On Saturday, I went to an AP Economics conference in Los Angeles. While I'm sure a lot of teachers would hate to have to give up an entire Saturday, to talk about the subject that they taught all week, I'm always excited to go to these conferences and workshops. Teaching is not something that you ever master. It is something that you must continue to develop. The same can be said for our content knowledge. History and the social sciences is one of the few subject areas that you truly never stop learning in. New history is constantly being created, new trends develop in the field of political science, and economic models are disproved and new models created. I am always trying to find some time to read a great book on one of these subjects, but we all know time can be very scarce.
For me, this is what makes these conferences so great. First, the simple ability to get together with other teachers who are passionate about their subject, and the success of their students is always refreshing. Plus, for me, still being a relatively new teacher, it is always great to be able to pick their brains for new ideas, strategies they've had success with, and to have the opportunity to bounce ideas off of them. While it was a long day, I left with many wonderful resources and ideas, and a renewed vigor to be the best teacher that I can possibly be.
On a similar note, I have also begun to look into some opportunities for this summer, again in the area of professional development. I have applied/in the process of applying for several week long institutes, and even some 6-8 week fellowships. Here are a few of the ones that I have applied for or will apply for in the next week or so:
James Madison Fellowship: A program where they choose a teacher from every state to spend the summer in Washington D.C. with an emphasis on constitutional theory. If chosen as a fellow, they also award you $24,000 to put towards a Masters program. The hardest part of the application, however, is finding a master's program I would be interested in that would meet the requirements.
University of Delaware's Masters in Economic Education: This master's program is largely paid for, but they only select 35 in each cohort. You would spend 6 weeks for two summers on their campus, and complete the rest of your work during the school year online.
College Board AP Fellow: This would award $1000 to go towards attending a week long AP Summer Institute. Even if I don't get this, I will most likely still attend one for Economics. The AP Summer Institute I attended for US Government was fantastic, and an invaluable experience.
FTE's Economics for Leaders: A fantastic week long workshop for teachers of economics. Every time I've been around an economics teacher that has attended one of the FTE's workshops, they all say at some point, you have to try and go to one of these. They only have five or six sites around the country, and only take 30 at each site, so it is fairly hard to get chosen for these. I applied for the one in Santa Barbara, CA.
TAH's week long programs: I also applied for a couple of the TAH seminars (Teaching American History) in political parties and Congress. They are probably best known by teachers for the grants that many districts have across the country, and very well respected in the social studies field. Plus, the program is free, and you actually receive a stipend for attending.
I'll keep you posted as I hear back from these great opportunities. Hopefully, I'll be able to do one or two of them this summer. I'm positive any of these experiences would make me a better teacher.
Showing posts with label Chris' Posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris' Posts. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Long Days
There are some days, where I absolutely love my job.
Friday, was definitely one of those days.
My day started like most of mine do, with the alarm clock going off at 4:00 AM. I stumbled out of bed, to start the process of getting ready. By 5:00 AM, I was out the door, with my breakfast in hand, and on the road. I arrived at school at 6:00 AM, still dark outside, to begin preparing for the day. Classes began, and by noon, I was done with my "teaching" for the day.
Now, on most days, I am able to leave at 2:00. However, Friday was no ordinary day. As 2:00 PM came and went, I was in my room, grading papers, looking forward to the events to come. Before I left the school, I stopped by and watched part of the boy's soccer game. I didn't get to watch all of it, but they ended up tying, which bumped them up into 4th in the conference, the cutoff to make the playoffs. I headed over to King High School, one of Poly's biggest rivals (who all of our teams were playing on Friday), to watch our girl's soccer team play at 5:00 PM. Our girls team have had a great season so far, and is in a tight race for 1st place in the conference. The game against King, who is tied for third, would go along way to deciding the conference champion. In a great game, they were able to hang on for a 2-1 victory. So far, 2-0 against King.
As soon as the game ended, I hung around just long enough to congratulate some of my students on the big win, before heading back to Poly for the Senior Night basketball games. I got back to school in time to see our girl's start the second half. They were down, but played hard and fought back. With a few clutch free throws down the stretch, the Lady Bears were able to hang on for a 46-43 win.
Poly 3- King 0
The guys game tipped off right around 8:00 PM. Poly jumped out early, with King coming back to take the lead. It was a back and forth game, with all the intensity a rivalry game would normally entail. The game headed into overtime, and Poly was able to hold on for the 70-67 win.
Poly 4-King 0
I headed back to my car as the clock struck 10:00 PM. Tired, I headed back down Highway 60 to head home, finally arriving at home just a little before 11:00 PM.
I'm amazed how many times I get asked "why do you teach?" On this same day, actually, I had a student ask why I wanted to teach, and not do something, you know, more important. It is these long days, where I come home late, exhausted that I often love my job the most. Friday I not only got to teach a subject that I love and think is so vital to know, but I also got to spend my day around some amazing kids. I got to see them struggle with new ideas in the classroom, work through their own thought processes to understand and comprehend new ideas, and use knowledge they already had. I got to witness first hand them struggle, fight, sweat, display emotion, work together, and demonstrate the talents they have worked for years to hone. I saw them triumph, celebrate, and show true joy.
I am lucky enough to be a part of these students' lives. There is nothing else I would rather be doing. That my friends, is why I teach.
Friday, was definitely one of those days.
My day started like most of mine do, with the alarm clock going off at 4:00 AM. I stumbled out of bed, to start the process of getting ready. By 5:00 AM, I was out the door, with my breakfast in hand, and on the road. I arrived at school at 6:00 AM, still dark outside, to begin preparing for the day. Classes began, and by noon, I was done with my "teaching" for the day.
Now, on most days, I am able to leave at 2:00. However, Friday was no ordinary day. As 2:00 PM came and went, I was in my room, grading papers, looking forward to the events to come. Before I left the school, I stopped by and watched part of the boy's soccer game. I didn't get to watch all of it, but they ended up tying, which bumped them up into 4th in the conference, the cutoff to make the playoffs. I headed over to King High School, one of Poly's biggest rivals (who all of our teams were playing on Friday), to watch our girl's soccer team play at 5:00 PM. Our girls team have had a great season so far, and is in a tight race for 1st place in the conference. The game against King, who is tied for third, would go along way to deciding the conference champion. In a great game, they were able to hang on for a 2-1 victory. So far, 2-0 against King.
As soon as the game ended, I hung around just long enough to congratulate some of my students on the big win, before heading back to Poly for the Senior Night basketball games. I got back to school in time to see our girl's start the second half. They were down, but played hard and fought back. With a few clutch free throws down the stretch, the Lady Bears were able to hang on for a 46-43 win.
Poly 3- King 0
The guys game tipped off right around 8:00 PM. Poly jumped out early, with King coming back to take the lead. It was a back and forth game, with all the intensity a rivalry game would normally entail. The game headed into overtime, and Poly was able to hold on for the 70-67 win.
Poly 4-King 0
I headed back to my car as the clock struck 10:00 PM. Tired, I headed back down Highway 60 to head home, finally arriving at home just a little before 11:00 PM.
I'm amazed how many times I get asked "why do you teach?" On this same day, actually, I had a student ask why I wanted to teach, and not do something, you know, more important. It is these long days, where I come home late, exhausted that I often love my job the most. Friday I not only got to teach a subject that I love and think is so vital to know, but I also got to spend my day around some amazing kids. I got to see them struggle with new ideas in the classroom, work through their own thought processes to understand and comprehend new ideas, and use knowledge they already had. I got to witness first hand them struggle, fight, sweat, display emotion, work together, and demonstrate the talents they have worked for years to hone. I saw them triumph, celebrate, and show true joy.
I am lucky enough to be a part of these students' lives. There is nothing else I would rather be doing. That my friends, is why I teach.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Signing Day
Signing day, especially the middle one in early February, is almost like a holiday for many Southerners who are college football fans. As a Clemson fan, I know a lot of the top recruits by name. I know who the targets are, who the five star recruits are. For the hardcore fan, signing day is the day they look forward to the most once the bowl games end. The thing that the average fan sometimes forgets, no matter how "sure-fire" the recruit is, how successful they become, or how big of a "bust" they become, right now they are high school students. They are so excited at this point in their life. Many are living their dream, and their hard work over the past year, four years, and in most cases much longer, have paid off.
