One semester down!

And after whirlwind day of wrapping up the semester and preparing for Christmas, we'll embark in the morning for a week out of town to be with family! Very exciting. 

I am SO glad to get a two-week break. I'll be teaching a few of the same kids in my Spanish 2 class next semester, but there are others that I think I may miss. Maybe? 

I gave them surveys about my class, and the feedback was really helpful. More note-taking (Yes please!), less book work, they liked the centers we did, they LOVE when they get to write/draw on my mini individual whiteboards to practice vocab. I also asked them about my teaching style, and it looks like I struck a good balance: 

"Sra. Sims is really nice and laid-back. Not overbearing." 

"Sra. Sims is too strict sometimes." 

"She's not monotone and is always smiling and enthusiastic." 

"She's really monotone and needs to be more enthusiastic." 

I had 25% A's and a 12% failure rate, which makes a pretty nice bell curve. One student made a 100 in the class -- and he earned every single one of those 100 points. He learned 100% of what I taught this semester, and I'm glad I'll get to teach him again next semester! 

I also had a jock kid start crying today when I handed him back his well-written EOCT, on which he scored an 82, and told him that meant he'd pass the class. Which means he gets to play baseball this spring, of course! 

I started creating a collection of poetic works around October titled "Haikus of a first year teacher", and I thought I'd share a few here:

Preplanning:

Spitball plastered tiles

Almost crushed by bad bookshelf

Hearing, smelling bats

Students:

Te llama el gum

My clothing’s like a cowgirl

Things students tell me 

Midterm:

52 Average

Texting’s not work; took his phone

He never came back 

Surveys: 

This was a great class 

Even though I'm gonna fail

Thank you. Love you! --Hope

An update from CRISP and BEAUTIFUL Athens!

My heart is full. Life is beautiful in Athens. Fall is beautiful, crisp air is beautiful, UGA's campus is beautiful, Fairy Princess . . . is a hermit. Marriage/ the companionship it brings are beautiful, candy corn for $0.75 is beautiful.

I think I am finally adjusting to teaching; it's been a journey, but I like kids and I definitely like the blistering, challenging pace of planning and creating and grading and learning. Even though it gets exhausting. I'm learning a lot from my kids about people who've grown up differently from me. Things are becoming more predictable, and I am increasingly in control of my classroom environment. . . which makes every day easier. Also, my student with a constant scowl who I had a major issue with last Monday never came back to my class and is now transferring to another school!! YAY.

I've gone to a few meetings lately about how my school district has no money at all. So it's sort of questionable whether I'll have a job next year--especially a full-time job--BUT I see it as a potential opportunity to try new things since I definitely don't love teaching yet.

I'm taking a personal day Friday to refuel halfway between Fall Break and Thanksgiving, we have the perfect agenda of exciting weekend plans for the next few weeks and the holidays, we're making good friends, staying in touch with good friends, and I have plenty of time to read, learn, recuperate from work, and enjoy the beautiful city we live in. Life is good.

*Disclaimer - my apologies for only blogging when life is good. The last months have been a struggle. . . I'm thankful for where I am right now!

*Another disclaimer: Marshall didn't get a fall break and can't take days off like I can . . . he's exhausted and excited that there are only 3 weeks of classes left this semester. He handles it all amazingly well and is doing amazingly well according to the midterm grades he's gotten back! VERY proud of him and so excited I get to be his partner through now and into the future. . . the future is so bright and wide open -- who knows where we'll end up! It's fun to dream!

#classiclifelessons

We are all connected.

--And now I know because this week, I had my first detention. Meaning I gave my first detention. Meaning I had my first detention.

And it left me figuring out how to deal with my new knowledge that it's useless to spend my life trying to get ahead. Because if I do, I'll just end up in detention because of something someone I thought I was getting ahead of did. 

Is this really how our society works?! 

. . . 

Am I really this obsessed with getting ahead!?!?

The more I think about it, yes. Yes it is. 

And yes--I guess I am. Hm. . . 

It's that kind of week. 

Every Good Weekend

I'm obsessed with Christ Community Church. Every encounter provides a glimmer of clarity and hope to our hearts. Not that life isn't beautiful . . .

