We (my teaching partner and I) received an email from a parent late Friday afternoon regarding an incident involving her son. She was simply making us aware. We received another email late Monday evening asking for a conference, but maybe we didn't need to actually conference about it, she thought. We received an email Tuesday morning asking to meet over our lunch time.
Um, wow. We hadn't even had a chance to reply to Friday's email before two others arrived!
All of that not withstanding, we are now having a first time parent/teacher conference when there are only 3 days left in the school year.
There are just some things I don't understand.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Heir Apparent
About a week and a half ago, I was in Arkansas for my cousin's high school graduation. The Mavericks were playing the Thunder in the playoffs...which is quite humorous in my family since we're from Texas, but all of the extended family is from OkCity. It made for some fun conversations!
Anyway, at one point my dad and I were chatting about Jason Kidd and Dad mentioned his "heir apparent." I wasn't familiar with that terminology and asked Dad to explain. No big deal..."learn something new every day" and all that.
I think I've heard it no less than 5 times since that conversation.
Always funny how little things catch my attention!
Anyway, at one point my dad and I were chatting about Jason Kidd and Dad mentioned his "heir apparent." I wasn't familiar with that terminology and asked Dad to explain. No big deal..."learn something new every day" and all that.
I think I've heard it no less than 5 times since that conversation.
Always funny how little things catch my attention!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
End of May update
What a boring post title!
I haven't blogged in awhile and when I have thought of blogging, it hasn't necessarily been original material, but more to link to someone else's blog. I'm still probably going to do a couple of those, too...
We only have 3 1/2 more days of school to go and I am VERY ready for summer to arrive. On the other hand, this year has been fairly drama free in regards to kiddos behavior and parents' too, for that matter. We haven't had kids talking about sex at lunch or any major fist fights or anything like that. For the most part, parents have been friendly and supportive. I've heard next year won't be the same way, so I'm trying to relish this year while I've got a few days left of it!
In exactly 9 days, I will be departing on a Carribean cruise! It was pretty funny how the decision was made. I'd sent an email to some people asking if anyone was interested. When it came down to it, 5 were possibilities. We were looking at a 4 or 5 night cruise. Out of our options, I emailed out the dates that worked for me. LJ responded with the ones that worked for her. The other girls ended up not being able to go. So LJ and I said, "Ok, which of these dates do we prefer. June 6 sounds good. Great! Now, where are we going? Cozumel and Progresso. Ok!" Haha!
Either way, I'm excited. The last day of school is Friday. I'll pack over the weekend, and we sail Monday afternoon. YES!
I haven't blogged in awhile and when I have thought of blogging, it hasn't necessarily been original material, but more to link to someone else's blog. I'm still probably going to do a couple of those, too...
We only have 3 1/2 more days of school to go and I am VERY ready for summer to arrive. On the other hand, this year has been fairly drama free in regards to kiddos behavior and parents' too, for that matter. We haven't had kids talking about sex at lunch or any major fist fights or anything like that. For the most part, parents have been friendly and supportive. I've heard next year won't be the same way, so I'm trying to relish this year while I've got a few days left of it!
In exactly 9 days, I will be departing on a Carribean cruise! It was pretty funny how the decision was made. I'd sent an email to some people asking if anyone was interested. When it came down to it, 5 were possibilities. We were looking at a 4 or 5 night cruise. Out of our options, I emailed out the dates that worked for me. LJ responded with the ones that worked for her. The other girls ended up not being able to go. So LJ and I said, "Ok, which of these dates do we prefer. June 6 sounds good. Great! Now, where are we going? Cozumel and Progresso. Ok!" Haha!
Either way, I'm excited. The last day of school is Friday. I'll pack over the weekend, and we sail Monday afternoon. YES!
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Terrific...or Exhausted
Remember in Charlotte's Web, when the goose was trying to help Charlotte spell?
"T, double E, double R, R, R, double I, double F, double I, double C"
Or something to that affect.
That's how I feel right now...except with 'exhausted' in place of 'terrific'.
"Double E, double X, double AUS, double T, double E, double DDD."
There's not anything overwhelming going on in my life right now. I'm just running on not enough sleep and then dealing with cranky, ready-for-summer, sometimes slightly clueless people...and of course the children, too.
My bedtime tonight = EARLY.
"T, double E, double R, R, R, double I, double F, double I, double C"
Or something to that affect.
That's how I feel right now...except with 'exhausted' in place of 'terrific'.
"Double E, double X, double AUS, double T, double E, double DDD."
