Friday Five

Life has been crazy and I haven't had time to ponder up an awesome Thursday 13 recently so I thought today I would do a Friday 5.

5 Great Things that Happened Today

1) Our principal announced we were going to open a new 3rd grade class so now I get to have a smaller class. I'm really only losing 3 to 4 kids but it makes a difference! (also I get to pick the kids!)

2) My most difficult child (who stirs up the whole class) was absent today so the class was so much calmer and well-behaved.

3) It's raining! I usually wouldn't say this is great but since we are in a severe drought at the moment it is lovely!

4) It's date night with my husband...Mexican food and a movie here we come!

5) It's the start of the weekend and we have a teacher workday on Monday. For once, my grade level doesn't have a million things to do so I actually can work in my classroom and do report cards. Yay!

Ok that was kind of silly but with all the negativity of my last few posts, I thought I would surprise you with something positive. Hope you had a great day and an awesome weekend!

You're Not Mean Enough

My principal told me this today. In the last post, I told you that my principal vowed to help me solve some of the issues that were going on in my classroom. Because every kid knows who the principal is, she sent her intern into do an informal observation. Of course, the kids showed their true colors so she got a true picture of what I deal with on a daily basis.

Today we had our post conference to discuss her intern's findings. My principal listened to my positions and then pointed out some areas of improvement. One area she said is that I'm too nice to the kids. She says that I expect them to do what I say (DUH! who wouldn't think someone would do what they ask esp. when you are the adult and they are a child), but she says I don't have enough follow through when a kids misbehaves. She says I'm not mean enough.

I would agree with this because I feel like there are very few options I can use as a consequence. The consequences I do have are not affecting some of these kids who are always giving me trouble. They don't care that I call their parents or that they have to walk part of their recess. They simply don't care! As for being mean, I would agree that I am not mean enough. I'm not mean by nature...I want to love on these kids and show them Jesus as much as I can (without saying it). Many of them don't have that love and support at home and I want them to feel like they have it at school. I'm just confused on how to do both...how to be firm but loving.

In thinking about this, I am so worried about how I will be when disciplining my own children. Will I be too much of a softy? Luckily I have an amazing Savior who is there to offer guidance and support. In addition to him, I have a terrific husband who will be there to support me and help. As I've told him, I feel like the Lord has used this stage and teaching to teach me how to be a better parent.

Ok so fast forward two hours after the conversation with my principal, one of my problem child decide to have a huge outburst because I asked him to move to the back of the line. He blows up yelling at me in the hall, stomps up the stairs, and refuses to come into the classroom. Needless to say, I was hot! I was very unprofessional in my tone with him but I had had it with his fits of rage...and I was out to prove that he wasn't going to do this anymore. So I put my foot down and called the office to come and get him. I proved my point as he spent the rest of the afternoon in the office. The kids from that point were scared because they had heard my tone and by golly we had a calm afternoon for once. So maybe being mean does work...

Are you a mopey faced Christian?

This was a line from my brother-in-law's sermon this Sunday. He was discussing our roots and where we as Christians plant our lives. He preached from Jeremiah 17

"Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord...Blessed is the man who trusts is in the Lord, and who hope is in the Lord for he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."

I felt like the Lord was speaking to me through these verses about my current state. Though I do trust in the Lord, there are many times this school year when I am trusting in my own abilities and strength to make it through. My quiet times have suffered as well as my prayer life because I'm thinking I have to do it all. I feel like I'm just trying to keep my head above water...planning, grading, going to meetings. I have many difficult kids this year and I feel like every day I am having to fight fires rather than teach. It is all just very overwhelming!

Overall, I feel like I am letting my circumstances affect my mood and disposition. My principal even noticed it the other day and brought me into her office. Of course, like I usually do, I broke down into tears out of mere frustration. She vowed to help me and to come up with strategies so that I could be more successful. While she can help me in the classroom, I really need to seek the Lord. He has shown me time and time again I cannot do this is in my own strength. This "anxiety in the year of drought" is causing me not to be a fun person to be around. I am not going to yield any fruit with the attitude I have now; I am not being a strong witness to my peers because all they hear is me gripe about my classroom troubles.

So I ask that if you get a chance, please pray for me. Pray that I would seek the Lord above all else and rely not on my own strength or understanding. Pray that the Lord would give me strength, wisdom, and guidance.

