Last week I was leading my first graders in a discussion about isopods (a.k.a. roly poly bugs). We created this experiment to see whether they prefer moist or dry soil. I asked if anyone knew what the word moist meant. One little boy raised his hand and began his explanation, “Well, you know when you eat cereal and it gets sort of soggy? Yeah, soggy. It’s like the scientific word for soggy.” Try and top that Wikipedia!
posts tagged ‘teaching’
they say the darndest things!
Monday, May 26th, 2008my damn box
Sunday, April 13th, 2008
This blue thing has been staring at me out of the top shelf of our closet for close to a year. Seriously, last April we paid the first increment towards my national boards certification process and what was I rewarded with? This box that had written on the side: “IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUIRED!” Ahhhhh! Needless to say, I didn’t give it immediate attention, it was too scary!
Those of you who know me well know that the last several months I have been holed up in front of a computer analyzing and reanalyzing lessons I taught in the past. I have been typing, editing, and rewriting. March 31 that all changed. That was the day “my box” was due. On my only sister’s birthday, I rechecked and copied each piece of paper (approximately 85 carefully selected specimans) and then went to UPS to mail this box. I couldn’t believe $9.85 was all they wanted for all of my work. Surely it was worth more than that!? But, I didn’t complain, instead I verifyed that the receipt showed I did indeed send it to Texas that day and then I left. Now, I guess I just wait. I’ll keep you posted……….
stay at home business trip
Wednesday, February 6th, 2008Recently I kicked Jared and JJ out of the house so I could work. Well, not really but kind of. We were going to surprise Stevie D. for his 60th (see prior post) and I (nicely) suggested that they not return to Seattle with me. The idea was planted and luckily Truett and Janet were willing to put up with the two Jareds for the better part of a week. Here comes the good part. I came home and worked. That might sound morbid, but I really had a good time! Each morning I ate a big breakfast, then I lit a candle, got a soft blanket to sit on (grandma’s chairs are hard!) and made myself a latte. I did that pretty much every day, all day.
One woman who is in my national boards certification for teachers class said, “Don’t you just HATE this!?” It was then that I realized I am really enjoying this journey. I like writing and I like educating myself and I like analyzing all of the things I’m doing well, and not well. Anyway, the past week has been some of the most well used and disciplined of my life, and it paid off. Because of the time I put in on my boards, I feel well on my way to turning in my “box” on time. Whether I pass or not is a whole different ballgame………
education and manicures
Thursday, September 27th, 2007
My first mentor teacher surprised me one day after school by informing me that she was leaving immediately to get her nails done. Susette is a wise, midwestern, salt-of-the-earth kind of woman. Not someone whom I’d peg as vain. I was the peon, a student teacher, so I simply smiled and said, “Have fun,” acting as though I were used to people I knew getting their nails done (I wasn’t). Susette’s nails weren’t even long. Isn’t that why people got their nails done, to have them lengthy and flashy? Hers were neither, she would’ve taken out a 5 year old otherwise! It wasn’t until Thanksgiving that I felt close enough to ask Susette about her nail fetish. She simply laughed and replied, “Ha! Several years ago, another teacher and I treated ourselves to manicures every other week. It was a way that forced us to leave once in awhile right after school, and that allowed us pampering after taking care of others day after day.”
I was a student teacher and didn’t have extra income, but later that year, I DID begin to treat myself to the same; a monthly manicure, with “tips”-but not long ones. I enjoyed the idea for awhile, but then it became cumbersome and tedious, plus it kind of hurt! I had all of my tips removed and allowed my real nails to grow back in and have had them short ever since.
A couple years later, however, I learned about pedicures. Now, that’s my teacher indulgence. The foot and leg massage is my favorite part, but I enjoy the heck out of those little tiny designs they paint on too.
I never knew salons and schools went hand in hand, but believe me, I’m a better teacher when my toes are singing a pretty tune!