Too long...

So it has been ridiculously long since I've written anything in here.  In my defense I've been super busy and right now I should probably be doing something more productive, but that's just the way things are :)
School has been good but so overwhelming.  Treading water doesn't even begin to describe what I've been doing to survive and stay on top of things, but it's the closest I can get to it. 
Teaching is still an adventure.  I am doing all that I can to learn and grow and not mess up.  But many times that is just unavoidable.
BUT after 3 months or so together, the students and I get along great...Until they say something they shouldn't.  Their favorite game is either 1 Ask Random questions to get me off topic, or 2 Ask whatever they can about my personal life.  Half of them think I have a boyfriend, Half of them think I'm single, and who knows what everyone else thinks. And then there is the guessing game of my age.  Nothing tops the comment about me being like her Mom (37) but usually I get pinned with 26 or so...And then their favorite topic: "Miss Brady, are you married?"--Sometimes I think they don't know the difference between Miss and Mrs.--but I tell them the truth with the married thing.  The other day one of my students asked me that and then followed with "Well you should get on that..."---thank you sir, glad I can get that from school as well as other places.  But after I tell them I'm not married they turn right around with "Well, do you have a boyfriend?" and that is when I turned deaf and mute.  I've gotten very good at changing the subject.
And THEN there's the deal when they have a boyfriend....the other day a girl came in for class and goes "Miss Brady, I just love him so much" "No, you don't" "Yes I do!" "No you don't.." "Ok so I may not love him, but I really REALLY like him."...hormonal teenagers are so fun.
And then there are the rough days when they are still trying to figure themselves out and deal with social life and family problems, all of these things...I do not miss being a teenager at all.  But my heart does go out to them, and I can't help but be frustrated sometimes, mostly because they just don't get it! They will though, eventually.
Ok...time to get back to work...and try and not just tread water but enjoy the waves too.
They took tests

You know your work is your life when...

You know your work is your life when
   You dream about grading papers
   You come up with lesson plans while you sleep
   That day that you are supposed to "take a break" you are constantly thinking about what you are going to do with your classes.
   You go into stores and look at movies that only have to do with history
   Your new best friend is wikipedia
   You want to randomly start speaking in spanish because your brain doesn't like English, because you use it too much.
    You take books to read to the gym that are non-fiction
    Eating is the perfect time to study up on the next days lesson
    The only way you will do something is if you can rationalize that it is good for 1-your students, 2-your lessons, or 3-completing objectives
    And you often find yourself talking to people in the teacher voice...or giving them the teacher eye when they are doing something kind of obnoxious.

Parent-Teacher Conferences, Jimmer Mania, and Nunks

So last night I was at the school until 8 oclock, not something that I usually do, but it was for a special reason.  It was time for Parent-teacher conferences! When I first heard that it was going to be from 3-8pm and I would be sitting in the commons waiting and talking...I wasn't all the excited. In fact I was pretty honest.  Maybe it is because I am in high school again, or surrounded by all of these students that are a little paranoid whenever an authority figure comes around (I love it when they realize I'm right by them and they go "What?? I wasn't doing anything..." and I wasn't even going to reprimand them for anything)...No matter what the reason was, I was definitely more than a little nervous for Parent-teacher conferences.  They went really well actually and I even learned a few things...
1-if you don't have anything to say about a student...figure it out fast.
2-the better you know a students name, the better it goes and you're not freaking out or beating yourself up because you forgot a student's name.
3-The next day in class...you really do see results.
4-positive reinforcement is the best invention in the world.
Now ahem...on to the next topic...

Jimmer, Jimmer, Jimmer...let's be real I love BYU basketball.  I really do.  I have my favorites just like the next dedicated fan.  I witnessed the whole Jimmer-mania take BYU and Provo by storm.  And silly me...I just figured it would die down a little bit since he's now graduated.  Wrong again.  Once upon a time I'm sitting in my classroom during lunch with some students that are makeing up work and on the intercom they announce that Jimmer is running 15 minutes late...WHAT? -oh also...they told everybody that wasn't a student to get out of the school.
Apparently Tonight is a fundraiser Jimmer "All-star" game and Jimmer deemed Timpview High School students worthy of some free tickets.  And (putting together the stories from my students) he came with some other NBA buds and made an appearance.  WELL he's a part of the tweeting community and tweeted that he was coming to Timpview to hand out tickets...I'm not quite sure what the rationale behind that was, but I guess it's Jimmer so you just enjoy it :/ anyway, so there were a whole bunch of people that showed up at the school and they weren't supposed to be here....I had about half of my class on time ready to learn and then everyone else slowly trickled in later, blaming it on Jimmer like it was excusable.  Oh Jimmer, I'm glad you are happy with life and doing well...but Please please, PLEASE work on a few of the details next time...I'd appreciate it a lot. Thanks! (side note, I thought it was hilarious when one of my students goes "He's not even that cute!"---I love working with High School students so much :)

AND last but not least....Nunks
Funny moment of the day:
   We are talking about Buddhism and we talked about some of the rules that go with the lifestyle of Buddhist Monks.  We were discussing that there are nuns as well.  So a student raises his hand and asked if Monks and Nuns could marry each other and have children.  Another student jumps in, before I can answer and says..."Yeah, they call them Nunks!"

