The boys and girls soccer team's practice at the same field everyday. The boys on one field and the girls on the other. Yesterday we played on the same field. In a scrimmage. Here was the deal:
For every goal we (the girls) scored on the boys, the boys had to run 5 miles.
For every goal they (the boys) scored on us, we would shake it off and keep on trying.
The boys scored within 1 minute. As I watched my girls barely try, slowly jog after the ball and laugh about it after it happened I let my annoyance/fury show by yelling across the field "If ya'll aren't going to try we can just stop now!".
**They didn't astound me with their effort after that or even really come close to scoring. But I will NOT rant about that here. I have exhausted all my engery on the subject. (The head coach and I decided that today at practice they will not even touch a ball because of their as of recent poor attitudes and weak attendance/effort at practices).**
A Varsity boy soccer player just came in my room (in the middle of the block) and quickly told me that I finally look like a real coach out there. I said, confused and caught off guard, "What the heck are you talking about?" And as he walked backwards towards the door to return to class he said, "Yesterday. When we scored and you yelled at them and said something like 'We can just stop now if you aren't going try!'. You were a real coach. And it was awsome!".
I guess I've made it as a high school assistant soccer coach yesterday at practice.
I guess I should probably quit now while I'm ahead, eh?
All the Beauty in the World is Directed
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
March On to April
I made a list in March of the things I was excited about for the month. And whereas some of things I accomplished and enjoyed, some of the items are March-ing On to April as well. So, without further adieu, here are the things I am looking forward to in April:
1. April showers (because they bring May flowers but first the flush out pollen!)
2. Easter and the sweet flower cross at my home church
3. My room mate's birthday (April 19th)
4. KT's birthday (April 18th)
5. Sweet Ash's birthday (April 20th)
6. Lake house trip with my roomies!
7. Soccer season. ENDED.
8. Crossing off each day on my calendar at school and then fist pumping the sky while whispering the number of days left that are so conveniently numbered in the top left corner of each box.
9. Finishing all 22 of my IEP's.
10. (same as from March) Hopefully, maybe, my fingers are crossed for, finding out more stable plans for where I'll be and what I'll be doing next year....
If #10 is a repeat in May, my list will only have 1 item. Take a wild guess at one it'll be.
1. April showers (because they bring May flowers but first the flush out pollen!)
2. Easter and the sweet flower cross at my home church
3. My room mate's birthday (April 19th)
4. KT's birthday (April 18th)
5. Sweet Ash's birthday (April 20th)
6. Lake house trip with my roomies!
7. Soccer season. ENDED.
8. Crossing off each day on my calendar at school and then fist pumping the sky while whispering the number of days left that are so conveniently numbered in the top left corner of each box.
9. Finishing all 22 of my IEP's.
10. (same as from March) Hopefully, maybe, my fingers are crossed for, finding out more stable plans for where I'll be and what I'll be doing next year....
If #10 is a repeat in May, my list will only have 1 item. Take a wild guess at one it'll be.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
We Got Spirit, How 'Bout You?!
At the beginning of the school year, new teachers were assigned clubs to be the sponsor of. I, however; was not put on the list. (Yes, in hind sight I see the awesomeness of that but at the time I was an eager first year teacher who wanted to be involved, get to know more students than just the Special Ed ones and not feel left out). So I volunteered myself to help the 2 new teachers put on the Rocket Club, aka the school spirit club. And if I'm honest here, I will go out on a limb and say that although our club is a joke I might just be one of the best thing that has happened to spirit here in this run-down little town!
Anyways, the club is a joke because when we meet on the First Tuesday of every month, we do nothing but sit in the cafeteria and make small talk with our social groups. I had grand plans of each meeting involving poster making, electing officers and the school being filled with the spirit of my clubbers! But I lost all that go-get-'em juice approximately 2-3 months into the school year. I did accomplish what I said the club dues would cover: designed a rockin' t-shirt that has the 'famous' pep-rally chant on it, purchased maroon and gray shakers and face tattoos! Then I quickly peace-ed out of any responsibility.
