7 random things

A few weeks ago, Frum tagged me to do the 7 random things meme.  Well, at the time I w as caught up in all school and the drama that exists in my head, so I never got around to it.  Forgive me, Frum.  So, Scott, tagged me recently, and I knew I just had to go ahead and do it.

I’ve done this before . . . but I really don’t think there is anything that people don’t already know.  However, “I am supposed to write 7 random facts about me and then tag 7 other bloggers to do the same.”  I am not going to mandate that people do this–therefore, I am NOT  going to their site and telling them they were tagged.  If they come here, see the tag and decide to do it great. . . Here are the people I’m tagging b/c I would like to know more about them:

• Lisa
• Betsy
• Midwest Teacher
• Miss Profe
• Nancy
• Browneyed Girlie
• Margaret

1. When I was in middle and high school, I actually wrote stories and books.  I remember years ago looking at them and thinking, oh boy, “where was my head?”  But at the same time, I was impressed with my thoughts and my writing.  I remember a teacher once telling me that I was a poor writer.  I think I stopped writing at that point.  It wasn’t until I got to college that my confidence in writing was rebuilt.  (Yeah, I know I have functional issuess–like spelling, grammar and the transition from my head to typing sometimes results in mechanical errors.)  It was my professors who gave me A’s on my papers, some read my papers outloud to the class as stellar examples and comments from the readers at the writing lab (they proof read papers and helped students get started writing.  I often got the comment “this is really good” or “we just need to fix a few grammatical things.”)  Needless to say, I have always loved storytelling and great stories.  I think thats why I majored in History b/c everyday I went to class it was like hearing a great story.  I wish that I could do that for my own students bring the information alive like a story. . . anyway,  if I were not a teacher, I’d want to be a writer!
2. I can’t stand poetry.  I don’t know why, but I hate it.  It is so abstract.  Just tell me what you mean and don’t  make me have to figure it out.  That’s why I didn’t major in English or Literature.  I did pretty well in my English courses, but that poetry always made me earn a B.
3. I yell at my 7th period.  I didn’t realize this until a student brought it to my attention.  One of the students in my 2nd period that helps clean up the classroom after school, said to me last week,  “Miss A, you yell at your 7th period.  You don’t yell at us like that. The most you ever say to our class is: come on, you guys.”  (Imagine her saying this with a nerdy voice–it was so me–I laughed.)  I asked her what she heard.  She responded “When I came up to my locker, I heard you fussing and yelling about their talking.  You don’t talk to us that way.  I didn’t even think you yelled.”  Boy, was I embarrassed.   I don’t want to be “that” teacher.   After this conversation, I tried to make a conscious effort not to yell in 7th period.  It didn’t really work.   On the last day before break, I was still fussing.  I’m going to pray about this, because I need DELIVERANCE!!!  And a different strategy cause the yellin ain’t workin!
4. I’m a loud talker.  I grew up talking loud.  But, as an adult I learned to calm it down.  However, when I teach I find myself talking loud again.  And sometimes when I have personal conversations, I just don’t make the transition back to normal talking.  It is embarrassing to blow people away . . . and imagine me at the mall on cellphone, truly embarrassing.
5. Last night, I  walked in my bedroom closet without stepping on something for the first time since I moved here.  Whoa, you may say.  The closet became the storage area for EVERYTHING.  If I didn’t know what to do with it, I’d throw it in the closet.   So, I desperately needed to find some long sleeve and quarter lenth stuff for my trip and so I had to clean it out.  OMG, BECKY!!!! It looks so great.   It was so exciting, I danced a jig in the closet.   If anyone is interested I will take pic.
6. There are over 450 items in my google reader.  And I just can’t delete them.  It’s just like all of the paper I have here at the house.  I feel like I need to go through every single peice and not just dump it.  I tried to keep up with all of my blogs, but I couldn’t b/c of school.   So over break and while I’m traveling, I’m going to try and clear it out.
7. I hated Sarah Palin. . .she was a beautiful and sarcastic woman.  The saracasm is what made me hate her.  And the fact that she played on people’s fears.  On the other hand, (since I can’t do 8 items), I LOVE my IPOD.  I wish I had gotten the 16 gig!

