http://www.mylifetime.com/lifestyle/health/diet-nutrition/meet-dawn-jackson-blatner-rd-ldn
Please see the link below!! I will toot her horn since she is family and she is fabulous!! This is my sister-in-law who is the registered dietician for www.mylifetime.com - and does the commercial break Keri heath and beauty tips on the new lifetime show How to Look Good Naked...way to go Dawn!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Making connections...
Recently I worked with two really dynamic english teachers on an integrated unit between their english 12 class and my Working with Young Children class (a career and tech ed class). The idea was for both classes to see how what they are learning in each individual class applies elsewhere... Their students learned about the growth and development of 4-5 year olds (especially social and emotional growth) and the importance of reading to children from my students, and then took that information as they created (wrote and illustrated!) their own children's book that they later read to the preschool children in my program. It was AWESOME! It also emphasized the importance of allowing students to see HOW what they learn in the classroom can be used in both the real world and their own lives. Isn't that what we all want? To make connections of some kind between what we are doing and learning and our own lives? I think back to high school and realize that part of my struggle was that I was not able to see how what I was learning was applicable to me or my life.......I wasn't able to make connections (for whatever reason, whether it be lack of opportunity or that I just would have rather talked all class period) in a way that encouraged me to try harder to make my education meaningful to my current or future life...I learned in a box - english in english class, math in math class, and the only other time I saw the applicability and importance of say, math, was when I was applying for colleges and they looked on my transcript, gave a shrug, and said, "not mathematically inclined? you will have to take a basic math class since you did so poorly in high school ." Fantastic.... I now see math everywhere - at work, home, when I cook, paint, hang paintings - need I go on? Why can't we help kids make those CONNECTIONS NOW?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Time....
Where has time gone? I cannot believe that my two babies are almost 5 (Mason) and close to 3 (Madeline)...I recently found these pictures and realize how precious time is AND how quickly life moves....amazing...A book club, really?
So the other day I received an invitation from my friend/school librarian...there was a meeting for a new staff book club during lunch...my curiosity was piqued as my first reaction was that this would provide me with an adult with which to have a conversation on a campus that is incredibly disaggregated and lacks the group/staff cohesion and team spirit that my last school did.
In any case, I showed up along with about 10 other teachers and we discussed what books would make for a great discussion, but that wasn't incredibly "heavy". It dawned on my as we were discussing that I hadn't read a REAL adult book in quite some time..In fact, I realized that my only contributions would be suggestions related to children's books I read during our bedtime routine, the daily newspaper and an occasional People magazine. Later as I talked to my mom and dad she commented that they had both laughed initially at my crazy inclination to take on yet another obligation...after all, I work full time (as in 6:30-3:30 +), am now working out in the AM (as in 5-6 AM) and am also a full time mom with endless triumphs and tragedies...was she right?
I have come to realize that it is a part of who I am to bite off more than I can chew....join one too many committees, attend one to many meetings, say "yes" to one too many people, the list goes on. HOWEVER, when I sat down and thought about it, most of my day is spent DOING things for OTHER people. Whether it is getting lunches prepared (some of the time, I won't steal Steve's thunder), answering my students demands (all saying "miss" at the same time, needing me for some kind of reassurance or troubleshooting), answering emails from other people, picking up my kids, dinner, my day is about everyone else but me. So is a book club going to take more time that I don't necessarily have? is it a bit ambitious? of course, but it is for ME. It gives me time to talk with other adults and attempt to move beyond Dr. Seuss and David Shannon books ( ala bedtime routines). The club is more about being with people and less about what I actually read.
Now, I am off to read. :)
In any case, I showed up along with about 10 other teachers and we discussed what books would make for a great discussion, but that wasn't incredibly "heavy". It dawned on my as we were discussing that I hadn't read a REAL adult book in quite some time..In fact, I realized that my only contributions would be suggestions related to children's books I read during our bedtime routine, the daily newspaper and an occasional People magazine. Later as I talked to my mom and dad she commented that they had both laughed initially at my crazy inclination to take on yet another obligation...after all, I work full time (as in 6:30-3:30 +), am now working out in the AM (as in 5-6 AM) and am also a full time mom with endless triumphs and tragedies...was she right?
I have come to realize that it is a part of who I am to bite off more than I can chew....join one too many committees, attend one to many meetings, say "yes" to one too many people, the list goes on. HOWEVER, when I sat down and thought about it, most of my day is spent DOING things for OTHER people. Whether it is getting lunches prepared (some of the time, I won't steal Steve's thunder), answering my students demands (all saying "miss" at the same time, needing me for some kind of reassurance or troubleshooting), answering emails from other people, picking up my kids, dinner, my day is about everyone else but me. So is a book club going to take more time that I don't necessarily have? is it a bit ambitious? of course, but it is for ME. It gives me time to talk with other adults and attempt to move beyond Dr. Seuss and David Shannon books ( ala bedtime routines). The club is more about being with people and less about what I actually read.
Now, I am off to read. :)
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Oh how I relate....
A teacher friend emailed this to me...as a teacher myself, I was amazed at how close Jeff Foxworthy was (as much as he irritates me)... I color coded the ones I most relate to!
2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something
3. You walk into a store and hear the words "It's Ms/Mr. _________" and know you have been spotted
4. You have 25 people that accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another
5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes.
