AuburnChick's Adventures

Good golly, but can it be?  300 Hodgepodge posts by Joyce, and she’s still going strong!  Props!

Despite spending the evening trying to crunch test data (I’m a reading teacher…this was uber-difficult), I’m here and playing along.  Join up with Joyce to join in the fun!  Oh, and thanks for visiting me today!  🙂

1.  What is one area of your life where you’re a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

Oh goodness…where am I not a perfectionist?  Let’s see…how about my physical therapy (following my ankle break in November, for those of you who are here for the first time)?  I’m all about doing things right, you see.  I want to be able to run again, so I’m trying to do things by the book.  It’s a good thing because my physical therapist says I’m making great progress!

2.  What’s something you find perfectly ridiculous?

This hits home right now as I just spent a ridiculous amount of time looking at test data that really can’t be compared because of so many different factors.  I really wish that I could just do what I do best, which is build relationships with my students and instill a love for reading without the extra hurdles I have to navigate around (I was going to say “jump over,” but that would sound even more ridiculous and ironic given the state of my ankle these days).

Teaching.  It’s so freakishly hard.

3.  What’s a skill you’ve developed by way of that old fashioned saying, ‘practice makes perfect?

One of my students asked a pretty great question of me the other day.  He asked me how I got to be good at writing.

First, I wrote the name of my English teacher on the board.  If you attended my school, you’ll know exactly who I speak of.

Second, I told him that we weren’t given the opportunity to keep turning work in for revised grades.  Your teacher bled all over your paper with a red pen, you got the grade you got, and you started writing the next essay.

Practice made perfect.

4.  What’s your idea of a perfect breakfast?

Heavenly Hash (hash browns with sauteed veggies) hits the spot any time…from my favorite local all-night diner.  Yum!

5.  What’s a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you’ve taken that you’d rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

The first thing that came to mind was my trip to watch Rooster graduate from basic training last May.  We flew to San Antonio and spent Thursday through Sunday basking in the glow that surrounded graduation ceremonies.  It was the most amazing experience ever and made me even more proud to be an American.

6.  What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can’t do perfect, how about one that comes close?

“Slow and steady wins the race” is a saying I repeat at least once a day, if not more.  I do everything so much more slowly since I broke my ankle, and I find myself even more appreciative of everything.  I am slowly plodding my way through this school year, eager to see the arrival of summer vacation.  I am slowly navigating my way through the physical therapy process…each new exercise marks progress.  I am slowly learning how to take care of my hubby’s special dietary needs as he prepares for the next step in his medical treatment (we’ll know more in a couple of weeks).  All I can do is take one careful step at a time and trust God to keep me steady.

7.  How would you spend $300 today?

I would buy three pairs of Vionic shoes.

I’m not kidding.

I am in love with these shoes, even if I can’t really wear them yet.  I bought my first pair last Saturday.  My physical therapist advised me to only wear them for short periods of time.  But…I would like to have more options for when my foot is ready.

8.  My Random Thought

On Monday, I took one of my classes to the library for a special get-together.

We met up with one of my school’s developmentally disabled classes, where my students read Dr. Seuss books to them.

It was one of the most amazing things I’ve done as a teacher.  My students were very tender with those precious kiddos.  They showed so much patience…even when one of the girls was in a bad mood and didn’t want to be read to.  She eventually warmed up.

I was shocked when I saw one young lady begin to read to my students.  She was such a fluent reader!  I pulled up a chair to listen to her.

Several of the kids wound up reading to my students, and let me tell you, they made an impression!

When we returned to my classroom, my kids talked about how shocked they were that the other kids could read…some better than them!

Then, they did me even prouder when they asked if they could read to the kids again.

Oh yes they did!

I signed up for another day.  We’ll go on Thursday.

My media specialist was in tears, y’all.

So was I.

It was an experience I’ll never forget.  I just love this class of mine.  They’ve been extra special all year.  Monday was more proof of that.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: Wednesday Hodgepodge |