I'm definitely not hip enough to care about my cell phone (just give me the cheapest, please!), but if any of you were thinking about getting the new iPhone, I'd read this article first.
Friday, June 29, 2007
So You Think You Can Dance
After a hospital stay, Jessie comes back for a hot dance with Pasha:
My two favorite dances from this week, Sabra and Dominic:
and Jamie and Hok:
The dances weren't as interesting this week but the good ones are really good.
My two favorite dances from this week, Sabra and Dominic:
and Jamie and Hok:
The dances weren't as interesting this week but the good ones are really good.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Favorite Dancers: Links Fixed
Last year, I watched a few episodes of So You Think You Can Dance, but never really committed to it. So far, I'm enjoying it this year. All the dancers are amazing.
This week's favorite, Anya and Danny:
I told my beau I want to dance like that.
Another good one, Sabra and Dominic:
Last week's favorite, Kameron and Lacey:
All I could think was wow!
I'm a big fan of Pasha, too.
This is beautiful:
This week's favorite, Anya and Danny:
I told my beau I want to dance like that.
Another good one, Sabra and Dominic:
Last week's favorite, Kameron and Lacey:
All I could think was wow!
I'm a big fan of Pasha, too.
This is beautiful:
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
School Year In Review
Today was officially the last day of the regular school year.
Over the past few months, I've found some great education blogs and I've been meaning to morph this blog into a record of my teaching experiences. I always have something to say about school. So far though, it hasn't happened.
I did want to reflect a bit though before my mind moves on to other things so I figured I'd list the things on my mind.
This wasn't a great teaching year:
1. I didn't love my homeroom like I usually do (or any of my classes for that matter).
2. I didn't do any good projects.
3. I even abandoned my yearly doll project (and measurement day).
4. The lack of love for my students was quite evident during all of the end of the year stuff.
5. I didn't stay after much at all (outside of music program responsibilities).
6. Just when the busyness ended, I got sick.
7. Once grades closed (2 weeks before school ended), I didn't even pretend to keep teaching.
8. I haven't read my teaching magazines in months.
9. I didn't attend any educational conferences.
10. I just wasn't as motivated.
On the flip side:
1. I made gorgeous scrapbooks for every one of my homeroom students this year (usually, I give them little photo albums).
2. I did a better job of preparing the kids for state testing then I've ever done before.
3. I was a lot more consistent about grading and returning work in a timely manner.
4. I communicated with parents way more often.
5. I got along better with my colleagues (including my arch nemesis).
6. I stood up for myself a bit more.
7. A couple of my graduating students were really sad to say goodbye to me.
8. A sixth grader cheered when she heard she'd be in my class next year.
9. I was asked to run summer school.
10. I was also asked if I was interested in taking the math curriculum director job because that person is leaving (I'm not qualified yet).
I don't feel good about this year though. I know I'm ready to move beyond the classroom, but I'm not sure if that's really the only reason. There were a lot of changes this year both in my work life and in my home life so that may have contributed. This is also the first year that I had to balance working toward my Master's with my teaching. This year's seventh grade has a school-wide reputation for being exhausting and difficult (and all those teachers love the grades coming up so it isn't just an issue of teachers being negative).
I hope I can recharge over the summer.
It feels like the better I get in one area, the more I lose in another. I'm still looking for that magic answer that allows teachers to do it all.
Happy summering!
Over the past few months, I've found some great education blogs and I've been meaning to morph this blog into a record of my teaching experiences. I always have something to say about school. So far though, it hasn't happened.
I did want to reflect a bit though before my mind moves on to other things so I figured I'd list the things on my mind.
This wasn't a great teaching year:
1. I didn't love my homeroom like I usually do (or any of my classes for that matter).
2. I didn't do any good projects.
3. I even abandoned my yearly doll project (and measurement day).
4. The lack of love for my students was quite evident during all of the end of the year stuff.
5. I didn't stay after much at all (outside of music program responsibilities).
6. Just when the busyness ended, I got sick.
7. Once grades closed (2 weeks before school ended), I didn't even pretend to keep teaching.
8. I haven't read my teaching magazines in months.
9. I didn't attend any educational conferences.
10. I just wasn't as motivated.
On the flip side:
1. I made gorgeous scrapbooks for every one of my homeroom students this year (usually, I give them little photo albums).
2. I did a better job of preparing the kids for state testing then I've ever done before.
3. I was a lot more consistent about grading and returning work in a timely manner.
4. I communicated with parents way more often.
5. I got along better with my colleagues (including my arch nemesis).
6. I stood up for myself a bit more.
7. A couple of my graduating students were really sad to say goodbye to me.
8. A sixth grader cheered when she heard she'd be in my class next year.
9. I was asked to run summer school.
10. I was also asked if I was interested in taking the math curriculum director job because that person is leaving (I'm not qualified yet).
I don't feel good about this year though. I know I'm ready to move beyond the classroom, but I'm not sure if that's really the only reason. There were a lot of changes this year both in my work life and in my home life so that may have contributed. This is also the first year that I had to balance working toward my Master's with my teaching. This year's seventh grade has a school-wide reputation for being exhausting and difficult (and all those teachers love the grades coming up so it isn't just an issue of teachers being negative).
