Sigh...the first day of school. A day that usually has some small whiff of autumn and pencil shavings associated with it. I always double check that I remembered to put on deoderant, and wonder again at the amazing surrealness that I am now teaching school. Ever since I was three I wanted to be a teacher. I only deviated once--mom freaked out, but I think it is necessary to deliberately make the decision to do something instead of leaving to life's defaults. I am in awe of the courage of my students. Suddenly they are real people instead of names on a list. A mentor of mine always warned that I was too involved, too invested in teaching and my students. He admired this but warned of burn out in five years.
Well, here I am in year six. Of course all non-essential organs have been removed, except the obvious appendix-- and I am currently fighting a wicked battle with my kidneys.
I have a blog for my students. It is an attempt to create more a community and a willingness to trust each other with our writing. On the first day there are just some people that I see and I just know that they are going to be a joy to be around--to learn with. Others I wonder about and I usually am wrong in my guesses, but those few. Well I just know. One of them left an obligatory comment on the welcome message and of course I was able to discover that she just started a blog but has had a webpage forever it looks like. Well, she blogged about class. This girl is a natural born writer. You can be taught but this lady has natural born elegance in her words. She wrote about me, I was half afraid--but it was good and for once I didn't think about my kidneys and my weird office situation and about paychecks getting to the right place. I can't imagine doing anything else and the gracious Lord has allowed me to have miracles in my life to make it possible. I love my job. Even when I am not happy with it, I love it.
Just had to say that. I think I might do some of my pages on here, then you will all see how truly odd I am. But you will know me better. love to all. viva la kidney.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
I Got the JOB!
Well last Thursday I was awakened by a call from UVU's English Department Chair. I have been hired full time as a lecturer. I have benefits and retirement and I will have an office. I didn't make it to the retreat because I am still in a lot of pain, but I think school will be just fine. I am on salary! woo hoo no more September money troubles. As School is starting and I am a teacher and such I thought I would share this poem I got sent. It is slightly bitter, but it was written by a teacher after all. :) But I like it.
What Teachers Make
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.
He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided
his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach"
To emphasize his point he said to another guest;
"You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,
"You want to know what I make?”
(She paused for a second, then began...)
"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their
parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod,
Game Cube or movie rental.
You want to know what I make?"
(She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)
''I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
Keyboarding isn't everything.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
They use their God-given brain,
not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries
learn everything they need to know in English
while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given,
work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."
Bonnie paused one last time and then continued........
"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make,
with me knowing money isn't everything,
I can hold my head up high and pay no attention
because they are ignorant...
You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
What do you make Mr. CEO?"
His jaw dropped, he went silent.
Rock on all my teacher friends. We are involved in an altruistic and noble profession. Don't let others get you down. Good luck this year. Especially you new teachers. You can make it!
What Teachers Make
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.
He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided
his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach"
To emphasize his point he said to another guest;
"You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,
"You want to know what I make?”
(She paused for a second, then began...)
"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their
parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod,
Game Cube or movie rental.
You want to know what I make?"
(She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)
''I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
Keyboarding isn't everything.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
They use their God-given brain,
not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries
learn everything they need to know in English
while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given,
work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."
Bonnie paused one last time and then continued........
"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make,
with me knowing money isn't everything,
I can hold my head up high and pay no attention
because they are ignorant...
You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
What do you make Mr. CEO?"
His jaw dropped, he went silent.
Rock on all my teacher friends. We are involved in an altruistic and noble profession. Don't let others get you down. Good luck this year. Especially you new teachers. You can make it!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Healing and Adversity
Well, I think that this summer has been carefully manufactured for some intense tutoring from the Lord. It seems that it is my turn to go through deep mental and physical anguish in a refining process. I have been very sick lately. What was thought to be a kidney stone--still could be a kidney stone, but it was also a severe infection, inflammation of the liver and kidneys, and severe dehydration. After many painful tests my doctors are still not sure what it is that is causing me such intense pain.
