My whirlwind road trip starts tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!
Start at Portersville Bible Church at 9AM to load up and leave with PBC teens and adults to caravan down to Manassas, VA. 10 of us are going! We will be blogging about our trip and hope you check out our God moments, our blessings and our hardships. Our group will partner with local churches, service agencies, and homeowners. And over the four days, our help will bolster the efforts of the ongoing work in these communities. We’ll learn new skills, serve in important roles, and have loads of fun as we: help people with projects in their home...assist the elderly…tutor struggling kids…conduct a backyard Bible club…serve at a food bank…staff an activities camp for disabled children…spruce up the grounds of a financially strapped social service agency…engage children at a day camp…and improve the community in other important ways.
July 9th Then I leave the trip early with Heather O. from PBC, and Jessie and Eric (fellow teachers and friends!!!!) and head back to PA to make a pit stop at Grand Central Station (aka my parents' house) and switch bags and head to Ohio to pick up Erin and then up to Michigan we go for Kenwentondy's WEDDING!! It's going to be so great to see them all again and to see people I haven't seen for awhile. It'll be pretty cool to see who else Wendy and Kenton know that I know. AND, I get to see ALLLLL the Rileys. That's a bonus in and of itself! Cherise-I can't wait, girl!
After partying like it's 1999 and a good night's sleep, Cherise, Erin and I are heading over to Chicago to enjoy and explore the windy city! I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!! It's Erin's favorite city, so I'm expecting the time of my life!
July 12-23 Down to Indiana to visit Rach and her new little baby Leona!!! I have known about little Leona since Rach took the pregnancy test. It has been such a LONG pregnancy and I have been counting down the days (literally!) until I get to see her again. I hope to help her a ton.
July 23-25 Head back to PA to go camping with the fam and my adopted families :-) the last weekend of July. I heart camping and campfires and smores!!!
July 26-July 31-Then back to VA to pack up and move houses--I'm moving in with ERIN!!! I'm so excited to start this new part of my life, have a new place, live closer to school AND not have to travel home after hanging out with Erin. That's going to be the best part. A sleepover EVERY NIGHT! :-)
(I know, you're getting tired, but it's only up to August 1!)
Aug 1-3 Then to Wellsboro PA to hang out with my very bestest, Cori Ann Herrlin, who is back from China! I miss her SOOOO much and can't wait to just "be" with her. I know there are frosties in our future. She won't believe how much they changed!
August 4th-14 I FLY TO CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!! Erin and I are hanging out there with her parents and then driving down to San Diego to celebrate her grandparents 60th anniversary. Then back up to San Francisco, and whatever stops we can make on the way. Hollywood anyone??
August 17th is my first day of volleyball practice for my girls where I will scope out the good ones and find out how my team is going to be this year.
And that's all I'm going to write about. Who wants to talk about school starting???
Please pray for us on our trip!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Nephew...
I'm sitting here at my brother's computer, listening to the tune about the "one little duck with the feather in his back, he led the others with a quack quack quack" about 30 times. My darling nephew, 5 months old today, is pulling the cord that makes the song go. He's loving life, bouncing in his chair, making the song play. I'm trying to leave him alone to see if any conversation or "babblefest" will start. He's blowing rasberries, cooing, and all other different noises. He's also creating ANOTHER dirty diaper, so I thought I'd let him finish that process. He's on outfit number 3. I hope I don't wait TOO long to catch this one before the yucky mess. Poor guy's been sick for the last couple of days.
I just can't believe how big he is. 5 months and one day ago, he wasn't in our lives. He wasn't part of our stories, our giggles, our days. He was part of our prayers and hopes and wishes and our love. I'm not just babysitting some kid and getting paid for it. I'm watching my nephew. I'm building into his life. I'm singing him songs about Zaccheus being a wee little man, and about animals on Old McDonald's farm. I'm reading him the bible verses that I'm memorizing. I'm making him giggle, and, oops, cry.
I get to watch him tomorrow and Friday, then 3 days next week. :-) I don't know about the rest of the summer. This might be the biggest chunk of time I get with him this summer.
I think that diaper is done being made. Better get back to my little man.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Welcome back Summer!
No more grading, no more books!
No more students' bored looks!!!!!!!!!!!!
Summer....it's been way too long.
I've missed you so much!
I hope we have a great time together, driving with the windows down, with our hands out the window in the wind.
No more students' bored looks!!!!!!!!!!!!
Summer....it's been way too long.
I've missed you so much!
I hope we have a great time together, driving with the windows down, with our hands out the window in the wind.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The LAST...........
...day of classes.
...computer class.
...Spanish class.
...teacher meeting.
...packed lunch.
...putting of chairs down.
...answering RIDICULOUS questions about EVERYTHING under the sun.
It's the LAST.
WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Kings Dominion tomorrow. Then it's over.
...computer class.
...Spanish class.
...teacher meeting.
...packed lunch.
...putting of chairs down.
...answering RIDICULOUS questions about EVERYTHING under the sun.
It's the LAST.
WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Kings Dominion tomorrow. Then it's over.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Laughs at school
I'm teaching my 3rd graders about masculine and feminine words. Of course, they all think that there are now "girly" words and "boy" words. Only girls can use the girl words, and boys the boy words. It works well with people, all the -a ending words are for females. That makes sense. It gets a little confusing when we switch to objects, and they start to think that only boys can use soap (el jabon) and only girls can sit on a chair (la silla.)
After the lesson, Ben says to me... "I'm really glad that skirt is faldA and not faldO." (because if it was, boys would have to wear skirts.... ;-)
2nd Grade- when the kids are learning or relearning over 200 vocabulary words each year, they get them mixed up. So, I'm trying to give them little word clues to help them remember. I'm giving them little hooks to hang their memories on.
The word for farm is granja. I told them to think of what is grown on a farm (grain) and that would help them remember that farm is granja.