I laughed.

On a serious note, it has been interesting as we've talked about Buddhism and monasticism, how hard it seems at first for most of these students to understand that for some people, living a life as a monk or a nun is where they believe they can find complete happiness and peace.  I know it will be very interesting as I graduate and move on to another school in another state or even another area, to teach in a place where the culture is well...not Provo, UT.

I really do love my job.  And although I love it, I am so grateful it is a 3 day weekend :)

Just when I was getting kind of comfortable...

So it's been almost a month since school started...crazy how time flies.  My world Civilization classes have tests on Thursday and Friday and my Geography Class has their first test next Tuesday.  And I was kind of getting into the swing of things...I still have no idea what I'm doing but it is a more organized feeling of confusion and craziness :) And then...What must be thrown into the mix? My mode of transportation, the beloved van that my wonderful parents decided to loan me...has died.  Meaning? Now after school today I get to go over, my old bishop is going to try and use his AAA to come and get my van-because it's in his neighborhood- and then we're taking it to his mechanic and see what the diagnosis is.  After talking to Papa Brady Automotive extraordinaire and Brady Children go-to-man...the outlook is a bit...not happy but we'll see. Until then...I get to play the fun game of "How in the world do I get to there." I guess I was just too spoiled. Oh well, all part of the grand adventure.

"I'm, like,...Asian!"

Once upon a time we were talking about Ancient China, Yellow River Valley... When it comes to Civilizations there are 5 characteristics of civilizations that students are keeping track of in a chart.  One of these is Record Keeping.  Because of this, we had a slide that talked about Chinese writing.  I have a student that could read and speak it.  Another student was shocked "Wait, you can read that and speak it??" He looked at her kind of funny and said "I'm like...Asian!" Needless to say I never explained why the sudden burst of laughter happened...but it did :)
Which leads me to something that I've noticed over the past few weeks...Students say the darndest things.  I just graded their daily journals and I loved it! There are so many aspects of their personalities that have shown through and once again I feel the weight and responsibility of not letting them down.  But seriously it is a blast and I feel grateful that I have met so many wonderful students thus far.  The learning never ends...and neither do the mistakes. But I'm working on it :)

Wednesday!!!

Once upon a time I was teaching and I never realized how much effort it really took....my conclusions: 1. I'm so glad I don't base my self-esteem on whether or not my students like me, 2. My bed is my new best friend...too bad I never really see it until 10 or 11... 3. I've had such a desire to spend time with people older than 18 in my life...2:15 comes around and BOOM time to play, 4. Apparently teaching for a week has aged me by 14 years...I had a student tell me I was 37.  5. I've never had such a desire to become a movie junky. and 6...my procrastination abilities are going to have to die if I'm ever going to feel like I am in some form of control. Also...Lectures are way boring for both the teacher and student...just saying :)
On a happy note, I do love everything I've learned so far and can already see ways I can improve and lessons that I'm going to apply in the future! Which really is all part of life. And it's so fun haha

Fight on, Timpview High!

What a week it has been so far.  Monday I met the freshmen in my Geography class for 15 minutes and then Tuesday we jumped right in with everyone else.  It amazes me the feeling of love I have for my students already.  It has made me truly want to be the best teacher I can be. Not so that they will say "wow Miss Brady is an awesome teacher!" But really so that they get the best education and see in themselves how much potential they truly have.
Granted it is not easy...It's only been the 3rd day and I have wanted to just throw my hands up and tell them they can have it their way and let them run around.  However, I must remind myself that it is only the 1st week and I have to be strict and keep going strong.
Timpview High School is a great school! There are so many amazing teachers here and I'm grateful for the support I have received both from inside the school and my department as well as outside from friends and families.
Funny stories thus far, I've already had someone tell me not to be weirded out if I hear her meow, that she knows it is not normal and is working on it.  :) Good times!

The Opposite of the High Life

So it is time! The school year is just around the corner and I'm about to take a huge leap head first off of the biggest cliff of my life.  It almost feels bigger than going on a mission.  Atleast then I knew for sure the Lord was helping out and I could feel the Spirit will be all the time.  Now...welll now I will have high schoolers with me all the time haha.

I was told today I and the other intern are living the opposite of the high life.  Whatever that means, it doesn't sound very promising.  Good thing I'm excited for this adventure, whether I am ready or not :D

New Beginnings, New Habits

Once upon a time, I was at work and watching General Conference.  As happens often with conference, my thoughts began to flow, all over the place.  And after already making a list of things that I want to do, I am now here starting a blog.  WooHoo!
Mostly, as of right now I wish people could just see that inside of my brain, not the mushy parts, the glow that is consuming my mind at this moment.  The feeling that everything really will be all right.  And that I am being taken care of.
Now this feeling is refreshing at the moment for a few reasons but mostly because on Saturday I start finals.  And then in a week or so I will move into a new apartment, and here comes a fun summertime in UT :)
So, this is the beginning of another adventure (my life tends to be full of them) and I figured, might as well document it for others to join in on the fun!