Driving to work, I just prayed that the boys did their homework. This makes it so much easier to be happy with them, and get the day off to a better start. I should really start making them turn their homework in the last thing of the day. This way, every day will not start off bad finding out they didn't do their homework. Would they rather me be so upset through the day of school, or at the beginning of football practice. If I id it at the end of the day, I am pretty sure that they would not appreciate me as a coach, as I would run them to death, just out of revenge for what the put me through. Anyways, the drive to work was not long enough, as it never is. My time to relax and think about the day.
When I pulled in, the school was still standing with no graffiti. Two great signs after returning from the weekend! I walked into the school, got to my room/table/area/conference room/movie room/whatever else they decide to turn it into, and got ready for the boys to get out of worship. When they arrived, they quickly got out their homework, or what they had finished, and turned it in. Those with work missing, have become accustomed to the drill of walking out into the sun to finish their homework. Today, everyone was out there for at least one assignment, but they are getting better as we only spent about 15 minutes finishing up the weekends work. They really are getting better at finishing homework at home, which makes my life easier and much more fun.
We got started on class, but, about two hours after school started, there was a knock at the door. Of course it was one of my boys, who comes to school late everyday. Usually about two hours is the time it takes him to finally get to school, but is never in uniform and always has a different excuse. He forgets that we were all his age only a few years ago, and know all the excuses there are.
Today we learned about subjects, verbs and predicates, multiplying dollar amounts, landforms, and a little bit about volcanoes. It really is interesting starting on one subject and listening to how they change the subject to things they really find interesting and then going on them. Tomorrow, I am going to try and take baking soda and vinegar into the class, and make a miniature volcano for them. I know they will love it, as I don't think they have ever done an experiment before. Getting them involved is the best way to get these boys to learn.
To make the day even better, we finally purchased our tickets to Haiti, making it as official as you can before you go. Hopefully my passport reads Isaac David Shue, otherwise, I may have to forge it on there somehow. We will see in a few weeks when my parents finally get out this way to visit their favorite child.
For football practice today, we started over on block one, as we taught them all the basics again. When a team is doing horrible, such as 0-3, you really have to look at what you are doing wrong and make the right adjustments. When this means letting some boys off the team that are taking advantage of what we are giving them, it has to be done. Not always the easiest thing, but they realize they are a cancer on the team, really only there for the wrong reasons. One boy didn't want to play, but cause trouble, and he knew that, therefore, letting him go was not a hard deal. Other boys were forced off the team due to grades. After these were let go, we recruited more boys and started over today. Now, it is going to be a good season. Practice today was 100% better, as the new roster came ready to learn and play. Now I am sure that the Eagles are going to win. No question in my mind! We have over a week of practice before the next game, therefore, there will be no excuse for failure this time around.
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