Wandering mind

I am sitting here in my classroom monitoring my students who are actually working through several science experiments I thought of on my way to work and set it up moments before the bell rang. Trying to come up with engaging activities while I find my desk is not as easy as it seems. But, today is done and I have cleaned 1/4th of my desk but I have since lost motivation so I figured I would get a quick blog in.

I was reviewing my previous blogs and realized I did not publish a draft from March, so if you have time scrolled down and enjoy..

Lunch is almost here.

Countdown

On the final countdown to the last day of school. Tomorrow is the last TAKS of the school year and it is Math. Hopefully, several of my students will pass and avoid summer school. Most of them have worked hard and are ready for it. I am anxious and ready for tomorrow to be over with. These kids have had a total of 13 teaching days to reinforce what they are lacking unlike reading who has 31 days before the 2nd administration. In a state where students are behind in Math based on US norms and worldwide averages I do not understand why Texas hasnt provided more time for reinforcement and small group instruction. I had to be creative this year and hand off 10 of my students who missed more than 10 questions to pass so I can concentrate on those that missed it by 9 or less, (supposedly they have more hope to pass.) But what am I really saying to them? They are not as important? Their scores nor effort do not matter? They will pass because of their age and not their scores or because they have already failed once before? I do not know. What I do know is that this year I have learned that standardize testing is not measure to use for determining knowledge and skills obtained this year.

Okay the bell has rung and I have duty to go to..

And now there's ONE

After a long weekend of dog sitting Anya, Savannah, and Charley. I have finally given away Charley a.k.a. Shepard for the devil, the last of my little ones pups, Charley went to her new home many miles away in Boston, MA. Anya went back to her home with my ex. Charley's new home is a friend of my exs had her bachelorette party here in TX. Once she arrived she came over right off the plane and fell in love with her. I spent the weekend with three pups again + rain, HOORAY for RAIN, and my 3 bigs with all their wetness.. Spending time with my 3 bigs and now my little little one Savannah, I had realized having large dogs is quite a chore and I am at my limit with 4. I had originally wanted 6 but my pocketbook nor my bed could support that many.

My house is clean, my laundry is done, my dogs have been bathed, and finally my bed has been changed. I had a weekend of clarity and I feel better. School is almost over 2 weeks but another month of science camp (June). Hopefully, God will help find me a job in San Antonio. Well, I am going to finish watching some TV and head for bed.

Sisters

I havent spoken to my sister in 3 weeks. Of course, it is over something petty like money and her lack of responsibility. Going into the details is irrelevant now. I am sadden by it but at the same time tired of trying and trying, giving and giving, saving and saving. When is it going to be enough? Probably never. Is that what I am supposed to do as the BIG sister? I don't know. What I do know is that she uses my niece and nephew as pawns and that is upsetting. My nephew's birthday and middle school graduation is coming up in a few weeks. I wonder if by then she will need me again? Who knows. I know this what I have learned is that she needs to take care of her family first and be more diligent on her finances and I need to stop being an enabler and let her fall so she can get up on her own.

Difference

I spent the entire weekend in San Antonio at my house where I cleaned, organized, and moved around clothing. With it being 104 in Uvalde (with the heat index), it is time to bring down the cooler clothes. I thought about this year and how much my life has changed. I remembered that at this time last year I prayed and prayed to God for a teaching job. I wasn't specific I just wanted a teaching job and I got one albeit in Uvalde, but I wasn't specific with him. I thought about how I have changed coping with the distance, driving, and extra duties and wondered what would my mom do if she were me. I learned that I have become a bit more grouchy and easily angered due to the frustration I have trying to keep up with everything here in San Antonio and in Uvalde. Unfortunately, my friend Squishy has received the grunt of all my grouchiness some duly deserved and some not. Another fluffy friend confirmed my thought through his observations and told me to go on a vacation and unplug. I wonder if that would make a difference? I only have a few more weeks of school and with the 2nd round of Math Taks next Tuesday the year is just about gone. But, I did sign up for summer school (a science camp actually), I get to teach gas laws and go scuba diving several times which is fun and a definite change. After June I will have some time to decompress. I think I will begin to pray for a teaching job in the San Antonio area and see what happens. I do like teaching out here but I am not sure I can keep burning at both ends.

Field Day

Today was field day at school. I have not participated in field day since I was in primary school. My partner and I walked our 35 students (luckily several students were absent) 6 blocks to the high school football field, set up a zone of proximity/boundaries for the kids and then cheered as each one of our kids participated in one of 6 events.

When we began the temperature was almost nice (small breeze), but as the events and time passed so did the breeze and the heat began to creep in. Add 75% humidity and by lunch time I was slowly burning the first layer of skin. Yes, I did apply sunscreen several time but with the sun bouncing off metal bleachers it didn't seem to provide much relief. My fellow colleagues are very competitive and at the end of each heat/event there was a berat of "loser" we are beating you.

I am happy to say that my guys came through at the shotput, discs, and long jump. We scored 1st and 2nd in each event!! My partner scored 3rd in all three. So, at the end of a very long morning Berry's class was victorious over Sagemuehl class. Which is important because they needed to be taken down a peg.. I must say that after a year here my competitive nature has come to the surface..

We made it back to school @ 1:30 where we let the kids have some time while I put grades in, cleaned and organized my room and had a chance to write this blog..

Tired, sore, burned, and a little smelly

New Additions

I know I know its been a while since my last post but life has just kicked into high gear with the 1st round of TAKS tests, countdown to the Math and Science test in high gear, applying at districts in San Antonio (wish me luck please), cleaning and re-organizing my house again (never seems to end), spending time with my ex-husband/friend who has recently moved back to Texas, spending lots of time shopping at flea markets with Frank, forging a new relationship as a lesbian (wow! I typed that without even thinking twice), and finally dealing with and caring for my little black lab (Dakota) who got pregnant from Seamus (good boy!) and watching her give birth the 4 live puppies! 1 black female lab, 2 chocolate female labs, and 1 male block head chocolate lab (like his dad).

Oh! I also completed all my assignments for 1 class and I am almost done with my Internet course so UTSA is almost done. Whoo-hoo..

I will post some pics of the pups. I got a new camera and will sit down soon and post them. They are very cute in a purple medium size pool crawling around whining and grunting. Dakota is doing great! She is a very good mama..

Well, that's all I have to present a poster I created with a group so I will sign off now. Thanks for reading..