Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.
Tomorrow I have 10 hours to spend not being at school! Although I value the sacrifice of the veterans for far more than the day off I'll get tomorrow, to be completely honest... Right now I am so excited about being able to sleep in mid-week that I can hardy wrap my head around anything else. It's the simple things that make life grand. On tomorrow's agenda: hiking and laying by the pool at a fancy resort (it's still unseasonably warm here). On a Wednesday!
Blessing #42: Lunch Dates
I am so blessed... I am now privy to what I think might be one of the most amazing benefits of the teaching profession: staying in touch with your former students! Today I had two of my students from last year in for lunch with me; right when my students go out for recess, they are lining up for lunch. The freedom I felt interacting with them as an adult who is no longer their teacher... it was great! We just got to hang out! Plus, now that we know each other and they trust me, I can talk to them about everything; I am free to be more of a mentor. For one student, that meant role playing with him how he could talk to his current teacher about drawing during class. He wants to draw, and we came up with what we thought might be an acceptable compromise; I wrote the short script out on a note card and he practiced asking me the questions and how we would act if the answer was "No." I can't wait to find out what happened.
Blessing #43: Bee
I am so blessed... my Bee is such a wonderful friend! Today I got the best email from her. I miss her dearly, but I was excited to hear about her life now. (She is newly married and moved to a new state during her honeymoon!) To have a dear friend who knows you so well, is excited to share small and big details of life with you, and knows how to encourage you in just the right way -- that is a treasure.
♥
Tuesday, November 10
Monday, November 9
Nutella, Pretzels, and Words (or: My Evening Snack)
There are some days when no matter what I say, it feels like I'm far away in another country and whoever has done the translating has had far too much to drink.
And, already, I eat my words.
Today I had that fist-shaking moment. Except that I needed a mirror since I wanted to shake said fist at myself. My plans were over-zealous and teetered on the brink of overwhelming. Ha. Well... At least it's easier to over-prepare only to scale back than under-prepare and be forced to attempt the high-wire act of "winging it." Upside: writing was fantastic and I think the students might really get regrouping this year. Also, Today Goals are still rocking our little world.
Blessing #41: Nutella
I am so blessed... Costco sells jars of Nutella in two-packs. Let me count the ways I love Nutella: on bread, bananas, pretzels, crepes, apples, and crackers. These are the only was I can think of at this hour, when all my thoughts are becoming muddled and I start to understand my students' bizarre senses of humor (if you can call it that... "Knock knock. Who's there? Ice cream. Ice cream who? Ice cream YOU!" Hahaha...). I do know this; however, Nutella is delicious! Mmmmmm. I just finished slathering some equally yummy pretzels in the gooey, hazel-nutty goodness. Can't think of a better way to end the night.
♥
And, already, I eat my words.
Today I had that fist-shaking moment. Except that I needed a mirror since I wanted to shake said fist at myself. My plans were over-zealous and teetered on the brink of overwhelming. Ha. Well... At least it's easier to over-prepare only to scale back than under-prepare and be forced to attempt the high-wire act of "winging it." Upside: writing was fantastic and I think the students might really get regrouping this year. Also, Today Goals are still rocking our little world.
Blessing #41: Nutella
I am so blessed... Costco sells jars of Nutella in two-packs. Let me count the ways I love Nutella: on bread, bananas, pretzels, crepes, apples, and crackers. These are the only was I can think of at this hour, when all my thoughts are becoming muddled and I start to understand my students' bizarre senses of humor (if you can call it that... "Knock knock. Who's there? Ice cream. Ice cream who? Ice cream YOU!" Hahaha...). I do know this; however, Nutella is delicious! Mmmmmm. I just finished slathering some equally yummy pretzels in the gooey, hazel-nutty goodness. Can't think of a better way to end the night.
♥
Sunday, November 8
This Masochistic Moment
Now... you know the sleepless nights and frustrations are never far away, but this knowledge can't seem to remove the exhilarating smile on your face. And it's in this masochistic moment that you realize... that this is what you're made for.