I'm feeling extra whiny today, but work is hard. Tim Keller's Every Good Endeavor has helped me keep a positive outlook on my new work --I DO want to build something meaningful; I do want to make life more beautiful for others. And I do know that I'm in exactly the job I'm supposed to be in right now. And I see the beauty of it. Sometimes. Like one day last week, when I could tell my 4th block was just not with me. They're the ones whose grades overall are always noticeably lower than the other two periods' grades. When I asked what the blank stares were about, the one kid who never gets it exclaimed, "I have no idea what's going on!" --and other kids started chiming in too, and eventually we figured out what the issue was AND it was an issue with a phrase I didn't realize I hadn't taught them how to use. I was glad I asked! After that, I had all of their attention, and they all walked away actually having learned. That was a good feeling!

Other days, they press me for an answer on whether I'm a first year teacher . . . or they tell me my class is boring. . . or they just sleep and fail. Or sleep and get 100's--I'm not sure which is worse. I don't know how to manage it all yet.

I just know I don't want to start living for the weekends. . . but I don't know how not to. Especially when it's the time that sweet bff's and family come into town for fun gatherings!

        

But Tim Keller is right-- work is good and I need work, not just to make money but for life satisfaction. I just can't help thinking that--like the guy in the show Marshall's watching right now--it would be a lot more fun to have a job where I got to run through the snow next to a wolverine on a leash.

But another positive aspect of my job is that somehow--even though I'm just teaching Spanish 1--my Spanish is getting better. I've been watching a lot of "Betty la fea" and "Amar en tiempos revueltos" (check them out if you're looking for a good telenovela!) and my comprehension is much more . . . comprehensive. . . and requires much less effort than when I was watching them a year ago.

   



OH yes Marshall wanted me to add how excited we are about the community group we're going to be a part of with Christ Community Church-- there are a few couples our age, and a few couples in the next stage(s) of life. It was great this past week, and we are looking forward to beginning to become part of a community through that! It's fun to be around sweet families I knew in college again. Plus, the pastor leads this community group and he's an Alabama fan. He and Marshall both seem to be glad to have found another Alabama fan in Dawg country. I'm also excited about the small group I'm going to be in with my mentor from college and some people she knows in Athens -- we are meeting for the second time tonight! And Marshall is going tonight to a kickoff event with the Dean's Ambassadors at the bowling alley. . . YAY for finding friends!!

Duck Dynasty-- My inspiration this week.

Finished my book yesterday! Called Again was great. Between that and all the "Duck Dynasty" we've been watching on our "free" cable TV from UGA, I've spent a lot of time dreaming about which of my hobbies could become a job. The author of Called Again is a hiker, and owns a hiking company. And if you love duck hunting, what the people in Duck Dynasty appear to do for a living, is living. So, my hobbies. . . Running? Definitely not dedicated enough to that--at least lately. Reading? Writing? Oh wait. . . speaking Spanish!

I'm in a good job. Just gotta get used to it. Back to work tomorrow. Moral of that story: "You can always turn water into wine. If you're Jesus" --Jase, from "Duck Dynasty". Good thing I think that is probably exactly what Jesus is doing in my life/my job/Marshall's life and future job.

Exciting news--Marshall was accepted last week to be a Dean's Ambassador for the Law School! He'll get to give tours and help out with events for prospective students . . . and we'll find out what else eventually. Basically, he's one of the people who's the "face" of UGA Law. He's perfect for that! I'm excited for him.

I sold tickets at the JCCHS football game Friday night. Learned a lot about the area from the teachers I worked with. . . and from the "Redneck Out" that the opposing team had, making fun of JCCHS. They all wore cutoff jeans, sleeveless plaid shirts, and cowboy boots. Haters gonna hate.

The Georgia game was fun!! It's a lot more fun to tailgate and go to the game together; I'm happy we're both Dawgs! Marshall says he loves the school, but not the football team. "It's the barking; I can't handle it", he and his Tech+UGALaw friend agreed today while watching the Falcons game.

For next week, Marshall has planned a "gourmet burgers" night for us on Thursday, to give me something to be excited about when I hit a slump during the week :) The plan is to grill out and eat outside. It'll be our first time breaking in the grills/picnic area in our complex's shady courtyard!

Thanks for reading!

Working for the Weekend!!!

I don't even remember last week because the weekend has been so fun!

Let me try. . . Marshall was mentally pretty worn out by Wednesday but made it through the week. He said it feels like he's been in law school forever because every day is so dense with information, challenges, and interactions with new friends.

Teaching was fine this week, but I'm far from convinced that this will end up being the job for me. Marshall and I talk about the future a lot--it's exciting to think where we'll end up--but at this point my dreams of what I'll be doing in our future don't involve teaching. On the other hand, everyone I've talked to says you have to give teaching time before you can love it (or even know whether you love it!). It's only been a month, so I'll just keep on keeping on.

