New School Year.

This will be my third year of teaching freshmen and sophomores at Capistrano Valley High School. This is a picture of my 1st period English II class last semester. They were so much fun, and I am going to miss seeing some of them all the time. This picture was taken when I got back from my honeymoon in Maui. They threw me a party with cake and presents. They just didn't want to do what was on our lesson plan for that day.

I absolutely love love love teaching English to High School students. They are amazing. Students are so full of searching, unique ideas, sillyness, hurt, words, stories and capability. They amaze me every day. The reason I went into the teaching profession is simple. I remember High School as being a time that shaped my future. I believe that it is a time, there are many, that help young people find who they desire to become. I wanted to teach because I wanted to love. I want to inspire, to listen, to believe, to be patient, to remember, to support and to always leave them with hope in themselves.

I am more than excited about this new year of teaching. I cannot wait to meet my 160 English students tomorrow! There will be difficult times this semester with some of them, but I hope to remember my passion for them, my purpose for teaching, and my experiences when I was their age. I will learn their names, listen to their stories, and teach them the most important things: discipline, hard work, writing with feeling, teamwork, and respect. I have the opportunity to have so many young lives cross my path. I am the one who is blessed by them. I truly believe that God has a specific reason for placing them in one of my 4 English classes. I am excited to learn from them. I am excited to work hard for them. I am just excited to be a teacher and begin a near year.

Last year was my second year, and it was one of the most difficult years of my life. 1) Year 2 of BTSA... which is Beginning Teach Support & Assessment. All we did was fill out paperwork, write lesson plans, and prove that we could accommodate all learners. 2) My husband proposed August 29th, 2007... which was the day before work started. So, of course, I was planning a wedding all last year. 3) It was only my second year of teaching English, so... while I was confident, I still had and have so much to learn. 4) It was my first year at Head Coach of the Girls Basketball program. I wasn't expecting it to be as tough as it was. The parents were often mean and unsupportive, the paperwork was/is never ending, and my team was young, so it took a lot of patience and encouragement as we played some top teams in Orange County. As tough as it was, I am so glad I am the Head Coach. 5) My little brother Timothy fell 40 feet onto cement and almost died. That was in January, and my life stopped for a couple months until I saw that Tim had a life to lead still, and he was going to make it. 6) I got married!!! It was the best thing that has ever happened to me. Although it was a more than difficult year for me, it is one that I'll never forget. The only way I made it through was by being loved by God, carried by Him, and with the love and strength of my husband.

So. I feel as though this is going to be an amazing year. I hope God has beautiful things in store. I want to learn to seek Him more and see His plans for me amidst the haste of teaching High School.

May the new school year begin with God's guidance, peace and preparedness.