Hi everyone~
Very quick update since I need to go to bed so I can fight this cold/sore throat/sinus thingy I have currently. All I can say is thank goodness April vacation is on the way. I already have plans to visit the Cape to visit my favorite aunt and our favorite tea room, while also finding time to relax and correct any pending material.
On the school front, we are in the midst of MCAS, which seems to be going well. After the session today, I asked my students for their honest feedback on how they were doing, how prepared they felt (we did so many practice session and dissecting of open response writing I think they were ready), and what they could do better the next day. Keep your fingers crossed the next two days go smoothly.
Remember how I was saying I couldn't wait to be done with this year so I could go back to teaching at the high school level.... well, I'm ready to eat those words. I am having such a blast this year with my students, the staff, and the material. As each unit progresses, I find more exciting and challenging things to do and find myself looking forward to Monday mornings (go figure). I can't wait for next year so I can build on what I did this year and make it so much better. I think its official... I'm a proud middle school teacher (I never thought I would say that!!!!).
The next two months will be crazy. Lots of church stuff going on which Holy Week and then Easter, plus teaching, plus other personal stuff going on at home (nothing horrible, just interesting), and looking forward to end of June/early July since I'll be teaching the 6th grade session of Vacation Bible School at St. Anne's Parish (Doug's aunt helps run the program and asked me if I could volunteer!!!!).
I think that is pretty much it. I've been slacking again on my Thumbs Thursday but I promise to make an effort to get those started again. I'm even going to remind myself in my email calendar.
Hope all is well with everyone and wish you all a blessed Holy Week and Easter season~
Monday, April 6, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
In a funk....
Sorry everyone! I have been in a total funk so not in the mood to surf the net. Basically it is a combo of school burnout (MCAS are about a week away plus I'm swamped with correcting plus my little darlings would rather aggravate me than listen to me) and stumbling blocks on the house hunt.
I haven't been very vocal about our house search in fear that I would jink our attempts and also because we want to keep it on the downlow just in case things don't work out. However, I am tired of having no one to complain to (not including the DH.... he hears it all the time lol). We've put four offers in on four different houses since the New Year and they have all fallen through for some reason or other, which is very discouraging. We have our eye on one property right now in an older part of town (a cute ranch that needs a little TLC) which is quite different from the cute and charming capes we have been focused on (I have the dreams of living in my own cottage someday, right down to the beadboard in the dining room and a stone fireplace in the sitting room). This house that we have our eye on now does have alot of charm and potential in terms of my "cottage dream" so keep your fingers crossed.
I haven't been very vocal about our house search in fear that I would jink our attempts and also because we want to keep it on the downlow just in case things don't work out. However, I am tired of having no one to complain to (not including the DH.... he hears it all the time lol). We've put four offers in on four different houses since the New Year and they have all fallen through for some reason or other, which is very discouraging. We have our eye on one property right now in an older part of town (a cute ranch that needs a little TLC) which is quite different from the cute and charming capes we have been focused on (I have the dreams of living in my own cottage someday, right down to the beadboard in the dining room and a stone fireplace in the sitting room). This house that we have our eye on now does have alot of charm and potential in terms of my "cottage dream" so keep your fingers crossed.
Other than that, it has been pretty uneventful. Lent is flying by (as usual) and I am looking forward to Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Now that I am a Eucharist minister, I can sign up for these special events in the Church, which is very exciting!
In my class we have been working on our poetry unit. I am using a similar technique I used last year with my sophomores called TYPCASTT. It is a fun and interesting way to analyze poetry. Each letter stands for a different thing to look for in the poem:
T= Title (Write down what the poem is about based on the title only
Y= Your dictionary (look up any words you are not familar with)
P= Paraphrase (put poem in your own words)
C= Connotation (looks for poetic devices, imagery, symbolism, etc)
A= Attitude (The mood of the poem and tone of the speaker)
S= Shifts (Where does the poem change either in tone, topic, rhyme scheme, etc)
T= Title (Look at title again and write down what you think poem is about now)
T= Theme (What is the moral or lesson of this poem)
I'm sorry to say I don't know who originally created this amazing tool. My advisor last year at the high school I worked at gave it to me to use and I borrowed it again this year. Of course I have made it appropriate for middle schoolers and I don't expect them to get everything out of the poem. I am most interested in their paraphrasing because they have no idea how to put something in their own words!!!!! It has been a great activity in class. We finished our second poem yesterday (The Road Not Taken and Sonnet 18 we did as a class) and next week they will be working in groups of three to TYPCASTT a poem (I've selected 12 different poems for them to choose from) on their own. It should be fun!
