Wednesday, June 23, 2010
New toy!
I've learned about all of these really cool free tools on the internet you can use in the classroom. This one allows you to pick an animated avatar, and make 30 second animations. One teacher says she makes them for the kids to watch when she's gone from class! Such a cool idea, and the students would be able to use them for so many different situations.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Asheville Weekend
There were lots of cool stencils and murals around town
French broad chocolates- so so good! It took us a long time to decide which ones to try.
Joy and Stephen at Poscana's a very tasty restaurant
The sun came out when we were nearly done with our hike
I'd nearly forgotten how beautiful my home state is. I still love the NW, but NC is lookin' pretty good too.
I went to Asheville with Susan, Joy and Stephen and we had a blast. We stayed at Mama Gertie's campground, one of the nice ones with hot showers, went hiking, wandered around, and as usual, ate a lot of good food. It's a really cute little city, and very, very queer friendly! We're going back for Susan's birthday next month, now I'm really looking forward to it even more.
Monday, June 07, 2010
Weekend randomness
Summertime comes so much earlier in the south! It was in the 90s this weekend, so crazy.
Celebrating Carol's birthday
Locopops- so good! This will be a new place to take visitors.
Dressed as Anne of Green Gables with puffed sleeves for Susan's children's books party
Celebrating Carol's birthday
Locopops- so good! This will be a new place to take visitors.
Dressed as Anne of Green Gables with puffed sleeves for Susan's children's books party
Friday, June 04, 2010
Student surveys- 2nd and 4th block
More fun with student surveys, from my other two classes.
2nd block- the sophomore writing class-
One thing you should not do is be sarcastic- That’s her job. [yep!]
I would make sure you had a lot of pens and a lot of paper. She loves to make her kids write; I personally think she gets a high off of editing all the papers. She likes to have fun so you can joke some but when she says work you better do it. [damn right!]
4th block- You can tell they're my rowdy group from their responses, so funny.
This class is fun and Ms. Pennell is on the crazy side so expect her to crack a smile on your face. [...] Don’t ever act a fool Ms. Pennell will get you. [I pity the fool!]
What y’all should expect from this class is a good teacher and a good class and learning environment. Ms. Pennell is a great teacher if y’all can be good students. [this student always keeps me organized, and was annoyed by her overly chatty classmates. It's hard to keep the most energetic kids focused at the end of the day.]
The students should expect a strict teacher. But, a strict teacher is always the best teacher.
Ms. Pennell is a great teacher but don’t make her mad
Hey next year’s class I just wanted to let you know that if you got Ms. Pennell for a teacher and you don’t like homework you’re in big trouble.
Once you take Ms. Pennell’s class you should expect a non disrespect policy. By this I mean DO NOT CALL ANYONE out of their correct or preferred name. […] BE PREPARED TO WORK
She is a very funny and a cool teacher to hang out with. So will help you with anything in life.
She’s super nice and know how to make learning fun. Don’t mistake her kindness as softness because she knows how to handle her class. As long as you try to do what it takes to pass, she’s there with you 100%. […] The best part of her class is the fire drills (if you luck out and have her class 4th block) and the video clips we watched. Oh yeah, I can’t forget about the fantabolous stories we read.
Ms. Pennell has HIGH expectations, you will have quizzes maybe every 2 weeks. […] You should NOT use negative remarks in her class AT ALL or you will be in BIG TROUBLE.[can you tell I don't let them get away with anything?]
What I like about English 2 is that we take it to another level and we expand our minds think deep to find the answers
2nd block- the sophomore writing class-
One thing you should not do is be sarcastic- That’s her job. [yep!]
I would make sure you had a lot of pens and a lot of paper. She loves to make her kids write; I personally think she gets a high off of editing all the papers. She likes to have fun so you can joke some but when she says work you better do it. [damn right!]
4th block- You can tell they're my rowdy group from their responses, so funny.
This class is fun and Ms. Pennell is on the crazy side so expect her to crack a smile on your face. [...] Don’t ever act a fool Ms. Pennell will get you. [I pity the fool!]