This weekend was incredibly indulgent, in the sense that I truly allowed myself to relax. Tonight I went to a BBQ at my PD's house (PD = Program Director, a TFA staff member and former teacher whose role is to support and mentor you through 2 years in TFA). I sat around with other K-2 teachers swapping silly, happy, and horrifying stories from the year so far; amidst all the chatting, I was able to ponder the week to come.
I have planned some kick-ass reading lessons (if I may say so myself) that include the kind of games meant to shift more responsibility for learning to the students, differentiate for all my learners, and allow the kids to interact; plus, there's lots of practical application for their new knowledge through the skills I will be teaching them. Writing is going to be phenomenal, as well; I'm excited about the new writing plans and structure my school is implementing. I'm also beyond thrilled to finally be teaching my students about regrouping! (As in: 34 + 37= 71 because you have to regroup the ones and trade 10 ones for a ten... anyhow.)
In spite of how invested I am in my plans for the week, I know that there will be moments where things do not run as smoothly as hoped. My students might not be as engaged as anticipated; there could be times where they are not making smart choices (a nicer way to say they are behaving badly, ha). In short, at some point this week it is possible I will wish to shake my fist at them and cry: "Have you no idea how hard I worked to plan and prepare these lessons for you?!" That moment awaits me at least once this week. My students and I are humans, after all; we are bound together more tightly by our foibles than by our successes.
Though I can look ahead to this week prepared to face obstacles and frustration, I can't wait to get to school tomorrow and spend the day with the 26 glorious children who grace my classroom with their vivacious smiles and the contagious joy they seem to have in endless supply (I absolutely credit them with keeping me joyful). And in that masochistic moment, I know: teaching is what I was made for.
Blessing # 40: Comfy Friendships
I am so blessed... some friendships feel like that comfy hooded sweatshirt you've had for years. You know, the one you put on that smells like your favorite memories, places, and people. Today I was reminded of how some friendships really are worth fighting for. Those cozy, Sunday morning breakfast- and crossword puzzle-type friendships: those are worth crawling through the darkest tunnel. The glorious comfort of a well-worn friendship awaits on the other side, and, hey, we all need those.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
This weekend was incredibly indulgent, in the sense that I truly allowed myself to relax. Tonight I went to a BBQ at my PD's house (PD = Program Director, a TFA staff member and former teacher whose role is to support and mentor you through 2 years in TFA). I sat around with other K-2 teachers swapping silly, happy, and horrifying stories from the year so far; amidst all the chatting, I was able to ponder the week to come.
I have planned some kick-ass reading lessons (if I may say so myself) that include the kind of games meant to shift more responsibility for learning to the students, differentiate for all my learners, and allow the kids to interact; plus, there's lots of practical application for their new knowledge through the skills I will be teaching them. Writing is going to be phenomenal, as well; I'm excited about the new writing plans and structure my school is implementing. I'm also beyond thrilled to finally be teaching my students about regrouping! (As in: 34 + 37= 71 because you have to regroup the ones and trade 10 ones for a ten... anyhow.)
In spite of how invested I am in my plans for the week, I know that there will be moments where things do not run as smoothly as hoped. My students might not be as engaged as anticipated; there could be times where they are not making smart choices (a nicer way to say they are behaving badly, ha). In short, at some point this week it is possible I will wish to shake my fist at them and cry: "Have you no idea how hard I worked to plan and prepare these lessons for you?!" That moment awaits me at least once this week. My students and I are humans, after all; we are bound together more tightly by our foibles than by our successes.
Though I can look ahead to this week prepared to face obstacles and frustration, I can't wait to get to school tomorrow and spend the day with the 26 glorious children who grace my classroom with their vivacious smiles and the contagious joy they seem to have in endless supply (I absolutely credit them with keeping me joyful). And in that masochistic moment, I know: teaching is what I was made for.
