Flying Out!

Well, an hour before we leave the apt... We are packed, things are ready to go. My classroom is all shut down. The lights are timed, presents have been swapped here. I'm ready to go to Seattle.

Barb and I were talking: "break" isn't as sweet without the sheer exhaustion of finals leading into it. I mean, it is still MORE than welcome, but really, there's NO comparison. I kind of feel like, "Oh, ok. We get a few days off."

Here's to hoping that I get home safe and on time. If EVERYTHING goes well, I'll be home at midnight PST. So, East-coasters: think of me as you role over in your beds at 3am. I'll be landing. (Hopefully).

Merry Christmas! (or, as my students told me on the way out the door: Meri Kurisumasu and Geseende Kursfees! - Which they learned from me for our Christmas Program!)

Concert and Snow!!!

It SNOWED. We made snow angels, a snowman, had a snowball fight, and then went for a walk in the snow. The NC-ites were looking at us like we were crazy, and we were trying to figure out why people weren't out doing the exact same thing as we were!!!!

I guess they don't get to enjoy the snow as much?

The concert went well. The decorations were awesome. The classes really did a great job. And we hung paper chains between the hoops. Then we hung stuff off the paper chains. It looked great! :)

The only thing was the audience. They needed to hush up! Next time we'll be going over concert etiquette with the audience, it'll be printed in the program, and it will be up on the powerpoint. None of that will happen again!

Well... Time to clean up and prep for our guests!

TOmorrow

Tomorrow is my concert. OUR concert, really.

We've been working hard. Its crazy that its here already. I can't believe it.

Pray for us. :)

Missing Snow

I miss the snow. And the cold.

Today it was all frozen over, and I thought to myself: look, Fall.

This afternoon during car duty, I was out there in my sweater, it seemed like it had warmed up quite a bit. The natives were bundled in puffy coats, scarves and gloves. They made fun of me. What can I say? I'm not from around here.

Updates? We went to a Christmas Sweater party last Sat. It was great. This weekend we have our TFA holiday party, this Friday I have my work's Christmas Dinner. Last Friday was Oxford's Christmas parade. I was with the Marching band. I saw a TON of my kids. They ALL said hi. It was great.

I have misplaced my camera. I hope it is at school. I also need a video camera. Maybe I'll borrow from some parent? Hm...

STILL haven't turned the heat on. I feel like we can't justify keeping the apt warm when we are never home. And when we are, we are asleep. OH! Bought AWESOME (aka plaid) flannel sheets. I didn't want to get outta bed this morning. It was SO WARM. House was 66 when I came home from work, now its 69. We just hang out under blankets all the time. You know, wearing sweatshirts over sweaters.

First Class

Its been MUCH too long since I've posted, but I just wanted to say that I'm alive!

I flew home for Thanksgiving: I nearly missed my connection in Newark, NJ, but luckily they opened the gate door for me and let me on. :)

On the way home, I flew first class. I think there was some sort of mess-up on Priceline, but I got a DEAL for first class tickets. AND OH. MY. GOODNESS. First class is AH-mazing!!

I got fed breakfast on my first flight, they continually brought me drinks, and there was a great amount of attention. Also, we got little personal media players for free, while the cabin has to pay $6 each. I watched the movie "Jumper." It was ok, not a great movie, but not bad! Oh, and there were only 16 people for a bathroom. It was AMAZING! Then on the next flight, we were served lunch, and peanuts, and pretzels, and coffee and tea, and lots of water! I was NOT exhausted when I was done with flying for the first time ever... Poor roommate who was all exhausted getting off the plane from flying coach...

Too bad I have to fly coach again at Christmas... :(

THE BABIES ARE HUGE!

If I didn't get to see you this break, I hope to see you during Christmas break!

I think this weekend will be the first weekend that we have had where we stay home this weekend... Usually I drive off to DC or the coast or fly to WA or something crazy like that... It will be nice to stay at home! :)

Attention

I've been the focus of some attention lately. I was featured in my school district's "Granville Grapevine" newsletter. TFA got ahold of it, and I thought it would stop at a pat on the back from my ENC staff. No. Now I will be spotlighted even more by TFA: ENC, within a newsletter which goes out to supporters and alumni of TFA. CRAZINESS.

I honestly feel overwhelmed. The attention was cool when I was getting interviewed, and I think that is just because I love to talk to people, and learn their story, and tell them mine. But now, my school printed it out and its on the bulletin board. And all of this other attention.

Seriously: I go to work every day just trying to give my kids 100%. I had a GREAT education. I want to give that back. I was taken to plays by my 6th and 7th grade block teacher, Ms. Seltzer. I want to take my kids to NC Theatre's Cinderella. I am writing grants to get keyboards into the classroom so we can have a piano lab and I can teach every student how to play. I demand that the students learn what forte, pianissimo, largo, and vivace mean. I demand that they learn what a whole note is. I demand that they learn proper vocal technique, learn about the great composers, and learn form. I demand that they start composing in Kindergarten. It seems that people think these things are extraordinary. I find them necessary for a complete music education.

