I can capture clips off of the webpages that I am looking at and put them on my dashboard. I will find out in a few hours if I can access them when I am not in a wifi place. One more reason to love finding recipes on the Internet.
***For those of you who love to eat healthy or at least healthier...check out www.hungry-girl.com and then look at Chew the Right Thing...I can't wait to try some of these recipes!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Doubts
***Disclaimer - Hope this entry makes sense...just a bunch of random thoughts strung all together. :)
This week was a week where I began to doubt myself and what I am doing in my classroom. I have drifted from following the plan set before me in the reading series we have had for six years. I am doing more of a reading workshop and trying to allow students the chance to read on their level, discuss their thinking, and encourage their love of reading. We had a meeting this week to discuss what series we want to adopt for next year. I left the meeting encouraged by the series we might take a closer look but discouraged by the people that I talked with...not going to go in detail because I don't know who all reads my blog.
I even talked with an amazing teacher who has been an inspiration to me and is so encouraging! She was even having doubts. The people she works with are even less encouraging and supportive than what I find (she is one of the most professionally read teachers I know too). As I listened to her read and watched the interaction among her students and what they talked about, I enjoyed hearing what they had to say.
The following day, my students surprised me during morning meeting with books they had checked out during their library time...one had Jumanji...one of the last books we have yet to read from Chris Van Allsburg. I read it that afternoon and they were so excited as each page occurred. We predicted, explored the meaning of words, and made connections to other books. At the end, the students were shocked at how the book led straight into Zathura. If you could have seen their faces, you would have enjoyed it.
So, why am I doubting? After what I saw...I love what I do and I love what the students are doing. I'm trying to make sure that I have covered the standards given to me by the state. I feel that with our workshop, we dive deeper into some of the standards. No more doubts!
This week was a week where I began to doubt myself and what I am doing in my classroom. I have drifted from following the plan set before me in the reading series we have had for six years. I am doing more of a reading workshop and trying to allow students the chance to read on their level, discuss their thinking, and encourage their love of reading. We had a meeting this week to discuss what series we want to adopt for next year. I left the meeting encouraged by the series we might take a closer look but discouraged by the people that I talked with...not going to go in detail because I don't know who all reads my blog.
I even talked with an amazing teacher who has been an inspiration to me and is so encouraging! She was even having doubts. The people she works with are even less encouraging and supportive than what I find (she is one of the most professionally read teachers I know too). As I listened to her read and watched the interaction among her students and what they talked about, I enjoyed hearing what they had to say.
The following day, my students surprised me during morning meeting with books they had checked out during their library time...one had Jumanji...one of the last books we have yet to read from Chris Van Allsburg. I read it that afternoon and they were so excited as each page occurred. We predicted, explored the meaning of words, and made connections to other books. At the end, the students were shocked at how the book led straight into Zathura. If you could have seen their faces, you would have enjoyed it.
So, why am I doubting? After what I saw...I love what I do and I love what the students are doing. I'm trying to make sure that I have covered the standards given to me by the state. I feel that with our workshop, we dive deeper into some of the standards. No more doubts!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Joys of Being Single Part 2
Okay...setups...let's talk about them. I don't know whether to appreciate people not setting me up or wonder why people don't. One lady at church decided that this single guy (who doesn't live in my town) and I should meet. Her reasoning? He's looking for a good, Christian girl and apparently I am one. Hmmmmmm...anything else? Just because two people are single does not make them compatible...moving on. She told his mom...gave her my e-mail address and...nothing! She talked to his dad and gave him my e-mail address and...nothing!
She asked me at church if I had heard from him...nope. Her comment, "Your eggs are not getting any younger..." Ouch! I attended a conference a few weeks ago and ran into this lady again. What are the odds? She was with the parents of this boy...a little embarrassing after she made another comment.
Fast forward to last night...I attended a viewing last night and who was in front of me? Thankfully, just the parents and not their son. The father brought it up and apologized for the embarrassing comment made at the conference. We made small talk and then before we left and went our separate ways, he asked if he could tell his son a little about me...hmmmm...I said fine. What will it hurt? Stayed tuned to see if anything ever happens. :)
Anyone wishing they were STILL single? Sometimes the dating part of it just isn't fun!
She asked me at church if I had heard from him...nope. Her comment, "Your eggs are not getting any younger..." Ouch! I attended a conference a few weeks ago and ran into this lady again. What are the odds? She was with the parents of this boy...a little embarrassing after she made another comment.