Blessing # 40: Comfy Friendships
I am so blessed... some friendships feel like that comfy hooded sweatshirt you've had for years. You know, the one you put on that smells like your favorite memories, places, and people. Today I was reminded of how some friendships really are worth fighting for. Those cozy, Sunday morning breakfast- and crossword puzzle-type friendships: those are worth crawling through the darkest tunnel. The glorious comfort of a well-worn friendship awaits on the other side, and, hey, we all need those.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
Anything Less Than Everything
You get what you settle for.
Sometimes I feel it's frowned upon to have high expectations of how you should be treated by the people in your life. We're supposed to accept people "as they are." Here's what I'm thinking though... if you get what you settle for, then if you lower your expectations of people and how they should treat you, you'll probably end up resenting the people you're meant to love because you settled for less than their best. I believe one should treat others how one wants to be treated, but I also think that when it comes to your "people" (friends and others who want to be a part of your life), you have every right to expect to be treated a certain way, given that you're willing to treat them in such a manner as well.
As a teacher, we're told that if we set high expectations for our students, then students will rise to those expectations. A metaphor for this can be found in one of my favorite movies, Field of Dreams: If you build it, he will come. I think that if we set a bar for our "people," they, too, will rise to meet those expectations. I've been finding in my own life, recently, the truth to the idea that if you build it, people will come. And I'm happier for setting those expectations, because it ends up being a screener to decide who should really make it into my group of "people." It's important to be friendly and kind to all, but at the end of the day, selecting a small circle of friends you really trust is crucial; having a set of expectations for how you treat your friends and how they should treat you in return allows you to discern who deserves your trust. Once you're in, though, you're in for good. Then I can take you "as you are." I think women are more selective than men in this way... But those are thoughts for another day.
This train of thought makes me think of a poem recently discovered with a dear friend. I love this poem by Rudyard Kipling for its honesty about women's character and instinct:
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When Nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it if he can.
But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws,
They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws.
'Twas the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say,
For the Woman that God gave him isn't his to give away;
But when hunter meets with husbands, each confirms the other's tale --
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man, a bear in most relations-worm and savage otherwise, --
Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise.
Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact
To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.
Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low,
To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.
Mirth obscene diverts his anger --- Doubt and Pity oft perplex
Him in dealing with an issue -- to the scandal of The Sex!
But the Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same,
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.
She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast
May not deal in doubt or pity -- must not swerve for fact or jest.
These be purely male diversions -- not in these her honour dwells.
She the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else.
She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great
As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate.
And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unchained to claim
Her right as femme (and baron), her equipment is the same.
She is wedded to convictions -- in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him who denies! --
He will meet no suave discussion, but the instant, white-hot, wild,
Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.
Unprovoked and awful charges -- even so the she-bear fights,
Speech that drips, corrodes, and poisons -- even so the cobra bites,
Scientific vivisection of one nerve till it is raw
And the victim writhes in anguish -- like the Jesuit with the squaw!
So it cames that Man, the coward, when he gathers to confer
With his fellow-braves in council, dare nat leave a place for her
Where, at war with Life and Conscience, he uplifts his erring hands
To some God of Abstract Justice -- which no woman understands.
And Man knows it! Knows, moreover, that the Woman that God gave him
Must command but may not govern -- shall enthral but not enslave him.
And She knows, because She warns him, and Her instincts never fail,
That the Female of Her Species is more deadly than the Male.
Much love ♥
Sometimes I feel it's frowned upon to have high expectations of how you should be treated by the people in your life. We're supposed to accept people "as they are." Here's what I'm thinking though... if you get what you settle for, then if you lower your expectations of people and how they should treat you, you'll probably end up resenting the people you're meant to love because you settled for less than their best. I believe one should treat others how one wants to be treated, but I also think that when it comes to your "people" (friends and others who want to be a part of your life), you have every right to expect to be treated a certain way, given that you're willing to treat them in such a manner as well.
