Martha Stewart, here I come!
This is the first weekend, ever, when I feel like I have the time to control my life. My apartment is clean, my dishes are done, my clothes and sheets and towels are clean, I have food for the entire week, and I'm ready for work tomorrow. I looked around yesterday and realized that I had nothing left to do. Essentially, it took me 24 years to get to this point. It makes me suddenly feel like I want something else to take care of, or at least when I'm ready to take care of something else, I think that I'll be somewhat capable. That's a exciting, right?
Today I spent more of the amazing ECM funding on foam "paper" dolls with authentic skin colors and hair. My kids will be so excited to decorate these as themselves (with their photos as the faces) and put them on our teamwork mural, an homage to Diego Rivera's "Detroit Industry." I also purchased adhesive magnetic sheets, that I will attach to the back of my white-board sentence strips, so my students can write vocabulary on them, then stick them on the board in the appropriate arrangement. The funding is also supporting the placement of student-photos on their belongings and around the classroom, through my digital camera, the printer I brought from home, and additional photo paper. Having their pictures around the room gives a greater sense of belonging and importance:)
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
My first day of teaching (this year)
My first class is 9 students who can barely speak English. They are all so cute...
My second class is the students who are reading at the same level as their peers, but their writing still needs refinement; like problems with subject-verb agreement and use of article in prepositional phrases, for example. I was so excited for this class, because I can actually speak to them at a normal rate of speech and challenge them with new ideas, but they had a major fit of the giggles, so we didn't get much done. I hate the feeling of impatience when kids can't stop laughing...I want them to have fun and be happy, but at some point it's wasting time and a bit disrespectful. But I'm still excited to teach them. Atypical of my student population, this class has only two native Spanish speakers out of seven. The rest speak Ghanian, Cambodian, Hmong, Vietnamese, and Thai. Isn't that amazing? They already put two postcards in my mailbox, which is outside of my classroom. Both asked when I would be giving them food from different countries. I'm not quite sure where they got that idea:)
My third class is co-teaching in a second grade classroom. Well, two students are from my first class and don't understand anything that's going on, so today I mostly interpretted the teacher's questions for them (which George W. would say is sooooo against No Child Left Behind...well, if he's even paying attention to education). If I didn't interpret though, the little boy would completely act out since he doesn't understand English. Argh. Honestly, there has to be a better way then to just throw him in without any support. He had an "accident" this week because he was so stressed out :(
My fourth class is co-teaching in a third grade classroom. In there, the students are much more advanced, and mostly need writing help. Since I don't want to ignore the other students, who don't qualify for ESL, I try to help them, too. Most students who aren't in ESL end up thinking I'm a reading teacher and then they tell their parents, who get confused. Some students in this class are very disruptive with constant, incredibly frustating behavior. It's so trying on teachers, especially those who are trying to help each student equitably.
My fifth class is with second graders who are low English speakers. This class has a student who has autism. The funding I received from ECM helped me to buy very organized materials for all my students, but for him in particular, which will help him to feel safe and structured in my classroom.
Then I have a 15 minute break. Whew.
My sixth class is co-teaching in a third grade classroom for writing. They write at incredibly different levels, which is interesting to watch. I have to learn the entire writing curriculum, which is, um, kind of interesting. Mostly, I hope to spend my time in the classroom giving small lessons on English writing.
Lunch and Prep. time. I love my lunch time! Everyone is so slap happy and hilarious in the staff lounge. And I'm getting along with the people who used to drive me crazy. If I avoid the drama of trying to be "friends" with everyone, it's much easier to be nice to them:)
My seventh class is pushing into second grade math classes. I am going to try my best to actually teach during this time, but I haven't figured out the best way to teach reading then. So we'll see if it even works.
My eighth class is perhaps the cutest. Well, that's saying a lot, because they're all adorable. But one of my students in this class looks like a little teddy bear.
This afternoon we had an assembly, so I didn't get to meet with my last class, who are mostly low writers. It is amazing how many students got lost on the way to the assembly...I picked up a bunch of kindergartners wandering around the school! I took them back to their classroom and one of their teachers gave me a look and said, "Um, they're supposed to be in the gym" as though I had taken her out of the gym and walked her back to class. Honestly, how was I supposed to know that her class had been in gym and she missed their walk to the gym while seeing the nurse? Oh well, at least I found where they were all supposed to be.
After that day, I left right after school!
My first class is 9 students who can barely speak English. They are all so cute...
My second class is the students who are reading at the same level as their peers, but their writing still needs refinement; like problems with subject-verb agreement and use of article in prepositional phrases, for example. I was so excited for this class, because I can actually speak to them at a normal rate of speech and challenge them with new ideas, but they had a major fit of the giggles, so we didn't get much done. I hate the feeling of impatience when kids can't stop laughing...I want them to have fun and be happy, but at some point it's wasting time and a bit disrespectful. But I'm still excited to teach them. Atypical of my student population, this class has only two native Spanish speakers out of seven. The rest speak Ghanian, Cambodian, Hmong, Vietnamese, and Thai. Isn't that amazing? They already put two postcards in my mailbox, which is outside of my classroom. Both asked when I would be giving them food from different countries. I'm not quite sure where they got that idea:)
My third class is co-teaching in a second grade classroom. Well, two students are from my first class and don't understand anything that's going on, so today I mostly interpretted the teacher's questions for them (which George W. would say is sooooo against No Child Left Behind...well, if he's even paying attention to education). If I didn't interpret though, the little boy would completely act out since he doesn't understand English. Argh. Honestly, there has to be a better way then to just throw him in without any support. He had an "accident" this week because he was so stressed out :(
My fourth class is co-teaching in a third grade classroom. In there, the students are much more advanced, and mostly need writing help. Since I don't want to ignore the other students, who don't qualify for ESL, I try to help them, too. Most students who aren't in ESL end up thinking I'm a reading teacher and then they tell their parents, who get confused. Some students in this class are very disruptive with constant, incredibly frustating behavior. It's so trying on teachers, especially those who are trying to help each student equitably.
My fifth class is with second graders who are low English speakers. This class has a student who has autism. The funding I received from ECM helped me to buy very organized materials for all my students, but for him in particular, which will help him to feel safe and structured in my classroom.
