Monday (not-so-manic!)

For once! A not-so-manic Monday! So exciting.

I am really, really excited about today. I have so much to talk about, I am getting a little anxious thinking about it!

First thing's first....

•  Today's lesson: I talked a little bit about what I was planning for the kids yesterday, and I got to put it into action, today!! Since the regular prep kids (all bells except one) haven't done their latest paper yet, I started this imagery unit with the AA kids. They were SO interested. All I did was give them background notes on imagery, have them create some short images according to the five senses, share those aloud, and then talked about Dante Alighieri's life so briefly. We also introduced the 9 circles of hell in preparation to read some excerpts from the first part of Divine Comedy, "Inferno." It was so rewarding to actually teach a lesson again. They were asking questions, they were SO eager to share their examples from the imagery handout, and they really seemed to grasp what I was telling them.
  
  
• What a great segway to teaching: After the last couple of weeks of more or less "baby sitting" the kids while they read from books in class, worked on vocab (seat work), or sucked up hours and hours of class time writing papers, it was so completely refreshing to be instructing again. I was starting to get lazy: the thought of planning lessons and activities and doing what I like to call "refresher research" [the research I have to do to refresh my memory before teaching something] was completely revolting to me this time last week. After today? Totally excited to do it again tomorrow. And teaching it only one bell right now is a great, perfect, awesome first run before I teach it to the other four bells.
  
  
• Graduation: It turns out that since I had made up my mind at the beginning of this school year to stay in school until June in order to put off paying my loans a little bit more (so that I would [hopefully] have a job when they would require payment) that I have missed the deadline to graduate at the end of this quarter in December. At first, not gonna lie, I was definitely bummed. Not graduating in December means that I can't sub (because I won't have a degree [yet!], and without a degree I can't get a sub license) means less money to put towards Guillermo's surgery and rehabilitation. BUT! This does mean that I can fulfill a few requirements still needed for a minor in Literary and Cultural Studies. Yay for making myself more desirable!!
  
  
• Photos: I FINALLY got around to putting some personal touches on my desk at school. I know, halfway through student teaching is a little late, but better late than never, right? Anyways, looking around my room I realized that I had about five pictures (out of about 10!) of Lauren and I! So I chose the two I liked best, kept those, and used the pretty pretty frames to frame photos of Nick and I and one of Guillermo for my desk at school:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Guillermo: He is doing a lot better today! The medicine seems to have completely left his system, and we are trying our hardest to get him to use his leg (to build up muscle) as much as possible, so that recovery after the surgery isn't so hard. He has been responding well to the liquid anti-inflammatory that was prescribed, and is running up dan down stairs and jumping off and on the couch! Go Guillermo!

Hope everyone had a great Monday, too!! Don't forget to scoop up the new blog button :)

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Manic Monday

Today went REALLY fast at school. The vocab thing was introduced today, and there was little complaining, but it took them the ENTIRE 50 minute bell to define 10 words with a dictionary in front of them... And this was with little disruption/talking/interruptions. It was a little disheartening, but exactly the reason they are doing this.

Around lunchtime, I got a message from Nick that his car wouldn't start and he couldn't make it to work! He ended up having to take my car while I get a ride from my dad to work tonight, and Nick picks me up at close. Ohhh the things we do for love. But really, this boy canNOT catch a break with his car! He is having problems with it, week after week, and I can only imagine how frustrating that is for him! Then again, he does have a Ford (Fix or repair daily) ;).

In other news, I am LOVING my hair color. The kids (most of them) noticed it, and a lot of them (at least the ones who didn't feel awkward) said that it looked good/nice/pretty. It's a nice feeling to hear that :)

I don't have much to say other than this little bit, BUT please come back tomorrow for my first Bloggin' Ladies feature! I can't wait to tell you guys about my [new] friend Mandy! (!!)

ALSO, don't forget.... I am on Facebook and Bloglovin' and I would LOVE for you to stop by and 'like' this blog or otherwise check things out! Also, I am creating a goal for myself of 60 followers by the end of the month, so if you are a regular reader, I would so much appreciate it if you could click the little 'follow' button at the top of this page! You DON'T need an account here to do so, and there are no pesky updates. Thank you so much!! <3 xoxo

Manic Monday

There are so many things I wanted to write about today, and I kept thinking of them at the most inopportune moments throughout school. I never got to write any of them down!! I can remember two, at least.

It was so nice to wake up this morning to actual fall weather. I cannot wait to bust out my scarves and jackets and boots. I love rainy days like these because it makes me feel no remorse about sitting inside with a blanket and my puppy writing for my blog. I am excited to take a nap and then go home to hang out with my family. 

Sufjan Stevens! His new album, The Age of Adz, finally, FINALLY came out! NPR featured him on their program, and subsequently wrote an article on their site. I urge you all to check it out here and to gaze longingly at him while you listen to the samples they have provided!

Secondly, I have/had two interviews this week! One interview is at a local restaurant here in Western Hills and another at UC, tomorrow. I had the local one, today. While the people seem really nice there, I am intimidated about waitressing! I have never done it before and am so worried about being clumsy. The woman who interviewed me was SONICE and I loved talking with her, but just don’t know if this is the best fit for me. Have any of you waitressed before? Do you have any advice you can offer?

And now… school was pretty uneventful, today, but still not really pleasant or enjoyable. There are just some people that you don’t want to see at 7:30 in the morning, and one of them happens to be at West High. The kids seemed especially attitude-y, today; several of them completely ignoring me for no reason, and a few shot back snotty remarks. It was another one of those days where you can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait for lunchtime. Turns out, lunchtime wasn’t too great, either.

The head English teacher at our school volunteered me to head the reading and writing tutoring for the OGT. I was flattered, honored, and flabbergasted that she would even think of me. I was not, however, prepared for her expectations of me. I don’t think she realizes that I am a full time student teacher with a part time job and a myriad of other responsibilities. I have to stay after school three days a week (which is no problem at all) but I was also made to call every parent and let them know about the program and am also required to call parents for kids who aren’t coming to tutoring and need to be. I am expected to keep track of all 150 students that I have to begin with, how they are doing in class, and what they are missing AND the 200+ kids that haven’t passed the OGT and need my help? Please. I am not superwoman, and considering this my first semi-realistic teaching experience, everything takes me about twice as long as it takes an experienced teacher. My point in all of this is that this woman, the head of the English department, seemed a little more than impatient with me for not being completely on top of it. Well, excuse me. ::bangs head against wall::

Let me just remind you all of the calendar that I keep in my desk drawer among my tea bags and pencils where I count down the days, one by one:

Sorry everyone, had to get out a little frustration :) I hope everyone is having a fantastic day. I am going to continue watching Dr. Phil and have a little snack of almonds! 

Just want to remind everyone know that femmenamala is now on Facebook and Bloglovin. Hope you can stop by! Following my blog is what keeps me motivated to post everyday! <3 you all!