weeks 2 and 3: AZTEC PRIDE

This week marked some significant firsts:

• I got to use my Smartboard in class for the first time,
• My 8th hour Reading class made a classroom tweet for the first time (and consequently I have created a Twitter account for the school year, we'll see if I figure out what we can do with that),
• We had our first middle school assembly,
• Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand drum roll please - here are the first anonymous quotes of the week from AVMS students!

In order from hilarious to ROFL infinity:

3) The teachers were talking about a particular student they all adore, which 1 of us had never met. A meeting was arranged in which the student mentioned previously was sent to the teacher on a fake errand: to tell her his name and shirt size. Apparently the student waltzed into the teacher's room and boldly declared,

"Ms. _________! My name is __________, and I am an M!"

She had no idea what he was talking about, but now she knows who he is.

2) In another class, a student was flipping through a magazine for an assignment. He walked up to the teacher, pointed at an advertisement for alcohol, and asked her,

"Do you do this?"

Her response: "Uhhhhh..."

His response: "Good!"

1) Same student came to my room at the end of the school day. He looks up at me and, in complete sincerity, asks,

"Ms. Branch...have you ever been stabbed?"

I respond with, "No...no I haven't."

I wait for more.

20 seconds later, he says, "Oh, well, I was just wondering...because I have."

Later I found out the stabbing incident involved a female bully and the business end of a sharpened pencil in the shoulder.

But in all seriousness, the first assembly of AVMS was fantastic. Our principal led the group in a serious discussion of achievement and being college-bound. She even started pointing at kids in the audience, asking, "Where are YOU going to college?" Some of the kids had answers: Harvard. Park University. Mizzou. (No K-Staters yet, but I'll keep praying!)

(I'm finishing this post from last Saturday on a rainy Thursday morning, the 2nd day of September in the year of our Lord 2010)

Then my principal had each class stand up: the 7th graders first.

The class of 2016.

I turned around in my seat and watched as my Aztec (homeroom) class of 18 stood up. All those burly boys, some with swagger and some on the shy side.

(When we have our schoolwide Aztec dodgeball tournament, we will crush everyone. LITERALLY.)

Then there were my 3 girls, the minority in our group. All banded together against the tide of testosterone.

All of these students dear to me already after just 2 days together.

I looked in the faces of these students growing into young adults, and my heart swelled with pride. After only 2 days of being with them, they had stolen my heart. I got teary just looking at them, although they were only standing for a few seconds.

The best part is, none of them know how great I think they are.

Hopefully soon, I can start showing it.

______________________________

Week 3 has been marked by serious failure and serious success. I had a moment on Tuesday where everything seemed insurmountable. My plans weren't ready, I was freaking out, and a snowball of accusing thoughts was growing in size and gaining in speed, rushing toward a meltdown.

Then on Wednesday, I had one of the smoothest days ever - activities timed out mostly right, transitions were smoother than before. It's amazing how one day can seem so bleak while the next turns out to be just fine. I'm sure this is a reminder from the Lord to quit letting me emotions have a say in my success.

So tomorrow is College Colors day. Perfect timing since K-State football starts on Saturday! Although do I really care?...no. But an opportunity to brag on my college is always fun. So I'll leave you with some wise words:

BE PROUD. BE PURPLE. GO STATE.