just for charlotte

because i used to call her Charlotte the Harlot and she's still friends with me. She's nice.

Books to Read:

Teaching Introductory Physics: Okay, snooze, I know. But remember that physics class you took with me once when I convinced you that you wanted to be an engineer? That was fun. And it's honestly one of the best books I've read in a very long time. I take it with me everywhere I go.

The Promise, by Chaim Potok: It's the sequel to The Chosen, which is one of my favorite books of all time. I didn't love it quite as much as The Chosen, but it's still good.

A Long way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier: if you're particular about writing styles (which i sometimes am) you might not love it, but everybody should read this book at some point in their lives.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: a year of food life: pretty interesting.

The Brighter Side of Human Nature, by Alfie Kohn: I've read several of his books, and they get repetitive after you read more than two (he starts to repeat the same stories) but if you've never read anything by Alfie Kohn, you should. It's inspiring.

must-read

has anyone else read this website? #115 is one of my favorites.

Dear people who were just now invited to read my blog,

Um, yeah. Sorry.

Don't think that I forgot about you. I was just letting the anticipation build. Or something.

Love,
Poodle

a mexican christmas

So, the picture uploader thingy is being really slow and, as it turns out, I'm not that patient. I'll have more later.

Before Christmas actually came, we drove out to Cholula and Puebla where we ate some fried grasshoppers (less disgiusting than you might think)

sat on an elephant (because sometimes mom still thinks that we're five years old. That may be because we sometimes act five, but that's beside the point.)

and saw some ruins.

Then we came back to Mexico city for Christmas eve and Christmas day. We made all of our regular Christmas treats for caroling. We were planning on singing Feliz Navidad (because it's the only Christmas song we know in Spanish) but when mom ended up singing what essentially translates into "I want your anus (and happiness)" we decided to forego the song and just deliver plates of food instead. Smart move, if you ask me.

Christmas day, we opened stockings

and took a pinata to the kids at the refugio.

Later, we went to the Zocalo, which during the holidays is a lot like Disneyworld. Except way better, because Disneyworld just isn't that fun. Sorry, but it's not. All in all, not a bad trip so far.

glorious freedom

only two classes left, and i am free for 16 whole days. no more ball jokes or other teenaged antics.

today is the last day of school, and i have received some delightful gifts from several very generous students. these include:

• a $100 gift card to Nordstrom. what should i buy? some shoes? a pair of designer jeans? too many choices
• a gorgeous blue cashmere scarf
• another blue scarf (apparently they're big this season)
• a barnes and noble gift card (awesome)
• lots of chocolates
• candles
• earrings

Today we have our faculty holiday party at our headmaster's house. i am going simply because the door prize is an all-expense paid trip for 4 to cape cod. i am determined that i am going to win.

i am a member of "the reason" which is a club that provides a reason to get up early on saturday mornings. tomorrow morning we are baking sugar cookies to leave on people's doorsteps.

then i'm watching mamma mia with rochelle. and attending the mandarin branch christmas party. i'm going for the food.

not that interesting

to most of you, anyway. probably my mom will pretend to be interested, because that's what moms do. but a math teacher guy wrote this, and i am happy to say that i can (mostly) answer yes. (except for on some days when i'm annoyed. and yes, i am feeling pretty smug with myself right now, thank you very much....)

Evolution of an Educator:

At first, your students don't know anything because you teach poorly, and you know this. Then, you become happily aware that some students are learning. You know that other students still aren't, but you are pedagogically nearsighted and can make only blurry distinctions between the two camps. Your teaching improves and the ranks of the Is Learning camp swells and you know the members of the Isn't Learning camp by name. You develop better methods of tracking achievement and you know exactly what the students who aren't learning haven't learned. Moreover, as you teach, you begin to anticipate the material that will confuse these students. You realize that your intervention can effectively transfer a student from one camp to the other. At a certain point, the technical challenges to increasing student achievement disappear, but the moral challenge remains. Will you do it? Every day, every hour, every student for 180 days, will you do it?

teenagers....

So we're building roller coasters in my class this week. Which is mostly really fun. The only problem is, we're using marbles (which the boys prefer to call balls - for obvious teenaged boy reasons).

Some of the marbles are too big to fit in the tracks that we're using. According to Ryan, Jeff's balls are too big. I thought about asking him how he would know that, but I don't want to encourage this.

We're also using cups for support. Ha. That's freaking hilarious.

Heaven help me. I better get a great Christmas bonus this year.

final exams

So I always give the same bonus question on all of my final exams:

"Explain any concept that we learned this year that was not addressed on the exam."

It gives the kids an opportunity to explain the stuff they studied but that I didn't ask about. Some of them impress me with their knowledge. Some do not. I always get a few interesting responses.

Some of them are blatantly butt-kissing: "I learned that I love physics and that Ms. Reed is the best teacher ever!"

Right. Sure you did.

Some of them are a little funny: "I learned that Michael Scott burned his foot on a George Foreman grill because he likes the smell of fresh-cooked bacon in the morning."

I think I talk about The Office just a little too much.

And my personal favorite: "I learned that Ms. Reed really likes candy."

