Because I'm Only Just a Little Crazy

September 10, 2015

Today was club sign ups at school. My lunch consisted of me wrapping my brain around the fact that in addition to being advisor of NHS and the Anime Appreciation Club, this year I have added Class Advisor for Class of 2019 and---get this--advisor for the CRICKET Club.  Yes-Cricket.  Have I ever played cricket? Have I ever even seen a cricket match? I think we all know the answer to that question.  But here we are, and I'm going to learn something new this year.

Good Advice for Teachers

September 9, 2015

Some small bits of advice for teachers starting out the year:

1)  Try to get to know your audience--their background, their culture.

2)  Acknowledge their background and experience and try to build on it, rather than negate it.

3)  Don't act surprised when they do something right, sometimes even before you've taught it.  Again, build on it, rather than show how much you doubted their ability to grasp the concept.

4)  If you are asked a question and you don't know the answer, don't be afraid to admit that you don't know.  It shows you're human, you recognize that you don't know everything, and that's okay.  Also, if you are asked a question and you don't understand the question being asked, don't get defensive; ask clarifying questions to make sure you understand so that you and your student can get on the same page and speak the same language.

5)  Speaking in a condescending manner to your students almost guarantees that they will shut you off.  It's a pretty good idea to avoid it.

Come to think of it, this is pretty good advice for speakers coming in to run staff development for teachers, as well, it turns out...

Let Me Be a Book Nerd for Just a Minute

September 8, 2015

When I woke up and looked on my Facebook feed first thing (yes, I'm addicted to social media), I saw that my favorite author, Margaret Atwood, was coming to Northern California for a speaking engagement.  ONE stop on her tour in all of California, and it's just three hours away.  This is the author of my all-time favorite book, The Handmaid's Tale, which is the topic of my Master's thesis in literature, and which I have introduced countless students to over the years in my AP Lit classes.  It combines dystopian fiction and feminism, two of my favorite things!  It has truly been one of the most influential books in my life. Naturally, I had to see if there was any way I could swing it to go.  I don't know that I'll ever have another opportunity like this, as I've never seen her tour anywhere around here before.  (I think typically she stays in Canada and the U.K., and possibly the East Coast for most of her speaking engagements.)

I think you know where I'm going with this.  I will be attending an event in October where she is promoting and speaking about her new book coming out.  My ticket grants me access to up-front seating, a copy of the new book, and priority place in line for the book signing afterward.  Seriously--I'm giddy!  In just over a month, I will get to meet Margaret Atwood!

Mommy-Daughter Manicure

September 7, 2015

More Sofa Shopping

September 6, 2015

So here it is:  We've settled on this fine piece of furniture (and its baby brother, the loveseat), to take up residence in our study.  Now we just have to wait a week or so for it to be delivered!

Sofa Shopping

September 5, 2015

We have finally decided to replace our sofa and love seat in the living room.  We will NOT be replacing them with this highlighter-yellow/green sofa.  How is this even a thing?

Cut Shot Plays Capo's

September 4, 2015

Such a fun night listening to Cut Shot play out at Capo's again tonight.  Unfortunately, the lights over the band's set up weren't working, so they were essentially playing in the dark.  This accounts for the poor quality of the photos, but we all had a great time anyway!

One Kid at a Time

September 3, 2015

Two interactions over the past couple of days that remind me why we're in the business of teaching:

1.  I introduced my College/Career Exploration Project in my senior classes.  They have to choose three institutions they might be interested in attending, and then look at aspects which might be decision-making factors for them: whether or not their intended major/focus is offered, location, cost, etc.  I tell them they can look at JCs, private colleges, UCs, military branches, CSUs, technical/trade schools, etc.  I had a kid come up to me after class to say he had no idea what the difference what among all of those things.  He didn't know what a JC was, had no idea what UC stands for.  He was thinking he'd just keep his same job that he has now for as long as he can.  His boss makes a lot of money owning his own business,  and he drives really nice cars.  I told him he's exactly the kid the project is designed for--to find out all the options he has.  I don't care if he chooses not to go to college, but I don't want him to not go just because he has no idea what his other options are.  He's going to research his current job to see what kind of salary and benefits he could earn as a full-time employee, and what growth opportunities there are, as well as other factors that might make it beneficial to stay in that job, such as flexible scheduling or vacation time.  He's also going to look at a junior college (which I explained to him), as well as a four year college with an emphasis in Business.  Whatever decision he ultimately makes, it will be with a little more understanding of all of his choices.

2.  I have an independent reading requirement in my classes.  I tell students that if they consider themselves non-readers, they just haven't met the right book that speaks to them yet.  So one of my students approached me and said he had never ever been interested in reading and wanted to know what I could suggest for him.  I asked him what his interests and past times were:  sports, biographies, history, documentaries.  So clearly we have a non-fiction kind of kid on our hands.  I went to my classroom library and pulled out 8 or 9 books that I thought might fit the bill and put them on his desk to peruse.  I was hoping one of them might pique his interest, but if not I'd dig around a little at home for more.  After about fifteen minutes we approached me again with five of the books in his hands.  He asked, "How do I check these out?  I didn't like the other ones, but all of these seem really interesting to me."  Typically, students only check out one at a time, but I was so excited that my 'non-reader' had found a few he wanted to at least try out that I didn't want to discourage him and showed him the process for checking out books from my library.  At the end of class, he approached me again and said, "I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate taking the time to talk to me and help me find a book.  No teacher has ever done that for me before.  I can tell you are really there for your students, and I am really excited about being in this class with you for senior year."

I mean forget the paycheck (metaphorically, people--let's not get carried away)--THIS is real teacher's pay.

Doin' a Little Happy Dance

September 2, 2015

I'm doing a little happy dance tonight because I just got the feedback on my first assignment for my class.

Donna,

Fantastic job on these. Your responses really area model of what I was expecting. You did a wonderful job of pulling out the main ideas of the readings and connecting them to your own experiences. I also really appreciate the thoughtful responses you gave to your colleagues.

Really well done.

So...yeah. I'm pretty stoked.  I mean, maybe she said the same thing to everyone, who knows.   But I'll take it!

I Love My Boy

September 1, 2015

Nicholas went away for the weekend with his girlfriend's family this past weekend, and he texted me to let me know he had seen something he just HAD to bring back for me.  I just love that he hasn't outgrown that incredibly endearing quality of random, spontaneous, unsolicited expressions of affection.