Tomorrow on signing day, I want to honor my students this year, and my three years at Chesnee, who participated in one of the three NCAA signing days. I have so much respect for these students, because I know the hard work and dedication that it takes to reach that point. Working with the football team at Gardner-Webb for two years gave me a much better understanding of just what a different level college athletics really is. So here is a list of my former students, sport, and school. (Let me know if I forgot any!)
Tomorrow on signing day, I want to honor my students this year, and my three years at Chesnee, who participated in one of the three NCAA signing days. I have so much respect for these students, because I know the hard work and dedication that it takes to reach that point. Working with the football team at Gardner-Webb for two years gave me a much better understanding of just what a different level college athletics really is. So here is a list of my former students, sport, and school. (Let me know if I forgot any!)
Poly High School
Kara Howard (Softball) University of Kentucky
Cori Reinhardt (Softball) Cal State Monterey Bay
Sara Macias (Water Polo) University of Southern California
Jillian Yocum (Water Polo) Univerisity of California Irvine
Nicole Frank (Soccer) Lamar University
Kenzie Estes (Cross Country) Northern Arizona University
Casey Foster (Soccer) University of California Riverside *{signing in Spring}
Chesnee High School
Haley Gregg (Softball) North Greenville University
Raheem Hughes (Football) North Greenville University
Zack Miller (Football/Track) North Greenville University
Austin High (Cross Country/Track) Lees-McRae University
Stephen Cantrell (Baseball) Wofford
David Jones (Baseball) Southern Wesleyan University
Sierra Wilkinson (Softball) Spartanburg Methodist College
Holly Woodrum (Softball) Lander
Jalen Martin (Basketball) Erskine
Corey Frye (Baseball) Anderson University
Justin Blackwell (Cross Country/Track) Spartanburg Methodist College
Marcus Ovalle (Wrestling) Spartanburg Methodist College
Allyson Brislinger (Volleyball) Huntingdon College
Cedric Proctor (Football) South Carolina State
Josh Jones (Track) University of South Carolina
Gaffney High School
Hillary Key (Softball) North Greenville University
Julie Sarratt (Softball) University of South Carolina
(yeah, I know... I never taught there, but I claim these two also)
Gaffney High School
Hillary Key (Softball) North Greenville University
Julie Sarratt (Softball) University of South Carolina
(yeah, I know... I never taught there, but I claim these two also)
There may be a couple more in the spring that I'll be able to add. Sorry if I forgot anyone... just let me know and I'll add them. I'm so proud of not just these kids, but all of my students who have gotten music, theater, band, cheering, and just regular ol' academic scholarships. SO PROUD OF ALL OF THEM!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Lights, Camera, Action...
One of the joys of being here on the west coast in Los Angeles is Megan and I have an opportunity to do things that are unique to here, that otherwise, we may have never been able to do. We've already driven a good section of the Pacific Coast Highway, gone to San Francisco, drove through Malibu, and rode down Sunset Boulevard. Last night, we went to a taping of the sitcom of Mike and Molly, which even in its first season, has quickly become one of Megan's favorite shows on TV.
We left our apartment at 3:30 to drive to Burbank where Warner Brothers Studios is located. Traffic wasn't too terrible, and we finally saw the "Hollywood" sign. Megan's attempts at taking a picture failed, but we'll get one soon. We arrived at the studio around 4:30, and found the place where we were to wait in line. After about 40 minutes, we headed towards the lot and went through security. We finally arrived at the studio where Mike and Molly is filmed around 5:15. It is the same studio where Friends and Full House was filmed, in case you were curious.
We waited in the studio until 6:00, when they began by showing us a previous episode. Apparently, there were a lot of people there that had never seen the show before. I guess they just wanted to see any show filmed. Once the show completed, they began with the introduction of the cast. I must say, while there are no "big names" in the cast, it was very cool to see people that you typically only see on TV only a few feet away from you. They were filming their Valentine's Day show, and the show was filmed in the order that the scenes will go on the episode, which I had always heard that they bounced around during filming. The scenes that they didn't film, they reenacted for us.
During all of the breaks, there was an emcee that tried to keep the audience engaged. What normally happened, was they would film one segment, reset, and film it a second time. It was interesting, at least to me, to see how the writers altered the lines in between takes. If we, the audience, didn't respond like they wanted, they would change a line. It typically resulted in a much bigger laugh the second time through. (They may do that intentionally to get that big laugh. I will say, the laughter was not as genuine the third or fourth time you heard a line, but whenever it suddenly changed, and they said something you weren't expecting, it made the line that much more hilarious)
Filming an episode is a long process. They started at 6:30, and we left right around 10:00. At least in the middle, they did provide pizza for the audience. Megan and I both had a great time, definitely a unique experience. I think we are going to try and go see a couple of other shows filmed. I personally would love to get tickets to see either The Big Bang Theory or Two and a Half Men be filmed, but those tickets are hard to get due to the popularity of the shows. Also, Megan wants to get tickets for the Ellen Show (which had a huge crowd and line for it). Those tickets are all "sold out" into March.
If you haven't seen the show, you should definitely tune in Mondays at 9:30 on CBS. The show is hilarious, and maybe in a few weeks, you will hear our laughter in the background.
We left our apartment at 3:30 to drive to Burbank where Warner Brothers Studios is located. Traffic wasn't too terrible, and we finally saw the "Hollywood" sign. Megan's attempts at taking a picture failed, but we'll get one soon. We arrived at the studio around 4:30, and found the place where we were to wait in line. After about 40 minutes, we headed towards the lot and went through security. We finally arrived at the studio where Mike and Molly is filmed around 5:15. It is the same studio where Friends and Full House was filmed, in case you were curious.
We waited in the studio until 6:00, when they began by showing us a previous episode. Apparently, there were a lot of people there that had never seen the show before. I guess they just wanted to see any show filmed. Once the show completed, they began with the introduction of the cast. I must say, while there are no "big names" in the cast, it was very cool to see people that you typically only see on TV only a few feet away from you. They were filming their Valentine's Day show, and the show was filmed in the order that the scenes will go on the episode, which I had always heard that they bounced around during filming. The scenes that they didn't film, they reenacted for us.
During all of the breaks, there was an emcee that tried to keep the audience engaged. What normally happened, was they would film one segment, reset, and film it a second time. It was interesting, at least to me, to see how the writers altered the lines in between takes. If we, the audience, didn't respond like they wanted, they would change a line. It typically resulted in a much bigger laugh the second time through. (They may do that intentionally to get that big laugh. I will say, the laughter was not as genuine the third or fourth time you heard a line, but whenever it suddenly changed, and they said something you weren't expecting, it made the line that much more hilarious)
Filming an episode is a long process. They started at 6:30, and we left right around 10:00. At least in the middle, they did provide pizza for the audience. Megan and I both had a great time, definitely a unique experience. I think we are going to try and go see a couple of other shows filmed. I personally would love to get tickets to see either The Big Bang Theory or Two and a Half Men be filmed, but those tickets are hard to get due to the popularity of the shows. Also, Megan wants to get tickets for the Ellen Show (which had a huge crowd and line for it). Those tickets are all "sold out" into March.
If you haven't seen the show, you should definitely tune in Mondays at 9:30 on CBS. The show is hilarious, and maybe in a few weeks, you will hear our laughter in the background.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Mike and Molly
Tomorrow, Megan and I will be crossing another item off of our "West Coast Bucket List", of things we want to do while we are on the west coast. We will be going to Warner Brothers Studios to watch the sitcom Mike and Molly be filmed.
This show is "the funniest show on TV" according to Megan. Should be a fun and interesting experience! If it goes well, we will most likely try and get tickets to see Big Bang Theory next.
These are a part of Megan's birthday present, except I messed up, because initially, she thought they were expensive tickets. I shouldn't have told her they were free... haha oh well.
Check back to see how it was.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Missing the Beta Life
One of the reasons I absolutely love being a teacher is all of the learning and growing that you get to witness. As a high school teacher, it still is an amazing sight to see a student have their "ah-ha" moment or accomplish something individually or as a group. One thing that I think is often neglected is that learning does not just happen in a classroom. In fact, I believe that some of the best learning experiences occur after school, in the different sports and extracurriculars that are offered.
One thing that I still haven't been able to do is get involved with a club or sport at Poly. I have been able to attend a lot of different games, but it is not the same as working with those kids day in and day out. Recently, I've gone to a couple of girls' water polo matches and some soccer games. However, this time of the year, I cannot help but think about those Beta days. Countless hours of practices, making props, and preparing for those trips.
I am still amazed by the talent that those kids displayed, and it always reminds me that all high schoolers have amazing talents, and one of our main jobs as teachers is helping kids find those talents, and develop them so they can have the confidence to display those talents to the world.
