When I was growing up, I remember getting up "early" on Thanksgiving (which is relative when you have a father that rises at 6:00 am regardless of day of the week), and smelling toast. It was Dad's beginning of homemade stuffing, and it was my favorite thing to help with when I was younger.
Today is my first Thanksgiving alone, and although it's kind of sad in some ways, it's also my first chance to cook a Thanksgiving meal by myself, too, which is kind of exciting. I'm not going all out -- I bought Turkey fillets instead of a bird or breast, and, frankly, my mashed potatoes are coming from a box. But I did do the homemade stuffing thing, and it's smelling pretty awesome in the oven right now.
It's also nice because today I have the chance to make Thanksgiving anything I want it to be. I got up this morning to go to Mass, which was lovely. After the homily, everyone in the church brought up the bags of groceries they had brought to church as an offering for the needy, which was a really nice symbolic thing for Thanksgiving. I felt like a bum because I hadn't brought anything, but the giving tree is up in the back of the church, so I think Andy and I will take a couple of the family needs from there this weekend to buy for Christmas.
After Mass, I put on my iPod, queued up George Winston's Winter album, and went for a walk in the park. The weather here in Thanksgiving-perfect. Chilly, but not cold at all, a bit windy, and a little overcast. The park was pretty empty, but really nice, and I felt very autumnal.
And now, the mini-pies are in the oven, the turkey and stuffing are baking, and I'm awaiting a phone call from the extended fam at home. Life is good.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Flex class
Today at work, we got our new schedules for the next trimester. This is an exciting thing, because we learn not only what we're going to be teaching (very broadly), but who we're going to be working with as far as students are concerned. My schedule this time had a big cool surprise: I get to work in a couple of flex classes, which are small, interdisciplinary classes with groups of students and teachers.
This is unusual for our school. Generally, the work we do with students is strictly one-on-one, but as students become comfortable being in groups and develop the skills to handle such interactions appropriately, they might move into one of these classes. Today, as I sat with two of the other three teachers and worked on planning out the first day of class, I was struck by how "intentional" we had to be as far as creating a group was concerned.
Now, "intentional" is a word that gets thrown around a lot at our school, to the point where it sometimes begins to feel meaningless. But being intentional is a big part of the work we do. We try to make sure that our students have intentional interactions with other students, as opposed to unplanned interactions. We try to make sure that the ways we speak to our students and the things we teach them are intentional, that we've thought them through in terms of their academic and therapeutic needs. It doesn't always play out to be quite as intense as it sounds, but it's a good overarching idea to keep in the back of our mind as we go through a day working with students who have the kinds of needs that our students do.
With this flex class, though, we did have to be exceptionally intentional about building up the idea of a group with these students. Luckily, all of them have had group learning experiences in the past, but in building relationship with one another in this context, we had to really think through the way we were going to address thinking of ourselves as a class; how we were going to help students' come to realizations about what they can expect from the group and what they can do to contribute to the group. It was an interesting process, and it really made me stop and think about why we do things as slowly and, yes, intentionally, as we do in our school.
It also made me realize how exceptionally lucky most of us are that we can build these types of relationships with one another without such intense guidance; but also how it really IS possible for our students to make progress (even when they seem like they can't) as long as someone is willing to take the time to break things down for them. Working in this job has really given me an appreciation of "individual differences," as we call it in education, and of the benefits of taking things slow. I've really had some epiphanies about what kind of person I am (quick thinking and quick moving and always busy with my hands in something) and the benefits of being another type of person with different kinds of gifts. I feel like I've done as much work on myself in this job as I've done with the students, which is hard but also very gratifying.
This is unusual for our school. Generally, the work we do with students is strictly one-on-one, but as students become comfortable being in groups and develop the skills to handle such interactions appropriately, they might move into one of these classes. Today, as I sat with two of the other three teachers and worked on planning out the first day of class, I was struck by how "intentional" we had to be as far as creating a group was concerned.
Now, "intentional" is a word that gets thrown around a lot at our school, to the point where it sometimes begins to feel meaningless. But being intentional is a big part of the work we do. We try to make sure that our students have intentional interactions with other students, as opposed to unplanned interactions. We try to make sure that the ways we speak to our students and the things we teach them are intentional, that we've thought them through in terms of their academic and therapeutic needs. It doesn't always play out to be quite as intense as it sounds, but it's a good overarching idea to keep in the back of our mind as we go through a day working with students who have the kinds of needs that our students do.
With this flex class, though, we did have to be exceptionally intentional about building up the idea of a group with these students. Luckily, all of them have had group learning experiences in the past, but in building relationship with one another in this context, we had to really think through the way we were going to address thinking of ourselves as a class; how we were going to help students' come to realizations about what they can expect from the group and what they can do to contribute to the group. It was an interesting process, and it really made me stop and think about why we do things as slowly and, yes, intentionally, as we do in our school.
It also made me realize how exceptionally lucky most of us are that we can build these types of relationships with one another without such intense guidance; but also how it really IS possible for our students to make progress (even when they seem like they can't) as long as someone is willing to take the time to break things down for them. Working in this job has really given me an appreciation of "individual differences," as we call it in education, and of the benefits of taking things slow. I've really had some epiphanies about what kind of person I am (quick thinking and quick moving and always busy with my hands in something) and the benefits of being another type of person with different kinds of gifts. I feel like I've done as much work on myself in this job as I've done with the students, which is hard but also very gratifying.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Name change update
Today, I was talking to George, and he asked, "Hey, what's your last name?"
