Yesterday afternoon was the end of Latin review class! I ended up having more students than I was expecting (having called the office for a student roster last week) and planning for, so I felt like I was kind of improvising the entire week. It was a little challenging to have students from so many different levels (some entering 8th grade, some entering 9th grade - and new to the school - and some entering 10th grade) who all needed to be brought up to speed with where they needed to be in September. I really enjoyed the new students, though. They were hard-working, paid attention, and actually seemed to care about their own progress. I have learned not to take these things for granted! Overall, the past week has given me great reason to cherish this coming final week of summer vacation. It also makes me look forward to teacher training (which doubles as in-service) the week after that. I will finally get organized!
This weekend I am just going to be lazy. And get things done. I think I can do both.
After I write this, I am planning to lie outside in the sunshine and read the final book for teacher training, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning. We also read Brave New World, which I have already heard other teachers complaining about but which I really enjoyed. It's one of those "this-is-what-will-happen-to-our-society-in-the-future" kind of books, but to me it seemed less of a political statement and more of a exploration of human nature. It was fascinating. Anyone else read it?
I also want to make a decision about where to live. I want to stop living out of the back of my car and move in somewhere! Yesterday I made a little spreadsheet of all the different houses and the driving times from each one to all the places I frequent, i.e. school, church, gym, shopping. To my surprise, I found that the place in Bowie, although twenty minutes from school, is as close, if not closer, to everywhere I go now. So to me, that seems like the clear choice! It's the not the cheapest, but not the most expensive, and it has the best location. Isn't that what they say about real estate? Location, location, location. But when I talked to my mom on the phone yesterday she did not sound that excited. She is still stuck on the idea that I can find something dirt-cheap, possibly with someone from church. She still holds out, despite the fact that my dad has already spoken to a couple of pastors up here, and those pastors have contacted other pastors as well as their congregations. She wants me to wait until Sunday to make the decision. UGH. I cannot figure out whether this is a time to honor my parents by doing exactly what they advise or a time make a decision on my own. To be honest, I hardly think I am wise enough to make this decision. And I know parents just want what's best for me, but UGH. I am frustrated.
I am SO looking forward to settling down. Settling into a living space. Settling into the routine of the school year. And now I am going to settle into today, because it really is a great weekend. God is good!
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Saturday, August 15, 2009
Settling Down
Yesterday afternoon was the end of Latin review class! I ended up having more students than I was expecting (having called the office for a student roster last week) and planning for, so I felt like I was kind of improvising the entire week. It was a little challenging to have students from so many different levels (some entering 8th grade, some entering 9th grade - and new to the school - and some entering 10th grade) who all needed to be brought up to speed with where they needed to be in September. I really enjoyed the new students, though. They were hard-working, paid attention, and actually seemed to care about their own progress. I have learned not to take these things for granted! Overall, the past week has given me great reason to cherish this coming final week of summer vacation. It also makes me look forward to teacher training (which doubles as in-service) the week after that. I will finally get organized!
This weekend I am just going to be lazy. And get things done. I think I can do both.
After I write this, I am planning to lie outside in the sunshine and read the final book for teacher training, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning. We also read Brave New World, which I have already heard other teachers complaining about but which I really enjoyed. It's one of those "this-is-what-will-happen-to-our-society-in-the-future" kind of books, but to me it seemed less of a political statement and more of a exploration of human nature. It was fascinating. Anyone else read it?
I also want to make a decision about where to live. I want to stop living out of the back of my car and move in somewhere! Yesterday I made a little spreadsheet of all the different houses and the driving times from each one to all the places I frequent, i.e. school, church, gym, shopping. To my surprise, I found that the place in Bowie, although twenty minutes from school, is as close, if not closer, to everywhere I go now. So to me, that seems like the clear choice! It's the not the cheapest, but not the most expensive, and it has the best location. Isn't that what they say about real estate? Location, location, location. But when I talked to my mom on the phone yesterday she did not sound that excited. She is still stuck on the idea that I can find something dirt-cheap, possibly with someone from church. She still holds out, despite the fact that my dad has already spoken to a couple of pastors up here, and those pastors have contacted other pastors as well as their congregations. She wants me to wait until Sunday to make the decision. UGH. I cannot figure out whether this is a time to honor my parents by doing exactly what they advise or a time make a decision on my own. To be honest, I hardly think I am wise enough to make this decision. And I know parents just want what's best for me, but UGH. I am frustrated.
I am SO looking forward to settling down. Settling into a living space. Settling into the routine of the school year. And now I am going to settle into today, because it really is a great weekend. God is good!
This weekend I am just going to be lazy. And get things done. I think I can do both.
After I write this, I am planning to lie outside in the sunshine and read the final book for teacher training, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning. We also read Brave New World, which I have already heard other teachers complaining about but which I really enjoyed. It's one of those "this-is-what-will-happen-to-our-society-in-the-future" kind of books, but to me it seemed less of a political statement and more of a exploration of human nature. It was fascinating. Anyone else read it?