Then I have a 15 minute break. Whew.
My sixth class is co-teaching in a third grade classroom for writing. They write at incredibly different levels, which is interesting to watch. I have to learn the entire writing curriculum, which is, um, kind of interesting. Mostly, I hope to spend my time in the classroom giving small lessons on English writing.
Lunch and Prep. time. I love my lunch time! Everyone is so slap happy and hilarious in the staff lounge. And I'm getting along with the people who used to drive me crazy. If I avoid the drama of trying to be "friends" with everyone, it's much easier to be nice to them:)
My seventh class is pushing into second grade math classes. I am going to try my best to actually teach during this time, but I haven't figured out the best way to teach reading then. So we'll see if it even works.
My eighth class is perhaps the cutest. Well, that's saying a lot, because they're all adorable. But one of my students in this class looks like a little teddy bear.
This afternoon we had an assembly, so I didn't get to meet with my last class, who are mostly low writers. It is amazing how many students got lost on the way to the assembly...I picked up a bunch of kindergartners wandering around the school! I took them back to their classroom and one of their teachers gave me a look and said, "Um, they're supposed to be in the gym" as though I had taken her out of the gym and walked her back to class. Honestly, how was I supposed to know that her class had been in gym and she missed their walk to the gym while seeing the nurse? Oh well, at least I found where they were all supposed to be.
After that day, I left right after school!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Well, because my life is about balance*, here are things I'm not worried about:
- My classroom...I've decided that it's going to be a lesson in humility and gratitude for me, and if I'm lucky, for my students. I'm going to acknowledge how small it is on the first day (which is Friday!) but show children learning in different environments around the world. There are many children who could never imagine the luxuries I have in my classroom and could benefit so much from the resources that I have. So, in the absence of other options, I'm going for "it'll be an adventure!" and "I can make this work!" attitudes. We'll see how long that lasts, with 9 non-English speaking students in a room smaller than any of my college dorm rooms, first thing every morning :)
-Teaching. I'm so excited to see my students!! Apparently, from the chatter I hear in the staff lounge, a bunch of my students did a "yes!" arm pump when they heard that ESL starts this week :) And they keep stopping me and asking why I'm not coming to get them yet. I think the trip around United States content material is going to be so interesting! We're going to analyze a mural by Diego Rivera ("Detroit Industry"), dissect the National Anthem for using descriptive adjectives and verbs without stating the subject (it never says "flag" in the song), and comparing and contrasting a Minnesotan folktale (Paul Bunyan) with an Ojibwe folktale about giants. This year is going to be so much fun!
-My friends. They seem to understand that I'm not always a chatty kathy, which is comforting.
-My family. Although our family is somewhat fractured, I've found a way to be in communication with everyone without offending anyone (at least that I know), which is so important to me.
*"My life...is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next" ~Gilda Radner
- My classroom...I've decided that it's going to be a lesson in humility and gratitude for me, and if I'm lucky, for my students. I'm going to acknowledge how small it is on the first day (which is Friday!) but show children learning in different environments around the world. There are many children who could never imagine the luxuries I have in my classroom and could benefit so much from the resources that I have. So, in the absence of other options, I'm going for "it'll be an adventure!" and "I can make this work!" attitudes. We'll see how long that lasts, with 9 non-English speaking students in a room smaller than any of my college dorm rooms, first thing every morning :)
-Teaching. I'm so excited to see my students!! Apparently, from the chatter I hear in the staff lounge, a bunch of my students did a "yes!" arm pump when they heard that ESL starts this week :) And they keep stopping me and asking why I'm not coming to get them yet. I think the trip around United States content material is going to be so interesting! We're going to analyze a mural by Diego Rivera ("Detroit Industry"), dissect the National Anthem for using descriptive adjectives and verbs without stating the subject (it never says "flag" in the song), and comparing and contrasting a Minnesotan folktale (Paul Bunyan) with an Ojibwe folktale about giants. This year is going to be so much fun!
-My friends. They seem to understand that I'm not always a chatty kathy, which is comforting.
-My family. Although our family is somewhat fractured, I've found a way to be in communication with everyone without offending anyone (at least that I know), which is so important to me.
*"My life...is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next" ~Gilda Radner
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
I am bit worried about these things:
*I have 75 students whose English ability I'm responsible for.
*Everything I teach needs to be content-based, which means that I need to choose appropriate topics, then make my English lessons fit that content, while also making it address the specific needs of my students.
*I have to learn the writing and math curriculums, because I'll be teaching during those periods in specific classes. Those lessons need to address English through the subject. It's so hard to teach English skills through math lessons ("I would like to add 5 and 3.")
*My spacial situation in my classroom...it's going to be a tight fit;)
*I have 75 students whose English ability I'm responsible for.
*Everything I teach needs to be content-based, which means that I need to choose appropriate topics, then make my English lessons fit that content, while also making it address the specific needs of my students.
*I have to learn the writing and math curriculums, because I'll be teaching during those periods in specific classes. Those lessons need to address English through the subject. It's so hard to teach English skills through math lessons ("I would like to add 5 and 3.")
*My spacial situation in my classroom...it's going to be a tight fit;)
Sunday, September 10, 2006
I want to believe in my country again
I was talking to someone tonight about America. I am disgusted by the politics, by the continuing ignorance, and how divided our country has become. And I know that I'm part of that division, but I still desperately want something strong and dignified to part of our agenda again. There's enough fear in the world without questioning the motives my own government.
This is what Frank Rich wrote today in the New York Times:
Mr. Bush was asked at a press conference “how much of a sacrifice” ordinary Americans would “be expected to make in their daily lives, in their daily routines.” His answer: “Our hope, of course, is that they make no sacrifice whatsoever.” He, too, wanted to move on — to “see life return to normal in America,” as he put it — but toward partisan goals stealthily tailored to his political allies rather than the nearly 90 percent of the country that, according to polls, was rallying around him.
I was talking to someone tonight about America. I am disgusted by the politics, by the continuing ignorance, and how divided our country has become. And I know that I'm part of that division, but I still desperately want something strong and dignified to part of our agenda again. There's enough fear in the world without questioning the motives my own government.