As a teacher, we're told that if we set high expectations for our students, then students will rise to those expectations. A metaphor for this can be found in one of my favorite movies, Field of Dreams: If you build it, he will come. I think that if we set a bar for our "people," they, too, will rise to meet those expectations. I've been finding in my own life, recently, the truth to the idea that if you build it, people will come. And I'm happier for setting those expectations, because it ends up being a screener to decide who should really make it into my group of "people." It's important to be friendly and kind to all, but at the end of the day, selecting a small circle of friends you really trust is crucial; having a set of expectations for how you treat your friends and how they should treat you in return allows you to discern who deserves your trust. Once you're in, though, you're in for good. Then I can take you "as you are." I think women are more selective than men in this way... But those are thoughts for another day.
This train of thought makes me think of a poem recently discovered with a dear friend. I love this poem by Rudyard Kipling for its honesty about women's character and instinct:
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When Nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it if he can.
But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws,
They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws.
'Twas the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say,
For the Woman that God gave him isn't his to give away;
But when hunter meets with husbands, each confirms the other's tale --
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man, a bear in most relations-worm and savage otherwise, --
Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise.
Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact
To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.
Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low,
To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.
Mirth obscene diverts his anger --- Doubt and Pity oft perplex
Him in dealing with an issue -- to the scandal of The Sex!
But the Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same,
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.
She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast
May not deal in doubt or pity -- must not swerve for fact or jest.
These be purely male diversions -- not in these her honour dwells.
She the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else.
She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great
As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate.
And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unchained to claim
Her right as femme (and baron), her equipment is the same.
She is wedded to convictions -- in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him who denies! --
He will meet no suave discussion, but the instant, white-hot, wild,
Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.
Unprovoked and awful charges -- even so the she-bear fights,
Speech that drips, corrodes, and poisons -- even so the cobra bites,
Scientific vivisection of one nerve till it is raw
And the victim writhes in anguish -- like the Jesuit with the squaw!
So it cames that Man, the coward, when he gathers to confer
With his fellow-braves in council, dare nat leave a place for her
Where, at war with Life and Conscience, he uplifts his erring hands
To some God of Abstract Justice -- which no woman understands.
And Man knows it! Knows, moreover, that the Woman that God gave him
Must command but may not govern -- shall enthral but not enslave him.
And She knows, because She warns him, and Her instincts never fail,
That the Female of Her Species is more deadly than the Male.
Much love ♥
Saturday, November 7
Sure Thing
Does God exist? Who invented liquid soap and why?
John Cusack. All his characters in 80's movies were so full of insight into young minds. Last night we watched "The Sure Thing." I had never seen it before, but I highly recommend watching; it's full of the jokes, teen angst and cheesiness that make everything else in life seem... mundane. Life is not full of many sure things, but one thing that is sure: any teen movie from the 80's is bound to entertain.
Blessing #39: Pumpkin Pancakes
I am so blessed... Fall is full of the smells, sounds and tastes that I love. One of the best fall smell and flavors - in my humble opinion - is pumpkin. This morning, my wonderful roommie and I made pumpkin pancakes! Yummmmmmmm. That's all I have to say about that. Definitely makes the blessings list.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
John Cusack. All his characters in 80's movies were so full of insight into young minds. Last night we watched "The Sure Thing." I had never seen it before, but I highly recommend watching; it's full of the jokes, teen angst and cheesiness that make everything else in life seem... mundane. Life is not full of many sure things, but one thing that is sure: any teen movie from the 80's is bound to entertain.
Blessing #39: Pumpkin Pancakes
I am so blessed... Fall is full of the smells, sounds and tastes that I love. One of the best fall smell and flavors - in my humble opinion - is pumpkin. This morning, my wonderful roommie and I made pumpkin pancakes! Yummmmmmmm. That's all I have to say about that. Definitely makes the blessings list.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
Friday, November 6
No Cigar
We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.
I am trying to decide how to break it to my kids that we didn't meet our goal for this trimester: a class average "Meets" on the benchmark test. We were so close. I guess that's all I can tell them, really, that we were close. Alas, close only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades. We'll just try our best again next trimester and see different results! I am ready to problem solve and figure out what I need to do to help them be more prepared, as well.
