She Shoots, She SCOOOORES...almost...

Okay, now I've gotten the 2nd to last piece of the tenure puzzle, My principal wrote my end of the year recommendation and hightly recommended me tenure. I was a little surprised at how nice she made me sound. I don't even remember all the good stuff this time, 'cause I was so relieved just to KNOW I was recommended. I do remember saying, "Wow, I didn't even know I DID all this stuff!"

She smiled at me and laughed. "You're saying you didn't do all these things?"

"Uh, I mean, yes, of course!" I replied, quickly assuming the authoritative sound. "I'm glad you finally noticed!"

We both laughed and I decided to take the compliment instead. It's not that I don't believe I'm good, I just forget how much more impressed people are with some of the things that I consider second nature. F'rinstance, computer use. I'm amazed at how thrilled people get at seeing my students using Powerpoint or even just holding a laptop! I could be having them surf for tv shows and making a presentation regarding the cancellation of Family Guy and the impact it had on our household and someone would still be stunned that my kids could do use the internet without being hooked into the wall!

I'm already getting exicited about next year, though. I'm testing the kids now and doing the numbers and making spreadsheets of info and reading through all the forms we fill out on each one...a lot of work. But I LOVE this kinda stuff! It's like being a sports coach and having the beginning of the year tryouts. You get to see the whole gambit of players, but then you find some incoming freshman who makes your start QB or runner look like they're on blocks. Or, in my case, I find some kid that people thought couldn't POSSIBLY be gifted because they annoyed people/didn't do homework/had bad handwriting etc. and I more often than not get to tell them "Don't be so sure...check out THESE scores!" It's like giving a kid a second chance to prove themselves in another arena. Kinda therapeutic for me, too...I think it's always been my destiny to find kids who were like me and help them realize they can't charm their way through life forever...they'll have to DO something proactive with their brains.

Okay, gotta get some rest!