New Knowledge or Revisiting the Basics

Having a puppy for one week has taught me a few things:

1) Having an indoor and an outdoor potty plan may prolong house training, but it's my most realistic option. I'm gone too long during the day to expect Max to only "do his business" outside, but when I'm home I would prefer he go outside. So far this is resulting in poop outside (except twice) and when outside is not an option pee inside on the house training pads (except three time). All of his accidents were results of me relaxing a little and veering away from training procedures.

2) Standing in the backyard, at 4:00am, saying "get busy" in your bathrobe while your dog poops is not embarrasing. I repeat, "Standing...."

3) At the end of the day, (come to think of it, at the beginning, in the middle, and all through the night too) he is a puppy.

This new knowledge is useful in the classroom too.

1) Always have an alternate strategy or plan (just in case) and every moment is a teachable moment (don't get caught up in the moment and loose sight of the bigger picture)

2) It's not about me, it's about my students. Do whatever it takes to teach.

3) Throughout the school day and all the hours before and after, they are children (middle school does not mean they have adult reasoning or thought processes).

Meet Max!

Apparently, work, household repairs/remodeling, and life in general weren't keeping me busy. I don't know what came over me, but I decided the to go for it. On Friday, I brought home a puppy!
Meet Max, he's seven weeks old and an expert at being a puppy. As an owner, I am a clueless novice. I was able to get a quiet night sleep last night (thanks to the "Sock Mommy" I made for him and the crate I purchased) The same cannot be said for our first night together.
Max! (He's supposed to be a chihuahua/dachshund mix, but I think there's something else in there too. I hope it's small!)

Kobi is indifferent towards him. He has had to hiss at him a couple of times, but he hasn't tried to do any serious physical damage.
Kobi loves to look into the backyard in hope of getting to go out.

You move you lose! (Kobi went to get a drink and...)This mix-up in the order of the universe was corrected with one hiss and a rather rapid walk/hop in reverse.

Kobi got his wish! While Max was sleeping, Kobi and I spent some time outside. I spent my time drinking coffee, Kobi spent his time relaxing.

Making My Peace

photo from www.libertineusa.com

For years, I've done battle with the word cute. It seems like a polite thing people say when you are not attractive, or they don't take you seriously. It is often based on size and not personality or style. Try as I may, cute describes my appearance and most of what I say, do, or own. I've been told my house is cute (I guess the lavender and light green interior paint contribute to this problem). My clothes are cute. (I still attribute this to size.) My mannerisms are cute.(That pinky thing when I eat or drink is an involuntary action...REALLY!) You get the picture.

For the past two years, I have tried to reinvent myself. I have discovered my version of glamorous is clownish. (Eyeshadow is tricky.)My powerful is stressful and far too angry. (No more committee or boards. The politics suck.) And, my sexy is absolutely disasterous! It was a lot of work and only made me tired and frazzeled. (Can I blame the lousy cooking on the time I spent trying to be sexy? Sorry if I scared you D. ;)

A little over a month into being 46 years old, I look in the mirror and guess what I see accept realize...I'M CUTE!!!

cute  /kyut/ –adjective
1. attractive, esp. in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty: a cute child; a cute little apartment.
2. affectedly or mincingly pretty or clever; precious
3. mentally keen; clever; shrewd.
(www.dictionary.com)

I've learned that people like cute. It's non-threatening. People who get close to cute people are there because of who we are not what they can get. YEA CUTE!!!

(Thanks TravlinOma for inspiring me to write about this recent discovery.)

So Many Depend Upon...

The Red Wheelbarrow
William Carlos Williams

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.



I remember when I first ended my love affair with poetry. I was in a literature class, and we were analyzing The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams. I actually enjoyed the poem until the professor insisted that this was a poem about the importance of the proletariat (the wheelbarrow) and the false importance place on the bourgeoisie (the white chicken).

This morning, as I raced against the rapidly arming burglar alarm, I considered how much depends on the job I do. My students depend on it, the community I teach in depends on it, society as a whole depends on it, and so does my mortgage.

so much depends
upon
a diligent
teacher

drenched by
perseverance

beneath a
mountain of standards.

Six Word Saturday

Shakespeare never fails to lift my spirits!

At Peace With Myself

Last night I attending a community theatre performance of Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors. It was part of a Shakespeare festival and as usual did not disappoint. The event is held in the vineyard of a small winery which was a positive addition to the "break from my life" atmosphere that surrounds any Shakespearean play. The winery also makes some of the best Sangria I have ever had.

I went alone because friends were either unable or unwilling to go. I had a great time. While I don't relish the fact that their are times when it boils down to going alone. I revel in the fact that it doesn't bother me to do so. I know many people who don't do or see things they want to do or see because no one will go with them.

As for my life, grading is done (this week was our third week of school), listening to Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (audiobook), reading The Language of Bees by Laurie King, Shakespeare, and Sangria. Life is good!

Laughing with friends makes me happy.

Making Progress

I got up at 6:00am and purchased the necessary paint! Things are coming along very well, and I can't wait to see this room transformed. I should finish two of the walls next weekend.

