Year 3 - Bring It

Closing the gap. Because it's still there, and growing each day. It sort of feels like I'm swimming up stream, but I'll keep swimming.

some days

you just need to come home, and rock out. That's what Dave Matthews is for.

Well, crap. I don't want to go back to Houston. Oh, but I miss those lovely, LOVELY ladies of mine down there, and my students, and my coworkers. But being home is so ... familiar and right. I know others can relate. And I'm so thankful that I moved so far away. If I would have stayed here, I might not appreciate it like I do. I may not have enjoyed the Pow Wow so much had I not been so starved for that small town, 2 degrees of separation feeling that just SEEPS INTO ME when I'm back here.

Oh, Scappoose. What have you done to me?

Priest Lake, ID: From Left to Right is Wyeth, Eric's Cabin and boat, Middie, the chaparral, the American and the fishing boat. That's my happy place so if you see me in the next year with my eyes closed tight, and I'm in a stressful situation, I've mentally transported myself to the chair from which this photo was taken. To my right there is a beer and some huckleberry pie. Please don't disturb me if I'm at my happy place :)

It's 9AM and I'm in Scappoose, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of really good coffee. I just ate some pancakes on the deck and it felt like I was camping. I have KINK on the radio and not a plan for the day and I'm so so happy about that. This vacation is just what I needed, but I think it's time to start thinking of how I'm going to see everyone that I want to see while in the 503. I MUST see the following people:
Mandy + Baby
Liz + Baby
Talitha + Baby
Bethany, Connie, Kati, Megan, Kirsten, Heidi
Dana, Allison
UP coworkers
Uncle Pat and fam
Uncle Doug and fam
Uncle Tom and fam
Dad, grandpa, grandma
Caitlin, Garrett, Ariel, Nan, Pop, Jamie, Wynette, Clair, Jared, Noel

Maybe I should just have a PARTY :)

I had a dream about school last night. It was kind of weird since I was at Aloha High School which is where I did my student teaching, and there was a mixture of current coworkers, people from Aloha and UP ED friends. We were all working on getting our rooms together and seriously confused about the new schedule. I do hate dreaming about work, but it also makes me think that I need to get back to reading so I'm prepared for this school year.

I am so happy to be home. I hope everyone gets to come home and feel this good. We all deserve it.

Dear Summer, Please Slow Down

1. I need to stop automatically saying "Portland" when people ask where I am from. Because now it's getting to the point where they no longer mean "where did you grow up/go to college?", but now "where do you work/live?"

2. Moved into a new apartment - same complex. Pool view but less space. Jess and I learned a few things about ourselves while moving.
a. We own too many coffee mugs. Yes, we love coffee (Jess loves tea), but we don't need this many. Please, if you think of buying me a coffee mug, just don't. Even though I love a good Portland/Oregon themed mug, I just don't have the space anymore.
b. We have lots of wine glasses. I'll always make room for my wine glasses.
c. Jess is good at decorating. I am not. I love her for it.
d. Pool view = Danielle being a creeper and creeping on people at the pool. Yes, they can probably see me peeking through the blinds.

And summer is winding down. I leave on Friday for Spokane, then to Portland for a bit and then I have to report back to class. I can't believe it. What I realized is that I needed an adventure and it hasn't happened yet. I went to see Monte Carlo (AWESOME MOVIE) the other day and all I could think about was how I need to take a trip. To somewhere exotic. NOW. But it'll have to wait - until next year. I am definitely saving for a trip this year and I'm up to suggestions as to where I should go.

Summer School, Pt. 1

Too tired to write much, but here it is. We've been "training" for two days for the Summer Bridge Program. My favorite part? Seeing the KIPP Alum and hearing them speak and being in awe of how smart they are. We really are doing some great things through these kids. Second favorite part? Seeing them, and the few current students who will be helping out, react to their teachers acting like problem students to help teach classroom management. J.R.'s face when Sophie started yelling "NAWF" = PRICELESS.

OK, time to get back to A People's History. I'm only at the revolution. Time to pick up the pace!!!

I got a BIG piece of paper

"From Wendy Kopp". Thanks, TFA! And with that, I'm officially done. Today I had my End Of Year conversation with my Program Director. (Quick game: how many TFA accronyms can I name? TFA, PD, EOY, BOY, ACE, BG, TALON, TAL, CIE...) Whew! And there are so so many more. :) My PD and I talked about a lot of stuff, but it was mostly focused around how I and my kids did this year. It made me realize just how bad I am at reflecting. Not only can I not, on demand, name things I did well, I can't even name things I need to improve upon. My poor PD, it was such a painful conversation. But then we started talking about KIPP and how I believe it's growing a bit too quickly for it's own good. I'm not the only one who thinks this - 2011 had a sit in a few weeks ago to make a point about it. It just makes me nervous about the future of such a great organization. There is so much work to do and I hope they don't forget that as they grow.

Guess who won't have to teach the physical geography of Russia next year?


THIS GIRL!
That's right, I'll be teaching the one thing I truly, TRULY love - US HISTORY! I even get to teach AP! I'm so excited and nervous, but mostly excited. I went to half price books after my conversation and bought this book:


as well as an AP prep book. As much as I love Zinn ("We'll never know unless we begin"), I've never actually read this book all the way through. I have a lot of studying to do this summer in order to prepare myself to get my kids through one of the hardest AP tests. I feel like this will be the year I cry from exhaustion. Oh well. I'll just keep reminding myself that I WENT TO COLLEGE TO DO EXACTLY THIS. How lucky am I?!?!?!?

And even though it's summer, I'm still working. Tomorrow is the meeting where all of the grade level chairs talk about what students are failing for the year. We have two on our list from 2014. These kids and their parents have been pulled in for several meetings, and never got their acts together. It's sad really, but sometimes it's what they need. On a higher note - NO ONE FAILED MY CLASS! Yes! So exciting. :)

I can't even wrap my head around all that I have to do this summer. I'll be teaching reading during the Summer Bridge Program, which is where all of the KIPP 8th graders come to the high school to "bridge the middle schoolers into one cohesive group". (OK, I made that up, but that's the mission). Then, I'll have a few weeks to relax (I mean plan and study). THEN, I have AP training. THEN I GET TO GO HOME!!!! Then school starts.

It's hot in Houston, and I miss Portland summers, as well as my friends from back home. They are all doing such wonderful things such as having babies or continuing to kick ass in grad school. I love you all.