Well, I'm going to get back to cleaning the apartment and finishing my tea and warm blueberry muffins I just made. Hubby is off to the golf course with our neighbor so I'm a single gal for the day. It is too early for me to start golfing... I need at least 60 degree weather!!!! Hopefully I'll be taking my pink clubs out very soon!!!!!
In my class we have been working on our poetry unit. I am using a similar technique I used last year with my sophomores called TYPCASTT. It is a fun and interesting way to analyze poetry. Each letter stands for a different thing to look for in the poem:
T= Title (Write down what the poem is about based on the title only
Y= Your dictionary (look up any words you are not familar with)
P= Paraphrase (put poem in your own words)
C= Connotation (looks for poetic devices, imagery, symbolism, etc)
A= Attitude (The mood of the poem and tone of the speaker)
S= Shifts (Where does the poem change either in tone, topic, rhyme scheme, etc)
T= Title (Look at title again and write down what you think poem is about now)
T= Theme (What is the moral or lesson of this poem)
I'm sorry to say I don't know who originally created this amazing tool. My advisor last year at the high school I worked at gave it to me to use and I borrowed it again this year. Of course I have made it appropriate for middle schoolers and I don't expect them to get everything out of the poem. I am most interested in their paraphrasing because they have no idea how to put something in their own words!!!!! It has been a great activity in class. We finished our second poem yesterday (The Road Not Taken and Sonnet 18 we did as a class) and next week they will be working in groups of three to TYPCASTT a poem (I've selected 12 different poems for them to choose from) on their own. It should be fun!
Well, I'm going to get back to cleaning the apartment and finishing my tea and warm blueberry muffins I just made. Hubby is off to the golf course with our neighbor so I'm a single gal for the day. It is too early for me to start golfing... I need at least 60 degree weather!!!! Hopefully I'll be taking my pink clubs out very soon!!!!!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thumbs Thursday
Hope everyone had a lovely Ash Wednesday! I know I did! I was asked to do the second reading at Mass last night and my cross came out really good. Not your typical smudge like most get. It was very dark and very defined. Thanks Father Art!
This has been a strange week so I may have more thumbs down than up. But I promise to always try to find at least one thing to be happy or grateful for.
Thumbs up:
Beginning of Lent: Like I mentioned earlier this week, I love this time of year. It is a time to draw closer to Jesus and to improve ourselves spiritually. Even my husband sees the difference in me and can appreciate how important this time of year is for me.
Last week of February: This has been the longest months of my life. I think it might also have to do with the vacation they took away from the students this month to make up for some of the snow days. All I can say is I'm looking forward to March and the beginning of Spring!
Thumbs down:
Not feeling 100%: I feel like this week my body has been fighting some sort of bug. My appetite has been off and the feeling that I'm going to be sick is not fun. No, I'm not expecting (let's nip that rumor in the bud!!!) I just think since I'm a teacher, I'm exposed to lots of gross little germs and this is one of them.
No February vacation: I know I shouldn't complain... Teachers and students do get two vacation this time of year. I will say, though, that they are well deserved. This time of year is extremely stressful with the MCAS exam just a month away, on top of everything else I'm trying to work on this year. It breaks up the month and helps give the students a final push towards the ELA portion of the test. Thank goodness its behind us and we survived that week.
Cancer: My mother-in-law's cancer has returned again (the "good" one, not the really bad one she fought back in '03) so that has been tough on the family. Luckily it is something she can take care of with only one day and night in the hospital, but it is still a hard thing to deal with every 6 months or so. We're praying that this will be the last time and that the doctors can find a more permanent solution.
Okay, back to correcting MCAS packets and then folding laundry. What a life I lead!!!!
This has been a strange week so I may have more thumbs down than up. But I promise to always try to find at least one thing to be happy or grateful for.
Thumbs up:
Beginning of Lent: Like I mentioned earlier this week, I love this time of year. It is a time to draw closer to Jesus and to improve ourselves spiritually. Even my husband sees the difference in me and can appreciate how important this time of year is for me.