So on Wednesday, I asked 2nd grade, "what is farm in spanish?" and after pondering a bit, a boy replied..."wheatalones?"
Stay tuned for more laughs at school...
After the lesson, Ben says to me... "I'm really glad that skirt is faldA and not faldO." (because if it was, boys would have to wear skirts.... ;-)
2nd Grade- when the kids are learning or relearning over 200 vocabulary words each year, they get them mixed up. So, I'm trying to give them little word clues to help them remember. I'm giving them little hooks to hang their memories on.
The word for farm is granja. I told them to think of what is grown on a farm (grain) and that would help them remember that farm is granja.
So on Wednesday, I asked 2nd grade, "what is farm in spanish?" and after pondering a bit, a boy replied..."wheatalones?"
Stay tuned for more laughs at school...
Monday, April 27, 2009
You're the God of this City...
GO and be ye DOERS of the word and NOT hearers only....
You're the God of this City...
2 hours
4 girls, 2 guys
11 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Pretzels
Bananas
Water
Cookies
God's Word
This is all it took for Wendy, Erin, Jessie, Kenton, Eric, and I to make a difference. We put feet to the Gospel. We put God's word into action. We showed love. We put our Bible study of the book of James into practice.
Tonight we traveled into DC to impact the homeless. It was Jessie's desire to see us do this. It was her listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to get us off our duffs and doing something. My love language is serving. I have been hungry for serving for a VERY LONG TIME. I was so excited for this. We didn't want to take over the city. We weren't going to feed the whole capital. We weren't trying to break a record. We were just FINALLY doing something for God. We were finally allowing us to be used by Him in ways that aren't comfortable or natural or effortless.
We were all scared. But we bathed the outing in prayer by holding hands and calling out to Him for strength, words and courage. We asked God to bring people out who needed food and who needed us. We asked Him to use us.
We found people right away in McPhearson Square, a safe park with a lot of benches. We turned a corner, looking for others. It's such a different thing--LOOKING for the homeless. So many times we find them on accident, creating panic and awkwardness, or they find us. I saw one across the way, and thought....well, we'll get him next time, we are already going this way, I won't say anything. God made me speak up and we turned around and stumbled upon at least 6 other people who needed food in that little triangle of benches. Eric and I approached a man who was sleeping. I told him---You give it to him. I'm scared. He looks at me and says, I'm scared. It was good to know he was scared too. Not scared for my life or worried, but just afraid of the unknown. As we were approaching him, this guy from across the way yelled to me, telling me that he'd take some food.
That is when we met Bob Hope and Rick James. They were pretty cool, chatting it up with us, playing along with their stories. Wendy claimed to be Brittany Spears and Kenton was thought to be named Ken, which then prompted the question..."Which one's Barbie?" Jessie waved her hand and then we laughed about Kenton and Wendy's wedding being off, etc. We talked to them for about 7 minutes. Amazing.
We walked past the sleeping guy Eric approached, and he was now up...eating the sack lunch. We actually got to see our food being a blessing to someone else. We planted a seed and it was growing. Immediately. Not the seed of salvation, but the seed of love.
Another guy asked Kenton to pray for him. That was so cool. Wendy was talking to a guy and asked him how she could pray for him. He said...pray for the weather.
The weather.
How many times do I worry about the weather because of what I'm going to WEAR or how my hair is going to react and how many times do I EVER worry about it affecting my way of life? Of it soaking all of my personal belongings? Or ruining the only picture I have of my loved one? Or causing it to be a night of no sleep?
I have a bed. I have clean sheets. I have the safety of 4 walls around me. I have the promise of a full meal tomorrow and a paycheck and love and friends and health.
This has changed our homegroup. We are going to do this every month. It costs very little. It is worth VERY much. We are going to develop relationships with Bob Hope and Rick James. We are going to shine a light. We are going to get off our duffs and DO something for Christ.
Yes. We are busy. We have so much to do. We minister to kids all day and on the weekends.
We need to do this.
YOU need to do this.
You're the God of this City...
2 hours
4 girls, 2 guys
11 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Pretzels
Bananas
Water
Cookies
God's Word
This is all it took for Wendy, Erin, Jessie, Kenton, Eric, and I to make a difference. We put feet to the Gospel. We put God's word into action. We showed love. We put our Bible study of the book of James into practice.
Tonight we traveled into DC to impact the homeless. It was Jessie's desire to see us do this. It was her listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to get us off our duffs and doing something. My love language is serving. I have been hungry for serving for a VERY LONG TIME. I was so excited for this. We didn't want to take over the city. We weren't going to feed the whole capital. We weren't trying to break a record. We were just FINALLY doing something for God. We were finally allowing us to be used by Him in ways that aren't comfortable or natural or effortless.
We were all scared. But we bathed the outing in prayer by holding hands and calling out to Him for strength, words and courage. We asked God to bring people out who needed food and who needed us. We asked Him to use us.
We found people right away in McPhearson Square, a safe park with a lot of benches. We turned a corner, looking for others. It's such a different thing--LOOKING for the homeless. So many times we find them on accident, creating panic and awkwardness, or they find us. I saw one across the way, and thought....well, we'll get him next time, we are already going this way, I won't say anything. God made me speak up and we turned around and stumbled upon at least 6 other people who needed food in that little triangle of benches. Eric and I approached a man who was sleeping. I told him---You give it to him. I'm scared. He looks at me and says, I'm scared. It was good to know he was scared too. Not scared for my life or worried, but just afraid of the unknown. As we were approaching him, this guy from across the way yelled to me, telling me that he'd take some food.
That is when we met Bob Hope and Rick James. They were pretty cool, chatting it up with us, playing along with their stories. Wendy claimed to be Brittany Spears and Kenton was thought to be named Ken, which then prompted the question..."Which one's Barbie?" Jessie waved her hand and then we laughed about Kenton and Wendy's wedding being off, etc. We talked to them for about 7 minutes. Amazing.