I'll leave you with some examples of just how talented high schoolers can be.
(A little background... the following videos are the group talents we did the last three years at Chesnee at the Beta Club conventions. They are seven minute performances, and I think you'll see all the hard work that they put into the performance. The Lion King performance and the Alice in Wonderland performance won at Nationals.)
One thing that I still haven't been able to do is get involved with a club or sport at Poly. I have been able to attend a lot of different games, but it is not the same as working with those kids day in and day out. Recently, I've gone to a couple of girls' water polo matches and some soccer games. However, this time of the year, I cannot help but think about those Beta days. Countless hours of practices, making props, and preparing for those trips.
I am still amazed by the talent that those kids displayed, and it always reminds me that all high schoolers have amazing talents, and one of our main jobs as teachers is helping kids find those talents, and develop them so they can have the confidence to display those talents to the world.
I'll leave you with some examples of just how talented high schoolers can be.
(A little background... the following videos are the group talents we did the last three years at Chesnee at the Beta Club conventions. They are seven minute performances, and I think you'll see all the hard work that they put into the performance. The Lion King performance and the Alice in Wonderland performance won at Nationals.)
The Lion King Group Talent 2008
National Champs
Alice in Wonderland Group Talent 2010
National Champs
The Little Mermaid Group Talent 2009
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
CTEL Results Are In!
I finally received my results from the CTEL test I took back in December. This is the test that deals with English Language Learners, that I needed to pass to get my clear credential here in California.
I passed all three parts on the first time! Woohoo! Especially considering I am still not exactly sure what all was on the test. Again, it goes to show that standardized test results are not always indicative of actual knowledge... but hey, I'll take my passing scores and run.
The last thing that I need to do now is to complete my "First Year Teacher Program", which here is called BTSA. The program is very similar to the program in South Carolina that I went through, but because I only had three years of teaching experience, my induction program in South Carolina did not transfer over. I am in the "fast-track" part and should be able to complete that program this year. So hopefully, come the end of May or early June, I will have my clear California credential. That will make me feel much more secure about future job security.
I passed all three parts on the first time! Woohoo! Especially considering I am still not exactly sure what all was on the test. Again, it goes to show that standardized test results are not always indicative of actual knowledge... but hey, I'll take my passing scores and run.
The last thing that I need to do now is to complete my "First Year Teacher Program", which here is called BTSA. The program is very similar to the program in South Carolina that I went through, but because I only had three years of teaching experience, my induction program in South Carolina did not transfer over. I am in the "fast-track" part and should be able to complete that program this year. So hopefully, come the end of May or early June, I will have my clear California credential. That will make me feel much more secure about future job security.
Monday, January 17, 2011
MLK Day
One of the things that I think we often do on days like today, if forget exactly why it is that we have the day off. From a historical sense, Martin Luther King Jr. is just one of the transcending figures. Someone who defined the time, and did not let the time define him. Hearing some of his most famous speeches still gives me chills. I really believe it is one of those things that even hearing it, you cannot appreciate just how moving it was to be there and hear him speak in person. I believe this is similar with any transcendent figure or time of crisis.
I'll leave you with arguably his best known speech, and two of my favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"I Have a Dream Speech"
"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."
"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
I think all Christians need to take these words to heart. What is going on in out world today, both locally and globally? What tragedy are we allowing to happen as we silently stand by? What evil are we cooperating with because we do not speak out against it? I challenge you to constantly take King's words to heart, and more importantly, find your passion and your mission, and when you do, get involved and make a difference.
Obituary of J.T. Brown
Today, my grandfather was laid to rest. I hate that I was not able to be there, but it sounds like it was a very fitting service. Papa was given a full military funeral, with echo taps being played and a 21 gun salute.
I really believe that we all need people in our lives that we can look up to. Role models that we can strive to reach a life like they had. Papa will forever be one of those people in my life. I will always remember the way that he lived his life.
Below, is his obituary.
J T Brown, of 230 Bow Street, more recently of Wilkinson Center of Toccoa, GA widower of the late Jeanette Laura Timms Brown, passed away on Friday, January 14, 2011 at the Rainey Hospice House in Anderson.
Born in Hart County, GA to the late Thomas J. and Bettie Byrum Brown, he was a clerk with the U S Postal Service. He was a member of the Westminster Baptist Church where he was a former member of the Men's Adult Sunday School Class. He was a member of the Westminster American Legion and a Life Mason with the Westminster Masonic Lodge. Mr. Brown was a veteran of the US Army, having served in WWII as a Paratrooper in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Survivors include sons Thomas Glavan Brown and wife Sharon, Jerry Timothy Brown and wife Laura, both of Toccoa, GA and Theron Lane Brown and wife Liselotte of Greer, SC; brother Thomas James Brown of Seneca; sister Betty Lou Richardson of Seneca; 10 Grandchildren and 9 Great- Grandchildren.
In addition to his wife and parents; brothers Robert, Charles and Ray Brown; sisters Mary Brown Roberts, Leona Brown and Beatrice Mason preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be 10 AM, Monday, January 17, 2011 from the Chapel of the Sandifer Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oconee Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends 3-5 PM, Sunday, January 16, 2011 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials in Mr. Brown's memory may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road Anderson, SC 29621. The family is at their respective homes. A message of condolence may be written to the family by visiting www.sandiferfuneralhome.com
I really believe that we all need people in our lives that we can look up to. Role models that we can strive to reach a life like they had. Papa will forever be one of those people in my life. I will always remember the way that he lived his life.
Below, is his obituary.
J T Brown, of 230 Bow Street, more recently of Wilkinson Center of Toccoa, GA widower of the late Jeanette Laura Timms Brown, passed away on Friday, January 14, 2011 at the Rainey Hospice House in Anderson.
Born in Hart County, GA to the late Thomas J. and Bettie Byrum Brown, he was a clerk with the U S Postal Service. He was a member of the Westminster Baptist Church where he was a former member of the Men's Adult Sunday School Class. He was a member of the Westminster American Legion and a Life Mason with the Westminster Masonic Lodge. Mr. Brown was a veteran of the US Army, having served in WWII as a Paratrooper in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Survivors include sons Thomas Glavan Brown and wife Sharon, Jerry Timothy Brown and wife Laura, both of Toccoa, GA and Theron Lane Brown and wife Liselotte of Greer, SC; brother Thomas James Brown of Seneca; sister Betty Lou Richardson of Seneca; 10 Grandchildren and 9 Great- Grandchildren.
In addition to his wife and parents; brothers Robert, Charles and Ray Brown; sisters Mary Brown Roberts, Leona Brown and Beatrice Mason preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be 10 AM, Monday, January 17, 2011 from the Chapel of the Sandifer Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oconee Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends 3-5 PM, Sunday, January 16, 2011 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials in Mr. Brown's memory may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road Anderson, SC 29621. The family is at their respective homes. A message of condolence may be written to the family by visiting www.sandiferfuneralhome.com
Friday, January 14, 2011
One of the Greatest Men I've Ever Known
Tom Brokaw called them the "Greatest Generation". I just called him Papa. Grandparents always hold a special place in our hearts and I was truly blessed to have four wonderful ones. My Papa was a great man. There are so many stories I could tell of how I will remember him.
Rest in peace, J.T. Brown and enjoy the celebration. Oh, and I bet he is passing out those packets of Teddy Grahams to any angel that passes...
From having popsicles stocked in the freezer non-stop for all of us grandkids to passing out packets of Teddy Grahams that he got from the Wilkinson Center, my Papa was a very giving man. He would do about anything for us grandkids. I loved sitting and listening to his stories. He was a paratrooper in World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service. I've always wanted to skydive, just so I could experience the same feeling that he did, minus of course, the getting shot at while you float down. He never did speak a lot about what happened in World War II, but the little that he did open up about, I knew he experienced much more than I can ever imagine.
He also was a great father and husband. Papa and Mema set an amazing Godly example of what a marriage and family should be like. I'll never forget when my grandmother died. Papa stayed by her bed at the hospice house day in and day out. The staff took good care of him during that time, bringing him meals (even though they weren't suppose to) and checking on him almost as much as her. In a way, I think it is fitting that Papa passed away at the same hospice facility.
Papa lived a full life. He served his country as a soldier. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He was married for over 50 years and had three children. He was a grandfather and a great-grandfather. He was kind and loving. He was funny and always had a joke and would try to make you laugh.