There's not anything overwhelming going on in my life right now. I'm just running on not enough sleep and then dealing with cranky, ready-for-summer, sometimes slightly clueless people...and of course the children, too.
My bedtime tonight = EARLY.
Monday, April 25, 2011
What have I done?
I borrowed this from Arshunda over at Ride of My Life.
Everything below in bold, I've done. I would like to do many more than I have! Copy this on to your own blog & bold/underline the things you’ve done if you like.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disneyworld, but I'm counting it.)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (I WANT to do this!!!)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (Haha, this is funny!)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (I'm not totally sure where they're from!)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (no desire...)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Camp Fire candy counts, right?)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (Not yet, but I will!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (On accident!!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Everything below in bold, I've done. I would like to do many more than I have! Copy this on to your own blog & bold/underline the things you’ve done if you like.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disneyworld, but I'm counting it.)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (I WANT to do this!!!)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (Haha, this is funny!)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (I'm not totally sure where they're from!)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (no desire...)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Camp Fire candy counts, right?)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (Not yet, but I will!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (On accident!!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Saturday, April 23, 2011
God has been up to an amazing work. Hmm, let me correct that. God is always up to an amazing work. Lately, He has opened my eyes more to what He's doing and I am joyfully walking closer and closer with Him each day. It is a blessing to actually see, understand and be a tiny part of His plan!
Jesus is patiently walking me through some lessons on trust and what it looks like to have faith in Him. Our trip to Haiti back in March was fabulous, without many bumps. I did have a slight heartattack the night before we left. I had made a mistake in adding up the amount of cash we were supposed to take and we were short...but no small amount. I didn't immediately trust. I didn't immediately turn to Christ. My first thought was one of panic. He wasn't surprised. He had known all along I had made that mistake, and He quietly took care of it.
Thank you Jesus! I will choose to trust you next time!
We had a slight ticket glitch at the end of our trip. I didn't even miss a beat. I need Jesus had it all under control. Thank you Lord that you're helping me learn to trust you!
My small group has been studying Ruth lately. While I was in Haiti, God took me back to the end of chapter 2, specifically the verses where Ruth goes out into the barley and wheat fields. She had met Boaz. She found him appealing. She wanted to be married again. God asked her to be patient. And to wait. Two things I don't do as well as I would like.
Another lesson I learned, to be prayerfully patient. I can't just be patient. I can't just pray. God is asking me to do both. I need to be prayerful for my friends' salvation. I need to be patient with them as I'm talking with them and praying for them. I need to be prayerful for my future spouse. I need to be patient with God's plan while I'm praying for my husband.
Earlier this week, MJ and I interviewed for a video our church is making to promote Haiti. Our Missions' Office is starting up a new website about Giving Your Life Away. This video will be on the website and perhaps shown in our church service at some point, too.
Mark and Lacey are in town this weekend. They were able to come to our Broken for You service on Thursday night. Both of them commented how large the church was and how intimate the service felt. Praise God! I had been specifically praying they would feel poured into. Mark, Lacey, MJ and I are all meeting with our missions' pastor tomorrow morning. I am so excited to continue to see God working!
Jesus is patiently walking me through some lessons on trust and what it looks like to have faith in Him. Our trip to Haiti back in March was fabulous, without many bumps. I did have a slight heartattack the night before we left. I had made a mistake in adding up the amount of cash we were supposed to take and we were short...but no small amount. I didn't immediately trust. I didn't immediately turn to Christ. My first thought was one of panic. He wasn't surprised. He had known all along I had made that mistake, and He quietly took care of it.
Thank you Jesus! I will choose to trust you next time!
We had a slight ticket glitch at the end of our trip. I didn't even miss a beat. I need Jesus had it all under control. Thank you Lord that you're helping me learn to trust you!
My small group has been studying Ruth lately. While I was in Haiti, God took me back to the end of chapter 2, specifically the verses where Ruth goes out into the barley and wheat fields. She had met Boaz. She found him appealing. She wanted to be married again. God asked her to be patient. And to wait. Two things I don't do as well as I would like.
Another lesson I learned, to be prayerfully patient. I can't just be patient. I can't just pray. God is asking me to do both. I need to be prayerful for my friends' salvation. I need to be patient with them as I'm talking with them and praying for them. I need to be prayerful for my future spouse. I need to be patient with God's plan while I'm praying for my husband.
Earlier this week, MJ and I interviewed for a video our church is making to promote Haiti. Our Missions' Office is starting up a new website about Giving Your Life Away. This video will be on the website and perhaps shown in our church service at some point, too.
