Eventful week

Well, for a while I've been thinking that I needed to update my blog. I'm never sure if anyone is following, so sometimes I just don't bother taking the time. Sometimes I also don't think my North American adventures in the neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington are all that interesting compared to the humidity and clash of cultures in Nigeria. Last week, however, I began to write an entry in my head after I enjoyed an amazing theater workshop and perfomance of The Color Purple. I found myself writing yet another entry in my head as I enjoyed a dance performance called The Furniture Series. Getting an email from my friend Sandra, telling me she had visited my blog hoping to find news encouraged me even further.

Considering this past week was an eventful one I'll write about that. It's full of good news. I had an observation with my principal last week. During our post conference she was extremely encouraging. She asked me where I learned to teach like this. When I told her I had been trained under a teacher who did her student teaching with "The Sisters" she said, "No, Meag, I'm not just talking about literacy." I said, ok... well I just understand kids, I get them. To this she replied,"No, that's not just it Meag." There's more. You are amazing at your classroom management, you use target language effectively, you have kids self-assessing.and have creatied a beautiful environment." She told me that she had nothing to challenge me on. She said that she was going to fail me because there honestly wasn't any suggestion she could think of. Every time she comes into my room she learns something. She said, that she has told a couple of people this, but I am the best teacher she has ever seen. I was so honored by her compliments. And the weighiness of this statement. Having been a teacher herself for so many years and having been a principal for over 16 years. Then she asked me where she could help me. I told her I wanted to learn Montessori better and really devote my career to understanding the material and the philosophy behind the practice. She asked how I was using my para in the classroom and this lead to a great conversation about my difficulty working with paras because of my high standards and expectations and how I never felt I had enough patience or time to train them. I'm always really critical of them too. She said that this would be a great goal for me since she saw me going higher in the school district. She thinks I would make an amazing instructional coach. And I would need to refine my skills with working with adults. I left beaming and so happy with her encouragement. She asked me, "Haven't you heard all of this before?" I told her, "Well, yes... My parents tell me all the time that I am an amazing teach. I just figure they are bias." I told her I got all exemplary marks on my observations in Nigeria, but I figured the principal just didn't know what to observe since he was a P.E. teacher and couldn't give me any suggestions on how to advance as a teacher. She just laughed.

That was the good news I wanted to share with you. But, then on Friday I got more. I took the day off. I had planned to go to the zoo with Nora and Kathy. It was the day I would find out about the National Board results. I wanted to take the day off to eitehr grieve in my private tears or celebrate with those I love. After seeing the baby tigers at the zoo we came home to put Nora down for a nap. I signed onto the intenet and the National Board website. I logged on and my heart began to race. The next moment would be really significant for me. I opened the site and saw the words. Congradulations you are now officially a Nationally Certified Teacher! I couldn't believe it. This is such wonderful news. To celebrate Kathy and I went to buy a pair of new shoes, as earlier that day I had told her I needed some fancier and more grown up shoes for school. Sometimes my Keen Mary Janes just don't cut it. I found the perfect pair of green books with these cute buttons. I'm wearing them right now and loving the way they match and accesorize my wardrobe.

Earlier in the week one of my parents from my class who is a trained massage theapist has asked me when I could come to their house for a sauna, massage and dinner. I had told her Friday, forgetting it was my big day. Later when I remembered I kept the date knowing that a massage and some home pampering would be perfect for either verdict. They have a georgous house in the North End. It's remodeled with a huge downstairs meditation room, hard wood bamboo floors, and a welcoming massage studio. I stayed for over five hours with them and soaked up every moment. This was such a generous gift and a wonderful way to celebrate all the hard work I had done the previous year.

Now, I'm wishing I was in the sauna because my hards are frozen as I write under thick layers of clothes and blankets. There is a light snow flurry outside and I'm really hoping it's going to cause only a two hour delay but not a cancelation of school. When did a become such a grown-up when snow is a nusance rather than a joy? I guess with age sometimes comes praticalitiy. But, we never want to grow up too much.