love these, from anthropologie!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
thunder thighs
oh, my goodness. I just measured the circumference of my right thigh and compared it to Wayne's. Mine is an inch bigger than his! 0_0
Monday, April 11, 2011
Act 1, Scene 5--ACTION!
Today my students put on a relatively quickly-prepared performance of Act 1, Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet (the party scene in which Romeo and Juliet meet). We spent a couple of days last week in reading, interpreting, and blocking the scene. I sent them home with masks to complete as homework, and today I taught them a simple Elizabethan dance (to the tune of "Love Story" by Taylor Swift) before we put the whole scene in motion. Sounds like a fun activity, right? But honestly, I was dreading this day all weekend.
I really had no idea how it would turn out, as some of my kids LOVE this unit and others look like they want to stab their eyes out. It's one thing to passively sit there and take notes or work on a handout, but it's another when a teacher asks you to get up out of your seat and DO something... to speak out... and to DANCE, even. So I had my apprehensions about today. There would be so much to juggle and so many students to win over.
First period was kind of a chaotic mess, as it is many times, because it's the first time I'm going through my lesson and I'm still figuring things out. Just like birth order, though, my first period class is like the first born, generally fairly compliant and will go along with anything I come up with, so it's not usually a problem. While my transitions were rough and the kids stumbled through their parts, we bumbled through together and students enjoyed the activity.
Third is my middle child--more rebellious, unpredictable, and sometimes more attitude, but also my class with some of the most talent. I was worried that they'd roll their eyes at the dance and then just sit there when it was time to perform. Surprisingly, they ALL participated in the dance, and I do believe I detected smiles and even laughter. :) They're also the ones who came up with having two boys play Romeo and Juliet (since I taught them that's how Shakespeare did it in the old days), which made for one of the more interesting scenes of the day.
Seventh, oh, seventh. They definitely are the "baby" of my scholastic family--they make more noise, they demand more of my attention, and there needs to be more structure and rules in place. But they are fun and full of life, and just like real babies-of-the-family, they hold a special spot in my heart. Still, I am always wary and apprehensive about new lessons that give them more freedom. I'm afraid they're going to go crazy. Today had potential to be one of those days, but all in all, I'd have to say that they were pretty good. Yes, they had to be reined in--many times. But the fact that I can actually REIN THEM IN is such a contrast to the beginning of the year, and such a huge praise!
Oh, and my Honors? I never talk about them, because they are so good, but I really should. They are all so excited each day to learn more Shakespeare! "Mrs. To, are we going to read more Romeo and Juliet today??" "Mrs. To, I know you didn't assign it yet, but I finished reading the rest of the act, and it was so good!" An educator's DREAM, I tell you! I was so impressed by their masks and the effort they put into dancing and acting their scene! I even heard squeals of, "This was the best class ever!" as some of them left for the next period. Oh, Honors... I am so blessed to have you.
So I would rate Act 1, Scene 5 as a relative success. Phew! In the end, I have to keep my eye on my overall goal and objective. Are my students understanding Shakespeare more because they are EXPERIENCING it, instead of just reading it? Are they engaged in the activities which will, in turn, hook them into studying the play? Are they connecting the themes in Romeo and Juliet to real life and able to see how those themes develop within the play? Hm, a pretty tall order. I would say that I'm definitely doing my best to fill it. Act 1, Scene 5 was not the complete disaster that I was afraid of, and there were definite moments of success, so I'll take it!
Now just four more acts to go.................
I really had no idea how it would turn out, as some of my kids LOVE this unit and others look like they want to stab their eyes out. It's one thing to passively sit there and take notes or work on a handout, but it's another when a teacher asks you to get up out of your seat and DO something... to speak out... and to DANCE, even. So I had my apprehensions about today. There would be so much to juggle and so many students to win over.
First period was kind of a chaotic mess, as it is many times, because it's the first time I'm going through my lesson and I'm still figuring things out. Just like birth order, though, my first period class is like the first born, generally fairly compliant and will go along with anything I come up with, so it's not usually a problem. While my transitions were rough and the kids stumbled through their parts, we bumbled through together and students enjoyed the activity.
Third is my middle child--more rebellious, unpredictable, and sometimes more attitude, but also my class with some of the most talent. I was worried that they'd roll their eyes at the dance and then just sit there when it was time to perform. Surprisingly, they ALL participated in the dance, and I do believe I detected smiles and even laughter. :) They're also the ones who came up with having two boys play Romeo and Juliet (since I taught them that's how Shakespeare did it in the old days), which made for one of the more interesting scenes of the day.
Seventh, oh, seventh. They definitely are the "baby" of my scholastic family--they make more noise, they demand more of my attention, and there needs to be more structure and rules in place. But they are fun and full of life, and just like real babies-of-the-family, they hold a special spot in my heart. Still, I am always wary and apprehensive about new lessons that give them more freedom. I'm afraid they're going to go crazy. Today had potential to be one of those days, but all in all, I'd have to say that they were pretty good. Yes, they had to be reined in--many times. But the fact that I can actually REIN THEM IN is such a contrast to the beginning of the year, and such a huge praise!