This is what Frank Rich wrote today in the New York Times:
Mr. Bush was asked at a press conference “how much of a sacrifice” ordinary Americans would “be expected to make in their daily lives, in their daily routines.” His answer: “Our hope, of course, is that they make no sacrifice whatsoever.” He, too, wanted to move on — to “see life return to normal in America,” as he put it — but toward partisan goals stealthily tailored to his political allies rather than the nearly 90 percent of the country that, according to polls, was rallying around him.
This selfish agenda was there from the very start. As we now know from many firsthand accounts, a cadre from Mr. Bush’s war cabinet was already busily hyping nonexistent links between Iraq and the Qaeda attacks. The presidential press secretary, Ari Fleischer, condemned Bill Maher’s irreverent comic response to 9/11 by reminding “all Americans that they need to watch what they say, watch what they do.” Fear itself — the fear that “paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance,” as F.D.R. had it — was already being wielded as a weapon against Americans by their own government.
Less than a month after 9/11, the president was making good on his promise of “no sacrifice whatsoever.” Speaking in Washington about how it was “the time to be wise” and “the time to act,” he declared, “We need for there to be more tax cuts.” Before long the G.O.P. would be selling 9/11 photos of the president on Air Force One to campaign donors and the White House would be featuring flag-draped remains of the 9/11 dead in political ads.
And so here we are five years later. Fearmongering remains unceasing. So do tax cuts. So does the war against a country that did not attack us on 9/11. We have moved on, but no one can argue that we have moved ahead.
Why couldn't he have asked something of us? I would want to help my country and to know that my sacrifice was making a difference. Maybe that unity could have overcome the feeling of helplessness and defeat that I now feel. I think something big is going to happen soon...the political climate is changing and people aren't going to live like this anymore, being lied to and ignored by the government. The times they are changing...I hope.Saturday, September 09, 2006
Where did autumn go?
This week, the weather has changed from swimsuit-hot to jacket-cold. It completely skipped over the warm breezes, light jackets, fall weather that I love so much. This is Halloween weather! Although I'm excited to bring out my long sleeve shirts and sweaters. Really cold fall weather always makes me feel a little bit frightened...like there's something wicked about to happen. It's mysterious and always comforting that I have a warm place to come home to. During my run today, I smelled a fire. I have a fall fantasy of reading Dickens aloud in a cozy library, in my future house, in big leather chairs around a fireplace, with big, engulfing blankets and cups of hot chocolate with Baileys. I'm so hopeful that I'll have that some day:)
This week, the weather has changed from swimsuit-hot to jacket-cold. It completely skipped over the warm breezes, light jackets, fall weather that I love so much. This is Halloween weather! Although I'm excited to bring out my long sleeve shirts and sweaters. Really cold fall weather always makes me feel a little bit frightened...like there's something wicked about to happen. It's mysterious and always comforting that I have a warm place to come home to. During my run today, I smelled a fire. I have a fall fantasy of reading Dickens aloud in a cozy library, in my future house, in big leather chairs around a fireplace, with big, engulfing blankets and cups of hot chocolate with Baileys. I'm so hopeful that I'll have that some day:)
Want to hear a scary story?
I've told this story to a lot of people already, but there's an addition now, so this is the extended version.
Last night, while driving down a hill toward home after a friend's going-away party, I saw a black mass in the middle of the intersection. As I got closer, I realized that it was a large man slumped over in a motorized wheelchair. I swerved around him and pulled over to the side of the street. During the daytime, I might have gotten out and asked him if he needed help, but it was 12:30 at night and it was pitch black outside. So I started to get my phone out to call the police, when something moving in my rearview mirror caught my eye. The man was twisting and turning all over the street in his wheelchair, driving erratically and very fast. Suddenly, he turned and started speeding straight toward my car. I quickly pulled out and drove home, where I called the police and asked them to check on him.
Today, when I was walking back to my apartment after a run, I walked down the same hill and past the intersection, thinking how creepy it would be if I saw him still there. But that's just paranoia, right, because what are the chances that he would be there right at that time? Well, just as I walked past that intersection, I saw someone coming down the middle of the road toward me. It was the man, wearning a hooded sweatshirt that completely obscured his face, driving his wheelchair right down the middle of the street. I got a cold sweat and couldn't look at him. He went right past me and I swear it gave me chills.
Now I know he's probably just a local person who had a bad night last night (and hopefully did receive help), and I bet not he's not dangerous at all, but there's something so menacing about that really fast wheelchair. That must be the strangest thing in the world for someone to be afraid of.
Tonight I'm going to be cleaning my apartment, making emotion charts for my students, and possible baking some gourmet dessert :) Oh, and trying not to think about being chased.
I've told this story to a lot of people already, but there's an addition now, so this is the extended version.
Last night, while driving down a hill toward home after a friend's going-away party, I saw a black mass in the middle of the intersection. As I got closer, I realized that it was a large man slumped over in a motorized wheelchair. I swerved around him and pulled over to the side of the street. During the daytime, I might have gotten out and asked him if he needed help, but it was 12:30 at night and it was pitch black outside. So I started to get my phone out to call the police, when something moving in my rearview mirror caught my eye. The man was twisting and turning all over the street in his wheelchair, driving erratically and very fast. Suddenly, he turned and started speeding straight toward my car. I quickly pulled out and drove home, where I called the police and asked them to check on him.
Today, when I was walking back to my apartment after a run, I walked down the same hill and past the intersection, thinking how creepy it would be if I saw him still there. But that's just paranoia, right, because what are the chances that he would be there right at that time? Well, just as I walked past that intersection, I saw someone coming down the middle of the road toward me. It was the man, wearning a hooded sweatshirt that completely obscured his face, driving his wheelchair right down the middle of the street. I got a cold sweat and couldn't look at him. He went right past me and I swear it gave me chills.
Now I know he's probably just a local person who had a bad night last night (and hopefully did receive help), and I bet not he's not dangerous at all, but there's something so menacing about that really fast wheelchair. That must be the strangest thing in the world for someone to be afraid of.