Book Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns

Over the summer, I read Khaled Hosseini's first novel The Kite Runner and I wrote a review. Because I enjoyed the first one so much, I was very anxious to read his 2nd novel. Evidentally I wasn't the only one and due to popular demand, I was 645 on the Wake County library's waitlist. Two weeks ago, I finally got my chance and it did not disappoint!

In looking for a picture of the cover, I found this review from the NY Times which I thought better explained the novel that I ever could. If you click on this post title you can read the whole review but I will quote a few things here.

"Whereas “The Kite Runner” focused on fathers and sons, and friendships between men, his latest novel, “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” focuses on mothers and daughters, and friendships between women. Whereas “Kite Runner” got off to a gripping start and stumbled into contrivance and sentimentality in its second half, “Splendid Suns” starts off programmatically and gains speed and emotional power as it slowly unfurls." I agree with the reviewer in that the book got off to a slower start and did not seem to be quite the page-turner like the first novel. Again though as I read this book, I couldn't help but praise the Lord for the freedoms that I have as a US citizen. I praise the Lord that I am able to choose my husband, walk out in public without being covered, and to attend school. I am also thankful for my relationship with the Lord and my heart feels burden for the people of Afghanstian who believe the lies of the Koran.

Fall, Football, and the Fair

Because of my crazy week, I really haven't had time to blog what's been going on with us. We're having a lazy Sunday afternoon so I thought I would update you.

Last weekend we did what we do most Saturdays during the fall...cheer on the Tarheels! It was an excellent victory over Miami and we had fun tailgating as usual.

Dad and Uncle Mark grilling hamburgers

The table of yummy food...notice the Carolina table cloth and plates!
Mom thought something was funny!

Jeremy and I excited about the Tarheels!

Thursday, Jeremy's sister Erin, her husband Nathan, and daughter Madison came for a visit. Nathan is a pastor in Boone and the family needed a little break so they came to visit us for an extended weekend. We went to the State fair on Friday and consumed many calories. The best food by far was the fried Snickers bar! Yum! Madison had enough of the fair by 8:45 so we made an early exit.
Madison!

Saturday the boys went with Dad and Brandon to the UNC/USC game while the girls had day full of shopping! Though the Tarheels were not victorious, the girls were and made many excellent purchases.

Today the weather has been beautiful and we've enjoyed watching more football on TV and some reading for pleasure. I LOVE FALL and I'm so glad it's here!

Thursday Thirteen

My brain is tired this week but I couldn't let my fans down. :) So we're going easy for this week's 13.

13 of My Favorites!

1) Activity: spending time with Jeremy, which I've gotten very little time of lately
2) Time waster: Checking facebook and other people's blogs
3) People: My family..they are the best. I love hanging out with them!
4) The Tarheels
5) Drink: Coffee, esp. pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks
6) Color: green
7) Food: Crab legs
8) Song: Come Thou Fount
9) Shows: Grey's Anatomy and The Office
10) Season: Fall (Yay, it has finally arrived!)
11) Candy: Peppermint Patties
12) Flower: Tulip
13) Favorite footwear: my rainbows

Ok I know this was random but like I said my head hurts. :)

They are making me crazy...

This has been the craziest most stressful week. My students are having a difficult time getting along and following directions. They are disrespectful to me and to each other. They don't respect my authority and feel like they can talk back and argue with what I say. They have anger issues and want to hurt themselves or others. Then there is their parents...one accused me of letting my kids evangelize in class, one of hurting her child on her purpose. It just never ends...

I feel helpless. I don't know what to do. I've learned to pick my battles but there are so many. I feel like more of a firefighter than a teacher. I've talked to my principal, the school counselor, the psychologist...everyone offering their sympathies but never a real solution.

I'm sorry to complain..

Thursday's Thirteen

Today's Thursday Thirteen is The 13 Craziest Names I've had/Seen in My Teaching Career: (no lie these are all real!)

1) Matches
2) Cashmiere
3) Sapphire
4) Sapphire's sister Jade
5) America
6) Chardonnay
7) Tequilla (wonder what these parents' favorite drinks were)
8) Sienna
9) Basadar
10)Shriek (pronounced Shrek)
11)Yayshara (9,10,and 11 are brothers and sisters)
12)Hamidat
13)Amokowomo (it was a last name)

12 and 13 are African names so they have a reason for being unique but seriously, I wonder what some of these folks are thinking about when they name their children.