Tonight, my Papa is having a reunion. He has been reunited with his beloved wife. He has been reunited with many members of his family. He has been reunited with his fallen comrades, who served with him defending this country on the battlefields of France.
Papa, you will always be my hero, and I hope that I can become half the man that you were.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Wrapping Up the First Semester
I am closing in on the end of my first semester here at Poly High School. Things have gone relatively smoothly. The long drive still wears on me, and by the end of the week, I am still exhausted, and as gas goes up in price, it is becoming more and more expensive to drive to work each week. With all of that said, I am still so blessed to have found a place here at Poly.
We are wrapping up AP Government and beginning to look ahead to starting AP Macro for the first time. It should be an interesting experience to say the least. One thing that I am always amazed at, whether it was my first year teaching, or this year (which for those wondering, is my fourth), are the connections I make to the students. I think it is fascinating how at the beginning of the year, the 150+ students I have go from simply being names on a roster, me having no clue of anything about their "story", to so much more. While I wish I could honestly say that I will never forget a student, I can honestly say that I will never forget my "students".
People have asked me why I teach. I often feel when that question is asked that there is some sort of negative connotation that they attach to the profession of teaching. I even have had some students ask "Why do you teach, when you could have done ...". I think what most people miss, is that they view teaching as simply a 8:00-3:00 job. Almost one where you work in isolation, and that students are the "customers" that you have to deal with every day. I absolutely love my job, and I love my students. I see my role more as someone who works with my students. I try to guide them more than just pour knowledge into their heads. Plus, teaching to me is no 8-3 job. You are becoming a part of a high schoolers life. In my case, with having all seniors, there is no more critical time in their high school careers. I love being able to discuss future plans, helping them think through the process for themselves, and helping them see options they may have not thought about. It is a fascinating time, because you can see a change mid-year in that you can tell they are realizing for the first time that an "end" to the life they are familiar with and a new "beginning" is on the horizon.
As we wrap up the first semester, this becomes all too clear for many of the students I have had the privilege to teach. I am looking forward to the second semester, and seeing my current students off into their new "beginnings" hopefully, as best prepared as they can be. It is a daunting task and responsibility. One that I love being a part of.
We are wrapping up AP Government and beginning to look ahead to starting AP Macro for the first time. It should be an interesting experience to say the least. One thing that I am always amazed at, whether it was my first year teaching, or this year (which for those wondering, is my fourth), are the connections I make to the students. I think it is fascinating how at the beginning of the year, the 150+ students I have go from simply being names on a roster, me having no clue of anything about their "story", to so much more. While I wish I could honestly say that I will never forget a student, I can honestly say that I will never forget my "students".
People have asked me why I teach. I often feel when that question is asked that there is some sort of negative connotation that they attach to the profession of teaching. I even have had some students ask "Why do you teach, when you could have done ...". I think what most people miss, is that they view teaching as simply a 8:00-3:00 job. Almost one where you work in isolation, and that students are the "customers" that you have to deal with every day. I absolutely love my job, and I love my students. I see my role more as someone who works with my students. I try to guide them more than just pour knowledge into their heads. Plus, teaching to me is no 8-3 job. You are becoming a part of a high schoolers life. In my case, with having all seniors, there is no more critical time in their high school careers. I love being able to discuss future plans, helping them think through the process for themselves, and helping them see options they may have not thought about. It is a fascinating time, because you can see a change mid-year in that you can tell they are realizing for the first time that an "end" to the life they are familiar with and a new "beginning" is on the horizon.
As we wrap up the first semester, this becomes all too clear for many of the students I have had the privilege to teach. I am looking forward to the second semester, and seeing my current students off into their new "beginnings" hopefully, as best prepared as they can be. It is a daunting task and responsibility. One that I love being a part of.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
10 Things I'll Never Forget About 2010
Reflecting on the year that has been on New Year's Eve always evokes a lot of memories. Thinking back to last year at this time, I never could have foreseen all the changes that would come our way this past year. Here, I hope to recap some of the happy, exciting, dramatic, and heart-breaking moments of 2010.
(I'll try to do them in chronological order as best I can.)
1.) Megan Gets Accepted!
We were looking at purchasing our first home in March of this past year. We hadn't heard any news from the schools that Megan had applied to. We found a home that we were finally ready to make an offer on. It was over spring break, and the realtor that we had been working with was out of town with her family for vacation, and even though we were ready to put an offer in on the house on Friday, we decided to wait until the following Monday. It was during that weekend when Megan received her acceptance letter from Talbot School of Theology, and set off a chain of events that would shape the rest of our year.
2.) John Ledford
April 16th was one of those days that a teacher, or anyone for that matter never want to experience. It was lunch time, and I was getting ready for third period to start. I went to stand outside of my classroom, like I did so often, and I saw two students walking up the hill crying. They asked if I had heard anything about a couple of students, both students that I taught. Rumors had begun to swirl around school about something tragic. I immediately jumped online to see if I could find anything from the local news sites, since the rumors involved a car accident. I went down to the office, and the worst was confirmed. John Ledford, a sophomore that I had in my 3rd period class, was killed that morning in a car accident driving his girlfriend to school.
It was by far the most difficult class period I have ever had to go through, and seeing so many young students struggle and experience pain was difficult. I will never, ever forget the funeral service and seeing so much pain in the eyes of high schoolers, made it so difficult for me to get through. John wasn't the best student, but he was one that I liked. It doesn't matter for me how good or smart a student is, they are all my children. And what I would imagine a parent would feel, even when they do things that drive us crazy or things that are stupid, we still love them. John and I joked around alot in class and he was a good kid.
I'm sure at some point in my teaching career, I'll have to go through another experience like this, but I pray that not only I, but the schools and students that I work with never have to experience something like that.
3.) Decision to Leave
It was late April/early May when we finally had received all of the financial aid information from Biola. I remember that I had told Megan if they would cover half of the tuition expense, then we would go, that we could afford to cover the rest. Well, Biola came through with exactly half. It was one of the hardest decisions that I know I have ever had to make personally, but I knew that I needed to trust God and take the leap. I had to leave the comfortable path and jump out unto the unknown.
4.)AP Exam Day
The day of the AP Government exam was an exciting day for me. It was the culmination of something that I had been working on for well over a year. I started the year before trying to start an AP Government program at Chesnee to offer another AP level class. After a year of work, we finally got the class approved as a semester class. Starting in January, I had 9 students go through AP Government with me for the first time. With any of the "high stakes testing", I felt a little nervousness for my students. There is always that feeling that I could have prepared them better, but I knew I had some smart students. I brought them breakfast that morning and hung out with them a little bit before they started. Overall they did pretty well. I had a student get a 5, two others get a 4, and one other get a 3. Almost a 50% passage rate the first time you teach an AP class is pretty good.
5.) State Championships
When I was in high school, I was fortunate to go to a school where state championships were a fairly common occurrence. I thought it was something that everyone experienced. I realized that it wasn't something that everyone got to experience. Chesnee hadn't won a state championship since the early 80s, and in a three day period, won two team state championships. On Saturday, the boy's track team won a state championship with only 8 competitors. There were some awesome individual performances, Zack Miller winning the 100 Hurdles, Austin High winning two individual events, and Josh Jones' long jump of 24'8 that he sat back on were truly unbelievable. Then, the following Monday, the Eagles baseball team capped off their state championship with a win over Hanahan. Everyone at Chesnee was truly blessed to be able to see a pitcher of Brandon Henderson's quality. He finished his senior year with a 14-0 record, 0.30 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched. He was drafted in the 15th round by the Tampa Bay Rays. Also, to see Coach Jones go out with a state championship after 47+ years and 730+ was very fitting. I always love to see students excel.
6.) Louisville Beta Convention
Over the past two years, Beta Club is one thing that took up a lot of my time. I loved working with the kids in Beta Club. Just like in athletics, these kids are so talented. This year's talent was Alice and Wonderland, and they did not disappoint. Frankie did an awesome job as well. One of the things that I will miss the most is working with Ritchie and Stephanie. I learned so much from them over the couple of years that I worked with them.
7.) Last Sunday at New Pleasant
As much time as I spent with the kids from Beta, I spent even more time with the youth at New Pleasant Baptist Church. They became my family. All summer was difficult, because it was a summer of lasts. Last time we would go to camp, last time we would (fill in the blank), etc. The last Sunday service at New Pleasant was so touching, to see how much Megan had impacted their lives, and how much they loved us. I love those kids with all my heart. We experienced so much together, and I am so impressed at how much they have grown over the past few years. I still miss them every day, and every Sunday morning I am reminded at how lucky I was to be apart of such a great youth family.
