Howdy!

Yes, this is my first year teaching, but this is not my first time to keep a blog. I have previously kept a blog. I started it during college and it really helped me sort out those crazy years between "high school and parent's care" to "ok, now I'm really on my own. EEEk!"

I hope to keep this one up to date, although I have started kinda late in the school year, but geeez, give a girl a break... remember... its just my first year.

I work in a small town in Texas at the middle school. I teach 8th grade science and I am also on the girl's athletic staff where I coach 7th grade basketball and track... and help with volleyball on occasion. I'm a busy lady and I am basically flying by the seat of my pants.

But maybe I should back up a bit so you know a little more. I am originally from a very large city and am not used to not having a mall within 15 minutes of my house. I'm from a teaching family. My mom, sister, one set of grandparents, and more aunts, uncles and cousins than I know by name are teachers too. When I was younger, I always thought about being a teacher, but the rebel inside me made me look to other things.

I went to a huge college and got a great liberal arts degree. Then I moved to another large city and attempted to become somebody special without knowing who I actually wanted to be. Last December I applied for a teacher preparation program after I met a lady who was basically me 20 years in the future who had done the same thing. Yes, that's right I am a dreaded ACP candidate and I am very proud of it too! I completed all my pre-assignment training and am now in my internship year.

Not only will I be teaching and coaching this year, but I will be completing my post-assignment training and working a part time job at my favorite store in the whole world that is in another city. I will also be living many miles away from anyone in my family, my boyfriend, and basically anyone I knew prior to coming here. Its going to be hard, and I knew that coming in, but I am up for the challenge.

I do have to say that I already feel bad for my team leader though. I have been to her class more than once everyday and I usually start out by saying something like, "ok, i know we are doing a graph, but what exactly are we graphing? and where's the graph paper?"

Also, my coaching team... well, most of them take life VERY seriously... which is great, except if you are kinda silly and like to laugh a lot. I have found that not only do I have to keep on my toes and try to stay one step ahead of them so they don't sigh too loud, but I basically have to be not me. No silliness and definitely no sarcasm. I'm sure by the end of the year I will be a much more serious person after having so much practice!

On the other hand, the teachers I work with on the science team and the others on my hall are funny and much less serious. I sit with quite a few of them during lunch and am in stitiches most days. I love to share those odd student stories with them and of course listen to all of the crazies they have in class as well.

I came into this position wanting a nomination for Intern of the Year. I am still aiming for that, but with all the things I'm doing... I'm just hoping this year just goes by smoothly and that my students learn some things. I am an "out of the box teacher." I don't tend to like traditional methods like book work and lectures. My class is talkative, moving and full of silliness. Although I can be mean too. So far my favorite consequence is to have a kid read the textbook and answer all the questions and I'm stern enough to have 4 students doing that presently. I told my kids that we could have fun as long as I was happy and they were respectful.

Anyhow, I guess I can't give away too many details now. There will be more to come. Hopefully its as enjoyable as this year will be for me.

-coach b