Checking In

I have not posted in a while. Not too much to say. I'm really getting started on the Christmas Program at my school. It'll be AWESOME. It will be AMAZING. I'm totally stoked.

The program is 8 carols from different countries around the world, and I've assigned a county to each homeroom teacher. They will learn about that specific country's traditions, and make their decorations for the concert representing that country. It'll tie Music class to art and social studies. It is going to be AMAZING. YES!

mmk. g'bye.

Officially an Elementary Teacher

I officially felt like an Elementary teacher today. A kindergartner barfed and it somehow ended up on my hand. Gross.

I've been initiated.

Matt Maher and #2!!!

Matt:

On Friday night Barb and I went with one of my co-workers to VA and saw Matt Maher and Michael W Smith. It was a GREAT concert. The church wasn't as big as Overlake, so even though we were in the general admittance, we weren't too far away. Also, I got a Matt Maher T-Shirt and his newest CD. And then I got it signed by him too! woohoo!!

Actually, they were teasing me that I was really fast. We had a 10 minute intermission, and in the time that Barb and Laura went to the Bathroom, I bought the T-shirt and the CD, went to the bathroom, and then we got it signed right after. I knew what I wanted. :)

#2:

Last night (Halloween) was our last Band competition. We got 7 trophies. It was GREAT. They were all second place trophies, but at least we were consistant. AND we lost the marching caption by .7 points, and we were 4 points from #1 in percussion, but otherwise, we were never more than 2 points from #1. Overall, we were only 1.9 points from first place. They worked hard, and they did really well. They got a Superior rating as well. This little band is on its way up. They did a great job, and I'm really proud of them.

Thank goodness for the extra hour of sleep. It totally made my day. Now I only have everything else in the world to do today. Ugh.

SICK

So. I was pied in the face for our Fall Festival last Friday... and all that whip cream got in my ears, my nose, my mouth, and even my eyes. OH: and my hair.

BUT here's the catch: I didn't go home and shower: I went to the JFWebb Homecoming game, and it was cold and rained. So then I went to bed. And woke up at 6:30am and couldn't breathe. My body was trying to clean itself out, and my sinuses filled up, and my chest felt like I had 100 lbs on it. So I had some TheraFlu, and I felt better... But I've been steadily losing my voice ever since. Great for a music teacher....

I'm going to bed early... Teacher Work Day tomorrow means no planning tonight.

Maturing

I got a flight last night. Turns out Cheaopair takes 24 hrs to update their page. LAME.

So today I learned a lot about being the "more mature" individual. I have mentioned that I am the instructor for the local marching band? Well, the Drum Captain and I have been at odds, but nothing has manifested itself. Until today. Its an interesting experience to be an adult teacher and have a student (a junior even) tell me that in order to get respect I need to give it. Interesting. I have been nothing but respectful... Unless maybe I was a peer? As an instructor you instruct. A peer would not instruct... so then maybe I wouldn't be? I have no idea. But as I was being chewed on in front of the entire drumline by a sixteen year old, I felt like I had cotton balls in my ears, and that my vision was narrowing. I'm not going to lie: My feathers were ruffled, but from everything I play back in my head, I was calm the whole time, and rather complacent. I just wasn't going to let him get a rise from me. He undermined me about 8 other times, and at multiple points I thought about just walking out today.

None of the drummers realized I was there as a volunteer. They all thought I was being paid. Trust me: if I were being paid, I would NOT allow many things that happen to happen. If I were paid, I would instruct, and the line would listen to ME. I would TEACH, I would INSTRUCT, and my word would be LAW: Much like the way that I grew up in Marching Band. But this is a small town AAA band: the captains have a lot of leadership: I respect that, and I think its great. I'm there to support more than anything else: give pointers: I've been around, I've seen some GREAT marching bands from high schools all over: I was taught by Drum Corps members... Blue Devils, Cavaliers... I don't know, I just feel like regardless of my experience, I should be respected because I am a TEACHER... an adult... there of my own free will: for THEM. For no reason other than the fact that I want to see others filled with the joy that I experienced in Marching Band...

I went home frustrated for the first time. Ever.

I graded my students' tests today. Oh jeez... Maybe I bit off more than they could chew? Some in every class get it though... So its not the content: they all can access it... I suppose its just overwhelming to some of them.

I'm excited today though: Two of my classes BEGGED for Christmas songs today. Well, 5 more days!

Christmas Tickets

Why can't I just book a flight!!!! ARGHGHGHGHG!!!

I have tried to book about 20 different flights, and for some UNKNOWN reason, I cannot. I don't understand why! Cheapoair.com and Priceline.com BOTH kick me off and say, "oops, you can't get this flight, it happens very rarely when the last ticket is bought"


ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here goes try number 21!