8.) Cross Country Drive
One thing I think everyone wants to do at some point in their life is go on a cross country trip. This August, I was able to drive cross country with my best friend and our dog Mo. We spread the trip over four days, stopping in Little Rock, AR, Amarillo, TX, Flagstaff, AZ, and ultimately arriving in La Mirada, CA. We took I-40 basically the entire way, and if we ever drive back to the east coast, I am pretty sure we will find another route. Nine states in four days is a great way to see the country. (Well at least the part along I-40)
9.) Getting a new Job
When we arrived in California, one of my biggest fears was not being able to find a job, much less a teaching job. Again, one of the many ways that God has truly blessed us this year. Once we got settled in our apartment, I was able to line up two interviews in a couple of days time and actually had a choice of jobs. The fact that I was able to find a job teaching AP classes after being in California for a couple of weeks still amazes me. Poly has turned out to be a great school, and the students are great.
10.) Trip to San Francisco
San Francisco is just one of those cities that everyone should go to at least once in their life. I compare it to New York City on the east coast, there is just a charm or feel to the city that is indescribable. We only got to spend a few days there after Thanksgiving, and I would definitely go back again.
One thing that this year has taught me is that while we can make our plans, we never truly know what God has in store for us. When we think we have it all figured out, God will show us what His will is for the next part of our life. One thing God has taught me through all the experiences of this year is that too often we are the stumbling blocks for God's will. It is easy to say that we want to do what God's will is, but it is another thing to truly make yourself available to that.
Honorable Mention:
Coaching My First Basketball Team
Presidents Game Marathons
Carmen's Surgery
Switzerland Trip
MC2 Camp
Mock Elections
Knott's Berry Farm Trip
News Stories That I'll Remember
Haitian Earthquake
Chilean Miners
Gulf Oil Spill
Obama Signs Health Care Bill
Vuvuzuelas at the World Cup (and Landon Donovan's Goal)
The Tea Party Movement
and who could forget Antoine Dotson (sad that he was one of the most searched/viewed "news stories" of the year... but it was a catchy tune.)
(I'll try to do them in chronological order as best I can.)
1.) Megan Gets Accepted!
We were looking at purchasing our first home in March of this past year. We hadn't heard any news from the schools that Megan had applied to. We found a home that we were finally ready to make an offer on. It was over spring break, and the realtor that we had been working with was out of town with her family for vacation, and even though we were ready to put an offer in on the house on Friday, we decided to wait until the following Monday. It was during that weekend when Megan received her acceptance letter from Talbot School of Theology, and set off a chain of events that would shape the rest of our year.
2.) John Ledford
April 16th was one of those days that a teacher, or anyone for that matter never want to experience. It was lunch time, and I was getting ready for third period to start. I went to stand outside of my classroom, like I did so often, and I saw two students walking up the hill crying. They asked if I had heard anything about a couple of students, both students that I taught. Rumors had begun to swirl around school about something tragic. I immediately jumped online to see if I could find anything from the local news sites, since the rumors involved a car accident. I went down to the office, and the worst was confirmed. John Ledford, a sophomore that I had in my 3rd period class, was killed that morning in a car accident driving his girlfriend to school.
It was by far the most difficult class period I have ever had to go through, and seeing so many young students struggle and experience pain was difficult. I will never, ever forget the funeral service and seeing so much pain in the eyes of high schoolers, made it so difficult for me to get through. John wasn't the best student, but he was one that I liked. It doesn't matter for me how good or smart a student is, they are all my children. And what I would imagine a parent would feel, even when they do things that drive us crazy or things that are stupid, we still love them. John and I joked around alot in class and he was a good kid.
I'm sure at some point in my teaching career, I'll have to go through another experience like this, but I pray that not only I, but the schools and students that I work with never have to experience something like that.
3.) Decision to Leave
It was late April/early May when we finally had received all of the financial aid information from Biola. I remember that I had told Megan if they would cover half of the tuition expense, then we would go, that we could afford to cover the rest. Well, Biola came through with exactly half. It was one of the hardest decisions that I know I have ever had to make personally, but I knew that I needed to trust God and take the leap. I had to leave the comfortable path and jump out unto the unknown.
4.)AP Exam Day
The day of the AP Government exam was an exciting day for me. It was the culmination of something that I had been working on for well over a year. I started the year before trying to start an AP Government program at Chesnee to offer another AP level class. After a year of work, we finally got the class approved as a semester class. Starting in January, I had 9 students go through AP Government with me for the first time. With any of the "high stakes testing", I felt a little nervousness for my students. There is always that feeling that I could have prepared them better, but I knew I had some smart students. I brought them breakfast that morning and hung out with them a little bit before they started. Overall they did pretty well. I had a student get a 5, two others get a 4, and one other get a 3. Almost a 50% passage rate the first time you teach an AP class is pretty good.
5.) State Championships
When I was in high school, I was fortunate to go to a school where state championships were a fairly common occurrence. I thought it was something that everyone experienced. I realized that it wasn't something that everyone got to experience. Chesnee hadn't won a state championship since the early 80s, and in a three day period, won two team state championships. On Saturday, the boy's track team won a state championship with only 8 competitors. There were some awesome individual performances, Zack Miller winning the 100 Hurdles, Austin High winning two individual events, and Josh Jones' long jump of 24'8 that he sat back on were truly unbelievable. Then, the following Monday, the Eagles baseball team capped off their state championship with a win over Hanahan. Everyone at Chesnee was truly blessed to be able to see a pitcher of Brandon Henderson's quality. He finished his senior year with a 14-0 record, 0.30 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched. He was drafted in the 15th round by the Tampa Bay Rays. Also, to see Coach Jones go out with a state championship after 47+ years and 730+ was very fitting. I always love to see students excel.
6.) Louisville Beta Convention
Over the past two years, Beta Club is one thing that took up a lot of my time. I loved working with the kids in Beta Club. Just like in athletics, these kids are so talented. This year's talent was Alice and Wonderland, and they did not disappoint. Frankie did an awesome job as well. One of the things that I will miss the most is working with Ritchie and Stephanie. I learned so much from them over the couple of years that I worked with them.
7.) Last Sunday at New Pleasant
As much time as I spent with the kids from Beta, I spent even more time with the youth at New Pleasant Baptist Church. They became my family. All summer was difficult, because it was a summer of lasts. Last time we would go to camp, last time we would (fill in the blank), etc. The last Sunday service at New Pleasant was so touching, to see how much Megan had impacted their lives, and how much they loved us. I love those kids with all my heart. We experienced so much together, and I am so impressed at how much they have grown over the past few years. I still miss them every day, and every Sunday morning I am reminded at how lucky I was to be apart of such a great youth family.
8.) Cross Country Drive
One thing I think everyone wants to do at some point in their life is go on a cross country trip. This August, I was able to drive cross country with my best friend and our dog Mo. We spread the trip over four days, stopping in Little Rock, AR, Amarillo, TX, Flagstaff, AZ, and ultimately arriving in La Mirada, CA. We took I-40 basically the entire way, and if we ever drive back to the east coast, I am pretty sure we will find another route. Nine states in four days is a great way to see the country. (Well at least the part along I-40)
9.) Getting a new Job
When we arrived in California, one of my biggest fears was not being able to find a job, much less a teaching job. Again, one of the many ways that God has truly blessed us this year. Once we got settled in our apartment, I was able to line up two interviews in a couple of days time and actually had a choice of jobs. The fact that I was able to find a job teaching AP classes after being in California for a couple of weeks still amazes me. Poly has turned out to be a great school, and the students are great.
10.) Trip to San Francisco
San Francisco is just one of those cities that everyone should go to at least once in their life. I compare it to New York City on the east coast, there is just a charm or feel to the city that is indescribable. We only got to spend a few days there after Thanksgiving, and I would definitely go back again.
One thing that this year has taught me is that while we can make our plans, we never truly know what God has in store for us. When we think we have it all figured out, God will show us what His will is for the next part of our life. One thing God has taught me through all the experiences of this year is that too often we are the stumbling blocks for God's will. It is easy to say that we want to do what God's will is, but it is another thing to truly make yourself available to that.