We walked past the sleeping guy Eric approached, and he was now up...eating the sack lunch. We actually got to see our food being a blessing to someone else. We planted a seed and it was growing. Immediately. Not the seed of salvation, but the seed of love.
Another guy asked Kenton to pray for him. That was so cool. Wendy was talking to a guy and asked him how she could pray for him. He said...pray for the weather.
The weather.
How many times do I worry about the weather because of what I'm going to WEAR or how my hair is going to react and how many times do I EVER worry about it affecting my way of life? Of it soaking all of my personal belongings? Or ruining the only picture I have of my loved one? Or causing it to be a night of no sleep?
I have a bed. I have clean sheets. I have the safety of 4 walls around me. I have the promise of a full meal tomorrow and a paycheck and love and friends and health.
This has changed our homegroup. We are going to do this every month. It costs very little. It is worth VERY much. We are going to develop relationships with Bob Hope and Rick James. We are going to shine a light. We are going to get off our duffs and DO something for Christ.
Yes. We are busy. We have so much to do. We minister to kids all day and on the weekends.
We need to do this.
YOU need to do this.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
How do we teach ..............
a love and respect for God?
Today I almost cried. Right in front of all of the 8th graders, I almost lost it.
One of the boys in my class took God's name in vain so I said his name, then he corrected himself in a mockish voice--oh, sorry, goodness....goodness.... with a roll of the eyes and a shake of the head. I responded with an "ummmm...." He then said how he didn't think there was anything wrong with it and so he was going to continue to do it and he didn't care.
My blood boiled.
Out of anger I responded, Commandment number 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord GOD in vain.
This prompted a "yah, well, I don't care" and another shake of the head.
My heart broke.
I stood there, looking at my book, trying to think of what to do next. I couldn't decide if I was more angry or heartbrokened. Tears started to form in my eyes as I could just feel the hurt of his words to the ears of my Savior. Of my GOD.
How do I teach them to love? How do I teach them to fall in love? How do I teach them to care?
Today I almost cried. Right in front of all of the 8th graders, I almost lost it.
One of the boys in my class took God's name in vain so I said his name, then he corrected himself in a mockish voice--oh, sorry, goodness....goodness.... with a roll of the eyes and a shake of the head. I responded with an "ummmm...." He then said how he didn't think there was anything wrong with it and so he was going to continue to do it and he didn't care.
My blood boiled.
Out of anger I responded, Commandment number 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord GOD in vain.
This prompted a "yah, well, I don't care" and another shake of the head.
My heart broke.
I stood there, looking at my book, trying to think of what to do next. I couldn't decide if I was more angry or heartbrokened. Tears started to form in my eyes as I could just feel the hurt of his words to the ears of my Savior. Of my GOD.
How do I teach them to love? How do I teach them to fall in love? How do I teach them to care?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Back to the Blogging World....
Apparently, I'm not updating enough....So, here's a hello to Candy and here's your update :-)
Where to begin.....so much has happened. I know what you're saying in your head (well, Abby, if you would blog more often you would know where to start. It wouldn't be so hard to catch up if you weren't so far behind.) True. True. I have school work to do but if I don't write now, I'll be too tired later. (Don't tell my boss. :~)
Home Life-Isabel moved in over the weekend! YAY!! She's definitely a God-send and super sweet. I can't wait to get to know her better. Erin and I started to think and have found a sticky situation for me coming up in the end of summer. I have to move out before July 31 but I can't fully move in to my "new place" until Jessica gets married and moves out- which is August 22. It's going to be hectic trying to figure out where to put my stuff in that house until it can really be set up. I'm going to vent here, so just bare with me and don't judge. It's frustrating too because I feel like that I should get to set up my stuff because I'm the one going to be staying for a year and she's moving out. I don't want to be inconvienced. I don't want to live out of boxes. I want to set everything up when my parents are here and have their help to get settled. I don't want to have to be really moving in the same week of inservice. I don't think she is going to make it very easy either. I think it's going to be a miserable month. I just need to be flexible (which someone says I always am ;-) and unselfish, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL!
School Life- The 4th quarter has begun! Only 9 more weeks of school! Only 6 more weeks for the 8th graders! Standardized tests are the last week of April, so that will be an AMAZING planning and organizing time for me, seeing that I don't teach anything. :-) I have a whole work WEEK. It's the best blessing of being a "specials" teacher. I love Spanish. I'm teaching them about clothing soon! I brought my doll clothes from home so I could have examples. Clothing, verb conjugation, plurals, adjectives, food, vehicles, etc.
As of right now, I'm scheduled to teach Spanish and computers again. The 3rd subject is yet to be determined. That's always dangerous. That contract that states: Abby Peffer is hereby going to be a Teacher at CRCS next year. How binding is that? So indefinite. I'm afraid that I'll be teaching a new class which is dumb because if I'm going to have to learn and prepare something new, then just let me teach History again. I don't love it, but I want to do something two years in a row. I have YET been able to do that and I'll be going on my 4th year of teaching!
Spring Break- YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, really Boooooo because it's over but YAY!!!!!!!!! because it was so amazing. Vickie and Michael came up from FL and had a job interview in MD. Pray that Mike gets this job so they will be so much closer to me! I miss them a ton and would love from them to be 45 mins away (instead of 15 hours!) I saw them in VA before I left for break. I enjoyed Camelot at Slippery Rock. Amy and Andrea were AMAZING. I loved it. I also enjoyed Seussical! presented by Westminster College. It was soo good! I went with Ty, Kari, and Mom. It was the story of Horton hears a Who with songs and dance and an elephant sitting on an egg that a floosy bird didn't want to take care of. She wanted to be free to flirt and dance and party---not take care of her egg. Hmmmm. Interesting, Dr. Seuss.
