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When I Wasn’t Looking

Posted on February 17, 2014 by auburnchick

While I was on my way to work on Friday, I called my friend, Barb, to find out how a conversation she’d had with one of my students the day before had gone. 

After we addressed that issue, she mentioned that our media specialist had gotten very ill and wouldn’t be at school that day.  Unfortunately, it was the last day of our book fair, and Barbara, who had been helping her out, had a meeting she had to attend.

Now, first of all, you might be thinking…book fair…high school?

Yep.

We have a wonderful librarian who hosted a book fair last year, and it was a HUGE hit!  She decided to do it again!

Most of our kids haven’t seen a book fair since elementary school, so they’re especially appreciative.

One of our assistant principals was going to step in and help, Barb said.

I told her that if she needed me, I could take my classes to the library and let them do their work there.  I’d planned on having them read an excerpt of the Constitution, answer reading comprehension questions about it, and work on a writing rubric we were finishing up.

She said she’d call if she needed me.

Not one minute after I entered my classroom, my phone rang.

It was an SOS call.

I grabbed my attendance roster, reading comprehension worksheets, and everything else I thought I might need and headed out, taping a note to my door to let students know that class had temporarily been relocated.  Thank goodness I have first period planning, because I was able to get a quick tutorial on how to use the cash register.

Oh yeah.

You read that right.

Cash.

Register.

As in electronic gadget.

Uh huh.

Oh, and I haven’t mentioned the scanner thing.

This was going to be fun, I could already tell.

You know how much I love electronics!

The first batch of students came to purchase books, and I sailed through with a minimum of questions.  There was a lovely lady from the cafeteria who had been reassigned to the book fair so she could recover from a hurt back.

By the time my students arrived for second period, I was comfortable.

I sat them at a table behind the shelving and explained why we were there that day.  As I passed out the worksheets, I told them the grade would be going in the gradebook, so it would behoove them (yes, I defined “behoove” for them) to work together.  There were three short-answer questions that they were not allowed to copy.

After thirty minutes, I gave a student the answer sheet so they could review and correct their answers.

Now, one never knows what he/she is going to get when placed in a similar situation.

My students could have run amook.

Good thing they didn’t.  I’m a fierce mama and quick with the consequences.

Did I mention that it was Valentine’s Day?  That’s one of the craziest days at school with kids all lovied up and candied up.

Ugh.

Well, my precious students behaved themselves, answered those questions, and sat quietly the rest of the time.  Another teacher had commandeered the rest of the library, so we didn’t have a lot of wiggle room.

My second class came in, and we repeated the routine.

This is when something magical happened.

I didn’t have any book-buying customers, so I could hear my students.  They weren’t being loud, but the library was quiet.  The other teacher wasn’t there that period.

I overheard one of my students say, “Well, I answered #4 this way because…”

Then, another student said, “Well, I answered this way because…”

Hola, people!  This is called student-centered learning!  My students were taking charge and justifying their answers!!!!

This is a teacher’s dream!!!!

I was so proud and will surprise them with donuts as a reward.

For the second part of class, I put them on the library’s computers and had them work through assignments I’d given them on a free website NoRedInk.  If you’re a teacher and don’t know about this, RUN to it and sign up.  It is the most fabulous website that teaches grammar!!! 

Did I mention that it’s FREE?

I’d pay for it, that’s how good it is.

Students customize their account by selecting favorite celebrities, singers, etc., and the website weaves their interests into the questions.

Students are given remedial help and extra practice questions to help them learn the concept being taught.

As a teacher, I can run a report that shows me trouble areas as well as how many times a student attempted a question.

I am awarding bonus points for the work my students completed on this site.

Yes, the activity was kind of a fill-in, but it was something I’d wanted to show them for a long time, so Friday was the perfect opportunity!

I can’t tell you how proud I am of my students.  Even though my last period class wasn’t quite as well-behaved as the first two classes, it was the end of a day…the end of a long week…the end of a holiday.  I had to cut them some slack.

My students behaved in a way that represented months of training.  They showed well, and I couldn’t have been happier!