Honorable Mention:
Coaching My First Basketball Team
Presidents Game Marathons
Carmen's Surgery
Switzerland Trip
MC2 Camp
Mock Elections
Knott's Berry Farm Trip
News Stories That I'll Remember
Haitian Earthquake
Chilean Miners
Gulf Oil Spill
Obama Signs Health Care Bill
Vuvuzuelas at the World Cup (and Landon Donovan's Goal)
The Tea Party Movement
and who could forget Antoine Dotson (sad that he was one of the most searched/viewed "news stories" of the year... but it was a catchy tune.)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Christmas Break
Christmas break is about to wrap up. The two weeks off have been very nice, and much needed. It is great to have a couple of weeks to relax and recharge. This Christmas was different for us than any Christmas we have had. This was the first Christmas where it was just Megan and I, and no other family. Mailing Christmas presents and receiving packages that you can't open for a week is just strange to me.
Skype has been a wonderful thing, and at Christmas time, it was a true blessing. It was great to at least be able to "be together" over Skype with our families back on the east coast. We gave Megan's family a webcam so that we could finally skype with them, which we did a couple of days before Christmas. We then skyped on Christmas day with my family. Megan and I were both showered with a lot of great gifts.
We have been able to spend a lot of time together over the break. We went to Knott's Berry Farm, a theme park like Carowinds for those on the east coast, and had a great time there. We bought a season pass for the upcoming year, so I'm sure we will return several times this next year. The last couple days of the break will be spent watching college football, and preparing for the upcoming year. For me, that means preparing to teach AP Macroeconomics for the first time starting in a few weeks, and for Megan, that means preparing for her Interim class that starts on January 3rd.
While it may not have been a traditional Christmas, God certainly has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams.
Skype has been a wonderful thing, and at Christmas time, it was a true blessing. It was great to at least be able to "be together" over Skype with our families back on the east coast. We gave Megan's family a webcam so that we could finally skype with them, which we did a couple of days before Christmas. We then skyped on Christmas day with my family. Megan and I were both showered with a lot of great gifts.
We have been able to spend a lot of time together over the break. We went to Knott's Berry Farm, a theme park like Carowinds for those on the east coast, and had a great time there. We bought a season pass for the upcoming year, so I'm sure we will return several times this next year. The last couple days of the break will be spent watching college football, and preparing for the upcoming year. For me, that means preparing to teach AP Macroeconomics for the first time starting in a few weeks, and for Megan, that means preparing for her Interim class that starts on January 3rd.
While it may not have been a traditional Christmas, God certainly has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams.
Teacher Certification
I was very fortunate that I was able to find the teaching job that I did, and my South Carolina certificate pretty much transferred over. One thing that I needed to acquire was a certification for English Language learners. There are a couple of different routes that I could take to gain this certification. One, I can go the university route, which could cost $10,000+, or I could take three standardized tests that would cost me around $300. Obviously, I tried option two first. I took the three tests in early December, and will find out how I did on them January 14th.
I feel fairly confident that I will pass at least one of the three sections, which is all I need to do this year. I didn't study for the test like I needed to, but I did review a little, and I didn't think two of the sections were all that difficult. Section two is the one I feel the least confident in, simply because I feel like what the website would be on the test, wasn't. I felt like most of the questions had multiple right answers and was trying to get you to pick the correct teaching style. The problem is, there is no correct teaching style. What works for one teacher may not work for another.
The thing that I think is plaguing education the most for both teachers and for students, are standardize tests. If I pass these three tests, (which I hope I did) I will have no more knowledge of how to best help English language learners, but I will have the necessary paperwork. I think we lose so many potential quality teachers because of the certification hoops that you have to jump through. None of these prove how good of a teacher you are. None of these "test" how you interact with your students, and yet, these are how teachers are continually judged. Same with students. These high stakes tests can often dictate their futures, without really allowing them to prove what they know.
Hopefully, in January, I will find out that I successfully cleared another hoop, and then I can focus on truly meaningful professional development that would actually make me a better teacher.
I feel fairly confident that I will pass at least one of the three sections, which is all I need to do this year. I didn't study for the test like I needed to, but I did review a little, and I didn't think two of the sections were all that difficult. Section two is the one I feel the least confident in, simply because I feel like what the website would be on the test, wasn't. I felt like most of the questions had multiple right answers and was trying to get you to pick the correct teaching style. The problem is, there is no correct teaching style. What works for one teacher may not work for another.
The thing that I think is plaguing education the most for both teachers and for students, are standardize tests. If I pass these three tests, (which I hope I did) I will have no more knowledge of how to best help English language learners, but I will have the necessary paperwork. I think we lose so many potential quality teachers because of the certification hoops that you have to jump through. None of these prove how good of a teacher you are. None of these "test" how you interact with your students, and yet, these are how teachers are continually judged. Same with students. These high stakes tests can often dictate their futures, without really allowing them to prove what they know.
Hopefully, in January, I will find out that I successfully cleared another hoop, and then I can focus on truly meaningful professional development that would actually make me a better teacher.
Thanksgiving
Over the Thanksgiving break, Megan and I originally were trying to figure out what we were going to do. For the past few years, we had always hosted our families' thanksgiving dinner at the parsonage. Throw in the traditions that we had with the youth, I think I can say we were both not looking forward to a Thanksgiving without a big meal and spending time with family.
When we first moved out here, Megan mentioned that she had some "family" that lived out in California, but more central/northern California. When they found out that we were not going back east for Thanksgiving, they invited us up to spend Thanksgiving with their family. Now, even after hearing it explained several times, I'm still not exactly sure how Megan is related to the Bell's... but we will just go with the fact that they are somehow related.
We decided to make a trip out of it, instead of just going up for Thanksgiving dinner. The Bell's live in Galt, CA, which is like an hour and a half from San Francisco. On the way up, we were going to stop at Sequoia and King's Canyon National Park. This is where the huge redwood trees are, and there is a connecting road that makes it a three hour drive. We headed off, and as we approached the park, we found out that the connecting road was closed due to snow. We also didn't have any tire chains, so we couldn't even go into Sequoia at all. The trip was not getting off to a good start.
Thanksgiving at the Bell's was great. The food was great, the fellowship was great. There is nothing like a holiday get-together spending time with new people and enjoying each other's company. Megan got a chance to catch up with some of her "family" that she hadn't seen in almost ten years. I'm glad we had the chance to go, and who knows, if we can't go back east next year, maybe we'll get the opportunity to head back up there.
After we left the Bell's, we headed to San Francisco for three days. San Francisco is a very cool city. We tried to cram as much in that short time as we could. Friday we got up early and rode the trolley down to the Fisherman's Wharf. We walked around there and went to Ghiardelli Square. We then took a bay cruise and rode around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge. One of the most memorable parts of the day was at lunch. We ate at one of the seafood stands at Fisherman's Wharf. Megan must have been waiving her shrimp around a little too much, because a sea gull came down and stole a shrimp right out of her hand! Very funny for me to watch, probably a little scary for her... when SEA GULLS ATTACK!
Saturday was a rainy day, so we tried to do things that were more indoors. In the morning, we headed out to the Golden Gate State Park and went to the California Academy of Sciences and the DeYoung Museum. We then drove around the park for a little bit, and then the sun came out surprisingly. We then decided to drive down the Pacific Coast Highway and "beach hop". There are some stunningly beautiful beaches all up and down the San Francisco area. Once we returned to the hotel, we decided to walk through Chinatown and headed to eat at a GREAT restaurant, the Franciscan down at Fisherman's Wharf. It is a little pricey, but the food was amazing.
Sunday morning, we got up and headed out for our trip to tour Alcatraz. Alcatraz was an interesting tour, partly because of its place in American lore. There is just something about Alcatraz that forces everyone to think of something. Once we got back to San Francisco, we headed back home. What should have been about a six hour drive, turned into a nine hour drive. However, it was a great trip, and we can cross off one of the places that we wanted to go while we are on the west coast! Hopefully, we'll be able to cross a few more off in the upcoming year.
When we first moved out here, Megan mentioned that she had some "family" that lived out in California, but more central/northern California. When they found out that we were not going back east for Thanksgiving, they invited us up to spend Thanksgiving with their family. Now, even after hearing it explained several times, I'm still not exactly sure how Megan is related to the Bell's... but we will just go with the fact that they are somehow related.
Thanksgiving at the Bell's was great. The food was great, the fellowship was great. There is nothing like a holiday get-together spending time with new people and enjoying each other's company. Megan got a chance to catch up with some of her "family" that she hadn't seen in almost ten years. I'm glad we had the chance to go, and who knows, if we can't go back east next year, maybe we'll get the opportunity to head back up there.
