Dear Uterus,
I was home all day yesterday doing nothing. I watched movies, read a book, drank hot tea, wrote a bit on my NaNoWriMo story, and napped. You couldn't have done this yesterday???
Now I have to go to work and teach all day with you all cramped up and trying to kill me from the inside. I get to be cheerful and energetic and stand and walk a lot amongst a lot of 8th graders and around co-workers while my guts are trying to twist themselves into Celtic knots!
You suck.
No love,
Heather
---
Dear Ibuprophen,
Please start working soon.
-Heather
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Monday, November 05, 2012
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012
In 2011:
I turneda quarter of a century old 26 OHMYGOSH why can't I remember how old I am???
I finished my first year of teaching -- 8th grade Language Arts.
I spent my first summer completely free from any job or obligations... and it was wonderful.
I built a blanket-and-pillow fort in my living room and spent the whole day in it--twice.
I dyed my hair purple for a while. Then black, to cover up the purple and be an adult again.
I hosted a Harry Potter party, a Star Wars party, and co-hosted another HP party and a beautiful candlelit Edgar Allan Poe party.
I sewed things.
I knit things.
I crocheted things.
I wrote 50,000 words of a novel for the 7th year in a row during November's NaNoWriMo challenge.
I had a couple of outdoor tea parties with my wonderful knitting group, Weekly Fiber.
I rode my bicycle, Mabel (although not as much as I would have liked to).
I wandered the Farmer's Market several times, although I only ever bought peaches and a delicious ham and cheese crepe.
I lived on almost nothing but Ramen and beans for a week at a time, several times.
I got a cat, and we slowly got used to one another.
I spent way too much time on Facebook and Pinterest (which probably contributed to the minimal blogging).
I spent a fantastic weekend in Denver with my husband, who whisked me away for a birthday getaway of rich food, a funny play, lots of walking, and even a little history.
I had some really spectacular fails as a teacher, but some really great wins, too.
I became obsessed with 1920's fashion, hair, makeup, and music.
I helped plant grass in our tiny back yard.
I spent my fourth Christmas without my little brother, Logan. Miss him every day.
I became very discouraged about ever getting pregnant after a heartbreaking miscarriage in 2010, then angry with God, then resigned, then at peace that everything will happen in his perfect timing.
I said goodbye to some wonderful 8th graders, and was holding the door wide open for others to leave.
I welcomed a new crop of 8th graders, who seemed so small and strange at the beginning of the year, and how are now just "my kids" (although they are still certainly strange).
I grew a little more distant from some friends and a little closer with others.
I read a lot of really good books and a few crummy ones.
I hosted a nice little New Year's Eve party last night with board games, snacks, and good friends.
Goodbye, 2011! You were a good year, a hard year, a memorable year.
In 2012:
I will spend less time on the computer and more time reading books.
I will purge useless/broken/unwanted/unused stuff from the house.
I will write at night in my Book of Days planner/journal at least a few lines about that day.
I will be a better housekeeper (which will hopefully be easier to do with less Stuff).
I will be a better listener and not an interrupter or a wait-until-you're-done-talking-so-I-can-say-what-I-wanted-to-say-er.
I will pray more.
I will write more--more letters, more blog posts, more journal entries, more stories, more poems.
I will find a lesson plan format that works for me and I will plan in advance as well as I am able.
I will remember that I am not teaching Language Arts, I am teaching people.
I will not dwell on the past any more than I can absolutely help.
I will Skype loved ones that live far away.
I will love this year.
Welcome, 2012!
I turned
I finished my first year of teaching -- 8th grade Language Arts.
I spent my first summer completely free from any job or obligations... and it was wonderful.
I built a blanket-and-pillow fort in my living room and spent the whole day in it--twice.
I dyed my hair purple for a while. Then black, to cover up the purple and be an adult again.
I hosted a Harry Potter party, a Star Wars party, and co-hosted another HP party and a beautiful candlelit Edgar Allan Poe party.
I sewed things.
I knit things.
I crocheted things.
I wrote 50,000 words of a novel for the 7th year in a row during November's NaNoWriMo challenge.
I had a couple of outdoor tea parties with my wonderful knitting group, Weekly Fiber.
I rode my bicycle, Mabel (although not as much as I would have liked to).
