untitled (again)

• it annoys me that i have four "followers" of my blog who never comment. i don't get that at all.
  
• when i first started teaching at my school, i mentioned how laissez-faire my school is about actual instructional practices. instead, the administrators seemed ok with teachers just plowing through the books the school purchases. creativity simply was not valued or recognized. well, the tide has now turned and the "leadership team" will be conducting walk-throughs looking for several different best practices. for some reason, i'm resentful of this.i guess it's b/c the reason for the change can't be attributed to a genuine concern for the students. what's really brought about the change is the fact that my principal has a new supervisor and from what i can tell, the new supervisor got all up in his ass about things that needed to done differently. i guess i should be happy that something brought about the change. it still doesn't set well with me. honestly, a part of me also knows i've been slipping with my instruction. i teach, but i know i don't always put my best foot forward. of course, i then feel guilty and step my game back up b/c i know my students deserve it.
  
• i'm going to new orleans the week after next to do a sample lesson for the school leader establishing the charter school next year. i'm nervous because i always question whether or not i'm a good teacher. i guess b/c i've never had someone whose opinion i value evaluate my teaching. well, my aunt spent the day in my class last school year and she said i did well. but, she's my aunt and she's supposed to say things like that. :-) anyway, we'll see how it goes. i am thankful for the opportunity to interview.
  
• well, it looks like i owe taxes, which has never happened before. what happened was the education award i received from americorps is considered taxable income. the thing is that they don't take taxes before distributing the award. i could have saved myself this headache by just not using the award until later or using a small part of it. the thing is, unless the tax law changes, i'd always have to pay taxes on the award. it's maddening b/c the education award is basically a scholarship. i can't use it for anything but going to school or paying off loans. the award money never actually goes to me. i wasn't expecting a large refund (shout out to someone who gave me so sound tax advice a year or so ago), but i certainly wasn't expecting to owe money.
• i applied for a summer position with t.f.a. and i found out monday that i wasn't offered a phone interview. deep down, i knew working institute this summer wasn't the best idea. last summer was the worst working experience ever, but a part of me did want the chance to come back and redeem myself. i say redeem myself b/c i know i wasn't seen as a model staff member. i know it's all for the best and something better is in store for me. nevertheless, rejection always sucks.
• i watched Katie Couric interview Lil' Wayne tonight. a friend of mine texted me to ask me to watch it. it's funny b/c i'm not really that into Lil' Wayne, but i felt compelled to watch the interview. it wasn't that bad, all things considered. my favorite line of the night was: "I'll stand up for weed anyday." uhmmmm... ok, Wayne.
  
• i've joined the ranks of 1000s of Black women and gotten a weave. i'm not sure how i feel about it yet. it's nice to be able to get up in the morning and shake my hair out and go. but, i still don't feel completely comfortable with it. it's funny b/c i don't have these same qualms when i get my hair braided.
  
• i've been putting together a v-day package for CO, but i'm not sure if i'm going to finish putting it together and ultimately sending it. a part of me wants to send it b/c i want him to have it. but, the other part of me doesn't want to send it b/c i'm not receiving what i want. and i'm not speaking about material things. we'll see how i feel next week. if my mood doesn't change, i'll make good use of the things i have for him.
  
• i got a new student today. she seems like a good kid, but her coming threw me through a loop. until now, all of my students had been with me since the first day of school. they all know the routines, procedures, rules, etc. i also have the benefit of knowing where they are academically, what i've taught them, etc. some teachers serve students who are very transient. i just don't know how they manage.
• speaking of my students, one of them has a father who's fine as all outdoors! i've only seen him twice (the 2nd time being today), but his fineness hasn't left me! lol... the first time i saw his tall, chocolate self i literally stopped mid-sentence in a conversation. it's probably for the best that the mom does most of the interaction with the school.
  
• this may be my last post for a while. i haven't been feeling blogging for a while now. when i do write, it's b/c i wanted to get my thoughts out. i'm no longer convinced that i need to blog to get things out. i can always turn back to my regular journal.
  

until next time...