Miscellaneous Missives

I finished off November by taking care of the Christmas cards.  It's a big deal to get Christmas cards ready to go by the beginning of December.  Although I'm not super happy with the card, it does look better than the screen shot.  Next year I will do better getting pictures of myself to use on the annual card, but I say this each and every year.  It doesn't matter; my cards are finished (well, as soon as I buy festive stamps and put them in the mail).  By the way, I think I did a good job holding up the brags in November if that isn't bragging too much.

"If I seem to boast more than is becoming, my excuse that I brag for humanity rather than for myself."                 ~Henry David Thoreau Today is Small Business Saturday, and most of the small businesses we entered were full of humanity.  It seems people understand the importance of supporting the neighborhood stores.  I love this day because I actually get the majority of my shopping completed.  Not only did I purchase gifts for others, I took care of myself.  Each year I buy myself an ornament for the tree.  This year I found the BEST ornament ever!  It is ADORABLE.  Once you saw the picture, I know you became a bit envious, and I apologize because I acquired the last one.  Better yet, I used my Chinook Book coupon which is something that also supports small businesses.  Did you see my cute reindeer ornament?

Sometimes I sit down to blog with no real purpose.  I merely hope something will come to my mind.  This bragging stuff is challenging (brag challenge... get it?... I'm good, and I'm not just bragging... get it?).  Anyway, when I thinking about the bragging stuff being challenging, it made me think, "It's not easy being green."  Since I've been negligent taking pictures for my blog, I googled Kermit Bragging... I don't recommend this because some are distasteful, but I thought this one was fitting. This morning I awoke  bit sore from the small stations from yesterday's walk.  Instead of getting down on myself, I decided I needed to attend some strength training classes.  I'll brag about this when it actually happens, but then it could be a new month and a new challenge. More importantly, I not only had a coffee engagement this morning, I also have a dinner engagement this evening which means I must be fairly special.  Actually, coffee this m...

"You have to give yourself credit, not too much because that would be bragging." ~Frank Mc Court, Teacher Man My dear friend and I took to the Mall of America this morning for the Thanksgiving Walk to End Hunger.  A fitness group (can't remember the name) had certain stops along the way for push-ups, burpees, squats, lunges, etc.  It made it a little more strenuous but not too strenuous.  More importantly, we were able to talk and catch up on anything and everything. Another one of my goals today was to decorate for Christmas, and I would like to say that it is finished.  I, however, was "one of those people" and shopped on Thanksgiving since one of my light strands did not work, and I wanted to get my tree up and decorated.  Sorry folks!  I am certainly not bragging and/or proud of this.  Did I mention I'm finished with my Christmas decorating?

I'm not sure what happened, but I've found it difficult to get to the gym (or do any physical exercise this month).  Today I worked my little butt off on school work trying to figure out and organize my fable/trickster story unit.  It seems insane since I'm doing much of the same stuff I did last year, but I'm also changing my Notebook Files to Google Presentations.  The truth is that it's tedious.  It's so tedious that when the alarm went off on my phone for spin class (as it has at least three times a week all month and for other classes too), I didn't delete it.  No, I actually put the computer away and went to get my spin clothes.  I'm serious.  I went to spin class today.  Plus, when I returned from class, I even swept all the leaves out of my garage before parking my car.  Is this amazing or what?  Should the garage have been cleaned out a week ago?  Yes.  Should I have been working out all of November?  Yes. ...

Chris Crutcher I adore him! Let's be honest people.  I had the best convention day ever.  My morning started bright and early with a 7am ALAN breakfast with Chris Crutcher .  When I returned from getting coffee (more), he was leaving the conference room.  I stopped him and thanked him for letting me laugh, cry, and listen to the F word all before 9:00... love this guy.  Next, I listened to a session on Hip Hop and LA which was amazing.  This was followed by a great connected learning session. Since my morning was going splendid, I went to the Hilton restaurant as I had for the last two days to enjoy a cup of wild rice soup and recharge my devices.  Jim Burke was sitting at the table next to me.  He had posted an article by Ta-Nehisi Coates earlier in the day.  I waited for him to finish eating and look like he was getting ready to leave, then stopped to tell him that he had cost me money over the years from his books to today's need t...

