i should learn guitar.

This is how (some) of my students are right now:



Maybe I need to do this...


...so that they will be more like this.

I Have Confidence

Another if-my-life-were-a-musical posts... But really, if my life were a musical, I would be packing up my teaching supplies right now (cue music), start swinging my guitar around, and I would begin singing...



What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared

A school with 1600 children
What's so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them I'll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn't lie in numbers
Strength doesn't lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- Wake Up!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence God won't leave me alone
(Oh help!)

I have confidence God won't leave me alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!

my silly goose.

D-day minus 2

I officially start teaching on Tuesday, but Friday, I got to go on campus to observe other teachers, begin gathering my curriculum, and start setting up my classroom. Today I went in for a few hours to rearrange desks and set up all my audio visual equipment (or should I say, I watched as my personal IT guy, Mr. To, set up all my audio visual equipment). I'm pretty happy with the set-up, if I do say so myself. The room is still rather bare, but nothing a few panels of colorful curtains, decorative statement pieces, and accent pillows can't fix! (just kidding!)

A huge, huge, HUGE praise is a 2nd year English teacher whom admin has called "the best teacher we've got," and who has so graciously taken me under his wing. He says he was in my shoes last year, so he understands what I'm going through. My new friend has shared his lesson plans and says he can give me some of his wife's lesson plans too, who teaches 9th Honors English at another school. He even helped me write out my first two weeks of lessons!

On the flip note, a huge, HUGE prayer request is that I will master the art of classroom management. I watched, in horror, as my other colleague, a veteran teacher of 19 years, got eaten alive by her 9th grade English class--MY 9th grade English class as of Tuesday. They made her CRY! She admits, though, that classroom management is not her strong suit, so I know I need to be extra tough and firm with these guys, lest they trample all over me as they did her.

Monday is another prep day, and then... D-Day!!

Eukanuba is a winner!

For the last year and a half, Indee hasn't been eating much, and she was wasting away and lacking in energy. When she came to live with us, I tried mixing cottage cheese with her food or softening it with water, thinking it might be easier on her old lady teeth, but she would eat a few bites at most, look at me with her sad, doleful eyes, and walk away. My heart would sink. I was very much distraught over her health... my poor puppy that I've had since high school must be dying.........

And then one day, I heard some crunching in the kitchen during feeding time, but it wasn't Lucy. It was Indee stealing Lucy's kibble! I was so ecstatic over her pilfering that I gave Indee more of Lucy's Eukanuba, and she ate it. I gave her more, and she ate that too! Turns out, the only sick Indee was, was over her own food. We've found that Eukanuba makes a lamb and rice formula for senior dogs (Indee, amongst other ailments, is allergic to corn, which is used in most regular kibble), and now Indee gobbles her new kibble right up whenever we put it in front of her! It's such a relief that Indee is eating again! She looks healthier in weight and she's fuller in energy.

They say having a pet is good training for parenting, and I would agree with that. I now know how mothers feel when their babies refuse to eat! ...maybe they should try Eukanuba. Worked for my baby. :)

Look how happy and sprightly Indee is at the dog park!

yikes.

Still waiting for HR to finalize my paperwork before I'm officially Mrs. To in the classroom, but I stopped by the main office on campus to pick up some things... and I already saw a boy get handcuffed and led into a police car.

great.

running a dog hotel

We're watching Sasha and Cody this weekend, and this morning, I took all four of them on a walk--all by myself! I had two dogs in both hands, and we were going at SUCH a snail's pace, as I had to maneuver four dogs going in different directions, stopping at different times to poop and sniff different scents... and on top of that, my shoelaces came untied. Our walk was quite a feat--and spectacle, I'm sure. (Where was Wayne, you may ask? Sleeping, of course.)

I must have looked like the neighborhood dog walker to passersby; I'm surprised no one asked for my card, haha.

Here, I'm trying to organize them for a group photo...

After many attempts (and some dangling treats):

from left to right: Sasha, Cody, Lucy, Indee

I am a teacher!

No, really. I don't mean figuratively or metaphorically... like how I am a teacher of Life, haha. I mean a real teacher. A school teacher. An English teacher for Valley High School in Elk Grove. And I start as early as Tuesday.

what?!?!

I know! Crazy, right? Especially after all my hee-hawing about how I don't want to be a teacher. But the call for the interview came at the right time, I guess.

Yesterday, I went in for a last minute, spur-of-the-moment interview, skeptical that I would even be a strong candidate for the position, but I guess they liked me and I ended up with the job! I don't even know what grades I'll be teaching (they don't even know yet). And it's somewhat of a ghetto inner-city school, which is scary. But like Sam reminded me, I've seen "Freedom Writers" and "Sister Act 2", so I should be okay. Thanks for the encouragement, Sam.

So how do I feel? I vacillate between excitement and fear, but I suppose all teachers go through that. I just can't think about it too much, or I freak myself out. I know this year will be a good experience, no matter what. And while I trust God and His providence and know that He only gives what is truly good for us, I'm praying so hard that this isn't going to be one of those "Job-esque" experiences!