On Monday I had a date with my mommy and spent a TON of money at the Outlets and ate yummy chinese food (it's a tradition!). I don't think I've ever spent that much money at one time on CLOTHES in my life! But, I saved over half of my total spending, so that's always great to find out, totalling up the receipts and seeing what I saved. Who would ever buy things at full price??!?!?! I'm always in style....just a couple seasons behind :-) And I haven't bought clothes for over a year, so it was time. Tuesday I went and hung out with my nephew. Ahhhh. He just warms my heart. I could just stare at him for hours. Abby (my sis-in-law) was laughing at me jumping up to get him from his nap at his first whimper. He slept more than 45mins past his time to get up. Of COURSE I was anxious to get him! I can't wait to watch him this summer! I wish it was all summer-and it probably could be-but I'm doing other travels. That's another day and another blog entry.
It was just so great to be home. Home is where you can beat up your brothers and finally NOT get in trouble for it but all the while screaming for your mom to help, tease your dad about getting gray and approve his wardrobe choices, and laugh at past goofs with your mom, eat Chinese and create Easter dinner together. Home is where you can pet and sleep with your kitties. Home is where your shower schedule depends on EVERYONE else in the house-and there's a meeting about it (that vicious cycle!) Home is where you can go into your old camper and just listen. the doors. the cabinets. the cubby hole. the drawers. the lightbuld switch. Who ever knew there were so many memories in sounds. Home is where you look around your church family and name every person, and fill in the reasons why they are important in your life. Home is where I get my fill of much needed hugs. Home is where I get to love on the two greatest kids, who ask great questions, who squeal with delight when I chase them around or throw them on sack chair, and say my name in the sweetest way. (well, ONE says my name....we are still workin' on the other one!) and gives me a card with their picture in it.
I love home.
(Blog about Easter at a later date.)
Love Life- BAH! ................. tbdbG. (to be determined by God.)
Social Life- See 'school life'.
SEE!!! This blog is FOREVER LONG! I talk too much and use too much time!! I need to get to sleep. Or do schoolwork.
Ummmmmm......yep. You're right. I choose sleep. ;-)
Where to begin.....so much has happened. I know what you're saying in your head (well, Abby, if you would blog more often you would know where to start. It wouldn't be so hard to catch up if you weren't so far behind.) True. True. I have school work to do but if I don't write now, I'll be too tired later. (Don't tell my boss. :~)
Home Life-Isabel moved in over the weekend! YAY!! She's definitely a God-send and super sweet. I can't wait to get to know her better. Erin and I started to think and have found a sticky situation for me coming up in the end of summer. I have to move out before July 31 but I can't fully move in to my "new place" until Jessica gets married and moves out- which is August 22. It's going to be hectic trying to figure out where to put my stuff in that house until it can really be set up. I'm going to vent here, so just bare with me and don't judge. It's frustrating too because I feel like that I should get to set up my stuff because I'm the one going to be staying for a year and she's moving out. I don't want to be inconvienced. I don't want to live out of boxes. I want to set everything up when my parents are here and have their help to get settled. I don't want to have to be really moving in the same week of inservice. I don't think she is going to make it very easy either. I think it's going to be a miserable month. I just need to be flexible (which someone says I always am ;-) and unselfish, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL!
School Life- The 4th quarter has begun! Only 9 more weeks of school! Only 6 more weeks for the 8th graders! Standardized tests are the last week of April, so that will be an AMAZING planning and organizing time for me, seeing that I don't teach anything. :-) I have a whole work WEEK. It's the best blessing of being a "specials" teacher. I love Spanish. I'm teaching them about clothing soon! I brought my doll clothes from home so I could have examples. Clothing, verb conjugation, plurals, adjectives, food, vehicles, etc.
As of right now, I'm scheduled to teach Spanish and computers again. The 3rd subject is yet to be determined. That's always dangerous. That contract that states: Abby Peffer is hereby going to be a Teacher at CRCS next year. How binding is that? So indefinite. I'm afraid that I'll be teaching a new class which is dumb because if I'm going to have to learn and prepare something new, then just let me teach History again. I don't love it, but I want to do something two years in a row. I have YET been able to do that and I'll be going on my 4th year of teaching!
Spring Break- YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, really Boooooo because it's over but YAY!!!!!!!!! because it was so amazing. Vickie and Michael came up from FL and had a job interview in MD. Pray that Mike gets this job so they will be so much closer to me! I miss them a ton and would love from them to be 45 mins away (instead of 15 hours!) I saw them in VA before I left for break. I enjoyed Camelot at Slippery Rock. Amy and Andrea were AMAZING. I loved it. I also enjoyed Seussical! presented by Westminster College. It was soo good! I went with Ty, Kari, and Mom. It was the story of Horton hears a Who with songs and dance and an elephant sitting on an egg that a floosy bird didn't want to take care of. She wanted to be free to flirt and dance and party---not take care of her egg. Hmmmm. Interesting, Dr. Seuss.
On Monday I had a date with my mommy and spent a TON of money at the Outlets and ate yummy chinese food (it's a tradition!). I don't think I've ever spent that much money at one time on CLOTHES in my life! But, I saved over half of my total spending, so that's always great to find out, totalling up the receipts and seeing what I saved. Who would ever buy things at full price??!?!?! I'm always in style....just a couple seasons behind :-) And I haven't bought clothes for over a year, so it was time. Tuesday I went and hung out with my nephew. Ahhhh. He just warms my heart. I could just stare at him for hours. Abby (my sis-in-law) was laughing at me jumping up to get him from his nap at his first whimper. He slept more than 45mins past his time to get up. Of COURSE I was anxious to get him! I can't wait to watch him this summer! I wish it was all summer-and it probably could be-but I'm doing other travels. That's another day and another blog entry.
