Something New

Blogger finally has pages! This website is under serious reconstruction but will be open for business during that time ;-)

Are We There Yet?

I can't wait for the end of the school year! I have been living off of chocolate bars, Skittles, coffee, donuts, and fast food. My garden is growing; however, it will be a while before I can harvest anything. Face it, in the meantime, I've fallen so far off of the healthy eating wagon that I can't even see the wheel tracks. It's a poor response to my extremely stressed out life (it actually adds to it), but I can't seem to stop myself. The onset of summer break will cause most of the stress to magically disappear and part of my summer plan is to put a better stress management plan in place. I'm trying to at least increase and maintain the amount of water I drink ("teeny, tiny baby steps", "gotta start somewhere", etc...). That can only help. Right?

ONLY 9 MORE DAYS!!!

Happy Earth Day!

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I don't litter, I use my blue recycle bin, and I try to get maximum use out of things before I throw them away, but it just seems like reconnecting with the Earth is a necessary (and enjoyable) step in becoming environmentally conscious.

During Spring Break, I started a square foot garden. I did it in hopes of reducing my produce bill and, if it's readily available, actually eating more vegetables. I've wanted to do this for a long time and felt it was now or never. I started from seeds, and I have to admit it has been exciting to see plants breaking through the soil's surface. It was easier than I thought to get started (meaning I probably forgot to do something that was vital to being a successful gardener :-(

Coming soon...pictures!

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                    Happy Easter!!!

Who Are You?

Funny Mrs.Chilli should mention Audrey Hepburn today (see here). I recently had one of those accept yourself moments when I asked myself which Hepburn archetype lined up with my personality. Audrey or Katherine. Honestly, I'd have to say I am most like Katherine Hepburn. I'm extremely independent. Don't mind getting dirty. Men are drawn to me (haha ;) by respect not lust. I have a friend who has a nice balance of both...I guess she's Lauren Bacall.

Today, I found the following description of Katherine Hepburen here:

You are KATHERINE HEPBURN:



You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan. You are very healthy in mind and body. You don’t take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider ‘real friends’.. You teach strong family values. Keep your feet planted in them, but don’t overlook a bad situation when it does happen.

Yes, I tried taking this test before I read the description. Guess what... I AM Katherine Hepburn, and I am just fine with that description.

The school year feels like a strange hybrid of a marathon, a sprint, and an obstacle course. From the moment we set foot on campus on that first teacher workday to the last day of school, teacher are racing to teach and reteach all of the standards to students who frequently lack the foundational skills needed to master the material. Yes, we get breaks along the way, but that time is spent trying to repair and patch up personal responsibilities we have often neglected.

I know spring break is less than a week away, but I really needed a break. On Thursday, I made the decision to take Friday off. Before leaving work, I had the opportunity to laugh and talk with some of my student who had stayed after school for math tutoring. Their work was done and they were busy being children. They shared their thoughts on things, made silly jokes, and laughed, laughed, laughed. The next day at work (yes, I went). I started each core by having students share something good from the day before. I shared the following:

"Sometimes teachers become so caught up in the work of teaching, and preparing for testing, that teaching is no longer fun. I would like to thank _________, ____________, and ______________ for reminding me how much fun it is to work with middle school students. I came to work today because of the fun we have as we do our work."

Dog Training

My current adventures with Max have me looking for a faster, effective way to teach him to stop mouthing people's hands and arms and to stop jumping on them. I'm not a fan of the "remote collar" and I'm not putting in enough time or being consistent enough for positive reinforcement to nip this in the bud quickly.  I use some of Cesar Milan's techniques (like entering and exiting before allowing the dog to do so), but others (like rolling him when he makes teeth to skin contact) seem to make him behave aggressively. 

Today, I picked up a business card belonging to a trainer who uses the many of the same techniques as Milan. Coincidently, I also came across this funny skit by comedian Charlie Murphy on The Dog Blog. (Murphy does use profanity, so consider yourself warned,). While the clip is meant to be funny and exaggerate the things shown on Milan's show, it does serve as a reminder that this type of training is not based solely on positive reinforcement.

Confusion

On Thursday morning, I was being observered by two beginning teachers and someone from the district office because the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Curriculum is so impressed by the work I do with the struggling students and special education students in one of my language arts classes. Later that afternoon, my room was being observed (by someone else from the district office) because of the seemingly horrible job I am doing with a special needs student in that same class. Please excuse me, but I'm a little confused by all of this. I realize different students have different needs, but I'm getting mixed messages. Maybe the problem with education boils down to the fact that the people in charge really don't know what they want or what it looks like when they get it. Hmmm?.

Happy Valentines Day!

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Looking for someone to love or someone to give love to has lead people to do desperate things. Ultimately, we all want to experience love. Love is something we have the power to create based on what we think, say, and do. It is a choice we make on a daily, moment by moment, basis. What better day than today to choose love!

Who Dat!

Way to go! Congrats to the New Orleans Saints and the people of New Orleans!

Plum Lovin

Janet Evanovich never fails to entertain! In Plum Lovin' she once again caused me to laugh uncontrollably while driving alone. I'm sure passers-by were wondering..."Break down?" In this installment of the Between the Numbers volumes of the Stephanie Plum series, Stephanie helps Diesel solve one of his "unmentionable" cases in exchange for one of Jersey’s most wanted. For her part, she acts as a relationship expert to make sure five challenging cases have a happy Valentines Day, while Diesel has to diffuse another unmentionable’s powers.
This one was too funny, and Diesel gets sexier by the minute!