Today was the last day of Spirit Week, which meant it was 80's Day! Some of the kids really went all out, as did many of the staff and teachers. I played 80's music in my classroom all day; the students got really excited whenever a Michael Jackson song was played.
Blessing #38: Egg Nog
I am so blessed... 'Tis the season for egg nog, a holiday drink I adore! Mmmm... there's nothing quite like a glass full of that creamy, frothy goodness with some nutmeg sprinkled on top. Sometimes I get the bizarre craving to use it with my cereal in lieu of milk. Yum! I also love the Egg Nog lattes that Starbucks sells this time of year.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
I am trying to decide how to break it to my kids that we didn't meet our goal for this trimester: a class average "Meets" on the benchmark test. We were so close. I guess that's all I can tell them, really, that we were close. Alas, close only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades. We'll just try our best again next trimester and see different results! I am ready to problem solve and figure out what I need to do to help them be more prepared, as well.
Today was the last day of Spirit Week, which meant it was 80's Day! Some of the kids really went all out, as did many of the staff and teachers. I played 80's music in my classroom all day; the students got really excited whenever a Michael Jackson song was played.
Blessing #38: Egg Nog
I am so blessed... 'Tis the season for egg nog, a holiday drink I adore! Mmmm... there's nothing quite like a glass full of that creamy, frothy goodness with some nutmeg sprinkled on top. Sometimes I get the bizarre craving to use it with my cereal in lieu of milk. Yum! I also love the Egg Nog lattes that Starbucks sells this time of year.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
Thursday, November 5
Ineffable
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself and see if we might not eff it after all.
Life is ____. Pick a word. Pick a sentiment. Ultimately all words are equally inadequate. Life is truly just inexplicable. Given our situation, we classify life in different ways: great, crazy, blessed, overwhelming, wonderful... The list goes on. I think, though, that those words don't really describe life. They describe us. We describe life in the context of ourselves and how we're feeling. Our feelings do not define life; we would be wise to remember that.
The word I'd pick to describe life right now... ineffable. But in the spirit of Douglas Adam's quick-witted wisdom, I want to wrestle the ineffable itself and see if I might be able eff it after all. I have been feeling quite overwhelmed by many happenings in my life recently. School has been busy, I haven't carved out enough time for rest, friendships have been tested, as previously mentioned I got an unfortunate blast from my past, and I just miss my family tons. In spite of all that, some amazing things have been happening, as well! Since I've been pathetically inconsistent about posting blessings, I'm ready to try to make up for lost time.
Blessing #31: Tiglet
I am so blessed... My roommate and I dressed up as Tigger and Piglet for Halloween. Following the celebrity couple name mash-up trend, I christened us "Tiglet." We had a blast! School was wonderful; my students loved my costume. I performed the Tigger dance many times that day. Unlike last year, I was prepared for the Halloween party madness, and things ran very smoothly. The rest of the weekend was equally fun; we had a great time out with friends.
Blessing #32: Visitors
I am so blessed... Tuesday night a friend from college was in town for business and we got to catch up over dinner. What a wonderful reminder of how glorious my college years were. I was blessed then to be surrounded by amazing people who worked hard, were involved, but still had tons of fun! I am thankful so many of us still keep in touch even after graduation.
Blessing #33: Candy
I am so blessed... Halloween means candy! I love candy in all its forms. Powdered sugary kinds (pixie stix and fun dips), the hard kind (jolly ranchers and lollipops), the chewy kind (starbursts and laffy taffy), and of course, the chocolate kind! I even love candy after the sugar coma kicks in and I begin to feel queasy from lack of unprocessed, natural nutrition. Oh, candy.
Blessing #34: Today Goals
I am so blessed... one of the best ways I have found to motivate my students is with our Today Goals. Each day, I write the lesson goals for the day (there are usually 4-6 goals). At the opening of each lesson, I reference the goal(s) for that lesson and we talk about any new words we need to know in order to achieve that goal (a great way to intro vocab). When closing the lesson, I refer back to the goal and either have the students perform a task to prove that they have met the goal, or, at times, I ask them to self-assess and share whether or not they have reached the goal. If we have, then we get to celebrate (I keep a list of all the cheers, chants and fun dances/gestures we do together) and one student picks a way to celebrate. It really keeps them invested in each lesson because, let's face it, they are so young that I can't always expect them to be intrinsically motivated. Certainly that is part of my goal for them, but I also understand that I have to start training them to prioritize learning, and sometimes that means motivating them extrinsically.