Last night I had the opportunity to show off my city of Minneapolis.  First thing in the morning, I ran into a guy I met while presenting at NWP (National Writing Project) in Birmingham.  We talked briefly about the sessions we planned to attend.  It seemed both of us were going to attend the Black Lives Matter presentation that included Linda Christensen .  Since he was from Oklahoma, I asked him if he was aware of what was happening in Minneapolis and mentioned that I planned on taking fire wood and blankets to the peaceful protest (emphasizing peaceful) at the 4th Precinct .  After a brief conversation, we decided to go together.  Although I was not proud of the police tactics and refusal to release the tapes, I was proud to show off Downtown and Uptown Minneapolis.  More importantly, I was also proud of our United States Congressman Keith Ellison for being part of the protest and speaking to the people and happy that my visitor to this great cit...

"It's not bragging if you can back it up."  ~Muhammed Ali Today I am preparing to go downtown for the NCTE Annual Convention, and I'm excited.  It, however, has not been an easy process.  In early September, I emailed a former colleague and asked her if she would sub these two days of the convention.  She agreed.  A week ago I sent her the plans and Google presentations.  She was excited.  Tuesday I received an email telling of her new health problem and inability to teach my class.  I did not take it well.  Instead of remaining calm, I panicked.  My panic and running around (lucky to have a speaker and a couple other teachers in my room) helped me procure a sub. As I walked into the room, in which she was subbing, our building sub was talking to her telling her she should take my job.  The building sub (who I don't think has ever subbed in my room since I didn't have a sub at all last year) was telling her the kids would be ...

I don't mean to brag, but I received two packages of interesting to quite interesting coffee in the mail yesterday.  They came from Alaska along with a pint glass.  My guess is not everyone received dark roast in cool packaging yesterday (or even today).  Am I right?!  It seems only a special person would receive such a package, but I don't want to brag.

It's been a tough week, and it's only Tuesday.  Dang!  I did find a cool application to use for tomorrow's class which is brag worthy.  It's call Seesaw.  Wing Young Huie has been visiting my class.  Students answered questions and wrote the on black paper with chalk (chalkboard).  Yesterday students took pictures with their "chalkboard."  Some of the chalkboards were difficult to read because of the medium.  Seesaw will allow the students to dictate what is on their chalkboard under the picture.  Both will be shared in Seesaw, so everyone is able to view the different works.  Unfortunately, it won't allow all the students I need, so tomorrow I'll need to delete some kiddos who didn't have their picture ready or saved properly.  Oh well!

Last week I posted this beautiful picture to FB.  I took it on my way to school.  Actually, I pulled off the road into a parking lot near the lake to take the picture.  This is dedication my friends.  It seems no one liked and/or commented on my picture.  It was phenomenal, and no one even pushed like once.  This morning I decided to "toot my own horn."  After all, I still have four minutes before I need to get up off the floor and put my coffee cup away to leave for work.  Today there will be no stopping to take pictures of the rain drops pelting my car, but I'm sure brag worthy things will happen. If they don't, check out this sunrise picture!

Sometimes I get my best ideas driving to school.  I'm teaching an after school program to help students with their reading and writing.  We've set up Blogger and Feedly accounts, and it's going OK.  When the DJ was talking about the Edmund Fitzgerald today, I decided to use it for tonight's lesson.   The students will listen to the song and look at the lyrics.  Then, they will research to find out what from the song is factual.  It should be entertaining, not to brag or anything.  Unfortunately, it was 40 years ago yesterday, not today, but we'll make it work.