Last week of February: This has been the longest months of my life. I think it might also have to do with the vacation they took away from the students this month to make up for some of the snow days. All I can say is I'm looking forward to March and the beginning of Spring!
Thumbs down:
Not feeling 100%: I feel like this week my body has been fighting some sort of bug. My appetite has been off and the feeling that I'm going to be sick is not fun. No, I'm not expecting (let's nip that rumor in the bud!!!) I just think since I'm a teacher, I'm exposed to lots of gross little germs and this is one of them.
No February vacation: I know I shouldn't complain... Teachers and students do get two vacation this time of year. I will say, though, that they are well deserved. This time of year is extremely stressful with the MCAS exam just a month away, on top of everything else I'm trying to work on this year. It breaks up the month and helps give the students a final push towards the ELA portion of the test. Thank goodness its behind us and we survived that week.
Cancer: My mother-in-law's cancer has returned again (the "good" one, not the really bad one she fought back in '03) so that has been tough on the family. Luckily it is something she can take care of with only one day and night in the hospital, but it is still a hard thing to deal with every 6 months or so. We're praying that this will be the last time and that the doctors can find a more permanent solution.
Okay, back to correcting MCAS packets and then folding laundry. What a life I lead!!!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ash Wednesday
Off to get my ashes! Hope everyone is having a blessed Ash Wednesday. Update tomorrow!Tuesday, February 24, 2009
What a couple of days its been....
Hi everyone!!! Internet has been a pest the last few days. Last Wednesday-Friday we didn't have it at all and the last two days it has been touch and go. I figured while it was still working I would try to get out a quick post.
I was home sick today from school. It bummed me out since we were going to start our poetry and figurative language unit today. The students worked on some intro material, including a poetry pretest and a intro packet to figurative language. I'm hoping to go over those tomorrow and then go forward.
Happy Shrove Tuesday, or as some of you might know it better as Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. I don't know why but I always look forward to Lent and Easter so much. Ever since I joined the Catholic church almost two years ago, I can't help but get excited about the journey the next 40 days will bring.
Some of you may be interested in what I am choosing to "give up" for Lent. I know there are many people who feel we shouldn't share this information but since I am always so interested to hear what others are doing this time of year, I will tell you mine. First, I am starting a swear jar. It is a horrible habit and unbecoming of a lady. Do you think the Blessed Mother swore when she got frustrated or upset... I don't think so. So since she is one of my religious role models (along with my patron saint, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton), I wanted to try to change something in my life so I can be closer to them. Every time I swear, I put any spare change or bills in the jar. At the end of Lent, I will donate the money to Catholic Relief Services.
In addition to giving up, I like to take up a couple of things to bring me closer to Jesus. Every year I read from the "Little Black Book", a devotional that I spoke about last year during Lent. I also have added daily scripture reading from the women's devotional Bible I got this winter. I hope to start my day with reading a chapter of both the old and new testament and the devotional passage that goes along with it. Of course I intend on doing the normal Catholic things I always do: penance at least once during Lent if not more, Eucharist Adoration, Wednesday night Mass, and following all fasting and abstinence obligations.
I also forgot to mention that my application to become a Eucharist minister was approved and I begin training next month! I have been added to the schedule to participate in the Mass and my hope is that I will be one of the E.M. participating at the Easter Vigil, since that is a special night for me.
Okay, I'm off to work on some correcting and cleaning this apartment a little. That always makes me feel better after I've been sick!
I was home sick today from school. It bummed me out since we were going to start our poetry and figurative language unit today. The students worked on some intro material, including a poetry pretest and a intro packet to figurative language. I'm hoping to go over those tomorrow and then go forward.
Happy Shrove Tuesday, or as some of you might know it better as Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. I don't know why but I always look forward to Lent and Easter so much. Ever since I joined the Catholic church almost two years ago, I can't help but get excited about the journey the next 40 days will bring.
Some of you may be interested in what I am choosing to "give up" for Lent. I know there are many people who feel we shouldn't share this information but since I am always so interested to hear what others are doing this time of year, I will tell you mine. First, I am starting a swear jar. It is a horrible habit and unbecoming of a lady. Do you think the Blessed Mother swore when she got frustrated or upset... I don't think so. So since she is one of my religious role models (along with my patron saint, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton), I wanted to try to change something in my life so I can be closer to them. Every time I swear, I put any spare change or bills in the jar. At the end of Lent, I will donate the money to Catholic Relief Services.
