An Update
I haven't posted in awhile and a lot has happened since November 2, so I will recap. Homecoming was great. I got to see my best friends and it sort of felt like college again. My family and I spent Saturday morning at a dentist's office so Peter could get his mouth fixed. (this prompted me to feel like the worst sister ever). Anyway. That next week was the end of the first quarter (to those in Texas -- the first 9 weeks) and my first official school holiday and turning in grades for kids that I was responsible for and my first real argument with my teaching assistant. I also figured out that I am very hard headed and want my way when it comes to my kids.
Another first and new experience was getting sick while living by myself. Sunday and Monday I was stuck to my bed and the kleenex box. Getting sick by yourself is sort of sad, but now I know that I can do it!
The new quarter brought with it some challenges. I am now teaching one math class and MUSIC. My only qualifications are taking piano for a few years and singing in choir for my whole life. Now that I have taught it for a week, I am glad that I am teaching it. I must say though that I was pessimistic when I saw my class roster. The 5 kids that chose to take the class were several of the girls that are always mentioned in staff meetings and have a permanent place on the shift reports that tell us how the girls do at the cottage before and after school. The class used to be set up only as the girls would self teach keyboard and then the teacher would show a musical the last 20 minutes of the period. I have changed it where the girls do keyboard some days and then other days we will actually learn about music. Today was the first day that they got to spend more than just a couple of minutes at the keyboard. I sat with two girls most of the time. One of them was really into learning how to play Ode to Joy. This is the same song that I learned to play first. She sat there for the 30 minutes playing this same song. She played it with me. It really amazes me how these girls so want to be perfect. She made two mistakes and got upset with herself. I told her that I have played this song a bajillion times and can play it without thinking or looking that the keys. After she played the whole song for me, I told her that she could go onto the next page, but she said she would practice this song more. I was very impressed.
Next week is Thanksgiving and though I have always known that I have much to be thankful for, it now hits me even more. Some of my kids are the happiest that I have seen them because they get to see their family for the day of Thanksgiving. I get to see mine too. We are all flying to Phoenix. I think this is the first time that we have spent this holiday in Phoenix. It should be interesting.
I hope this post finds everyone well.
grace and peace
Another first and new experience was getting sick while living by myself. Sunday and Monday I was stuck to my bed and the kleenex box. Getting sick by yourself is sort of sad, but now I know that I can do it!
The new quarter brought with it some challenges. I am now teaching one math class and MUSIC. My only qualifications are taking piano for a few years and singing in choir for my whole life. Now that I have taught it for a week, I am glad that I am teaching it. I must say though that I was pessimistic when I saw my class roster. The 5 kids that chose to take the class were several of the girls that are always mentioned in staff meetings and have a permanent place on the shift reports that tell us how the girls do at the cottage before and after school. The class used to be set up only as the girls would self teach keyboard and then the teacher would show a musical the last 20 minutes of the period. I have changed it where the girls do keyboard some days and then other days we will actually learn about music. Today was the first day that they got to spend more than just a couple of minutes at the keyboard. I sat with two girls most of the time. One of them was really into learning how to play Ode to Joy. This is the same song that I learned to play first. She sat there for the 30 minutes playing this same song. She played it with me. It really amazes me how these girls so want to be perfect. She made two mistakes and got upset with herself. I told her that I have played this song a bajillion times and can play it without thinking or looking that the keys. After she played the whole song for me, I told her that she could go onto the next page, but she said she would practice this song more. I was very impressed.
Next week is Thanksgiving and though I have always known that I have much to be thankful for, it now hits me even more. Some of my kids are the happiest that I have seen them because they get to see their family for the day of Thanksgiving. I get to see mine too. We are all flying to Phoenix. I think this is the first time that we have spent this holiday in Phoenix. It should be interesting.
I hope this post finds everyone well.
grace and peace
posted by valerie @ 5:19 PM
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