After we left the Bell's, we headed to San Francisco for three days. San Francisco is a very cool city. We tried to cram as much in that short time as we could. Friday we got up early and rode the trolley down to the Fisherman's Wharf. We walked around there and went to Ghiardelli Square. We then took a bay cruise and rode around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge. One of the most memorable parts of the day was at lunch. We ate at one of the seafood stands at Fisherman's Wharf. Megan must have been waiving her shrimp around a little too much, because a sea gull came down and stole a shrimp right out of her hand! Very funny for me to watch, probably a little scary for her... when SEA GULLS ATTACK!
 |
| Not Megan...just a representation of the "attack". |
We then decided we would walk around the city and see some of the other sights. Word of warning for those who might want to do that... San Francisco is EXTREMELY hilly. We walked forever trying to find a street up to Coit Tower, only to find out when we got up there that it was closed for maintenance. We then walked over to Lombard Street. ("the crookedest street in the world"). We then hopped on a trolley and headed back to the hotel. We decided to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and head over to Sausilito. A very cool little town right on the other side of the bay. Great views of San Francisco at night.
Saturday was a rainy day, so we tried to do things that were more indoors. In the morning, we headed out to the Golden Gate State Park and went to the California Academy of Sciences and the DeYoung Museum. We then drove around the park for a little bit, and then the sun came out surprisingly. We then decided to drive down the Pacific Coast Highway and "beach hop". There are some stunningly beautiful beaches all up and down the San Francisco area. Once we returned to the hotel, we decided to walk through Chinatown and headed to eat at a GREAT restaurant, the Franciscan down at Fisherman's Wharf. It is a little pricey, but the food was amazing.
Huntington Dog Beach
One of the advantages of living in Southern California is the weather. Even into November, we were still averaging mid 70s and still relatively no rain. We heard a lot of the beaches around here were dog friendly, and since Mo had never been to the ocean, we figured this was an experience that we had to try.
From my perspective, I wanted to see how Mo would act, not only around a lot of other dogs, but with the waves. I thought it would be a fairly humorous experience at the least, and was willing to tag along. The beaches in general are only about 30-45 minutes away, so it's not too bad of a drive.
After some time on the beach, we walked along the beach for about an hour and watched the sunset. It was a great trip, and one hopefully we will make again in the near future. Maybe this time we will let Mo off the leash.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
My Parents Came to Visit (in October)
One of the things that I realize as we have been out here is the spontaneity of being able to visit friends and family. Skype has helped as we have been able to video chat from time to time with some friends and our families, but as I was reading back over some of our previous posts, I realized one of the things I never talked about was the visitors we have had out here, my parents!
My parents came out in mid-October (shows you how far behind I am) and I think at that point, they came out on the only weekend that it rained. I hated that the weather wasn't great, but we still were able to go drive around and show them the area somewhat. We took them to Biola, and showed them around campus, and drove out to Riverside to show them Poly and my classroom. We also drove up the Pacific Coast Highway up through Malibu. We were planning to possibly go to the Griffith Observatory as well, but the fog was simply too thick that day.
It was a short couple of days, but I am so appreciative of them coming to visit. It was nice to see a familiar face. Hopefully, if we aren't able to head back east, we'll have a few more visitors this summer! We've got a (comfortable) pull out sofa, and an air mattress, so plenty of room for visitors!
My parents came out in mid-October (shows you how far behind I am) and I think at that point, they came out on the only weekend that it rained. I hated that the weather wasn't great, but we still were able to go drive around and show them the area somewhat. We took them to Biola, and showed them around campus, and drove out to Riverside to show them Poly and my classroom. We also drove up the Pacific Coast Highway up through Malibu. We were planning to possibly go to the Griffith Observatory as well, but the fog was simply too thick that day.
It was a short couple of days, but I am so appreciative of them coming to visit. It was nice to see a familiar face. Hopefully, if we aren't able to head back east, we'll have a few more visitors this summer! We've got a (comfortable) pull out sofa, and an air mattress, so plenty of room for visitors!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Things I Miss
NOTE: I started this post a few weeks back, and slowly have added to it. I decided to go ahead and post, because I'm sure this list will continue to grow.
Random Things That I Miss...
1) Good, quality SWEET TEA! : Here, we still make sweet tea, but the water from the tap is just plain nasty. The first few attempts, the tea did not taste right. At least we have learned that if we only use water from our Brita pitcher in the "tea-making process" then it comes out close to what it should.
2) High school football: I went to my first high school game here at Poly last Friday and was expecting the same type of atmosphere. Poly (the school where I work) has about 2800 kids, so I was expecting a stadium like Dorman, Gaffney, etc. because it is a stadium that several schools in the district share. It was a brand new facility, but I swear it was smaller than Chesnee's stadium. Don't get me wrong, it was nice, field turf on the field, but the stands weren't full. It lacked that normal "Friday Night feel".
3)ESPN: We decided to buy a digital antenna so we could maybe pick up a few channels and at least use our TV. We have still decided against getting cable. One, having the long drive that I do, I normally go to bed quite early, so I don't have a lot of time to watch anyway. Two, Megan doesn't want HGTV and such to be a distraction. Three, any good games these days will be on ESPN3, so I can just watch them online. We finally got the antenna situated just right where we can get all of the major stations (ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX, and only about 60 other stations that are in a different language.
4) Speaking of ESPN: Still haven't quite gotten use to getting up at 9:00 am on a Saturday to see college football on ESPN3. The one nice thing are the big games that normally start at 7 or 8, and are typically done by that time. Now, if only they would put College GameDay on ESPN3, I'd be set!
5) My Church Family: We have still been on the hunt for a church, and it is not easy. While none of them are bad, it's all just so new. It is hard to "know" that you are in the right place after one visit, and we don't want to start going to small groups until we know that is the church we want to attend. We are also still struggling (or I am at least) on whether or not we should get back involved with high schoolers in the church setting again right away.
6) Chesnee High School (and extracurriculars): I am very thankful for my job! But the school environments are just not the same. Not necessarily good or bad, just different. I miss the small family atmosphere at Chesnee. I miss the Annex, and my tiny, air conditioning unit filled room. I miss hearing two lessons going on simultaneously while I try to teach mine. (Thanks Coach Fogle and Coach Luedeman! I learned a ton about US History from my free lessons!) Most of all, I miss the sports and extracurriculars. I miss not being able to go watch the Lady Eagles try to repeat as region champs in volleyball this year. I miss Friday Nights, listening to the band, and watching the games. I miss Beta Club, and talking with Ritchie and Stephanie about ideas, props, budget, and such. I miss the students, and I miss seeing familiar faces in the halls. Quite frankly, I miss halls in general. The school layout here is quite different.
7)Thunderstorms: It hasn't rained AT ALL since we've been here. The weather is nice, very little humidity, and here in Whittier, where we live the temperatures are great. In Riverside, where I work, it reminds me a lot more of South Carolina. It normally is about 10-15 degrees warmer there than at our apartment. I hear there is a rainy season, and that I will be eating my words then, but I want it to rain!
8) Cheap Gas: I took for granted that SC has the cheapest gas in the country. Now that I am driving 90 miles and two hours each day, I am feeling the full effect of California gas. I normally can get gas for under $2.90, but occasionally, the best I can find is just over $3.00. Even after being out here over a month, it still hurts to see over $3.00 a gallon.
9) Stars: I use to love when I had to take Mo out late at night at the parsonage, just standing and staring at the sky. Away from the city lights of Gaffney (I know, don't laugh) you could see what seemed like every star in the sky. I could stand for what seemed like an hour and simply stand in awe and at just how magnificent our God really is. It is at a moment like that where you can feel so small, so insignificant, and yet, at the same time, as small as you feel, know that you still matter that much to God. An amazing feeling.
10) There are a lot of things I could have put in this tenth spot...like I said, my list could probably go on for a while. The thing that gets me is how many things on this list I took for granted before. I'd love to hear from ya'll (see, I still say it) what things you would miss the most if you had to leave your current life. Maybe by thinking about it, it will keep you from taking it for granted as well. Just leave it as a comment... I'd love to read it!!
Random Things That I Miss...
1) Good, quality SWEET TEA! : Here, we still make sweet tea, but the water from the tap is just plain nasty. The first few attempts, the tea did not taste right. At least we have learned that if we only use water from our Brita pitcher in the "tea-making process" then it comes out close to what it should.
