What's Really in a Name?

Sara Holt.


Two four-letter words. These two words stalk me. They are everywhere. I open my mailbox and there they are on a bright white envelope. I walk into my classroom and there they are on my classroom door written in black block print. I swipe my debit card and there they are, written in silver on a shiny turquoise-colored plastic. I send an email and there they are in the signature line in a Lucinda Handwriting. And I don't just see them, I hear them too. I walk down the hallway and I hear someone shouting them. I answer the phone and I hear someone on the other end of the line asking for them. Two simple words. My name. 


But what is really in a name? Why do I even have it?


A name is defined by dictionary.com as "a word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing; a body or class; or any object of thought is designated, called, or known." Therefore, the simple purpose of a name is to set someone apart from among the rest. It is not who I am as a person, but who I am as a person is in my name. 


Sara Holt is not me. Sara Holt is what represents me. It is my substitute. If I can not be somewhere, it stands in for me. It allows people to recognize who I am. My name tells them that I am the daughter of Ted & Linda Moore. I am the sister to Andrew Moore & Misty Gibson. I am Kevin Holt's wife. I am one of the Quad Pod's sisters. I am a 3rd grade teacher to 26 amazing kids. I am a child of Christ. These are who I am. These are the things that are in my name. Therefore, my name is extremely important. It is the two words that sums up my being. Those two words can be run through the dirt and tarnished or they can be praised and upheld until they are golden. Either way, it is who I am as a person that distinguishes how those two simple four-letter words will stand in and represent me.


What is really in your name and what does it say about who you are?

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Twenty-six third graders walk into your classroom on the first day of school. They come in anxious, nervous, excited, sad, tired, angry, etc. You greet them at the door and tell them to find a seat and that their assignment is on the board. As the students file in one by one they all sit looking around, taking in their surroundings, checking out who is and who is not in their classroom. Once all students have been greeted, seated, and the bell rings, you as the teacher walk to the front of the room. The students stare you up and down. They immediately size you up by your appearance. The only thing that is going to make or break the impression they have just formed of you is what you say. First impressions are everything... even to a group of 9 year olds. 

You step to the front of the class and you say, "Good morning Citizens". Not students, friends, boys and girls, class, or the variety of other boring terms they have heard over and over again. Instead you come up with something fresh. You greet them as citizens because you know that your goal as an educator is to create productive citizens for society. You call them citizens because you know that you will succeed in your mission. 

You continue with the following:

"Welcome to your first day at Central Elementary. This is a big, big day for you. It is your fourth first day of school. You now have at least nine first days of school left. Hopefully, in nine years from now you will graduate from high school. I know that sounds like forever from now, but I can promise you... it will come faster than you think. It was only 14 years ago that I was sitting where you are now. In twelve years, you will have learned how to write 5 page essays. And how to solve math problems with numbers and letters in them. You will even learn how to spell the word..... utilitarianism." You pause and allow them their moment of brief denial. Then you continue. "When you graduate from high school, most of you will have a part time job and will be able to drive a car. You will be ready to take your place in the world. You will be ready to travel across the country or even go to another country. Some of you may choose to continue with school and go to college to study to be a doctor, astronaut, or scientist. It will be a wonderful adventure. That adventure began in kindergarten and it will continue here. Right now. Today. It will be a journey and an adventure of many days.". 

You walk to the board and say, "How many days?" You wait for the students to shout out numbers but never says a word. You step over to your Active board and write the numbers 180. You then say, "That is the number of school days we are required to have each school year". You write x9. "That is the number of years you have left to attend school". You then multiply the two numbers on the Active board; writing each number very slowly. Once the problem is solved, you point to the bottom number. 1620. "There it is", you say. "One thousand six hundred twenty. This is how many days left in your journey. This is how long your journey will last. Every one of those days will be an opportunity to learn something new. Just imagine how much you can learn in one thousand six hundred twenty days". You pause for students to imagine. "One thousand six hundred twenty adventures. One thousand six hundred twenty opportunities to become whatever you want to become."

You stand there looking at the students astonished faces. Then you look at the clock and tell all those little citizens that time has flown by and before you know it they will be on day one thousand six hundred nineteen so they must begin their day. 

