Summer Jennie

Summer Jennie is much different than School Year Jennie (a.k.a. Ms. Bless).  Thanks to Michelle at Big Time Literacy for the idea!

Summer Jennie can’t tell you the date and there’s a 50/50 chance she gets the day of the week right.

Summer Jennie doesn’t set an alarm. (But often gets wakes up to a barking dog around 9.)

Summer Jennie can handle if her son flips a water bottle.  Once.  And then any further flips are followed by an immediate “STOP.”

It may not seem like a lot, but my nails NEVER get this long during the school year.

Summer Jennie has plenty of time to read books, not just listen to them during a long commute.

Summer Jennie only drives if she wants to drive.

Summer Jennie only has to wear shoes when entering a store.

Summer Jennie’s nails grow past her finger tips.  (Although I’m not sure exactly why, since neither Jennie chews her nails…maybe because she actually takes the time to keep them painted?)

Summer Jennie gets bored.  And she appreciates the boredom because she knows in less than a month, boredom will be something she only dreams about.

Summer Jennie is still a teacher though, so she still uses a t-chart sometimes…

 

 

 

Shopping Carts

Most of the chapters of Write Like This are organized by purpose.  In the Express and Reflect chapter, one idea I tried is childhood games.

Today I’m trying “Things I find disturbing…”  from the Inquire and Explore chapter.  The idea is to write a list and then choose something from the list to write long about – Why do you find that thing disturbing.

Another option he suggests is for students to research using the newspaper and find articles that are disturbing to them, research, and then write about that.  However, based on the horrible things I am sure to find in the news this week, I am going to go a little less research-based and more light-hearted…shopping carts.  Here is my flash draft…

Why do I find people leaving shopping carts in the parking lot, not in the cart corral, so annoying?

I have very early memories of sitting in the car hoping my mother would not get back out of the car to yell at the person leaving the shopping cart in the parking lot.  I have other memories of my mother reprimanding people for leaving the shopping cart in the parking lot. 

Oh, and there is that time that my aunt, my mother’s twin, got out of the car. My mom, my sisters, cousins, and I sat watching her chew out some unsuspecting shopper.  Awkward!

I am not the type of person to give a random stranger a piece of my mind.  When I see a shopping cart sitting alone in the middle of the parking lot, I push it to a corral or push it inside.  My son is used to it at this point.  If the person that left it there is still near, a dirty look is all I share. 

As a new mom, getting the groceries and the kid in the car wasn’t simple.  However, I was never willing to leave the cart, so I started parking right next to the cart corrals.  Problem solved.  Try it people!

For some reason, there are never cart corrals near the handicapped parking…What’s with that?  Yet, I once saw a lady that was obviously having trouble walking, push her cart up to the other carts in front and then struggle back to her car in the handicapped lane.  I remember thinking, “If she can do it, why can’t everyone?!”

So, I guess my answer is that putting shopping carts away has been ingrained in me since childhood.  I wonder if one day my son with have the same issue?

What grates on your nerves?

 

Dear New Co-teacher

Yes, the world has ended.  Jill Pickle has left me and I will be working with a new teacher this year.  I know, I will survive and develop another great relationship.  I am past my self-pity and looking forward to meeting my new partner.  Since co-teaching is like a marriage, I want my new partner to have a heads up.

Dear New Co-teacher,

I don’t know who you are yet, but very soon we will be a team.  We will be spending so much time together our cycles will sync.  (TMI…I know, but get used to it.)  Here are some things you should know about me.

1.  I may look angry, but I’m not.  Some people call it the “resting *itch face.”  Don’t be intimidated.

2.  Smiling and small talk don’t come naturally to me.  Please don’t take it personally if I look at you and don’t greet you.

3.  Along the same lines…sometimes I will respond in my head and not verbalize it.  (And not realize I didn’t say it.)  I apologize in advance.

4.  I am a morning person.

5.  I have some control issues.  I don’t delegate well, but I am working on it.

6.  I am dedicated to these kids and will do everything that I can to help them learn.

7.  I am an organized mess.  Although, from the outside, it will just look like a mess.  I will try to change, but I just don’t think it will ever happen…

8.  I want you to tell me if I make you angry, upset, frustrated, etc.  I can’t fix what I don’t know.

9.  I whole heartedly believe that co-teaching is the best for ALL students.  All of the students are OURS and together we will help them grow.

Good Luck!

Your New Partner,

JennieB

To go along with Michelle’s BigTime Blogging Challenge, here’s a poem…