Blog Love

I am honored that so many read, respect and respond to what I have to say.  Maybe it’s one of the things that keeps me writing. . . nah, it’s probably what helps me maintain professional sanity.  So it’s needless to say, I was flattered when Mrs. D gave me the following.

I read so many blogs and it was very difficult to pick 5 to give an award to.  So, I just picked from those that post frequently and I would read ASAP whenever my feeder said they had a new post. I give the following award to the following:

1. History is Elementary Full of content knowledge, with strategies mixed in.  I wish she was my mentor.
2. Frumteacher I feel like we are bosom buddies, like we are  going through the same thing at the same time.  I love her perspective and optimism.  And her content knowledge is off the chain! If we lived in the same place, I’d call her often for lunch, tea, coffee. . . she’s just a great person.
   
3. Athena She is so real!  And she writes in lists.  My kind of girl.
   
4. Happy Chyck Wonders Funny.  She cracks me up. 
   
5. Just Lisa Shares administrative perspective of education.  And she REAL!  I love her perspective on life and her sass.

Instructions:
1. Choose five other bloggers that you feel are “Kick Ass Bloggers”
2. Let them know that they have received an award.
3. Link back to the person who awarded you.

The rules haven’t said you have to give an explanation, but I wanted to.  I wanted them to know why I them the the LOVE!

Back to School Meme

Meme: Passion Quilt

I have beenasked by several people  (Frumteacher, Stacy, Dr. Pezz) to complete this meme.  When it first came my direction, I didn’t know what to do with it.  I was absolutely stumped.  And, then I got busy . . . so, it is now that I finally complete this meme.

Rules

Post a picture or make/take/create your own that captures what YOU are most passionate for kids to learn about
Give your picture a short title.
Title your blog post “Meme: Passion Quilt”
Link back to this blog entry.
Include links to 5 folks in your professional learning network

OUR WORLD

 I picked this picture because when students leave my class, I want them to leave with ideas of global citizenship.  I see several things in this picture:  every person is different, every person is the same, we all connected, the stability world depends on each and everyone of us doing our part, every person comes from a different place, everyone has the same goal. . . I could go on and on. . . However, I want my students to see that though we are diverse in nature, we all depend on each other to make this world go around.  I hope that they recognize that what we do affects others all around the world–not just in our families or communities.  It is my desire that my students are motivated to civic action and how they can work for the greater good of humanity.

I am linking the following people:

Kary

Joel

Ms. Profe

David

Happy Chyck

Privilege Meme

This meme is to help examine privileges/social class.   Only 5 of these things on this list characterize me.  As I reflect, I realize that I was poor  and of a lower socioeconomic status but I was blessed with a parent who stressed education and encouraged my love of reading and fantasy worlds.  So, I guess I really wasn’t poor.

From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.  To participate, bold the items that apply to you. 

1. Father went to college2. Father finished college

3. Mother went to college (community college)

4. Mother finished college5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.

7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.

9. Were read children’s books by a parent.

10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.

13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.

14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs.

15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs

16. Went to a private high school

17. Went to summer camp

18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18

19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels

20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18

21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child

23. You and your family lived in a single-family house

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home

25. You had your own room as a child

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18

27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course

28. Had your own TV in your room in high school

29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college

30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16

31. Went on a cruise with your family32. Went on more than one cruise with your family

33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.

34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family. 

ms-teacher from  had this posted

Blogging Tips Meme

It’s very simple. When this is passed on to you, copy the whole thing, skim the list and put a * star beside those that you like. (Check out especially the * starred ones.)Add the next number (1. 2. 3. 4. 5., etc.) and write your own blogging tip for other bloggers. Try to make your tip general.After that, tag 10 other people. Link love some friends! Just think- if 10 people start this, the 10 people pass it onto another 10 people, you have 100 links already!