This week's journal entries are about roads.  Today's entry is The Road not Taken by Robert Frost.  Instead of having my honors students write about the poem, I'm going to have them write about the resources and tips I have given them for their last summative writing.  Many did not take the road of using these resources.  First, I'm going to ask them to list the resources.  Next, I'm going to ask them to check the resources they used.  Finally, I'm going to ask them to choose a better path next time they do a summative writing.  It may not be the best teaching, but I am super frustrated with their complete lack of effort.  Frost will be looked at by the "regular" classes.

Today I received an email from the district tech person saying she had "something fun to share."  I was certain to quite certain I didn't want anything to do with it, so I called my media specialist to find out what was going on before I made the call since I'm not a fan of surprises.  She said it might have to do with my nomination and award as TIES Exceptional Teacher.  This was not to my liking, so I pushed, "and how is it that I would be nominated for this award.  Did someone I used to like and no longer like nominate me?"  She said it wasn't a super big deal, and I'd be fine.  At lunch, I called the district person to learn of my award.  It seems more than one person nominated me.  The other person, my principal, who nominated me was all smiles after lunch wondering if I had heard the good news.  When I tried to explain that I wasn't a fan of public recognition, he told me I should attend to get my award because I might get a free iPad...

A friend and I are both reading The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff in preparation of the upcoming Talking Volumes.  It's not an easy or entertaining read.  This evening J sent a text with the words Chapter 10.  Of course, this was her way of bragging about how far she was in the novel knowing I wasn't as far.  Truthfully, I'll finish on time even though I'm only on Chapter 7.  Anyway, when I told her I was going to blog about her bugging me and bragging, she replied that she was "damn determined at this point to get through this hellacious book."  She also continued explaining that she was merely trying to "motivate you through this hell."  IMHO, it was bragging and not motivating.  After all, I'm blogging instead of reading.  How motivating could have it been?

It seems there's a November blogging challenge, and I'm ready.  When Slapdash thinks of an idea, everyone wants to join in! We're supposed to blog and merely insert brags as we go, but I'm starting with complete full on brags. 1) I work with an amazing colleague that gave everyone great vocabulary strategies (no, we don't merely give kids the words to have them memorize... we want them to use them in the "real world.").  She had a hiccup with two colleagues (who are truly annoying, talking while she was presenting), but she did an amazing job.  She even mentioned Readicide which is a book I plan on reading.   Let's brag up awesome teachers!  Let's also brag up the teachers who took the strategies to heart and will use them in their curriculum. 2) I conversed through texts with another colleague who works in the district.  I had her student in class at one point.  It's nerve wracking to teach a colleague's kid!  Anyway, one of her...

This machine is evil! Yesterday I went to renew my driver's license.  I could not read any of the rows of letters.  The clerk was super kind and helpful.  He changed it to numbers to make it easier.  Nothing worked.  To make it worse, I could not see anything in the third column because it was blank.  He informed me that it wasn't blank; it had to do with the vision in my right eye.  After many attempts, I asked him if I could go home and get my glasses (basically prescription readers).  He said it would be a wise idea, and told me I could merely come back and talk to him instead of waiting in line.  Even with my glasses I had difficulties.  We tried many times with letters and numbers, but I was eventually able to pass.  He did, however, want me to know it wasn't solid.  Ugh!  Today I set up an appointment with my eye doctor.  Plus, I researched a bit about eye exams.  It seems most states require "visual ac...

This is NOT sexy! Instead of eating the healthy meal of leftovers in my refrigerator, I decided to go to Whole Foods for a pizza slice.  After parking my beast of a rental car, Impala, I could see the person next to me trying to get my attention.  "Oh shit, I hit their car," was my first reaction.  I didn't hit them, but my parking was questionable.  The gentleman merely wanted to comment on my tan old lady car.   "Sexy car!" he exclaimed.  I was confused and pointed to the rental to see if we were speaking of the same vehicle.  Since I thought the guy was crazy, I explained that my car was longer than his SUV and held less while I walked to get my pizza.  I hate this rental!!