Saturday, December 11, 2010

More Christmas Spirit

If I were to rank my favorite Christmas songs, "12 Days of Christmas" would rank dead last. It's too long, repetitive and pretty lame. I mean, if my true love gave me all those gifts, I might be a little ticked off. After all, what do you do with 12 drummers drumming? Or 8 geese a laying? It's just a big mess. HOWEVER, I was listening to Pandora today and heard this version of it. Check it out. So incredibly funny!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Got to love 5th grade!

Today we were reading a book (39 Clues: Book 1: Great Read!) and came across the names Picasso, Van Gogh, and Dali. Wanting to expand my students' art background, I quickly pulled up pictures that the artists may have been known for. Van Gogh: Starry Night. Dali: That funky time melting picture. For Picasso I pulled up this picture:



After my students' initial reaction to how odd it looked, one student blurted out, "It looks like Lady Gaga's band!" I died laughing then and there!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Christmas Spirit

One of the blessings of living in Utah during the Christmas season is that BYU-tv replays many of the Mormon Tab Christmas Concerts. I was watching the video tonight of the performance with Brian Stokes Mitchell (who's one of my favorites-GORGEOUS voice!!!) and they always have a famous person narrate part of it. This time Ed Herrman was telling the story of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". It was so moving, I just had to share it. What a great testimony as to what Christmas is all about.



Here is a clip of Brian Stokes Mitchell singing my favorite part of the performance. Such a lively singer! I love it!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Blueberries for Sal...uh, Aubrey

Our school participates in a program that gives fruit and vegetables to students of low-income to encourage a healthy diet. Great idea, in theory. Every Tuesday and Thursday we get fruits or vegetables in small plastic cups. It could be tomatoes, apples or oranges. However, it could also be persimmons, unripe-rock-hard pears or green peppers. Sometimes in the attempt to get kids to eat new things, they just scare them off. The fruit often come unripe or overripe because they serve fruit out of season. Such was the case of the blueberries of yesterday. Because my students had never really had fresh blueberries, they didn't know that they they were actually quite good. The majority of them tried one (after much encouragement) only to find a mushy, dull tasting experience. *Sigh* Needless to say, I'm the owner of 4 cups of blueberries. Anyone have any low-fat, low-calorie baking ideas (they are a little ripe, so I think baking them will be the best)? While you're at it, anyone have any ideas for persimmon puree? I still have 3-4 cups of that in my freezer. Way to go government!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

What's in a classroom?

A common question I get asked is, "how many students do you have this year?" It's always a loaded question. Here's the answer I wish I could give:

I have 28 bodies in the classroom. However, 4 of them are classified as resource, which means that they are equivalent to 8 students because of the extra time they require. Half of my students are below 5th grade reading level, which means that although my textbooks are written at grade level, half of my students can't read and understand them. Add a few more to the count. I have 5 students in counseling for behavior/gang prevention. Add at least 8 more to the class. Then, add on the students that are still trying to figure out how to raise their hand, show kindness to others and work hard. So, although my class has 28 bodies, some days it feels like 40-45 kids.

Recently, the "esteemed" Jeb Bush, (former?) governor of Florida came and spoke to Utah legislatures/anyone who would listen to him. I don't know really why he came, but in the process of sharing his thoughts he told those listening that we should be cramming in as many kids into a classroom as possible (there are some 6th grade classes in our district with 36 students!). This is all because if you have a quality educator instructing the class, it doesn't matter how many are in the room. (I'm paraphrasing, of course). Glad he's so revered.

However, after all is said and done, they are some great kids. They are trying so hard to learn what to do and they are working hard (for the most part!).

An update to life



Ella is bigger, been shot up and become an "it". She has "big girl" teeth which matches her "big girl" bed and she tests them out on any object she can find.



Yes, I cut and colored my hair again. Are you really surprised? (I just got back from the gym, hence the hiding behind a dog)

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010

I Love...

-Summer fruits. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, melons, etc.

-Pudding, yogurt and summer fruits mixed together. (Thanks mom and dad for hooking me onto this one!)

-Going to a temple recommend interview and declaring that I'm still worthy to enter the temple.

-Sitting outside feeling the cool summer breeze while reading a book.

-Teaching 4 year olds every week knowing that after two hours of entertaining the troops, they are no longer my responsibility.

-Trying out new recipes that I didn't have to buy anything special for. That way if it bombs, it's not a huge loss.

-That Target now sells E.L.F. make-up. Can't beat makeup for a buck.

-Those little reminders that Heavenly Father is still watching out for us.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

It's habit forming

Since everyone else is posting, I didn't want to be left out. Nunsense is closing Saturday. Although it has been a very stressful rehearsal process, I thoroughly enjoy playing the part of Amnesia. Here is a clip from the show. Amnesia is a nun who was hit on the head by a crucifix and lost her memory. This song takes place near the end of the show, sorry if I spoil it for any one. Enjoy!






Here's a review (actually, the only one done for our show...). It's not too shabby. Sorry it's not hyperlinked. I'm not that fancy.

http://www.utahtheaterbloggers.com/2037/getting-religious-in-magna-‘nunsense’-at-the-empress

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Blessings in Disguise

So last time I posted I mentioned that I was a little tired of my 25 minute commute. Granted, this is nowhere as bad as some of you guys drive. However, I still don't like it. That was until last week.

I discovered last week that I can download CES Firesides onto my ipod. This is so fantastic! Now I listen to the firesides as I drive to and from school. This week I listened to President Uchtdorf talk called "The Reflection in the Water". What an amazing talk. I love feeling the Spirit in my car, it's just such a cool experience. Not to mention, it's a great way to start my day.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

A Teacher's Life for Me...

Teaching in the Salt Lake District has been a career changing experience, to say the least. It's 113 days into the school year with 64 days left, but who's counting. I thought I would share some of the lessons I've learned in the past 113 school days.

1. A child who cannot speak a lick of English can say so much through the look of confusion during a math lesson or a smile after you've made a complete fool of yourself dancing in front of the class.

2. Title I schools have a lot of money. If you want technology in your classroom, go teach in a Title I school.

3. A 25 minute commute compared to a 10 minute commute is only good in theory.

4. Your heart will just break when you find out your students don't have any shoes for winter. Then you will spend your own limited funds to make sure they do.

5. Your heart will break and you may cry when you have a parent tell you that they have "given up" on their child because they don't know what else to do.

6. You will give up your only afternoon free to spend time with a student whose parents have "given up" on him so that you can show him that someone does want him to succeed.

7. Even though they drive you nuts on most days, these students will make you the happiest when they shout, "I finally get it! You're the best teacher ever!"