Life in Athens is wonderful! I love walking after school with the girl who's a school counselor and lives near us. The Law School intramural tennis team started this week too, and Marshall is excited to get to play tennis often this fall!

This weekend has been glorious. We started off seeing "The Great Gatsby" on the big screen at the Tate theater for $1 each on Friday night. Saturday morning, we headed to Johns Creek to see my family for lunch to celebrate my sweet grandma's 78th birthday! It was SO fun to be together with my fam for a great lunch prepared by mom. Mmmmm peach pie.

From the Reeces', we went to the Sims' to pick everyone up in our giant Sequoia (thanks Dad!!) to go to the Alabama game at the Dome (thanks Mike!!)! The tiny little girls stayed home with a babysitter, but all the big kids and their significant others came to the game--what a treat! Wish we'd gotten a shot with everyone in it :/ But here's me and Marshall from our incredible club-level seats!

We spent the night at the Sims and woke up to have a slow morning chatting/catching up with them. Marshall and I agreed that our favorite thing that both of our families do is taking it slow and hanging out for hours talking after a good meal. Quality time!

We trekked back to Athens to have lunch with our friends Ashley and Jesse, who are here for the weekend visiting Jesse's sister who's a freshman and UGA softball player. It was so fun to see them and then have a slow afternoon, and enjoy a long run. Ashley and I had breakfast and caught up this morning, and now Marshall and I are about to spend a few hours hiking and reading at the State Botanical Gardens. Side note, I started an AMAZING book this weekend from my favorite genre:

The writer basically IS me except that she sets speed records for hiking the whole Appalachian Trail. . . What I mean is that it's about being 24 and newly married and starting a big adventure with your husband. ADVENTURE!!

To finish out the weekend, Marshall's also excited to play tennis with a law school classmate this evening. Weekends are SO glorious! Looking ahead to next weekend, I am excited about going to my first JCCHS football game Friday and then going to the UGA/USC game as a "student" on Saturday!! Thanks for reading! :)

Glade, Goat Therapy, Growing up = Good, Go Dawgs.

A couple of highlights from this week!

Athens is beautiful! The best place in the world for running. 

- Marshall loves law school. He was overprepared for his first day of class--YESSssssss. At his current level of thoroughness, I don't think he's going to have to study for finals. Of course, he will anyway--because he's so thorough. Go Marshall!
- Dad and Nanny are both doing well and have no further issues after both having some medical issues this week-- relieved and glad they are recovering!
- There are some amazing churches in Athens. We LOVE the small town/small church feel. Now which one to choose. . . ? So many great people!
- Our apartment no longer smells like someone's wet chihuahua. Thank you, Glade!
- The Beamer got new tires! $$$$ And it needs some other repair. . .  $$$$$$$$$$$
- I got my student ID so that I can get a membership at Ramsey!!!!! They call it a "Student Dependent" card. I depend on Marshall for a lot of OTHER things, but currently I'm not actually a "dependent" in the usual sense of the word. . .HA! But I AM dependent on him for access to university facilities. While pulling out his wallet to pay for the card, Marshall told me this was "$20 out my pocket."

Growing up is a GOOD thing. 

What a concise depiction of how I've changed in the last 6 years! Based on my facial expression alone, not to mention my name is different. This contrast is overly significant to me--I think because it shows me that I am who I hoped I'd be, and I'm becoming who I want to be.

- Marshall's addicted to Pepperoncinis. Gross. Looks like it's a Pavlov-esque addiction, because he said he's had them every day while he's studying, and right now he can't even focus on studying he's craving them so bad. Since these roles will be reversed eventually, is it my job to go to the store to pick up what he's craving?
- A Pixie le gusta comer. [Pixie likes to eat] He's making his debut in my classes this week in a powerpoint where I introduce how to talk about things my students like to do. Specifically, Pixie likes to eat raspberries and popcorn. And he likes Marshall, who feeds him.

 - There's another young person at JCCHS!! One of the counselors is my age and just started at JCCHS too-- and she lives right near us in Athens! We met up after school to go on a walk one evening this week. And we found this (below). Apparently, UGA's kudzu-infested areas are undergoing goat therapy.

"Prescribed Grazing"

I'm going to plant some kudzu on Tate's roof so UGA will be forced to start its own Goats on the Roof. Didn't see any of the goats, though.

We are loving our adventures in Athens!! Life is good, beautiful, sunny, and in a wi-fi cloud here. We have everything we could ever need!