Blessing #35: Picture Text Messages
I am so blessed... my mom sends me the cutest pictures of things that happen at home. The dog in his Halloween sweater, my dad being goofy while handing out the Halloween candy... Just life. Those text messages make my day!
Blessing #36: Lunch and Cookies
I am so blessed... one of my most challenging students from last year seems to have made a place for me in his 8-year old heart. Last night I made some cookies to share with him, and today we had lunch together. He talked to me about life (which isn't that great) and while listening to him, I realized how much I admire his ability to withstand it all. Maybe he doesn't know any better; regardless, I don't think I could survive a walk in his shoes with my sanity in tact. I hope he knows how much I care about him. I think he does. He wistfully said multiple times during our lunch, "I miss being in this room. It was a good place to be." I truly miss having him in my room.
Blessing #37: Spirit Week
I am so blessed... This week was Spirit Week at my school! That meant Mis-Match Day, Hat Day, and today: Jersey Day! I love an excuse to wear my Red Sox jersey to school.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
Wednesday, October 28
The Wonderful Thing...
He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.
If my life were a sitcom, it would definitely have a quirky title, and the writers wouldn't have to work too hard to come up with hilarious material. Oh, life.
I am pretty excited: my roommate and I came up with some excellent Halloween costumes! We are going to be Tigger and Piglet (I will be Tigger). As we put our costumes together, I found myself getting really excited! Tigger is definitely one of my favorite childhood characters, and, conveniently, the nickname given to me by a cherished friend. Halloween weekend should be fun!
My students finished taking their first benchmark tests today. Three times a year, the students in our district are tested on material they should have been taught. For my students, this is the first year they begin taking these tests on their own; in the years leading up to this, they have taken the test one-on-one with their teacher. So, this time it is a new and intimidating experience! To get them excited and invested yesterday, I gave them all a little test goody bag that contained a brand new "special" pencil, an eraser, and a pack of Smarties (because they are so smart). They were super excited! Then, of course, they started taking the test and realized that Benchmark Testing means sitting quietly without talking for at least 2 hours at a time. Yikes. They survived, though, and I am really proud of them!
Blessing #30: Girlfriends
I am so blessed... I have an amazing group of girlfriends who are there to support me, listen to me, laugh and cry with me, and ask the tough questions when I need them to. I pray that I am able to give back to them at least half of what I have gained from our friendships.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
If my life were a sitcom, it would definitely have a quirky title, and the writers wouldn't have to work too hard to come up with hilarious material. Oh, life.
I am pretty excited: my roommate and I came up with some excellent Halloween costumes! We are going to be Tigger and Piglet (I will be Tigger). As we put our costumes together, I found myself getting really excited! Tigger is definitely one of my favorite childhood characters, and, conveniently, the nickname given to me by a cherished friend. Halloween weekend should be fun!
My students finished taking their first benchmark tests today. Three times a year, the students in our district are tested on material they should have been taught. For my students, this is the first year they begin taking these tests on their own; in the years leading up to this, they have taken the test one-on-one with their teacher. So, this time it is a new and intimidating experience! To get them excited and invested yesterday, I gave them all a little test goody bag that contained a brand new "special" pencil, an eraser, and a pack of Smarties (because they are so smart). They were super excited! Then, of course, they started taking the test and realized that Benchmark Testing means sitting quietly without talking for at least 2 hours at a time. Yikes. They survived, though, and I am really proud of them!
Blessing #30: Girlfriends
I am so blessed... I have an amazing group of girlfriends who are there to support me, listen to me, laugh and cry with me, and ask the tough questions when I need them to. I pray that I am able to give back to them at least half of what I have gained from our friendships.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
Tuesday, October 27
Mysterious Ways...
