| i think she really means it…

A Journey

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 | Sara the Mommy, Sara the Wife | 2 Comments

I’ve been on quite a journey these last 9 months or so. Although, it really started in September 2009…

I’ve always been a planner. I had my whole life planned out during my twenties. I was going to go to college, meet a great man, and get married. CHECK! Then, I was going to be a teacher and enjoy life as a newlywed. CHECK! In my later twenties, I planned to buy a home with my husband and enjoy a little traveling. CHECK! I figured we’d start a family by the time I turned 30…

It’s a little scary to me how planned I made my life. Through God’s incredible blessings, we’ve had AMAZING opportunities these last several years. However, I will never forget the September evening Nate and I sat in the car in the parking lot at church and I suddenly realized I didn’t want to plan my life anymore. I was tired of having all the little ducks in a row and was ready to jump in, completely, into starting a family. I never really thought I’d reach that point, being the control freak that I am, but I’m so glad I did!

Thus brings us to this moment in time. I’m quite the “thinker” and tend to analyze just about everything in life, so bear with me… › Continue reading

Underperforming Schools

Sunday, March 14th, 2010 | Random Thoughts, Sara the Teacher | No Comments

I just found out this morning that the high school I graduated from in 1998 made the bottom 5% of underperforming schools in the State this week.

I graduated from A.B. Miller High School in Fontana. It was a great place to go to school. I was involved in the AP program, I sang in the choir, I ran track and cross-country, and I was a leader in a couple of clubs over the 4 years I was there. The school population was diverse (ethnically speaking as well as socio-economically). The teachers I had were outstanding. I had a solid group of friends. I look back on high school with fond memories.

And now, 12 years later, the school has been identified as one of the most “underperforming schools” in California. My heart is sad. Not because of what has happened to our school, but because politicians still think they can rank schools, teachers, and precious students according to some unrealistic scale of “success!” Among my group of friends who graduated in the 90s from A.B. Miller are teachers, architects, EMTs, stay-at-home-moms, accountants, reading specialists, speech therapists, and engineers. How could all of those students come out of such a “low-performing” institution? Clearly, the level of success our high schoolers have in the future is more a reflection of their family and personal desire and motivation to achieve high standards than the ranking of schools by the government!

I feel very passionate about this (as if you couldn’t tell!). So many of us who go into education do it because our hearts give us no other options. Yes, there are some lousy teachers out there (and I had a few over the years), but there are some phenomenal people in our schools as well. As Christ-followers, our calling goes even beyond where our hearts lead us. We know, without a shadow of a doubt, that our classroom is our mission field. We have been called by our Creator to love his kids…and NOT just the ones in higher achieving, more exclusive communities.

I am an advocate for public education. Nate and I plan to send our children into our community’s schools. We are a part of the education process as parents. Our children have a responsibility to their family and to themselves to work toward success. The government (state and federal) will not scare me about our schools. I know that to the politicians, our kids are nothing but numbers and test scores; as well as one of the greatest strains on the economy. However, I choose to believe that God is greater than any of that. Public education is a wonderful and important part of our community. The success of our future generations lies in relationships (with friends, families, teachers, community members, and churches), not in the numbers and lists provided by out-of-touch government officials.

Teenagers.

Friday, March 12th, 2010 | Random Thoughts | 2 Comments

One of the challenges of working with teenagers is that it’s their job to push the boundaries.

We’re at the time of year where my students have started challenging me on some of my “rules.” They just want to be sure the rules still apply (after all, it has been over 6 months since the start of the school year). It’s a never ending job enforcing the rules and remaining “firm, fair, and consistent.” But here’s the funny part…when I actually call the kids out on their behavior, they don’t really act surprised. For example, I had a girl stay after school today to serve a 30 minute detention because she’s been tardy to Homeroom 4 times in the last few weeks. She cleaned the desks, straightened chairs, and graded mad minutes. At the end she smiled and said, “Have a nice weekend, Mrs. Jones.” I just made her stay after school, on a Friday, no less. Yet, she still wishes me a good weekend?

Another student, who I ran with today during the jogathon, commented to me that I’m going to make a good mom because I call him out on things when he knows he should act better. I just had a very serious conversation with this kid yesterday outside of the classroom about how he needed to act more appropriately in class and get on task. I was quite stern about it. He said that was a good thing? Apparently that’s the type of discipline that works for him.

I guess discipline really is about love, though. I have expectations, I’ve given good reason for those expectations, and I hold every student accountable to them. It’s not my job to be their friend. It is my job, however to model respect and train them to be responsible, decent people in our little community of a classroom. That’s the ultimate sign of love.

It’s just interesting that they really do, deep down, want that too.

The Reality Is…

Friday, March 5th, 2010 | Random Thoughts | 1 Comment

My last post was quite positive. This is a fun time of the school year. You should see my classroom. We’ve conducted class surveys, set semester long goals (and they’re hanging on a tree at the back of the room), learned how to buy a car, analyzed class data, and figured out what percentage of our day we spend doing various things. However, this is one of the darkest times of the school year. The newness of the beginning of 2nd semester has worn off. The teachers and their styles are totally “old news” (even the ones who play games most days!). Eighth grade promotion is still months away. This is perhaps the most discouraging quarter of the school year. I try and stay positive. I know God blesses me everyday with the strength and excitement I need to work with middle schoolers. The reality is, however, life at the middle school level is sometimes demoralizing. Here is a summary of the “tough” events from the week:

I submitted 3rd quarter progress reports this afternoon. 30 of my 120 kids are failing. 25% of my students are failing!! Where have I gone wrong? “You can lead a horse to water…yada, yada, yada.” It just makes me sad.
50 of my students (including the 30 above) will be getting a progress report because they are earning a C- or below. )-:
I had a girl in one period suspended today for buying marijuana. She bought it from one of the top students in the school.
I have a boy in one of my classes who was suspended all last week for selling weed. He missed all of my classes again this week, simply because he did not come to school. And, may I mention, he has a tattoo on his forearm that his mom approved of him getting. *sigh*
Another boy ditched my class twice this week. He was here at school earlier and his friends came looking for him after school, but he just thinks he doesn’t need to attend my class. (I’m pretty sure he’s high many days as well).
I have a girl who stole $53 worth of books from the school book fair today. She stole books!
Another one of my students (a boy) went to a teacher friend today to tell him a girl in his social group is making fun of him calling him a “fag” and “gay.” He was so distraught he literally sat in my friend’s classroom and cried!