Throughout the year, you remind your students that each day is a new adventure. It is a day for new opportunities. A new day to try to be who you want to be. It is a day to try something new. This is their day. They choose how it goes be it good or bad. 

This is how my classroom is ran thanks to an amazing story that I read to my students and was inspired to adapt as my own. The story is entitled Loser and was written by Jerry Spinelli. Now, tell me how you run your classroom?

Girl's Night Out!

The Quad Pod has been in dire need of a GNO so Friday night we made it happen. Unfortunately, Emily was feeling a bit under the weather so rather than a Quad Pod reunion, we had to make it a Trifecta event. But regardless, we still hit the streets smiling (:

We decided early in the week that we'd go to Greensboro and walk around downtown. However, when Friday rolled around the stupid weather tried to screw up our plans. But much to its avail, we still were able to get a little window shopping accomplished. We ended up going to Natty Greene's for dinner so that we could sit outside and enjoy the nice weather. It was wonderful with the exception that the humidity was unreal and made our hair look like we'd stuck our fingers in electrical outlets and it went straight to the ends of our hair! And wouldn't you know it... it was the one day my hair fixed perfectly before going out!

After dinner, we stopped by the Grasshoppers stadium to have some fun and take silly photos (a Quad Pod event is never complete without a photo shoot!). While there I had the great idea of climbing into the water fountain. Let me just say, I would not advice you to do that! The water is freezing & trust me... its not as shallow as it looks! So make sure you test it before you try to jump in. haha

Following our photo shoot & million laughs off of Bellemeade, we made our way to Friendly Shopping Center to walk around and window shop.

All in all it was a successful night and was very much needed. I can't imagine what I would do without my best friends/ sisters and our crazy times!

Here's a few pictures from our night!

Our Ice Cream Makers!

The 4th is just not the 4th without some homemade ice cream! So as we made it this year at the lake, we had some new helpers! The triplets were more than happy to pitch in (:

Riding with Private Malone

A few years ago, Kevin introduced me to the song "Riding with Private Malone" by David Ball. Of course, I immediately fell in love with it considering it was about a 66 Corvette! But after doing research and finding out that lyrics of the song describe a true story, I am not only in love with the song, I am obsessed with it! The thought that the story is real gives me chills! Read the lyrics and check out the song!

I was just out of the service thumbing through the classifieds
When an ad that said:"Old Chevy" somehow caught my eye
The lady didn't know the year,or even if it ran
But I had that thousand dollars in my hand

It was way back in the corner of this old ramshackle barn
Thirty years of dust and dirt on that green army tarp
When I pulled the cover off,it took away my breath
What she called a Chevy was a sixty six Corvette

I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills
But what a thrill I got when I sat behind the wheel
I opened up the glove box and that's when I found the note
The date was nineteen-sixty six and this is what it wrote:

He said,"My name is Private Andrew Malone"
"If you're reading this,then I didn't make it home"
"But for every dream that shattered,another one comes true"
"This car was once a dream of mine,now it belongs to you"
"And though you may take her and make her your own"
"You'll always be riding with Private Malone"

Well it didn't take me long at all,I had her running good
I love to hear those horses thunder underneath her hood
I had her shining like a diamond and I'd put the rag top down
All the pretty girls would stop and stare as I drove her through town

The buttons on the radio didn't seem to work quite right
But it picked up that oldie show,especially late at night
I'd get the feeling sometimes,if I turned real quick I'd see
A soldier riding shotgun in the seat right next to me

It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
Who fought for his country and never made it home
But for every dream that's shattered,another one comes true
This car was once a dream of his,back when it was new
He told me to take her and make her my own
And I was proud to be riding with Private Malone

One night it was raining hard,I took the curve too fast
I still dont remember much about that fiery crash
Someone said they thought they saw a soldier pull me out
They didn't get his name, but I know without a doubt

It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
Who fought for his country and never made it home
But for every dream that's shattered,another one comes true
This car was once a dream of his,back when it was new
I know I wouldn't be here if he hadn't tagged along
That night I was riding with Private Malone
Oh,thank God,I was riding with Private Malone