Wednesday, March 18, 2009

I found my PHONE!!


I lost my phone more than a week ago. I thought I left it somewhere at the Prom and that maybe someone helped me lose it (like took it). I've been wandering around for 10 days using my old phone that only works a few hours at a time. I lost most of my phone numbers that I have collected over the last 8 months, my inauguration recordings, and many pictures. Tonight was my ward's Relief Society Birthday Party. I went over to the church to start setting things up. The Sunday after Prom I put a bunch of plates, napkins, and decorations in the closet. Anyway, I was emptying said bags tonight and low and behold, my phone is resting at the bottom of the bag. I looked to the Heavens and thanked the Lord. What luck! I am so glad I didn't buy a new one yet. I've been coming up with various schemes on how not to spend too much money on a good phone. I love how things work out. I lost it, but now I've found it! I am over-joyed. So call me, text me, whatever! I'll recognize the number AND it will stay charged for more than a day!!!!! Life is good. I just love the small joys in life.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I love Baseball season!

Aww, the smell of dirt and grass, the crack of the bat, the endless anticipation . . . I love baseball and am so glad that the season is finally here. Today the Gunnison Bulldogs played against the number 1 ranked Richfield Wildcats. (Don't ask me why they were ranked first when the Bulldogs are 2 time State Champions). I didn't make the whole game but got there for the last three innings. We played well, and ended up winning by two, even though we started the 7th inning tied. Richfield had last at bats and we held their runner on third while we got two more outs. I know lots of you don't care about baseball, or at least my team, but this was my first game of the season. It brought back all my memories of why I love baseball so much. So here's hoping for a three-peat.

In other news, I busted my cheaters yesterday. I had them all stay after class. Only one student tried to deny it, which is good. I'd hate to have to fight over a lie. Anyway, most of them are pretty repentant, and I guess I've made them feel guilty enough that hopefully they won't try it again. I know you were all hoping for some parent drama, but I got nothing. Dang. (jk I'm stoked about that part).

Also, I have been debating about whether or not I am really going to do the Vermont school thing. I got accepted yes, but I haven't been sure about the financial stuff. Paying for it will be hard. Fortunately, I paid my tithing on Sunday and got a letter Monday telling me I am getting a grant for financial aid. Yipee! Oh me of little faith. Things always work out the way they should. That whole counsel about "He will provide a way" totally worked out for me. But that means I'll be in Vermont this summer. I haven't decided how to go out there. I am planning on going to the Snow family reunion to North Caroline the second week of June. School starts the last week of June, so maybe I'll drive out and hang out on the East Coast for a week. It will be hard, but I'll find a way to suffer through (hehehe).

Enjoy my baseball songs. They are a little more upbeat than "Liar, Liar"

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Room full of lies

Hey everyone. I love the last week of the quarter at school. All those students who have been failing all quarter start asking questions like, "Is there anything I can do to raise my grade?" Part of me really wants to laugh in their faces and say, "Yes! You could have done some of your homework, say, four weeks ago." But I can't say that, well not just that (hehehe). I do try to be a little helpful. For instance, I assign a book report every quarter and give student the entire quarter to do it. It is designed to be a grade booster. If they are failing, it is worth enough to get them a D, but if they have an A and don't do it, they'll probably end up with a B/C. It kind of sucks, I know, but not a lot I can do about it now. It really helps the struggling students, and my A students usually do it anyway. So, I got to reading some of the book reports this week, and starting thinking how much my student's writing has improved. Then in one paper, I saw a word that there is no way my student knew how to use properly. I googled the sentence and low and behold, the entire book summary showed up. Plagiarized. Busted. I kept reading and found 8 plagiarized book reports. I can't begin to tell you how angry I felt. I wanted to call all their parents right them and nail them to the wall. However, I know that when I remove myself from a situation like this, I will gain better perspective. The next morning, I realized that yes, I am mad about it, but now I am just hurt. Where's the trust?

In the last year or two, I have come to realize how important honesty is to me. I rather hear the hurtful truth than be hurt by placating lies. Just tell me what I don't want to hear, please. I mean maybe we don't all get trapped in lies, but when we do, don't we tend to look back and think, "I should have just told the truth from the beginning." On Friday I lectured all my students to that effect. I just want them to realize that grades shouldn't be worth sacrificing integrity. All year I have built this relationship with my students. I trust them, and hopefully they trust me to know what I'm doing. But now how do I look at some of these kids who cheated and not remember the broken trust. How do they come back from that? Obviously, I'm too attached, and that I am sure is a rookie mistake. After a few years maybe I won't care so much about my students. In the meantime, though, I feel lied to.

So that is my week, and the moral to the story. Don't lie. Even in the worst situation, telling the truth will at least leave us with our integrity in the end, and I hope people value that as much as I do.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Long Time No Post

So if anyone is wondering whether or not I have fallen of the face of the earth, that assumption might not be far off. Mostly I assume no one wondered, but just in case you have, here is what I have been up to the last couple weeks. Since Presidents' Day, I have been keeping myself fairly busy. I am one of the advisors for the junior prom and I spent the last two weeks planning assemblies and decorating our gym with the help of a lot of students. It was kind of a lot of work, but fun work with the kids. We also had Region Speech last week. Gunnison hosted so our speech coach asked for my help judge and what not. I also coach a couple of public forum debate teams, so the last two weeks have also been spent going to school early to talk about No Child Left Behind, good and bad. I got up Monday, as in yesterday, and didn't have to go to school at 7 for the first time in a long time. I almost didn't know what to do with my extra time. :) Fortunately though, one of my teams qualified for state and was one of the top five teams by the final round. I am really proud of my debaters.
Anyway, that is all over now. I haven't even been on the internet at home to check blogs or facebook for nearly two weeks. I am so out of touch. Plus, I lost my phone at the Prom. At first I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, but then I realized I have a whole bunch of new numbers that I don't know anymore because they are on my missing phone. I am thinking of offering a reward just in case some one "accidentally" took my phone. As a teacher, I wouldn't put it past one of my students to play a prank on my like this. But, it has been four days and no ransom notes yet. I guess we'll see. I figure I can successfully bribe info out of my students. hehehe.
So, enjoy the new playlist, and I'll get pictures of the prom up as son as I remember to take my flash drive to school. Until then.