What is it about teaching on a Wednesday? I can't remember if they were as difficult when I was bartending or waiting tables...is it all M-F 9-5's or is it every job? Is it just being alive? Wednesdays are like... Continue Reading →
time for another round of "the last year of your life." For a good time, check out last year's thoughts on turning thirty and the year of 29. Seeing growth in yourself is important. And makes you laugh. I highly... Continue Reading →
I'm really cuddly. I'm built like a cuddly person. I'm like Olaf - I like warm hugs. And the nice thing about teaching is that around kids, your hug bucket can always be full. Even if you have to demand... Continue Reading →
Teaching English is funny. You do a lesson on something, say occupations. Then you start talking about uniforms and farmers in overalls and realize your students don't know much about clothing. Which is not much of a surprise, since we... Continue Reading →
Because I'm what we call a "specials" teacher, as in I pull students out of their regular class to make them double-fist English vocabulary and grammar, I don't have a core group of kids that I get to know really... Continue Reading →
"But why are apples so boring and cupcake so delicious? This is first thing I asking Jesus when I go to Heaven." -- what I would classify as a legitimate question from one of my students last week, when I tried... Continue Reading →
I'm a pretty good teacher. My kids learn the stuff. I always have stickers in my room. And candy for my fellow teachers. I attend meetings and rarely pretend to go to the bathroom just so I can play a quick round of Trivia Crack. I answer emails. I participate in every dress-up day. But, of course, I have a few bad habits.
I like to video my ELL kids every few weeks so that I can see progress. This week I asked one of my kinders "How old are you?" and he answered "Monday! Monday Tuesday. WizzdayTursdayFriday." "Oh! I didn't know you knew the... Continue Reading →
I had my flatulent little princess first thing this morning. She was sitting in my lap and we were playing sentence-building games when she ripped a glorious one that vibrated my legs. I'm serious. My thighs jiggled.
People often ask me what has changed since I've moved to Brazil. There are things that I notice, things maybe others notice more than me. I'm not sure. But here are some basics: My most intense conversations are with bugs. For example:... Continue Reading →
Nothing is quite so beautiful and terrible all at the same time as an all-school Christmas musical. Our first rehearsal was Wednesday, and I was shaking with silent belly laughs, tears streaming down my cheeks from watching the little kids perform.
I look forward to Mondays. I look forward to the challenges I will face with my students. To the words I will discover they don't know and figuring out a meaningful way to act them out and a poster I... Continue Reading →
Sunglasses Always Fit 