Reflections on Year Two.

 Everyone always says that the second year of teaching is always easier-- to some extent I agree and to some extent I totally DISAGREE. 

 I realized early on this year that if my students were going to be successful I needed to be the kind of teacher I wanted to be vs. the teacher I thought I was suposed to be. I knew that I wanted my classroom to be organized chaos, I wanted my students to make their own choices and accept the consequences that came with those choices. I wanted my students to love coming to my class. 

My classroom is LOUD and I am perfectly ok with it. This year I realized that as a teacher I thrive on the organized chaos my lessons tend to create. I want my students up and moving and talking and creating because that is where the magic happens. My first year I was afraid that I couldn't handle the chaos. This year I threw caution to the wind and welcomed the chaos with open arms--and it worked. Yes, I spent 30 trillion hours picking up their trash off the floor, and straightening desk, and repeating "have you lost your ever loving mind" but they learned and they had a little fun while they were at it. 

Consequences-- they are a part of life just like death and taxes and everyone having a love/hate relationship with Taylor Swift music. I learned that if I didn't give my students boundaries and consequences no matter how much I knew they didn't mean to hit so-and so with the marker they threw across the room or they forgot their essay in their other binder which is (insert made up place here) they had to suffer the consequences. My goal has always been to use my class as a class where student don't just come to polish their reading and writing skills, but they come to polish their being decent people skills as well. 

Nope, were teachers NOT students... or sisters

 My second year of teaching I decided on 2 goals 

1. teach the PERSON 

2. teach the STUDENT. 

8th grade is such a rough year. It is where the "high school threats" start, "real" relationships start "real" heartbreak happens, friends are made and lost and made again. It is really a defining year. I think that is why I love it so much there is something so sweet about getting them right before they enter the all consuming world of high school that makes them listen just a tiny bit more than any other time in life. Ultimately I needed my students to love coming to my class not because they loved English (although that would be a plus) but I needed them to love coming to my class so that they were open to my encouragement, pressure, love and acceptance whether it was their best or their i'l get 'em next time.  

My first year I learned about the navigating being a teacher and surviving. My second year was all about the students and their needs. Their needs to have a teacher that is willing to try something that is not accepted, to make them learn from their mistakes and love them beyond words even when hitting them over the head with a textbook seems like a better option. 

Now onto year three. 

You can find my reflections on Year One HERE 

High Five for Friday No. 41

Happy 5 MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL for me. Basically it feels like these last two weeks are going to last FOREVER! Today I will be attempting to keep track of 500 8th graders at a waterpark... aren't you jealous?! I'm pretty sure it will end up more like 20 teachers laying out and praying no one does anything stupid. So while I'm doing that yall can read about my High Five from this week ... 

1. My AMAZING anniversary date! 

Read about that HERE  

2. English Olympics!

In a bid to keep my kids SEMI entertained and still engaged in school I had them participate in the first annual United States of Scholz English Olympics. Even though they complained they just wanted to watch movies they secretly LOVED IT! 

3. Kendra Scott! 

Reese surprised me with the perfect anniversary gift!!! He is really the best gift giver!! 

4. Memorial Day at the Lake! 

Read about that HERE

5. ONE MORE WEEK OF SCHOOL. 

If you don't hear from me today you can go ahead and assume the kids revolted and we are being held hostage at a water park in Houston don't send help-- SEND WINE! 

Happy Friday!! 

Linking up with Lauren! 

THE Cheesecake Party

Somewhere in our first weeks of dating Reese and I decided to make a cheesecake. One thing we learned quickly is that cheesecakes take a long time--they are temperamental little divas. We started late on a Sunday afternoon and somewhere around midnight threw our hands up to the cheesecake Gods and prayed that we had just the right amount of jiggle in the cake. Monday morning I went to work with plans to meet Reese for lunch before he headed back to school in Louisiana. A few bites into our lunch Reese proclaimed that he was NOT going home and was going to stay and we were going to have a cheesecake party. So we did. We invited neighbors and friends over to eat the cake and share some company and wa-la the Cheesecake Party tradition was born. 

It is said that a tradition is born when it is done a second time, you can read about the second Cheesecake Party HERE

After the first Cheesecake Party the idea has changed a little it morphed into away to say thank you to the people who love and support us. Each year we make a cheesecake take two slices and share the rest. Our roommates, friends, co-workers basically anyone who has had an impact on Reese and I in the previous year. Also we can not and SHOULD NOT each the whole thing ourselves-- we would gain 10lbs apiece.