Oh, and my Honors? I never talk about them, because they are so good, but I really should. They are all so excited each day to learn more Shakespeare! "Mrs. To, are we going to read more Romeo and Juliet today??" "Mrs. To, I know you didn't assign it yet, but I finished reading the rest of the act, and it was so good!" An educator's DREAM, I tell you! I was so impressed by their masks and the effort they put into dancing and acting their scene! I even heard squeals of, "This was the best class ever!" as some of them left for the next period. Oh, Honors... I am so blessed to have you.
So I would rate Act 1, Scene 5 as a relative success. Phew! In the end, I have to keep my eye on my overall goal and objective. Are my students understanding Shakespeare more because they are EXPERIENCING it, instead of just reading it? Are they engaged in the activities which will, in turn, hook them into studying the play? Are they connecting the themes in Romeo and Juliet to real life and able to see how those themes develop within the play? Hm, a pretty tall order. I would say that I'm definitely doing my best to fill it. Act 1, Scene 5 was not the complete disaster that I was afraid of, and there were definite moments of success, so I'll take it!
Now just four more acts to go.................
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
"In fair Verona, where we lay our scene..."
My beautiful poster... that I spent WAY too much time on. It does help my kids remember who's who while we're reading and what the characters are like, though! Now the challenge is to get them to remember that it is PRINCE ESCALUS, and not P. Diddy, who seeks peace in his kingdom!
(notice the stars for our star-crossed lovers! those were added at 3am!)
(notice the stars for our star-crossed lovers! those were added at 3am!)
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Lucy, OFF!
We've been suspecting for a while, after noticing little leaves and spots of dirt on the upholstery... but this confirms it.
and again, in Ricky Ricardo voice, "Lucy, you've got some 'splainin to do!"
and again, in Ricky Ricardo voice, "Lucy, you've got some 'splainin to do!"
Saturday, February 12, 2011
to write or not to write, that is the question...
My students are finding me on the interwebs, which is why I haven't been posting and why I've blocked my blog for the present. As someone who wears her heart on her sleeve and loves to share (NEEDS to share), it's been difficult to view my blog as a place for just partial divulgence. I mean, teaching is practically my life right now; how do I not write about it? And writing has always been a means of catharsis; how do I not rely on it now as I grow through one of the toughest challenges I've ever faced?
I wish blogger had a way of hiding certain posts while making others public, like livejournal, but until then (which, according my research, will most likely be never) I am probably best off deleting all my harsh posts about teaching, and move forward with a more filtered approach.
I don't have the heart to do this just yet... those struggles are a part of me and my growth. So until then, I'll keep my blog private (email me if you want to be added to my readers list), and copy certain posts over to Facebook, which is where most of "my readership" is from anyway. (I use "my readership" loosely as a concise way of referring to those who may casually encounter my posts, not because I am so conceited to believe I have any sort of a following... though by adding this parenthetical comment, I have already negated all my intentions of being concise in the first place).
I wish blogger had a way of hiding certain posts while making others public, like livejournal, but until then (which, according my research, will most likely be never) I am probably best off deleting all my harsh posts about teaching, and move forward with a more filtered approach.
I don't have the heart to do this just yet... those struggles are a part of me and my growth. So until then, I'll keep my blog private (email me if you want to be added to my readers list), and copy certain posts over to Facebook, which is where most of "my readership" is from anyway. (I use "my readership" loosely as a concise way of referring to those who may casually encounter my posts, not because I am so conceited to believe I have any sort of a following... though by adding this parenthetical comment, I have already negated all my intentions of being concise in the first place).
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
jet lag..........
And I thought I was impervious. With a touch of smugness, I even proclaimed to Wayne, who gets disoriented after daylight savings (!), that jet lag never really gets to me. But look who's sleeping like a rock and who is up blogging in the wee hours of the morning. And this is NOT part of my usual up-with-the-birds routine. It's 5:48am, and I haven't slept a wink.
Tomorrow/Today is a big day too... I'm visiting Steph and Steve and Noelle with Angela in the morning, driving out to SF with her and stopping off at the outlets first, then hanging out with Colleen, then Natalie in Fremont, then Jessie, Debbie, and Karen in the evening for dinner... then driving home.
I apologize to my friends if I am a zombie tomorrow/today.
(look at this cute zombie I found.)
Monday, November 29, 2010
(almost) famous.
Look who's the first to pop up in Google images when you type in "right to bear arms costume"??
Wayne's also featured in someone else's blog post about last minute costume ideas!
Too funny!!
Wayne's also featured in someone else's blog post about last minute costume ideas!
Too funny!!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
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