Marching at ASU

While UW was busy with their pre-game for killing ASU in Arizona still in the fall heat, I was in the cold, wintry snow flurries of a different ASU: Appalachian State University. (Pronouced: "Appal-ah-chan")

I've been helping with the JF Webb Marching Band, specifically the Drumline, and I got to go with them on their "BIG TRIP" to ASU for their marching competition. I had a blast, except for the whole freezing part. I had a great time bonding with both instructors and students. At one point, one of the girls looked at me and said "No Offense Mr. Roeder, but you're pretty cool for a white guy!" I laughed and said thank you! However, it was interesting to see my kids' preoccupation with color. They judged every band who came out onto the field by their color, and automatically associated being white with having money and having a good band program. It's interesting how deep these racial stereotypes run, and a little disturbing too.

It was weird...'cuz some of them were saying oh white boys can't do such and such, and I looked at them and said "Excuse me... what color am I?" and they were like: "well you're different..."

What? I'm more that just my color? I'm a person too? Isn't that AWESOME. You are a person too. Everyone is.

I don't say this out of any malice whatsoever. In fact, everything that was said was said in jest or in a playful manner, but still the ideals and the prejudices are there. My kids have been persecuted, and they know it, and they strike out against it. And well they should. But I wish they shouldn't have to...

More on my life... haha

I haven't written for FOREVER!

I had a good trip to Charlotte, but it was exhausting. Shout out to Ben and Jimmie!

I've been ambivalent about our church here, but it wasn't until after I went to church with Ben and Jimmie that I realized how much I felt like I was missing. So I told Barb we had to go church shopping. So we started last week. And I think we're done. Our new church is BOMB. Actually, the church is a farm church: I really feel like I'm in the sticks, even though we're actually closer to Durham there haha.

I knew I loved my job, but today I realized how much I love my kids.

One of my kids got in a HUGE car accident yesterday. Apparently they're in the hospital. It was pretty bad. I was crazy worried this morning. I got really emotional. One kid was like "so and so cut in line" and I just wanted to yell: "Who cares? Your classmate is in the HOSPITAL. They were pinned under a TRUCK. GET THE BIG PICTURE."

wow.

Update

Two things:

1. I am going to be the drum instructor for the local high school's Marching Band: JF Webb. I'm completely stoked. JTOH (my school) has a TON of marching snare drum sticks, I think because they are bigger and thus easier for little kids to grip. THUS I have a vast supply of sticks to practice with. w00t w00t. Now only if I had my practice pad. Moooom! :)

2. In order to have my children behave, I use sticker charts. The sticker chart is just a 1/4 page of paper that is all dressed up, but the important part is the 16 squares. Each child must get 16 stickers before they are allowed to go to the treasure chest. The children LOVE this. I had a 5th grader tell me: "Mr. Raeeder, (Thats what Roeder sounds like with a NC accent), 5th graders don't get enough stickers!" I was like: SCORE! But anyway, the point of this is that my Kindergartners and my Pre-Ks don't care for the chart, or really the treasure chest. What they want are the stickers! So I put little tiny stickers on their hands. They leave my class boasting "I have four stickers!!!!" while the naughty ones sulk covering their hands because their empty hands betray their poor behavior.

Today my Kindergartners lined up like PROS so I promised them all an extra sticker on the way out the door. As I got to one little boy, whose birthday it is today, he grabs my right hand and pulls it towards him, putting one of his own stickers on my hand. He looks up at me through huge coke-bottle glasses that magnify his eyes twice over and smiles with his semi-toothless grin. "Thank you for being so nice to us," is all he says, following the warming statement with one of his signature smiles. "Thank you" was all I could manage, getting emotional about this child's open act of selflessness.

Jesus talks of the love and faith of a child. I witnessed a child's love many times today: One boy ties another one's shoe. Who cares if they are different ages, heights, or colors? A 5 year old girl slips on the stairs and hits her head on a pole. Her classmates are genuinely concerned, as are the 5th graders who saw her come into the cafeteria with me to get ice. And then the little boy who gives me a sticker.

I love my job.

Tractor Pull

Yes, it sounds like something... well, deep back woods... but it was great!

One of my students couldn't believe that I've never been to a Tractor Pull... or that I had no idea what it was for that matter. He made it his mission last week to MAKE SURE that I would be going this weekend! :)

We went to Roxboro Dragway: They have a BRAND NEW tractor pull track, and so this was its maiden initiation. It was great. It was surprisingly entertaining. We forgot the camera... but next time... There will be a next time. I really enjoyed myself!