2) High school football: I went to my first high school game here at Poly last Friday and was expecting the same type of atmosphere. Poly (the school where I work) has about 2800 kids, so I was expecting a stadium like Dorman, Gaffney, etc. because it is a stadium that several schools in the district share. It was a brand new facility, but I swear it was smaller than Chesnee's stadium. Don't get me wrong, it was nice, field turf on the field, but the stands weren't full. It lacked that normal "Friday Night feel".
3)ESPN: We decided to buy a digital antenna so we could maybe pick up a few channels and at least use our TV. We have still decided against getting cable. One, having the long drive that I do, I normally go to bed quite early, so I don't have a lot of time to watch anyway. Two, Megan doesn't want HGTV and such to be a distraction. Three, any good games these days will be on ESPN3, so I can just watch them online. We finally got the antenna situated just right where we can get all of the major stations (ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX, and only about 60 other stations that are in a different language.
4) Speaking of ESPN: Still haven't quite gotten use to getting up at 9:00 am on a Saturday to see college football on ESPN3. The one nice thing are the big games that normally start at 7 or 8, and are typically done by that time. Now, if only they would put College GameDay on ESPN3, I'd be set!
5) My Church Family: We have still been on the hunt for a church, and it is not easy. While none of them are bad, it's all just so new. It is hard to "know" that you are in the right place after one visit, and we don't want to start going to small groups until we know that is the church we want to attend. We are also still struggling (or I am at least) on whether or not we should get back involved with high schoolers in the church setting again right away.
6) Chesnee High School (and extracurriculars): I am very thankful for my job! But the school environments are just not the same. Not necessarily good or bad, just different. I miss the small family atmosphere at Chesnee. I miss the Annex, and my tiny, air conditioning unit filled room. I miss hearing two lessons going on simultaneously while I try to teach mine. (Thanks Coach Fogle and Coach Luedeman! I learned a ton about US History from my free lessons!) Most of all, I miss the sports and extracurriculars. I miss not being able to go watch the Lady Eagles try to repeat as region champs in volleyball this year. I miss Friday Nights, listening to the band, and watching the games. I miss Beta Club, and talking with Ritchie and Stephanie about ideas, props, budget, and such. I miss the students, and I miss seeing familiar faces in the halls. Quite frankly, I miss halls in general. The school layout here is quite different.
7)Thunderstorms: It hasn't rained AT ALL since we've been here. The weather is nice, very little humidity, and here in Whittier, where we live the temperatures are great. In Riverside, where I work, it reminds me a lot more of South Carolina. It normally is about 10-15 degrees warmer there than at our apartment. I hear there is a rainy season, and that I will be eating my words then, but I want it to rain!
8) Cheap Gas: I took for granted that SC has the cheapest gas in the country. Now that I am driving 90 miles and two hours each day, I am feeling the full effect of California gas. I normally can get gas for under $2.90, but occasionally, the best I can find is just over $3.00. Even after being out here over a month, it still hurts to see over $3.00 a gallon.
9) Stars: I use to love when I had to take Mo out late at night at the parsonage, just standing and staring at the sky. Away from the city lights of Gaffney (I know, don't laugh) you could see what seemed like every star in the sky. I could stand for what seemed like an hour and simply stand in awe and at just how magnificent our God really is. It is at a moment like that where you can feel so small, so insignificant, and yet, at the same time, as small as you feel, know that you still matter that much to God. An amazing feeling.
10) There are a lot of things I could have put in this tenth spot...like I said, my list could probably go on for a while. The thing that gets me is how many things on this list I took for granted before. I'd love to hear from ya'll (see, I still say it) what things you would miss the most if you had to leave your current life. Maybe by thinking about it, it will keep you from taking it for granted as well. Just leave it as a comment... I'd love to read it!!
Being Intentional
This week for some reason I've really missed the "old" life. It isn't like anything is wrong here, or that things are going poorly. I just have missed my home more than usual this week. Part of it is following posts of former students and seeing about the "happenings" at Chesnee and what is going on in their lives. After three years at the school, this years seniors was the group that I have known since they got to Chesnee. Last years graduating class was probably the group I was closest to in my short time there, because many of them I had in my first few classes at Chesnee. The great thing about teaching is you get an opportunity to see kids grow and develop, and that is just what I had done with the Class of '11 at Chesnee. Now I must watch them cross the finish line from a long way away.
I am horrible at keeping up with friends. I always have been, and most likely always will. By nature, I'm not an extreme extrovert...and while I don't consider myself an introvert either, I'm not someone who goes out seeking contact. I enjoy time to myself, but really enjoy quality time with those I respect and love. Maybe I need to do a better job of that, but one of my biggest fears during these three to four years is that I will lose touch with some of the people that Megan and I have grown closest to. It has happened with many of my closest friends from high school, and starting to happen with some of my friends from college. To all of those people, I am sorry. Now, I can't use the excuse that they live just an hour away and at any point, we might decide to hang out. I must be more intentional about cultivating these relationships that I care so much about.
I am horrible at keeping up with friends. I always have been, and most likely always will. By nature, I'm not an extreme extrovert...and while I don't consider myself an introvert either, I'm not someone who goes out seeking contact. I enjoy time to myself, but really enjoy quality time with those I respect and love. Maybe I need to do a better job of that, but one of my biggest fears during these three to four years is that I will lose touch with some of the people that Megan and I have grown closest to. It has happened with many of my closest friends from high school, and starting to happen with some of my friends from college. To all of those people, I am sorry. Now, I can't use the excuse that they live just an hour away and at any point, we might decide to hang out. I must be more intentional about cultivating these relationships that I care so much about.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Doppelgangers
As I start my second week at Riverside Poly this week (and a short week at that...thank you Labor Day!), it is beginning to hit me that I have the same students as I had last year. I know what you are thinking, I live on the other side of the country, went from rural to outside L.A., it couldn't be any different. And you are right, cultures are completely different. However, as I've started to get to know some of my kids and see their personalities, they as individuals remind me so much of students that I've had in the past or even some of my friends. Some of them being eerily similar.
School is going well. Still trying to adjust to the new school, learn the new rules, both formal and informal, and mainly trying to get use to this crazy schedule. It still makes no sense to me why on earth they offer a class at 6:55 AM! It is no wonder that I have a ton of tardies in that class. I can't say that I blame them. I really enjoy the AP classes, the kids are pretty cool. Teenagers never cease to amaze me at how well they can adjust and adapt to a new situation.
It will take some time, and I will always miss Chesnee. Even though I was only there three years, it was the kind of school that I could have saw myself at 20 or 30 years down the road. It was the kind of school where I could have grown and developed as the teacher and mentor to teenagers that I want to be. Just like a kid that moves, now I need to back up, pause, and find my new niche here. I hate not being involved in anything outside of school, but I have my plate full. Plus, adding on a two hour commute round trip is going to make it even harder and more of a sacrifice to get involved, but, things will improve, and I am confident I will find some way to get involved. That is just my nature.
Until then, I'll cling to the doppelgangers in my classes. They remind me of a past world, one I still dearly miss. And these doppelgangers will ease the transition. Slowly, while I won't forget of the doubles on the East Coast, they won't be the first thing that comes to mind when I see my students, and I will think of their West Coast partners first. Then, they will no longer be each other doppelgangers in my mind, but they will hold their own special place in my life.
School is going well. Still trying to adjust to the new school, learn the new rules, both formal and informal, and mainly trying to get use to this crazy schedule. It still makes no sense to me why on earth they offer a class at 6:55 AM! It is no wonder that I have a ton of tardies in that class. I can't say that I blame them. I really enjoy the AP classes, the kids are pretty cool. Teenagers never cease to amaze me at how well they can adjust and adapt to a new situation.
It will take some time, and I will always miss Chesnee. Even though I was only there three years, it was the kind of school that I could have saw myself at 20 or 30 years down the road. It was the kind of school where I could have grown and developed as the teacher and mentor to teenagers that I want to be. Just like a kid that moves, now I need to back up, pause, and find my new niche here. I hate not being involved in anything outside of school, but I have my plate full. Plus, adding on a two hour commute round trip is going to make it even harder and more of a sacrifice to get involved, but, things will improve, and I am confident I will find some way to get involved. That is just my nature.
Until then, I'll cling to the doppelgangers in my classes. They remind me of a past world, one I still dearly miss. And these doppelgangers will ease the transition. Slowly, while I won't forget of the doubles on the East Coast, they won't be the first thing that comes to mind when I see my students, and I will think of their West Coast partners first. Then, they will no longer be each other doppelgangers in my mind, but they will hold their own special place in my life.
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