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: | Leave a comment »

Teaching Them More than Reading

Posted on February 14, 2014 by auburnchick

On Tuesday, I had one of those moments when I realized how much more than Reading that I’m teaching my students.

During my first class, one of my girls, “S,” came in and saw my Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie…

Don’t ask me why, but one day last week, I got a hankering for peanut butter.

I’d been trying to make myself like smoothies, but I was having a rough time of it.  I like to eat my fruit, not drink it in chunks.

Then one day, I discovered the heavenly combination of banana and peanut butter.

Elvis would be so proud.

One thing led to another, and I found myself sitting in Target’s parking lot Googling peanut butter/banana smoothie recipes.

I found a couple I liked and took ingredients from both to come up with something that tasted DIVINE.

I’ve been on my Daniel Fast…more hard core than the last year or so, when I’d been baking and eating some refined sugar.

Since January 1st, I haven’t eaten any sugar (not on purpose), French Fries, or other junk food.

Thanks to the Ninja blending system I received as a Christmas gift, the ingredients (shared below) were turned into something that my picky taste buds enjoyed.

Anyhoo…

I’d taken my drink into school a couple of days, and my students had taken notice.

On Tuesday, “S,” saw my drink and told me that she’d made a smoothie, complete with Chia seeds, which I’d told my kids about.  She went on to say that she had added strawberries and suggested that I try doing the same.

I could not help but smile.

You see, my students and I chat.  That’s how I have created relationships with them.

They’ve been very curious about my eating lifestyle, at first thinking that being vegan is weird, but slowly coming to the understanding that it is a healthy way to eat.

These kids need this kind of teaching.  They often dine on fast food or whatever comes out of the freezer.  Much of what they eat is fried or microwaved.

This distresses me, but I don’t lecture them.

It’s obvious, from the conversation with my student, that I am teaching them more than I realize.

They are listening.

Some of them are even experimenting with new dishes.

This makes my heart happy.

Here’s the recipe I’ve created…super fast, easy, and delicious.

For a single serving…

1/2 cup Almond or Soy milk (or whatever kind you prefer)
1 banana, slided
3 tbsp peanut butter (I use Publix’s store brand natural, which has salt and peanuts)
3 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tbsp Chia seeds
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (you may want to up this if the peanut butter flavor is too strong)
Ice Cubes for consistency

On Tuesday, I added some nutmeg to cut the peanut butter taste.  It was simply delicious!

Filed under: Vegan | Tagged: , | 4 Comments »

Embracing my Introvertedness

Posted on February 13, 2014 by auburnchick

Recently, I’ve been taking some of the personality surveys I’ve seen on Facebook.

I typically don’t hold much stock in them, wondering where the science is in someone stringing a bunch of questions together and WHAM, you’re this type of person.

With that said, I have discovered a common thread every time I complete a survey.

I.

Am.

Introverted.

Oh, I’ve always known that I’m a bit shy, but now I am beginning to think that I am, in fact introverted.

I don’t really understand why I am this way and envy those who thrive in large crowds…the people who can work a room.

I’ve been serious all of my life.  I suspect this goes back to a traumatic childhood that continues to relive itself in my memories.

Life was hard, and I internalized everything.

Being the oldest child, I had to be perfect.

Any misstep, and I got into a lot of trouble.

As a result, I walked on eggshells…no easy feat for someone as uncoordinated as myself.

This rendered me awkward  with no real confidence.  I constantly measured myself against others.  I still do, in fact.

New situations and environments turn me into a blob of jelly…shaky and squeamish.

I get by and have honed some skills over the years.

I’m proud of my work ethic, and I know I am a loyal friend.

However, I often feel misunderstood because I don’t like to be a part of large crowds.

I prefer to hang out with one or two people or on my own.

That’s one reason why online learning was good for me when I returned to college.  I could still converse but from the comfort of my own home.

Although I’m nearly 44 years old, I’m still coming to terms with who I am.  It seems as though the more I learn about what it means to be introverted, the less I fight it.

This doesn’t mean I use it as a crutch, as some might think.

It simply means that I know myself and my limits.  I know I need to stretch myself; however, I also know that there are times when I’ll nearly have a panic attack if I allow pressure from others to push me into things I’m not comfortable with.

