Life of the Party

    I love to read, so every now and again I will provide a small book rating. I love The Gone series by Michael Grant. Grant must be a very creative person. This series has captivated me and my classes.     The author has created this whole world and I have enjoyed reading and discovering each new element as it develops. I just wish the characters had a moment of bliss. The constant stressful environment sometimes makes me want to put the book down, but I want to know more.    This entire series is amazing. I love the fact that I can read it with my classes and not worry about the content. Most young adult literature has too much sexual content to read with a class, but this didn't. My favorite character is Sam and he really portrays the whole modern day hero. I only wish the author had provided more information as to what happen to Diana?  I was at the end of the book and I still didn't know if she was alive or dead.   As soon a...

       I've haven't accomplished much the past few days. I managed to finish a novel, but that was it.  I decided that I would devote my evening to lesson planning.  While lesson planing I came across this idea of postponing EOG practices until Thursday and Friday of every week. I hated this time of the year as a student, so I'm trying to make it bearable for my students.  Terminology seems to be our biggest obstacle thus far, but I have found a neat way to both review it and to teach new vocabulary.       Before the students can leave my room they must be able to tell me one of the terms and what it means.  I will also be using it in WARM UPS at the beginning of each class. When they have mastered their term I will provide some sort of treat.  I have found that rewards really help students be enthused about working.       Yesterday: - I purchaced a beach ball that will be used for a review game. - bought ...

          Living in a small town also means that choices of places to eat are nonexistent. We have a few locally owned restaurants and a couple of fast food places all of which get very boring.  In order to get something different you have to drive about an hour. We don't even have a Wal-Mart within a thirty minute drive. I love my small town, but sometimes the convinces of our surrounding towns is very tempting.          Every once and a while, my mom and I go all the way to Asheville. Oh how I love Olive Garden! While shopping in the mall I practically begged mom to go to Olive Garden. She doesn't really like to try new things, so I have to be extra convincing. It took me and my best friend over a year to get her to eat at the Mexican restaurant.  Asheville is a little over two hours away and I love to go there. Our waiter was awesome! Great service is really the key to a successful dinner service and happy customers. He ch...

I turned down my little winding road here in Robbinsville to discover that hogs have taken over the road and have refused to budge. I beeped my horn and screamed at them. I live in such a small community that no one ever even cares that these huge hogs can just wonder about. I ended up waiting for fifteen minutes for them to move. UHHHHHH!  I was very agitated!  Long story short:    A man up the road owns these hogs who escape by day and get back in their pins at night. Yeah you read that right!   They have this internal clock that says, "FOOD!" Everyone one of them (8) will run into their pins and whine for food. He has been asked to keep them put up, but honestly, I don't think he understands that they are a problem. He has a mixture of wild and tame hogs in his field.  What happens during hunting season?        The hogs will be considered feral hogs and will be shot. Since three of them look like Russian wild boa...

Spring Break Officially Begins!     Well, today was great!!!   I usually dread Fridays because the students are too excited to learn. They got out at 11:45, but the staff had to stay for a meeting, which was awesome. I'm lucky to work with a great team of teachers. Our staff decided to have a scavenger hunt across campus. I have never had FUN at a meeting, but today was absolutely amazing. I just wanted to say "Thank YOU!"  I had to chance to bond with my grade team and think collaboratively.     My Spring Break will not amount to much, but hopefully I will be able to save myself from the boredom. I was at the gas station and here comes the VENT!  The conversation started like this: JAKE Store Attendant: Hello there! Are you a teacher? ME: Yes and I love it! Jake: yeah you know you are just a glorified babysitter! ME: Well, at least I can say I love my job, can you?          I walked away very mad! I...

How MY DAY WENT!! Today was like every other day, but it's Thursday!   Spring Break officially begins tomorrow and everyone seems to know it. First of all the day seemed to creep by. My Spring Break will consist of reading, grading, and trying to figure a way to make E.O. G practice "fun." I was actually watching the clock all day and thinking about these things. If anyone has any ideas please feel free to add your opinion to this post. I'm up for any ideas.  As my students were testing, I had the opportunity to take the new released E.O.G.... WELL!    I'm not impressed. While taking the test, I had to reread the passage twice to make my decision on the author's purpose. After being clearly frustrated, I became aware that I had went over the allotted time frame. Maybe I was simply over thinking the test, but if I'm having to have "extra time," how are my students going to handle it? My first year of teaching has truly been an experie...

Life past college is so strange, but it's worth it!    I miss the classes and people, but not the work.    Now I'm a seventh grade language arts teacher who spends my time with kids.  Teaching is a truly rewarding profession, after school you can usually find me grading papers or attending meetings. This blog is a way for me to reach out beyond my daily routine.  Ignore the grammar mistakes and just read the blog. I think blogs are a way for us to communicate who we are and grammar doesn't matter.