What y’all should expect from this class is a good teacher and a good class and learning environment. Ms. Pennell is a great teacher if y’all can be good students. [this student always keeps me organized, and was annoyed by her overly chatty classmates. It's hard to keep the most energetic kids focused at the end of the day.]
The students should expect a strict teacher. But, a strict teacher is always the best teacher.
Ms. Pennell is a great teacher but don’t make her mad
Hey next year’s class I just wanted to let you know that if you got Ms. Pennell for a teacher and you don’t like homework you’re in big trouble.
Once you take Ms. Pennell’s class you should expect a non disrespect policy. By this I mean DO NOT CALL ANYONE out of their correct or preferred name. […] BE PREPARED TO WORK
She is a very funny and a cool teacher to hang out with. So will help you with anything in life.
She’s super nice and know how to make learning fun. Don’t mistake her kindness as softness because she knows how to handle her class. As long as you try to do what it takes to pass, she’s there with you 100%. […] The best part of her class is the fire drills (if you luck out and have her class 4th block) and the video clips we watched. Oh yeah, I can’t forget about the fantabolous stories we read.
Ms. Pennell has HIGH expectations, you will have quizzes maybe every 2 weeks. […] You should NOT use negative remarks in her class AT ALL or you will be in BIG TROUBLE.[can you tell I don't let them get away with anything?]
What I like about English 2 is that we take it to another level and we expand our minds think deep to find the answers
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
End of year surveys from the kiddos
My first year of teaching for 'Merika is almost over! I had the kiddos fill out surveys after their final, and write letters to next year's English students. The results were at times touching, occasionally ironic, and mostly hilarious. Here are a few of my favorite tidbits from today, I may post more as the week goes on so stay tuned.
Ms. Pennell is a very good teacher. Shes not as bad as most teacher. She can be mean at times when your not focus or trying to work hard. She will be looking for you to use your bring A LOT! [I think she meant to write brain, not bring. At least I hope so]
You should not talk about how wonderful Twilight is because Ms. Pennell might bite yo’ back off! You should talk about how wonderful Harry Potter is because Mrs. Pennell will shower you with praise.
You may often see Ms. Pennell eating dark chocolate but you mustn't ask for any (she's very stingy when it comes to her chocolate- she claims it's her medicine but me and my classmates don't think so). [Funny cause it's true!]
You will play a lot of review games. Ms. Pennell never gives away the answer. You have to look up and break down the context. EVERYTHING has a symbolic meaning and you have to figure it out. [This one makes me all teary- yesss!!!]
I would like to warn you that you must have a personality when you come into this classroom. If not Ms. Pennell will bring it out of you. Twilight fans watch out b/c this teach has a huge reason why she loves to burn the Twilight saga and obliterate it from the world’s existence. So you better come with some prepared FYI. I didn’t. [wahahaha!]
MS. Pennell is very sarcastic and calm so I hope you are not sensitive to sarcasm [...] She is also very creative and takes little pride in what she does. She is a horrible drawer and singer so ready yourself.[I don't think she meant to say I don't care :-) ]
Do her homework because she will make you stay over and do it if you don’t. DO NOT SLEEP in her class or even put your head down. [you can guess what this kid tries to get away with]
Students of next year you better study, work hard, and succeed in this class it will help you greatly. Also Ms. Pennell is a good teacher don’t give her a hard time. [This one is especially hilarious 'cause the writer is failing because he's so lazy]
She is nice to get along with but most don’t think so. [love it!]
And here was the best, tear-inducing answer to the question "What's the most important thing you learned this year?" from the same student who talked about sarcasm:
"To be open minded in others opinions and consider their feelings." Teacher gold! You can't buy that good feeling of molding young minds
<3>
Ms. Pennell is a very good teacher. Shes not as bad as most teacher. She can be mean at times when your not focus or trying to work hard. She will be looking for you to use your bring A LOT! [I think she meant to write brain, not bring. At least I hope so]
You should not talk about how wonderful Twilight is because Ms. Pennell might bite yo’ back off! You should talk about how wonderful Harry Potter is because Mrs. Pennell will shower you with praise.