Awesome.

words to live by

Yesterday, I received this email:

sometimes i underestimate how freakin' awesome you are. then i repent. today i repented.

Love,
Your Repentant Sister

I'm pretty sure I'm going to make my students read it today.

Never forget this. Ever.

The end.

dear people for whom i am buying christmas presents,

Due to the slump in the economy, I am finding extra great deals this year. I have therefore found some extra fantastic presents for you all. Even though it really is just the thought that counts.

You are so welcome.

Love,
Poodle

Dear Ashley,

You're right. You deserve your own bullet point. In fact, you deserve your own post. I am thankful for you because:

• you know what a fudge turd is.

That's your one bullet point. I hope that's good enough.

Love,

Poodle

dear world,

Let it be known that my banana cream pie kicks your banana cream pie's butt.

So does my chocolate cream pie.

Love,
Poodle

ps - don't be intimidated. we can still be friends

things i am thankful for this week (in no particular order)

• my AP students, for all scoring 4s or 5s on their exam. They make me look really good.
• the recession. My job is stable and man, the sales are great this year!!!
• the recession again, because Bethesda restaurants implemented an "appetite stimulus plan" with lots of special deals last week
• pies. And lots of them. (4 to be exact, for a dinner with six people)
• cranberry salad. I'm making a double batch.
• my job.
• my roommates for making me laugh. especially when they walk out of the bathroom at the symphony with their skirt tucked into their underwear.
• people who are willing to drive to the outlets with me at midnight Thursday night to hit all the black friday specials.
• my sisters. and my brother, too. and the in-laws.
• my mom
• my hair, for really cooperating with me these days

the joys of teaching

So in my last period class, this kid named Ryan keeps farting. They're loud. And stinky.

So of course everyone acts like they're five year olds and laughs hysterically.

Wait, never mind. Everyone acts like teenaged boys and laughs hysterically. I'm ready for a break.

But after Thanksgiving break, I get to participate in our 2nd annual dodgeball tournament! It is the best fundraiser ever.

update

There are a few things that have been going on around here recently.

• Swim practice started last week. The team looks promising, as everyone is capable of staying afloat on their own. Not a single swimmer is relying on the lane ropes for their survival.
• The first day of practice, we got locked out of the pool. It was super fun. Then a kid's arm popped out of its socket. Don't worry, we popped it right back in. Apparently it happens to him all the time. He's now our manager.
• I give my final exam on Friday, and then I'm FREE for Thanksgiving break.
• But then my break is interrupted Tuesday night for our first swim meet. Rotten timing.
• I am going to see the Warsaw Philharmonic on Friday night.
• We built egg-drop contraptions in my class this week. They were only allowed to use straws, rubber bands, and tape. We threw them off the top of the stadium. They were awesome.
• I started my Christmas shopping this week. I totally want to keep the present I bought Ashley.

dear bethy,

I am coming to visit you on December 31. Please try not to work on New Year's day so I can play with you and your kids. And Brandon too, I guess.

I tried to tell you last night but you hung up on me.

Love,
Poodle

all i want for christmas (and my birthday) is...

a lot of things, actually. Which really isn't that surprising if you know me. But this year I could really use:

• Cello lessons. Erica and I want to take lessons together, and they're offered through my school for only $35/lesson! Not bad.
• A plane ticket to Houston to see Bethy, Bexie, and Brother. And the babies, of course. It's been way too long since I've played with the babies.
• Just about anything from Anthropologie. Or JCrew. Or a gift card to JCrew so I can use my awesome teacher discount that I get on every single purchase I make. Being a teacher definitely has its perks.
• A lightweight, waterproof North Face jacket (or similar). For those days when it rains and I still want to play outside. It happens.
• Rain boots. Some black ones or black/gray.

5 reasons i love my students

just because tomorrow is friday

1. They always compliment my shoes. Even though I own way too many.

2. Sometimes they just get so excited they can't help but shout in the middle of class. I'm not always sure what they're excited about.

3. They love the stupid games I make up for them to play.

4. They make fun of my dumb jokes. (Yes, teaching is really good for my self-esteem.) Turns out I've quoted Bring-it-On one too many times this year. (This is not a democracy, guys. It's a cheer-ocracy.) I didn't think that joke could ever get old. Apparently I was wrong.

5. They come find me during lunch so that I can settle the debate about who would be the better lead-singer for their band. I picked Harper, just because I like calling him Harp-dog. I'm pretty sure he secretly likes it when I call him Harp-dog, too.

election madness

The Redskins lost last night. And we all know what that means.... "Obama nation" it is.

Luckily, Laura went to Costco yesterday to buy food storage. You know, for when the riots break out and we can't leave our house for weeks at a time. Seriously.

Julie was so impressed with Laura's preparations that she wrote in her name on the ballot. So who knows, Laura just might be our next commisioner of education. Or something. Go Laura.

sweet revenge

One of my students got a ticket this weekend for yelling at another driver. He told that driver that his car was gay.

He thought that the cop was kidding about the ticket.

The cop was not kidding.

Deep down inside, this story made me really, really happy.