For more on Tractor Pulling check out the United Pullers of the Carolinas at www.tpull.com

Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta

I think Kodaly had it right. My Kindergarten/First Grade Split class was SIGHTREADING 4-beat rhythms. It was kinda AMAZING. I nearly leaped for joy! I was beaming the whole time :)

I instituted a personal reward system into my class. My classes were on a class-wide point reward system, but I found it lacked in both rewarding the awesome kids and punishing the ornery ones. (BTW: Apparently everyone East of the Rockies actually says it Or-ner-ee, as opposed to us who say on-ree...weird)

I made 100 copies of a paper with.. oh... 25 clip art eighth notes. And the kids get an eighth note when they are on task, when they RAISE THEIR HAND, when they answer a question correctly... And they LOSE one when they are naughty or off task.

With the wee ones I just give stickers and I take them back when kiddos are bad. I thought a Kindergartner was going to cry today when I did that, but he straightened up like no body's business! :D

Tomorrow I go to Harry Wong Conference in Chapel Hill. And Friday. I'm nervous to leave my class...

Oh no. I just realized that I didn't leave a Sub-Lesson Plan for Friday's Kindergartners... OH NO. Gotta get on that ASAP.

Miss you all. Had AMAZING BBQ pork tonight... home-made goodness. Made breaded Cod last night. Barb had never had Cod. So weird. It was Alaskan Cod too, from Costco. Bomb.com. :)

JT=BR?

I was told today by two fifth grade boys that from the side I look like Justin Timberlake.

Is it sad that that kinda made my day?

You decide:

Finally

I HAVE INTERNET! Now we are just waiting for the router, so that we don't have to share one ethernet chord... woo hoo!

I hollered at my kids today. My 4th graders were OUT OF CONTROL. A fight almost broke out. It is tough to yell at little kids. I told them to "grow up"...

its weird though, because what I meant was to stop acting like adults, and to just have fun. They were being rude and picking fights, and not working with one another, and it was strange because the younger kids love each other and will do ANYTHING to work together, and they enjoy it. I thought today's activity would be really good... it worked for the fifth graders.

The catch of it all is that this is usually my best class... so strange.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

The weekend was phenomenal. Holding babies made my life perfect. It was amazing.

Pics up soon. God has two new children: they were Baptized this last Sunday. They rocked. They were such good babies. They didn't cry at all. :)

Lesson Planning is getting easier. I planned my units on the plane, and I planned LPs for the whole week. Just need to create worksheets and photocopy them.

I have my Music Praxis Exams (teaching content exams) this Sat. I'm totally freaked about them :(

Catching Up

School started: I got a new Mac to use.  Dream come true :)

Now I just need internet.  I'm at a Chick-Fil-A and I'm blogging.  There is a cow dancing next to me.  Oh jeez.  I shouldn't work here.  I'm not even working.  I'm blogging.  And gchatting.  I'm so starved for attention. haha

I'll be home this weekend to baptize the babies.  Dropped mom off at RDU airport this morning.  Got up at 3:30am.  My kids "played" instruments for the first time this year.  I can't believe how little they actually know about music.  My 5th graders can't recognize a quarter note.  RECOGNIZE.  Meaning match it to its name.  Crazy.

Lots of work to do.

Got my driver's License today.

My Classroom

My Classroom:


My Classroom for Open House: It was a "Petting Zoo"... Apparently the kids LOVED it and were raving about it! :)
Pictures of the new place up soon!

Adorable

I can't wait to actually hold them.

Then again, they will probably have doubled in weight by then...

GRRRRRRR Blogger won't let me load the pic in its correct orientation....

Baby Weights!!

An Uncle fo' sho'!! At ~1:15 am PST Baby Corvin Ryder Phillips was 7 lb 1 oz, and baby Chloe Rebekah Phillips was 6 lbs 4 oz!!! I'm so jealous I wasn't home!!!

I hope to have pics up later. Unfortunately I can't access Blogger or gmail at school, so I am not sure that they will be up until this evening. PLUS they have to send pics to me first!

Classroom!

Got into the classroom today! Wow... I was the first teacher there, and the last to leave. And now I'm procrastinating on rewriting my Big Goal, and starting in on Long Term Plans, because I'm just too freakin' exhausted. AAAAND Derrei was induced about 6 hours ago, and I want to be an uncle. So I'm exhausted and excited and anticipatory.

Wow. Too many Adjectives.

Work time.

I'll take pics of my classroom tomorrow hopefully... if I can find where my camera is.

Homeless

So, item #1: Get a job. Check.

What IS item #2? Is it get a home? I think not. This is about Student Achievement. Write Big Goal. Check.

Now write 6 Unit Plans for the first unit for every grade.

Then Write the Investment, Management, and Classroom Culture Plans.

Then the 6 Long Term Plans.

Oh yeah, you can't live in Barb's living room on the Futon.

Don't forget about putting your classroom together.

And the Required School Professional Development.

Didn't you need a place to live?

I HAVE A JOB

I will be teaching at Joe-Toler Oak Hill Elementary School.
I'm a TIGER!!

I will be a MUSIC TEACHER :)

I think I may be the only male teacher haha... maybe the PE teacher too?

