Fortune favors the brave

Before I begin...get your arse to youtube and check out Daler Mahendi. The songs " Tunak Tunak Tun" and "Bolo ta ra ra" will consume your soul and force you to do ridiculous dances that you didn't even know were possible.

In other news, I'm scared my friends. I already feel as though I am reaching the doldrums of student teaching. This past week was incredible since it was a short week and I had a great workshop to look forward to (By the way, Orange Lutheran High School is still blowing my mind). This coming week as well as the one that follows will be full and will separate the men from the boys. I have a great deal of planning to do and I am just hoping that something meaningful comes out of it for these kids. I had my first setback last Thursday while I was grading tests for the first full chapter that I taught. So many of them failed! I felt like I failed as well. I'm not sure what I need to change for this coming chapter to make sure there is more success, but after giving my pre-assessment...it's gonna be a long road. Most of my students are under the impression that the system of checks and balances must have something to do with financial success. Wish me luck!

I do have something sweet to look forward to this week. First of all, FIFA 11 comes out on Tuesday. Secondly...GLEE! When the rigors of the work week become too much to bear, find a mind-numbing video game and or television show and remove yourself from reality for an hour or so.

This week, I'm gonna inspire my choir. They are gonna get some serious excitement from Mr. Jenkins. If they thought I was weird before...they have no idea. Cheers!

Sunday

First of all, I'm not ready for the cold weather. Jessica and I learned the hard way that living in a house made entirely of wood is not conducive to staying warm when the temperatures drop. It has been a steady 65-68 degrees all day long...which really isn't all that cold, but it certainly is not warm. Anywho, cold or not, it is still the weekend and I still have yet another day off before I go back into the zoo that is Seward High. Yes, tomorrow is a "professional work day" (aka. It's Homecoming week and nobody wants a full five days of that sort of madness) so I will not being teaching. Rather, I will make a trip to Lincoln and apply for my Nebraska teacher's license. Jessica and I are planning on making a day of it with lunch somewhere and perhaps a bit of shopping. I am currently writing lesson plans (slash watching football) and wondering how I can possibly make the Articles of Confederation remotely interesting for sophomores.

In other news, I am realizing more and more that I am much funnier than I am given credit for. I make jokes all the time in the classroom and those kids eat it up like candy. Take that Bethany Kuhnle, I told you so (I'm also destroying you in Fantasy Football).

By the way, for all you choral music enthusiasts out there, Eric Whitacre is just weeks away from releasing the first album with his newly formed Eric Whitacre Singers. The cd, Light and Gold will feature many of his classic works, but recorded for the first time under his direction. I for one and stoked beyond belief. I love having new cd's to look forward to and this new release will definitely break up the monotony of student teaching. I hope all is going well for all of you. Keep living the life. Cheers!

Questions my students like to ask

Kody: Mr. Jenkins, what's being married like?

Me: Now is not the time to talk about that, finish your test.

Trevor: Dude, can I call you Master Jenkins?

Me: Tomorrow

This next one occurred today while I was using my cellphone as a stopwatch for the activity

Curtis: Nice phone Mr. J (I let that one slide), is it an iphone?

Me: No

Curtis: Can I see it?

Me: Is your group done?

Curtis: No

Me: No

Curtis: Can I see what type it is?

Me: Can you tell me what the Stamp Act is?

Curtis: Touche

Mary and Curtis are laughing in the back of the classroom after I assigned a short reading for them to do.

Me: Is something funny in the reading?

Mary: Giggle...No...Giggle

Me: What's going on then?

Curtis: I asked Mary if she would kiss George Washington and she said no.

Me: Why is that funny?

Curtis: Then I asked her if she knew who George Washington was

Me: And?

Curtis: Think about it...

Me: Touche

These are all true stories

Cheers!

Happiness is...

Now that I am living life on the other side of the desk, I realize how important the weekend is to my overall well-being. The simply joy of waking up at 8 rather than 6:30, the countless time spent not standing, and of course...NO 10th GRADERS! I loved weekends before, but they are vital now. This one in particular is important because I start teaching for real tomorrow. I'm talking about making my own lesson plans and teaching from the start to end of the school day. It should be a gas. My main goal is to still have the desire to teach once this is all over. I have some great kids...and a few...well...children who could use some guidance. I guess that's why I got into this gig right? We'll see how it shakes out. I promise to do a better job at keeping you all updated. Cheers!

p.s.- Happiness is...homemade meatloaf from my wonderful wife

p.p.s.- Go Ravens!