My heart simply aches for these kids! Dear Jesus, am I having any influence on these precious beings You’ve created? I worked 52 hours this week FOR MY KIDS. Not that I regret it. I just am so sad that so many of them come from situations where life really is that bad. Oh, God, send some mercy into my classroom. May it be a safe place for these kids who long for so much more than this life on earth can give. Amen.

The Fun Time of the School Year

Friday, February 5th, 2010 | Random Thoughts, Sara the Teacher | No Comments

Second semester started this week. This is when teaching middle school really gets fun. I’ve set up my routines and procedure and we’ve created a positive classroom climate. The students know what to expect (for the most part) each day and they seem to come to class eager for daily adventures. Don’t get me wrong, I still work with adolescents who like to break out the attitude, but overall, life is good!

Protected: A Letter From a Student

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 | Random Thoughts | Enter your password to view comments.

We were just wondering if, um,….

Thursday, January 14th, 2010 | Sara the Mommy, Sara the Teacher | No Comments

So, I haven’t told very many of my co-workers that we’re expecting. I’ve been wearing “chunky” clothes for the past two weeks to cover up my growing (but small) belly because I just haven’t been ready to tell my students. Well, Tuesday, a couple of girls in my 5th period class were snickering and whispering to themselves. They even asked my co-teacher if I was expecting. She told them to ask me, but of course, they didn’t.

Today is Thursday. I was informed by another teacher (and friend) that this small group of girls was growing and now several of my students from different classes (!) were wondering if I’m pregnant. They were discussing it in her homeroom this morning. She told them they should talk to me.

It’s not that I don’t want the students to know, it’s just that I was trying to hold off for 1 more week. Well, I can see that’s not going to happen! So, today during SSR, I pulled out the 3 girls responsible for this little “rumor” and asked them if they wanted to ask me a question. It was quite cute the way they all giggled and looked at each other. Italy was the only brave one among them. “Well,” she started, “We were just wondering if” *giggle, gigle* “I mean, um, are you…” and this she literally whispered “pregnant?”

I smiled and told them I am, and they all sighed and gave me a hug. I figured I’d make it a learning point and let them know they were always welcome to ask me instead of asking around. After all, I heard from someone who heard from someone else, and boy, if I wasn’t pregnant, I sure would feel pretty lousy to think that all of these people now think I’ve gained weight that I could be pregnant! I told them it was better just to ask me up front. Afterall, I can be a really nice person. (-:

So, the word is out. And the best part is, I don’t have to wear “chunky” clothes anymore!!

Thirty Years

Sunday, January 10th, 2010 | Random Thoughts | No Comments

It’s official. I’m thirty years old today. The funny thing is, I don’t feel any different or paranoid about getting older. It’s supposed to be a major milestone, but it just feels like any other birthday…really.

The truth is, I’m so grateful for where I am (we are) in life. God is truly amazing! His blessings never cease to amaze me. I stand so humbled to have been given such a wonderful life thus far. As I look back over this past decade, I am so proud of and thankful for the experiences I’ve had. There is nothing more I could possibly wish for!

At 21, I ran my first marathon (I’ve run 5 more since and 4 half marathons).
At 22, I graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts.
At 22 and 1/2, I married the man of my dreams.
At 24, I earned my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and enjoyed an incredibly challenging year as a 1st grade teacher at Mayflower Elementary School.
At 25, we moved to West L.A., where I began a whole new adventure as a Middle School Math teacher (and I’ve loved almost every minute of it!).
At 26, we went on a mission trip to Kenya, where we met Hilary, the boy we’ve been supporting for 5 years now. My perspective on the world, and my understanding of our great God, has never been the same!
At 26 and 1/2, we bought our first home (and it’s absolutely perfect!).
At 29, we visited Germany, Amsterdam, and Salzburg. A trip of a lifetime.
At 29 and 1/2, I became pregnant with our first child.

I’m overwhelmed by God’s goodness. I look forward to another decade of trusting Him and growing as a woman, wife and mommy. I can’t even imagine the adventures He has in store!

Anne Lamott

Friday, October 23rd, 2009 | Random Thoughts | No Comments

I discovered Anne Lamott a few months ago. I can’t seem to get enough of her writing lately. It started with “Traveling Mercies,” and then I was on to “Grace Eventually.” I picked up a copy of “Operating Instructions” (signed by Lamott herself!) at out local thrift shop and soaked up every word. I tried one of her novels, “Blue Shoe,” and now I’m on to “Bird by Bird.” I’ve never considered myself a writer or thought I’d be interested in writing, but her writings have really been inspiring me. A couple of my co-workers and I have started a book club. Today was our first meeting (we’re reading/discussing “Bird by Bird”). It’s fun to be a part of a group– 2 Language Arts teachers, a Social Studies teacher, and me. I wonder if anything will become of this…

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i think she really means it…