Those are the times when I break down emotionally and find myself retreating into my shell, taking steps away from relationships in which people have trod upon the trust that I have a had a hard time fostering.

Folks, if you’re friends with an introvert, allow that person to be an introvert without judging them.

I recently came across this article and found it fascinating.  Much of it applied to me.

If you’re an extrovert, won’t you read it?  It might give you insight into people like me and what lies beneath the surface.

If you’re an introvert but uncomfortable in your skin, perhaps you’ll learn to accept yourself.

I should, at this point in my life, be old enough to know myself, but I’m discovering that this is an ongoing process.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 4 Comments »

Penny For Your Thoughts Hodgepodge

Posted on February 12, 2014 by auburnchick

Oh Wednesday, how you findeth me so quickly, it seems.  Thank heavens for the Hodgepodge, which is the perfect way to meet the middle of the week head-on!  Thanks, Joyce, for the questions!  Much ❤ to you!

1.  What makes love last?

Honestly, I don’t think there’s a magic formula.  If so, I don’t know what it is.  I think it’s a combination of ingredients…respect, shared interests, and commitment.

2.  The Beatles made their US debut fifty years ago this week. Are you a fan? If so, what’s your favorite Beatles tune?

While their tunes are certainly familiar, I think they are too live-and-let-live.  As I’ve grown in my Christian walk, I’ve begun to question the Beatles’ lyrics and how they align to what I believe.  I can’t deny, though, that it’s difficult not to hum along when some of them come on.  I listen to Christian music mostly, so it’s not too often that I hear their songs.

3.  Valentine’s Day-your thoughts? Do you celebrate in any way? Do anything special for the people you love? Expect anything special from the people who love you?

I don’t really care for Valentine’s Day.  It’s another of those holidays that comes with emotional obligations.  I’m not a touchy-feely person, except where it comes to my children.  I don’t do too much for family, and I really don’t expect anything either.  Call me a Cupid Scrooge.  That’s fine.

4.  Steak or burger…you have to choose. Now that that’s settled, how do you like it?

I’ll take a black bean burger, please.  If it’s grilled, make sure it stays on a side untouched by meat.  Adding a slice of tomato, ketchup, mustard, and jalapeno peppers makes it tres delicious!

5.  The Hodgepodge lands on the birth date (February 12th) of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America. Lincoln is quoted as saying, ‘Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test his character give him power.‘  Do you agree? Why or why not?

What an interesting quote!  I think that power can be a big test of character.  Look at what happens to politicians who make it big.  Oftentimes, they let go of their convictions to satisfy the mass public.  The Mr. tells me that they wouldn’t get elected to the bigger offices if they didn’t.  I see that as selling out.

It’s an interesting thing to see how power and prestige changes people.  It’s usually not for the best.

6.  Honest Abe’s image is featured on the US penny (1 cent coin) so I’m wondering…what do you do with your pennies (or your country’s equivalent)?  It’s been suggested the US stop making the penny, and two bills have been introduced proposing just that, but neither were approved. What say you?

I spend my pennies and believe that they should stay.  Why make us spend more on stuff just to satisfy someone’s whim to do away with pennies?

7.  Do you think pop culture deserves serious study?

Really?  Serious study?  How about seriously studying how to fix education, unemployment, and health care?  Will the study of pop culture really matter in the long haul?  I seriously doubt it.

8.  My Random Thought

I got a phone call from Chicky last Friday.  She called to ask what I was doing next (now this) weekend, to which I responded “nothing.”

My calendar certainly isn’t full, being a somewhat anti-social person.

The reason why she asked was because she said she wanted to come home for the weekend.

Yes, you read that correctly.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

She totally made my week!

She’s taking Friday off, and neither of us have to work on Monday because it will be President’s Day.

I’m looking forward to spending time with her and so pleasantly surprised because it is so unexpected.

I can’t wait to see her walk in, without a knee brace or crutches.

I can’t wait to put my arms around her and hug her.

I can’t wait to go to sleep, secure in the knowledge that her head is lying atop a pillow under my roof.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 5 Comments »

Heart Dishcloth

Posted on February 11, 2014 by auburnchick

I thought we could do with a non-teaching post, how about you?