Today is the first Tuesday of the month. And when I got my reminder event email yesterday, my eyes tricked my brain into reading "Event Cancelled". I didn't even question anyone, I just made a mental note that I was off the hook for this month! I even told a student today when they walked into my room to ask if we'd be doing anything that "We aren't doing anything because its cancelled!". I should've looked into it when the student thought I was crazy but I just told her "I have the email, you want me to pull it up to prove it?!" (Should have followed through with my sass.... Then this whole entry would be null and void).
So, I am on the phone with my insurance company trying to figure out how to get the best bang for my buck for a new pair of eye glasses when I hear the assistant principal get on the intercom and announce the clubs that will be held today. And because I am the world's WORST multi-tasker I can't hear her nor the nice helpful man on the phone telling me what I could have paid if I had just done some research... The bell rings, I quickly and respectfully get off the phone (I just finished a survey with the company giving him my 2 thumbs up in hopes he won't have a horrible rest of the day due to my urgency) and call my co-sponsor to see if Rocket Club had been listed.
It was.
Now, I normally don't have any plans for the club to do but I at least have a nice new print out of the members and who still has yet to pick up their spirit pack but instead, I grab a Manila folder to make myself feel like I am legit and run like I am not on the 3rd floor with a skirt and high heeled boots on. I get to the cafeteria after most of the club has and sit down with Jennifer. Almost immediately, a student asks what we are doing today. When I look up to give her a sass answer, I see an administrator. AN ADMINISTRATOR IN OUR ROCKET CLUB MEETING!!! Seeing as though this is the one time I actually have nothing prepared with me, I say "Start a chant! Now!". Luckily, this girl was a confident, fun and spirit filled-girl who smiled real big and went back to her table. Within minutes, she had her entire table participating by either dropping a sweet beat on the lunch table or throwing a line about the Rockets! It was kinda hard to understand, which may or may not be a good thing, but it grabbed the attention of everyone in the lunch room, even the I'm-a-senior-and-too-cool-for-anything table!
Whenever I hear a beat, I can't help but tap my feet, swing my shoulders and wave my hands like I just don't care! And that I did. In front of 9-12 graders, a teacher and an administrator. Once that particular table finished, they said some mumble-jumble that 'challeneged' another table where a weak little cheerleader tried to express her love for her school but when that failed, the first table just did it again; as another administrator joined the party! When they threw it back one more time, the cheerleader (who is also a soccer player and had been showing her I'm-a-senior-and-too-cool-for-anything table how I "cheer" at the games) yelled: "Throw it to Peters!". And they did.
My friends, it was thrown and it was caught.
If you know me AT all, you most likely know that I will not and can not throw down a challenge, especially when it has to do with spirit and/or potentially making a fool or myself. So, Ms. Peters, the teacher but at the time clearly actin' a fool instead, said (while I move around like I am straight up Will-I-Am rappin'):
'We got spirit, YES WE DO! We got spirit, HOW 'BOUT YOU?!'.
Yep. That's what I said. Out of anything I could have said or done, I shouted back the lamest chant there is because my club was being monitored by 2 administrators and I had a room full of students staring at me, expecting me to deliver. And who am I to let those kids down?! Instead of the typical response of a louder "We got spirit" dialogue, I of course got a roaring outburst of laughter. And then a round of applause. Even from the administrators.
From then on, we went from more beat droppin' to chant line makin' to step dancing creatin'. And today, the Rocket Club had fun! Today, the Rocket Club fulfilled the description of 'leaders of spirit in their school'. Today, there were no plans for Rocket Club.
May you have a no-plans-but-gonna-make-it-HOW-'BOUT-YOU kind of day as well!
Anyways, the club is a joke because when we meet on the First Tuesday of every month, we do nothing but sit in the cafeteria and make small talk with our social groups. I had grand plans of each meeting involving poster making, electing officers and the school being filled with the spirit of my clubbers! But I lost all that go-get-'em juice approximately 2-3 months into the school year. I did accomplish what I said the club dues would cover: designed a rockin' t-shirt that has the 'famous' pep-rally chant on it, purchased maroon and gray shakers and face tattoos! Then I quickly peace-ed out of any responsibility.