Our staff is 25 people, including custodial staff and the three lunch ladies.

We have 214 kids.

I'll also be helping in the third grade classroom in the mornings and the afternoons, because there aren't enough kids to teach 30 hrs a week! :D

w00t w00t!

As Promised: Pictures. PLUS my amazing Weekend.

First we will recap on pics, and then we will tell the amazing story of this weekend:

Here is the view from the Hancock Tower on my Bday. Its blurry in the pic, but I promise it didn't look that blurry in real life. :)

Me Driving out!
Wyoming: We drove from Everett to Wyoming day 1
Dad:
The second day, I prayed for rain because it was so hot, and we got it!!
The Kansas sunset: We drove Wyoming to Wichita Day 2. We visited friends there. Andrew and Lara are GREAT hosts. Drop in on them anytime!
Day 3 we drove from Wichita to Indiana.

Day 4 we got up and drove 40 miles, then stopped at this Monastery for Mass, then drove all the way to Durham.
We passed through Kentucky: This was the most gorgeous part of the trip:

OK. NOW: This weekend.

I was completely stressed about not being placed, and my good friend from back home asked if I was enjoying all the free time off. I realized that I wasn't... Here I am in a BEAUTIFUL state staying at home doing NOTHING but wasting my days away worrying. So I decided it would be a good idea to go to the Outer Banks.

Ali: Being another West Coaster, came out with me. We went swimming in the Atlantic for a few hours. It was GREAT. I had some good fish'n'chips too, but nothing here has been as good as Ivar's back home... :-P
The sunset was beautiful, but I figured I inundated you with enough pictures already.

This is the House in which 5 Corps Member live. Its HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE. It was kinda fantastic. I had Sunday Brunch there with all the 09 CMs, and we met some town folk. They were amazingly and awesomely Southern. They were highly entertaining. I want to live there now haha.
On the way home yesterday, I saw Cotton fields.
So. I have an interview for an Elementary Music Teacher position on Thursday. Pray I get it!!!

News: No News. No Job. Not yet...

Coffee: GREAT store called Parker & Otis!! http://www.parkerandotis.com/store/index.php


Not necessarily as good as Solstice, but definitely top 5! Good thing it is all the way in Durham, because otherwise I may have another expensive addiction. However, that is relative: NOTHING is expensive here. To waste the day yesterday (because all I do these days is wait for interviews) Barb and I went to a movie (the Ugly Truth... Who can resist Katherine Heigl??) and it was after 5 but still matinee at $5.50. Best part of my day.

Today I came down to Durham for EC (Exceptional Children = SPED) training, mostly for SOMETHING to do. Also, its good professional training anyway, so why not, right?

I feel a little better about not being placed yet. I talked to a friend in the Boston Corps, and they have 15 people not yet placed. We only have 3. And we are all Science Teachers. Which helps show that it is not the people, but the content area, which is stalled in getting us jobs.

I did find a GREAT place to live, with one of the other CMs (Corps Members) out in Norlina, North Carolina...

Its way out in the Tobacco fields of NC, and it is VERY rural. PERFECT. Hopefully I will be able to live there, but I'll have to wait until I get a job!!

Here

I'm here. Man Oh Man. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG drive.

I can't say anything was too spectacular about the drive: America mostly looks the same across this latitude. The most beautiful parts were those which looked like home...

I'll post more tomorrow. I'm exhausted, and I smell bad from driving so much... lol

On the Road

Just a quick post: We're in Wichita at my friend Andrew's house! I'm on his internet checking in for the first time. We've conquered Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, and are in Kansas now... LOTS of hills. Lightning storm most of yesterday afternoon/evening. Had to get out of the mountains as soon as possible, because my little car couldn't handle the hills!!!

Going strong... the lack of AC isn't too bad.

I have an interview for a High School position in Chemistry on Monday. Looks like we will be into NC on Sunday night :)

I'll post more (With Pics) later.

Moving tomorrow!

Not too much new news: still no placement, getting ready to go. Packing like the devil. Hot as Hades (Should be 100+ today... in Seattle!!)

Bought a Thule roof rack yesterday. Yay $300!!! :/ Essential, however, AAAAAND I've always wanted to be able to carry a canoe on my car! Thus, it is a solid investment.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee're off!!

Home

Institute is over. I have lots to upload in the way of pictures, still haven't gotten up the ones from my Birthday.

We took our CMA out to dinner on Thursday, and then went to Closing Ceremonies. We sat by school. We had our own chants: Harlan's was based on "Jump On It!" It was great.

On Friday we "slept in" (I only got an extra hour) and then we went to our schools to close-out. It was great. Funny, my CMA group never really knew how much we loved each other until those last few days. We really learned a lot from each other: and now I have friends in Boston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, South Dakota, Charlotte and Chicago!

