January 28, 2013

  • Best Advice.

    One of the best pieces of advice ever given to me was by an older history teacher at West Fargo Middle School. When I was doing my student teaching there, he told me to be a bitch to the students - my future high school students, that is - for the first month. Because otherwise, they would try to crush me. He said you can always go from mean to lenient, but going the other way around is almost impossible. So, I followed that for quite a few years.

    I don't know what the best advice is that I have given others. I have probably told my sister a million times to JUST WRITE THAT DAMN SCREENPLAY of hers already. I mean SHEESH. But wait, is that advice? No, probably not. Crap. Let me think...
    How about this: I've had friends who tend to be a little clingy when it comes to dating guys. After much of my own trial & error, I've noticed that you just need to ignore the guy - whether he's ignoring you or not - and do your own thing. This way, he starts to think, "Oh, crap, she's not calling me back; what is she up to?" AND you get to get more of your own cool stuff done. Like reading or napping or cooking or hanging out with your friends + wine. SO, long story short, my advice has been: IGNORE HIM & do your own thing.
    Ooooh, I just thought about another piece of advice that was given to me. A blogger-friend of mine once said, "It's not always about the boy." She meant that her life did not revolve around her man. I thought it was a nice, concise statement that meant A LOT.

January 27, 2013

  • give me an experience!

    Ya know what it was about the awesome teachers I had? 

    They gave their students an experience.
    It might not have been that they taught English or literature or composition, but a few of the great ones - to me - were those who came in and gave us an intriguing 50+ minutes. They were engaging. They were interesting even when the material - um, Dr. Cummings with Educational Psychology! - wasn't. They went off base and came back. Sometimes.
    I think it's hit me that I need to treat ALL my classes like they are Creative Writing ones. When I'd walk into that classroom last spring, I didn't have anxiety about covering X, Y, and Z. I knew I would. I knew we'd cover things eventually in that hour+, so I didn't focus on that. Sure, those students WANTED to be there. They WANTED to write weird stuff. I didn't have to sell them on the class, but that doesn't mean I have to assume that - or care - about my other classes, the required ones.
    I think it was two Fridays ago. In my 1pm class that is mostly John Deere guys I had in Eng105, I kind of just let go of getting in there and shooting right to X, Y, Z. Instead, we chatted and laughed and then I said, "Okay, here's what we should get to, how would you all like to accomplish these things?" They opted to skip a video and have something due IN class (less homework). Okay then. No biggie. No skin off my back. Yeah. It was nice. Sure, they aren't going to say, "Oh my goodness, I love writing and Sybil's great," but as a student - and teacher - who wants another thing to NOT look forward to? I don't. I have enough of those in the form of other things. My classes should be relaxed; that may aid the students in liking to write anyhow... maybe. And if not, at least my anxiety goes away & we still kind of have fun.
    The week ahead: 
    I don't think I have a meeting until Thursday = Assessment. And my 10am class has writing conferences M, T, R... and I have a car appt (had to reschedule from this last Monday due to being sick) on Tuesday afternoon up north. Plus, hopefully, this semi-leftover-cold will diminish completely, too. Yeah.

January 25, 2013

  • Maybe I should make a crown for tonight?

    From the blog, DESIGNLOVEFEST.

  • 36.

January 23, 2013

  • It didn't move; it's just hidden.

    Online English 120:

    Email me, for Hidden Bonus Points, with your imitation of "Life is like a box of chocolates" but in an argumentative-style. Example of what I mean: Arguments are like a box of ____. Or: Arguing is like cooking with three ingredients. Or: Controversial topics are like _____. Then explain your imitation in 9+ sentences. This Hidden Point is due the last Saturday of January.

January 18, 2013

  • My Very Own Words.

    Flabbergasted.


    1. I don't know where I first heard this, but I say it A LOT.
    2. Definition: to be shocked. From Dictionary.com: "to overcome with surprise and bewilderment; astound."
    3. Part of Speech: Verb!
    4. Roots or suffixes or prefixes? Root: flabbergast; suffix: -ed
    5. Etymology:  1772, mentioned (with bored) in a magazine article as a new vogue word, perhaps from some dialect (in 1823 flabbergast was noted as a Sussex word)
    6. I was flabbergasted that my students liked Lady Gaga.