I hope I can recharge over the summer.
It feels like the better I get in one area, the more I lose in another. I'm still looking for that magic answer that allows teachers to do it all.
Happy summering!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Best Wishes
Saturday, our eighth grade students celebrated their graduation. It's always a nice event. For some of our students, this will be their only graduation. For others, they may be on their way to surpassing the education of everyone else in the family.
We have a valedictorian every year and that student is given the opportunity to give a speech at graduation.
This year's valedictorian initially chose not to do a speech. He has Asperger's and speaking in public is a great fear for him. When he's nervous (which is most of the time) he tends to stutter. He hates making a mistake.
Luckily, his parents convinced him to do the speech.
It was very moving. He spoke of his fears upon transferring to our school and how welcoming everyone was. I've worked with him for two years. He has always excelled academically, but it has been a joy to watch him develop socially. This year was especially nice. He started making jokes. He started standing up for himself a bit more. He was no longer left out of games and conversations.
His classmates cheered so loudly for him at graduation and at all of the preceding events. He lowered his head and smiled shyly.
His parents thanked me after graduation and I meant it when I told them that their son's accomplishments made my year. They told him to give me a hug and so we hugged and I wished him the best.
I'm sure he'll accomplish great things.
We have a valedictorian every year and that student is given the opportunity to give a speech at graduation.
This year's valedictorian initially chose not to do a speech. He has Asperger's and speaking in public is a great fear for him. When he's nervous (which is most of the time) he tends to stutter. He hates making a mistake.
Luckily, his parents convinced him to do the speech.
It was very moving. He spoke of his fears upon transferring to our school and how welcoming everyone was. I've worked with him for two years. He has always excelled academically, but it has been a joy to watch him develop socially. This year was especially nice. He started making jokes. He started standing up for himself a bit more. He was no longer left out of games and conversations.
His classmates cheered so loudly for him at graduation and at all of the preceding events. He lowered his head and smiled shyly.
His parents thanked me after graduation and I meant it when I told them that their son's accomplishments made my year. They told him to give me a hug and so we hugged and I wished him the best.
I'm sure he'll accomplish great things.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Everybody Dance Now!
Last night was the eighth grade dinner dance.
There are two boys in the class, brothers, who are such quiet, polite, and respectful kids. Although they've each taken a turn as a peripheral trouble maker, for the most part they are the kind of kids you wish you had more of.
I think their father has played a major role in how well they've turned out. I've seen him in action when the boys grades weren't so hot and wished he could teach parenting classes. He was amazing. The dad is a very handsome, mild-mannered, and professional man. His boys have inherited that manly softness. They are truly a joy.
I've worked with them both for 2 1/2 years, but feel as though I barely know them. I know they both love sports, but they're so quiet in the classroom that I never really learned much else about them.
On the days when all of their classmates would be telling me stories about vacations and past pranks and current crushes or on the days when all the kids were a bit hyper, these two boys would just sit back and watch. They'd sometimes laugh or smile, but they rarely told stories of their own or showed that same kind of energy.
They showed up last night looking so polished and handsome. One of the brothers had on white dress pants and a blue shirt with white cuffs and collar. The other wore black dress pants with a lovely light green shirt. Both wore ties.
Then the music started. These brothers absolutely owned the dance floor. The teachers sat there in awe, wishing we could dance like that. They were absolutely amazing and energetic and smooth. And they never stopped. They just danced all night.
When their mom came, I went over to chat with her and tell her how impressed we were. She wondered if they'd had fun, especially the older boy because he's so shy.
Go figure.
There are two boys in the class, brothers, who are such quiet, polite, and respectful kids. Although they've each taken a turn as a peripheral trouble maker, for the most part they are the kind of kids you wish you had more of.
I think their father has played a major role in how well they've turned out. I've seen him in action when the boys grades weren't so hot and wished he could teach parenting classes. He was amazing. The dad is a very handsome, mild-mannered, and professional man. His boys have inherited that manly softness. They are truly a joy.
I've worked with them both for 2 1/2 years, but feel as though I barely know them. I know they both love sports, but they're so quiet in the classroom that I never really learned much else about them.
On the days when all of their classmates would be telling me stories about vacations and past pranks and current crushes or on the days when all the kids were a bit hyper, these two boys would just sit back and watch. They'd sometimes laugh or smile, but they rarely told stories of their own or showed that same kind of energy.
They showed up last night looking so polished and handsome. One of the brothers had on white dress pants and a blue shirt with white cuffs and collar. The other wore black dress pants with a lovely light green shirt. Both wore ties.
Then the music started. These brothers absolutely owned the dance floor. The teachers sat there in awe, wishing we could dance like that. They were absolutely amazing and energetic and smooth. And they never stopped. They just danced all night.
When their mom came, I went over to chat with her and tell her how impressed we were. She wondered if they'd had fun, especially the older boy because he's so shy.