In addition to giving up, I like to take up a couple of things to bring me closer to Jesus. Every year I read from the "Little Black Book", a devotional that I spoke about last year during Lent. I also have added daily scripture reading from the women's devotional Bible I got this winter. I hope to start my day with reading a chapter of both the old and new testament and the devotional passage that goes along with it. Of course I intend on doing the normal Catholic things I always do: penance at least once during Lent if not more, Eucharist Adoration, Wednesday night Mass, and following all fasting and abstinence obligations.
I also forgot to mention that my application to become a Eucharist minister was approved and I begin training next month! I have been added to the schedule to participate in the Mass and my hope is that I will be one of the E.M. participating at the Easter Vigil, since that is a special night for me.
Okay, I'm off to work on some correcting and cleaning this apartment a little. That always makes me feel better after I've been sick!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Monday night excitement
As you may know, I'm a bit obsessed with The Bachelor. It is the only thing I look forward to on Mondays! This week it is down to the top three which happen to be my favorite three of the season. I've been rooting for these girls since day one so I'm excited to see which two Jason sees a future with. I will say gut-wise I think Melissa will be going home. Jason has yet to meet her parents (which he said was important to him) and I feel she is the less mature one of the three. I could be totally off base but that is my guess. We'll have to wait four more hours to see!
Anyways, back to finishing up 2nd term grades and then relaxing because I cleaned the apartment top to bottom!!!
Anyways, back to finishing up 2nd term grades and then relaxing because I cleaned the apartment top to bottom!!!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Happy Belated Valentine's Day and my last thumbs post
Hi everyone!!!! Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day :-) My honey and I celebrated with a visit to one of my favorite tearooms and I was surprised with a beautiful bouquet of red long stem roses. I'm so spoiled! We had a wonderful day and relaxed last night together on the sofa. We are such an old married couple lol!
Today was another busy day... visited my mom and poor Rosie got swollen eye while we were there :-(. We are keeping an eye on it and hopefully its nothing serious. Did some stuff around the house today (laundry, sweeping, and other wifely things) and then corrected some quizzes from Thursday while the boys (Dougie and his buddy next door) played video games.
Now my thumbs post from Thursday that I completely forgot about (I have my reasons but you'll have to wait and see!!!)
Thumbs up:
* Girl Scout cookie time: Got my girl scout cookies this week and just the right time. This has been the week from you know where so I'm been munching my stress away. My favorites are the Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Lemonades. Yum!
* Grading is just about done: Term 2 ended last week and I have all but one class entered. I just have to finish averaging grades and then I'm good to go!
*My new pink and green skirt I won on Ebay from a fellow blogger: It looks like it needs to be altered (darn my petite frame) but I can't wait to wear it. A perfect spring/summer skirt! It will look so cute with a pink cardigan and white cami!
Thumbs down:
*Full moons/School vacations that are taken away: Kiddies out of control this week. I think its a combination of a full moon and that our February vacation was taken away to make up for snow days this past December. Either way, so glad that the week is over and next week is a short week (yay President's Day!!!)
Anyways, off to get ready for bed and enjoying one more day off!
Today was another busy day... visited my mom and poor Rosie got swollen eye while we were there :-(. We are keeping an eye on it and hopefully its nothing serious. Did some stuff around the house today (laundry, sweeping, and other wifely things) and then corrected some quizzes from Thursday while the boys (Dougie and his buddy next door) played video games.
Now my thumbs post from Thursday that I completely forgot about (I have my reasons but you'll have to wait and see!!!)
Thumbs up:
* Girl Scout cookie time: Got my girl scout cookies this week and just the right time. This has been the week from you know where so I'm been munching my stress away. My favorites are the Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Lemonades. Yum!
* Grading is just about done: Term 2 ended last week and I have all but one class entered. I just have to finish averaging grades and then I'm good to go!
*My new pink and green skirt I won on Ebay from a fellow blogger: It looks like it needs to be altered (darn my petite frame) but I can't wait to wear it. A perfect spring/summer skirt! It will look so cute with a pink cardigan and white cami!
Thumbs down:
*Full moons/School vacations that are taken away: Kiddies out of control this week. I think its a combination of a full moon and that our February vacation was taken away to make up for snow days this past December. Either way, so glad that the week is over and next week is a short week (yay President's Day!!!)
Anyways, off to get ready for bed and enjoying one more day off!
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