So, in an effort to see the bright side--my mom is Pollyanna after all--I realize that this hit at a time when I could really have time to be sick. The semester starts in another week and so I still have time to heal and get better. I was able to be at home with my parents who suddenly had a lot of time on their hands. I have been able to watch every Jane Austen movie ever made. My brother ,who does not usually hug much, has had to carry me up to my room--great contact there. :) He has been able to make me laugh when I have been miserable and done strange and wonderful things to my computer so I could watch some great movies. I have been able to see that when I am gone my friends and ward miss me. I have had great text messages and emails from friends and family showing great support. I got to spend time in my yellow room. I can't eat much but I can eat banana pudding and that is great. My mom and dad have both read aloud to me--something they haven't done since I was ten or eleven. We have gotten to use employee discounts at the hospital. I have listened to two Harry Potter books on CD. I have been in my pajamas for over two weeks. I am really well hydrated. I am saving gas and food money right now. I can see my niece and nephews whenever I want.
All of these are great things, right? Right! So there.
"The divine Shepherd has a message of hope, strength, and deliverance for all. If there were no night, we would not appreciate the day, nor could we see the stars and the vastness of the heavens. We must partake of the bitter with the sweet. There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless." President James E. Faust
So, in an effort to see the bright side--my mom is Pollyanna after all--I realize that this hit at a time when I could really have time to be sick. The semester starts in another week and so I still have time to heal and get better. I was able to be at home with my parents who suddenly had a lot of time on their hands. I have been able to watch every Jane Austen movie ever made. My brother ,who does not usually hug much, has had to carry me up to my room--great contact there. :) He has been able to make me laugh when I have been miserable and done strange and wonderful things to my computer so I could watch some great movies. I have been able to see that when I am gone my friends and ward miss me. I have had great text messages and emails from friends and family showing great support. I got to spend time in my yellow room. I can't eat much but I can eat banana pudding and that is great. My mom and dad have both read aloud to me--something they haven't done since I was ten or eleven. We have gotten to use employee discounts at the hospital. I have listened to two Harry Potter books on CD. I have been in my pajamas for over two weeks. I am really well hydrated. I am saving gas and food money right now. I can see my niece and nephews whenever I want.
All of these are great things, right? Right! So there.
"The divine Shepherd has a message of hope, strength, and deliverance for all. If there were no night, we would not appreciate the day, nor could we see the stars and the vastness of the heavens. We must partake of the bitter with the sweet. There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless." President James E. Faust
Friday, August 1, 2008
Fairy Tales: The Visit Home
I went home for the 24th of July and was able to spend a lot of time with my family. I was especially able to be with my neice and nephews. They are so amazing. Rylie, my neice, is very much into playing fairy tales. I can't imagine where she gets it. But we were able to have a very intense conversation about waiting for our princes. She had decided to play princesses and Nannie, my mom, was supposed to be the prince and there was another prince for me who we couldn't find. Sigh... Rylie as Cinderella ready to be married to her Prince--Nannie. 
Mason in the pink dress with pink strawberry ice cream all over his face. He was so excited.
And here is our little Brackey Boy, The Bean is growing up so fast! He has lovely eyes, and such kissable cheeks.
And then of course Rylie refused to let me not play, so here I am as the recalcitrant bride. :)
We talked about having to wait for our princes because sometimes they are not ready to marry girls. They have to get ready and sometimes it takes a long time. But then they come and they marry us. I got the tale end of our talk on this video. Notice the "princess" in the background. Mason always wants to put on the pink dress when we dress up, even though he has a prince and beast costume to wear.Note: To watch this video you will need to stop the music that is playing by clicking the pause button on the playlist the bottom of my blog.
Then later Nannie and the kids decided to play three little pigs. My brother Aaron was the wolf. Poor Bracken didn't know what to do about the noise. It was so funny!
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