Today is the first Tuesday of the month. And when I got my reminder event email yesterday, my eyes tricked my brain into reading "Event Cancelled". I didn't even question anyone, I just made a mental note that I was off the hook for this month! I even told a student today when they walked into my room to ask if we'd be doing anything that "We aren't doing anything because its cancelled!". I should've looked into it when the student thought I was crazy but I just told her "I have the email, you want me to pull it up to prove it?!" (Should have followed through with my sass.... Then this whole entry would be null and void).
So, I am on the phone with my insurance company trying to figure out how to get the best bang for my buck for a new pair of eye glasses when I hear the assistant principal get on the intercom and announce the clubs that will be held today. And because I am the world's WORST multi-tasker I can't hear her nor the nice helpful man on the phone telling me what I could have paid if I had just done some research... The bell rings, I quickly and respectfully get off the phone (I just finished a survey with the company giving him my 2 thumbs up in hopes he won't have a horrible rest of the day due to my urgency) and call my co-sponsor to see if Rocket Club had been listed.
It was.
Now, I normally don't have any plans for the club to do but I at least have a nice new print out of the members and who still has yet to pick up their spirit pack but instead, I grab a Manila folder to make myself feel like I am legit and run like I am not on the 3rd floor with a skirt and high heeled boots on. I get to the cafeteria after most of the club has and sit down with Jennifer. Almost immediately, a student asks what we are doing today. When I look up to give her a sass answer, I see an administrator. AN ADMINISTRATOR IN OUR ROCKET CLUB MEETING!!! Seeing as though this is the one time I actually have nothing prepared with me, I say "Start a chant! Now!". Luckily, this girl was a confident, fun and spirit filled-girl who smiled real big and went back to her table. Within minutes, she had her entire table participating by either dropping a sweet beat on the lunch table or throwing a line about the Rockets! It was kinda hard to understand, which may or may not be a good thing, but it grabbed the attention of everyone in the lunch room, even the I'm-a-senior-and-too-cool-for-anything table!
Whenever I hear a beat, I can't help but tap my feet, swing my shoulders and wave my hands like I just don't care! And that I did. In front of 9-12 graders, a teacher and an administrator. Once that particular table finished, they said some mumble-jumble that 'challeneged' another table where a weak little cheerleader tried to express her love for her school but when that failed, the first table just did it again; as another administrator joined the party! When they threw it back one more time, the cheerleader (who is also a soccer player and had been showing her I'm-a-senior-and-too-cool-for-anything table how I "cheer" at the games) yelled: "Throw it to Peters!". And they did.
My friends, it was thrown and it was caught.
If you know me AT all, you most likely know that I will not and can not throw down a challenge, especially when it has to do with spirit and/or potentially making a fool or myself. So, Ms. Peters, the teacher but at the time clearly actin' a fool instead, said (while I move around like I am straight up Will-I-Am rappin'):
'We got spirit, YES WE DO! We got spirit, HOW 'BOUT YOU?!'.
Yep. That's what I said. Out of anything I could have said or done, I shouted back the lamest chant there is because my club was being monitored by 2 administrators and I had a room full of students staring at me, expecting me to deliver. And who am I to let those kids down?! Instead of the typical response of a louder "We got spirit" dialogue, I of course got a roaring outburst of laughter. And then a round of applause. Even from the administrators.
From then on, we went from more beat droppin' to chant line makin' to step dancing creatin'. And today, the Rocket Club had fun! Today, the Rocket Club fulfilled the description of 'leaders of spirit in their school'. Today, there were no plans for Rocket Club.
May you have a no-plans-but-gonna-make-it-HOW-'BOUT-YOU kind of day as well!
Monday, April 4, 2011
2 States in 2 Days
Charleston, South Carolina is home to many things: my sister, Rainbow Row, cobble streets, many-a-island, good food like this place and this one coffee joint called Hope & Union. Needless to say, Charleston is a neat city that incorporates a beachy atmosphere and chic-couture. And I spent my weekend there! We planned this whole trip around the Cooper River Bridge 10K Run. Oh, and for a visit to see my sister! I had never run more than 3.1 miles before this past Saturday nor had I ever run on a bridge. Why I was up for this challenge, I am still not sure. Why I was able to actually run the 6.2 miles, I am still not sure either. Maybe it was a runner's high (doubt it) or maybe its because there were 41,000 other people constantly around me? Or heck, maybe I have some runner in me!!? (My dad is an avid runner. I'm pretty sure the man can't sleep at night if he doesn't run 4-6 miles a day. He runs during his lunch break. Normal, right? Oh yeah, he also ran 50 miles on his 50th birthday. Yeah. ON. Not for. Like on the day, the one day.)