Go figure.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Ten Things I Did This Weekend
1. Organized 11 scrapbooks for my homeroom kids.
2. Put away laundry (finally!)
3. Got nostalgic.
4. Ate cucumbers.
5. Emptied 3 random boxes of stuff.
6. Walked to the store.
7. Made a mess in the living room.
8. Danced and sang my heart out.
9. Giggled a lot.
10. Scrapbooked my Christmas Party.
And you?
2. Put away laundry (finally!)
3. Got nostalgic.
4. Ate cucumbers.
5. Emptied 3 random boxes of stuff.
6. Walked to the store.
7. Made a mess in the living room.
8. Danced and sang my heart out.
9. Giggled a lot.
10. Scrapbooked my Christmas Party.
And you?
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Going to the Doctor
About six weeks ago, I had some unusual and concerning pain. I also noticed that I felt nauseous more often. So I headed to the doctor. They checked me for all kinds of stuff, gave me some super antibiotics, and sent me for a CT scan.
The CT scan showed a bunch of fun stuff, but nothing to explain my symptoms. Oh, and the pain wasn't going away.
So they referred me to another doctor and scheduled a follow-up test for one of my CT scan items. Both of those appointments were scheduled for this past week.
I hate going to the doctor. I'm also incredibly unwilling to talk about any symptoms from the neck down. But the pain was getting worse and the nausea was getting worse and I also started feeling really weak and tired all the time.
So for the last six weeks, I've tracked my symptoms daily and practiced telling my doctor all about my symptoms past and present.
I haven't been myself. Everyone at work has noticed. I've barely gotten through the days. I just don't feel well most of the time. I'm an energetic, able to do lots of things kind of person, but this past month I barely did anything. I had one or two days that I felt great and a handful of days that I felt pretty good, but mostly I felt blah. I paid attention to how much I was sleeping and what I was eating and all those other things but none of that seemed to have any effect on how I would feel that day. So I counted down the days until my appointment with my new highly recommended doctor thinking she'd figure it out so I could start to feel better and maybe enjoy all the nice days.
I went on Wednesday. I gave all my symptoms and told the nurse I'd been tracking my pain. (I had actually brought that with me along with a pre-made printout of all the questions the doctor will ask with answers.) I was prepared.
I left frustrated. The doctor barely examined me. She barely listened to me. She didn't explain why she was doing anything she was doing. She's basically repeating much of what my last doctor did with a follow-up in six weeks. I could have accepted that if she'd at least told me what her plans were, what she was checking for, why she was being cautious.
I got nothing.
I called the office the next day with a question. The nurse taking calls answered it without even asking my name or checking with the doctor. It's stressing me out too much to do anything else about it.
I've actually had a couple of great days this week. The pain is still there, but I've felt pretty good (probably because I only worked two out of the past nine days).
I've always prided myself on my good health. It runs in the family. We sometimes get major illnesses but we're healthy day to day. I had perfect attendance in school and work for most of my life. Whenever I have headed to the doctor for an ailment, they usually ask me why I waited so long. This experience has not helped me with my resistance to doctor visits.
The CT scan showed a bunch of fun stuff, but nothing to explain my symptoms. Oh, and the pain wasn't going away.
So they referred me to another doctor and scheduled a follow-up test for one of my CT scan items. Both of those appointments were scheduled for this past week.
I hate going to the doctor. I'm also incredibly unwilling to talk about any symptoms from the neck down. But the pain was getting worse and the nausea was getting worse and I also started feeling really weak and tired all the time.
So for the last six weeks, I've tracked my symptoms daily and practiced telling my doctor all about my symptoms past and present.
I haven't been myself. Everyone at work has noticed. I've barely gotten through the days. I just don't feel well most of the time. I'm an energetic, able to do lots of things kind of person, but this past month I barely did anything. I had one or two days that I felt great and a handful of days that I felt pretty good, but mostly I felt blah. I paid attention to how much I was sleeping and what I was eating and all those other things but none of that seemed to have any effect on how I would feel that day. So I counted down the days until my appointment with my new highly recommended doctor thinking she'd figure it out so I could start to feel better and maybe enjoy all the nice days.
I went on Wednesday. I gave all my symptoms and told the nurse I'd been tracking my pain. (I had actually brought that with me along with a pre-made printout of all the questions the doctor will ask with answers.) I was prepared.
I left frustrated. The doctor barely examined me. She barely listened to me. She didn't explain why she was doing anything she was doing. She's basically repeating much of what my last doctor did with a follow-up in six weeks. I could have accepted that if she'd at least told me what her plans were, what she was checking for, why she was being cautious.
I got nothing.
I called the office the next day with a question. The nurse taking calls answered it without even asking my name or checking with the doctor. It's stressing me out too much to do anything else about it.
I've actually had a couple of great days this week. The pain is still there, but I've felt pretty good (probably because I only worked two out of the past nine days).
I've always prided myself on my good health. It runs in the family. We sometimes get major illnesses but we're healthy day to day. I had perfect attendance in school and work for most of my life. Whenever I have headed to the doctor for an ailment, they usually ask me why I waited so long. This experience has not helped me with my resistance to doctor visits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
