October 2008
1 post
“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.
~A.A. Milne
September 2008
2 posts
"If you have time to complain, then you have time...
List five things that are annoying you right now. What can you do about them?
1. I don’t like waking up so early…so I guess I could go to bed at a better time.
2. Some of my students talk out of turn and are really disruptive…so I could encourage them to do better and have consequences if they do not.
3. All of my stuff is in boxes…I should set aside some time to unpack...
"If you've never stared off into the distance then...
What do you daydream about during class?
Well, I’m teaching, so that doesn’t leave for many mind-wandering moments, really. But when I was in school, I’d often think about strange scenarios—little “what if” moments. Like, what if I just got up from note taking and went up and tickled the teacher? What would happen? What if I did a somersault in the aisle? ...
August 2008
9 posts
"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind...
“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” —Malcom S. Forbes
Think back over your week. When did you feel: close to God? far from God?
I’ve had many moments this week that made me feel God’s love all around me. On Sunday, I had a great day of rest—which is how Sunday should be. It was rainy and I enjoyed just sitting in our cozy living room,...
"Education is not filling a pail, but lighting a...
What (or who) inspires you?
I find great solace and peace outdoors. I’m inspired by God’s creation, the beauty in the random placement of trees, flowers, the scattering of movement…
I especially enjoy looking at the ever-changing sky, I enjoy the smell of rain, the rush of waterfalls, and sun sifting through branches.
I’m also inspired by music, which can change my mood...
"I am always ready to learn, although I do not...
Who has taught you the most in life? Why?
That’s a difficult one, because I’ve been blessed by many teachers. But I think my ultimate teachers have been my parents.
My parents are still married, and their honest love has taught me a lot about what I want my marriage to look like. They support each other, pray for each other, laugh together, and make each other better.
My mom has...
"Deep summer is when laziness finds...
What did you find yourself wasting time doing this summer?
Well….hopefully it wasn’t really wasted time, but it was a bit emptier than my days have been lately. I spent a lot of time reading at the beach (I don’t even know how many books I read, but the number is over 20. I can read a book a day without too much effort.), I spent time on the computer, and cooking new recipes. ...
"He who opens a school door, unlocks a prison." ...
Topic:
What most surprised you about the first day of school? Explain.
A lot, really. And then again, it was as if I’ve never had a summer…it’s back to business as usual.
I think first, the day seemed really long! Probably because I went through my syllabus and classroom procedures (“How We Work”) five times. I know that my kids were tired of hearing the same...
back to school...
…so tomorrow’s the first day of school.
After a couple weeks of preparation, I can’t wait to actually be teaching again. I’ve got a ton of fun stuff planned, and now it’s time to get started.
The first day is usually crazy—shorter classes, lots of info to hand out, it’s over in a flash and everyone’s dead tired.
I’m most excited because I...
“O ME! O life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the...”
– “O Me! O Life” by Walt Whitman