It was just so great to be home. Home is where you can beat up your brothers and finally NOT get in trouble for it but all the while screaming for your mom to help, tease your dad about getting gray and approve his wardrobe choices, and laugh at past goofs with your mom, eat Chinese and create Easter dinner together. Home is where you can pet and sleep with your kitties. Home is where your shower schedule depends on EVERYONE else in the house-and there's a meeting about it (that vicious cycle!) Home is where you can go into your old camper and just listen. the doors. the cabinets. the cubby hole. the drawers. the lightbuld switch. Who ever knew there were so many memories in sounds. Home is where you look around your church family and name every person, and fill in the reasons why they are important in your life. Home is where I get my fill of much needed hugs. Home is where I get to love on the two greatest kids, who ask great questions, who squeal with delight when I chase them around or throw them on sack chair, and say my name in the sweetest way. (well, ONE says my name....we are still workin' on the other one!) and gives me a card with their picture in it.
I love home.
(Blog about Easter at a later date.)
Love Life- BAH! ................. tbdbG. (to be determined by God.)
Social Life- See 'school life'.
SEE!!! This blog is FOREVER LONG! I talk too much and use too much time!! I need to get to sleep. Or do schoolwork.
Ummmmmm......yep. You're right. I choose sleep. ;-)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A series of strange events...
Today was the most bizarre day, and it all happened in the last hour of the day.
At our school we have extended care. Normal, all day teachers don't work this. Who can tolerate the kids at the end of the day for ANOTHER 3 hours after teaching them all day? These kids want to be home. They know they should be home and they go crazy.
For the last 3 days I have worked with 2nd and 3rd graders in extended care because Danielle has been on Spring Break. It has been interesting and stretching. Definitely not making a career change, but it's been okay.
We were all outside today and in the matter of 5 minutes, 3 children got hurt. One girl ran STRAIGHT into a tree, and in the matter of her coming to us, she had a goose egg the entire width of her forehead and blood coming from her mouth. I ran in to get ice while another teacher ran to get her grandma who works at the church. 1 minute later, a girl is SCREAMING on the foursquare court. We run over and find out a kid "threw a rock in the air and it hit her" right below the eye, and she had a black eye by the time we got there. A teacher ran her into the school and got ice. 2 mins later, I hear kids yelling for a teacher and find a kindergartner down for the count after running into a metal pole when chasing someone. He was fine, but we still had to write an accident report for him. About 5 mins later, another kid gets hit in the face with a foursquare ball that has been kicked. He cries and then gets back into the game. Another kid falls flat on his back from the top of a monkey bar thing. His mom was there, and he jumped back up after laying there for a minute, so we didn't have to really deal with that one.
We all felt like it was a horrible dream. Every time we turned around, someone else was hurt. After the 3rd one, I just couldn't handle it. It was such an out of body experience. They were dropping like flies---literally. I thought it a joke after awhile. I thought they were teasing us.
So, moral of the story-don't let kids play on playgrounds. Make them just sit and they'll be fine.
:-)
At our school we have extended care. Normal, all day teachers don't work this. Who can tolerate the kids at the end of the day for ANOTHER 3 hours after teaching them all day? These kids want to be home. They know they should be home and they go crazy.
For the last 3 days I have worked with 2nd and 3rd graders in extended care because Danielle has been on Spring Break. It has been interesting and stretching. Definitely not making a career change, but it's been okay.
We were all outside today and in the matter of 5 minutes, 3 children got hurt. One girl ran STRAIGHT into a tree, and in the matter of her coming to us, she had a goose egg the entire width of her forehead and blood coming from her mouth. I ran in to get ice while another teacher ran to get her grandma who works at the church. 1 minute later, a girl is SCREAMING on the foursquare court. We run over and find out a kid "threw a rock in the air and it hit her" right below the eye, and she had a black eye by the time we got there. A teacher ran her into the school and got ice. 2 mins later, I hear kids yelling for a teacher and find a kindergartner down for the count after running into a metal pole when chasing someone. He was fine, but we still had to write an accident report for him. About 5 mins later, another kid gets hit in the face with a foursquare ball that has been kicked. He cries and then gets back into the game. Another kid falls flat on his back from the top of a monkey bar thing. His mom was there, and he jumped back up after laying there for a minute, so we didn't have to really deal with that one.
We all felt like it was a horrible dream. Every time we turned around, someone else was hurt. After the 3rd one, I just couldn't handle it. It was such an out of body experience. They were dropping like flies---literally. I thought it a joke after awhile. I thought they were teasing us.
So, moral of the story-don't let kids play on playgrounds. Make them just sit and they'll be fine.
:-)
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Volleyball Party!
It's so late, and seeing that I'm not feeling well AT ALL, I should be sleeping.
But tonight was so much fun that I just have to write about it.
Just kidding....I'll write tomorrow.....
But tonight was so much fun that I just have to write about it.
Just kidding....I'll write tomorrow.....
Friday, February 27, 2009
Maybe they don't love me...
I don't even understand. I feel like I'm bending over backwards for them. I feel like I'm helping them by discussing things instead of instantly throwing punishment at them. I feel they don't even care.
I feel like giving up.
In the middle school, demerits are thrown around like candy. They are given at every sound, at every talking, at everything that an authority figure thinks is a problem. Therefore, they are useless. The kids who need them have gotten so many they are ineffective. The situations aren't listened to, the kids feel like they aren't heard and are being blamed for the wrong things. Yes, yes. they probably deserved a demerit for something else, yet weren't caught, so this one is legitimate. True, but no excuse to not listen. So, I don't give many demerits. I feel like there has to be something else I can do to them/give them to do, as impact. Or I'm a big idiot, care too much and am too soft, causing the constant commotion in my classroom because of it. I don't know. Who knows. The balance in middle school is SOO hard. They are so annoying yet are growing up. They are so immature but have so many great thoughts. They are hilarious but extremely disrespectful. They love life yet are so self-centered.