Mark and Lacey are in town this weekend. They were able to come to our Broken for You service on Thursday night. Both of them commented how large the church was and how intimate the service felt. Praise God! I had been specifically praying they would feel poured into. Mark, Lacey, MJ and I are all meeting with our missions' pastor tomorrow morning. I am so excited to continue to see God working!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Student Stories
If you know me outside this blog at all, then you know I do not leave near the school where I teach, for a reason.
I love my children and their parents. I genuinely enjoy interacting with them throughout my day. However, I have no desire to run into them at HEB or the carwash.
About a week ago, I'm at a Tex-Mex restaurant EAST of where I live. I've run into the ladies room and am washing my hands, when a little boy and his slightly older sister come in. I don't pay much attention, until I realize they're trying to look at me covertly and then glancing at each other. I start to wonder if something is wrong with my clothing. I'm wearing a high necked blouse, but maybe something is hanging out that's not supposed to? I start glancing down at my clothing, in the mirror at my face, neck, arms, quick glances, attempting to see what has their attention.
Finally, the little boy exclaims, "You're from our school!"
The lightbulb goes off, and Ms. Ross turns on the smile. "Yes, yes, I am!" I chat with them for just a moment, finding out he's a kindergartner and she's in 2nd grade, feeling slightly awkward as we're in a public restroom and it's just the three of us. We all finish washing our hands, and head back to our parties.
It was a slightly odd occurrence, as I work WEST of where I live.
I tell the story to my girlfriends, we laugh and carry on with our evening.
Flash forward a little over a week...I'm meeting a friend for coffee, and am walking by Crave Cupcakes. I can tell a teenage girl has glanced at me and looked back at her friends, embarrassed. She looks familar, and I'm pretty sure she's a former student, but I can't pull her name, so I don't say anything.
I walk into Starbucks, chat with the friend I'm meeting, get in line to order my drink and sit down to begin catching up. A girl I do not recognize appears at our table. "Um, hi." Awkward, teenage girl smile. "Is your name Ms. Ross?" I give my best, "Welcome to Ms. Ross's class!" smile and admit that I am, while sincerely hoping she was not a former student, because I had no clue who she was, but didn't want to disappoint her if I didn't know her name. On the contrary, her friend was my former student, but was too embarrased to come say hello. However, her friends convinced her, and it made me remember the awkward life of a 14 year old girl, when talking to an adult was mortifying, yet desirable.
I actually enjoyed running into these children, though I still firmly stand by my decision to never live in the area where I teach!
I love my children and their parents. I genuinely enjoy interacting with them throughout my day. However, I have no desire to run into them at HEB or the carwash.
About a week ago, I'm at a Tex-Mex restaurant EAST of where I live. I've run into the ladies room and am washing my hands, when a little boy and his slightly older sister come in. I don't pay much attention, until I realize they're trying to look at me covertly and then glancing at each other. I start to wonder if something is wrong with my clothing. I'm wearing a high necked blouse, but maybe something is hanging out that's not supposed to? I start glancing down at my clothing, in the mirror at my face, neck, arms, quick glances, attempting to see what has their attention.
Finally, the little boy exclaims, "You're from our school!"
The lightbulb goes off, and Ms. Ross turns on the smile. "Yes, yes, I am!" I chat with them for just a moment, finding out he's a kindergartner and she's in 2nd grade, feeling slightly awkward as we're in a public restroom and it's just the three of us. We all finish washing our hands, and head back to our parties.
It was a slightly odd occurrence, as I work WEST of where I live.
I tell the story to my girlfriends, we laugh and carry on with our evening.
Flash forward a little over a week...I'm meeting a friend for coffee, and am walking by Crave Cupcakes. I can tell a teenage girl has glanced at me and looked back at her friends, embarrassed. She looks familar, and I'm pretty sure she's a former student, but I can't pull her name, so I don't say anything.
I walk into Starbucks, chat with the friend I'm meeting, get in line to order my drink and sit down to begin catching up. A girl I do not recognize appears at our table. "Um, hi." Awkward, teenage girl smile. "Is your name Ms. Ross?" I give my best, "Welcome to Ms. Ross's class!" smile and admit that I am, while sincerely hoping she was not a former student, because I had no clue who she was, but didn't want to disappoint her if I didn't know her name. On the contrary, her friend was my former student, but was too embarrased to come say hello. However, her friends convinced her, and it made me remember the awkward life of a 14 year old girl, when talking to an adult was mortifying, yet desirable.
I actually enjoyed running into these children, though I still firmly stand by my decision to never live in the area where I teach!
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