Friday night we went out to a place called Duffy's where we danced institute away... just like Meredith and Christina would do on an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Its ridiculous how much of a kinship I feel to anything Seattle right now.

Flew home yesterday. LONG flight, but it was also the first completely "me" time I've had in 6 weeks. It was great. Saw 17 Again on the plane: Very funny :)

There were litterally tears of joy that ran down my face when we flew over Anderson Island: The Puget-Sound Island where our cabin is. My heart leaped for joy when I saw evergreen trees. We flew Chicago-Portland first, and we flew SO CLOSE to Mt. Hood I felt like I could reach out and touch it. I love NON-flat land :)

Watched HP6 at the drive-in: Had to stand up to stay awake, but I'm well practiced in the art of making myself stay awak after these past 6 weeks!

Today we will celebrate my bday a little late as the fam, and then I get to sing/play at mass! YES!

Freaked out a little when I woke up: "WHERE AM I" but then the warm fuzzies of realizing that I was home hit me and all was well :)

One of those things...

I have had a tune going through my head all day today. Couldn't place it, but then, while getting off the bus, it hit me: It was the tune to the Sequence for Pentecost. Kept humming it. Then I had a convo with some of the guys about how much not being placed yet is bothering me, despite my efforts to have it not. And at that moment, I realize there is probably a reason this song has been in my head this whole time: Go read the words Brandon:

Come, O Holy Spirit, come! From Your bright and blissful Home Rays of healing light impart. Come, Father of the poor, Source of gifts that will endure Light of ev'ry human heart.

You of all consolers best, Of the soul most kindly Guest, Quick'ning courage do bestow.

In hard labor You are rest, In the heat You refresh best, And solace give in our woe.

O most blessed Light divine, Let Your radiance in us shine, And our inmost being fill.

Nothing good by man is thought, Nothing right by him is wrought, When he spurns Your gracious Will.

Cleanse our souls from sinful stain, Lave our dryness with Your rain, Heal our wounds and mend our way.

Bend the stubborn heart and will, Melt the frozen, warm the chill, Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful who in You, Trust with childlike piety, Deign Your sevenfold gift to send.

Give them virtue's rich increase, Saving grace to die in peace, Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia.

New Skin!

My blog had a make-over!!!

Plaid won. Plus finding an argyle background was not too fruitful. haha

Pics up of the Bday later... we ended up just going up to the Hancock Tower's 96th floor to the fancy lounge and having a glass of wine. It was great. The most beautiful view of the city, and very peaceful. Definitely the most chill bday I have ever had. But it was good!

Thanks for all the Birthday Wishes!!

Birthday!

So my CMA is running around my classroom before it starts telling my students who are there early that it is Mr. Roeder's Birthday today. Haha! She goes: He's 95 today. We laugh, Jeremy looks confused. I say "She's joking, I'm only turning 65."

He looks incredulous now: "Really? You look like you're 30-something"

HAHAHA. It was all I could do not to die laughing! I even shaved off my goatee on Sunday! I should look YOUNGER.

Tonight we are planning on going to the Sears tower, then the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival to see the Marx Brothers' "Duck Soup". Should be fun!

P.S. I have the best parents in the world: They sent me a package which included a home-made brownie cake by mom, and dad went and got me a pound of Solstice coffee! YUM! Making it right after I finish this!

Being A Tourist

This weekend was phenomenal.

We kicked it off with the White Sox game. It was awesome. Then on Saturday we did the Field Museum and we tried to do the Sears tower (I refuse to call it by Willis... um, NO), but we ran out of time and had to get outta line. We had a reservation for some famous Chicago-style deep dish pizza! It was AMAZING. I had only 3 pieces and I thought I was going to explode. Then we went to a blues bar, and we danced the night away. It was fantastic. Today was low-key, but I did go out to Target, and I got new shoes (Plaid) and a new tie (Plaid).

Needless to say, plaid is slowly gaining on argyle on my favorite patterns... hahaha
I am getting anxious to come back to Seattle. I can't wait for Chloe and Corvin to be born.

And I can't wait to see Transformers 2 and HP6 at the Drive-In back-to-back. You are all invited ;)

Here are all my pictures thus far for Chicago: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2454684&id=10738362&l=0325621613

From my adventures this weekend: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2455333&id=10738362&l=38846e5496

One Day

So far, in summation, I have taught a total of ONE SCHOOL DAY. Wow.

But I have grown SO much in that one day it is insane. All those days of teaching for 45 minutes still only adds up to one school day. But like I said, I've grown immensely. I almost have the hang of it... lol. Its funny; the slogan for TFA is that One day, all children will be able to:
and yet the phrase "One Day" can be muddled around to different meanings. In "One Day" I have become a teacher. In "One Day" I have changed my life forever. In "One Day" I can change someone else's. Cool.

