Dream Dust
Gather out of star-dust,
Earth-dust,
Cloud-dust,
Storm-dust,
And splinters of hail,
One handful of dream-dust,
Not for sale.

- By Langston Hughes

I THINK YOU WON, GUYS.

My feet DO look a lot like this (though totally more swollen, but I'm really prone to swelling so I guess that's okay?). Plus, in terms of the connective tissue disorder association, PFFT, what am I if not one big connective-tissue-disordered hot mess, amirite?

So... ew. But I can accept this, haha.

Does this mean my shoes should fit comfortably again in a week or two?

Yeah, so um, it's been a while... Instead of excuses, I'll show you what I've been doing the last little while. Be warned, there are some rather large images under the cut in order to preserve some quality.

( Maps! )

I am getting a student teacher this year.  I want to make sure it's the best experience that they could have and they learn a lot from me.  That being said, What's the best thing you learned while student teaching? 
If you are a student teacher, what helped you the most?
Was there something you wished your teacher taught you before you went into the classroom?

I just want other opinions on what they thought was helpful.

I teach 3rd grade if that helps any and this will be my 7th year. 

Thanks for any insight!

So I have a second interview at a preschool and they want me to run a 15-20 minute circle time with the winter theme. It's a Christian school and any ideas would be welcome.

 Hey folks.

I start student teaching next week, well actually in less than a week. I'm fairly nervous, but I'm also really excited. I have lessons (in art) for the first week or so planned out for every grade level (at this placement it's k-4) and then the planning for the next week will start midway through the first week. I know it's not going to run like clockwork and I expect some mishaps and glitches but do any of you have any advice on how to make this as worthwhile and successful as it can be?

We only have about 6-7 weeks at each school per placement. My placement goes until the end of February, I have break and then I start in the beginning/middle of March and it goes until the end of April. I really do wish they had us at one school the entire semester so we could get a better baring on our surroundings and get to the know the students a little better.  I'd love to know every kids name by heart but I feel like that will be somewhat delusional of me to think that I can do that in such a short period of time. I hate referring to students as "you" and I'd really like to be able to call every student by their names, it's more personal and I don't feel so fake, either.

I guess it's just the whole process that throws me off, everything is scheduled, I have to take attendance, introduce the lesson, do a demonstration and then answer any questions and go on and help the students as they need it. Does that sound right?? Can I do that?? Haha, any confidence boosters you can all think of I'd be eternally grateful for. I know this is a learning experience and it doesn't all have to be perfect and I'm there to learn.

That being said, any suggestions or advice??

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2010/01/special-deliveries.html

Do you suppose a kid named "Finally" could ever get addressed in a non-sarcastic manner?

And finally lastly, my personal favorite:



Anony M., Alisa K., Carrie B., Shane M., & Amy C., how many people do you suppose asked what flavor the cake was?

- Related Wreckage: The Name Game

Hi everybody!

Just taking a quick break while my fab red dress is being dry cleaned. I saw something about a poll just now about how most right-thinking Americans think we were created as we are less than 10,000 years ago - and what a relief!

You know, for years and years, I was so worried about how we might be corrupted by scientists from France with their morally corrupt stuff about there being no right or wrong. Well I'm just so proud...so happy...to be an American.

Now, I know what you're all thinking: it's not enough to be just an American, and you know what? You're right! You betcha you are! You gotta be a Republican like me. But even more, you have to be a real Conservative! Because we all know that the Republican party is in trouble, don't we? Well, I'm here to save it!

As most of you know, I'm just a regular hockey mom who can shoot a moose at a hundred yards in a blizzard for dinner - just like our pioneers did with bows and arrows and stuff. You know, that sorta experience qualifies me to be the next President, or talk show host; the kinda experience that you just can't get in a spineless elitist ivy league school. That kinda experience is something you have to earn with lots of hunting and managing a big household and, of course, years of worshiping the right God and seein' just...livin' in a small town like the rest of America does!

I'm just so tickled pink by that poll, ya know! It gives me hope that we can one day take back the science industry and really start...questioning everything again! Questions like: Did we really "evolve"? Isn't prayer really better medicine than modern drugs? And was Obama really born in the United States?

These are questions we should be asking. And with your help, and your votes, I might just be able to ask them for you! 60% of Republicans are behind me on this basic question and all I have to say is...Go Team! Yay!

Can we do it? Can we take back Science from the "scientists"?

You Betcha!



Comment 136 from Here

You guys have been so good at e-diagnosing me/bbgurls in the past, so I bring you yet another installment of LOL MY SAD MEDICAL ISSUES LET ME SHOW YOU THEM.

( There is something wrong with my toes - yeah, I know, lulz. )

What say you, internets? I can't think of any possible cause for this. I would ignore it completely because it sounds so stupid even to me, but it kind of hurts to walk a little bit (and shoes are kind of a nightmare to put on in this state, I've discovered), hurr hurr.

I am looking for ideas on how to deal with the out-of-control class. My morning classes are decent. The one grade ten class I've had which had multiple problems (sexual harassment, throwing dangerous things, those little pop bomb things that make the gun noise, etc.) has improved. My administration is really helpful and supportive. However, I don't know what to do about my afternoon grade eleven class. Reflecting upon what was written up, it was just the behaviour management issues that was a problem (the super wrote up I am organized, well-planned and know what I need to in order to teach the class - but the students are so out of hand that I cannot teach the material all the time). Today was almost as bad. I made them stay and clean up the crap they threw around the room (blocking the door so they could not leave).

I also have three boys serving detention at lunch tomorrow from that class. I plan on moving the desks so they are facing the wall and nothing else.

I do have some plans for tomorrow to start the period for that class, which include:
1. Completely rearranging where they sit.
2. Having a definition for respect written on the board. Have them write it down. Emphasis on respecting each other and the learning environment.
3. Have a new set of rules rewritten with two copies for each student - one copy that they keep and another that they sign and get their parents to sign to show they understand.

I am really at a loss with that class. There are only a few weeks left before finals and I need to ensure that I can get through what I need to so they have all the material. Thanks in advance

Hello all :)

I want to start discussion groups with my class, which will count for 10% of their final grade. I teach adult education, and my students range between the ages of 18-22 and some are in their 30s or 40s but not many. I want the topics to be interesting, something they will WANT to discuss.... Do you have any ideas for catchy topics or websites that would help me out? I've already figured out a couple of things like, 100 things to do before I die, talk about a country or city I visited, personality/intelligence tests and share the results, things of the sort... I wouldn't mind having more controversial topics but I have to keep in mind that I want them to be open to each other's opinions and advice and I also don't want any religious/ethnic battles to start. I'd probably like to have them follow a specific code so that they know how to behave during these discussion groups...

Any tips on topics or how to run the groups, website, etc... would be welcomed, thank you!

Woot, can you say productive? This is my second post of the day, and oddly, it's in reference to the first post which is in reference to my plotting sprint this morning, and oh, I'm just so happy about it!

Haha.

Actually, I do feel really good after sitting down (no internet, no phone - okay, well, there was a phone but I didn't touch it, I swear!) and just writing it out. I've now got an outline, and am allowing myself to jump around to different scenes when I feel the need. I think the intro is right on, and that all there is left to do with Chapter One is break it into four chapters. Oh yes, I'm writing a novel I say!

Right after dinner... lol