I also want to make a decision about where to live. I want to stop living out of the back of my car and move in somewhere! Yesterday I made a little spreadsheet of all the different houses and the driving times from each one to all the places I frequent, i.e. school, church, gym, shopping. To my surprise, I found that the place in Bowie, although twenty minutes from school, is as close, if not closer, to everywhere I go now. So to me, that seems like the clear choice! It's the not the cheapest, but not the most expensive, and it has the best location. Isn't that what they say about real estate? Location, location, location. But when I talked to my mom on the phone yesterday she did not sound that excited. She is still stuck on the idea that I can find something dirt-cheap, possibly with someone from church. She still holds out, despite the fact that my dad has already spoken to a couple of pastors up here, and those pastors have contacted other pastors as well as their congregations. She wants me to wait until Sunday to make the decision. UGH. I cannot figure out whether this is a time to honor my parents by doing exactly what they advise or a time make a decision on my own. To be honest, I hardly think I am wise enough to make this decision. And I know parents just want what's best for me, but UGH. I am frustrated.
I am SO looking forward to settling down. Settling into a living space. Settling into the routine of the school year. And now I am going to settle into today, because it really is a great weekend. God is good!
4 comments:
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Emily J said...
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SIGH.
Katie, honoring your parents doesn't mean that you ALWAYS follow their suggestions. Take it into consideration, but you have to make the decision yourself. "Yes, I see your point, but I think this is the better choice," is not at all dishonoring. (It would be if you were saying, "Shut up, mom, I'm doing what I want. I don't need your input." Which isn't what you're doing.)
I haven't read Brave New World, but I intend to someday. BTW, the phrase you're looking for is "dystopian literature." Although "this-is-what-will-happen-to-our-society-in-the-future" is much more descriptive. ;-) -
August 16, 2009 at 9:20 PM
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Anna said...
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That totally sounds like something my dad would say. I think you should go with what you think is best. Both of our parents have not adjusted to the idea of inflation, and anything you could get for "dirt-cheap" would probably be crawling with cockroaches and axe murderers and stuff.
Besides, you want to get settled in before school is too hectic to organize your room (and I know how much you LOVE organizing things)! -
August 18, 2009 at 2:32 PM
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Jessica Holmes said...
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The honoring your parents one is hard...since I think it does have to do with obeying them too since it says that elsewhere. I would lean towards just going with it, it's only till Sunday, and if nothing comes up take the other place. But that's your decision. Anyway, if it's not a huge issue I tend to think it's better to work with people. And in my experience parent's are usually right.
Anyway, I just wanted to say I read Brave New World in High school and really liked it. I'm with you that it felt more like a study of human nature (and a fascinating one at that) than anything. It was long enough ago that I can't really remember the details but I remember loving it and being sad that I didn't know anyone else that had read it recently enough to talk about it.
How was the other book on teaching? I'm fascinated with the subject of teaching now...and I don't even teach. It's weird. -
August 19, 2009 at 5:06 PM
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BH said...
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I read Brave New World last summer and enjoyed it. I tend, however, to have a more Orwellian view of the future rather than a Huxleyan view.
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August 21, 2009 at 12:33 PM
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4 comments:
SIGH.
Katie, honoring your parents doesn't mean that you ALWAYS follow their suggestions. Take it into consideration, but you have to make the decision yourself. "Yes, I see your point, but I think this is the better choice," is not at all dishonoring. (It would be if you were saying, "Shut up, mom, I'm doing what I want. I don't need your input." Which isn't what you're doing.)
I haven't read Brave New World, but I intend to someday. BTW, the phrase you're looking for is "dystopian literature." Although "this-is-what-will-happen-to-our-society-in-the-future" is much more descriptive. ;-)
That totally sounds like something my dad would say. I think you should go with what you think is best. Both of our parents have not adjusted to the idea of inflation, and anything you could get for "dirt-cheap" would probably be crawling with cockroaches and axe murderers and stuff.
Besides, you want to get settled in before school is too hectic to organize your room (and I know how much you LOVE organizing things)!
The honoring your parents one is hard...since I think it does have to do with obeying them too since it says that elsewhere. I would lean towards just going with it, it's only till Sunday, and if nothing comes up take the other place. But that's your decision. Anyway, if it's not a huge issue I tend to think it's better to work with people. And in my experience parent's are usually right.
Anyway, I just wanted to say I read Brave New World in High school and really liked it. I'm with you that it felt more like a study of human nature (and a fascinating one at that) than anything. It was long enough ago that I can't really remember the details but I remember loving it and being sad that I didn't know anyone else that had read it recently enough to talk about it.
How was the other book on teaching? I'm fascinated with the subject of teaching now...and I don't even teach. It's weird.
I read Brave New World last summer and enjoyed it. I tend, however, to have a more Orwellian view of the future rather than a Huxleyan view.
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