I wandered the Farmer's Market several times, although I only ever bought peaches and a delicious ham and cheese crepe.
I lived on almost nothing but Ramen and beans for a week at a time, several times.
I got a cat, and we slowly got used to one another.
I spent way too much time on Facebook and Pinterest (which probably contributed to the minimal blogging).
I spent a fantastic weekend in Denver with my husband, who whisked me away for a birthday getaway of rich food, a funny play, lots of walking, and even a little history.
I had some really spectacular fails as a teacher, but some really great wins, too.
I became obsessed with 1920's fashion, hair, makeup, and music.
I helped plant grass in our tiny back yard.
I spent my fourth Christmas without my little brother, Logan. Miss him every day.
I became very discouraged about ever getting pregnant after a heartbreaking miscarriage in 2010, then angry with God, then resigned, then at peace that everything will happen in his perfect timing.
I said goodbye to some wonderful 8th graders, and was holding the door wide open for others to leave.
I welcomed a new crop of 8th graders, who seemed so small and strange at the beginning of the year, and how are now just "my kids" (although they are still certainly strange).
I grew a little more distant from some friends and a little closer with others.
I read a lot of really good books and a few crummy ones.
I hosted a nice little New Year's Eve party last night with board games, snacks, and good friends.
Goodbye, 2011! You were a good year, a hard year, a memorable year.
In 2012:
I will spend less time on the computer and more time reading books.
I will purge useless/broken/unwanted/unused stuff from the house.
I will write at night in my Book of Days planner/journal at least a few lines about that day.
I will be a better housekeeper (which will hopefully be easier to do with less Stuff).
I will be a better listener and not an interrupter or a wait-until-you're-done-talking-so-I-can-say-what-I-wanted-to-say-er.
I will pray more.
I will write more--more letters, more blog posts, more journal entries, more stories, more poems.
I will find a lesson plan format that works for me and I will plan in advance as well as I am able.
I will remember that I am not teaching Language Arts, I am teaching people.
I will not dwell on the past any more than I can absolutely help.
I will Skype loved ones that live far away.
I will love this year.
Welcome, 2012!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wii Fit
I got the Wii Fit out today for the first time in probably more than a year.
A small part of it is guilt that we spent all that money (Wii, Balance Board, and game) a couple of years ago and never use the dang thing. Mostly, though, it's that I hurt. I hurt when I wake up in the morning, I hurt when I sit in my desk chair, I hurt when I curl up on the couch with a movie. Notice how all those things involve not moving. There's my problem. So I'm going to start moving again.
During the school year, I'm standing up and sitting down a million times a day. I'm standing at the front of the classroom, I'm walking up and down between the desks, I'm perching on my stool, I'm walking to the office, the library, a classroom for meetings. I'm bending down to see a student's paper and edit with him, I'm stretching up to pull the projector screen down.
Since school got out, I've ridden my bike once (a whole 2 miles, woo) and taken two or three walks with the dog and/or husband. Other than that, I've been in front of my computer, on the couch, in bed, or on the floor in my Luxury Tent. All this non-activity on top of my scoliosis means... I hurt.
I don't want to hurt more than I already do, so I started out with only 15 credits on the Wii Fit. (Each exercise gives you a certain number of credits, usually just one or two per activity.) I'll work my way up to 30 where I was before, when we first got the Wii Fit and I was doing it every day. I do mostly Yoga and Balance, with a little Strength and a little Aerobic.
I also intend to ride my bike at least a couple times a week. Walks are okay, but kind of boring unless I have the husband to talk to. Taking the dog is a pain because she's, well, stupid, and gets all tangled up around our legs, pulls ahead, pulls behind, etc. One of my goals this summer, though, is to teach her how to take a walk nicely, so we'll keep working on that.
Don't get me wrong, though. I still fully intend to read a lot, watch lots of movies and TV series (huzzah for instant Netflix!), sew, and waste time on the internet! I love having summers off!
A small part of it is guilt that we spent all that money (Wii, Balance Board, and game) a couple of years ago and never use the dang thing. Mostly, though, it's that I hurt. I hurt when I wake up in the morning, I hurt when I sit in my desk chair, I hurt when I curl up on the couch with a movie. Notice how all those things involve not moving. There's my problem. So I'm going to start moving again.