Today, I want to show you a project I recently finished.  It’s my Heart Dishcloth…

This is a free pattern you can find here.

I really, really enjoyed knitting this up.  It was fast, but it turned out so lovely.

The pattern instructions include an option for knitting a bunch of these and putting them together for a blanket.  I may, at some point, do that…only with worsted yarn.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

Once Upon a Monday

Posted on February 10, 2014 by auburnchick

Once upon a Monday, a teacher was ready to tear out her hair.

Oh, how she questioned the wisdom of choosing her profession as she watched her students struggle through the day.

They argued with each other.

They argued with her.

They refused to follow instructions.  Some students blatantly ignored the verbal and posted instructions, even asking, “Now, what are we supposed to be doing?”

Things were so bad that she left her room during lunch and took a stroll outside to get some fresh air and gain perspective from one of her mentors.

Although this teacher deeply desired to place the blame on her students, she knew that she set the tone for her classroom and that she, in fact, was probably the person most responsible for the day’s failings.

When she got home, she busied herself with domestic duties.

As she ironed the clothes she’d selected for the rest of the week, she mentally worked through the issues that had besot her during the previous eight hours.

As she cooked dinner for her guys, she began to formulate a new recipe for her classroom…one in which the flavors would complement each other.

Some of the ingredients for the revamped recipe include a heart-to-heart chat with the youngster who needs a second chance, a new seating arrangement for one class that will create harmony instead of discord, more class-building brain breaks that will foster acceptance of students’ differences, and the willingness to postpone part of the planned instruction that there’s simply no time for during each class period this week.

Once upon a Monday, this teacher tried to look at the silver linings.

  • She’s been blessed with wonderful classes this year.
  • She’s in her fourth year of teaching and hasn’t cried too many times.
  • She loves the connections she is making with most of the students and is determined to win over those who stubbornly refuse to yield.
  • She has a lot of hair, so a few pieces torn out here and there won’t result in a completely bald head.

Yes, there were setbacks; however, this teacher knows that Tuesday is another day…the opportunity for a fresh start…the chance to fix the things that are broken.

Once upon a time, this teacher was reminded that though each day presents new challenges, she feels blessed to do what she does.

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

Can We Do This Longer?

Posted on February 9, 2014 by auburnchick

Two Fridays ago, I sprung a new activity on my students.

Instead of the usual bellwork they had been completing each day…answering comprehension questions through a responder and analyzing the answers, they had to participate in Fan-n-Pick, a Kagan structure.

What is Kagan, you ask?

It’s a program of cooperative learning structures that require students to interact with each other while using curriculum.  It is also completely research-based.

Studies show that people learn best when working together.  The more a person interacts with the curriculum, the higher the learning gains.

The goal of the Kagan structures is to engage as many students as possible, simultaneously, so there’s little wasted time.

Shy students cannot hide.

Avoiders cannot hide.

Everyone participates.

These structures build team and class cohesiveness as positive feedback is immediately given.

Weaker students are purposely paired with stronger students, and learning goes up because of the coaching that happens between them.

Students usually sigh, roll their eyes, and declare themselves too tired to participate.

That’s where teacher buy-in comes into play.  If a teacher is excited (or doing one heck of an acting job to fake it), then students will embrace the activities too.

So…back to the Kagan structure I used a couple of weeks ago (and have been meaning to blog about).

I’ve been using Friday bellwork to work on figurative language.  It’s a large unit in itself and one that I never have time to dedicate a solid two weeks for before FCAT.  Hence my squeezing it in on Fridays.

I work on each device for two Fridays in a row.  We’ll hit them harder in April right before FCAT.

We were working on idioms a couple of weeks ago, and I’d happened on the Fan-n-Pick cards I had used last year.

The cards you’ll see below came from one of these books (both have the pages you can copy onto whatever paper you want…I use stiffer card stock…with different sayings…not to mention a TON of other AMAZING activities and templates…cannot recommend them highly enough)…

Here are the instructions I posted on the SmartBoard…

I demonstrated, using one table as an example.

