For some reason, I just can't get myself to blog every few days. So for your sake, and my sake, let's just do lunch if you want to know what I'm thinking. :)
This guy is rockin' out to some Euro-Techno song...it brought a warm smile to my heart on this cold day. There was hail in Azusa today by the way.
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/numa.php
I used to have a friend who made flip books...so Mike Strand, this goes out to you wherever you are.
Go t0 this link for coolness: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/fight3.php
So Kristen and I filed out taxes together for the first time...it was pretty sweet. AAAAAND, we get some money back. We used Turbo Tax, so I'm just hoping we did it correctly before we "E-Filed." I have this strange feeling that I did something wrong, and will very soon be owing the government money and spending time in prison. Hey, I'll just tell them Kristen did it all...that would work right? Oh, I hope she doesn't read this one.
I gave my word, to stop at third.
Yes, you read that correctly...I gave my word, to stop at third...more on that later.
This past Tuesday my lovely wife and I went to a seminar called "Sex and the Seminary" at Fuller, Kristen's school. One of the issues they dealt with was the different types of models that people use to not have sex. In a recent study done on individuals who made a pledge to abstain from sex until marriage the results were as such: 88% broke their "pledge," they were (not exact numbers but within one or two) 8% more likely to engage in oral sex than thos, 6% more likely to engage in anal sex than those who did not "pledge" and a certain (let's say 8) percent more likely to catch an STD than those who did not "pledge". I thougth it was interesting...
Another thing that the presenter spoke about what that if you are single you should buy a box of condoms. Now, I thought this guy was nuts but, his rationale made some sense. If you are truly set on going for it...nothing is going to stop you. But, if you are just caught up in the moment doing something as simple as opening a box, unwrapping presaid item is enough to at least get you thinking. The issue, of course isn't as simple as that but I thought it merited a comment.
Kerry and I used to collect poor christian pop culture slogansI gave my word, to stop at third.
Yes, you read that correctly...I gave my word, to stop at third...more on that later.
This past Tuesday my lovely wife and I went to a seminar called "Sex and the Seminary" at Fuller, Kristen's school. One of the issues they dealt with was the different types of models that people use to not have sex. In a recent study done on individuals who made a pledge to abstain from sex until marriage the results were as such: 88% broke their "pledge," they were (not exact numbers but within one or two) 8% more likely to engage in oral sex than thos, 6% more likely to engage in anal sex than those who did not "pledge" and a certain (let's say 8) percent more likely to catch an STD than those who did not "pledge". I thougth it was interesting...
Another thing that the presenter spoke about what that if you are single you should buy a box of condoms. Now, I thought this guy was nuts but, his rationale made some sense. If you are truly set on going for it...nothing is going to stop you. But, if you are just caught up in the moment doing something as simple as opening a box, unwrapping presaid item is enough to at least get you thinking. The issue, of course isn't as simple as that but I thought it merited a comment.
Kerry and I used to collect poor christian pop culture slogans at camp. But this one has to take the cake. A guy behind me actually said, and I was thinking it, outloud "Oh man, I want that shirt." It was a slogan for a purity pledge. I just thought it was funny, and sad and thought I should mention it.
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As a teacher, you get excited about the smallest things, and then feel like a dork for doing so. Today I recieved 6 copies of the book Holes, a recent Disney movie, for my literature circles and got really excited. I also ordered a timer that has a red, yellow and green light on it. The timer takes the time you input, divides it into thirds and shows kids how much time they have left by the color it is on. I used it during silent reading today, and the first 2 minutes the kids stared at the timer like "ooooooooooooh, its green!" Like I said...dork.
Spell check..who has time for it in this fst paced world :)
So tomorrow I have a day of training, and will have a substitute teacher in the classroom. So far, this year, I have been gone for 5 days of school. Out of those 5 days, we have had 4 suspensions and numerous kids sent to the office from our classroom. After the last substitute debacle, this past Wednesday, I believe the kids are primed and ready for a great day without Mr.Meyers. There is also the incentive of possible cupcakes or consequence of no recess for a week that should motivate them...
should
So I am at that point in my teaching career, where most first year teachers go into what has been called the "survival mode." You show up, and just basically try and get through the day is basically the characteristics that show up commonly. I have conflicting feelings. I'm told things that I don't want to affect my thoughts about my students but seep into my mind when planning. Things like "Well this year's fifth grade class has shown lower test scores that previous years"...or "first year teachers always get the tough class...don't worry next year will be better," stuff like that. Is it really that first year teachers get the "tough class" or is it that we are
first year teachers.
I'm hoping that my blogging will give me some insight into the thoughts about those kids in my class who I pray for every night, and hope that some how God will use me to show them something positive (even if it has nothing to do with sentence fluency or syllabic patterns). When students have turned in 10% of the classwork, what drives them to not care. When students day in and day out feel they need to punk other students, what are the missing in their life to make them make those decisions. When I talk to parents for the 5th time about behavior and missing assignment problems and nothing comes from the conversation, what do you do? Do you move on, pick up whats left, and address only those students who are trying? I'm glad I have had excellent mentors in the past, and support of current staff, family and friends, otherwise I would be in that survival mode that so many of us first years fall into. Well, check in with me again next week.
P.S. Make sure to vote for Jerry Rice for Dancing with the Stars...I don't watch it, but I heard he was on it. Stop laughing...vote NOW!
