home...

I know its been awhile since I've updated so here goes. We'll do this one in four parts (I've been listening to This American Life a lot lately.) Part 1 - School and the Children, Part 2 - Time at Home, Part 3 - Other uninteresting things about my life, and Part 4 - Funny things the children say. If you read this blog only for the funny stories, feel free to skip to Part 4 but I at least must make you feel guilty by skipping by all my heartwarming stories of student achievement blah blah blah... oh here goes...

Part 1 - As I've stated each and every time I have updated this semester, school is going much better. The children and I are getting along well for the most part, although some days I just want to scream at them to STOOPPPPPPP TALKKKKIIIINNNGGGG. I try not to yell these days though. So one of the biggest problems that Teach for America teachers often deal with is "investment," getting kids to care about your class. This is (in ways) easier for me because they have a high stakes test they have to pass at the end of the year. However, I did struggle to have kids take my class seriously first semester, but that is something that has substantially improved. I've been having study sessions at Wendy's this semester and I am averaging about 10 to 12 kids at these sessions. Now this usually requires me hunting the kids down in the hall, texting them, bribing them with Frosties, etc. etc. but its still nice to have so many kids show up. The problem now is that it is turning into as much of a social scene as a study session, but I'll get em in line. The kids took a practice test on Wednesday, and their results were not awesome, but they were at least hopeful. I had enough kids score on the border line to make me hopeful that with review, they will be ready for the real test. Three more weeks and then that danged test is over, and I will be able to breathe again.

Part 2 - I came home over spring break and had a wonderfully relaxing time getting to see family. Pickwick is already calling my name for the summer. The time I spent there made me long for school to go ahead and wrap up real quick. I also got to do a little bit of work with the youth over spring break, which again made me ready for the summer. I was reminded that I get to take my kids to Lake J, which is insanely exciting for me. If you don't know what Lake J is, it is a beautiful beautiful camp in North Carolina that our youth group went to every year in high school. Anyway, I'm extremely pumped about working with the youth and just being home in general this summer. I am also currently at home for Easter/Mom's birthday. My wonderful sister planned a surprise party for mom's 50th birthday. (Awesome job Erin, it was perfect) Mom was quite surprised and teary. The crowd got the intense pleasure of hearing me step my little intrusive self up to the mike and intrude on the band (reid and dan isbell) and proceed to sing every song with them the rest of the night. (Hope they didn't mind). It was a good time though.

Part 3 - Ahh now for other uninteresting things about my life. The half marathon is only three weeks away and I'm ready to dominate that bad boy. Very glad that I'm not doing the full, because there is no way I could run 26 miles, dear gracious. I've also been doing the "Spartacus Workout" lately and most people don't know this, but nowadays if I take my shirt off I look a lot like a combination between Brad Pitt from Troy and Will Smith from I am Legend (only maybe a little hairier.) Ohhh I finally replaced my laptop over Spring Break, and I, of course, am obsessed. I do not let that thing out of my sight. Oh, I also signed up for Twitter. Feel free to rain the judgement down upon me (or follow me if you'd like, lrogers_wde). Ok I won't bore you with any more uninteresting things about my life and we can get on to what we've all been waiting for.... the funny things the children say...

Part 4 - I'm not exactly chocked full of them this time, but here are a few zingers... (all of these are available for viewing on my Twitter account, I'm plugging that hardcore. haha.)

"Mr. Rah, you so low down. You know God don't like low down people Mr. Rah. God don't like you Mr. Rah." - Frank Ross

"Mr. Rah, why you always tryin to keep a brother down? I can't take no more of this math with all the Xs and stuff Mr. Rah." -Frank Ross

Ok this one I asked for... but it was nonetheless hilarious.... I asked the following questions a a worksheet before spring break, and here are the responses I got...

“What are you going to do over spring break?” “None of your business, I aint telling you no kind of Sugar Honey Ice Tea.” Notice each letter of the last part is capitalized, they were also underlined. If you don’t understand, let me know and I’ll explain.

“On a scale of one to ten, please rate how much you will me me over the break.” I got... “-200”, “0”, “not as much as you think,” “I don’t miss boys, only girls,” “you know I don’t like you,” and “mr. rah, you play too much”

Ok... I think thats all. I’ll go now. Peace.