I was sitting in a meeting today, a teacher meeting, learning new vocabulary strategies to try with students (which were actually the same vocabulary strategies you hear 100 times in the teaching profession, but presented each time in make-over fashion to look like the new cool thing in education), and the conversation among older teachers strayed from vocabulary to food. And, not just any food but sweet food... desserts, chocolate... indulgent foods. And, when asked by the vocabulary-strategy-teacher who was playing off their silliness to provide a "label" or theme to the group of "vocabulary" they were throwing around, these teachers came up with the following: escape, pleasure, happiness, indulge.
Dear Lord, please tell me that we do not bust our tails everyday, only to grow to look forward to chocolate? I mean, these ladies were borderline orgasmic at the table discussing their "escape" with chocolate.
And, can I just go ahead and put it out there that, that will NEVER be me.
I'm sure things change as we get older... I know they do... every year, I notice something new that is changing. But, I vow to myself never to become so comfortable, so settled, that I look forward to chocolate as my big thrill.
Travel. Now, that's an escape. An escape I don't take advantage of enough. An advantage, I plan to work on taking advantage of more often! I want to visit friends... and go out... and experience the places I live and where I am in my life, no matter the age. How can we get so busy or settled or old or detached in our lives that all of that thrill of living gets replaced with dessert?
To each his own, right? But, this girl chooses to "indulge" in something of a different flavor!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
WEAR your music...
Compliments of email alerts from Skirt! Magazine, I have discovered a fab new jewelry company that I feel I must bring to your attention. WearYourMusic.org
At Wear Your Music, you can buy bracelets made from the guitar strings of your favorite artists. From John Mayer, to Ani DiFranco, to Jack Johnson, to Willie Nelson... you can find a plethora of artist options. AND, proceeds go to charity.
You can't go wrong, here. Helping the world and supporting the artists you love. And, their trinkets do not stop with bracelets. Great idea, WearYourMusic.org
I say, Rock On!
What happened to our kids???
I teach high school English. And, I entered the profession to be a positive influence in the lives of children and to help them acquire and keep a respect, maybe even an interest, for literature and the arts. To say that maintaining these ideals isn't always easy in an actual classroom, would be an understatement. But, I am still hopeful... and, I still try to reach everyone with my passion for literature, 'life on paper' as I like to call it.
But, maintaining that passion is very hard when you read things like "he should have tooken..." in a SENIOR's essay. Yes, I teach seniors who still can't avoid writing things like "tooken" on their papers. I also had a student recently who began a formal essay on a Shakespeare play with, "See here, let me tell you something about my boy Macbeth..."
Why is this okay?? What happened to grammar in the lives of school children?
I have taken two years off of teaching, and this is my first year back after a stint in another industry. I taught previously in what some would consider a rough school, and it pains me to admit that even in a better a school and in a better school district, that I have noticed kids getting worse academically. Of course, there are the really strong students, but the college prep students I teach have a much different attitude towards school than I remember having when I was in their shoes.
So, in keeping with what seems to be the theme of 2009, we need a CHANGE America.
But, maintaining that passion is very hard when you read things like "he should have tooken..." in a SENIOR's essay. Yes, I teach seniors who still can't avoid writing things like "tooken" on their papers. I also had a student recently who began a formal essay on a Shakespeare play with, "See here, let me tell you something about my boy Macbeth..."
Why is this okay?? What happened to grammar in the lives of school children?
I have taken two years off of teaching, and this is my first year back after a stint in another industry. I taught previously in what some would consider a rough school, and it pains me to admit that even in a better a school and in a better school district, that I have noticed kids getting worse academically. Of course, there are the really strong students, but the college prep students I teach have a much different attitude towards school than I remember having when I was in their shoes.
So, in keeping with what seems to be the theme of 2009, we need a CHANGE America.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Just write...
I would love to be a writer. At least, that's what I like to tell myself. Sometimes I think about how wonderful it could be to leave behind this world of teaching school children (who often drive me completely nuts) and trade it in for the life of Carrie Bradshaw. You know... the column, the big city life, the shoes... I'll take all of that, please.
And, I have spurts of enthusiasm where I contact writer friends and actively seek freelance opportunities, but lately, that enthusiasm has taken a back seat to busy working days. Today, however, I've decided that needs to change. And, while I really do not expect (or want, necessarily) to begin writing for the New York Observer, I stumbled recently across an old gift from a very dear friend that made me realize I wanted to be writing again... regularly.
A Christmas or so ago, my sweet friend Erica gave me a journal, a gift that I still think of as one of my most favorite gifts... mainly because of the quote on the cover. (As someone who takes great pleasure in the insight on the side of a Starbucks cup, I am very much a 'quote' girl.) And, this quote, so simple, has reminded me to do again what I've always loved... "If you want to be a writer, write." Simple, huh? And, eye opening.
So, I have decided again, to write. Even if it is just silly, imperfect ranting. Even if it's a little ridiculous. But, I've decided to jump on this Internet bandwagon of blogging and send a voice out into the world. And, whatever it is... you can be sure that it won't be boring.
And, I have spurts of enthusiasm where I contact writer friends and actively seek freelance opportunities, but lately, that enthusiasm has taken a back seat to busy working days. Today, however, I've decided that needs to change. And, while I really do not expect (or want, necessarily) to begin writing for the New York Observer, I stumbled recently across an old gift from a very dear friend that made me realize I wanted to be writing again... regularly.
A Christmas or so ago, my sweet friend Erica gave me a journal, a gift that I still think of as one of my most favorite gifts... mainly because of the quote on the cover. (As someone who takes great pleasure in the insight on the side of a Starbucks cup, I am very much a 'quote' girl.) And, this quote, so simple, has reminded me to do again what I've always loved... "If you want to be a writer, write." Simple, huh? And, eye opening.
So, I have decided again, to write. Even if it is just silly, imperfect ranting. Even if it's a little ridiculous. But, I've decided to jump on this Internet bandwagon of blogging and send a voice out into the world. And, whatever it is... you can be sure that it won't be boring.
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