They don't care.
I'm trying something new-if the 8th graders do well throughout the week then I'll provide and allow them to chew gum on Friday. Small incentive to get them to at least try or pretend to care. Today was their first time to have it and it didn't go too badly until they started popping bubbles while they were taking tests. I know that I HATED it when people would make noise during a test. It messed my thinking up SO much, so I try to make it silent.
They don't care.
They are all about themselves and no one else. They want EVERYTHING and will work for nothing. They make me SOOOOOOOOOOO MAD! I work so hard at trying to help them. I bring them gum and mints and let them have it during tests and don't give many demerits. AND THEY DON'T CARE. They are still rude, still disrespectful, laugh at EVERYTHING, still sneaky, still SOOO IRRITATING.
AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH x 100.
Good thing I have a class coming or tears might start. I can't cry and then teach 1st grade. Too many questions and too many soft hearts that are worried about what's wrong with me.
Praise the Lord it's the weekend.
I feel like giving up.
In the middle school, demerits are thrown around like candy. They are given at every sound, at every talking, at everything that an authority figure thinks is a problem. Therefore, they are useless. The kids who need them have gotten so many they are ineffective. The situations aren't listened to, the kids feel like they aren't heard and are being blamed for the wrong things. Yes, yes. they probably deserved a demerit for something else, yet weren't caught, so this one is legitimate. True, but no excuse to not listen. So, I don't give many demerits. I feel like there has to be something else I can do to them/give them to do, as impact. Or I'm a big idiot, care too much and am too soft, causing the constant commotion in my classroom because of it. I don't know. Who knows. The balance in middle school is SOO hard. They are so annoying yet are growing up. They are so immature but have so many great thoughts. They are hilarious but extremely disrespectful. They love life yet are so self-centered.
They don't care.
I'm trying something new-if the 8th graders do well throughout the week then I'll provide and allow them to chew gum on Friday. Small incentive to get them to at least try or pretend to care. Today was their first time to have it and it didn't go too badly until they started popping bubbles while they were taking tests. I know that I HATED it when people would make noise during a test. It messed my thinking up SO much, so I try to make it silent.
They don't care.
They are all about themselves and no one else. They want EVERYTHING and will work for nothing. They make me SOOOOOOOOOOO MAD! I work so hard at trying to help them. I bring them gum and mints and let them have it during tests and don't give many demerits. AND THEY DON'T CARE. They are still rude, still disrespectful, laugh at EVERYTHING, still sneaky, still SOOO IRRITATING.
AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH x 100.
Good thing I have a class coming or tears might start. I can't cry and then teach 1st grade. Too many questions and too many soft hearts that are worried about what's wrong with me.
Praise the Lord it's the weekend.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Kids say....
3rd Grade:
Me: Don't be so dramatic, it'll be okay.
Girl: Yah, don't be a drag queen.
Me (a very quick correction) Drama. Drama queen.
Girl: Or a king, a drama king.
Me: Right, drama king. (phew!)
Kindergartner: You look neat! (what K kid says neat??)
Me to Kindergartner: I like your Pumas. They are really cool. Can I wear them?
Kindergartner: No, they are too small. They are only in kid shoes. But, I think they sell human sizes at the store too.
I look at a 1st grader while I'm teaching, and he's looking at me cross eyed. I stop, look at him, and wait for him to focus. He snaps out of it when he sees I'm looking at him, as if he's not weird for doing it.
Kindergartner: Ms. Senorita Peffer, are we having our siesta today? I'm soo excited for our siesta!! (um...no, it's a fiesta. But, I'd rather have them all come take a nap. That'd be fine too.)
Me: Don't be so dramatic, it'll be okay.
Girl: Yah, don't be a drag queen.
Me (a very quick correction) Drama. Drama queen.
Girl: Or a king, a drama king.
Me: Right, drama king. (phew!)
Kindergartner: You look neat! (what K kid says neat??)
Me to Kindergartner: I like your Pumas. They are really cool. Can I wear them?
Kindergartner: No, they are too small. They are only in kid shoes. But, I think they sell human sizes at the store too.
I look at a 1st grader while I'm teaching, and he's looking at me cross eyed. I stop, look at him, and wait for him to focus. He snaps out of it when he sees I'm looking at him, as if he's not weird for doing it.
Kindergartner: Ms. Senorita Peffer, are we having our siesta today? I'm soo excited for our siesta!! (um...no, it's a fiesta. But, I'd rather have them all come take a nap. That'd be fine too.)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
And her name is.....Isabel!
So many times we think that God doesn't hear. Or that God doesn't know what He's doing. OR, that He really doesn't know what we are going through. But....He does.
It's been a battle with searching for another roommate. Who in the WORLD needs a place from April until July in Lorton? NO ONE. I posted it on a church site and then, when no one was answering, I put it on Craig's List. (Not my brother....the website.... :) I got some pretty interesting responses. Most people kept saying they wanted to know if they could "send me money in excess" and have me "send the extra on to Mr. Blah blah." Dad, dear ol' dad saved me from scam after scam. What they are doing is sending you a junk cashier's check, waiting for you to send the extra to someone else, and then the cashier's check is no good-you're out of money AND don't have a new roommate.
I had given up, only finding people looking for roommates, not people looking for places to stay and decided that I'm going to have to just endure this trial of paying 230 extra each month.
AND THEN....Isabel emailed.
I thought it was going to be someone else from Craig's List and was disappointed and skpetical from the start. THEN I saw that she got my info from McLean Bible website...and I got a little excited. We emailed back and forth, Wendy and I trying to see if she was a real person.
She's real. We met her tonight. She's probably going to be our new roommate.
WOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! She's super cute, solid, has a hold on life (unlike some others...) has friends, has a full time job and loves her family. She loved how big the space is and is so grateful that there's a dresser for her to use. It's the same distance for her from work and the traffic wasn't bad. AND.....AND....she has a pretty nice sized TV. YESSSsssssssssss! We're sold. :-)
I'm going to email her tomorrow and tell her that Wendy and I are 100% go for her to come in April and get a read on how she feels about it. I'll let you know if we need help moving her in! AND if she doesn't like it, we even have another person who is looking for our exact situation and needs to leave in July.
Our neighbor was talking to us, telling us about how many times we think God's timing should be NOW and that it's going to be totally wrong if it isn't--and then bam! He shows us again and again and again that He has it under control. It wasn't past His limit. It wasn't outside of His reach or His will.
Prayer requests-I haven't done this before, I don't think, but here it goes.
Wendy's fiance really needs a job and wisdom on future decisions.
I need to find a place to live in the fall, or 2 more roommates to come live here. There are so many things that are up in the air.
And yet...we need to remember that even though it feels past our limits, God knows. He has other limits.
He knows.
It's been a battle with searching for another roommate. Who in the WORLD needs a place from April until July in Lorton? NO ONE. I posted it on a church site and then, when no one was answering, I put it on Craig's List. (Not my brother....the website.... :) I got some pretty interesting responses. Most people kept saying they wanted to know if they could "send me money in excess" and have me "send the extra on to Mr. Blah blah." Dad, dear ol' dad saved me from scam after scam. What they are doing is sending you a junk cashier's check, waiting for you to send the extra to someone else, and then the cashier's check is no good-you're out of money AND don't have a new roommate.
I had given up, only finding people looking for roommates, not people looking for places to stay and decided that I'm going to have to just endure this trial of paying 230 extra each month.
AND THEN....Isabel emailed.
I thought it was going to be someone else from Craig's List and was disappointed and skpetical from the start. THEN I saw that she got my info from McLean Bible website...and I got a little excited. We emailed back and forth, Wendy and I trying to see if she was a real person.
She's real. We met her tonight. She's probably going to be our new roommate.
WOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! She's super cute, solid, has a hold on life (unlike some others...) has friends, has a full time job and loves her family. She loved how big the space is and is so grateful that there's a dresser for her to use. It's the same distance for her from work and the traffic wasn't bad. AND.....AND....she has a pretty nice sized TV. YESSSsssssssssss! We're sold. :-)
I'm going to email her tomorrow and tell her that Wendy and I are 100% go for her to come in April and get a read on how she feels about it. I'll let you know if we need help moving her in! AND if she doesn't like it, we even have another person who is looking for our exact situation and needs to leave in July.
Our neighbor was talking to us, telling us about how many times we think God's timing should be NOW and that it's going to be totally wrong if it isn't--and then bam! He shows us again and again and again that He has it under control. It wasn't past His limit. It wasn't outside of His reach or His will.
Prayer requests-I haven't done this before, I don't think, but here it goes.
Wendy's fiance really needs a job and wisdom on future decisions.
I need to find a place to live in the fall, or 2 more roommates to come live here. There are so many things that are up in the air.
And yet...we need to remember that even though it feels past our limits, God knows. He has other limits.
He knows.
Friday, February 6, 2009
A Night at the Movies
I don't know if anyone will appreciate this, but I need to write it down for me. Feel free to read over my shoulder.
Tonight was such a fun and funny night. I laughed so much tonight.
Tonight was a girls night out with Erin and Wendy. (Remember, Wendy is my roommate and a 1st grade teacher at school, Erin is my best friend here and a 3rd grade teacher at school) and we decided that we'd go see Pink Panther tonight. Erin made a crack about seeing Mike (our Sunday school teacher/associate pastor) and Cathy, seeing that the last 3 times we've gone to the movies, they are coming in right after us, usually to see the same movie. We are a group of 20somethings and they are 55+. Hilarious.
As we are walking, I saw one of my 8th graders and his sister, which was my 8th grader last year. Then, in the automated ticket line, I see an 8th grader, a 7th grader, three 5th graders and a 2nd grader and a mom. The 2nd and 5th graders are soo pumped to see me. We talk for a little bit and laugh, then they head off to buy snacks.
Dialogue as follows:
8th Grade boy: Ms. Peffer, what are you seeing?
Me: Pink Panther.
8th: Noo!! Really?
8th Grader's mom: Oh yah? So you'll keep an eye on them? ;-)
Me: Nooo! It's after hours. I'm not responsible for any of them.
(I purchase ticket)
Same 8th Grader returns to me: Ms. Peffer, were you serious about seeing Pink Panther?
Me: Yes, see? (show ticket stub)
8th: Man! I gotta tell 7th grade boy! Hey! She is! She's wasn't kidding!
Then I see 6th grader and her dad walk in, laugh and buy tickets, then go back out. Erin goes and gets seats before we are stuck near the kids. I see my favorite 8th grade girl and yell down to her. HEY!!!! She waves with embarrassment. :-) Mission accomplished.
We sit and then 5th graders and 2nd grader come and sit right behind us. I loved it. Their comments and laughs were priceless. They made the movie 3x as funny with their crazy comments.
A guy is lying on the floor and 5th grader asks: what? they aren't even going to help him up?
Me,turning around: S, he's dead!
S: Ohhhhh.......I thought he was asleep!
D: Look at that horrible dress!
J: (missed a line about foreplay, everyone is laughing) What did he say?
I love it when they don't get jokes. It's great.
We are leaving the theater and I see my newest 8th grader and he doesn't look at me, yet he's saw me.
Me: Hey A!
A: DON'T say anything!!!! (he said this in such a way that he was embarrassed but liked it enough to make a joke out of it.)
Me: oh um....so sorry.... and put my hand at the side of my face so he can't see me.