6. You've trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day: lunch and prep period
7. You start saving other people's trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom
8. You believe the teachers' lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine
9. You want to slap the next person who says "Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off
10. You believe chocolate is a food group
11. You can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside
12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, "Boy, the kids sure are mellow today"
13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public
14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin
15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form
16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.
17. You can't pass the school supply aisle without getting at least five items
18. You ask your friends if the left hand turn he just made was a "good choice or a bad choice."
19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils
20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer and, finally
21. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents. (YES YES YES!!)
Jeff Foxworthy's Take on Teachers
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TEACHER?
1. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something
3. You walk into a store and hear the words "It's Ms/Mr. _________" and know you have been spotted
4. You have 25 people that accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another
5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes.
6. You've trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day: lunch and prep period
7. You start saving other people's trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom
8. You believe the teachers' lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine
9. You want to slap the next person who says "Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off
10. You believe chocolate is a food group
11. You can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside
12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, "Boy, the kids sure are mellow today"
13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public
14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin
15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form
16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.
17. You can't pass the school supply aisle without getting at least five items
18. You ask your friends if the left hand turn he just made was a "good choice or a bad choice."
19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils
20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer and, finally
21. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents. (YES YES YES!!)
Monday, January 7, 2008
Christmas 2007
Some pictures from our visit with Steve's brother, wife and son....and of course my M&M....
Work, Work and more Work
It occurred to me this week that keeping my blog up to date might be a little harder than I thought. I created my blog with the intention of adding at least weekly...however, I chose a horrid week to begin! I decided to take this journey the day my school was let out for "holiday" (tsk, tsk) break, 3 days after closing on our new house, 5 days before we would start to move, and the day family came to town to visit...I seem to have a problem with being overly ambitious...
In any case, it is a new year and I resolve to add weekly to my blog...so today I begin.
Being home for two weeks over Christmas was wonderful less the constant movement in and out of our new house, in and out of our rental and between trying to entertain a 4 and 2 year old who were contstantly antagonizing each other and begging for attention. I became one of the many moms who turned on the TV out of sheer desperation to get SOMETHING, anything accomplished. I felt pangs of guilt when I looked up and an hour had gone by with little griping or whining but as my children sat lifeless with their mouths draped open as they watched the same episode of Spongebob Squarepants...again...
However, we were able to move in completely, paint 3 rooms and unpack 95% of what we owned. Mason chose "schoolboy blue" for his room, and Madeline, via me, chose "lemon butter" yellow which gave Steve and I both headaches while we painted (or at least while I edged - my job in the painting process). A bit bright, I might regret this color since it invokes panic and rapid heartbeat as you enter the room.
As my first day back to "the real world" approached, I began to panic as I thought of all of the work I had not done. I function by lists. Lots of lists, post its, and things I can check off...it gives me 100% satisfaction (and is the butt of many jokes among my co workers and fellow teachers) to be able to check off all that I have to do... The list I had created on the last day before break had gone untouched and I knew I would pay the price! I still hadn't graded finals, hadn't reviewed the two resumes emailed to me by my students (what students do work over break anyway?), regrouped my students in hours 1-4, run copies, gone to the store for dry pasta needed for an activity for the preschoolers...gawd....
It is Monday - back to work, and as the reality of being a teacher and mom to 100+ students during the day, mom to M & M at home, and wife to my poor husband who somehow puts up with it all has set it. By 6:45 am I have completed 2 items on my list (note: I am the first in the school parking lot this AM -what is wrong with me :). Off to inservice today. Somehow, like every other day, it will all get done and I won't know how I did it. I will still be able to kiss my kids at night before bed....read them a book...talk about school and know that I am truly happy.
In any case, it is a new year and I resolve to add weekly to my blog...so today I begin.
Being home for two weeks over Christmas was wonderful less the constant movement in and out of our new house, in and out of our rental and between trying to entertain a 4 and 2 year old who were contstantly antagonizing each other and begging for attention. I became one of the many moms who turned on the TV out of sheer desperation to get SOMETHING, anything accomplished. I felt pangs of guilt when I looked up and an hour had gone by with little griping or whining but as my children sat lifeless with their mouths draped open as they watched the same episode of Spongebob Squarepants...again...
However, we were able to move in completely, paint 3 rooms and unpack 95% of what we owned. Mason chose "schoolboy blue" for his room, and Madeline, via me, chose "lemon butter" yellow which gave Steve and I both headaches while we painted (or at least while I edged - my job in the painting process). A bit bright, I might regret this color since it invokes panic and rapid heartbeat as you enter the room.
As my first day back to "the real world" approached, I began to panic as I thought of all of the work I had not done. I function by lists. Lots of lists, post its, and things I can check off...it gives me 100% satisfaction (and is the butt of many jokes among my co workers and fellow teachers) to be able to check off all that I have to do... The list I had created on the last day before break had gone untouched and I knew I would pay the price! I still hadn't graded finals, hadn't reviewed the two resumes emailed to me by my students (what students do work over break anyway?), regrouped my students in hours 1-4, run copies, gone to the store for dry pasta needed for an activity for the preschoolers...gawd....
It is Monday - back to work, and as the reality of being a teacher and mom to 100+ students during the day, mom to M & M at home, and wife to my poor husband who somehow puts up with it all has set it. By 6:45 am I have completed 2 items on my list (note: I am the first in the school parking lot this AM -what is wrong with me :). Off to inservice today. Somehow, like every other day, it will all get done and I won't know how I did it. I will still be able to kiss my kids at night before bed....read them a book...talk about school and know that I am truly happy.
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