out, it's pretty hilarious...I couldn't stop laughing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODmQSPGW6-k
Second, I ended the day with a variety show practice with a group of senior boys that are re-enacting the YouTube video "Aicha". Check it out, it's pretty hilarious...I couldn't stop laughing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODmQSPGW6-k
Sunday, March 01, 2009
the Church...
This is a post about some not-so-little things. We went to church this morning, and it was unreal. We go to the New Covenant Christian Church in Fort Dodge, and each week it's something different and exciting...and it ALL revolves around the beauty and excitement that is salvation. The pastor REFUSES to let us become complacent about salvation, and it's EXACTLY what I need. After my first couple of years in college, I really felt disillusioned with Christianity. I understood the basic truths, and it seemed to become common knowledge...I know how to ride a bike, drive a car, and live the Christian life. And then I started to HATE that! How can something SO important and necessary as a SAVING faith in Jesus become common place? So, I ended up becoming bitter at our complacency as Christians and kind of wandered away for a while.
But, this church REFUSES to do that, and today was basically just a party for how cool God is. 7 people accepted Christ or renewed their faith today...and that's not abnormal! I cry at the beauty of salvation almost every Sunday, I ALWAYS leave with something to challenge my soul for the week, and I ALWAYS meet with the Holy Spirit. It's so neat.
So, here's the thing I felt challenged with today. The pastor asked us to raise our hand if we had a sin we needed to confess and repent of, and at first I really couldn't think of anything (which of COURSE means there's definitely something!). And then it hit me...I need to repent of MY complacency. Since I started working full time, I haven't ever had consistent quiet times. I haven't committed to figuring out what time with Jesus looks like in this new stage of life. (P.S. For all you adult kids-at-heart, I'm realizing that this "new stage of life" isn't going to go away. BUMMER!) I have let STAY complacent, and today I saw it for what it is...it's a slap in God's face. I'm saying that He's not important enough to rearrange my time for, to figure out how to make this relationship work.
And so, here's the "big thing" of the day. I confessed, repented, and am going to change.
Top 10 favorite recent "little things":
1. this weekend I hung out with my sister for 5 hours in a car...favorite moments: A ella le gusta la gasolina (a.k.a. De la HOOP a la gasolina), Hide and Seek, Wicked. We did a lot of singing.
2. we had our first show choir competition yesterday, and even though we didn't place well, they did AWESOME. I seriously love my kids...
3. I took a 2 hour nap today.
4. my Vanilla Bean Woodwick candle is burning away right next to me right now.
5. this week is going to be INSANE, but I'm not stressed out! I may even be a tad bit excited.
6. Chris and I went to Legally Blonde Thursday, and drove with 3 sophomore girls. Chris ACTUALLY convinced one of them that he was originally from Ireland, and the way he talks now was just his English accent (he pulled out his Irish accent and had them swooning).
7. skype calls with the entire Farley family.
8. meatloaf Sunday lunches with the Stelmaker family.
9. making my first meatloaf ever
10. kissing my husband after we both listerine'd :)
But, this church REFUSES to do that, and today was basically just a party for how cool God is. 7 people accepted Christ or renewed their faith today...and that's not abnormal! I cry at the beauty of salvation almost every Sunday, I ALWAYS leave with something to challenge my soul for the week, and I ALWAYS meet with the Holy Spirit. It's so neat.
So, here's the thing I felt challenged with today. The pastor asked us to raise our hand if we had a sin we needed to confess and repent of, and at first I really couldn't think of anything (which of COURSE means there's definitely something!). And then it hit me...I need to repent of MY complacency. Since I started working full time, I haven't ever had consistent quiet times. I haven't committed to figuring out what time with Jesus looks like in this new stage of life. (P.S. For all you adult kids-at-heart, I'm realizing that this "new stage of life" isn't going to go away. BUMMER!) I have let STAY complacent, and today I saw it for what it is...it's a slap in God's face. I'm saying that He's not important enough to rearrange my time for, to figure out how to make this relationship work.
And so, here's the "big thing" of the day. I confessed, repented, and am going to change.
Top 10 favorite recent "little things":
1. this weekend I hung out with my sister for 5 hours in a car...favorite moments: A ella le gusta la gasolina (a.k.a. De la HOOP a la gasolina), Hide and Seek, Wicked. We did a lot of singing.
2. we had our first show choir competition yesterday, and even though we didn't place well, they did AWESOME. I seriously love my kids...
3. I took a 2 hour nap today.
4. my Vanilla Bean Woodwick candle is burning away right next to me right now.
5. this week is going to be INSANE, but I'm not stressed out! I may even be a tad bit excited.
6. Chris and I went to Legally Blonde Thursday, and drove with 3 sophomore girls. Chris ACTUALLY convinced one of them that he was originally from Ireland, and the way he talks now was just his English accent (he pulled out his Irish accent and had them swooning).
7. skype calls with the entire Farley family.
8. meatloaf Sunday lunches with the Stelmaker family.
