chilly day
it's sunday evening about 5:30 and i haven't done much work this weekend. i'm currently sitting in front of the tv with my laptop, trying to find some good narrative beginnings to have my kids look at. they are writing personal narratives based on an event in their lives, and i want them to follow the elements of plot structure that we've been discussing--exposition, rising action, have a conflict, climax, falling action, resolution. this is something that has been very hard to teach, though, so i'm trying to go one step at a time (which i didn't do a good job of when we started learning it) and guide them through writing their papers. i saw a few attempts at a first paragraph, and a lot of them started with "hello, my name is ________ and i am goign to tell you about the time that my grandfather died." a lot of them don't read very much and so any time of creative beginning to an essay has to be scaffolded and guided. i think that i have an idea that will work pretty well and i'm excited to get started.
i was just sitting here on this chilly day in my cozy house with my sweatshirt and fleece blanket, and almost looking forward to the winter which will give me an excuse to be indoors working all the time, like i've been doing since it got sunny this year. we're staying home tonight, making mini raviolis and salad and getting ready for the week. it is so wonderful being in a home where i feel comfortable and cozy and where the living room (and the mess....) is mine. well, both of ours.
lots of good stuff coming up: this week is spirit week at school and tommorow is twin day. i am planning to wear matching clothes to the two math teachers close to my classroom. many of my students have one of the two of them for algebra (actually, some of my 7th graders also have one of them). our "twin" outfits aren't that exciting, but no one can say we didn't try. tuesday is halloween and there is a dance at the end of the school year, so there are only classes in the morning. the following week is a 4 day week! and the following week is regular. and then we have a whole week off for thanksgiving!!!! nine glorious days!! i am so excited, i can't even imagine how nice it will be. after those 9 days, i have 4 more weeks of school and then winter break.
it's hard because i LOVE teaching and being at school, and yet i'm dying for some time off just to revive. yesterday was a great day because i didn't do any schoolwork, just spent time with friends, watched the beginning of a movie, took a walk, did a little birthday shopping for a friend. i swam both days this weekend, and didn't start my work until about 1 pm. oops! oh well, it was a much needed break. the weeks aren't really getting easier, but planning is getting a little bit easier which feels like a relief. my trusty mentor teacher aka boyfriend also helps to remind me that sometimes students need to do book work and i need to have routines where they do certain things (like test prep or news articles) on certain days of the week, just to give myself some structure and relief from the insanity of planning and work!
well, i should get back to scaffolding the narrative introduction. halloween should be fun--i'll try to write a post about the hilarity that will be the middle school dance at 12:55 pm.
i was just sitting here on this chilly day in my cozy house with my sweatshirt and fleece blanket, and almost looking forward to the winter which will give me an excuse to be indoors working all the time, like i've been doing since it got sunny this year. we're staying home tonight, making mini raviolis and salad and getting ready for the week. it is so wonderful being in a home where i feel comfortable and cozy and where the living room (and the mess....) is mine. well, both of ours.
lots of good stuff coming up: this week is spirit week at school and tommorow is twin day. i am planning to wear matching clothes to the two math teachers close to my classroom. many of my students have one of the two of them for algebra (actually, some of my 7th graders also have one of them). our "twin" outfits aren't that exciting, but no one can say we didn't try. tuesday is halloween and there is a dance at the end of the school year, so there are only classes in the morning. the following week is a 4 day week! and the following week is regular. and then we have a whole week off for thanksgiving!!!! nine glorious days!! i am so excited, i can't even imagine how nice it will be. after those 9 days, i have 4 more weeks of school and then winter break.
it's hard because i LOVE teaching and being at school, and yet i'm dying for some time off just to revive. yesterday was a great day because i didn't do any schoolwork, just spent time with friends, watched the beginning of a movie, took a walk, did a little birthday shopping for a friend. i swam both days this weekend, and didn't start my work until about 1 pm. oops! oh well, it was a much needed break. the weeks aren't really getting easier, but planning is getting a little bit easier which feels like a relief. my trusty mentor teacher aka boyfriend also helps to remind me that sometimes students need to do book work and i need to have routines where they do certain things (like test prep or news articles) on certain days of the week, just to give myself some structure and relief from the insanity of planning and work!
well, i should get back to scaffolding the narrative introduction. halloween should be fun--i'll try to write a post about the hilarity that will be the middle school dance at 12:55 pm.
posted by Allyson B. at
6:11 PM
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