First, Student 1 holds up the cards…

Next, Student 2 picks a card and reads the question to Student 3…

Student 3 answers, getting hints from Student 2 if need be, and Student 4 repeats the answer.

Students rotate the handful of cards one person over so everyone has a new role with the next round, and play continues in this way until time is called.

I’m going to be honest with you.

Each of my classes grumbled.

Some students assumed they knew what the idioms meant.

Boy, were they surprised!

I had a LOT of cards!  Each table must have had 10-15 of them.  That’s a lot of idioms!

I walked around and monitored the tables to ensure that 1) They were participating…correctly and 2) They were sincerely trying.

Then the magic happened.

It’s the “Cooperative Learning” magic where giggles are exchanged as light bulbs turn on in their minds.

They actually started having fun as they learned new sayings.

In one of my classes, I heard a young lady say, “I’m going to use some of these.”

I wanted to do a fist pump!  🙂

The ultimate validation came when one of my students, who has complained since Day 1 about the amount of work I require my classes to do, asked, “Can we do this longer?” when the timer went off.

It wasn’t because he didn’t want to do the next round of work I had planned.

It was because he was really learning.

I was privileged to listen in as the following happened…

He had been asked to define the idiom, “Let sleeping dogs lie.”

He struggles with language that isn’t literal (most kids do).

His teammates were coaching him, without giving him the answer.

Finally, he said, “Well, you know.  You let ratchet girls sleep.”

You see, he’d associated “dogs” with ugly (the teen-speak is “ratchet”) girls.

His teammates praised him loudly (even though it wasn’t quite the correct definition) and told him that was an interesting way to put it.

THIS was huge, let me tell you!

I’m saving the cards for a time when we revisit idioms.  I may have different tables use different sets of figurative language cards.  The possibilities are endless.

If you don’t use Kagan in your room, I highly encourage you to do some research.  My school district has invested heavily into this program, and I understand why.  It’s the simple conversations of turning to your partner and asking about your favorite part of a story that can help a student develop socially and academically…accepted and validated by their peers.

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

As Tired as this Picture

Posted on February 7, 2014 by auburnchick

What a week.

Oh, it wasn’t bad, mind you.

It was simply a week…the first full one where we actually attended for five straight days in a row.

I’m beat…more so because I know my lesson plans, while shaping up nicely, still aren’t finished for next week, nor is my grading.

I spent a glorious two hours (yes, I did use the correct adjective) with my mentor after school methodically picking apart my student-created rubric plans, and I gained a lot of clarity.  I think my students will be very happy when I present a revamped lesson plan next week.

Still, I am worn slap out and feel like Molly looks in this picture…

I think I’ll sit on the couch and knit for a while and watch the Olympics Opening Ceremonies, which I DVR’d so I could attend my students’ basketball game…

Tomorrow, I plan on sleeping in.

Don’t call me.

Or.

Else.

Filed under: Knitting, Pets, Teaching | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Relinquishing Control With Student-Created Rubrics

Posted on February 6, 2014 by auburnchick

I absolutely love talking to my friend/mentor, Cinda.

She has been such a blessing to me these last two and a half years.  She always stops what she’s doing to listen to my various ramblings.

She’s great about asking thought-provoking questions that ALWAYS leave me with something to chew on.

Such was the case on Monday when I ran by her office at school.

Now, let me first say that my lesson plans for this week have been finished since the middle of last week.

I was all set to go…

Until she asked me one question…

“Have you thought about the students creating their own rubrics for the assignment?”

Why no, I hadn’t.

My district requires teachers to complete a Self Assessment as part of the yearly IPDP (Individual Professional Development Plan) process.

We are supposed to honestly evaluate ourselves with regard to various things we do in our classrooms.

It’s a humbling experience but very revealing.

One of my goals for this year has been to work my way toward having students create their own assessments.  One step toward this goal is to have them create their own rubrics.

A rubric is what we teachers use (or should use) to grade certain types of assignments.  Any time I give a writing assessment or other project-based task, I provide a rubric ahead of time.

It lists each criterion and the requirements for mastery.

In a nutshell, students can grade themselves ahead of time because they understand the expectations.  There are no surprises, unlike when I was growing up and these things didn’t exist (or nobody used them).

During my first year of teaching, I allowed students to create their own rubrics for one assignment.  It was an interesting experience, but one I have not repeated since then.

Enter in Cinda’s question…

Which got me thinking…

Which I do best in the shower.

I emerged refreshed and ready.

Despite the stress I’m feeling about getting everything taught before FCAT, I decided to stretch my current unit out a bit, temporarily take a break from what we are doing, and use two days (or so…I haven’t fully planned it out yet) to help my students become more metacognitive (thinking about the thinking process).

You’ll see that the standard is the one we’re currently working to master…text structures.  I will have students reflect on the Essential Question when we finish.

The first task will be to analyze components of a couple of rubrics.  These are rubrics that I have used to grade various assignments, so they are familiar with them already.

If I were to be honest, which I always am here on this blog, I’d have to admit that most students barely look at the rubrics despite my going over them in class.  I know that a lot of my words go in one ear and out the other.

By analyzing the rubrics, they have to create their own understanding.

Students will do a lot of brainstorming with those sitting at their tables.  Assigning roles is imperative to student engagement and accountability.  It also prevents students from shirking their responsibilities and hiding.

Next, students will analyze the assignment the rubric will be used to grade (detailed in the shot below) as well as the steps required to complete the assignment.  My thinking is that breaking the task into its various parts will help them create the rubric.

That’s what I have planned for Friday.

I’m not sure how Monday will play out.  I haven’t quite planned out that far yet (as of this writing…which is being done ahead of time).

What I envision is having my students organize the tasks required for the assignment into criteria for the rubric.  I’ll present them with the following example to learn how to weigh each task based on importance.

Credit goes to https://www.teachervision.com/teaching-methods-and-management/rubrics/4525.html

Each table will then create a rubric for the paragraph they’ll be writing.  Before they write the paragraph, we’ll do a Carousel Feedback activity where I post their rubrics and have them cycle around the room, providing feedback on a form I’ll create.  They’ll share their thoughts, and we will come to an agreement on ONE rubric (made up of different tables’ criteria, if need-be).

I’ll produce that rubric for each respective class.

The final step will be to have students grade their peers’ paragraphs, using the rubrics they created.

I’m kicking myself for not doing this earlier in the year, but I was overwhelmed with the classes I was taking.  Based on how things go and my own reflections, I’ll probably plan this activity for October or November of next school year…after I’ve had a chance to grade them using rubrics I’ve created.

Ultimately, I want this rubric-creation activity to lead into students designing their own assessments.

It’s a scary thing to relinquish control in my room, but it places students in the center of their own learning, which is the main point of Common Core.

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Olympic Hodgepodge

Posted on February 5, 2014 by auburnchick

Oh, how I do love the Olympics and am thrilled that Joyce included some Olympic-themed questions this week!  Play along.  Answer the questions on your own blog and link back up with Joyce!

1.  Are we always responsible for our actions? Are there any exceptions?

I say that we are always responsible for our actions.  I teach high school students who usually want to deflect responsibility for their actions to other people.  The standard argument is, “What about ‘so-and-so’?  You never get onto him/her.”

My response is that a police officer doesn’t care about the three cars that were speeding in front of me.  He/she only cares about me and the fact that I broke the law.  I can’t blame those speeders, because I chose to speed.

We have become a nation of accountability-deflectors, and I think that is one reason why our morals are declining.  Hardly anyone wants to admit that he/she made a bad choice.

2.  Has anyone from your home town become famous?

We had a football player from a local high school get arrested for breaking some major laws after he went to a very famous college on a football scholarship.  We also have some politicians from our area who are famous.  Oh, and we had a rather scary incident happen in our district that made a woman quite famous.  I’d give you more details, but then you’d know where I live.  😉

3.  January was National Slow Cooker month. Do you own a slow cooker/crock pot? Did you use it last month? What’s a favorite dish you make using a slow cooker or crock pot?

The timing of this question is uncanny!  I recently blogged about my recent crock pot cooking adventures.  I’ve been using my crock pot almost every week to make various vegan dishes.  I love my crock pot.  I don’t use the microwave…EVER…so I have a small crock pot at school to warm up my lunch.