Clearly, it is still WXXXXX, but he was asking about the post-wedding name decision.
"It's undecided," I told him.
"Well, that's less decisive that the last time I talked. Look at you, turning traditional and anti-Vermont on us."
While that sunk in, I realized he thought I was deciding between hyphenating or taking the Affianced's name. "Uh, no...the decision is between hyphenating or not changing at all."
"Oh...so you are going all Vermont on us."
"Yeah."
"Well, good luck with that.
Clearly, it is still WXXXXX, but he was asking about the post-wedding name decision.
"It's undecided," I told him.
"Well, that's less decisive that the last time I talked. Look at you, turning traditional and anti-Vermont on us."
While that sunk in, I realized he thought I was deciding between hyphenating or taking the Affianced's name. "Uh, no...the decision is between hyphenating or not changing at all."
"Oh...so you are going all Vermont on us."
"Yeah."
"Well, good luck with that.
Trimester Fair
Thursday was the Trimester Fair at school, which was a really awesome celebration of all the work that our students have been doing over the past few months. On this day, all of the teachers hang up or set out our students' final project, which range from posters to drawing to cartoon to photographs to essays to webpages to construction projects and furniture. It was a really beautiful display of diverse interests and learning, and I was so thankful to be able to see all of the student work. At the end of the day, our students' families and "teams" (people like social workers or guardians) came to see the work as well, and the students led a tour of the buildings, showing their team their projects. It was so awesome to see some of my very quiet students interacting with their families in an almost ranbunctious (and certainly very proud) manner as they showed off the work they did. I was so proud of them! I also got several compliments on one of the projects my student did especially, the one about Islam and Terrorism. It was really cool to see my students come to important concluions (i.e. Islam does not equal terrorism) on his own.
I'm thankful that the school takes the time to recognize these student achievements, as it would be very easy to just move through to the next trimester without taking the time to bask and celebrate. But that time was so important, and I'm very thankful to have been a part of it.
I'm thankful that the school takes the time to recognize these student achievements, as it would be very easy to just move through to the next trimester without taking the time to bask and celebrate. But that time was so important, and I'm very thankful to have been a part of it.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Get the ball rolling
An assortment of random information/stories to get the blogging-ball rolling again.
Touched base with an old high school friend the other day, which was really wonderful, as I hadn't talked to her in ages and ages. We weren't super close, but she's a kind soul, and we've had a nice exchange of e-mails.
Tomorrow is the trimester fair, where our students display the projects they've been working on throughout the trimester. I put up all of my students' projects today, and my room is beautiful and full of accomplishment. I'm proud of the work we've done.
Funny school story: Last week, one of my students was making a poster of his "dairy farm," for which he had "bought equipment" the following week. "You still need to draw the tractor, and wagon, and pick-up trucks," I told him.
"They're there...they're invisible," he replied.
"Oh...well, tell you what. I won't make you draw them again, but could you just trace over the invisible ones so I can see them a little better."
(*Score one genius point for me.)
Next week, we get new work schedules -- new kids, new classes, new projects -- which I am looking forward to with equal parts trepidation and excitement. More work, but at least something different.
Andy is leaving me for Thanksgiving. I am sad to have him gone, but happy to have the apartment to myself. Also, I am making myself Thanksgiving dinner anyway. So there. Thank you to Mammy's care package of boxes of mashed potatoes and stuffing!
Wedding RSVPs are coming in, and BOY are they exciting. A lot of people aren't going to be able to make it, which I knew, but I LOVE keeping track of who is coming and what reply ratio we have, etc...have I mentioned I love Microsoft Excel?
That is all for now. Off for Top Chef!
Touched base with an old high school friend the other day, which was really wonderful, as I hadn't talked to her in ages and ages. We weren't super close, but she's a kind soul, and we've had a nice exchange of e-mails.
Tomorrow is the trimester fair, where our students display the projects they've been working on throughout the trimester. I put up all of my students' projects today, and my room is beautiful and full of accomplishment. I'm proud of the work we've done.
Funny school story: Last week, one of my students was making a poster of his "dairy farm," for which he had "bought equipment" the following week. "You still need to draw the tractor, and wagon, and pick-up trucks," I told him.
"They're there...they're invisible," he replied.
"Oh...well, tell you what. I won't make you draw them again, but could you just trace over the invisible ones so I can see them a little better."
(*Score one genius point for me.)
Next week, we get new work schedules -- new kids, new classes, new projects -- which I am looking forward to with equal parts trepidation and excitement. More work, but at least something different.
Andy is leaving me for Thanksgiving. I am sad to have him gone, but happy to have the apartment to myself. Also, I am making myself Thanksgiving dinner anyway. So there. Thank you to Mammy's care package of boxes of mashed potatoes and stuffing!
Wedding RSVPs are coming in, and BOY are they exciting. A lot of people aren't going to be able to make it, which I knew, but I LOVE keeping track of who is coming and what reply ratio we have, etc...have I mentioned I love Microsoft Excel?
That is all for now. Off for Top Chef!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)