Forward to Ode
The Lord never promised us a rose gardens or bon-bons. In fact, the only time He ever used the word ‘easy’ was when He referred to a yoke. Every journey is accomplished one step at a time. These were our steps of the journey that took us to live in Wolfe City, TX. “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Side note: this is quite debatably an Ode....
Ode to My First Year of Teaching
The joys of the first year are best expressed as growing pains.
Pain comes in many ways.
By setting the alarm for 4:45 am to leave the house at 6:00 am.
With two dressed kids in tow.
Completely ready to go, sans makeup.
Walker drove to work, I drove home.
Our school was renovated and updated over the summer.
The project was not completed before school started.
They updated to central A/C and heat from a furnace and fans.
The days of our Staff Development were spent moving furniture back into the building.
I think I forgot to speak on the first day of school.
We had no computers, internet or role sheets for the first 2 weeks of school.
There were no bells, no technology, no blinds, no communication system with the office.
We are on our feet all day long but,
I was on my feet more at Half Price Books.
The first 5 months, while commuting, we used $100/ wk in gas.
BUT we did carpool!
We listened to NPR every morning.
We sang Raffi songs every day.
We watched Baby Einstein every day.
We watched Sing Along Songs every day.
Sang the ‘Ben’ song every day.
We see deer, chickens, wolves, cows, horses, alpaca, snakes, wild hogs, roadrunners, goats, sheep, vultures and hawks very frequently.
We were stared down by a bull blocking the road.
We became very familiar with Chickfila and Starbucks.
Our daughter can identify both from great distances.
Replaced 3 car tires in the first semester
And patched two since then.
One had a large piece of rebar in it that caused us to be late to a Staff Development meeting.
A wolf watched from a distance
As Walker changed the tire on a rock road.
In his dress slacks.
A/C compressor went out on the car--
The same week we closed on the house.
My father in law came to the rescue.
Between our 2 children there were 10 ear infections
At least. I lost count.
Remy, Ben and I all had pink eye
At three different times.
I lost my voice for a week and a half due to allergies.
As in totally gone.
I had student interpreters those days!
Remy learned the ABC song, Ring around the Rosy, Jesus Loves Me, and she can count to 19—sometimes 20.
She can cut with scissors, glue, identify most colors and shapes.
She learned about friends and friendships.
She is almost 2 ½.
Ben loves Mrs. Sharon and Mrs. Sharon LOVES Ben.
He is her favorite.
We love her because she looks like Sue Lehmann.
Ben’s favorite words are truck and tractor.
He is 15 months.
The center has a Bible based curriculum and 5 wonderful caretakers.
Remy has 11 friends, Ben has 8 friends.
I was evaluated 5 times in the first semester, all positive with constructive feedback.
Learned what a Title I school is and that 62.5% of the students in our school district are on free or reduced lunches.
Their households make less than $25,000.
Became a TELPAS (Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment Standards) holistic rater
Became TALA(Texas Adolescent Literacy Academy) trained and received a $500 stipend.
I logged 50+ hours of Professional Development.
Had an offer on our house to which we placed a counter offer, to which they counter offered for a little more than our asking price.
As long as we paid the buyer’s closing costs.
We replaced the roof for them, THANKFULLY, insurance covered the cost.
We sold Walker’s Ford Ranger, used savings and borrowed money to scrape together enough to pay the closing costs.
We sold our home in 6 weeks only to have the closing put off 4 times by the buyers.
Lost our rental house in Wolfe City due to closing put off.
The day we were set to move out of our home in Frisco, the first one of us got Swine flu.
Remy had it worst and we didn’t find out until 3 days later what it was.
It was a domino effect after that--Mama, Daddy and Ben.
Ben got the good stuff (tamiflu) and his was not nearly as severe as Remy’s.
Daycare required that they stay out for 10 days after having H1N1 or RSV.
Ben got sick 7 days after Remy.
This was almost 3 weeks that they were out of daycare.
Sometimes you have to call in the reserves.
My in-laws cared for us and let us stay with them.
Mom and Aunt Elizabeth and Tony and Annie moved us out.
Completely.
Teachers are allowed 7 sick/ personal days.
By October we had each used 5.
By January we had used them all.
We spent all of our free time working on school stuff.
WE HAD A 2 WEEK VACATION IN DECEMBER!!
Which we used to MOVE, again!
Did I mention we were homeless for 7 weeks?
I shouldn’t say homeless, but nomads.
We lived out of the car and our families let us invade their space
And lives
And refrigerators
And washing machines
And hospitality
We could not have survived without those 7 weeks of nurturing, love, support, caring, helping and giving from those surrounding us.
You sustained us.
Coffee certainly played a role.
Our school had a delayed opening for cold weather and a couple of icy puddles.
Get to wear jeans every Friday.
Other days we pay $5 to wear jeans (all donations are given to the local Clothe a Child)
I sponsored Ready Writing for UIL, three students’ placed.
I judged Impromptu speaking and Spelling.
Walker sponsored Impromptu speaking and Calculator., two students placed.
Took 14 Drama students to compete in Campbell, TX for 2 days.
We performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream.(December)
We did not place, but received much constructive feedback.
Took those same 14 Drama students to the Dallas Music Hall to see Phantom of the Opera and out to eat. (February)
Previous to this, only one of them had been to a live musical or play.
Our school district received a grant for Promethean boards and Active slates.
They are awesome and I am in love.
I want one at home.
Attended a football game that was rained out in the first quarter.
More than half of our football games were cancelled for one reason or another.
The team played 4 games.
Took our children to watch a basketball game and a track meet.
Had detention duty for a week.
In the last 16 years Walker cannot remember vomiting, but he did so twice this year.
Took 52 8th graders to Celebration Station in Mesquite.
We were chaperones at Spring Fling.
Walker painted graffiti art as the backdrop/ decorations for the 80’s grunge/ ‘Rave’ theme.
I danced more than ever before in my whole life.
In the second semester, after our sick days were spent
Ben had RSV with double ear infections. (February)
Another 10 days out of child care.
Another call to the reserves for aide.
Remy had croup with an ear infection.(February)
Remy threw up for 5 days straight not even keeping liquids down.(May)
Another call to the reserves.
Walker and I had a lovely date night to Children’s Hospital.
It really was lovely. Sometimes the biggest comfort
Comes in our most trying times.
I administered every TAKS test the school gave.
Waited 3 ½ months for my class’ scores.
We have an exemplary school district.
My principal said she doesn’t remember the last time there was such a high number of commended writers. Not to brag, but I have the most percentage of commended students in the whole school.
Mr. Plagge had 95% of his math students pass.
Our principal doesn’t even remember the math percentage being any more than 90%.
She’s been here 10 years.
Mr. Plagge was voted Favorite Teacher this year by the student body.
Show off.
As I’m writing this he is paiting a mural in the entryway to the school.
He makes me a very proud wife.
I made the school newspaper ‘Most Memorable Moments’ for when a student punched me in the mouth, a favorite student.
Walker also made the church bulletin a few times, notably as the new co-youth minister in town!
We are FIRST YEAR TEACHERS!!
These are our steps of the journey that brought us to Wolfe City, TX.
As summer approaches I am reminded to “Come to Me, all you who labor and are…over burdened, and I will cause you to rest- I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.” Matthew 11:28
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:15