I digress.
After 5 hours in the car with 1 puppy and 2 eager 10k-ers, we arrive in Charleston just in the nick of time! We quickly dropped Huntley off with my sister and made our way downtown to pick up our racing bibs. Now, keep in mind, Charleston is a city but no big city. There are 41,000 other people trying to do the same thing we are doing. Trying to pick up their bibs while enjoying the free give-aways and intriguing sale stands. Well, once we enter the fun filled tent full of people and all-things-runner Justin goes immediately into 'we-have-to-get-what-we-came-for-before-we-soak-anything-else-up' mode. Whereas my eyes catch everything there is to offer from the free Ritz crackers to the 80's style running shorts. However, at any brief amount of time spent looking at those I couldn't dare brush off the nervous/antsy guy to my side looking around. So we carried on. And then we carried out because once we got the necessities, I had lost all excitement to spend time with these overly excited people.
We grilled out at my sister's boyfriends condo for dinner. Delicious. He made homemade french fries (healthy style) with this thing! I'm gonna get me one of those things one day... And it'll be trouble for all parties involved. We kept it chill that night by watch T.V. and I would boldly say that all 4 of us are now addicted to the show Shark Tank. Watch it.
The next morning was an early and chilly one. We took a Ferry Boat across the river to the other side of the bridge. I love riding boats! And I even loved it that morning amongst the avid runners who spent their ride applying sun screen, stretching their legs and eating bananas. The two of us didn't partake in any of those activities on the boat. Once we got off the boat and caught up to the 'F' corral, the race began! Just like that. No down time, no pump up, no nothing. So maybe we pushed our time a little? But it worked out. We ran that 6.2 like pros! Well, pros who average about an 11 minute mile and finish in 1:11 kind of pros... But I am proud of the fact that we (I) only walked about 7 minutes of the race! You can laugh or judge if you must but nothing will not make me proud of the fact that I ran over an hour straight!! Nothing. So say what you want.
After the race we walked back to Claire's apartment, finding Radcliffe Street (COOL!!!)
and stopping for iced coffee (a good after-the-race drink, eh?). We spent probably the next 2 hours sitting in front of the TV with Claire and her roommates. Stretching. And stretching more. We then went all over the island and found a place for lunch where Huntley could be with us. (My sister wanted Hunt to be able to do everything with us... So she pretty much did). Claire drove us around showing us the sweet scenery of downtown, the battery and the local spots. We attended a Oyster Roast where we cracked open some legit oysters and helped ourselves! By around 8:00 that night, Justin and I were done. Exhausted. In over our heads. We tried to play it cool and suck it up to act like fun people but we just aren't weren't. We were home and in bed by 10:30 after leaving the place to be only minutes after arriving there.
Sunday morning we participated in Sticky Bun Sunday at Wildflower Cafe (link provided above) and headed home. Home to the tortuous routine of parent meetings, math help, soccer games and responsibility.
All of which I'm sure doesn't happen in Charleston.
I digress.
After 5 hours in the car with 1 puppy and 2 eager 10k-ers, we arrive in Charleston just in the nick of time! We quickly dropped Huntley off with my sister and made our way downtown to pick up our racing bibs. Now, keep in mind, Charleston is a city but no big city. There are 41,000 other people trying to do the same thing we are doing. Trying to pick up their bibs while enjoying the free give-aways and intriguing sale stands. Well, once we enter the fun filled tent full of people and all-things-runner Justin goes immediately into 'we-have-to-get-what-we-came-for-before-we-soak-anything-else-up' mode. Whereas my eyes catch everything there is to offer from the free Ritz crackers to the 80's style running shorts. However, at any brief amount of time spent looking at those I couldn't dare brush off the nervous/antsy guy to my side looking around. So we carried on. And then we carried out because once we got the necessities, I had lost all excitement to spend time with these overly excited people.