Tonight I'm going to be cleaning my apartment, making emotion charts for my students, and possible baking some gourmet dessert :) Oh, and trying not to think about being chased.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
I heart endorphins
I had such a hectic day. With all the new students who are enrolling, I'm currently up to 90 ESL students. 90! I'm responsible for all of their English needs this year. I also need to test them all before I can start teaching, as per district policy. Sometimes I want to have a march on the district headquarters with all my cute little students chanting "No more testing, let us learn!" At 5:30, after spending hours figuring out who I needed to test and planning when, I sent my principal an email about my worries about having so many students, to test and to teach. I wrote, "This is probably a "well, good luck with that" kind of email." Now I'm worried that sounds kind of flippant. He probably gets worse than that all the time, but I really don't want to be one of those bitter teachers who start getting really involved in the *gasp* union. Honestly. If it can't be about the students, I'm going into another field, I'm not going to try to squeeze every cent out of an already tried system.
Anyway, this post is meandering, mostly because I just got back from an amazing run and I'm so high on endorphins...I looooovvveee running! I made it 4 miles today, which I usually do, but I never stopped once to stretch or get a drink of water. I also fell, for the first time since high school. I was running up a steep hill on the grassy strip between the sidewalk and the street (to help my shin splints) and I stepped in a hole that I didn't see because it was getting dark. I fell right on my knee and elbow on the sidewalk! It didn't really hurt at all, though. I think the combination of Aleve and the peptides (or whatever) raised my pain threshold. Now I have I really disgusting gash on my knee...it looks so gross! Oh well. I was going to wear black tights tomorrow anyway.
For the next week or so, all I'm going to do is test students. I have to do the same oral exam 19 times and each one takes at least 30 minutes. At least I'm happy right now, though, right? And tonight's a new Project Runway, in Paris no less. I miss Paris so much. I have dreams about getting married at St. Severin on the left bank, then having a small reception on a river boat at night with lots of twinkling lights. But for now, I'm testing, testing, testing, in my little cave of a room. C'est toujours la même chose.
I had such a hectic day. With all the new students who are enrolling, I'm currently up to 90 ESL students. 90! I'm responsible for all of their English needs this year. I also need to test them all before I can start teaching, as per district policy. Sometimes I want to have a march on the district headquarters with all my cute little students chanting "No more testing, let us learn!" At 5:30, after spending hours figuring out who I needed to test and planning when, I sent my principal an email about my worries about having so many students, to test and to teach. I wrote, "This is probably a "well, good luck with that" kind of email." Now I'm worried that sounds kind of flippant. He probably gets worse than that all the time, but I really don't want to be one of those bitter teachers who start getting really involved in the *gasp* union. Honestly. If it can't be about the students, I'm going into another field, I'm not going to try to squeeze every cent out of an already tried system.
Anyway, this post is meandering, mostly because I just got back from an amazing run and I'm so high on endorphins...I looooovvveee running! I made it 4 miles today, which I usually do, but I never stopped once to stretch or get a drink of water. I also fell, for the first time since high school. I was running up a steep hill on the grassy strip between the sidewalk and the street (to help my shin splints) and I stepped in a hole that I didn't see because it was getting dark. I fell right on my knee and elbow on the sidewalk! It didn't really hurt at all, though. I think the combination of Aleve and the peptides (or whatever) raised my pain threshold. Now I have I really disgusting gash on my knee...it looks so gross! Oh well. I was going to wear black tights tomorrow anyway.
For the next week or so, all I'm going to do is test students. I have to do the same oral exam 19 times and each one takes at least 30 minutes. At least I'm happy right now, though, right? And tonight's a new Project Runway, in Paris no less. I miss Paris so much. I have dreams about getting married at St. Severin on the left bank, then having a small reception on a river boat at night with lots of twinkling lights. But for now, I'm testing, testing, testing, in my little cave of a room. C'est toujours la même chose.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Movies that I am excited to see:
1. A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. Shia LeBouf/Robert Downey, Jr. plays a Bronx-raised man.
2. Aurora Borealis. The return of Joshua Jackson...everyone expected him to be the first DC alum to be nominated for an Oscar, not Michelle Williams.
3. Man of the Year. Robin Williams plays a Jon Stewart character who runs for president on a whim and wins.
4. The Pursuit of Happyness. Oh my gosh: Will Smith as a down and out single dad trying to raise the cutest little boy in the world who has a mini-afro? I'm actually going to need to bring a box of kleenex with me:)
5. Marie Antoinette. Sophia Coppola has such an amazing life: her dad is Francis Ford Coppola, she's Marc Jacob's muse (free couture), she's made two award-winning films, and she's dating a member of Phoenix (a French band).
6. Ratatouille.
Pixar and gourmet-cheese-eating French rats? Obvious magic.
Will it improve US-French relations, though, when the characters we're supposed to empathize with are the rats? I have a feeling that there will be a stereotypical French villain, probably with a curly mustache and cloying beret.
1. A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. Shia LeBouf/Robert Downey, Jr. plays a Bronx-raised man.
2. Aurora Borealis. The return of Joshua Jackson...everyone expected him to be the first DC alum to be nominated for an Oscar, not Michelle Williams.
3. Man of the Year. Robin Williams plays a Jon Stewart character who runs for president on a whim and wins.
4. The Pursuit of Happyness. Oh my gosh: Will Smith as a down and out single dad trying to raise the cutest little boy in the world who has a mini-afro? I'm actually going to need to bring a box of kleenex with me:)
5. Marie Antoinette. Sophia Coppola has such an amazing life: her dad is Francis Ford Coppola, she's Marc Jacob's muse (free couture), she's made two award-winning films, and she's dating a member of Phoenix (a French band).
6. Ratatouille.
Pixar and gourmet-cheese-eating French rats? Obvious magic.Will it improve US-French relations, though, when the characters we're supposed to empathize with are the rats? I have a feeling that there will be a stereotypical French villain, probably with a curly mustache and cloying beret.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
I am such a lion
although I am a little beaver-ish, too.
I'm going to a barbecue at the house of some of my students' family tomorrow. I'm excited and nervous to be surrounded by Spanish speakers, mostly because they know me and will see me at school. I'm afraid I'll misspeak and embarrass myself...by confusing something like socks and underwear (again)!
although I am a little beaver-ish, too.