The handyman also caulked and painted the molding downstairs, and fixed the toilet. I could learn to like hiring other people to do the difficult parts of projects.

"Are We There Yet?"

Usually, I revisit my New year's Resolutions in June. How far have I come? What do I need to do in the next six months? I missed doing this in June, so here goes nothing.

This Year's Resolutions:

1. Keep my house cleaner This one is on the list every year. I've got 5five and a half months to improve in this area. Hope springs eternal!

2. Put more consistent effort into my appearance I'm doing a very good job on this one. It is taking effort and time, but the way it makes me feel (and the response from others) is definitely worth it!In my journal, this resolution included pampering, makeup, exercise, and diet. I recently joined a walking group and, while I am always bringing up the rear, I hang in there from start to finish. Regarding makeup, Sephoras has become my new best friend. The staff is so knowledgeable and helpful. I planted a vegetable garden and will start buying certified organic food from the local farmer's market. (It's cheaper than the local health food store and my local grocery store.) The cost of healthy food has impeded my ability to pamper myself the way I used to. During the 2008-2009 school year, I did not get a single massage or pedicure. It had a negative impact on many parts of my life, so I am going to work finding a better balance of these things.

3. Write daily (journal, blog, or letters) I am writing more frequently (about three to four days a week), but I still have work to do on this.

4. Give quicker feedback on student's written work I am currently researching strategies that will make this easier next year. I added improving classroom management to this back in March. Last year, I had such a draining learning environment that it was difficult to stay on top of things. I was always playing catch-up. I am going to continue using Rick Morris' strategies; I just need to refine and customize them a bit more before school starts.

5. Get to church on time. I haven't been successful in this area. I need to put more effort into this.

My big goal is to notice more of the "rainbow and butterfly" moments in my life. They are always there, I just need to open my eyes to see them. I am learning to get out more and I am placing boundaries in place to keep work, and its accompanying stresses, from taking over my life. This is easy during the break. The true test starts when the new school year begins. I have already put a few colleagues on notice, and my administrator is aware of one of the lines I have drawn. "Things are lookin' up!"

Farmer Jane: The Midnight Gardner

After seeing and tasting the harvest from a friends garden, I have decided to give vegetable gardening a try. I have chosen to stick with a container garden for now because I can experiment more with finding the right spot for each plant. I can't wait to see and taste the results (granted I don't kill everything with my chronic brown thumb).

Because I love gardening at night, I didn't start planting until the sun was starting to set. When I finished it was a moment worthy of a photo and a smile.









These photos were taken the next day.

M.J.

I've been avoiding the frenzy surrounding Michael Jackson's life, death, and legacy. I've weighed my thoughts and feelings and now know what I want to say. I can't comment on his life or death because I was not an actual part of either. Those fans who act like they actually knew him well frighten me. Despite what people may think or Michael Jackson as a person or music as an industry, the reach of his talent is undeniable. Not only did he connect races and ethnicities, he also connected generations. His legacy will be different things to different people. Yes, when I was about six or seven, I had a crush on him...thankfully, his legacy is bigger than that!

I was bussed to a predominantly white high school, occasionally date men who are not African-American, live in a predominantly white community, and most of my friends belong to other races or ethnic groups. When conversations turn to music we listened to as teenagers, most of my friends have never heard of the artists or songs that trigger memories for my childhood friends and me. Outside of jazz and classical music, and the occasional rock song (thank you Elton and Bon Jovi) our common ground is Michael Jackson. Regardless of ethnicity, we can all name at least one of his songs that we enjoyed.
My mother's favorite M.J. song is Man in the Mirror. My favorites are Stand, Some Day at Christmas, and Thriller. What's your favorite?

Back to Reality

I love cruising! It is so removed from the reality of my life that it's a vacation on many levels. It is a physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual place of stress free existence. For example, I can eat endlessly without worrying about purchasing all of the ingredients, spending the time and energy cooking, and cleaning up after the meal. Yes, I have to deal with the three pounds I gained, but considering that my mother gained ten pounds, it could have been worse.

While in Victoria,BC Canada, we stopped at a wine bar and tasted some of the local wines. I did not take the opportunity to taste the local Icewines, but I did taste the Mission Hill Winery's Oculus. It was delicious. I knew I could not bring it back in my carry on luggage (due to the current liquid restrictions) and did not want to risk putting it in my checked luggage. I'm glad it did not try that because my suitcase got pretty banged up on the return trip, and I'm too cheap to have paid an additional $25 to ship it separately. Current customs laws prevent the bar or winery from shipping it outside of Canada, so for now it is on my list of reasons to go back to B.C., Canada.



I didn't get a chance to go kayaking in Ketchikan (the kayaking partner was having back problems), but I did go on a five mile hike in Juneau. It was listed as a moderate hike, but felt far more grueling. When the guide repeatedly tells the group to "Embrace your inner mountain goat.", as you cling to the wall of a rocky ledge, it's a sign.