During the school year, I'm standing up and sitting down a million times a day. I'm standing at the front of the classroom, I'm walking up and down between the desks, I'm perching on my stool, I'm walking to the office, the library, a classroom for meetings. I'm bending down to see a student's paper and edit with him, I'm stretching up to pull the projector screen down.
Since school got out, I've ridden my bike once (a whole 2 miles, woo) and taken two or three walks with the dog and/or husband. Other than that, I've been in front of my computer, on the couch, in bed, or on the floor in my Luxury Tent. All this non-activity on top of my scoliosis means... I hurt.
I don't want to hurt more than I already do, so I started out with only 15 credits on the Wii Fit. (Each exercise gives you a certain number of credits, usually just one or two per activity.) I'll work my way up to 30 where I was before, when we first got the Wii Fit and I was doing it every day. I do mostly Yoga and Balance, with a little Strength and a little Aerobic.
I also intend to ride my bike at least a couple times a week. Walks are okay, but kind of boring unless I have the husband to talk to. Taking the dog is a pain because she's, well, stupid, and gets all tangled up around our legs, pulls ahead, pulls behind, etc. One of my goals this summer, though, is to teach her how to take a walk nicely, so we'll keep working on that.
Don't get me wrong, though. I still fully intend to read a lot, watch lots of movies and TV series (huzzah for instant Netflix!), sew, and waste time on the internet! I love having summers off!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Letter to Teacher
Dear Mrs. N________,
I wanted to write this letter to you to thank you! You have helped me understand literacy, and grammer alot more! I dont want you to proof this because I want it to be a surprise! Im sorry for me being talkative, and noisy during class, but that's just my personality. I'm not going to be here on Friday to say goodbye to you. I'm really going to miss your fun, and wierd style! But your style is a good wierd, because it makes you look like you dont care about peoples thoughts. I'm gonna miss you!
From,
M__________
May 25, 2011
I wanted to write this letter to you to thank you! You have helped me understand literacy, and grammer alot more! I dont want you to proof this because I want it to be a surprise! Im sorry for me being talkative, and noisy during class, but that's just my personality. I'm not going to be here on Friday to say goodbye to you. I'm really going to miss your fun, and wierd style! But your style is a good wierd, because it makes you look like you dont care about peoples thoughts. I'm gonna miss you!
From,
M__________
May 25, 2011
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Tea Party
I'm going to give my students index cards with the sentences below on them. They'll each have one card, and each card will show up about 3 times in each class since there are multiples. Then they'll mill around and talk to as many people as possible, like you would at a tea party, reading what's on their card out loud and hearing what other people have on their cards. After that, they'll talk at their tables and try and come up with the basic story-line. This is before reading any of the story.
Based on the following snippets, what do you think the story will be about?
Based on the following snippets, what do you think the story will be about?
One dollar and eighty-seven cents.
Life is made of up sobs, sniffles, and smiles.
Something fine and rare and sterling
“Please, God, make him think I am still pretty.”
just to see him pluck his beard from envy.
her face had lost its color within twenty seconds
“Shall I put the chops on, Jim?”
He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.
Well?
...
........
It's "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. Go and read it if you haven't before. It's a lovely Christmas story and definitely a classic!
We'll be talking about theme and doing some other things to understand/comprehend and remember the story. Hopefully it goes over well!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Drip.
Mini-lesson tomorrow on writing in the second person ("you" instead of "I" or "he"), and general fun creepiness for October and the fast-approaching Halloween. Students will choose a phobia from the sheet they've been working on (using the dictionary and another source to utilize prefixes and roots to find the meanings of phobias!). The following is the model I wrote.
---
---
Hydrophobia
Drip.
What was that?
Drip.
That sound, that maddening sound.
Drip.
Water. There is water on your floor. Water falling from the ceiling into a puddle on your floor, an ever-growing, slickly wet puddle of water.
Drip.
Each sinister drop adds to the puddle, creeping closer and closer to your safe, warm bed.
Drip.
Your toes curl. You clench your fists in the bedsheets. You squint your eyes shut, but that does not drown out the sound.
Drip.
Frantic, you cover your ears, palms pressed tight, eyes still shut, but you hear it even still.
Drip.
In your brain.
Drip.
Driving you mad.
Drip.
One...
Drip.
drop...
Drip.
at a time....
...
DRIP.
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