Beautiful Sunrise

Today I got up real early and decided to take some photos.  This has nothing directly to do with teaching, but very important.

How to love where you are:
1. Know what is free.
2. Talk to your neighbors.
3. Take a walk at sunrise.
4. See what it has to offer.
and, 5. TAKE SOME BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!

This one is hanging in the living room

tried so hard to get those two photos to align. will have to go back again. (taken from WWII memorial)

lets notice the lack of other people at the Lincoln Memorial on a Sunday morning

and no one at the Vietnam

with patience and effort i do have to say these photos are kinda sorta more than a little cool. come visit!


w/love ks

Anti-Bullying Month

This month is anti-bullying month.  The problem does not end on the 31st. Check out this clip.

http://www.upworthy.com/bully-calls-news-anchor-fat-news-anchor-destroys-him-on-live-tv?g=2


w/love ks

Lots and Lots of Coffee

recap about the last post: everything is good now :)

So my teaching coach from Urban Teacher Center came and visited my school yesterday and sat in during Math 7 and Math 8.
Since it's been a while I need to tell y'all about the school schedule.  School begins at 8:45 and ends at 4:00pm (except for Wednesdays school lets out at 2:55 and teachers have professional development).  With only 4-1.5 hour periods a day, the time with the students can seem too little, but the days feel so long at the end.  Our 30-35 student per class Junior Academy (one period of 7th and one of 8th grade) finally cut down to about 20 in each...Thank you increased enrollment!
Although I thought the schedule change was a blessing, my teaching coach could not believe the class was worse than what she just observed.

How to not be discouraged:
1. Realize each day is new. Better yet, each class period is new.
2. Great people in your life to support you (or to complain to).
3. Coaches that provide productive feedback.
4. Build relationships with all students individually.
5. Have your outlets.
6. Separate work from pleasure.
7. Eat.
8. Sleep.
9. Drink.
10. Pray.

I have so much else to say and little time to spend right now.

Final thoughts: Thank God for everyone in your life that continues to lift you up and support your endeavors.  Without them, you would not be who you are.

w/love ks

Fight

So I just saw the beginning, middle, and end of a physical girl fight...

bottom line: if you are going to fight each other, don't expect me to break it up because I am not going to get hurt. if you "accidentally" hit me on your way to hit her, the last thing you can expect is for me to get involved. You make up your own mind up about good or bad decisions and deal with the fall out. ie. getting hurt, getting suspended, not having a birthday party, etc.

8th grade girls can be trouble. Too much gets under their skin.  This was the second or third or....who really knows...fight of the year.  ok so let me give you an example of it all (names excluded) so apparently K told D that L was saying  stuff about D and J, so L went to J and told J that K was lying to D and was afraid D would get mad and try to fight L. L, D, and J are besties.  Once D found out that K was lying, J and D were furious because they were about to fight L and L and D were kind of "going out."  in the beginning of the day K already got sent to the dean for her attitude.  2nd period starts and J keeps walking out. I walk out to talk to J and she starts sharing all of it. ....K starts strolling down the hall (she's supposed to be in In-School-Suspension). I'm standing in between K and J because I'm talking to J. All of a sudden a fist flies around from behind me (from L meant to hit J) that ends up socking me in the gut. J then pushes me out of the way and yells "oh i know you didnt just try to hit miss. sun." after i get up from the ground the next thing i know is that L has her hand dug into J's weave and vice versa.  They are on the ground fighting.

Security shows up and i walk J to the principal. In the End: 2 girls suspended. one expelled. none physically hurt long term.

How to break up a fight:
1. CALL SECURITY
2. CALL SECURITY
3. CALL SECURITY

FYI, don't do anything but call security. have I got my point across??

hope you enjoyed a little story about my day. now on to the next day!

w/love ks