2.24.2009

Change Your Pose, Change Your Life

Today was one of those revolution-inspiring days (only because I was able to generate a sense of malaise that slipped into the arena of revolt). I've discussed. I've erupted verbally. I've stewed.

It's only made it worse...so, I am attempting to change my mental pose and change my life.

To do this, I am making a list of totally achievable things I can do to make my teaching world better.

*Read books slightly above the reading level of my students, record it on GarageBand, and put it onto one of the two iPods that have become obsolete since I developed (too close of) a relationship with my iPhone.
*Remember I have access to videos that show math concepts like fractions and rounding.
*Find those videos during my hours and hours of internet lookin.
*Give my students more compliments. On a side note, I told two fifth graders who have been having a hard time staying in compliment zone territory to remind me to give my forth graders compliments. Today, one did. I need to say thank you for that.
*I can find a book on meaningful reading instruction, read it and implement change in my classroom.


These are all things that I can do to make my classroom a better place. I cannot change some things (differentiated instruction within the general education environment, teachers who are willing to follow federal mandates, etc. etc.). But, I can make my students' experience more meaningful. And that is what it is all about.

2.15.2009

The Weekend

I'm in the midst of a perfect three day weekend.

Let me recap the events thus far.

Saturday
Eggs for breakfast
Something I forgot that probably involved coffee
Went to an amazing deli for some some lunch items
Brought items to South Pasadena, ate them outside of the library, watched people and then took a neighborhood walk
Went to Staples (I love Staples), discussed pen choice
Found out Dave took Monday off!!
Went to Whole Foods with the intention of getting groceries for dinner
Was diverted to their wine and tapas bar
Had some wine
Went shopping for groceries
Came home and made surf and turf...yum.

Sunday
Did a get up and go
Stopped at Starbucks for a venti latte and breakfast snack
Went to the Getty Villa (hitting no traffic on the trip from the east side to ocean side)
Loved the Getty Villa
Pondered the Kouros, which has always been on my list of things to see
Ate tortilla soup for lunch
Watched Dave try on suits for the wedding
Got tired of watching Dave try on suits for the wedding
Came home for a nap
Sat around warming up, reveling in the day

Monday is looking like laundry and grocery shopping...but, even that sounds like fun after a weekend like this one.

2.11.2009

The dentist

I thought I could read a story about people in England who used pliers to pull out their own teeth because they could not afford to go to the dentist...but, I couldn't.

2.10.2009

What's for Dinner?

Dave is working late and I am on my own for dinner. This happens every once in a while and I revert back to my old ways. I started off with a goldfish course. I then progressed to sweet potato. Well, then I started to cook the sweet potato. I put it in the oven, decided to use the convection feature I only have ever heard of, and put it on 325. One hour later, it was not even close to done.

Now I was hungry.

I was forced to move to Plan B. Plan B was kielbasa and bumping up the temperature to 400. The kielbasa was fancy kielbasa- from the farmer's market, no additional bad stuff, and tasty. 20 minutes later, everything was done. Maybe I could have just raised the temperature...but, now we'll never know.

2.08.2009

Honeymoon

Last night, some friends came over for MYOP (make your own pizza) and the topic turned to our plans for a honeymoon. Dave and I have kicked around some ideas - national and international. We have tried to anticipate our needed level of vacation after being up in Big Sur for a week for the wedding. I love to travel but am conflicted by the fact that maybe I'll want a honeymoon to be a different kind of trip. But, maybe I'm just being overly influenced by media of my past.



Growing up, this commercial and others for the Mount Airy Lodge were on heavy rotation. My honeymoon does not have to be filled with heart shaped tubs and fancy dives into a pool, despite what TV told me (over and over again) during my youth.

2.03.2009

Change of Pace

I know I normally save the blog for rants. Rants are typically either funnier or more meaningful than my other thoughts. And, they respond well to the format of the blog.

Today I am going to change the pace of life as I know it....at least for today.

I am 165 days away from my wedding. I am amused by the things that amuse me. I have a little countdown calendar on my dashboard - it normally pops up when I drift towards the top right corner of my computer screen while I'm using my smartboard, allowing all of my students to see and momentarily removing me from my teacher zone. I like the zone removal. And, so far, my students have not read the label on the calendar and realized what the numbers indicate.

It is amazing to see the day move closer. Each day, it is a little more real. Yesterday someone asked me if my name was going to be Same first New last in an email and I giggled as I read.

I am excited to see what else amuses me about this change in my life.