Inspired in Dallas

I just returned from a week-long professional development trip in Dallas, TX. I attended the AVID Summer Institute held at the Hilton Anatole and returned....totally inspired, rejuvenated, and ready to teach another year. It's hard to believe this fall marks the start of my 6th year teaching. It feels like it's really flown by, however, after this past year I left for summer vacation feeling totally worn out. My students, god love them, really drained me this year. I was exhausted after finals. My teaching schedule will be changing this year and I had to get some training in the AVID program.

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. It's basically a program for kids who have the potential to take honors and AP classes and want to go to college, but who don't have the support at home and are most likely the first in their family to go to college. It's a program that provides a support system within the school and pushes these students to excel instead of fall through the cracks. Once identified, the students are asked to apply and interview for admission into AVID. If they are accepted, they take an AVID elective course in their schedule each year. This one period a day offers them tutoring, study skills, and guest speakers. Teachers trained in AVID are basically taught a whole new way to teach their classes. We studied right brain and left brain functions and learned a variety of methods for inputing information and hundreds of different ways to have our students process the information (output) to ensure a greater understanding. We also are then ACE's within our school (Academic Counselors Extraordinaire) which means I will have six or seven students this year that I will personally keep track of. Our mornings at Summer Institute consisted of a four hour class in subject specific areas. Mine was obviously science. It was completely worthwhile and I learned so much. In the afternoons we met with our site teams for 2 and half hours to plan things out within our school. We had evenings off.

Not only did the group I went with from North Canyon consist of some really cool people, I met even more great teachers within our morning sessions. Staying at the Hilton didn't hurt either. I braved the Dallas humidity for a 6-7 mile run each morning on the paved outdoor jogging path. My site team and I enjoyed dining out each night and we even got some shopping done. We hit up North Park one evening and the serious shoppers among us bargain hunted at Sam Moon.

The highlight of my week was most definitely the AVID luncheon held on Thursday. We heard three student speakers who were just amazing. I am sure there was not a dry eye in the place. Although it was hard to leave Keeper & Chloe for another week after just traveling for a month, it was well worth it. I am totally geared up for another school year!

East Coast Trip

I am finally back in Phoenix after a month-long trip to the east coast. My main reason for the trip was to see family. I can't even put in words how hard it is to be thousands of miles from family. When we do get to travel back east the trips are planned down to the minute and little time is left to actually visit and relax. This trip allowed me to visit people at my leisure and really spend time with those who are important to me. I was done with my school on May 22nd and Keeper still had classes until this week, so I made the trip without him. A month was really too long for us and next year's trip will probably max out at 3 weeks. I guess I will just go in chronological order and post some pics of the past four weeks....

My family and I spent a week at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Our beach house was actually just south of Corolla and we went down with a group consisting of Mom, Dad, J & A, me, and Joy squared (my youngest sister and her friend, also named Joy). We really missed Jill and Keeper but they had work and school, respectively. The Saturday we got down to the beach we stopped at the Wright Brothers Memorial. We looked around the museum but did NOT walk to the monument. This was the start of that 4 day 100+ degree heat wave the overtook the northeast in early June. It was so hot and humid!!! Our week was spent on the beach, in the pool, shopping, and an adventurous kayak trip (me, mom, and Joy squared) one morning. We had a great week and it was very relaxing. I love North Carolina beaches. I just can't say it enough.

After the beach I spent a few days at home reading, running, and relaxing. I am following Pfitz's 5 week post-marathon recovery plan and it is going nicely. I really enjoyed the scenic (hilly!) rural PA runs. I miss the challenge of a good hill run (thanks, Triple Crown) and the cool, shady Rail Trail Path. I am happy to report---no injuries!!!! One day I went down for lunch with my Grandmom and then next day, Mom, Joy and I had lunch with my other grandparents. I, of course, requested chicken pot pie. Enough said.

I then headed up to NJ to visit a few people. First up: my hairdresser. I have not found anyone in Phoenix to replace Sarah at Lighten Up. I suspect I will continue to make a hair appointment with her the next few Junes I make the trip back east. (The things women do for a good haircut!!) I then headed to Hopatcong to stay with Ally, Fred, and the girls for a few nights. I went back to my old school (Morris Hills) to spend a day visiting and gathering some helpful material for my new AP class that I'm teaching this year. It was very weird to go back, but good to see everyone. If there's one thing that's lacking at my AZ school, its the close-knit, friendly group of colleagues. I really miss my NJ teacher friends!!! Another event worth noting that happened in NJ: I broke my 3 1/2 year no-movie streak....to see Sex and the City. It was totally worth it. Enough said.

I then made a stop to visit our Hackettstown family. It was so good to see Rix, Lexi, Aidan and finally meet Owen! We had great morning visiting & playing in the green sand!

Saturday, June 21st was my sister's baby shower. We had a mix of family and friends come for a cookout. We played a few cheesy games, opened lots of presents, and ate tons of good food. It was great to see everyone!!! Sunday was spent going to church, running, and shopping with Jen. Can't ask for a better day than that!

After the shower weekend, I headed back to York for a few days of quiet relaxation. Joy, Mom, and I somehow managed to get invited BACK down to the Outer Banks with our cousins. We decided to go Tues-Fri and stayed with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and a few of their friends. The house they rented was two lifeguard stands up the beach from where we stayed. Small world. We loved the ocean front house and I was glad I got to see my cousins.

After Outer Banks, Part 2, I spent the rest of my trip in York. I ran, read, and relaxed. I spent a morning visiting with one of my oldest friends and her son (who is now 15 months old). It was so nice to catch up with her and spend some time with her son. What a cutie! Tuesday I drove down to Baltimore to hang out with my best friend from college. Eric showed me around his 'hood and we had some uplifting discussions about the importance of PMA and being happy in what you do. We made a quick trip to Fells Point (had to stop at Sound Garden) and then I headed home.

My last night in PA was spent eating Imperial Crab with my family. I had a fantastic trip and it was so good to see everyone! It would have been better with Keeper along, but....we are now 1 year down of med school (almost)! If you want to see more pics from this trip, email me.