1/31/08
1/22/08
Man Down
You join me on long journeys, tucked neatly inside of your case.
Until that moment in which there's a turn in scenery
or a moment in my life
that must be saved.
You join me in short trips, strapped to my shoulder,
gently swinging between clicks.
Your new job helps me to remember the important, document the arts, freezeframe the crafts, and reflect on the learning... as well as the learners.
Your pictures have been to China, even when you have not.
Life is creeping past my window,
seeping through the cracks of wood...
hesitantly approaching the windows of my mind.
Unable to capture, unable to halt life... I am lost without you by my side.
Hurry back.
What ball am I throwing?
First day of classes down.
Today was a full day of one class, 9am until 4:15pm.
We had Oreo Ball Truffles for breakfast.
We played with imaginary footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, and tennis balls. Our imaginations threw them with reckless abandon.
We started a storm.
Rub, snap, clap, slap, stomp, clap, snap, rub.
We debated art.
We created songs and games.
We performed those songs and games for our classmates.
We roleplayed.
Ah, how I missed these great thinkers.
I feel sufficiently warmed up for the assignment on tomorrow's agenda.
Today was a full day of one class, 9am until 4:15pm.
We had Oreo Ball Truffles for breakfast.
We played with imaginary footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, and tennis balls. Our imaginations threw them with reckless abandon.
We started a storm.
Rub, snap, clap, slap, stomp, clap, snap, rub.
We debated art.
We created songs and games.
We performed those songs and games for our classmates.
We roleplayed.
Ah, how I missed these great thinkers.
I feel sufficiently warmed up for the assignment on tomorrow's agenda.
1/21/08
Arrivals and Departures
The first day of classes is quickly approaching.
As in tomorrow.
Integrating Fine Arts. There is a website, a blog, pictures, chapters to read...
A new email is required to participate in the website.
Signing in required for the blog.
The blog discussion is currently how early we will have to arrive on campus in order to not only find a parking space, but to actually park, walk, and arrive to class on time. Should we start at 9? Should we move it up to 8:30? My alarm clock clicks backwards in time as the debate continues.
And for those of you that are not familiar with my grad school parking issues... there is usually a wait/stalk/hover time of about 45 minutes to an hour. To even park! To get off of campus at 4:20 is another, and usually much longer story.
THIS is why we need textbooks on audio.
As in tomorrow.
Integrating Fine Arts. There is a website, a blog, pictures, chapters to read...
A new email is required to participate in the website.
Signing in required for the blog.
The blog discussion is currently how early we will have to arrive on campus in order to not only find a parking space, but to actually park, walk, and arrive to class on time. Should we start at 9? Should we move it up to 8:30? My alarm clock clicks backwards in time as the debate continues.
And for those of you that are not familiar with my grad school parking issues... there is usually a wait/stalk/hover time of about 45 minutes to an hour. To even park! To get off of campus at 4:20 is another, and usually much longer story.
THIS is why we need textbooks on audio.
1/20/08
Research
I could call it research.
Investigating the interests of students.
Creating an experience to help me relate to the students.
But I would secretly be memorizing the songs...
...and the dances.... each step, each turn, each twirl.
Tickets are on sale now. For my, ahem... research opportunity.
Investigating the interests of students.
Creating an experience to help me relate to the students.
But I would secretly be memorizing the songs...
...and the dances.... each step, each turn, each twirl.
Tickets are on sale now. For my, ahem... research opportunity.
1/18/08
The Anti-Read Aloud
I am learning to love my read aloud voice.
Lately I have been congested, so I'm a little nasal-ly, a little short of breath, and I think my lisp is coming back. But regardless, I try to take my time and use inflection at all the appropriate moments. I go from high to low, to silly, to serious... it's like I can enter a world of dissociative identity disorder just for the sake of my listeners.
This week the class started reading Ruby Lu, Brave and True. The first 2 chapters cover Ruby as a Magician, and how she loves her baby brother Oscar, then goes to hating him and then to loving him again. Oscar gives away Ruby's magician secrets. Which, really, at this point, serves Ruby well b/c now she is not only Ruby the Magician, but she has Oscar the side-kick. The students seem to be sort of into it, but not as much as their last book. I could just have a warped perception, thanks to the gigglers in the front row. It doesn't help that there are names in the book such as PohPoh and GungGung. Ah, the things that authors think of.
