To Do List

Well, it's 12:01 on Monday morning, and I can't sleep. I blame it all on a 4 hour nap this afternoon. So, since I can't sleep, I may as well start my morning a little early. I also know that I will be brain dead tomorrow. Any planning I can do while I am still alert will help. And for anyone who wonders what kind of activities occupy my day while I have a student teacher, well, here you are.

OK, since Seniors are gone, I have 1st and 3rd hour. I also only have Alejandro 7th hour on Monday. So, for Monday, I need to:

1. Ask Milton to purchase cardstock (if Bolivia has it) for tickets. I need 20 sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 (offwhite maybe). Comps for actors, directors, 5 Bolivians
2. Print tickets and cut them - get them to Eli in the office by Tuesday morning.
   
3. Print off posters for April 11th and start hanging them around. I also need to redo my BB for the show.
4. Look at Publisher XP to try design a program for "Laughing"
5. Set Ale on writing and polishing the one act Spanish summaries
6. Meet Pastor Andy at TUC at 3, to look at chairs and area. Remember to look at lighting and sound. Take one of the mics?
7. Try to get a handle on curriculum issues - look for a new comp book, write English 9 curriculum, begin on 11th & 12th.
8. Ask Steve about possible in school rehearsal next week.
9. Ask Mike where we get our plastic tables and chairs.
   

Tuesday:

1. Sub 1st - 3rd for Liz (possible class meeting 2nd hour?) Ask Liz on MONDAY.
2. Keep working on curriculum.
   
3. Bring oranges for one acts - get into Sabs' locker for props.
4. Let theater kids know about rehearsal schedule next week.
   
5. Work with one acts - Josh's and Britts' group (give Sabs' and Hannah's groups to Lynz/Heather for lines and makeup)
6. Remind Heather about tomorrow last hour.

Wednesday:

1. Start getting back into 5th hour, to see where Lynz will leave 9th grade. Get ready for R&J.
2. Get costumes all together for JH drama. Have them wear costumes today for practice. Sierra needs to pull her hair back. Aelin maybe should wear her hair a little trendy (like picture day).
3. Prayer meeting

Thursday:

1. Should I even remind myself that I need to be thinking about a prayer letter? no.
2. Lesson plan for Engl 12 & 9. Photocopy and give to Steve.
3. Keep working on program for "Laughing"
4. CURRICULUM GUIDE!
5. Cash a check with Eli for this weekend.
   

Friday:

1. Make sure all is ready for next week's rehearsals (permission slips, ok from Andy & Steve)
2. Work with Sabs' group and Hannah's group. Let Lynz & Heather have the others for make-up and lines.
3. Take care of any unfinished business so that I can enjoy Buganvillas!
   

OK, that looks good for now. I just need to get some sleep. Although sitting here & listening to Hercules is pretty relaxing too. :)

My throat hurts

but for a good reason. I went to the track meet tonight and cheered myself almost hoarse. I'm so proud of our students and the effort they put forward. One of my girls, Adrienne, competed for the first time. She has wanted to become more involved, but struggled with missing her home country and her friends. Last year was very hard, but God has been getting her through these times and changing her heart to love and accept where He has placed her. Another of my kids, Alex, is stinkin' fast. I had no idea! And it was so encouraging that as he would seem to lag around the last corner, we would all begin cheering and he would speed up - which sounds logical, but is so incredible to see. I asked him later if he could hear me when he was running. With a HUGE smile, he said that, yeah, he knew when I was yelling. What can I say, I'm a loudmouth who has also been trained to project. That's a dangerous combo. . .

So, this evening as I wanted to start blogging again, more as a way to process than anything else, I realized how much more I want God to use my gifts of encouragement for his purposes. I love to encourage, but I forget that it doesn't have to be at school stuff. I need to be digging deep into others' spiritual lives to be able to encourage them when they are downhearted. If I don't know what they are experiencing, I really don't know how best to love them. Praise God that He uses our words and actions without us having to know everything. But He also calls us to be unified in thought and judgment. How can I do that, if I don't know what my brothers and sisters are thinking?

I got a chance this morning to talk to a couple of my students who sometimes have trouble staying awake in class. It was a teacher moment where I could show how much I care about them, but also give them resources to change. I pray they take advantages of the ideas that I presented.

Well, it's been a long time . . .

Ever since I got my facebook, I just haven't blogged as much. sigh. I haven't written anything in here about "A Christmas Carol" which was stupendous, or my visit back to IN for Christmas, equally stupendous, or my horrible Walmart publicity photo fiasco, don't even ask, or my wonderful new attempts at a picture in Bolivia, much better. So much happens in our lives and we just let it slip by unnoticed. So, where to start?

I have a student teacher this semester. Her name is Lyndsey Gangel, and she's a sweetie! She has been in charge of all 3 of my core English classes (leaving my with 5 electives, I'm a glutton for punishment) and does a marvelous job. It wasn't that long ago that I was in her shoes. But some days it seems like forever. I want to keep learning - to grow and develop the skills to be the best teacher possible. On some days, that goal seems anything but possible. Hopefully, while I am home for furlough (oh yes, I'll be back in June) I can brush up on some seminars. Man, I miss my Ed nerds from AU :)

What else? Well, I've been teaching a directing course this semester. So, our show is actually a night of one acts. I'm handling the JH one, but the HS ones are all directed by HS students with at least 4 semesters of experience on them. They are doing a great job, even though this job can be frustrating. I wish you could be here to see it.

Hmm, anything else? Well, my toilet backed up again (cursed tree roots) but praise God for Jim Newman. He and Nivardo came down and dragged out the roots and all the nastiness of clogging. hmm, enough said. :)

Well, that fills people in a little bit. Like I said, I don't think anyone even reads this anymore. Maybe it will become more of a place for me to journal eventually. I just don't journal that much.