Not much news on the placement front: I still don't know WHERE I am placed, but I do know where I am NOT: I did not get placed in Bertie County, and I did not get placed in Northampton. Northampton was the one I initially was stoked for, but now I mostly want to go wherever I am needed. People say I am being rather positive about the whole thing, but I feel impatient to be able to start where I am needed. I still feel called to do this, and I want to go wherever God calls me to serve :)
Went to the White Sox game tonight. Wasn't paying the BEST attention, but they won, and I saw a grand slam, and another couple awesome plays. It was GREAT. AAAAAAAAAAAND they had fireworks again. Not too many good pics, we were in the nosebleeds, but hey, the tix were free. Can't complain. BUT: They had no saurkraut for the Brats... WHAT?! haha

Status: Exhausted. Almost didn't write this, but I thought I owed it to you all to check in. Miss you all. See you in two Sundays!

Bored

Student Achievement! Student Achievement! Student Achievement!

Live it!
Eat it!
Breathe it!

Student Achievement! Student Achievement! Student Achievement!

...but There is no more lesson planning. We can go watch each other... but I guess I DO have to edit my LPs I got back today. I'm sad its all winding down, but I DID go to bed before 10pm last night, and that was glorious. Aka I'm bored, under-caffeinated, and INCREDIBLY impatient about wanting to be placed. Looking at that picture, I understand why my students give me respect. I look like a crazy old teacher... I play the part well I guess.

I want my bed :)

Ridiulously Excited

So I just read Derrei's Blog: http://phillipsfamily0806.blogspot.com/ and I am now ridiculously excited. Its so crazy to think that two little people are going to be added to my family. Derrei and Walter did SUCH a great job preparing for them. Huge props.

Wish I could be home to help get ready for them too, but I'm sure it would just be another anxious person hanging around in the wings.

Hurry Babies. Hurry Corvin! Hurry Chloe! Hurry!!!

TFA actually stands for...

On Friday we were informed that our school if going to be taking on a new program at our high school called the Bridge Program. Eight of our teachers would be pulled from their regular classrooms to teach in this program now. Current freshman math teachers will be teaching Economics, Biology teachers will be teaching Astronomy, Freshman English teachers will be teaching Urban studies... the list is really cool.

Unfortunately, this program starts at 7:30 am so our buses will now be leaving a half-hour earlier at 6:20 am. :( (we were not happy)

And... in classic TFA style, there will be NEW acronyms that we have to learn in reference to this new program. BP will now be Bridge Program, not to be confused with Beginning Proficiency, and there were others too, but I started to zone out, convinced it wasn't going to be ME who had to teach... (I was still hung up on the 6:20 bus...) Until he came to a slide that said: TFA really means....: Tottally Free Afternoon!!!!!!

We had heard rumors, but we weren't sure if it was true!!

So we went to the Shedd Aquarium, where we got in FREE. Isn't it Awesome to be a teacher!?

We saw Piranhas:

Super-awesome Sea Dragons: They have these extra growths that make them blend into the kelp:
And there was even a Pacific Northwest Exhibit!!! There were Evergreen Trees!!! (Too bad they were plastic...) We even got to pet Sea Stars like at the Seattle Aquarium. Apparently This aquarium is in the same "aquarium network" that Seattle is... but I have to say, this one is a little more impressive... They had otters, and penguins:

AND THREE BEGLUA WHALES!!!!!! I took video, but blogger isn't working to upload video right now... so here is a shot from it: (He weighs one TON)
Then we all posed for a shot out front of the aquarium. Pretty awesome day. I was so tired!!All in all, it was a good week. I know many of you reached out when I said I was having a hard time. I think I just need more sleep. And it makes me appreciate home :)

Last night we all went to a piano bar. It was good. Apparently there is a "Howl at the Moon" back home in Ranier Square. We all were dancing for a good hour there before we left at the end... (we left at 9:55pm... what teachers...) It was great!

Gotta get the church possie together in a few hours. Good fun :D

Hard Day + Missing Home.

Yesterday was a hard day. It was hard because I am having a really hard time teaching everything to a level of competency and allowing them enough time to practice it with me, they aren't getting any time to practice themselves, but I'm assessing them on it. But they don't have enough time to read the prompts, process the info, and then respond intelligently. I know they can. I've seen their pre-assessment scores. They can write. They just need more time than I can offer them.

And I miss evergreen tree. I miss the mountains. Lake Mich is great, but it doesn't smell like the ocean. The sun doesn't set over the water. That's WEIRD. And I knew that Everett sunsets were beautiful compared to other places, but they are AMAZING compared to here. :( Maybe its the skyscrapers that obstruct the view.

I miss meine familie also. It kills me that I most likely won't be there when the twins are born. I get emotional whenever I talk about not being there. I miss sleep. I miss talking to everyone I love. I miss being at church with all my compadres.

But this is worth it. I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning, but then the thought of my kids without me hit me, and I got my lazy butt outta bed. I should be getting ready now, but I wanted to give a shout out to home!

