we hope

that at some point this year we will feel confident that we are providing the education that our kids deserve. we do this work because we believe that our students deserve an education as good as the kids in scottsdale and paradise valley, but we wonder....how the heck are we supposed to provide that? our jobs are made all the more challenging by the fact that in order to do what we want to, we actually have to be MORE effective than the teachers in those districts, because we have to move our students more than one grade level in one year. oomf. this is big. baby steps. i have to keep my head up. do my homework. etc. etc. etc.

one day.....

3 weeks in...

overwhelmed. overjoyed. pissed off. lost.

OK these are a few of the things that I have been feeling lately. I love my students, they crack me up. I don't really know what I am doing. I know I need to figure out it...quickly. I feel so limited in my abilities. I see good teachers doing things that I am attempting and failing at. I know I will be a good teacher eventually...or at least I usually believe that.

It is crazy to see yourself through the eyes of a 12 year old who is looking to you to be consistent and to teach them what they need to learn.

It is also just funny to hear the things that come out of their mouths sometimes. They look like little kids and often act like them, but they have moments of trying to act like teenagers.

Today was beautiful, around 100 degrees most of the day, so a break from the intense heat. It'll be real hot again later in the week, but I took advantage of the nice weather today and went down to the pool for awhile to soak up some vitamin D.

I really like my roomies and I am adjusting to phoenix pretty well. Julie (one of my roommates) and I went to Pizzeria Bianco on Friday, it is supposed to be one of the best pizza places in the country. It was certainly delicious.

OK I need to grade diagnostics and get my week planned out so Julie and I can go for a night hike tonight. It is the best time to go so it isn't quite so hot.