Rookie Reflections

I worked out every single stinking day this week and gained one pound. If I was the kind of person who said "FML" (which I'm not), now would be the appropriate time.

SO...

I'm making a list of my favorite things of the week. They are (in no particular order):

The Black Apple (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=991)

I am in love with this store. I want every single print they have to offer! This past week, they made some of their prints into wearable lockets, and I had to FIGHT myself not to order one (at $50 a pop, I just couldn't do it). It's so hard to choose favorites, but these are some:

Mysterious Genevieve
The Quiet Room
Telephone Girl

Kanye West - Love Lockdown

I first heard this song during the abs section of a body pump class. Although I hate working out my abs with a passion, this song was just the one to pump me up and keep me going.



Prom Night in Mississippi

I watched this HBO documentary tonight. It is about the town of Charleston, Mississippi, which had a segregated through the year 2007. In 2008, Morgan Freeman (a native of Charleston) offered to pay for the prom if they would integrate. The documentary interviews many of the students about the race issues in the town; it also explores the fight between doing what's always been done and making progressive changes. I could see my students in those kids, and of course I cried like a baby. It is a well-done, thought-provoking documentary.

I must say that this past week has been one of the best weeks of my summer. Blaine's brother asked if we wanted to come stay with them at the beach. Ok, being honest, we sort of hinted around until they said "ok, come."

We had the best time! We played in the ocean, swam in the pools, got tanned but not burned, ate a bunch of yummy food, rode in a helicopter, saw a movie, laughed, and spent some time relaxing and being goofy.








It was great. After that, I feel ready to start turning my mind to teaching and preparing for the upcoming semester. We got a letter in the mail telling us our schedules for next year, and this is mine:

1st Semester:
1st Block - Prep
2nd Block - Adv English 9
3rd Block - Adv English 9
4th Block - English 10

2nd Semester:
1st Block - English 10
2nd Block - Prep
3rd Block - Adv English 10
4th Block - Adv English 10

I am completely stoked! I requested to have some 10th grade classes, and I got them! Although I'm not crazy about the literature in 10th grade, that is my favorite age of students. They have been in high school for a year, so they know what is expected of them, but they are not old enough yet to have the "too cool for you" attitude. Also, that is the year most of them get their driver's licenses, and you can really see them begin to mature.

I am going to really try to find a way to present the literature of 10th grade (American Lit to 1900) in an interesting way. Can it be done? What are your favorite American works/authors before 1900?

I would also like to work up a way to have a class blog or wiki this year. I may do it as a place for class announcements and/or ongoing response medium or else just use it when we write longer pieces. They could use it to peer edit or see other students' work. Any suggestions?

Things I am NOT doing this year that I did last year:
-accepting late work
-putting up with attitudes
-skipping workouts/not being healthy
-bringing work/grading home
-getting in a funk towards the end of the semester

After I win the HGTV Dream Home and then have to sell it because I cannot afford the taxes, I plan to buy the following things:

-an easel and loads of art supplies to start my “cute-stuff business” (let me know if you have suggestions for business names)



-someone to whip me into shape ----> preferably, a female personal trainer who has never, ever painted her nails



(I will also need this to go with my personal trainer.)

-complete Fiestaware set in Cobalt Blue


-a steel guitar for my hubby to play with

-a Kitchenaid stand mixer (in red)

-this adorable denim dress from Ann Taylor. While I am at it, I will buy one of each item in the store that I always love but can never afford



-bedroom furniture from the Pottery Barn Farmhouse Collection (all pieces in antique honey)


-“No Fear Shakespeare” class sets for Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, and Hamlet

-a never-ending supply of Vera Wang Princess perfume


-Yamaha PSR-295 keyboard stand and bench

-all kinds of sheet music

-Sopranos Series Box Set


and

-everything associated with this home movie theater: