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After only 2 days of classes so far, I LOVE MY JOB!!!
I love the students. I do have to remind them to keep their language clean and respectful. I also have a new rule "No War Stories." Gang affiliations and bragging about criminal pasts are not part of our math curriculum and don't make for a positive learning environment. The shocker is that they actually listen to me! That may wear off as we get further into the year, but for now there's some respect in there.

One kid asked me before class, "If you go to BYU does that mean you're religious?"

On Wednesdays we are supposed to push reading, no matter our subject. I was surprised that these kids have done some good reading already. We discussed some quotes about reading, and it was a really good discussion. Like really good. They even had some good book suggestions for me.

I know that things will get really hard, but I instantly love all my students, even the punks. To be honest, they are really awesome and have real character potential.

I feel like our school emblem perfectly describes the challenges of faculty and students in overcoming huge obstacles to succeed:

Last week I got a position teaching math part-time at Summit High School.
I'm still in shock that I got it; here's why: over 60 people applied for my type of position, including certified teachers and a district employee of the year. Out of those 60 only 4 were hired, including me.

I'm only teaching algebra so that's manageable, right? Well I'm also floored that I got the job because this isn't just any high school. My students are wards of the state in group homes, foster care, and proctor care, or termed "at-risk." Wow, um no big deal, I can do it, right? Aaauugh!
 
Fun Facts I learned at Inservice:

1. Don't have blue or red pens, notebooks, or school supplies. A shipment of personal whiteboards had to be sent back because of color association. If it's an offensive color, the students refuse to touch it.
2. I learned when and how to use an epi pen.
3. I am supposed to pay attention to which students are consecutively sick. If a student is always sick then we have to call their proctor/guardian to make sure their health needs aren't being neglected.
4. I'm supposed to integrate technology with the school's sets of Ipads and Macbooks, but I can't assign internet or computer-based homework. 
5. No Parent-Teacher Conferences. Issues are to be taken to case-workers, proctor parents, or foster parents. 
6. Kids raised in gangs, abusive homes, or such like that don't usually just give out respect. I have to earn their respect before they'll even listen to me.
7. The hardest thing about Summit, that I've been warned about, is caring too much that it swallows up my life.

The school is tiny, but I've never seen such dedicated faculty. I mean, really, these people I work with are phenomenal. Just think of those tear-jerking inspiring teacher movies, those are the people I work with! They seriously love these kids. Sometimes they are the closest thing to family for them. That bond is shared between staff members too, instead of a faculty room we have "the family room." I'm terrified that my students will eat me alive, but I know that every staff member has my back, if not they wouldn't be working at Summit. I'm so grateful to have gotten this job. Like my new principle said, "If you can teach here, you can teach anywhere." My next blog post will probably be me venting about how overwhelmed I am once things get underway. Please be patient with me if that's the case, and if you have any suggestions I'd love them!

Since we have a lot of Hispanic friends, we have been watching some of the Copa America soccer tournament. Colombian Chris wanted us to witness a game with his very patriotic mama so we made an evening of it. First was eating Arepas Colombianas from a vendor in Sandy and latin dancing in the parking lot while waiting for the food.




It was fun to use Spanish again! Chris told us we had to wear Colombian colors of red, blue, or yellow. I just used the shirt from the freedom run even though it looked like it was from Chile. The game was really rough and intense between Argentina and Colombia, but it ended 0-0. Apparently this was good for Colombia and bad for Argentina.

The Wood Family 5k runners this year were Mama, Jake, Me, Rebecca, and Andrea. Long-legged Becca had the fastest time for our family. Jake pulled off another "I think I'll run it in my normal clothes and shoes. Why not?" Mom ran it like the trooper she is and did well in her division. Corry woke up sick that morning and couldn't come. Andrea and I had run the course 2 days before to get used to the uphill finish. During the practice run I had to pull her along. During the real race she pulled me along. Since Andrea was my running buddy, I only have pictures of us.
 The little gazelle with her iPod.
 Before the run.
Finishers! The 5k was surprisingly fun. Friends and neighbors and pre-parade watchers cheer you along. Occasionally there would be music blasting along the parade/run route. Lots of fun!

 Lacrosse with Becca, of course. I'm also working to put together a Utah Valley Girls Lacrosse community network to start and maintain junior league teams to feed into all the high school teams, to get Utah Lacrosse Association clinics in the public school P.E. classes, and to get all of the Utah Valley teams on the same page as far as communication and growth is concerned. I've had really good response so far, exciting! American Fork, Lone Peak, Orem, and Timpanogos are all on board so far!
 Hanging out.
 Work.
Orem Summerfest with Kayla.
 Playing with this kid and Garrett and Evelyn.
 Hiking.
 Hiking.
 Hiking.
 The snow tunnel below Stewart Falls.
 We're going in there? Please don't collapse in the warm melty weather...
 More of Stewart Falls.
 Andrea and Lila at the Carillon Bells Concert.
 This is how the little boys enjoyed the Carillon Bells Concert.
 Sometimes I just love all the random things that the Orem/Provo/BYU area has to offer.
 Evelyn and her big gorgeous eyes!
 Bean Museum yet again, just because Lila had never been before. It doesn't matter how many times I've been; it's still classic.
Benjamin and Garrett planted their plastic cows in their little garden plot. It's a different sort of dairy farm.

I don't like making life-changing choices. Right now I'm thinking about whether to serve a mission or not. That means I'd have to take Fall semester off to work to pay for it. Taking Fall semester off and then deferring for a mission means postponing school, which means I'll be in school forever. When I get back everyone my age will be done with school and moving on with their lives. That sounds selfish though, I want to be a missionary, and I want to make sure it's for the right reasons. I also need to know that I can afford it because I still want to maintain my goal of graduating with no debt. So far, so good. I still don't know what to do though. There's also the small matter of the fact that my mother would like more grandchildren. She informed me that "the Spirit better knock you over the head before you decide." Choices, choices.

It's been awhile.

School 
School was not so bueno this semester. Even though I was only taking 9 credits, I spread myself too thin on other things and didn't give my education the attention it deserves. Why am I so irresponsible?!

Work
We started new quality teams at work, and I have been one of the team leads of the scripting team. I love the extra responsibility, but sometimes I bring work concerns home which isn't my favorite. I also am on a company-wide service committee. It's good yet scary, because it pushes me out of my comfort zone to  coordinate with other businesses and organizations for a big day of service in July.

Coaching
Coaching the lacrosse team has been a blast. Our win-loss record is 7-2, so we've had a good season thus far. Yesterday we had one of BYU's former defenders work with the team. The girls' defensive fieldwork looks so much better! Now we need to jumpstart our offensive plays. Tonight is our team barbecue and retreat, and I'm almost afraid to sleep over with the team. I just know someone will try to pull a prank on Coach Maggie and me. I just know it.

Museum Tours
My favorite tour at the museum so far was for Alpine School District's literacy program. None of the kids (or their parents) spoke any English. It was an adventure trying to explain the exhibit: "Anthropologists say... Oh blast, that word is too big." I also loved working with the families, boy scouts, activity day groups and students that come through the museum.