Fast forward to last night...I attended a viewing last night and who was in front of me? Thankfully, just the parents and not their son. The father brought it up and apologized for the embarrassing comment made at the conference. We made small talk and then before we left and went our separate ways, he asked if he could tell his son a little about me...hmmmm...I said fine. What will it hurt? Stayed tuned to see if anything ever happens. :)
Anyone wishing they were STILL single? Sometimes the dating part of it just isn't fun!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Joys of Being Single
An honest entry and a look into my life - read on if you dare :) There's this guy that I have seen at various places: church, a local store, and at my workout place. I've noticed through talking with him and watching that he doesn't have a ring on and I think he's cute plus he goes to church (a definite bonus). So naturally, I wonder...I've seen him lately at church and I finally said something to the girls I sit with. I don't mention which guys I am interested in because it allows no build up at all (which, btw, there are none) but this time I did. One of the girls that I sit with (who is amazing) after I mentioned just seeing a cute guy proceeds to tell about her date from Friday night. He's a nice guy, she says...but he's divorced. Hmmmm, the guy I was thinking of I know has children...she mentions his name...could it be the same? As she then describes him, yep! It is...the same guy I had mentioned. What are the odds? My town isn't large, but over 10,000 and my church isn't huge, but over 2,000...what are the odds that the ONE guy I mention was the guy she went out with? I can't figure them out, but I find it humorous and wonder what God wanted me to learn through it!
As I approach my 30th (two weeks), I reflect back on this month and am amazed how at my singleness doesn't seem to affect me as bad as it did over Christmas Break. There were a few nights where it was just torture. It seems all of my friends around me are dating someone and I am one of the few singles...not so hard most of the time except when they are ALL couples and then become all lovely dovey and do their great PDA, or they go out on double dates and you're not invited because you don't have someone to go with...
I've had over the past two weeks several people ask if I am dating anyone and my answer is...I don't have time right now. I am training for a mini-marathon and my training takes up 1 - 3 hours a night depending on the workout. Not the best answer I know, but I am so grateful that right now when people ask that question, my heart doesn't break at it as much. Do I want to be dating right now? Yeah, it'd be nice, but do I want to go out with someone just because I'm single and he's single? No. I want to date a guy because he's interested in getting to know me more and sees something that God has put into his heart...lofty expectations, I know. But with all of the advice that I get from marrieds, I'd rather be single than be in a bad relationship.
Thanks for taking a journey into my single life...if anything occurs, I'll let you know.
As I approach my 30th (two weeks), I reflect back on this month and am amazed how at my singleness doesn't seem to affect me as bad as it did over Christmas Break. There were a few nights where it was just torture. It seems all of my friends around me are dating someone and I am one of the few singles...not so hard most of the time except when they are ALL couples and then become all lovely dovey and do their great PDA, or they go out on double dates and you're not invited because you don't have someone to go with...
I've had over the past two weeks several people ask if I am dating anyone and my answer is...I don't have time right now. I am training for a mini-marathon and my training takes up 1 - 3 hours a night depending on the workout. Not the best answer I know, but I am so grateful that right now when people ask that question, my heart doesn't break at it as much. Do I want to be dating right now? Yeah, it'd be nice, but do I want to go out with someone just because I'm single and he's single? No. I want to date a guy because he's interested in getting to know me more and sees something that God has put into his heart...lofty expectations, I know. But with all of the advice that I get from marrieds, I'd rather be single than be in a bad relationship.
Thanks for taking a journey into my single life...if anything occurs, I'll let you know.
Monday, February 4, 2008
What would you do?
Teachers...I am at a loss...this year, I am trying something new. I require my students to read 15 minutes a night and then they have to write it down on a reading log and turn it in every Monday. I also file the papers and record who turned it in...today, out of 17 students only 2 turned it in. I have noticed that there are a select few who never turn it in. What do I do? Call parents? Make kids stay in and read during recess and keep a log here? What would you do in my place?
Sunday, February 3, 2008
My Weekend
With the snow day and just a weekend not filled with many activities...I began to tackle a bit of organization and give aways. I'm not done yet, but wanted to show the progress I've made. My end goal is to totally remodel the office in my house and make it a nice and relaxing place where I can work if I want or go read a book and disappear from chaos.
Friday, February 1, 2008
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