    God.

    1. I'm sure I first heard it in a religious class long ago.
    2. Definition: the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe. OR. the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute: the God of Islam. OR.( lowercase  ) one of several deities, especially a male deity,presiding over some portion of worldly affairs.
    3. Part of Speech: Noun!
    4. Roots or suffixes or prefixes? N/A
    5. Etymology: Old English
    6. I don't know if I believe in god, but I try to be a good person regardless.

    Creative.

    1. I have been creative for a long time; I'm sure I heard the word as a kid.
    2. Definition: 1.having the quality or power of creating. OR .resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.;imaginative: creative writing. OR .originative; productive (usually followed by of  ).
    3. Part of Speech: Adjective!
    4. Roots or suffixes or prefixes? Root: create; suffix: -ive
    5. Etymology: 1670s, "having the quality of creating," from create + -ive. Of literature, "imaginative," from 1816, first attested in Wordsworth.
    6. I like to assign creative projects.

    Fun.

    1. It's everywhere!
    2. Definition: something that provides mirth or amusement: A picnic would befun. OR.enjoyment or playfulness: She's full of fun.
    3. Part of Speech: Noun!
    4. Roots or? N/A
    5. Middle English.
    6. Doesn't everyone like to have as much fun as possible?

    Crazy.

    1. Books.
    2. Definition: mentally deranged; demented; insane.OR.senseless; impractical; totally unsound: a crazy scheme. OR.Informal. intensely enthusiastic; passionately excited: crazy about baseball.
    3. Part of Speech: Adjective
    4. N/A
    5. 1570s, "diseased, sickly," from craze + -y (2). Meaning "full of cracks or flaws" is from 1580s
    6. She's crazy, but she's fun & makes people flabbergasted by her creative ideas.

  • My Top Five Favorite Things.

    Hmmm... this is my students' prompt for today.

    1. My BF. He is supportive of my creative, yet crazy ideas. Always. And he doesn't try to change me; I'm allowed to be messy and buy too many damn shoes. 
    2. Naps. Whenever I am stressed out, or have too much going on in my head, a nap always refreshes me. And sometimes, I'll dream up a better idea than the one I'm trying to implement. Plus, I think rest is just generally a good idea. Some people get sick because they don't take time to let their bodies rest. Dummies.
    3. Grey Goose. It's crisp, clear, and doesn't give me a stomach ache. Sure, it's expensive, but it's worth it.
    4. Pets. I have a cat right now and I really, REALLY, want a big dog. Like huge. Like St. Bernard huge. Or Great Dane huge. Yep.
    5. My niece. She's a riot.

January 16, 2013

  • Today's List:

    --- 10am's Professional Email Assignments
    --- 1pm's Professional Email Assignments
    --- 3pm's Professional Email Assignments
    --- 10am "Dear Me at 15" Prompt to assess/circle...
    --- Any other prompts to assess/circle? When should I hand those back with the Bonus Guide attached?
    --- Prep for 3pm class; what are they doing on Friday?
    --- Assessment Committee meets tomorrow; I need to read the reports.
    --- Leave a Hidden Point on here for my Online English 120 class.
    < Not my kitty.
    ... < My bipolar cat.

January 11, 2013

  • Just Playing With Ya.

    Sometimes, a person has to play around with stuff.Ya know?Like the image I found here: http://thatshappy.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-new-website-blog.html

  • Five Attributes.

    Prompt today:

    What five attributes did you get from your parents?
    I got my stubborn-ness from my dad, definitely. From him, as well, I gained this need to create things. He loves to build and rebuild and learn how to fix things in the house; I have that weird ability, too. I gained my looks from my mom, but when it comes to my insides, I'm more like my dad. He's the oldest in his family, he's a big reader, and he likes to watch football without being interrupted. :o )