...not in which she moves, but in which the Lord works (in case you were wondering).
It's a long story. Let me attempt to explain it by saying this: many little revelations from the past few weeks (some of which are chronicled here in the blog) led to one giant revelation today -- triggered by an unfortunate blast from my past -- that can be summed up with one of my favorite Phoebe quotes: Oh, hello, kettle? This is Monica. You're black! Does anyone ever really want to be the pot in any situation? Being the pot means you've been in denial about your actions. Realizing you're in denial means that you can no longer stay there because if you do, you're even more ridiculously pathetic than you probably were before... And this time, by choice.
Personal revelations can lead to an uncomfortable feeling: shame and the resulting desire to say "I'm sorry." Ick. Which is not to say that an apology is needed in order for another person to forgive and move on; in fact, I think forgiveness is best served sans apology. It's more liberating that way. At least one person gets to walk away with her head held high. When apology and forgiveness occur simultaneously; however, both parties are free to move on without reason or desire for bitterness and anger. That's a blessed thing because while forgiveness can be given without apology, the forgiver can still remain prisoner to the memory and the guilty one is usually left haunted by the unspoken "I'm sorry," even if she doesn't realize it. Oh, the tangled webs we weave...
Once again, I find myself realizing many things far too late (sometimes, years too late). Better late than never is one cliche I would prefer to live without; however, given that I no longer have a choice and now is later, I'll make lemonade with the lemons life has hurled my way.
Blessing # 29: Facebook Friend Requests
I am so blessed... or I just have a twisted way of looking at the world. In any case, an interesting (which, by the way, is far too weak a word to describe the situation, but it's all I could come up with right now) Facebook friend request awaited me this morning. Unfortunately, I opened said email at work. Oops. I almost cursed in front of 27 children at 8 a.m. this morning. After sifting through the many issues brought to light by the "simple" request, I can now truly say it was a blessing, if for any other reason than the silver lining I was able to find. I do believe that silver lining will bring some great things my way, if I'm willing to see it through.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love. ♥
It's a long story. Let me attempt to explain it by saying this: many little revelations from the past few weeks (some of which are chronicled here in the blog) led to one giant revelation today -- triggered by an unfortunate blast from my past -- that can be summed up with one of my favorite Phoebe quotes: Oh, hello, kettle? This is Monica. You're black! Does anyone ever really want to be the pot in any situation? Being the pot means you've been in denial about your actions. Realizing you're in denial means that you can no longer stay there because if you do, you're even more ridiculously pathetic than you probably were before... And this time, by choice.
Personal revelations can lead to an uncomfortable feeling: shame and the resulting desire to say "I'm sorry." Ick. Which is not to say that an apology is needed in order for another person to forgive and move on; in fact, I think forgiveness is best served sans apology. It's more liberating that way. At least one person gets to walk away with her head held high. When apology and forgiveness occur simultaneously; however, both parties are free to move on without reason or desire for bitterness and anger. That's a blessed thing because while forgiveness can be given without apology, the forgiver can still remain prisoner to the memory and the guilty one is usually left haunted by the unspoken "I'm sorry," even if she doesn't realize it. Oh, the tangled webs we weave...
Once again, I find myself realizing many things far too late (sometimes, years too late). Better late than never is one cliche I would prefer to live without; however, given that I no longer have a choice and now is later, I'll make lemonade with the lemons life has hurled my way.
Blessing # 29: Facebook Friend Requests
I am so blessed... or I just have a twisted way of looking at the world. In any case, an interesting (which, by the way, is far too weak a word to describe the situation, but it's all I could come up with right now) Facebook friend request awaited me this morning. Unfortunately, I opened said email at work. Oops. I almost cursed in front of 27 children at 8 a.m. this morning. After sifting through the many issues brought to light by the "simple" request, I can now truly say it was a blessing, if for any other reason than the silver lining I was able to find. I do believe that silver lining will bring some great things my way, if I'm willing to see it through.