We grilled out at my sister's boyfriends condo for dinner. Delicious. He made homemade french fries (healthy style) with this thing! I'm gonna get me one of those things one day... And it'll be trouble for all parties involved. We kept it chill that night by watch T.V. and I would boldly say that all 4 of us are now addicted to the show Shark Tank. Watch it.
The next morning was an early and chilly one. We took a Ferry Boat across the river to the other side of the bridge. I love riding boats! And I even loved it that morning amongst the avid runners who spent their ride applying sun screen, stretching their legs and eating bananas. The two of us didn't partake in any of those activities on the boat. Once we got off the boat and caught up to the 'F' corral, the race began! Just like that. No down time, no pump up, no nothing. So maybe we pushed our time a little? But it worked out. We ran that 6.2 like pros! Well, pros who average about an 11 minute mile and finish in 1:11 kind of pros... But I am proud of the fact that we (I) only walked about 7 minutes of the race! You can laugh or judge if you must but nothing will not make me proud of the fact that I ran over an hour straight!! Nothing. So say what you want.
After the race we walked back to Claire's apartment, finding Radcliffe Street (COOL!!!)
Sunday morning we participated in Sticky Bun Sunday at Wildflower Cafe (link provided above) and headed home. Home to the tortuous routine of parent meetings, math help, soccer games and responsibility.
All of which I'm sure doesn't happen in Charleston.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sing to Me, Jack Johnson
Apparently my life is playing a game with me and its called the 'Waiting Game'. Jack Johnson puts it much more eloquently so I too will chose to say it the Jack way: I'm playing the "Sittin', Waitin', Wishin'" game.
Sittin': on my butt overloaded with work... Kids these days are all getting a bad case or senioritis or just plain ole the-weather-got-nice-and-now-all-i-can-think-about-is-summer-so-i'm-gonna-act-out-itis. And because of that and any kind of diagnosis, I am nose deep in parent conferences dealing with next year, 'fixing' behavior problems and teaching math (HA!).
Waitin': on a lot. Too much to list all out but I'll give you a sneak peek- summer, soccer season to be over, to hear about any new job prospects, for 3:02 every day and to know some sort of plan for my life or even just the next year.
Wishin': for a job in Atlanta, specifically at this wonderful, undisclosed (for now) school!, for cheaper gas, for the war to end so loved ones can come home and that my dinners could come themselves every night.
Make a song out of that Jack Johnson. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Melody.
Sittin': on my butt overloaded with work... Kids these days are all getting a bad case or senioritis or just plain ole the-weather-got-nice-and-now-all-i-can-think-about-is-summer-so-i'm-gonna-act-out-itis. And because of that and any kind of diagnosis, I am nose deep in parent conferences dealing with next year, 'fixing' behavior problems and teaching math (HA!).
Waitin': on a lot. Too much to list all out but I'll give you a sneak peek- summer, soccer season to be over, to hear about any new job prospects, for 3:02 every day and to know some sort of plan for my life or even just the next year.
Wishin': for a job in Atlanta, specifically at this wonderful, undisclosed (for now) school!, for cheaper gas, for the war to end so loved ones can come home and that my dinners could come themselves every night.
Make a song out of that Jack Johnson. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Melody.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Motivation, Motivation, Where Art Thou Motivation
I have no motivation. I am sitting here at work, staring at the list of things I need to do. And instead of working on any of those, I have done the following:
-Made a new list of things I need to do once I leave work
-Browsed blog background and successfully destroyed my new blog creation that my boyfriend so generously worked on (consider this my pre-apology and polite plea to still help me as I promise to NEVER touch it again)
-Spent an entire period talking with a teacher friend of mine about our jobs and how we are both in our first year and neither one of us want to be a teacher anymore. Awesome.
- Shuffled my iPod 3 times to finally land on a song that doesn't prove any more so that my retro iPod isn't from my high school years. (isn't the caption from website ironic?)
-Looked over my To-Do list for after school and added more.
