My Name is Memory.

I assigned my TAG kids homework for every night of the week. From now until the end of the year.

30 minutes of reading a night, 3 reader responses a week

But I promised I would do it with them.

Here's my first response.

"Who Do you think of when you hear smashing glass and screaming? That's a telling question."

-Ann Brashares

I like the idea that there are certain things that tell you the answers to your personality, to your soul. I wish it was as simple as that. Yes's and No's, and absolutes.

These things are always true- or these things are never true.

Who would I think of? My mom, my dad. The other people in the room?

At school, my students. Past and present. Teaching has put my safety net on high- alert. Being nervous about someone' s well being comes naturally now. Especially a child's safety, even if they aren't mine.

If they let me into part of their life for 50 minutes a day, don't I get to worry about them always?

My Weekend in Pictures

I had a GREAT first week of school and an equally great weekend.

My favorite band, Nelo, came into town.

My best friend, Brooke, came into town.

Another best friend, Adam, is finally moved into town.

And I got to celebrate it all!

At NELO!

West 6th after NELO

Swimming at Deep Eddy.

The Classic Hook Em.

Andrew, Brooke, me and Adam downtown

Lake Austin.

Dancing at Annie's West.

Finally, something that added to my night.. Brooke was involved in a dance off that resulted in this:

She still looks good even though her drink was spilled ALL OVER HER.

P.S. Thanks to the roomie for teaching me how to make my pics look better!

(and for taking this ADORABLE picture with me)

back to school.

it's 1015. and I am in bed. And wish i was sleeping.

But I decided to post instead- however this will be brief.

I am so tired and forgot how draining it is to stand and talk all day.

I had two kids in one of my classes commit some minor classroom problems- that wouldn't bother me that much on any day of the year- but really got under my skin on the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

Because of this it tinted my view of my first day of school. And to not a kind of view I wanted.

HOWEVER... I keep forgetting this one amazing thing about my day that trumps the two beginning trouble makers.

Last Friday, when a bunch of students where picking up their schedules and walking by their teacher's rooms, I met one of my students who actually talked my ear off. He seemed sweet but I was a little busy setting things up and was distracted. We did briefly discuss the Lightning Thief and Percy Jackson series, and I mentioned that I wanted to read the 2nd one but didn't have a copy.

The first thing he does when he walks into my class today? HANDS ME THE 2nd BOOK IN THE SERIES!

That made me beyond happy. I can't wait to start reading!

Where I'm From

I have looked for this EVERYWHERE and finally found it.

I wrote this poem in 7th grade and then updated it in high school. It's still pretty accurate.

Where I’m From

I’m from dance classes

From dancing in any place that had enough room

I’m from swim lessons at the neighborhood pool

From counting the days till summer and swimming would start

I’m from parents who hardly had enough time at one point

And then having too much time later on

I’m from the stories of when Jessie was my age

And her father always telling her, “Jessie Bell, children are seen and not heard.”

From her telling me she always wants to hear what I say

I’m from private schools and uniforms everyday

I’m from church every weekday, but not on Sundays

I’m from the hymns that were my favorites and my mother’s favorites

I’m from stories I don’t even remember

From jumping off the couch just to go to bed

I’m from the song my dad made up just for me

From the words I hoped to hear him sing before I went to sleep

If I could write a letter to me....

I have been getting so (nervous? excited? pumped? apprehensive?) who knows- about the upcoming school year, that I've started doing some lesson planning.

The first unit deals with The Readers/Writers Notebook and I was trying to think of ways to get kids sort of excited about their writing and inspiration struck (Inspiration came in the form of googling "Writers Notebook Ideas")

But one idea was to have kids write a letter about themselves, and about their future year. And I have tons of ideas of how I want my students to write these letters, but that's not what I'm interested in writing about here . (and what if future students is reading this? I don't want to ruin the surprise! PSYCH- I don't really want future students or any students reading this)

SO to sort of kick this off I wrote a letter to my 7th Grade Self. Here it is.

Dear Abby,

7^th grade seems like it’s starting off so great. Your parents let you go to that N*sync Concert the night before your first day of school. You could of sworn Justin Timberlake, was looking right at you and your best friend Carmen. Who knew he would still be famous now?

This year might be rough for you- but on the bright side things will go waaay uphill. But not for a few more years, you have a lot to learn about yourself and the people around you.

My first piece of advice, is to think carefully of who your friends are. I know that Carmen, Rosa and you are inseperable right now. But ask yourself this question, did you get in more trouble before or after you started hanging out with them? They are good friends to have, but you can find even better friends, who will ALWAYS have your back.

My second piece of advice, is to TRY HARDER in school! You’re a pretty smart kid- but it’s hard to keep up with the other kids at your school. You probably will never get 100 in Algebra, and Mrs. Mika may never like your writing. But if you actually tried harder on your homework and paid more attention in class, you would start getting grades that you were proud of. And in the end, your opinion of yourself is the only thing that counts.

My last big piece of advice is this, WAKE UP. There are so many wonderful, amazing things around you all the time. It’s so easy to let all of them pass you by. Your brain is always somewhere else, and you never seem focused on what’s in front of you- only on what’s next. You are incredibly lucky, your parents aren’t so bad, and you’ve got so much to appreciate. And you will appreciate it, when you finally learn to notice it.

Here are a few minor pieces of advice, but pay attention they will help you now and when you’re older (like now!):

That guy is dumb, and is always playing games. Move on.

Spend less time online, and more time outside. Your happier when you aren't always in front of a screen!

Your parents really don’t want the worst for you, although it seems like it.

Be careful what you wish for, it won’t always come out the way you want it to.

Open your mind to new ideas and new things. New friends don’t mean their bad or worse than your other friends. It just means their new.

Always stay loyal, trusting and looking for the good in people. It is one of your best traits and can only take you farther.

If you know it’s wrong, don’t do it.

Good luck, and I promise things are always getting better!

Always,

Abby Green

PS: Take out those purple contacts, be happy with the eye color you have, it suits you.

Do You Remember When....?

Do you remember when I had a blog and I actually updated it?

Do you remember when I actually had things to say?

Usually, I know I want to write about something when it sits in my mind for about a week. It sits there, and gnaws at me until I have to get it all down. I don't ever know what direction it will go in- but I still know that it needs to start going somewhere.

Lately my mind has looked like the bunch of silly bands on my wrist.

When I pull them off my wrist, one by one, you can see each thing clearly and individually.

A pig

A turtle

The United States

A Statue of Liberty

A Crescent Moon

A Bucking Bronco

I always know what each band will turn out to be.

Together, though, they seem confusing. Singularly it's all clear.

Just like all the things running through my mind.

i missed the memo..

and didn't write a Happy Father's Day blog. ooops!

But I read all these other happy fathers day blogs and got a little sad, and a little sorry that I didn't write one myself so here it is!

Happy Fathers Day Dad!

I know this is the ELEVENTH Fathers Day we haven't been together for but I promise my love for summer camp can never trump the love I have for you.

Thank you ford handing me a stack of twenties every time I leave home.

Thank you for putting up with me and my silly requests.

Thanks for teaching me to be exactly like you.

Thanks, Dad, for always being there for me.

I love you.