1) I had parent-teacher conferences tonight. It made for a long day (half day of school and conferences 12:30-8) but I loved the chance to see some parents again and meet others for the first time!
2) I used my geeky calculator skills to download two simulation programs from the Texas Instruments website to use as a classroom activity tomorrow. It made me incredibly happy that I still knew how to do so.
3) My fish is still alive! He's not too eager to eat, but I think he'll at least make it another day. Hopefully he'll survive the drive to MI tomorrow.
4) By this time tomorrow I'll be sitting at home in MI with my parents and brother... who will still have to go to school Thursday and Friday (sorry buddy).
5) Fudge-like brownies with chocolate chips are delicious- especially when served warm with cold milk. Mmmm.
6) I love my school and co-workers- they are simply amazing. Go MG! :)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Swimming and Guppies
Oh, where to begin?!
Not too much has happened over the past week or so... but there are several noteworthy items to relay. Last week I made several trips to Taylor for lectures and to help a former teammate with Calc I homework. At the end of last week I stopped by Marsh to pick up some groceries and ended up carting home a tropical-ish looking plant nearly my height. Some of the leaves need a little TLC, but it looks great on my wall between the kitchen and living room and softens things up quite a bit.
This past weekend was the first completely free weekend I've had since I moved in. I refrained from doing any work on Saturday and truly loved simply relaxing and doing some good cleaning. The smell of cleaner everywhere reminded me of how KK and mom used to clean up for me before I came home from college for vacations.
Saturday night I made a trip to Wal-Mart and came home with a guppy! Unfortunately, Mike passed away before I came home from school today- so I went back out to Wal-Mart and just brought home guppy II. (He doesn't get a name until he lasts a few days.)
This evening I also had the chance to swim at IWU. It's been a few years since I did laps, and I could tell. Regardless, it felt absolutely wonderful. I forgot how I loved being enveloped in the water, how I loved hearing the water rush past my head, and how I have this strange appreciation for the smell of chlorine... :P
Parent-teacher conferences tomorrow, half day Wednesday, and then I'm home in MI for fall break. :)
Not too much has happened over the past week or so... but there are several noteworthy items to relay. Last week I made several trips to Taylor for lectures and to help a former teammate with Calc I homework. At the end of last week I stopped by Marsh to pick up some groceries and ended up carting home a tropical-ish looking plant nearly my height. Some of the leaves need a little TLC, but it looks great on my wall between the kitchen and living room and softens things up quite a bit.
This past weekend was the first completely free weekend I've had since I moved in. I refrained from doing any work on Saturday and truly loved simply relaxing and doing some good cleaning. The smell of cleaner everywhere reminded me of how KK and mom used to clean up for me before I came home from college for vacations.
Saturday night I made a trip to Wal-Mart and came home with a guppy! Unfortunately, Mike passed away before I came home from school today- so I went back out to Wal-Mart and just brought home guppy II. (He doesn't get a name until he lasts a few days.)
This evening I also had the chance to swim at IWU. It's been a few years since I did laps, and I could tell. Regardless, it felt absolutely wonderful. I forgot how I loved being enveloped in the water, how I loved hearing the water rush past my head, and how I have this strange appreciation for the smell of chlorine... :P
Parent-teacher conferences tomorrow, half day Wednesday, and then I'm home in MI for fall break. :)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Varsity Club
My algebra class worked on a worksheet instead of the typical lesson from the book today. They were a little tired of bookwork, so to thank me one student piped up and said "that was Christ-like". Yes, that would be the same student who wanted to name my overhead Jesus. :P
I have a classroom pet for 7th period pre-calc. It's a fox named Quincy/Clementine. (We took a class vote and they couldn't decide... go figure.)
I am now a member of the Varsity Club at IWU so I can use the athletic facilities to work out. I am so excited about this- especially since cross country season has just ended! :)
Like a good little first-year teacher I got my flu shot today. Here's to keeping the sicknesses to a minimum... right?
I have a classroom pet for 7th period pre-calc. It's a fox named Quincy/Clementine. (We took a class vote and they couldn't decide... go figure.)
I am now a member of the Varsity Club at IWU so I can use the athletic facilities to work out. I am so excited about this- especially since cross country season has just ended! :)
Like a good little first-year teacher I got my flu shot today. Here's to keeping the sicknesses to a minimum... right?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Light of the World
My students wanted to name my overhead projector a few weeks ago. The previous one I had was affectionately called "beast" because it was so loud that I had a hard time hearing some students over it. The new one did not have that complication. One individual suggested that I name the new overhead "Jesus" because it brings light to the world. I about died laughing. Today that same individual claimed that the overhead could no longer be named Jesus due to the complicated math it displayed during class or, as he put it, "Jesus wouldn't do that to us". Of course I responded with the generic "sometimes you have to go through a rough patch in life to get to a better spot" which was met with a "thanks, Oprah" from one of my girls. Bwahaha. They're wonderful.