(The people on the left are fellow hiker's - I was pulling up the rear :-)

I had a wonderful time!

Ahhh Alaska

Finally, I am on the vacation I have been looking forward to all year long. The cruise is fantastic. I will post pictures and share more a little later.

Catching Up

It is so nice to be off for summer break! It's almost a week and I already miss the planning and the deadlines; however, that is easily solved since part of my summer plan involves preparing for next year. It also includes giving my home and car, two things I let slip during the school year, a deep cleaning. I started some of that today but have a long way to go. In addition, I have a lot of reinvention/personal maintenance work to do. Don't worry, there will be lots of rest, relaxation, romantic interludes (it's about time ;p ),and fun mixed in with the other activities!

The Most Important Thing

I recently heard an administrator (not mine) refer to our state's standardized test as "the most important thing in a students life". I disagree with this opinion. There are students who have parents who are incarcerated, who have been homeless or in foster care at some point, and who have a parent who is, or parents who are, recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction. I know of at least one who has seen someone die a violent death. I am sure these students would also disagree with this administrator's take on testing.

Good Teaching Conference

During the weekend of March 14th, I had the pleasure of attending CTA's Good Teaching Conference. This was the best conference I have been to in the past nine years. There was something there for every area of concern (content areas, retirement planning, union activism, stress management, classroom management, etc...) The source of my stress this year has become classroom management (yes, CTG it is true). I attended sessions by Rick Morris and others that shared common philosophies. Returning to work with a new plan gave me a renewed energy and sense of purpose. I was somewhat concerned about changing course at this juncture in the school year; however, the old way was not working. There have been a few bumps in the road, but this new management system is definitely the one I will be using from the start of next year.

Spring Break!

The first day of Spring Break, there's nothing like it! I'll spend part of the break working on the classroom website and adjusting my map for the rest of the school year. Household maintenance and short getaway are on my To-Do List as well.

Students turned in Social Studies projects yesterday, and I stayed at work until I was finished grading them. Nothing hanging over my head! I also downloaded my first podcast to our classroom website. Add to that the fact that my students and I are getting used to the new discipline program (Thanks Rick Morris), and you have what turned out to be a great week.

The Sweet Taste (and Smell) of Success

Family Time turned out to be a great success. We had a blast! The food turned out great! We watched a basketball game (UConn) and then the adults watched a movie. It was pretty good. My nephew (4 yrs. old) and my cat (somewhat overweight and extremely lazy) made their peace and became friends; however, they continued to proceed cautiously around one another when they weren't playing. My house was filled with good food and laughter. That's what I call being successful and wealthy!

On another note, I had the send student Z to the Assistant Principal's office on Friday. I have been at this long enough to know that I can't win over every student, but it still bothers me. The new classroom management approach is working with everyone else. After getting a warning note on his desk, a note home, and having a timeout conference K continued his off-task behavior. After class, I had him call his father and discuss his behavior. This was the last straw for K. "Why do I have to fill out the reminder note, fill out the note home, and call my father? Why don't you do it?", he demanded. I calmly responded, "I am teaching and I am responsible for doing the things that are required for students to learn the standard we are working on. When you misbehave you are responsible for your actions and have to do the things that are required to learn from your mistake." During a paired activity, I heard his partner tell him that if he stopped playing around he wouldn't have to fill out anything or make any phone calls. His father, who showed up after school, sternly gave him the same advice. I give K a great deal of leeway because he has difficulty sitting still, but even he has boundaries. He told me he is just joking around with his classmates when he tries to engage them in conversation or draws things and shows it to them (he also thinks it is unfair that I am usually giving directions while he is doing this).

Nirvana

Today our classroom environment was filled with laughter and learning. All students, including Student Z and his cohort in crime, were on task. I hate to sound like a pessimist, but....should I be on high alert? Something about calm and the storm comes to mind. Forget that. We all had a good day and that is definitely on my list of Things I Love.

Regarding Family Time, the menu is set and I have begun the prep work for the meal. I'll be worn out, but I thoroughly enjoy it.

Gotcha!

Student Z was not in my classroom today (I'll be meeting with the SRO (sheriff) tomorrow morning to share notes and come up with a more individualized discipline program for this student). His cohort in crime was in class, and I was ready for him. Withiut his buddy to egg him on, he remained on task the entire time. He actually partnered with a special needs student and their project is off to a good start. He initially tried to get out of the classroom by pretending he was told to come to the office during fifth period. "If they need you they will send for you.", I told him, and that ended that. He not have to be redirected or warned during the entire time he was in my room. I spoke with his parents today (regarding somethings stemming from choices he made on Tuesday. We all feel that with a concerted effort we can get him headed in the right direction.

Today is only one day, but I can see some payoff and other strategies I can use with this child. One almost down and one to go!

On another note, I attended a wonderful lecture on the spread of Buddhism from India to China. Even though it was over an hour drive each way (after work), it was worth it. The National History Project is just as meaningful as the National Writing Project. They both offer teachers great resources and opportunities. Seize the opportunity if you get a chance to get involved with either of these programs.