Saturday, March 29, 2008

Neglect

Well, it seems I have neglected this blog and need to post something to make me feel better! Spring break was wonderful, I didn't do any work, pushed it to the edges of my imagination and was very proud of myself for compartmentalizing so effectively! Unfortunately, work called this week and grades and student comments are due on Wednesday. So I am back with the grind of grading all weekend and writing comments. The only good news out of this is that the students are working on individual projects on Monday and Tuesday, so I will have time to get some desperate planning done.

Last night I went to a showing of a documentary about high school marching bands called "From the 50 Yard Line." Yes I was a band geek and proud of it, and that movie made me appreciate even more the lessons I learned in high school about working hard, having and keeping friends, and disappointment (we were certaintly not the best, but we tried VERY hard!) It was also great to see high school students being so invested in each other and the group and made me see all over again how important music education is in our school systems. Some of those students reminded me of my students and that was fun to see. Bryn Mawr doesn't have a band - we have an orchestra, so it is a little different. I miss band! :-)

Well, I just want to close by sending a shout out to all my friends (you know who you are!). I think about you often, even if I am not so good at communicating it. Love ya!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Boston and good friends

Yeah! I am in Boston! It is wonderful to be back, see old haunts, feel the chill in the air (it snowed Sat. morning), and reminisce about the the good times I had here.

Paige's baby shower was on Saturday. It was a full house, with about 20 people showing how much they care. Both sets of parents came and we had two little ones that stole the show! It was so nice to catch up with the girls from Paige and Jeremy's wedding and see how they are doing. While the girls were setting up for the party, I took Paige out and we went to Harvard Square to walk around. I had some New England chowda, Paige had some corn chowda, and we sat and talked. Talking face to face like old times was just what I needed. Good friends are able to pick up right where you left off like there is no time or geographical distance. Then we walked to this store called the Curious George, a children's store filled with old favorites. We were oohing and ahhing over Beatrix Potter, Golden Books and classics like the Secret Garden. I wish I had a store like this back in Baltimore. I miss these kind of stores - stores that are unique and clever, and you feel like they have something important to say, like "Look at us, we are bucking the big store, department store, standardized store, system!"

Today I am excited because I am having lunch with my former roommate Sara and then dinner with Cara and Paige. Tomorrow I leave and I know I will be sad to go, but hopefully I will be able to visit this summer so I can see the new baby.

I am so excited for Paige and Jeremy. They are going to be wonderful parents.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

 
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it was so nice not to not think about school today....

Last night I had a great time hanging out with friends and catching up in Westminster (you rascals know who you are!), but the weather was so bad, I just stayed at my parents house. It was nice to see them, they just bought a new mini van and my mom wanted to show it off. It was nice unwinding with them after another bad day. I really don't want to re-hash it, needless to say, sometimes my students get one my last nerve. Oh well.
So this morning my Dad and I went out to breakfast and then I went over to a long time friend's house to give her her Christmas present. Can you believe it??? Unreal. It was great to see her and find out how things are going in her life. Then I made a stop at JoAnn Fabrics before heading back to B-more. I then settled in to finishing (aka making) a baby blanket for one of my various friends who are having babies. I hope none of them are reading this or looking at it!! But it was great being creative and actually producing something tangible. All in all, great day and I didn't think about school! I needed this break I tell you!!
I am hoping tomorrow will be a sunnier day, it seems we may be stuck in this constant cold rain pattern....
Hopefully my pictures show up of the blanket. :-)

Monday, March 3, 2008

Exciting news!

So I found out today some really exciting news! I have been accepted to the Klingenstein Summer Institute through Columbia University Teacher's College. http://www.klingenstein.org/academics/summerInstitute.html I am so thrilled and can't wait to go. It is held the last two weeks of June, right after school ends and I am going to be staying at The Lawrenceville School in NJ. It is very hard to get into, and I was just thinking this weekend that I hadn't heard anything so I was trying to let myself down gently! It is an intensive program that I ultimately will get 3 graduate credits for.

Otherwise, today I "yelled" at my students for being rude, and I got their attention by saying that if they kept talking while I or anyone else was talking that I would give them a spur-of-the-moment pop quiz without any hesitation. I am tired of their disrespect. It is getting ridiculous. Just little things like talking and not focusing. It's like they don't know what they are there for. GEEZ!

So this Institute acceptance was a bright spot! Yeah! I am so thrilled, I really wanted this.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

 
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last week

Last week was rough. So much to do at school, grading, interim grades were due, all while still planning for day to day. Because I don't want to give too many details, I will just say that a student went to my boss last week to complain about her grade in my class. I am so lucky to have the support from the administration and the day after, this particular student, who had an attitude the previous day, came ready to learn with a whole new outlook. She is going to the Resource Center, meeting with me, and has a new perspective on the class. It was a roller coaster week, but in the end, I was so happy that this particular turn around happened. This student is a great kid, a leader on campus, and I really want her to do well, but she was hurting herself by putting up a wall. It was amazing to watch her transformation.

I am excited because I am going to watch Josh today and I haven't seen him in months. He is growing by the minute and I can't wait to play!