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love. ♥
Thursday, October 22
PB & J
Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.
The half day was all I needed and more. Today was ch-ch-ch fantastic! (That's a chant we do in our classroom.) We did a great writing activity... to get the students excited and engaged in writing a "how-to-paragraph," I gave each group a picture of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I also gave each group a blank sheet of paper. I asked them to write everything they knew they would need and need to do in order to get that picture. After they worked in their groups, we shared our answers. Then we sat down together and wrote out everything we would need and all the steps it takes to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. To check our work, I read the steps aloud and we acted them out to make sure we weren't missing any important steps. We found some glaring mistakes and fixed them. While the students were at lunch, I typed it up and printed the paragraph out for them; I asked the students to take the paragraph home and try it with their families. We'll see what happens... also, today, we did lots of story problems with missing addends (Joe had 12 rocks. Then he went on a hike and picked up some more. Now he has 23 rocks. How many rocks did he pick up on his hike?) I forgot how easy it is to engage students in story problems: all I have to do is plug their names into the problems! They love reading their own names or their classmates names in the story problems. So simple... yet often I forget to do those little things.
Teaching is such a blessing... every day, I learn something from my students. Today they reminded me how amazing structure is; the days I provide the most structure are the days they write in their journals, "Today was the best day ever!" They are so precious.
Blessing #28: Backwards Planning
This week I really worked on my reading plans... I had been noticing that my students were struggling with comprehension; even for my students who struggle to read on grade-level, I wanted to give them strategies to use when reading short stories. I have been teaching how to identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story in a short one page text, and how to circle or underline important words. Then we have been practicing using that information to help us answer questions about the text. Today, I really saw my students being successful using those skills! The succinct, skill-driven lesson plans came from looking at the assessment for the week and breaking down exactly what my students would need to know and be able to do in order to master the comprehension skill assessed. I had lost track of how to efficiently backwards plan for reading; this week helped me get in touch once again with my inner Corps Member. (TFA lingo...) I can't wait to see how my kiddos do on the assessment tomorrow!
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
The half day was all I needed and more. Today was ch-ch-ch fantastic! (That's a chant we do in our classroom.) We did a great writing activity... to get the students excited and engaged in writing a "how-to-paragraph," I gave each group a picture of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I also gave each group a blank sheet of paper. I asked them to write everything they knew they would need and need to do in order to get that picture. After they worked in their groups, we shared our answers. Then we sat down together and wrote out everything we would need and all the steps it takes to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. To check our work, I read the steps aloud and we acted them out to make sure we weren't missing any important steps. We found some glaring mistakes and fixed them. While the students were at lunch, I typed it up and printed the paragraph out for them; I asked the students to take the paragraph home and try it with their families. We'll see what happens... also, today, we did lots of story problems with missing addends (Joe had 12 rocks. Then he went on a hike and picked up some more. Now he has 23 rocks. How many rocks did he pick up on his hike?) I forgot how easy it is to engage students in story problems: all I have to do is plug their names into the problems! They love reading their own names or their classmates names in the story problems. So simple... yet often I forget to do those little things.
Teaching is such a blessing... every day, I learn something from my students. Today they reminded me how amazing structure is; the days I provide the most structure are the days they write in their journals, "Today was the best day ever!" They are so precious.
Blessing #28: Backwards Planning
This week I really worked on my reading plans... I had been noticing that my students were struggling with comprehension; even for my students who struggle to read on grade-level, I wanted to give them strategies to use when reading short stories. I have been teaching how to identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story in a short one page text, and how to circle or underline important words. Then we have been practicing using that information to help us answer questions about the text. Today, I really saw my students being successful using those skills! The succinct, skill-driven lesson plans came from looking at the assessment for the week and breaking down exactly what my students would need to know and be able to do in order to master the comprehension skill assessed. I had lost track of how to efficiently backwards plan for reading; this week helped me get in touch once again with my inner Corps Member. (TFA lingo...) I can't wait to see how my kiddos do on the assessment tomorrow!
Don't forget to count your blessings.
Much love ♥
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