Forgotten Gem

I miss those little ones. Even when they forget the words. Even when they change what I think of when I think of Nelly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkJSPL_1uLQ

Maybe the reason I have so much to do during the week...

...is because I spend all my weekend time doing things that are completely ridiculous.  Like becoming so inspired by Nelly's new song (seriously... I love it.  Takes me back to my dad driving my friend Cortney and me to middle school as we rapped Hot in Hurr) that I spend AN HOUR AND A HALF re-writing a new version about student achievement to teach to my kids.  Not only did I spend that long writing it, but I also practiced it.  With dance moves.

Productive start to the weekend...  I'm including the video so you can get as pumped as me, but you'll have to wait until we finish our official class recording for my version.  Until then, enjoy the inferior Nelly one with a small taste for what the chorus will say-

I was thinking ‘bout life, thinking ‘bout dreams

Thinking 'bout the future, who we gonna be

Open up my eyes and say, gotta follow all my dreams...

No, I did not cry in my cubby this year

For those of you who are wondering, no, I did not end the first day in the fetal position crying.  Quite the opposite, actually.  I had a pretty awesome three days, although my kids are still in the honeymoon stage (never got one of those last time).

Some funny stories from first three days of school:

• "Why is it so important to walk in the hall?"
  "Because it's not very lady-like to run."
  
• On a student survey: If I could be any animal, I would be not be an animal_______.
• Making a counting book about things you'd bring to a picnic: "I'm bringing five vacuums cause we're all probably going to get dirrrrrrrrtay."
• And, the highlight of my day, a little boy bopping in his seat and singing this

Even though he didn't do the Lil Wayne part it still really got me in the weekend mood.

Reinvigorated

Official second-year TFA programming began this week.  I was not ready.  I forgot what it was like to work 12 hours a day for a whole week (I was in my school too) and I shouldn't have been surprised when I found myself asleep on a Friday night before 11:00.

BUT- and I know this is cheesy, but bear with me- I'm feeling like I should change the "Fear/Dread" portion of my teaching graph to "Reinvigoration."  Which spell check just told me is not a word... oh well.  The program staff in Charlotte is very "excited" (a much overused adjective in this region) to be starting this year off on a different foot.  I'll admit that I was pretty jaded and grouchy and skeptical about it the first day of programming, but yesterday was actually extremely motivating and- I'll use the word again- reinvigorating.

The whole mission has become much more urgent in that they're stressing significant change in EVERY classroom of EVERY corps member without excuses.  I've felt many times that Charlotte a city where if you want to escape from that guilt you feel about your kids being two grade levels behind or living in extreme poverty or not having the love and support that every child deserves, you can do it.  It's easy.  So in some ways, as hard as I worked last year, I checked myself out from it and eventually lost sight of what I was trying to do from the beginning.

My program director is really cheesy when she meets with us, using a lot of quotes and youtube videos set to inspirational music and all of that.  I'm including two below so that you all can feel as motivated as I feel right now.  Maybe it's about going to the gym instead of public education, but whatever- I won't judge.

Ridin' Dirty

With all the time I've spent in my car this summer, I've decided to put together a list of things I like about driving stick and all the things I hate.  Not only does making a list make me feel like I've done something when I really haven't, but... okay, it really just makes me feel like I've done something when I really haven't.

The Benefits of Driving Stick

• Looking really cool and sounding impressive.  This is especially true when your boyfriend can't drive stick.  I like to pretend that solely being able to take a manual car out for a spin makes me a better driver, especially when he brings up articles about men fearing for their life when their partner is driving.  (Possible response: well I fear for my life when you drive my car... because you don't know how.)
• Being able to pretend to street race.  Yeah, I said it.  I'll rev my engine at you.
• It's more fun... I mean that.  When you're in the mood, it makes driving more of an activity than a mindless drudgery getting you to where you need to go.

What Sucks About Driving Stick

• Not being able to do ANYTHING while driving.  I know it's not safe to distract yourself in the car but let's be honest- we all do it.  It's next to impossible to do anything when you drive a standard car.  Texting?  No way.  Only at stop lights.  Eating?  Absolutely not.  Sometimes I feel bad when I'm accelerating next to someone and I'm at about 5000 rpms because I'm trying to eat a bagel.  No, I'm not trying to race you (although maybe we can later).  I just want to eat my bagel and wish my car would shift itself into third gear.
• Other people can never drive your car.  If I had a dollar for every time I needed someone to drive for me and they couldn't because my car is manual, I would have about $6.  This doesn't seem like very much, but one of those times was the 13 hour trip back home with Jack.  Through DC and NYC.  Which brings me to my next point...
• Traffic.  It's one thing if you're looking for a really good left buttcheek workout, but quite another to have to hold the clutch down for over an hour going 5 mph.
• It makes driving hungover eight billion times worse.  We all know that after a night of libations are fine motor skills our usually suffering.  For me, that means shifts that feel more like earthquakes.  And earthquakes are not fun when you spent all last night pretending you were a booze-fueled Step Up 4 extra.

 

4: Stick Shift Vs. Automatic - watch more funny videos

End of Year

In the single digits for the countdown now (NINE teaching days left), and tonight we had our last TFA meeting of the year.  It's crazy to me to think about where I was a year ago, to think about the kind of mindsets and attitudes I had coming into this whole experience.  And knowing now what I know, seeing what I've seen, it's impossible to return to that pretty naive perspective I had then.

Anyway, they played a preview for a movie coming out soon that was so relevant to what we're doing.  I don't know exactly what it stirred up in me- a lot of inspiration and motivation, a little disappointment and regret, thoughts of what I could have done better- but I wanted to share it here.

What do you think, Krissy?

At the end of the day when they're at their craziest.  Pretty common for this student in particular to interrupt me with outrageous statements.

Sara's Attempt at a Sports Blog

Stolen material from Jack, when he recommended his roommate blog about it.  Proving that my blog is the best.



Awesome!!!!!!! (?? not quite sure what else to say... maybe I should stay away from sports blogging, especially about hockey)