Shoeless Volleyball and Nylons=Not BFFs Forever

Things I learned today:

1. Do not, under any circumstance, buy the cheap nylons.



2. If you do buy the cheap nylons because you didn't read the first thing, do not play volleyball in them without wearing shoes.

Yep, this is the first day I wore them. They are ruined but I had an amazing time and worked on being a bit more spazzy.

Crystal Ball

I read this on my friend, Lindsay's blog, (I'd post a link but it's private) and thought it was a great writing activity to start off the day so I stole it from her.

I asked the kids to write about what they would ask if they found a crystal ball that could answer any question. I made them ask at least 5 questions. Here are some of the highlights:

• What will happen in 7th grade?
• Is the world going to end in 2012?
• Will I make it to high school?
• Will I own a bakery?
• How many children will I have?
• Am I going to Heaven or Hell?
• Will I be famous?
• Will I die alone?
• Is 7th grade hard?
• Will my grandma get better?
• Will I change in 7th grade?
• Will I be on drugs?
• Will I be a professional football player?
• Why do we live at all?
• Can I have the answers to all the tests?
• What college will I go to?

Some of these posts made me laugh (you wouldn't believe how many kids put "Will the world end in 2012?" as one of their questions...they're obsessed with the movie and thinking about it right now, if you haven't already guessed), some made me so sad, and some made me worry that because of the fact that they are already worrying about such huge things.

Spaztastic

On Friday, to begin our day, I had my class write about the following prompt:

"What would make math more enjoyable for you? What do you like most about math? What do you dislike about math?"

After they wrote we talked a bit about their answers (because I want them to enjoy math and I want to see if anything I do is helpful to them). I received pretty standard answers that my students thought would make math more enjoyable like: "pass out candy or pretzels." "Make assignments shorter." "Don't make us take the math book home."

Some things they hate are: "Having to stay quiet" (side note: they never stay quiet and I never ask them to be during math). "How heavy the math book is." "Having to do a ton of problems."

Some things they like are: "When you (Miss J.) make worksheets for our homework instead of copying a page from the book." "Playing math games." and my favorite "When you act, well, you know...like a spaz." Awesome. So under the caption "How to make math more enjoyable," I wrote, "Miss J. needs to be more spazzy." They all cheered. So I guess all the yelling and doing push-ups when they get correct answers and talking like a crazy person and making faces and singing and skipping around the classroom are good teaching strategies. I'm sure my students go home every day and tell their parents about things I do and their parents think they're being taught by a nut case but it works and they are engaged...when I'm spaztastic.

Bye Bye Soda

For about the past year, I have been enjoying one of these every day of my life.

I would stop at a gas station on my way to work every morning and fill up then drink the beverage through the morning (read as: in front of my class). Almost every day someone would ask if they could bring soda to school and I would say, "HECK NO!" and continue on in my hypocritical ways. Listen kids, it's do as I say, not as I do.

However, on Saturday April 3rd, I gave it up. I just said, "You can't control me, Pepsi!" And so it was. I was done. Never to partake again.

Easter Sunday was rough and I thought I was going to die. Oh, the life of an addict. I struggled through though and didn't go back on my word (though I wanted to with every fiber of my being!).

My class went back on-track on Tuesday. Tuesday was rough but had nothing to do with the lack of caffeine.

On Wednesday, I had a professional development class and one of my teammates asked if I wanted him to pour me a cup of Coke.

Me: "Nope. I've given it up."

Mr.: "Oh, really? When?"

Me: "Saturday."

Mr.: "Oh, well when you fall off the wagon I'll be there with a cold Coke waiting."

Me: "No. I'm really done and you can't tempt me."

Mr.: "I believe you, I'm just saying I always have a Coke if you need one."

Me: "Ok. I'll keep that in mind."

But I have been strong. I've resisted his tempations.

On Thursday, one of my students finally noticed that I hadn't had any soda all week.

J.: "Miss J., you haven't had a soda all week. Are you just drinking them really fast now so we don't see them?"

Me: "Nope, I gave it up. I'm not drinking soda any more."

J.: "Why would you do that?"

Me: "Because soda eats your insides and I like my insides intact."

J.: (Puzzled look) "Ooooh."

I'm happy to report that it has now been two weeks and not a drop of soda has entered my body.

Style Sense

JD, of this hilarity and this gem, keeps me laughing all day.

Today, we had a mom come volunteer at our school. As I was explaining what she should do with students while in the hall, JD comes up to her and asks, "Who are you?"

"I'm A's mom."

JD: "Oh. My mom says I don't have any fashion sense." (As a side note, JD was wearing a bright green--think neon 80s green--shirt with a hot pink, screen-printed horse on it, black jeans, and tennis shoes)

A's mom: "Oh, really?"