I got me a bad case of the Monday's. And it's raining. Whichdoubles triples the bad in the bad case of Mondays. And might I add that rain doesn't cancel a high school soccer game. Yep. Who knew!? Apparently everyone else in attendance of our Saturday game besides me. At least I know now. So fingers crossed for bad weather today. And for tomorrow. And the rest of the week, except Friday. PLEASE!
-Made a new list of things I need to do once I leave work
-Browsed blog background and successfully destroyed my new blog creation that my boyfriend so generously worked on (consider this my pre-apology and polite plea to still help me as I promise to NEVER touch it again)
-Spent an entire period talking with a teacher friend of mine about our jobs and how we are both in our first year and neither one of us want to be a teacher anymore. Awesome.
- Shuffled my iPod 3 times to finally land on a song that doesn't prove any more so that my retro iPod isn't from my high school years. (isn't the caption from website ironic?)
-Looked over my To-Do list for after school and added more.
I got me a bad case of the Monday's. And it's raining. Which
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Excuse My Absence
I'm not going to try to justify or reason why I haven't blogged in so long. I could list reasons such as: I was on Spring Break and never once got online or that my Internet in my apartment has been off (including cable) since I returned or even that I have had a soccer game every day this week, thus getting me home no earlier than 8:00. But I won't elaborate on those. Instead I'll just trust that I have forgiveness and promise that I will be better starting now.
With all that said, this entry will still be short because I am at school in the midst of 9 week exams and parent meetings all day, every day. However, living on the edge of risk is where I like to be and if typing away at the computer pretending I'm writing an important email or document can grant me some time to write a little entry, then living that lie is what I'm about. Yep. I said it. And I meant it.
Since returning to work, I have been swamped with stuff that I should or should not have completed before Spring Break but hey, I get it done for when it needs to be done. Okay?! Anyways, because of the overwhelming amount of work on top of 9 week exams, let's just say I may not be the most pleasant to students who happen to ask the most RIDICULOUS questions! So, to add to another reason I have been absent here, I give you the case of my 'Just not in a good mood'.
With this as my story I feel certain I will win 'Not Guilty' in the plead of 'Unfaithful to Blogger Relationship':
Yesterday, during the Algebra I test, after I had told these particular boys to be quiet 7 times and eventually told them they were driving me nuts and to shut their mouths or else!, I was asked by the sweet Marquise, "Ms. Peters, why are you PMSing on us?". To that my only response was "I'm not! You guys are just annoying the crap out of me!!"
Yep. I plead not guilty because I had a 10th grade boy ask me in front of other boys why I was PMSing. When I wasn't even. I swear I am not that teacher, I am fun, usually don't care if they talk, and am willing to help any student! But I got asked why I was PMSing on them.
Let's just say my attitude toward Algebra I, my blog and all things taking time away from the things I love is changing immediately!
With all that said, this entry will still be short because I am at school in the midst of 9 week exams and parent meetings all day, every day. However, living on the edge of risk is where I like to be and if typing away at the computer pretending I'm writing an important email or document can grant me some time to write a little entry, then living that lie is what I'm about. Yep. I said it. And I meant it.
Since returning to work, I have been swamped with stuff that I should or should not have completed before Spring Break but hey, I get it done for when it needs to be done. Okay?! Anyways, because of the overwhelming amount of work on top of 9 week exams, let's just say I may not be the most pleasant to students who happen to ask the most RIDICULOUS questions! So, to add to another reason I have been absent here, I give you the case of my 'Just not in a good mood'.
With this as my story I feel certain I will win 'Not Guilty' in the plead of 'Unfaithful to Blogger Relationship':
Yesterday, during the Algebra I test, after I had told these particular boys to be quiet 7 times and eventually told them they were driving me nuts and to shut their mouths or else!, I was asked by the sweet Marquise, "Ms. Peters, why are you PMSing on us?". To that my only response was "I'm not! You guys are just annoying the crap out of me!!"
Yep. I plead not guilty because I had a 10th grade boy ask me in front of other boys why I was PMSing. When I wasn't even. I swear I am not that teacher, I am fun, usually don't care if they talk, and am willing to help any student! But I got asked why I was PMSing on them.
Let's just say my attitude toward Algebra I, my blog and all things taking time away from the things I love is changing immediately!
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