My boys placed 4th out of 9 teams at the Madison County meet tonight. Our athletic director believes that to be the best finish we've had in years. Woo hoo! Go team!
My boys placed 4th out of 9 teams at the Madison County meet tonight. Our athletic director believes that to be the best finish we've had in years. Woo hoo! Go team!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
First 9 weeks
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that I have survived my first 9 weeks teaching (aka- my first marking period). Now perhaps I should wait on this news until grades are officially entered and submitted, but hey, I feel like I've reached a milestone worth celebrating. And what a better way to celebrate than Taylor University homecoming? ;)
This past week has been insane. Between two back-to-back cross country meets, team pictures, finishing the marking period, administering four periods of tests, grading massive amounts of late work, and participating in spirit week for homecoming... well, it's safe to say I'm just plain pooped. Haha! But really, homecoming week was a wild ride.
Last weekend Deb drove up from St. Louis and Rach flew in from DC. Add in several other former FSMA ladies and it was one she-bang of a weekend. Starbucks, two trips to Wal-Mart, several episodes of Gilmore Girls, the 4th anniversary of Exit 59 Church, a trip to Cheesecake Factory to see Anna and it was as though we had never left... almost. It was dreadfully hard to say good-byes last Sunday evening. I have no clue when I'll see though gals again. But it was wonderful to share their company (especially in IN) once again.
This weekend has afforded me the opportunity to see many other alumni- Junice, Jenna, the Sutters... wonderful! I was unsure as to how I would handle my first homecoming, especially since I'm still living in the general area- but I believe I've had enough time to adjust to that fact that it did not cause as much... disruption... as I expected. Regardless, the day was filled with pretending to watch portions of the football game, visiting the Jumping Bean, watching the girls' soccer game, Ivanhoe's with the Sutters and Mitchels, Laundry House/Eastapalooza, and finally back at Amy's place. Ooh, and I also caught airband Thursday evening before visiting English to help Reno with a little Calc I. :) As mentioned above, I went out to dinner with two newly married couples this evening. It was uncannily normal. It was the first time I've seen either of them since they were married. Unfortunately, I was unable to contribute to the sharing of wedding stories, but other than that it was wonderful. ;) However, it was strange to realize that I'm slowly getting older- old enough for my friends to be married and have 'real lives', or something like that. Weird.
Speaking of 'real lives', I'm finally feeling like I'm starting to settle in a bit. I'm getting to know the other teachers in the building a little better- I went to the hog roast Friday night with a few of them- and I just got a lead on the Grant County Young Professionals group. Perhaps a slight pattern of normalcy is helping as well (slight is the key word there).
There are many other things I've been pondering over this time of silence, but tonight is not the time nor the place to share such things. They shall simply have to wait until later... g'night folks. :)
This past week has been insane. Between two back-to-back cross country meets, team pictures, finishing the marking period, administering four periods of tests, grading massive amounts of late work, and participating in spirit week for homecoming... well, it's safe to say I'm just plain pooped. Haha! But really, homecoming week was a wild ride.
Last weekend Deb drove up from St. Louis and Rach flew in from DC. Add in several other former FSMA ladies and it was one she-bang of a weekend. Starbucks, two trips to Wal-Mart, several episodes of Gilmore Girls, the 4th anniversary of Exit 59 Church, a trip to Cheesecake Factory to see Anna and it was as though we had never left... almost. It was dreadfully hard to say good-byes last Sunday evening. I have no clue when I'll see though gals again. But it was wonderful to share their company (especially in IN) once again.
This weekend has afforded me the opportunity to see many other alumni- Junice, Jenna, the Sutters... wonderful! I was unsure as to how I would handle my first homecoming, especially since I'm still living in the general area- but I believe I've had enough time to adjust to that fact that it did not cause as much... disruption... as I expected. Regardless, the day was filled with pretending to watch portions of the football game, visiting the Jumping Bean, watching the girls' soccer game, Ivanhoe's with the Sutters and Mitchels, Laundry House/Eastapalooza, and finally back at Amy's place. Ooh, and I also caught airband Thursday evening before visiting English to help Reno with a little Calc I. :) As mentioned above, I went out to dinner with two newly married couples this evening. It was uncannily normal. It was the first time I've seen either of them since they were married. Unfortunately, I was unable to contribute to the sharing of wedding stories, but other than that it was wonderful. ;) However, it was strange to realize that I'm slowly getting older- old enough for my friends to be married and have 'real lives', or something like that. Weird.
Speaking of 'real lives', I'm finally feeling like I'm starting to settle in a bit. I'm getting to know the other teachers in the building a little better- I went to the hog roast Friday night with a few of them- and I just got a lead on the Grant County Young Professionals group. Perhaps a slight pattern of normalcy is helping as well (slight is the key word there).
There are many other things I've been pondering over this time of silence, but tonight is not the time nor the place to share such things. They shall simply have to wait until later... g'night folks. :)
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