9. making my first meatloaf ever
10. kissing my husband after we both listerine'd :)
Friday, February 27, 2009
"Rain"
K, so I have this student, let's call her Rain. Rain is COMPLETELY irresponsible. She hasn't turned in one math assigned since the beginning of the semester, and is currently failing all her classes. We had a locker cleaning session yesterday that took 47 minutes. But I LOVE Rain.
Rain is totally one of a kind. She doesn't have the most confidence, but she is 100% confident in being herself. She has an attitude with people she doesn't trust, but she'll do ANYTHING for you once she trusts you and knows you got her back. So, I became Rain's mentor.
This is one of those "little things" moments I love so much. Today Rain handed in her first packet of the semester...COMPLETELY finished! AND, she got a 75% on a test she took. It's little, but it's a step!
After today, I feel confirmed in my conviction that people just need to know that someone believes in them! Someone told her she could do it, so she did. Simple as that! What a great little thing!
The other little thing about my day is that I stayed at school until 7:15 PM...and it's FRIDAY. Sad, huh? But, I feel very blessed to have a job that I like enough to stay at until 7:15 PM on a Friday.
Tomorrow is our first show choir competition. Should be fun!
Rain is totally one of a kind. She doesn't have the most confidence, but she is 100% confident in being herself. She has an attitude with people she doesn't trust, but she'll do ANYTHING for you once she trusts you and knows you got her back. So, I became Rain's mentor.
This is one of those "little things" moments I love so much. Today Rain handed in her first packet of the semester...COMPLETELY finished! AND, she got a 75% on a test she took. It's little, but it's a step!
After today, I feel confirmed in my conviction that people just need to know that someone believes in them! Someone told her she could do it, so she did. Simple as that! What a great little thing!
The other little thing about my day is that I stayed at school until 7:15 PM...and it's FRIDAY. Sad, huh? But, I feel very blessed to have a job that I like enough to stay at until 7:15 PM on a Friday.
Tomorrow is our first show choir competition. Should be fun!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Vanilla Bean...
It's official...Vanilla Bean Woodwick candles are my favorite candles in the world. I've been without for a good 6 months now, but got a new one yesterday and it's been burning ever since. It's about the little things in life!
Here's another little thing...I love my students. There are moments I wish they would rush quickly past the high school years and save me from the world of drama I live in, but mostly I think they are absolutely wonderful. I guess that's probably not such a little thing though, since they're kind of my life right now.
And last little thing of the day...Chris got me my own laptop! It's nothing new or special, but it's MINE! And I can promise you, this site will be visited much more frequently from now on.
My dog Lexi just farted...hmm.
I'm going to see Legally Blonde tomorrow!
I love Sara Bareilles' voice.
Later.
Here's another little thing...I love my students. There are moments I wish they would rush quickly past the high school years and save me from the world of drama I live in, but mostly I think they are absolutely wonderful. I guess that's probably not such a little thing though, since they're kind of my life right now.
And last little thing of the day...Chris got me my own laptop! It's nothing new or special, but it's MINE! And I can promise you, this site will be visited much more frequently from now on.
My dog Lexi just farted...hmm.
I'm going to see Legally Blonde tomorrow!
I love Sara Bareilles' voice.
Later.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Dreams...and WHY?
So, I dream all the time. Sometimes it gets in the way of life...sometimes it seems like I'm never content...sometimes I'm not content...sometimes I forget to love where I am now...sometimes I get really annoyed at people who are so content with where they are...but mostly, I guess I love that I love to dream. Want to know my biggest dream right now? My biggest dream lately is about our close future. In January we're going to an Overseas Teaching Fair. Now, only God knows what's going to happen, but the possibilities are ENDLESS. Tonight I'm working on my cover letter/resume/references. Tomorrow I'll start e-mailing them to administrators in Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, China, Thailand, and on and on and on. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!
I love this quote. "Some people look at things that are and ask, "Why?" Others look at things that have never been and ask, "Why not?"
Here's what I love most, though. God has surrounded me with people that love to ask "Why". For example, Christopher. He's the one that spends hours examining how our house is wired, because (apparently!) it's wired COMPLETELY wrong and we could burn down at any second! (an exaggeration, but close!). He's the one that actually knows that there are 2 Koreas...and one is DEFINITELY better to live in than the other one (knowing me, I'd just say yes and find myself in a communist country!). My best friends ask "Why do you want that?" I say, "Huh...I guess I don't know!" WHY do I want to live overseas? WHY do I want to learn another language? WHY do I teach music to high schoolers? I guess, the WHY is important too.
I love this quote. "Some people look at things that are and ask, "Why?" Others look at things that have never been and ask, "Why not?"
Here's what I love most, though. God has surrounded me with people that love to ask "Why". For example, Christopher. He's the one that spends hours examining how our house is wired, because (apparently!) it's wired COMPLETELY wrong and we could burn down at any second! (an exaggeration, but close!). He's the one that actually knows that there are 2 Koreas...and one is DEFINITELY better to live in than the other one (knowing me, I'd just say yes and find myself in a communist country!). My best friends ask "Why do you want that?" I say, "Huh...I guess I don't know!" WHY do I want to live overseas? WHY do I want to learn another language? WHY do I teach music to high schoolers? I guess, the WHY is important too.
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