Day three. I sit in THE seat. I pick up the book. The students assume position.
N e a t
R o w s
J u s t
L i k e
every other day.
Enter the cutest baby in the whole world (outside of my family, of course). Mom had a could-not miss opportunity in the classroom, and being an incredible community of teachers at the school, there was no fear - and we welcomed her into the room. BabyLove was very quiet and reserved. Then I began reading.
It was at that moment that BabyLove made her vocal debut.
The students fell in love.
I continued reading in my best nasal-ly reading voice.
This was no competition for the baby in the corner.
She had them wrapped around her little fingers.
Slowly, as I read the chapter, the students rearranged.
Slowly, the students sat up.
Slowly, the students moved closer to eachother.
Slowy, the magnetic force was apparent.
There I was, reading in my chair....
to my audience of one.
All of the others formed a tight sunburst away from BabyLove.
None were looking at me.
None were listening.
Imagine a picture with a yellow crayon sun drawn in the corner. That is what the room looked like.
A bright light and her admiring rays.
Lately I have been congested, so I'm a little nasal-ly, a little short of breath, and I think my lisp is coming back. But regardless, I try to take my time and use inflection at all the appropriate moments. I go from high to low, to silly, to serious... it's like I can enter a world of dissociative identity disorder just for the sake of my listeners.
This week the class started reading Ruby Lu, Brave and True. The first 2 chapters cover Ruby as a Magician, and how she loves her baby brother Oscar, then goes to hating him and then to loving him again. Oscar gives away Ruby's magician secrets. Which, really, at this point, serves Ruby well b/c now she is not only Ruby the Magician, but she has Oscar the side-kick. The students seem to be sort of into it, but not as much as their last book. I could just have a warped perception, thanks to the gigglers in the front row. It doesn't help that there are names in the book such as PohPoh and GungGung. Ah, the things that authors think of.
Day three. I sit in THE seat. I pick up the book. The students assume position.
N e a t
R o w s
J u s t
L i k e
every other day.
Enter the cutest baby in the whole world (outside of my family, of course). Mom had a could-not miss opportunity in the classroom, and being an incredible community of teachers at the school, there was no fear - and we welcomed her into the room. BabyLove was very quiet and reserved. Then I began reading.
It was at that moment that BabyLove made her vocal debut.
The students fell in love.
I continued reading in my best nasal-ly reading voice.
This was no competition for the baby in the corner.
She had them wrapped around her little fingers.
Slowly, as I read the chapter, the students rearranged.
Slowly, the students sat up.
Slowly, the students moved closer to eachother.
Slowy, the magnetic force was apparent.
There I was, reading in my chair....
to my audience of one.
All of the others formed a tight sunburst away from BabyLove.
None were looking at me.
None were listening.
Imagine a picture with a yellow crayon sun drawn in the corner. That is what the room looked like.
A bright light and her admiring rays.
1/14/08
Intersession, Take 2
Today was the first day back from Wintersession. Hooray for being back to the regular classroom, but boo for the wonderful days of Wintersession being over.
On this first day back, we (meaning the Interns) were approached about the Spring Intersession (Last 2 weeks in March).
What grade level?
Language Arts or Math?
Ack! I don't know. I just hung my coat in my new classroom... and I have to make all of these executive decisions?
I'm partially joking, of course. I knew it was coming, those questions about what my intentions are for the spring intersession. Just how soon they came is shocking. I'm ready. I'm willing, and I'm able.
I have an idea... that I bounced off of many people to be sure it wasn't too "out there."
Now here's to the potential pre-planning that may happen!
My answer: Language Arts, 4-5 grade.
On this first day back, we (meaning the Interns) were approached about the Spring Intersession (Last 2 weeks in March).
What grade level?
Language Arts or Math?
Ack! I don't know. I just hung my coat in my new classroom... and I have to make all of these executive decisions?
I'm partially joking, of course. I knew it was coming, those questions about what my intentions are for the spring intersession. Just how soon they came is shocking. I'm ready. I'm willing, and I'm able.
I have an idea... that I bounced off of many people to be sure it wasn't too "out there."
Now here's to the potential pre-planning that may happen!
My answer: Language Arts, 4-5 grade.
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