where to start???

So much has happened since the last time I blogged that I don't even know where to start!

First of all, time is flying! It really doesn't feel like that long ago that I was home for Christmas, and now there are less than three weeks left in the 3rd 9 weeks! While this is exciting, it also gives a sense of urgency for how much ground I have yet to cover in my classes. They will take the state tests in May, which help determine the level of our school for next year and are supposed to be much harder this year. Following a poor performance from last year and several different curriculum changes due to my curriculum instructor and school district, I am mostly nervous for my eighth graders. They are very behind in basic math skills and do not take tests well....but I am just going to use my sense of urgency to hopefully benefit my classes and push them forward.

One of the most exciting things that has happened since Christmas was with my Jr. High basketball team. We had had a great season (we were 14-2) and entered the conference tournament expecting to meet the only team that had beaten us this year in the championship. We did, and we OWNED them!!!! It was such a sweet game, we won 30-17, and the girls were so excited!! (Who am I kidding? I was going nuts too!!!!) They were so cute - they wanted to douse me with gatorade but they didn't have any so they dumped whatever was left in their waterbottles on me in our locker room celebration :)  Apparently, we were the first junior high team to ever win the conference tournament! We made history!! We also got a HUGE trophy, an article and picture in the paper, AND I got named district coach of the year!!!! 

My high school team is also doing very well! Boys and girls just won districts last week and have the North Half  tournament starting tonight and tomorrow...could mean a nice trip to Jackson!!!

A couple weeks ago, my parents got to come down to see my school and house and everything. They LOVED being down here and were excited to get to see me teach and meet some of my students and players! My kids also were SOOOO excited to meet them and would run up to meet them and give them hugs and ask tons of questions! My dad ate it up! He couldn't believe how polite they were and how excited they were to meet them! He said that never would have happened if I had been teaching at the public middle school where I'm from...which is true! I love my kids.

While my parents were here, we got a chance to go to Memphis, Oxford, my school, and Holly Springs. I love how close I am to all those fun places - so much culture down here! Graceland, Too is such a trip! If you haven't been - you need to go!

Also in the news, fast-pitch softball about to start - yikes!!! I know even less about that than slow pitch! Luckily, I have an assistant again, but I don't know how much justice I'm going to be able to do for the girls! Any ideas - send em my way!!