Tuesday, October 26, 2010

New Classroom

Here are some pictures of my new classroom.  Some of it is the same stuff from last year, but now I'm incorporating some more geography items.


Here is the side wall.  It has my cabinet and filing cabinet.  The bullitin board has my rules, calendar for both world history and geography, and lastly "today in history".   The reason it says geography at the top is becuase I will have 5 geography classes and only 1 world history- I guess majority rules.

Back wall (yes it's a partition wall, but they are the sturdy good kind).  It has my maps and the 5 themes of geography.  Can you name them all?  (hint: Mr. Help) Movement, Region, Human Environment Interaction, Location, and Place (geography 101- thought ya'll might like the little lesson)

This back corner has little post cards of probably over 50 of the major cities/historical sites in the world.

My college board made it back!  And my desk.  I sewed the blue curtain around my desk and put the ribbon on.  I was proud of that. 

Looking at the front wall.  There is a world history timeline across the top.  And I found these great wall quotes that you rub on.  The one one the left says "We are the HERO of our own STORY" and the one on the right says "CHARACTER be true to your word, your friends, and yourself "



Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Goodbye Creek Hello Ranch

On Friday I had an interview at another high school within CFISD.  I got the email on Monday saying that they wanted to interview me, so I was excited to have the opportunity to get my own classroom again.  This was the reason I did not have my own classes at Creek, because at any time I could get called to another school.  My interview went well, and on Monday I was notified that I had gotten the job.  Cy Ranch is a new school, this is the first year that they have had a senior class.  However, the neighborhoods that they pull from are constantly growing.   And so they were able to get another alloment for a teacher.  I will now be teaching world geography and one section of world history.

So Tuesday was my last day at Creek, and it was a rather interesting one.  It was weird saying goodbye to the kids in the classes that I had been team teaching in.  As well as the teacher that I will miss.  However, one of the kids thought an appropriate goodbye gift was to steal my iphone.  UGHHHH!!! It happened during 7th period, I had it set down on the chalk tray right above the filing cabinet (out of the way- but I guess still out in the open) next to my keys and Coke.  I was out helping them do review sheets, and the bell rang, thats when I noticed it was missing.  We called it a few times and it went to voice mail, but then it immediately started going to voice mail, because they had turned it off.  So I had to go down to the AP's office to file a police report, call AT&T and report it stolen and  get it shut off.  A very frustrating ending to my time there.  It was not how I wanted to spend my afternoon.  Instead of saying goodbye to people, I had to deal with that.  Hopefully, the kid wil turn it back in, but I know that is wishhful thinkng. 

Today was my first day at Ranch.  Since they are creating my classes from all the other teachers classes, they are trying to figure out when the best time is for them to change all the schedules.  Right now they are just starting a major project, and so it will probably be after that- which by the time they do it and present it it could be another week and a half.  So I am going to be in the classrooms of all the geography teachers so the kids know who I am before they get put in my classroom.  Everyone was so nice and excited that I was there (probably because of all of their classes have over 30 kids in each).  Ranch is great school, they kind of got to handpick the teachers when they opened, and they pull from some pretty affluent neighborhoods.  Also, it is FIVE MINUTES from our house!!!!!!  That has been the best thing, I get to wake up later and if I stay late it's not another 30 minutes to get home.  So I am excited to start this next step in my professional career.

Schulenburg and Reliant Stadium

This past weekend was pretty eventful.  We had a wedding in Schulenburg for Katie and John.  Katie and I met in Bible Study about 4 years ago now, and were roommate my last semester in college.  She is such a sweet girl.  She and John have been dating for almost 8 years.  They started dating her sophomore year of high school, and they waited until she had completed her master's degree... they do say love is patient.  And I thought 4 and half years was a long time.  So we were very excited to attend their wedding.  Her church is part of the painted churches in central texas.  It's a very pretty Catholic Church. 





On Sunday we had the opportunity to join Russell's mom and Camp Periwinkle at the Texans game in a luxury suite.  We have been able to go with them the last few years because they have had extra tickets.  This year wasn't quite as fun because the Giants scored 21 points in the first quarter.  The final score was 27-10, but that first quarter just kind of sucked the life out of the game. 

Speaking of football, I am 5-0 in the fantasy league that I am in.  Also this week I won the pick 'em group that I am in with some of the teachers at school, so I will get some money!  So all in all not a bad weekend- lol!
 

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Welcome Fall

Well it is October and officially fall.  And that means all the weirdos in our neighborhood decorate for Halloween.  Including this wonderful prop:

It's kinda creepy the first time your run into wolf man in the dark.

Also in the fall come wonderful sunsets

And lastely fall brings cooler weather.... ok well it still gets hot but nothing like summer, but it's only a matter of time before I can bust out my "winter" clothes!