You may often see Ms. Pennell eating dark chocolate but you mustn't ask for any (she's very stingy when it comes to her chocolate- she claims it's her medicine but me and my classmates don't think so). [Funny cause it's true!]
You will play a lot of review games. Ms. Pennell never gives away the answer. You have to look up and break down the context. EVERYTHING has a symbolic meaning and you have to figure it out. [This one makes me all teary- yesss!!!]
I would like to warn you that you must have a personality when you come into this classroom. If not Ms. Pennell will bring it out of you. Twilight fans watch out b/c this teach has a huge reason why she loves to burn the Twilight saga and obliterate it from the world’s existence. So you better come with some prepared FYI. I didn’t. [wahahaha!]
MS. Pennell is very sarcastic and calm so I hope you are not sensitive to sarcasm [...] She is also very creative and takes little pride in what she does. She is a horrible drawer and singer so ready yourself.[I don't think she meant to say I don't care :-) ]
Do her homework because she will make you stay over and do it if you don’t. DO NOT SLEEP in her class or even put your head down. [you can guess what this kid tries to get away with]
Students of next year you better study, work hard, and succeed in this class it will help you greatly. Also Ms. Pennell is a good teacher don’t give her a hard time. [This one is especially hilarious 'cause the writer is failing because he's so lazy]
She is nice to get along with but most don’t think so. [love it!]
And here was the best, tear-inducing answer to the question "What's the most important thing you learned this year?" from the same student who talked about sarcasm:
"To be open minded in others opinions and consider their feelings." Teacher gold! You can't buy that good feeling of molding young minds
<3>
DC trip- touristy pics
Standard tourist shot, but can you see me? Susan kept claiming she couldn't find me in the museums because my gray shirt made me blend in.
Waiting for the Orangutans at the zoo
at Mary Washington University, Fredericksburg, where Susan went to undergrad
Susan in front of her old dorm
Zoo touristy shot, with random stray child
John holds Julia up to the titi monkey for comparison
I love rays!
Dupont Circle
I found this mermaid book, and got it for myself. It's awesome.
Hirshhorn
Too bad the triangle isn't upside down
I love how they look like they're floating
fountain outside the Hirshorn
the monument
Susan and I spent Memorial day weekend in DC, where we hung out with her librarian friends, did some touristy stuff, ate a ton of good food, played a bunch of board games, and hung out with my family. Good times!
DC trip- family fun times
Winston and Anna Bear
We spent a lot of time with Julia, she's so cute! And a very well behaved baby. Good job, parents.
Dance dance revolution- John likes to get jiggy wit it.
We must have got a high score!
Suzanne and Julia at the zoo
John works to maintain his abode
I wanted to bring Julia a present, and we found this awesome chair in Durham. I wish I'd got one for myself, it makes for comfy lounging.
Julia really liked Susan. The kid has good taste.
Mini ping-pong!
John and Suzanne at the Korean bakery
After a night in the hotel, we stayed with my cousin John and his wife Suzanne, and their adorable 6 month old Julia. We had a ton of fun, played about a million games, cooed at the baby, petted the animals, and got up to general silliness. A lovely visit that we will no doubt repeat.
DC- food!
Sticky rice with jack fruit at the Bangkok Cafe in Fredericksburg, VA
lemon grass tofu and veggies at Nam-Viet near the DC zoo
Golden Nuggets at Sunflower, a tasty vegetarian restaurant John & Suzanne took me to last time I was here. Still delicious!
Breakfast at the Korean bakery with John and Suzanne- we got way too much stuff
Appetizers at Ezme, a Turkish restaurant in Dupont Circle
Before I got there, Susan had scoped out the cafeteria at the Museum of the American Indian. So good! Such interesting dishes, and I mean interesting in a good way. Yum.
Lovely main courses at a Himalayan place in Adams Morgan
This is so much better than complimentary bread- flavorful soy beans and puffed rice
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