I’ve been home in Tulsa, OK for three weeks now, and here’s what’s gone down: Week 1: Wedding festivities for my bestfriend, which meant HUGE reunion of good friends; girl time, lake time, and lots of dancing! (I love you McKenna! God bless you and Paden in your new marriage!) I also spent a lot…

Just last night, I was “inducted” as an official Teach for America Alum. In 5 more days of teaching, and 10 more days altogether, I will be back in Oklahoma. Lots to process here. It’s bittersweet of course, and weird (for lack of better word), to know that I’m packing up my life in DC,…

Good news… I GOT THE JOB AT WESTERN VILLAGE FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR!!! I found out on Friday afternoon, April 30th, and of course got off the phone and jumped around my art classroom at Hope. haha- GREAT news! Looooong-awaited news! Praise be to God! I will be the K-5 art teacher next year!…

Oh my goodness! I completely forgot to mention this in the post I just wrote, but it deserves it’s own chapter… I got to go to Duke Ellington High School on last Friday with one of my 8th grade girls who JUST GOT ACCEPTED to Duke Ellington High School’s Visual Arts program for next year!!…

Post below written about March 20th: This past Saturday was the most glorious, sun-shining day in DC- and it just happened to be the first day of spring! I got outside for one of my runs down the National Mall, and passed by loads of Spring Breakers enjoying the beauty of the day. I love…

Spring is just around the corner… I can taste it! My good friend, Caroline Bickley, who is a Kindergarten teacher at my school, a fellow Teach for America corps member, and my carpool, is about to go enjoy the sunshine with me, now that DC has finally recovered from all the snow! We’re going to…

So, I missed an ENTIRE week of school, due to the MAJOR Blizzard the entire Northeast coast received- reeking havoc on DC, Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, New York, and so on. Most workers from the Federal Government were off as well! DC was called a “ghost town” on a CNN News Broadcast this week,…

At home, watching the second ‘big winter storm’ to hit DC this season, accumulate out my window. Beautiful. I’ve had 2 snow days this week, and I’m not trying to get home to family this go-round, so I WELCOME the snow! Anywho… I was reading over my last entry, and I wanted to include a…

I just finished my first week of teaching in the new year of 2010, and although I’m not quite back in the routine yet… I’m feeling the urgency to get it together as I approach the end of my second year in Teach for America. As I sit at the beginning of what will be…

Hallelujah! I made it out of DC alive, and back to Oklahoma by Monday the 19th. Sitting in the family room in Tulsa on Christmas Eve right now- movie on, fire going, and sleeting snow. Christmas services have been canceled, but we are so thankful to all be together as a family. If I hadn’t…

Yowzerz! Stupid winter blizzard came right at the WRONG time. I was scheduled to fly back to Oklahoma this morning, but last night got the first cancellation of my flight out of Dulles. Perfect. I shamelessly cried on the phone with the Southwest lady, trying to find something for Saturday, but when I couldn’t, I…

Yes- It is that time of year, when teachers and students alike anticipate being with their loved ones over the holiday break, and getting the time to relax, kick up their heels, and enjoy the blessings of good food and fun! I have less than a week left until I join my family and friends…

Back in Richmond, VA with Great Uncle Bob & Aunt Mary for the second year in a row! I got a ride last night from a church friend, and am currently enjoying the quiet of their living room. It’s been a gray day here, but almost 60 degrees! As soon as I’m done writing, I’ll…

One of the highlights from week 13 of my second year teaching, was surprising a 2nd grade teacher with a “Gratitude Wreath” that her students made in my class! I had her kids each draw a leaf on a piece of paper, write a thank you note on it, and then assemble all the leaves…

The CORE virtue at Hope this month is gratitude, meaning thankfulness. This virtue helps me keep perspective. This time of the year helps me keep perspective. There is much to be thankful for! I am one year and one quarter done! Things are only getting better. I live in a great area, have other roomies…

If anyone knows of an AMAZING art teacher, working in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, who has worked with MULTIPLE grade levels, please send them my way! I am enjoying this school year much more than last, and feel I’m getting better all the time, BUT I would still LOVE to have an ART MENTOR! I’d also…

Ok wow. Lots to say!! I have had 8 weeks of my second year of teaching, and it is (as stated earlier…) MUCH BETTER! There are many reasons for this: 1. I’m a second-year teacher. Nuf’ said. 2. We got a new FABULOUS Principal, who I spoke of in a previous post. I’m still a…

I’m writing just to promise that an update will be coming SOON! I am into week 7 of the second year, and am almost to the end of the 1st Quarter (10 weeks)! WOW! There’s a lot to talk about, so I’m promising you (and holding myself accountable) that I will write a long blog…

Things are looking up so far! The halls were quiet. Students walked in straight lines, with their hands behind their backs no less. I’m a fan of the new Behavior Matrix, the school-wide discipline plan, the morning/afternoon announcements, & the overall RESTRUCTURING of our school this year, put in place by our new, AMAZING principal,…

I got into DC yesterday. Humidity hit me right off the plane – yay! haha. I must say, it is absolutely worse than Oklahoma’s humidity. Good news though, this is my second year teaching here, so I’ve got a much smaller list of “unknowns” ahead of me! Feeling really good about our new principal –…

Ok, so just wanted to follow-up to two posts ago, when I was SUPER excited about doing a Rhythm of Art camp at my church back here in T-town: Basically, the camp went sooo smoothly, the kids loved learning percussion, drawing, painting, & even some African dancing! We performed the “Funga” dance to our congregation…

Been home for three weeks now. Oh blessed summer! How I love thee. I am beginning to plan for YEAR TWO today, going over Core Knowledge curricula and DC Visual Art Standards. Already, it feels soooo good to already know a little bit more of what to expect! Just working on BIG PICTURE stuff right…

I have been home for two weeks now. I’ve spent a lot of quiet mornings to myself, laughed and caught up a lot with family and friends, enjoyed the pool in my parent’s backyard, all in re-learning how to rest. It’s been pretty low-key, but right now I am FIRED UP! and EXCITED!! because my…

Woke up in my parent’s new home in Tulsa this morning. It feels good to be home. Not gonna lie, this past week in DC, I had tears of sweet release or JOY a few times just thinking about ALL that God has done in my life as a first year teacher! Pretty incredible… I…

Today was the last day of my first year of teaching! Wow! Quite a year it’s been… As our vice principal said, “in a typical school year, you “storm,” you “form,” and then you get the “norm,”…we have STORMED all year.” This really is no joke. And as people at my school would say…”I KNOW…