Goal setting

Last Friday I managed to waste away most of my free time during the work day and that cannot happen again this week. I decided to make my to-do list semipublic (since I don't know who might actually read this today), so as to increase my sense of urgency. Plus,it gives me a better idea of what to do and in what order.

Today, (outside of teaching class) I would like to:

• write lesson plans for next week (my final set of plans for the school year!)
• meet with Bill to discuss his course schedule for next year
• file my lessons from this week
• respond to two posts on my grad class discussion board
• create the writing assignment on which this week's grad school paper is based

Here's hoping I can get this all done!

My new hobby

In the last year or so, I have gotten really into baking. It's a natural fit for me...I love food, I don't have the creativity needed to be a good cook, and I don't have the patience to futz with a meal for extended periods of time. Baking, then, is perfect for me. Sometimes I make more complicated things, and one day I'll have the time to dive into the great baking cookbooks I've been gifted, but usually it's something quick and easy for Brian and I to enjoy. Tonight, I made a really simple blackberry crostata with fresh whipped cream and thought I'd share.

Crostata is just a rustic tart and when you use frozen puff pastry from the store it is even easier than ever. I just tossed blackberries with flour and sugar, piled them onto the center of the puff pastry (which I had defrosted, rolled out, and placed on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper), folded the edges of pastry over the fruit, brushed the top of the pastry with milk, sprinkled it with sugar, and baked it for about 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven. After the crostata was done, I made the whipped cream (chill a mixing bowl and beaters, then beat whipping cream with a little vanilla and confectioner's sugar until desired consistency is met). The result is below.

And, this is a slice plated with the whipped cream.

Delicious! Give it a try with whatever fruit is fresh/on sale this weekend (that's how we ended up with blackberries).

Awww...it's nice to be appreciated.

I arrived at work this morning to find a dozen hot pink roses and a card from my vice principal on my desk. She wanted to thank me for my hard work with the AP program and for generally being a team player (because I did work hard and I do play nice).

Then, as I was working on my lesson plans for next week (yes, I do still have some students), three of my seniors came in bearing a plate full of goodies from their farewell breakfast and offered some thanks of their own.

This job can be very difficult, but it is mornings like these that keep me going. It is also mornings like these that remind me that everyone needs to be recognized and honored for their efforts. No matter how small the gesture, we all appreciate being appreciated.

Now, I am off to recognize and honor my seniors at their transition ceremony. I really cannot believe that another year has passed, but within the next three hours, the class of 2009 will no longer reside on campus and the class of 2010 will have moved up to take their place. Such is the cyclical nature of schools.

Have a wonderful weekend, all.

Tenth grade's gonna make me lose my mind

My roommate is the tenth grade world history teacher and so I get the opportunity to observe her students in class every day. It makes me want to scream most days and every day is a struggle to keep my face in check. Here is a good example of what I'm talking about:

Teacher is reviewing an activity with the class.
J balls up paper and throws it across room at D
Teacher says not to throw paper
D throws paper ball back at J
Teacher says that it is unacceptable to throw paper
J gets ready to throw the paper ball at D again
Teacher yells "Stop!"
J whines "Why?!"
M interjects "This is college prep - we don't throw things"
J says "I want to" and giggles hysterically

Because...you know...disrupting class and not taking school seriously is funny.

Two years from today these children will be preparing to graduate high school and enter college. I have a hard time seeing it this week. Is this what it's like in all schools? Because sometimes I can't find my perspective.

PS: The title is a song reference and now I can't get that chorus out of my head...

I promised photos, so here they are...

Most of us listened to Obama's speech in the cafeteria, waiting for our chance to meet everyone.

Then, they arrived!

All of them!

More pictures on Facebook.

Taking part in history

Today President Obama signed the National Service Act into law, pledging to increase the size of organizations like Americorps, that offer service opportunities to all of us. He did so at my school. In front of our 10th and 12th grade students (okay, and in front of 100 members of Congress...but you'll forgive me for focusing on my own). After the signing, he, the First Lady, VP and Mrs. Biden, and former President Clinton came down to the cafeteria to shake hands with our 7th and 8th grade students and our staff. Our staff. Me. I shook hands with all of them (and...in a moment of complete starstuck-ness...proclaimed to the First Lady that I had graduated from her high school...so lame). I even got a little hug from Joe Biden. I didn't get to bring my camera into the room, so I'll post photos on Facebook once they become available to me, but, suffice it to say, this was truly the most amazing experience that I have had.

Now, I am not going to lie, I am beyond excited that I got to be in the same room with that lineup of people, let alone shake their hands, but what was really amazing for me was watching the expressions on our students' faces when those folks came into the room. It was as if someone amplified the emotion and the intensity in the room by 100. Children were crying, screaming, laughing as they took it all in. I heard the First Lady encouraging our students to do well, watched Vice President Biden hug a young lady who told him she'd never forget this moment, and saw students who are otherwise way "too cool for school" lose their minds. When everyone had cleared out, the students began to run around the room, showing teachers their hands, exclaiming, "I met the president." An eighth grade boy gave me a huge hug and told me that after he told President Obama that he was also a Tarheels fan, the president congratulated him on being a champion and then encouraged him to keep up the success. It was hard to leave campys this afternoon because I didn't want to stop soaking up the positive energy and pride flowing out of our students and staff.

I don't know what these type of events mean to the officials who participate in them and I don't know what they remember of them, but I know that this meant the world to our kids and that the memories of this day will stay with them forever. And I hope that the feeling they had today, the feeling that they are special, that they could be champions - I hope that stays with them as long as the memories of photos and handshakes.

A teacher complaint

I hate it when a student comes across me before they have my class and asks me what we are doing that day. Why? Because there is no good answer. Because you'll find out when you get to class. And because the follow up questions are always really lame. See for yourself:

J: Ms. Miller, what are we doing in class (Economics) today?
Me: Uhm...we are working.
J: Okay...are we doing a lot of work?
Me: Well, about 70 minutes worth. (The length of a class period today)
J: So...what are we working on?
Me: We're learning about the consumer and producer price indexes.
J: I don't know what that is.
Me: Right. That's why we're learning about it in class today...

You won't understnad how annoying this is unless you also teach, but, trust me, it is a really annoying conversation to waste any amount of time on. And I have it at least once every day. Sometimes in front of the agenda board on which the class topics are spelled out in excrutiating detail. ::sigh::

But, I don't want to sound all negative. It is a lovely day here in DC and there is a shortened class schedule to allow for an afternoon pep rally focused on academics. And Brian and I might go to the movies tonight. And I have Monday off. So, good things all around.

Happy week's end!