May 29, 2013 the Third Annual Cheesecake Party. Last night we shared the cake with our roommates and today the sharing continues and right now we are sharing with all of you. I want so badly to wrap up a piece and send it to every single one of you because you are part of our journey. This community is where I turn with my struggles and my praises with my crazy ideas and my fears of the future. It is where I turn and get affirmation that in fact boys are strange and that it is normal for eyes to roll and ask if were done taking pictures of our food. You are my friends and as per the rules of the Cheesecake Party friends get a slice and a big hug and a thank you! So here is your big virtual internet hug, a slice of Reeses Peanut Butter Cheesecake and a "Thank You" for being a light in our lives! 

and now the recipe if you feel the need to visually watch your hips expand...

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheese Cake

Crust

4 1⁄2 cups oreo cookies (crushed)

1 cup roasted peanuts (chopped) 

1⁄2 cup butter (melted)

Filling

2lbs cream cheese (softened)

5 eggs (at room temperature)

1-1⁄2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 1-cup smooth peanut butte

1⁄2 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

12 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Topping

3 ounces sour cream 1⁄2 cup sugar

Put Oreo cookies and peanuts in a food processor and grind. Mix ground Oreo cookies and peanuts with the melted butter. Press the mixture onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 10” spring form pan to make the crust.

To make filling- In a large bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each egg is added. Add sugar, peanut butter and whipping cream. Mix until smooth. Fold in pieces of Reese’s peanut butter cups with a rubber spatula. Pour filling into prepared crust.

Place into the oven and bake at 275 degrees for 1-1⁄2 hours or until firm and lightly browned. 

Combine sour cream and sugar and pour over the cheesecake. Return cheesecake to the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow cheesecake to cool for 1 hour. Place into the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. 

**Tip from our super fancy cooking class: Turn the oven off and let it cool IN THE OVEN

 Enjoy!

Hubbell and Hudson Viking Cooking School Date Night

Since I moved to Houston I have been eyeing the Viking Cooking School that is located in my version of Disney World aka Hubbell and Hudson, a local market and bistro. Finally we found an occasion to tie on a chefs apron and get cooking! For our three year anniversary (which is officially today) we took "Date Night: Cooking with Fire" our menu consisted of Steak Diane Flambé, Lobster Mac and Cheese, Rosemary and Cheese Biscuits, Grilled asparagus and Double Chocolate Kaluah cheesecake with salted carmel.  Basically we were in heaven. Fun fact most of my cooking terminology comes from having all 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls memorized-- that Sookie St. James she was quite a chef. So I was fairly confident in a professional kitchen which made the magical quality of the Viking kitchen all the more profound. I call the kitchen magical not only because of the food, but also for the way that all my ingredients were measured out, my dishes disappeared when I was done and my wine glass was never empty. Pure magic I tell you. 

At the end of the night the 8 other "chefs" and Reese and I sat down and got to enjoy (and take home!) one of THE most delicious meals I have ever tasted (made all the sweeter having cooked it with my love!). We laughed, chatted, and ranked the likelihood we were going to be able to recreate this meal in our kitchens at home--Reese and I gave ourselves a solid 8, I did learn everything I know from the Food Network and Gilmore Girls thats got to mean SOMETHING! Ulitmately it was the best way I could have ever thought to spend celebrating 3 years with my best friend! 

and in case you were not hungry enough DESERT. 

Wanna know our story? Check it out HERE

Meet Cute 1

Meet Cute 2

Meet Cute 3 

The Memorial Day Weekend of Lobster Boy and Overly Tanned Girl

There is something magical about the beginning of summer-- the burgers taste a little better, the sun shines a little brighter, the water is a little cooler and we all (or at least the "all" of us in the south) somehow forget that this is as good as it gets in terms of actually enjoying the summer weather. Reese and I are extremely blessed to be able to spend perfect summer days at Reese's Aunt and Uncles lake house  grilling, sunning and  bargaining with God to PLEASE keep the temperature like this weekend forever (ill get back to you on whether that works or not... my money is on not). Here are the highlights of our lake trip

+ I finished "Gone Girl"... I now think I can commit the perfect crime ( but to be fair I always think that after I read/watch a thriller like that) 

+ We (and when I say "we" I mean Reese) caught 5 catfish... we came home with 8... so basically it's a miracle (really the neighbor caught too many and shared... minor details, the fact he caught fish at all with me there was a miracle)

+ Reese's uncle kept calling him lobster boy, I SWEAR my burn will turn into a tan (if all else fails I have my trusty Fake Bake). 

+While jet skiing the phrase "IF YOU FLIP ME OFF I'M BREAKING UP WITH YOU" came out of my mouth... for the record we are still dating. Good boy. 

And now back to calling today Monday 4000 times.

Linking up with Sami!!