Here is a description of the four personality types based on Gary Smalley's writings:
-
Lion- This personality likes to lead. The lion is good at making decisions and is very goal-oriented. They enjoy challenges, difficult assignments, and opportunity for advancement. Because lions are thinking of the goal, they can step on people to reach it. Lions can be very aggressive and competitive. Lions must learn not to be too bossy or to take charge in other's affairs.
Strength: Goal-oriented, strong, direct
Weakness: Argumentative, too dictatorial
Limitation: Doesn't understand that directness can hurt others, hard time expressing grace
-
Otter- Otters are very social creature. Otter personalities love people. They enjoys being popular and influencing and motivating others. Otter can sometimes be hurt when people do not like them. Otter personalities usually have lots of friends, but not deep relationships. They love to goof-off. (They are notorious for messy rooms.) Otters like to hurry and finish jobs. (Jobs are not often done well.) The otter personality is like Tigger in Winnie The Pooh.
Strength: People person, open, positive
Weakness: Talks too much, too permissive
Limitation: Remembering past commitments, follow through with discipline -
Golden Retriever- Good at making friends. Very loyal. Retriever personalities do not like big changes. They look for security. Can be very sensitive. Very caring. Has deep relationships, but usually only a couple of close friends. Wants to be loved by everyone. Looks for appreciation. Works best in a limited situation with a steady work pattern.
Strength: Accommodating, calm, affirming
Weakness: Indecisive, indifferent, unable to express emotional, too soft on other people
Limitation: Seeing the need to be more assertive, holding others accountable -
Beaver- Organized. Beavers think that there is a right way to do everything and they want to do it exact that way. Beaver personalities are very creative. They desire to solve everything. Desire to take their time and do it right. Beavers do not like sudden changes. They need reassurance.
Strength: High standards, order, respect
Weakness: Unrealistic expectations of self & others, too perfect.
Limitation: Seeing the optimistic side of things, expressing flexibility
I'm going to a barbecue at the house of some of my students' family tomorrow. I'm excited and nervous to be surrounded by Spanish speakers, mostly because they know me and will see me at school. I'm afraid I'll misspeak and embarrass myself...by confusing something like socks and underwear (again)!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
My First Student Purchase
Today I spent $35 on copies, to use in making a "Word Office" for each of my 45 pull-out students. So tomorrow will include lots of stapling! I also make copies of the first three states my classes will be visiting: Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois. Tomorrow night, after making a final student list, I'm going to buy those efficient binders that I had my eye on before...they'll be perfect portfolios that my students can use throughout the year and pass on to next year's students.
Tomorrow, I'm going in to finally clean up my classroom in the morning, then I have an iLife seminar in afternoon, an ESL committee meeting, and then I'm going back to school.
Ooh- in our team-building seminar this afternoon, I found out that I'm part Lion, part Beaver. That means that I'm task-oriented, determined, dedicated, take charge, bossy, analytical, a perfectionist, and have a tendency to get stressed out. Then we had to work in groups to "Design on a Dime" another teacher's bulletin board. My group was me and 4 "Golden Retrievers" (i.e. people who like to be told what to do and rarely make decisions). So I took charge and delegated and got made fun of for being "such a lion." Oh well. We're also the ones who get things done! :) Almost all of the teachers are golden retrievers or Otters, which I'm not at all...I guess that's good to know and will help me work better with them.
I'm so excited that I have two parties to go to this week. I'm going to have a social life this year!!
Today I spent $35 on copies, to use in making a "Word Office" for each of my 45 pull-out students. So tomorrow will include lots of stapling! I also make copies of the first three states my classes will be visiting: Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois. Tomorrow night, after making a final student list, I'm going to buy those efficient binders that I had my eye on before...they'll be perfect portfolios that my students can use throughout the year and pass on to next year's students.
Tomorrow, I'm going in to finally clean up my classroom in the morning, then I have an iLife seminar in afternoon, an ESL committee meeting, and then I'm going back to school.
Ooh- in our team-building seminar this afternoon, I found out that I'm part Lion, part Beaver. That means that I'm task-oriented, determined, dedicated, take charge, bossy, analytical, a perfectionist, and have a tendency to get stressed out. Then we had to work in groups to "Design on a Dime" another teacher's bulletin board. My group was me and 4 "Golden Retrievers" (i.e. people who like to be told what to do and rarely make decisions). So I took charge and delegated and got made fun of for being "such a lion." Oh well. We're also the ones who get things done! :) Almost all of the teachers are golden retrievers or Otters, which I'm not at all...I guess that's good to know and will help me work better with them.
I'm so excited that I have two parties to go to this week. I'm going to have a social life this year!!
I've realized something that probably everyone who knows me already knows: I am not a chatter. I love discussions, like "how can we reverse globål warming on a local level?", but just shooting the breeze I'm not good at. And it's not fun. I think I get this from my parents. When I went out to dinner with them, we talked about random things for a little while, but then there was a long, silent pause. Finally, my dad said, "So, what dya think's going to happen with the Middle East situation, then?" We are incapable of small talk, I guess. Which is what makes "TEAM BUILDING DAY" so hard for me. I usually just keep asking questions and let the other person just talk about themselves...and then try to shift conversation to current issues. Like, "Speaking of your vacation in Beijing, how is China going to cope with the growing automobile market without making concise driving regulations? And if every middle class Chinese person buys a car, how will they all fit?" I don't think my colleagues like my segues or topics. Oh well ;)
I'm so excited to be here, but I wish I could just focus on organzing my classroom. I LOVE organizing, making posters, and rearranging. Oops, it's almost 12 and I need to get to our next group activity!