JD: "Yep, my mom likes plain colors like these." She proceeds to pull her pants up so we can see her socks, which are dress socks but one is black and one is khaki. "Well, these don't match but she likes plain things and thinks I should wear them too...But I don't." And then she sauntered back into the classroom on her tip toes.

Math Time is Swear Time

I have some students who struggle with math a lot. We were working with numbers with decimals today. JD (of this amazing post) says, "What are these dots in these numbers?"

Trying to be a responsive teacher and teach to all students and teach what each student needs, I began to explain decimals and how they work to her.

JD promptly interrupts me with, "I don't know what the hay-ell is going on here."

In unison, the whole class, "What?!"

JD: "I said, 'I don't know what the hay-ell is going on here.' You know, like the stuff that falls from the sky."

F: "That's hail. Not hay-ell."

J: "I think you mean hell. JD just swore in math. HA!"

Oh, gosh.

Random Thoughts, Things I Miss

I think the judges on America Idol should judge the performers just like they judge the contestants. "Yo, dawg, Rihanna, you were a bit pitchy, dawg. Yo. Dawg. Dawg. Yo. Pitchy."

Buzz Aldrin as a ballroom dancer...how freaking cute is he? I love him even though he's basically walking and waving his arms in the air.

Try this:





Here's some things that I miss:

+Duck Tales

*Side note...when I was a junior in high school, one of my teachers gave a power point presentation. At one part she included a small (probably 3 seconds) clip of this song. What did we do as a class? Sang the entire song. It was fantastic. Had mylifeisaverage been around then, I probably would have posted it.

+Animaniacs


+Watching A Goofy Movie and singing this song and not feeling like a super dork

Easter Round-Up

Easter was great. I'm too lazy to write about it so read about it here if you're so inclined.

This is what I really wanted to show you. My silly little sister Devin likes to take creep pictures. These quickly turned into "engagement" photos. We're weirdos. Live with it. Anyway...here's one of my favorites:


After taking this one, we decided that when I get married (one day. My family thinks I move way too slow. You can read about that here.) my hubby and I should take a picture similar to this but imagine rings on our left ring fingers...and maybe happier faces.


Imagine it right in front of a temple...super appropriate, right?

The Semester is Winding Down

I only have 3 more classes this semester. Woot!

The only thing is that I hate doing my homework. I should be doing it right now but I just can't make myself. Doing things late at night seems to make for really good papers though (for real, I have waited until the last minute on everything this semester and done great. Weird but why change something that's working?)

Happy Easter

"One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so." Elder Jeffery R. Holland

Oil Cleansing

I've always had trouble with my skin. Everything I try works for about 2-6 months then stops working completely. I've honestly tried everything, I think. Washes, scrubs, drinking gallons of water, antibiotics, topical ointments that basically make my face fall off, topical ointments that make me smell like your grandma, standing on my head and chanting to the skin gods (ok, maybe I didn't do that last thing but seriously, if I'd heard it worked, I would do it.)

So, one day I stumbled upon the Oil Cleansing Method. I thought, "Can't hurt. Might even help." So I tried it. (Instead of Sunflower Oil, I used Grapeseed Oil.)

I was going to start a long time ago but turns out that Castor Oil is difficult to find (or the more likely culprit is I didn't know what I was looking for and never wanted to ask the pharmacist). Finally, I found it at Smith's. Woot! Smith's! You're a great grocery store.

Here is my skin after I cleansed it tonight for first time (please don't be frightened, I know I'm not wearing makeup and the picture looks like it's a close-up of a mug shot but this is for science people!).

I used Picnic to add the text to my photo and couldn't figure out how to move the text box. Every time I clicked on the text, the box disappeared. Feel free to tell me how I'm supposed to do it if you know how.

Like the website says, the oil mixture completely took off my makeup, I had no residue (I always have mascara left overs with the soap I use, so this is already better than soap).

My face feels soft and moisturized. I am stunned. Seriously, who thinks about rubbing oil all over their face and feeling clean? Not me! But it really did work quite well.

I'll keep you updated on the progress of my skin. Let's all cross our fingers in unison and hope that this works.

Easter Yummies

I made this loveliness for Easter. Mmmm
.


Here's the recipe I used.

My sister also made some for St. Patrick's Day. She'll probably be angry with me if I don't say to see her's also. (BTW, Court, I saw this here before you even had a blog. So, no, I didn't copy you.)

Settling Soul Mates

I'm rewatching some 30 Rock episodes. So funny!

"Settling soul mates, that is grim...and I've played Monopoly alone."
Liz Lemon, 30 Rock

April Videos

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

My sister Courtney showed me this video. Credit where it's due, you're welcome, Court.