Predator and Prey

I am being stalked.
I can see his ears peeping around the corner.
I know his bum is wiggling as he is about to pounce.
He attacks everything and anything that moves.
The straps on my school bag are not safe.
Pounce! He's on my lap begging for attention and swatting at my necklace.

I can't imagine my life without him.

Can I Do This For Homework?

When I left my small town teaching post to pursue a city teaching job, I really thought it would be the same. Instead, I ended up in school that was located in a very poor area of the city. My priorities fast shifted from academics to how to give my students skills to survive in the world. I got used to late students and missed assignments. If you'd heard some of the things that were going on in those kids' lives, you'd understand why I was just proud of them for showing up and trying. I learned to be a little more flexible.
Now, I'm thrown back into the academic whirlwind. All my students are seated and ready to go by the time the class bell rings. All of my students have handed in all their assignments. I haven't worried about the health and social welfare of any of my students to date. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor today when one young man asked me, "can I do this for homework"?

Tim and Karri's wedding is coming up in a week and a half. Trevor and I are in the wedding party and we're in the middle of preparing the powerpoint. Things are getting a little busy around our house. Poor Fergus doesn't get the play time and the cuddles he was used too. I'm looking forward to the wedding and I'm really looking forward to all these preparations being done. I'm tired of my homework!

Voiceless

Laryngitis.
Definitely not how I would normally choose to start a new job.
My coughing keeps me up at night.
I'm really rather pathetic.

The new job is going well. I have 2 Psych 20 classes in the afternoon. I love Psych 20. It's a really great class and I'm excited about it. I will be working for Student Services in the morning. There's a plan but, no one's really informed me what it is yet. Ah well... it will happen soon enough.

An abrupt change...

Last Wednesday, I sent in my resume to a division outside the city. I had an interview on Friday and this morning, I found out I have the job.
So, I'm leavin' the hood and heading to Bedroom Community. Today, during Foods, one of my students was hauled out of the classroom and arrested for auto theft. The police cuffed him right in the hall. We could hear everything. I guess I'll have a little culture shock again. I doubt that will happen in Bedroom Community.
I'm taking on a different kind of teaching job. I'll be working with Student Services and I will be providing guidance to teachers. I really have no idea what that means yet. I'm still excited that they think I have the ability to help troubled students.
I'm taking a few days off first. I need to get things sorted out for Grandpa's Eulogy and powerpoint. I need some time breathe and process all the changes in my world. The loss of Grandpa hits me at weird times. I cry a lot right now. It was kind of strange to say good-bye to my hood school when I was so upset over Grandpa. It felt kind of unreal.
Well, this job is an answer to prayer. I'm excited to go back to where I interned. I'm excited to be challenged in my professional development. I'm excited to teach in an academic setting again and in my subject areas.
I just need to get through the next couple of days and get my feet wet and Bedroom Community school and I'll be back into the swing of things.

Grand-pa

My Grand-pa passed away last night.
Trevor and I went to visit him in the hospital. We had a good long talk. I thought he'd be released from the hospital after the weekend.
I'm really sad. I loved my Grand-pa a lot. We liked to tease each other. He always had time to talk football with Trevor. He was my co-worker at Gov't House where we took our breaks together. He's always been in my life.
I'm glad that he knows the Lord and is in Heaven. I'm glad that he is free from pain.
I really miss him.

a blur...

At the end of every teaching year, I try to look back and reflect on what I've been up to with students, with lessons and with my own growth as a professional. Strangely, during those reflection periods, I usually get stumped when I try to remember what I did in September.
Now, I remember why. September is a nutty month. My classes are new and are keeping me swamped.
I'm proud to say that my students have successfully completed 4 cooking labs. We haven't burnt a thing and all the the food has been tasty. It's also really fun. I like the hands-on learning aspect.
I'm also really excited that I am no longer intimidated by fractions, long division, decimals or exponents. By teaching these concepts to kids who are really struggling, I've been able to figure out a lot myself. I also can empathize with them when they think math sucks.
I'll be subbing (with a temp. contract) at this job until Oct. 23. Then, I'll try my hand at subbing... unless anything else comes up.

On a whole other note, Fergus is growing fast. Our vet thinks he'll be a big cat... Garfield here we come. Trevor and I spend a lot of time being stalked, pounced upon and cuddling. He's a pretty social kitten. He's been a good addition to our little family.

Male Bonding

Trevor, Jared and Ken took a trip to Yoho National Park this past long weekend. They hiked, they scrambled, they cooked on a camping stove, they backpacked and they tented. It was a full weekend full of many memory making moments.
Here are a few snapshots to show you the fun.

100th Post - A Long-Weekend Mishmash

This morning, as I crawled out of bed late, I realized that my summer was over. I taught 3 days at my inner-city high school and I am tired. I'm trying to wrap my head around how to cook in a very old facility with some pretty wild kidlets. I'm also trying to remember how to do improper/mixed fractions and long division. (Man, I suck at long division).
I love being back to work. I love learning new things and conquering new challenges. I love hanging out with kids. They keep me on my toes! I have no idea how long this subbing gig will go. Hopefully, I'll be able to wrangle a contract out of the School Division (cross fingers ... they are difficult about these sorts of things).
Trevor's off on a long weekend trip with his little brother and dad. They're back-packing through Yoho National Park. I'm a little jealous of his adventure but, I'm also really excited for him. Right now, he should be scrambling some mountain. :) It's weird to have all this time at home without him. I've rented some movies that I know he would never want to watch. Our moms have also taken it upon themselves to make sure I don't have many meals alone. My biggest problem is sleeping. I am startled awake every 3-4 hours wondering where Trevor is. I miss him lots!
This is my 100th post on this blog. I've always been a little curious about who reads this blog besides the lovely Jen, amazing Amanda F., sweet Sue and the notorious Edward. Please de-lurk. I've taken off my anti-anonymous post security just for this blog. Tell me who you are. Thanks!