14 | September | 2011 | AuburnChick's Adventures

Hodgepodge – 44th Edition

Posted on September 14, 2011 by auburnchick

It’s time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge!

Head on over to Joyce’s corner of the world and see how others answered the questions!

1. What do you do at the first sign of a cold? Will you get a flu shot this year?

I usually start taking Airborne, which has a bunch of Vitamin C. I also make apple/orange/pineapple juice. I have a juicer, so the juice is fresh and ripe with “real” vitamins. My “how-to’s” on making the juice are located here. I have never gotten a flu shot. I’m petrified of needles.

2. What advice can you give about how to conquer fear?

I think that to conquer fear, one must constantly be in prayer. We have to remember that God is bigger than our fears, and that He never allows anything into our lives that isn’t part of His plan. Remembering these things can help us face our fears head-on, knowing that we already have victory in Jesus Christ, who faced the ultimate fear of all…separation from God. If He can do that, we can do anything!

3. Share two good things about your life right now.

Only two, Joyce? Sheesh. Guess you didn’t want us all writing novels, eh? 😀

First of all, the Mr. and I are getting along better. This is a very big deal as our marriage has been rocky for a number of years. I’ve had a few friends who have lost their husbands through marital difficulties or sickness. These things made me realize how precious my own marriage is.

The second thing that’s great about my life right now is my new job in the public school system. In fact, my official paperwork just got processed, and my ID badge no longer says “Substitute” but “Teacher.” I am happy as can be! This has been six long years in the making!

4. A hot fall fashion trend in 2011 is a return to sixties style…tunics with pants, shift dresses, pencil skirts, cinched waists, bold prints, high necklines, and short lengths to name a few. How does this fashion trend fit with your wardrobe and personal sense of style?

Oh, I am loving the return of the flowing shirts and skirts! The trend is suiting me just fine, thank you very much. The styles are comfortable and enhance my body type. I love it!

5. Were you involved in scouting as a kid? How about as an adult?

I was a Brownie. I still have my outfit in the closet. I don’t remember too much about it except for one or two afternoons at people’s houses and some sort of initiation ceremony. The Girl Scouts looked so big because they were older than me! As a mom, I have not been involved with scouting. My children never expressed an interest.

6. Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin…your favorite fall flavor?

Apple…definitely! The smell of cooked apples and cinnamon makes me feel all warm and happy inside though!

7. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher?

GREAT timing, Joyce! This is my second year as a teacher, and I have a daughter in her second year of college and a son who’s a senior in high school. I’ve definitely got an opinion or two about this topic. I think that a teacher must know his/her subject content as well as the different learning styles that her students possess. A teacher must not be afraid to adapt teaching to meet individual needs. Gone are the days when teachers lectured while students took notes. This is not effective, and students get bored. Students need to be more interactive in their learning. This helps them take ownership of it.

At the same time, teachers must be sensitive to the personal issues going on in their students’ lives. We must be compassionate. We must find ways to connect with our students. As teachers, we are role models, whether we want to be or not. We have the potential to leave a great impression (good or bad) on the students we teach. It’s vitally important that we teach them how to be responsible social beings as well as academic ones.

8. My Random Thought

My replacement phone came in yesterday afternoon…less than a day after I filed an insurance claim. Fortunately, I still had my messed up phone, which was ugly but still worked. On the way home, I stopped at the Sprint store and bought an Otter Box. Obviously I did not learn a lesson via my children when they dropped and cracked, to pieces, their own phones last summer. Lesson learned…at a hefty price.