Getting the hang of it...

Oh geez with things going the way they are I am busy and seem to keep putting this off. Argh it has been 10 days. But a lot has happened in the last ten days. I have been coaching volleyball (sore from tossing the ball) ha ha. I have been getting the hang of things and figuring out how to plan and get things done. I have been observed a few times and have got a lot of compliments from them. It's nice to know that I am doing well.

So end of the 3rd week in school I have learned a lot. I have learned to not FREAK out on people (haven't done it, but have heard and seen that it is not good). I have learned to continuously explain the directions 5-6 times to the class, because they will not get it the first 5 times. I have come to see the true colors of some of the kids and it doesn't make me happy. I gave a discipline today to a student who is having problems with my class and all the others also. I just have one class where three students should not be together. It makes it difficult for the other students and I have even had other students complain about it. But I am stern with my students and do not yell, but they know that I am disappointed and upset. I am learning to lay the law down and that if I don't they will run me over. Also the biggest thing for me is that I am not alone, it is happening in one way or another to someone else and there are people to help me out.

Other than that I am really getting into my classes and trying to do my best. I am just taking a quiz in my Spanish class and now we are getting into the book and I am strategizing ways to differentiate the instruction and vary the activities. I want them up and out of their desks, but yet I still want them learning. I am now using the assessments from the book and will need to make sure that I cover what is on that assessment. So I am excited and still nervous for how I want to approach the text. I collaborate every Wednesday with the high school Spanish teachers and am getting a lot of advice and strategies and love it. I have been contemplating going home where my family is and boyfriend, but then I would have to start this all over again and these people are so dang friendly and helpful.

My boyfriend has been playing professional ball with a team back home in the area and he has been really successful. He will get his first start here at the end of the season in Canada, but he has shown them a lot. He pitched on Tuesday and man everything was working from what I heard. Almost the whole town area back home was there to support him and I am so glad for him. I do get a little down when I can't be there and will never get to see him pitch in his first pro year, but he reminded me that I have a career. I am not 1 hour away, but 7 hours and it is not easy. I just felt like being that I am dating him I should be there, but there is no way I could right now. I know that I can only be there in heart and that has to be enough. I am just so very proud of him and how much he has accomplished thus far. He has put in time and effort to get where he is today. Things have not always gone his way and over the last 4 years there have been ups and downs with this sport. He has persevered and realized his dream of playing ball the hard way. It goes to show that nothing is impossible.

(pic of us in May at a Redhawks game--5th row behind homeplate at the field he now plays on--imagine that 2.25 months later he would be suited up on that field!)

He supports me being 7-8 hours away (3 this fall) and what I am doing. I support him by going to as much as I can to be there for him and listening when I can't. I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to see him this last Saturday in KC just for the day until Sunday morning. He asked that I get there early and I did (1045 am) and we walked around and just caught up and hung out together. It was very nice to spend the time with him after 1 month and a half (which neither of us can help) and just do whatever. So I know that he knows that I am proud of him and would be at every game if I could. It is nice that we both understand that our lives have different schedules, but this is nothing compared to what we have done before (whole continent away). Each of us has our own lives and I am here making my new life and start at teaching and he is doing his thing with ball. I love it. Also I did get my birthday present from him  (loved it). I was telling my friends at work well it would be hard to guess that I had a boyfriend who loves baseball and I do too if my gift was a NBC World Series hat and shirt and an AWESOME Twins sweatshirt. I was so happy. He knows me well.

But I better go get ready for the evening, eat and clean before my friend gets here tomorrow. I can't wait to see here and she will be here all weekend with me!! Fun we will have to see how Coco does!