Well the above excuse is back in action! Track started this past week, I am hoping to have 20 distance runners, but numbers aren't official with all of the schedule conflicts last week. Hopefully, they will all get it together this week and I will have consistency at practice!
Most of my distance crew is made up of my cross country athletes, but I do have a few new ones! Very excited! I love them so much! They absolutely make my day!
Things at school are starting to get REALLY stressful. Me and a colleague of mine counted up how many days (instructional days) until the PASS (state standardized) writing test ..... drum roll please..... 30 days! OH MY GOODNESS. That is CRAZY!? My kids (4th graders) take 6 standardized tests this year, that's right 6! Who on earth needs to take that many tests!? Well two of them will be in 30 instructional days, and I am starting to feel the heat. I wish the state tests weren't such a big deal, but accountability needs to be there, so I guess that is the way to check that.
My kids' writing has gotten better, but I feel like we still need to make great strides. THEY CAN DO IT, though!
It was my mother's birthday yesterday (saturday), so on Friday I had my students sing her "Happy Birthday." My students last year did it, so I thought it would make a neat tradition, and then this way I don't have to sing!
I have about a month until my first half marathon, hopefully it will go well! We are also planning some fundraisers for IMPACT - we have to pay for our trip on April 15, so I am feeling the heat from that as well! Everything will work out though, always does!
If you are able to make a donation, you can do so online at the following website:
http://www.razoo.com/story/Impact-2013-9
Much Love,
Leah
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Back at it AGAIN!
It is safe to say that I am not exactly "a blogger." I started this blog over a year ago (almost two) when I started my adventure here in South Carolina. My posts were few and far between; however, I started a technology class for my grad class where it is a requirement to follow some blogs. With this assignment it re-sparked my interest in my previous blogs. I decided to try it, and "Be Back At It Again."
Technology is not my best friend, I get by, but that's about it. I do think if I make posting on my blog a routine, that it will stick and become a useful tool.
In order to catch up with my life on this blog, I will give some highlights since my last post (yes a year and a half ago.)
1) I survived my first year teaching. Did I accomplish everything I set out to do in that first year? No, but that is why I am back this year. My students didn't do as fantastic on their state test as I wish they had, but I know we made great strides as a class (both educationally and personally) and for that I am satisfied.
2) I had the best summer of my life. Who knew that summer had a whole new meaning and became a whole new epic experience after teaching? I road tripped to Oregon (fell in love with the state), watched the Olympic Track Trials, and spent so much time home with family and friends (truly lucky!)
3) I was hired as the Head Cross Country coach for Hartsville High School! One of the best experiences of my life. I have the best group of kids and love that I get to share my love for running with them!
4) Received a new bunch of students and started my second year! Do my kids drive me CRAZY? Absolutely! Do I love them? To pieces.
5) Joined/Started an organization called IMPACT where teachers, community members, and students (including two of my athletes) develop leadership skills through a service trip to Malawi, Africa. In Malawi we will be training teachers and even teaching some classes! We leave June 15 and come back June 29 - SO EXCITED!!
Now that I am pretty much all caught up, here is what is going on currently. I do not have a full plate, but rather a full SERVING TRAY! Teaching is starting to get stressful with the pressure of tests, I am taking two graduate school classes in order to finish my master's by the end of summer, Track has started, fundraising for IMPACT is at crunch time, and meetings are multiplying with TFA and possibly a Leadership Program that I will be a part of. Not to mention I am training for my VERY FIRST HALF MARATHON! Race is in March and then racing another one in April
With all this chaos, I find my second year of teaching a wee bit easier and less stressful, but am feeling exhausted with my schedule, but I wouldn't trade anything. I absolutely love coaching and all of the programs that I am a part of.
My future plans include staying in South Carolina for one more year (mostly due to finishing up grad school and coaching) and then heading off to Oregon.
That pretty much sums up the past year and a half and my thoughts on my future.
My goal for this blog is to update weekly with anything and everything, a way to stay in touch with family/friends and start following other blogs to be more "in the loop."
I will be honest, I may not update EVERY WEEK, but that is my GOAL!
Much Love <3
Technology is not my best friend, I get by, but that's about it. I do think if I make posting on my blog a routine, that it will stick and become a useful tool.
In order to catch up with my life on this blog, I will give some highlights since my last post (yes a year and a half ago.)
1) I survived my first year teaching. Did I accomplish everything I set out to do in that first year? No, but that is why I am back this year. My students didn't do as fantastic on their state test as I wish they had, but I know we made great strides as a class (both educationally and personally) and for that I am satisfied.
2) I had the best summer of my life. Who knew that summer had a whole new meaning and became a whole new epic experience after teaching? I road tripped to Oregon (fell in love with the state), watched the Olympic Track Trials, and spent so much time home with family and friends (truly lucky!)
3) I was hired as the Head Cross Country coach for Hartsville High School! One of the best experiences of my life. I have the best group of kids and love that I get to share my love for running with them!
4) Received a new bunch of students and started my second year! Do my kids drive me CRAZY? Absolutely! Do I love them? To pieces.
5) Joined/Started an organization called IMPACT where teachers, community members, and students (including two of my athletes) develop leadership skills through a service trip to Malawi, Africa. In Malawi we will be training teachers and even teaching some classes! We leave June 15 and come back June 29 - SO EXCITED!!
Now that I am pretty much all caught up, here is what is going on currently. I do not have a full plate, but rather a full SERVING TRAY! Teaching is starting to get stressful with the pressure of tests, I am taking two graduate school classes in order to finish my master's by the end of summer, Track has started, fundraising for IMPACT is at crunch time, and meetings are multiplying with TFA and possibly a Leadership Program that I will be a part of. Not to mention I am training for my VERY FIRST HALF MARATHON! Race is in March and then racing another one in April
With all this chaos, I find my second year of teaching a wee bit easier and less stressful, but am feeling exhausted with my schedule, but I wouldn't trade anything. I absolutely love coaching and all of the programs that I am a part of.
My future plans include staying in South Carolina for one more year (mostly due to finishing up grad school and coaching) and then heading off to Oregon.
That pretty much sums up the past year and a half and my thoughts on my future.
My goal for this blog is to update weekly with anything and everything, a way to stay in touch with family/friends and start following other blogs to be more "in the loop."
I will be honest, I may not update EVERY WEEK, but that is my GOAL!
Much Love <3
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