We walk outside and there's a posse of 7th and 8th graders. There's at least 13 of them. They all look and act so funny, giving little weird waves and small comments. We laughed and laughed and walked over to get icecream. About 5 mins later, as our backs are turned to the door, Erin sees the posse coming to the shop. They see us, double over in laughter/agony, point and then refuse to come in because we are in there. Again, we errupt with laughter.
There were so many great things that I gathered from this experience.
I love being a teacher.
Tonight was such a fun and funny night. I laughed so much tonight.
Tonight was a girls night out with Erin and Wendy. (Remember, Wendy is my roommate and a 1st grade teacher at school, Erin is my best friend here and a 3rd grade teacher at school) and we decided that we'd go see Pink Panther tonight. Erin made a crack about seeing Mike (our Sunday school teacher/associate pastor) and Cathy, seeing that the last 3 times we've gone to the movies, they are coming in right after us, usually to see the same movie. We are a group of 20somethings and they are 55+. Hilarious.
As we are walking, I saw one of my 8th graders and his sister, which was my 8th grader last year. Then, in the automated ticket line, I see an 8th grader, a 7th grader, three 5th graders and a 2nd grader and a mom. The 2nd and 5th graders are soo pumped to see me. We talk for a little bit and laugh, then they head off to buy snacks.
Dialogue as follows:
8th Grade boy: Ms. Peffer, what are you seeing?
Me: Pink Panther.
8th: Noo!! Really?
8th Grader's mom: Oh yah? So you'll keep an eye on them? ;-)
Me: Nooo! It's after hours. I'm not responsible for any of them.
(I purchase ticket)
Same 8th Grader returns to me: Ms. Peffer, were you serious about seeing Pink Panther?
Me: Yes, see? (show ticket stub)
8th: Man! I gotta tell 7th grade boy! Hey! She is! She's wasn't kidding!
Then I see 6th grader and her dad walk in, laugh and buy tickets, then go back out. Erin goes and gets seats before we are stuck near the kids. I see my favorite 8th grade girl and yell down to her. HEY!!!! She waves with embarrassment. :-) Mission accomplished.
We sit and then 5th graders and 2nd grader come and sit right behind us. I loved it. Their comments and laughs were priceless. They made the movie 3x as funny with their crazy comments.
A guy is lying on the floor and 5th grader asks: what? they aren't even going to help him up?
Me,turning around: S, he's dead!
S: Ohhhhh.......I thought he was asleep!
D: Look at that horrible dress!
J: (missed a line about foreplay, everyone is laughing) What did he say?
I love it when they don't get jokes. It's great.
We are leaving the theater and I see my newest 8th grader and he doesn't look at me, yet he's saw me.
Me: Hey A!
A: DON'T say anything!!!! (he said this in such a way that he was embarrassed but liked it enough to make a joke out of it.)
Me: oh um....so sorry.... and put my hand at the side of my face so he can't see me.
We walk outside and there's a posse of 7th and 8th graders. There's at least 13 of them. They all look and act so funny, giving little weird waves and small comments. We laughed and laughed and walked over to get icecream. About 5 mins later, as our backs are turned to the door, Erin sees the posse coming to the shop. They see us, double over in laughter/agony, point and then refuse to come in because we are in there. Again, we errupt with laughter.
There were so many great things that I gathered from this experience.
- I am everyone of those kids' teacher. I knew them all. Wendy and Erin don't know them, but I have some sort of connection with each one of them.
- I LOVED seeing how awkward and embarrassed they were as middle schoolers seeing their teacher in public.
- I think it's sooo funny that they acted as if we were old and decrepit and it would be weird to see their teachers at a movie theater.
- It was a bunch of kids, hanging out together, from the same Christian school. Sometimes kids just endure their Christian school friends until they can hang out with their other friends. This was a good group of kids seeing a decent movie.
- They wouldn't DARE eat ice cream at the same place as us, even AFTER we saw them come and then walk away.
- I truly do love them. I loved seeing them tonight.
- They are going to talk about this for a week. And....some might not ever forget it. :-)
I love being a teacher.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The bee is dead.
They have killed the bee!!!
For the past year and 1/2, there has been a "bee" buzzing in my light in the Spanish classroom. There have been multiple requests to get it fixed and nothing has been done about it. Until today.
This is the routine thing that happens with this light. You turn the light on, it buzzes for about 15 minutes. Then, the light dims a bit, and in 5 mins, because I haven't moved around in the classroom, the light turns off. As soon as I stand up, the light turns on, and the buzzing begins again.
OR, I finally get the buzzing to stop and I have to turn the lights off so my students can see the projector and the powerpoint. Then, I turn the lights back on and BBBBBBZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... how in the world can students think with that?? They couldn't. I couldn't. I would have this sense of HUGE relief when the buzzing would stop.
Today was the day of the killing.
He came in and change the little box in it that was suuuuupppper hot (the balast). There was melted plastic and other stuff that showed him that this should have been changed long ago. It could have been a fire hazard.
So, no more buzzing, no more bee and no more irritation!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!
For the past year and 1/2, there has been a "bee" buzzing in my light in the Spanish classroom. There have been multiple requests to get it fixed and nothing has been done about it. Until today.
This is the routine thing that happens with this light. You turn the light on, it buzzes for about 15 minutes. Then, the light dims a bit, and in 5 mins, because I haven't moved around in the classroom, the light turns off. As soon as I stand up, the light turns on, and the buzzing begins again.
OR, I finally get the buzzing to stop and I have to turn the lights off so my students can see the projector and the powerpoint. Then, I turn the lights back on and BBBBBBZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... how in the world can students think with that?? They couldn't. I couldn't. I would have this sense of HUGE relief when the buzzing would stop.
Today was the day of the killing.
He came in and change the little box in it that was suuuuupppper hot (the balast). There was melted plastic and other stuff that showed him that this should have been changed long ago. It could have been a fire hazard.
So, no more buzzing, no more bee and no more irritation!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!
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