Holiday Happenings: Flash Mob

Yes, it's legit. I was in a Flash Mob a couple weeks ago with my whole crew of Mormon YSA's at the Pentagon City Mall. It was fan-flippin-tastic.

Nah, in all seriousness, it wasn't as smooth as we had hoped, but nonethelss it was a good time had by all. I am in the "six geese of laying group." Kind of hard to see me, but I am there.

Enjoy!

The Susie Family Christmas Letter

The Top Ten Happenings of 2010 in the Susie "Family"

#10 Snowpacalypse. Do you recall these days? You bet I got a week off of work due to this mess.


#9 Trips to NYC (3 times, you betcha)

To see nephew, Thomas...

To embrace the sites during summer vay-cay

To express gratitude with the Newman family. Love it.

#8 Family togetherness...for a month! Great times in Utah with my wonderful family.

#7 Concerts. I got to go to 3...an all time high for me.

Including...

Stevie Wonder,
Backstreet,and Ingrid.#6 Trips to Cali-for-ni-a and Boston

To see Ashleigh get hitched
To renew my love of American history.

#5 Excursions and happy times with dear friends (This is why DC truly rocks)

#4 Spring break rendezvous in PUERTO RICO!!

#3 Running a freakin' HALF MARATHON

#2 Buying a car. Holy, I am an adult.

#1 Finishing my first full year of teaching in inner-city DC. Yes, I have survived. And honestly, I love my job and my students.

Yes, one of my students
Field tripin' it.Looking back at this past year, I am truly grateful for all of my many blessings. I recognize all of the amazing experiences and opportunities that I have been provided with at this point in my life. I am grateful for the chances I've had to grow, progress, learn, and become. I want to express my gratitude to my Savior, Jesus Christ and His atonement. Without Him I am nothing.

I appreciate all of your friendships and examples. Without, you, dear blog readers and friends out of the blogosphere, life would truly be meaningless.

I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

All my love,

Susie

I see it. You don't...yet. Trust me.

Before I begin, "it" = the big picture

Dear Students,

I see it. You don't. But you will. Trust me. You may think this assignment is lame. You may think this skill is worthless. You may not like how this test challenges you. You may hate that you have to study. You may think that history has no relevance. It does though. We must learn from it. You may hate my high expectations. But trust me, you will be grateful for all that you've learned this year. I am preparing you to enter the tenth grade and to ultimately enter college. I see the big picture. I know what is expected of you in the future and what you are capable of. I wouldn't be a good teacher if I didn't teach you these skills and push you to be better. Trust me, all this work is aiding you on your road to success. I care for you that much.

Best,

Ms. Baer

Now, here is what the Lord is saying to me. Are you ready for this?

Dear Susie,

I see it. You don't. But you will. Trust me. You may think this time in life is frustrating and as you would say, "lame." You may not like how I test you and try you in many aspects. You may hate that you have to work hard and exercise faith in me and my plan. You may hate that I know your capabilities and potential perfectly. But trust me, you will be grateful for all that you're learning now in the present and in the future. You see, I am preparing you for exaltation. I see the big picture of your life. I know what you can become as you rely on me and on your elder brother, Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be a good Father if I didn't teach you these skills and push you to be better. Trust me, all this work is aiding you on your road to be with me again. I love you that much.

Love, Heavenly Father

Oh the things that teaching teaches me!

@#$@#$! Ms. Baer

One of the great things about teaching is that literally every day is full of surprises. Honestly when I go in every morning I have no idea if it will be a normal, bad, or really good day. I love how teaching is always exciting. Literally, there is never a dull moment. However, with that excitement comes moments that are truly hard and other times really funny.

Exhibit A. I go to use the restroom and as I enter the stall I notice that there is graffiti on the walls of it. I start reading it and seeing what the girls are saying. There's a list of cute boys, a few cuss words, and some drawings. I'm not completely shocked by this because, lets face it, nothing really shocks me any more at my school. Then I keep going and I notice something like this:

@#$@#$! Ms. Baer

Obviously the symbols represent a swear word that I will not divulge on my blog. At first I was hurt. What? Me? I am so nice and caring. How dare they those little...@#$@#$! And I want to throw it back at them.

However, as I thought about it, I started laughing. Graffiti on walls about me, my class, etc...will not really end during my career of teaching, sadly enough. Yet, I felt a manifestation that kids do not like me...why??

• Because I have high expectations.
• I am mean
• I call their parents
• I give them detention on a Friday afternoon.
• I "write them up" which basically means that I speak with an administrator about their behavior.
• I don't let them sleep in class.
• I give them a 0 if they copy or cheat
• I don't allow cuss words
• I withhold participation points if they are fooling around
• I assign them homework

And the list goes on.

So if @#$@#$! means that I am a teacher who demands respect and holds my students to high expectations, then bring it.

Ms. Baer is pretty @#$@ great!