4.  How do you feel about private companies collecting data about you?

I think this is an invasion of privacy and completely uncalled for.

5.  The Games of the 2014 Winter Olympics kick off with their opening ceremony this coming Friday….will you be watching? Which Winter Olympic event would you most like to see in person? Have you ever been to Russia? Any desire to go, Olympics or otherwise?

I am an Olympics junkie and will watch pretty much any sport…winter or summer games included. I will be watching the opening ceremony…eager to see each country’s outfit. I really look forward to ice skating, skiing, luge, and bobsled events.  I’d love to watch ice skating in person.  Their movements are similar to gymnastics…my favorite summer event (plus ice skating is indoors…much warmer).  I have never been to Russia and, although I’d love to do some traveling, would be leery after the news report I watched yesterday evening.  Did you see it?

6.  Share a good or bad sports related memory from your childhood or teen years.

Oh yes…I have a doozy for you.  I’m not sure if I’ve shared this story before, but it’s a funny one.

I played attempted to play basketball during my high school days.  I wasn’t very good and only went in when we were too far ahead for me to lose the game for us or too far behind for there to be any hope that I’d catch us up and help us win.

I didn’t come off of the bench too much.

One game, I finally got put in, and played the position of point guard.

Well, I’m dribbling along, happy as can be, when my bra strap completely pops.

Back in the 80’s, there were no sports bras around.  We wore our regular stuff.

I don’t think well on my feet, or else I would have handled this issue much more comically.

Well, actually, what happened was comical, but in an embarrassing way.

I didn’t know what to do, so I immediately crossed my arms in front of my chest and began running down the court.

My coach didn’t know what was wrong, and I was so mortified, I didn’t know what to say.

I finally told him that my bra had popped, and he put in a substitute for me.

What I should have done was whip that sucker out of my jersey and played on.

I was seventeen and not endowed, if you get my drift.

Nobody would have been the wiser.

But nooooooo.  Do you really think I was cool like that?

To this day, my classmates still remember that incident.

7.  What’s a must have song for you on a work out play list? If you don’t work out, run, swim, bike, walk, or anything else that could be construed as ‘exercise’, then what’s a song that motivates you to at least get up off the couch?

Work out?  Seriously?  Surely you jest!

My brain is the only thing that gets much exercise these days, although I do plan on working out this summer…taking my dogs for walks and biking.

What gets me in the mood to work (i.e., lesson plan) is a bit of Ingrid Michaelson.  I love, love, love her voice and her style of singing.

8.  My Random Thought

I think I’ll use this week’s Random Thought to share with you an awkward moment.

I could fill volumes with my awkward moments (see #6 above).

Anyhoo…

Yesterday, during my last class, the kids were working on a flipbook for our current unit of study.  It was relaxed in my room, and one of my guys asked me to put on some music.

I started up my Ingrid Michaelson playlist on Pandora, and the following song began to play…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvMVCHhwTPs

Read the lyrics that follow and pay attention to the line I’ve highlighted…

“You And I”

Don’t you worry there, my honey
We might not have any money
But we’ve got our love to pay the billsMaybe I think you’re cute and funny
Maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you, if you know what I mean

Oh, let’s get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France
Let’s get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance
Let’s get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants
From way up there, you and I, you and I

Well, you might be a bit confused
And you might be a little bit bruised
But baby how we spoon like no one else
So I will help you read those books
If you will soothe my worried looks
And we will put the lonesome on the shelf

Oh, let’s get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France
Let’s get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance
Let’s get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants
From way up there, you and I, you and I

Oh let’s get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France
Let’s get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance
Let’s get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants
From way up there, you and I, you and I

Well, the room was DEAD QUIET at the beginning of the song, so that line played LOUD.   AND.  CLEAR.

My students started giggling and then broke out in full-fledged laughter.

Um…yeah.

I realize I teach high schoolers, but I try very, very hard to keep things uber-clean.  My students know this.

Um.  Yeah.

I might as well have played some of their music (aka not clean).

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