Love you all!

Finally the Blog talks about MUSIC

...And we finally get to some MUSIC!So today I realized how untalented I am. There is NO way I could have ever come up with this, even though apparently I should have the skills, now being a musician, English teacher, and Biochemist:
http://www.educationalrap.com/music/science-2008

Its Science RAP. ITS NUTS. AND GOOD.
Who'dda thunk that you could learn LAB SAFETY, about the WATER CYCLE, the SUN, EARTH, MOON, CIRCULATORY SYSTEM, PHOTOSYNTHESIS, and LAYERS OF THE EARTH from Rap!?!?!?!

AMAZING!

My sleep schedule is already better. I still need LOADS of caffeine. My group bought a coffee pot. We destroyed 2.5 pots today. The word is spreading. Our School Director realized it today, and commented that it was the best idea ever. Our Curriculum specialist followed her nose to our room today too! :)
Its a good little coffee pot! It works hard! Good thing IT gets the weekends off (unlike me).

Week One down

GAH!

More people have been placed now. Some in Bertie County and in Nash County... I haven't heard anything yet. None of the schools I have interviewed at have placed yet, so I can't even rule out which ones I am NOT teaching at to try to figure out which one I am.

First week went well. I've grown a lot in my teaching. I sat down with my CMA today and we decided I need to work on more effectively Checking for Understanding of the whole class.

Lela worked as a model at this fashion show last night. The theme of the show was all white, so the club's dress code was all white last night:

Not too bad. Haha :)

Need to Lesson Plan... even though it is July 4th. Thinking about going down to the lakefront and watching fireworks.

Oh No! I'm an English Teacher!!

My library now contains Emerson, books which appeal to young adult readers, and an English Textbook: Teacher's Addition. NEVER in my life did I think I would be an English teacher! haha

I got a HUGE compliment today. TFA uses Rubrics to "grade" people on how they are doing. My CMA (Corps Member Advisor... Corps Member=CM=Me!) told me today that all the CMAs are looking for CMs who are excelling in the P-3 category, and with my permission would like to refer other CMs who are struggling with P-3 to me! How cool is that!? Only thing is that I still want to be able to have time to write my lesson plans! (LPs)

I love acronyms, but TFA <3 s them more...

Day two

We made it. Stayed up too late last night. Got up before my alarm went off. I'm older than I am already. Didn't think it would hit this early. It's 9:43pm and I'm wishing I were in bed an hour ago. I still have more to do.

I am working for five kids.
I'm not working for Teach For America
I'm not working for Harlan Community Academy High School
I'm working for the quiet one, the bright one, the superstar, the easily distracted, and the one who knows they zone out but still fights it every day.
They show up.
I need to too.
Not just physically, but I need to be on my "A game."

I know its cliche', but those five kids?
They are why I:

First Day of School

It was GREAT! We've got a class of five! Some great readers, some slower ones, but all great minds! I'm excited to see where we will end the summer at!

Its the Terrible Monday... when we have two new lesson plans due tomorrow at 8am... I'm completely done with one. One more.

Here are some pics of my classroom. :)The front of our class... It says "Welcome Scholars" on the board. We've got our "5 P's" up (Prompt, Patient, Polite, Prepared, Productive) and the consequences and rewards, and procedures, and of course, and overhead projector!!!


Ms. Dolph, Ms. McMorris (my co-teachers) and Ms. Foster (our faculty adviser) and our big summer goal wall with our commitment letters!!

Lots of pics, but a good story?

There are so many Sbuxes here is almost feels like home. Its funny, 'cuz back home I don't like Sbux, but I don't mind it so much here. I guess its a comfort thing. :D
Ali (from CA) and I decided we were going to go nuts if we didn't see water, so we walked down to Lk. Michigan. We both agreed it looks like an ocean. Its beautiful: for those of you who know: Remember the color of Crescent Lake out on the Peninsula? Its that SAME TEAL COLOR. I think its 'cuz its all snow melt... Lk. Michigan once was a HUGE glacier...

LOOK MOM: A BELALIKA!!!! It was in the window at the Chicago Symphony!


Then we actually DID go to the Taste of Chicago... We went with a bunch of people, but apparently only Ali likes to have her photo taken... lolz


I didn't know a city could be so beautiful... This is just south of the magnificent mile: where all the swanky people shop.


Which is why I thought it was weird to see this there:

Seriously? WHAT!?

And today I worked HARD: Here is the fruit of my labor: Its all the materials I need for Monday and Tuesdays classes... I need to fix Wednesday's plan, and then get cracking on that...

I usually can't sleep the night before the first day of school. It still afftected me, even in college. I can't even imagine what is going to happen tonight, let alone the night before I REALLY have my own class in the fall... I organized a chill out session tonight: A little Transformers action :)
(Don't worry, we're staying IN to watch the first one.. I bought it at Target as a prop! I swear!)