I'm so excited to be here, but I wish I could just focus on organzing my classroom. I LOVE organizing, making posters, and rearranging. Oops, it's almost 12 and I need to get to our next group activity!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
A Big THANK YOU :)
Something wonderful happened yesterday. I got my mail and took it in the car with me as I drove down to St. Olaf with my brother. While we were driving, I opened one of the letters, from my favorite reverend, Rev. Mike. And inside was a letter, letting my know that the Episcopal Campus Ministry Alumni Association had raised money for my students... a lot of money! I started crying, and I kept saying to my brothers "they're so generous" and "that's such an ECM thing to do!" I'm so grateful to all of them, especially since their extremely kind gift will be amazing for my little students:) It will definitely make them feel important and valued to receive the supplies that this gift will provide. And here is a shout out to the reader who saw my post about fancy binders and suggested the fund-raising: Thanks so much, Andrew ;)
Tomorrow is my first day back at work and I have millions of boxes to clear out. The janitors were going to throw out my boxes, since they're all in the hallway, but another teacher told them that they were actually mine and only in the hallway because there's no space for them in my room!
Something wonderful happened yesterday. I got my mail and took it in the car with me as I drove down to St. Olaf with my brother. While we were driving, I opened one of the letters, from my favorite reverend, Rev. Mike. And inside was a letter, letting my know that the Episcopal Campus Ministry Alumni Association had raised money for my students... a lot of money! I started crying, and I kept saying to my brothers "they're so generous" and "that's such an ECM thing to do!" I'm so grateful to all of them, especially since their extremely kind gift will be amazing for my little students:) It will definitely make them feel important and valued to receive the supplies that this gift will provide. And here is a shout out to the reader who saw my post about fancy binders and suggested the fund-raising: Thanks so much, Andrew ;)
Tomorrow is my first day back at work and I have millions of boxes to clear out. The janitors were going to throw out my boxes, since they're all in the hallway, but another teacher told them that they were actually mine and only in the hallway because there's no space for them in my room!
Friday, August 25, 2006
I'm too pensive to bullet my ideas today. I just got back from the State Fair Grounds, where I saw the Flaming Lips for the first time. I loved: the streamers, Wayne Coyne's hair, and finding an empty seat so I could watch the spectacle from up high. I disliked: the overstimulation, how much he swore (there were a lot of little kids there), and the dancing martians.
I spent three hours organizing my room today. I'm going to have to constantly remind myself to be graceful about my classroom "situation," since I want to try to be that kind of person who takes on challenges without fuss and proves the cynics wrong. However...my room is very small. It's like generous-walk-in-closet small. I don't have a desk, because there's no room. I have two tables, but they had to be manipulated many ways before I found a placement that would leave enough room for me to go from the door to the whiteboard without going over or under them. All the boxes of materials had to be removed just so it wasn't like one of those puzzles that requires you to move one piece at a time. And tomorrow, I'm going to need to throw out bags and bags of material that I have no room for (most of it seems like junk anyway, but I swear I'll need it the minute it's gone).
My family comes to town tomorrow. I love when they visit because they're on their best behavior and feel the need to eat at really nice restaurants :) We're going to the fair tomorrow night, then spending the night at my grandparents' apartment in Edina. I'm really excited about trying more crazy fair food; today I saw pickle on a stick, wrapped in cream cheese and salami (eww). There's also cheese on a stick, key lime pie dipped in chocolate on a stick, and obviously, pizza on a stick. I tried the breakfast sausage (with cheese, egg, bacon, potato, and peppers in a sausage link!) this morning. If was fabulous. Anyway, Saturday morning I'm going to attempt to make the Disney World triple-sauce, caramel french toast that I last made at my apartment warming party two years ago. It's amazing, and I'm excited!
I have a strange pain in my calf that is starting to worry me. Since my appendectomy in March, I've become much more hypochondriatic...but what if it is a blood clot? Since the idea makes me feel nauseous, and "clot" is the word I hate most, I hope my mom can give me a normal explanation tomorrow. Like running strain, or something else less fatal and disgusting.
I'm going to a black-tie Emmy party this weekend that I'm very excited about as well. It's being thrown in a kind of ironic way (I think), since there will be running commentary (I'm sure) disparaging every presenter, winner, and the host. And I won't mind at all this time, because I know the source of all this hostility and know it's in fun ;) I'm going to wear my red satin gown, if I can find a zipper. I bought it for $15 at the designer thrift store, knowing someday I'd need it.
I need advice about dealing with colleagues that are still stuck in a high-school mindset in terms of personal relationships. With people like that, should I avoid them, tolerate them, confront them, or act hyper-nice and kill them with sweetness? Or is that just playing into their game and I really shouldn't think about them at all, until they mess with me, which will happen sometime this year. Just hearing this one person talk makes my jaw clench, which is horrible and mean, but probably instinctual until I find a solution.
The "uniform" for teachers at my school- the jersey knit black gauchos and bright t-shirt, sometimes combined with patterned scarf/belt- makes me want to scream (well, in a fashion sense, it's irritating). If you're all going to wear the same thing for some reason, at least make it trendy with the outside world...
I've decided that I'm going to dress librarian-chic for work: no heels, knee-length skirts, ruffled tops, and sometimes black tights with black shoes. I don't know why I was working so hard to look "professional" last year, since I shouldn't be trying to impress anyone with my clothes and I'm much more resourceful for my students when I'm not mad about a blister on my heel.
Finally, I ran into my favorite Borders employee again yesterday, an Indian man who likes to teach me about India while I make a purchase. He placed the home cities of two of my best friends from high school based on their last names and told me about the diversity of languages there. I was buying "No God But God" by Reza Aslan, and he asked me if I was Muslim. I've never been asked that before.
I spent three hours organizing my room today. I'm going to have to constantly remind myself to be graceful about my classroom "situation," since I want to try to be that kind of person who takes on challenges without fuss and proves the cynics wrong. However...my room is very small. It's like generous-walk-in-closet small. I don't have a desk, because there's no room. I have two tables, but they had to be manipulated many ways before I found a placement that would leave enough room for me to go from the door to the whiteboard without going over or under them. All the boxes of materials had to be removed just so it wasn't like one of those puzzles that requires you to move one piece at a time. And tomorrow, I'm going to need to throw out bags and bags of material that I have no room for (most of it seems like junk anyway, but I swear I'll need it the minute it's gone).