The Other Queen

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory is story of Mary Queen of Scots and her ultimate execution under Queen Elizabeth. As usual, the characters are well-researched and well-written. I understood their motivations even if I disagreed with them. Because I love Gregory's work and find this time period interesting I enjoyed this book. I take a long break between each book because the treachery and beheadings can get old. I don't how the Tudors dealth with the constant distrust and stress.

I finished this audiobook, but it was difficult getting through it. It was well-written, I simply could not enjoy the ride.

Use Your Words Not Your Hands

Ms. E., an older woman whose opinion I usually respect, recently made a comment about domestic violence that has troubled me all week. I can't recall exactly what celebrity she was talking about, but she made a comment that this person had "only been slapped" )by a male in her life), and no one would have thought a thing about it if it weren't for her fame. She went on to emphasize that it was just a slap which, in her opinion, was no big deal. I was struck dumb by this woman's comments. I should have spoken up in defense of women everywhere, but I was just so shocked that any woman could honestly believe such a thing. Ms. E has been married and divorced twice. It saddens me to think that my dear friend may have been a victim of this type of violence.

Time Outside

A respite from the torrential rain.

Click here for more Six Word Saturday.

Week 2

Max had a great day on Thursday! Excercise seems to be the key life ingredient that he is not getting enough of. Just as I figure this out, a week long stretch of rain is about to begin. REALLY? REALLY!?

In the classroom

As the teacher, I spent the first week after break tightening the reigns on students behavior. As a group,We spent the first week, reviewing rules, procedures, and routines. It was a great week. Next week will be interrupted by an assembly, two days of district testing, and a holiday. REALLY!!?

Audobook Challenge

Audio Book Challenge

For the past two years I have started several book challenges at the beginning of the year and only complete one by years end. Last year I didn't post reviews for each book, but I did listen to the number of books required to complet this challenge. With this being a year of love and acceptance for me, I am accepting the fact that one book challenge is enough for me. I will, however, make sure I post reviews this year and write a wrap-up post.

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.
2. There are four levels:

• Curious – Listen to 3 Audio Books.
• Fascinated – Listen to 6 Audio Books.
• Addicted – Listen to 12 Audio Books.
• Obsessed – Listen to 20 Audio Books

3. Audio books only.
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

I am participating at the "Obsessed" level. It  will be no problem because I listened to about that many audiobooks last year. (I stopped putting them in the sidebar when I reached 12.)

My Audio Book List will appear in the sidebar (under the Audio Book Challenge button) and be update as I complete and begin new books.

Six Word Saturday

Work on Monday, students on Tuesday!

Frustration

This week during puppy training class, Max tried to bite the trainer! He has become a very strong-willed dog. This CANNOT continue. If you follow the Cesar Milan at all (it seems like everyone does) , then you know that the root of the problem is me. I personally admit that I'm doing quite a few things wrong:

• Inconsistency during training
• giving him too much freedom
• not being a calm-assertive leader

The last item is the most important and the one I am having the hardest time correcting. Currently, I know I am not sending out a calm-assertive energy; I'm sending out an energy that screams frustration. I am frustrated with my job, my neighborhood, and Max. Saying I have to rise above these things and be the leader I used to be, can be, and am meant to be is easier said than done right now. Regardless, I am not giving up. I'm addressing each of the issues listed above and tightening the reigns on Max. I have also signed up for some one-on-one training sessions for Max and I.

(I am sure that the bulleted items are showing up in my classroom too, and I will be addressing them there too.)

Resolutions

I am exhausted, but determined to post something today. Max is a 22 week old bundle of energy and, if you haven't figured it out, I am a low energy person.

He is still nipping. It feels alot like biting if you're nipped :( I'm trying the "withold attention" approach when he nips, but it is slow going. Everyone tells me to work him hard to burn off as much of that energy as possible during the day. Let's just say our 4 1/2 mile walk wore me out, but he was still jumping around and ready for action. When he is not running, jumping, and nipping, he is humping everyone or thing in sight. He was neutered two weeks ago, but the humping remains an issue.

Back to the point of this post...My resolutions this year are pretty general yet necessary.

1. Socialize more
2. Use my camera more
3. When I exit a room in my house or get out of my car, do one thing to leave it in a better state than it was when I entered. (It could anything from doing dishes to throwing away mail left on the counter.) It would be nice if I could do this with every situation or person I encounter, but I figure I'll start small and work my way up. Truthfully,this is a sneaky of admitting that I failed (once again) to keep my house cleaner last year, so I'm still working on that ;)

Gotta go. Tomorrow we try the long walk with Max wearing a weighted doggie back pack (per vet and trainer advice). I figure he can also carry my water, B12 and pain pills ;p

Winding Down 2009

Emotionally and professionally, this has been the most difficult year I have ever had. I was considering the coming year when I remembered how the current year began. I acknowledge it was going to be a year of work, but did not realize how overwhelming the "work" would be. I don't mind hard work as long as I have something to show for it when all is said and done.

So, what do I have to show for 2009?

1. My administrator's heartfelt appreciation for the effort and professionalism I put into my work (as far as I'm concerned the bottle of Gerwurzterminer I received for Christmas was a sincere gesture).

2. The unconditional love of the most energetic Jack Chi puppy (Max) on the planet. Yes, a low energy person can learn to love a high energy dog; however, I must admit there are times when I wonder what on I Earth I was thinking when I brought home this bundle of love, energy, and WORK.

3. Friends and family that are always there for me.

4. A house that has become a home in spite of the changing neighborhood in which I reside.

The new year is coming into view as a year of love and acceptance. On many levels, that may be more daunting than any of the challenges I have faced in '09. I believe this journey begins with acknowledging, accepting, and embracing the many qualities and passions that make me uniquely me. The remainder of the journey is in living the life that is uniquely mine and focusing on the good I can do and experience along the way.