1. Look, read, and learn. http://www.neonscent.com/

2. Be, EXCELLENT to each other.  http://www.bushmackel.com/

3. Don’t let money change ya! http://www.therandomforest.info/

4. Always reply to your comments. * http://chattiekat.com/

5. Link liberally — it keeps you and your friends afloat in the Sea of Technorati.  http://chipsquips.com/ 

6. Don’t give up – persistence is fertile.  http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/

7. Give link credit where credit is due. http://www.sfsignal.com/

8. Pictures say a thousand words and can usually add to any post. *http://scifichick.com/ 

9. Visit all the bloggers that leave comments for you – it’s nice to know who is reading! * http://stephaniesbooks.blogspot.com/

10. When commenting on others’ blogs, a few kind words go a long way. * http://shelflifeblog.blogspot.com/

11. Don’t limit yourself to reading only where you think your interests are; blogging can add infinitely to one’s knowledge base. *http://dolcebellezza.blogspot.com/

12.  Don’t write a book and consider writing text that equals 2 minutes of reading .  Some of us have short attention spans and can’t handle reading a 10 page paper in a web browser.  Pictures sometimes say it better than words. ( I know someone else aready said it, but it was a good hint)  http://www.missteacha.com (I have no idea who’s been tagged at this point; if you feel inclined, please add to it.)

I’ve been tagged, again!

I think I’ve done this before, but I’ve been tagged twice  (Lara and School Teacher.) So I guess I should do it again.  Now, you guys will know how quirky and weird I can be!   

Rules:

A. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog. 

1. I actually enjoy a good inservice/professional development.  I love learning new ways to structure my class.  Today we had inservice that was decent, but it focused mainly on administrative things.  But I don’t think I complain about it like my colleagues do.
2. I hate saying no, but I’m becoming really good at it lately.  I guess it takes being abused a few times before you realize that “no” is a positive thing.
3. The way I relax is by “vegging out” in front of the TV.  I watch mindless things like Wife Swap, The Simple Life and American Idol.
4. I have not read the Harry Potter series or seen the movies.  When it first came out it was heavily criticized by Christians in this area.  I abstained at first because of that criticism.  Then, I realized the books couldn’t be that bad.  So, I decided to watch the movie.  Several times.  I fell asleep while watching the movie.  Several times.  I gave up on Harry Potter after that.
5. I am eating meat again.  Why?  Because in two months time, I gained back all of the weight I lost last year.  It really hurt my feelings.  So Weight Watchers here I come!
6. I will watch any Disney movie you put before me!  I love seeing kiddie movies.  They make me happy.  I have probably watched Home Alone over 50 times. 
7. I am somewhat socially dysfunctional.  I’m pretty shy in public and I get intimidated really easily.  However, around my close friends and family I am quite boisterous, some would even say I’m ghetto.
8. I love my job!!!  I love the school where I work.  Even though I want to go overseas, I can’t see myself teaching anywhere else b/c I love this school so much.

4 Exciting Things About Me!

Four Things Meme

(Because it’s Saturday!)

Four Jobs I’ve Had

~Teacher

~Americorps Volunter (yes it is a job)

~Secretary/Office Manager

~Security Personnel (I sat at the fitting rooms & checked id’s at the NEX)

Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over (love children’s movies-they make me happy)

~Home Alone (1 ONLY)

~Shrek I and Shrek 3

~Sister Act 2

~Any Disney movie

Four Places I’ve Lived

~My momma’s house

~Italy

~New Hampshire

~My college dorm

Four TV Shows I Love

~The Closer

~Tyler Perry’s House of Payne

~The Cosby Show

~Ugly Betty

Four Places I’ve Vacationed

~Italy

~St. Louis

~Washington, D.C.

~Virginia

Four of My Favorite Dishes (has changed since I stopped eating meat)

~Anything chocolate

~Steamed Broccoli

~Nacho w/ White Cheese

~Anything w/BBQ sauce on it

Four Sites I Visit Daily (Bet you weren’t expecting this either!)

~AIM Mail

~Gmail

~No Longer Just Some Girl

~Bloglines

Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now

~In the bed snoring loudly

~Sitting on a nude beach

~Europe

~Getting my classroom ready (I know I’m psycho about this classroom—its just that we can’t go work there tomorrow cause our principal shut it down for maintenance. . . so, it throws off my time table. I know, I’m crazy)

Four People I Am Tagging (just a strong suggestion to complete so I can learn more about them-but not a requirement)

~Eric at Secondhand Thoughts

~Irrational at A Math Teacher’s Notebook

~Mr. E’s Blog

~Now Cracks A Noble Heart