My family comes to town tomorrow. I love when they visit because they're on their best behavior and feel the need to eat at really nice restaurants :) We're going to the fair tomorrow night, then spending the night at my grandparents' apartment in Edina. I'm really excited about trying more crazy fair food; today I saw pickle on a stick, wrapped in cream cheese and salami (eww). There's also cheese on a stick, key lime pie dipped in chocolate on a stick, and obviously, pizza on a stick. I tried the breakfast sausage (with cheese, egg, bacon, potato, and peppers in a sausage link!) this morning. If was fabulous. Anyway, Saturday morning I'm going to attempt to make the Disney World triple-sauce, caramel french toast that I last made at my apartment warming party two years ago. It's amazing, and I'm excited!
I have a strange pain in my calf that is starting to worry me. Since my appendectomy in March, I've become much more hypochondriatic...but what if it is a blood clot? Since the idea makes me feel nauseous, and "clot" is the word I hate most, I hope my mom can give me a normal explanation tomorrow. Like running strain, or something else less fatal and disgusting.
I'm going to a black-tie Emmy party this weekend that I'm very excited about as well. It's being thrown in a kind of ironic way (I think), since there will be running commentary (I'm sure) disparaging every presenter, winner, and the host. And I won't mind at all this time, because I know the source of all this hostility and know it's in fun ;) I'm going to wear my red satin gown, if I can find a zipper. I bought it for $15 at the designer thrift store, knowing someday I'd need it.
I need advice about dealing with colleagues that are still stuck in a high-school mindset in terms of personal relationships. With people like that, should I avoid them, tolerate them, confront them, or act hyper-nice and kill them with sweetness? Or is that just playing into their game and I really shouldn't think about them at all, until they mess with me, which will happen sometime this year. Just hearing this one person talk makes my jaw clench, which is horrible and mean, but probably instinctual until I find a solution.
The "uniform" for teachers at my school- the jersey knit black gauchos and bright t-shirt, sometimes combined with patterned scarf/belt- makes me want to scream (well, in a fashion sense, it's irritating). If you're all going to wear the same thing for some reason, at least make it trendy with the outside world...
I've decided that I'm going to dress librarian-chic for work: no heels, knee-length skirts, ruffled tops, and sometimes black tights with black shoes. I don't know why I was working so hard to look "professional" last year, since I shouldn't be trying to impress anyone with my clothes and I'm much more resourceful for my students when I'm not mad about a blister on my heel.
Finally, I ran into my favorite Borders employee again yesterday, an Indian man who likes to teach me about India while I make a purchase. He placed the home cities of two of my best friends from high school based on their last names and told me about the diversity of languages there. I was buying "No God But God" by Reza Aslan, and he asked me if I was Muslim. I've never been asked that before.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Things to look forward to...
a. Seeing the Flaming Lips at the State Fair on Thursday. I know it's expensive, but anyone who wants to come, I'd love to carpool...and hit huge beach balls at the concert with you!
b. Food on sticks at the state fair.
c. My family comes to visit on Friday.
d. Organizing my classroom- it's going to be like one of those block puzzles, when you have to move one piece at a time because they're all squeezed together in a small space. I'm going to have posters on hangers, so I can switch them between classes! How many posters can I jam into a walk-in closet? We'll see :)
e. Learning about my students' test scores at our staff meeting. The principal hinted that we had reading scores that were the best in the district!
f. Carnival rides with R.
g. An organized, nonstressful school year!
a. Seeing the Flaming Lips at the State Fair on Thursday. I know it's expensive, but anyone who wants to come, I'd love to carpool...and hit huge beach balls at the concert with you!
b. Food on sticks at the state fair.
c. My family comes to visit on Friday.
d. Organizing my classroom- it's going to be like one of those block puzzles, when you have to move one piece at a time because they're all squeezed together in a small space. I'm going to have posters on hangers, so I can switch them between classes! How many posters can I jam into a walk-in closet? We'll see :)
e. Learning about my students' test scores at our staff meeting. The principal hinted that we had reading scores that were the best in the district!
f. Carnival rides with R.
g. An organized, nonstressful school year!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Likes and Dislikes
Likes
Meeting guys that negate all the horrendous dates.
Brit's Pub.
My friends, who associate with me even though I get tipsy after two drinks.
The Black Film Festival.
Being really organized for school:)
Dislikes
The screwed up eliminations on Project Runway: if they're going to act all high and mighty about the authenticity of the show, they shouldn't eliminate talented designers and keep the incredibly bizarre ones.
Brit's bacon-oil salad dressing for the spinach salad...that's disgusting!
Grandma's philosphy on men: never act like I'm available, never seem like I want a relationship, never call them, never expect commitment.
The price of parking downtown.
Likes
Meeting guys that negate all the horrendous dates.
Brit's Pub.
My friends, who associate with me even though I get tipsy after two drinks.
The Black Film Festival.
Being really organized for school:)
Dislikes
The screwed up eliminations on Project Runway: if they're going to act all high and mighty about the authenticity of the show, they shouldn't eliminate talented designers and keep the incredibly bizarre ones.
Brit's bacon-oil salad dressing for the spinach salad...that's disgusting!
Grandma's philosphy on men: never act like I'm available, never seem like I want a relationship, never call them, never expect commitment.
The price of parking downtown.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Quick Update
*I received a Masters in Spanish from the University of Minnesota...without taking any classes! I just got a letter of confirmation in the mail. Well, that's going to look amazing on my resume ;)
* I just sent an email to the entire district by mistake. Grr...darn you reply-to-all button!
*I got out of taking the new teacher seminar next week (all week long) by saying that I would feel bad costing the district money to teach me things I already know. All it takes to get out of stuff in my district is to mention money, apparently.
*I received a Masters in Spanish from the University of Minnesota...without taking any classes! I just got a letter of confirmation in the mail. Well, that's going to look amazing on my resume ;)
* I just sent an email to the entire district by mistake. Grr...darn you reply-to-all button!
*I got out of taking the new teacher seminar next week (all week long) by saying that I would feel bad costing the district money to teach me things I already know. All it takes to get out of stuff in my district is to mention money, apparently.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Sunday, August 13, 2006
I've realized that my mood can break at any moment. I had such a fun day today: Weezie went to church with me, helped me pick out a digital camera, and browsed for school clothes with me at the Mall of America. Instead of going on a ride, she decided to play one of those horrible carnival games, that has hundreds of perfectly rounded bowls floating around in water, the goal of which is to get a ping pong ball to stay in a bowl. I was half-way through my "it's really not about skill, only luck, so even if you try your best..." talk, when she got a ball in a bowl. In one of the special colored ones! I've never seen anyone win at one of those games, so I've always associated them with childhood disappointment. But Weezie won a huge purple unicorn, which fueled her love of games of chance...oh well.
Anyway, I found adorable clothes at Forever 21. They're so beautifully draped, it almost makes up for the fact that they're so cheap that I'll need to hand-wash them. I got home early tonight, to watch "The Ron Clark Story," which was way too generic to be a good teacher movie. I wish someone would actually depict what it's like in a movie. Not the saving of inner city kids, but the millions of little issues and stresses and achievements. And the fear that I'm failing them every day! Actually, it's not usually that bad, I'm just getting all worked up about the first day of school.
After that wonderful day, my positive attitude suddenly cracked, just from the tone of someone's voice. I don't know why I feel so vulnerable sometimes. Maybe I'm not as trusting as I should be, but I honestly have sudden pains of fear that people will give up on me, abandon me. And it's a completely unfounded and irrational fear. I know I just need to sleep on it and the feeling will be gone. I'm bothered that it affects me so much.
This week, I need to focus on my curriculum planning. I desperately want to be in control of my job this year and not need to stay until 8pm on Friday nights! I also want to run every day, get rid of my leftover ice cream from the capture the flag/sundae party, and persuad my principal to give me a new classroom:)
Anyway, I found adorable clothes at Forever 21. They're so beautifully draped, it almost makes up for the fact that they're so cheap that I'll need to hand-wash them. I got home early tonight, to watch "The Ron Clark Story," which was way too generic to be a good teacher movie. I wish someone would actually depict what it's like in a movie. Not the saving of inner city kids, but the millions of little issues and stresses and achievements. And the fear that I'm failing them every day! Actually, it's not usually that bad, I'm just getting all worked up about the first day of school.
After that wonderful day, my positive attitude suddenly cracked, just from the tone of someone's voice. I don't know why I feel so vulnerable sometimes. Maybe I'm not as trusting as I should be, but I honestly have sudden pains of fear that people will give up on me, abandon me. And it's a completely unfounded and irrational fear. I know I just need to sleep on it and the feeling will be gone. I'm bothered that it affects me so much.
This week, I need to focus on my curriculum planning. I desperately want to be in control of my job this year and not need to stay until 8pm on Friday nights! I also want to run every day, get rid of my leftover ice cream from the capture the flag/sundae party, and persuad my principal to give me a new classroom:)
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Book Survey
1. One book that changed your life: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. The main character is me, a shy, quiet, studious girl, which was so comforting when I was surrounded by the complete superficiality that is Northville High School.
2. One book that you've read more than once: The Shell Seekers. It's a quasi-romance novel- very long- but set in England, so somehow seems more posh, less cheesy. But it has all the perks of Joan Collins book: deception, betrayl, jet-setting to Greek isles, revenge, and fighting over a will. It's perfect, every single time. And there's a BBC series about it starring Angela Landsbury.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island: Hmm...well probably something that would take me a looooong time to completely understand, like Gringo Viejo by Carlos Fuentes...in Spanish. That would keep me busy for a while, since I didn't really understand it in English. But I would definitely need a Spanish-English dictionary or I might go crazy on the island and start talking to a volley ball.
4. One book that made you laugh: The Nanny Diaries. I know it's popular chick-lit (whatever that means) but I could completely relate to seeing a marriage break down while babysitting. I once witnessed a major argument conducted over the family's home intercom system. I was forced to pretend to be really interested in their cookbook selection.
5. One book that made you cry: I don't remember the last book that made me cry. I think it was probably Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol, because anything that reminds me of how hard life is for some of my students makes me cry. (Fact: Jonathan Kozol got a Rhodes scholarship to Magdalen college at Oxford. That is my nerdy dream scholarship!! I had to sneak into Magdalen when I was there, since they're all too good for Hertford).
6. One book that you wish had been written: I wish Jane Austen had written one book about what happened after the "happily ever after." Even that long ago, every story ended with marriage.
7. One book that you wish had never been written: I don't know...Mein Kampf?
8. One book you’re currently reading: Any Place I Hang My Hat by Susan Isaacs.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
1. One book that changed your life: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. The main character is me, a shy, quiet, studious girl, which was so comforting when I was surrounded by the complete superficiality that is Northville High School.
2. One book that you've read more than once: The Shell Seekers. It's a quasi-romance novel- very long- but set in England, so somehow seems more posh, less cheesy. But it has all the perks of Joan Collins book: deception, betrayl, jet-setting to Greek isles, revenge, and fighting over a will. It's perfect, every single time. And there's a BBC series about it starring Angela Landsbury.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island: Hmm...well probably something that would take me a looooong time to completely understand, like Gringo Viejo by Carlos Fuentes...in Spanish. That would keep me busy for a while, since I didn't really understand it in English. But I would definitely need a Spanish-English dictionary or I might go crazy on the island and start talking to a volley ball.
4. One book that made you laugh: The Nanny Diaries. I know it's popular chick-lit (whatever that means) but I could completely relate to seeing a marriage break down while babysitting. I once witnessed a major argument conducted over the family's home intercom system. I was forced to pretend to be really interested in their cookbook selection.
5. One book that made you cry: I don't remember the last book that made me cry. I think it was probably Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol, because anything that reminds me of how hard life is for some of my students makes me cry. (Fact: Jonathan Kozol got a Rhodes scholarship to Magdalen college at Oxford. That is my nerdy dream scholarship!! I had to sneak into Magdalen when I was there, since they're all too good for Hertford).
6. One book that you wish had been written: I wish Jane Austen had written one book about what happened after the "happily ever after." Even that long ago, every story ended with marriage.
7. One book that you wish had never been written: I don't know...Mein Kampf?
8. One book you’re currently reading: Any Place I Hang My Hat by Susan Isaacs.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
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