Movin' Out. Sadly.

Friday will be a sad day for me. It's the last day of my student teaching, and I'm leaving my kids. I'm sort of torn between emotions: sadness and happiness.

You know what, I'm not going to lie to myself. I'm not happy to return to Flat Rock. I really can't stand my job and I've really enjoyed being with my third graders from student teaching. I've actually used some of the techniques I've learned at Mary Baldwin, and I've been able to try out my teaching wings. Going back to Flat Rock means that I have to relinquish all authority and be an assistant again. Instead of making decisions and planning, I go back to being a coat rack and a babysitter. It sucks and I am NOT happy about it.

Sure, I'm happy to be giving my cooperating teacher her class back. I can't say I've been thrilled with her class 100% of the time, but for the most part, I've really enjoyed myself and I will miss the kids and her. I just hate going back to Flat Rock. I'll be the most educated assistant there and that just grates my nerves. Here I am with a Masters degree, doing lunch duty and parent pick-up. Grr.

Next year. Next year I'll have my own classroom. And no, don't give me any of that bullshit "You should be thankful you have a job." How can I be thankful for a job I hate. Oh go ahead and say it- you're an ungrateful bitch, Nay. Yep. Sure am. I just can't justify settling for something less than I deserve or have earned.


Whew. It feels good to get that out of my system. Thanks for letting me vent.

Frustratedly yours,
Nay

Dogs Rule.

I have always loved dogs, sometimes more than people. Dogs are more forgiving. They are unconditional. They are everything we wish we were. Going overboard, maybe a little. Who cares.

Anyway, I found the FUNNIEST web series ever for dog lovers like me, and you. It's called Puppy Love and it's really really funny- http://www.lstudio.com/puppy-love/puppy-love.html

The first webisode is called Puppy Love, and it stars Famke Janssen. She is going out with a new guy, and they come back to her place. He cuts the date short when her dog Owen farts and grosses him out- she doesn't notice or react the way he does, and he leaves. Her gay friend says that her dog is her boyfriend. Anyway, watch the webisode and fall in love like I did!!!

Doggily yours,
Nay

A Wicked Case of Writers Block

I am suffering from serious writers block on my seminar paper. It's about assessment alignment and why teachers should focus on aligning their assessments to their students and their learning goals, rather than just using the canned tests from the textbook or from some exam writing software. It's better for the kids if you do it yourself, and ultimately, it's better for you the teacher.

But I just can't get it out on paper!!! I have research, and I have an outline and a semi-decent thesis, but I just can't figure out where to start, and what to say! I'm sitting here crying because I'm so frustrated!

This is a monster paper for me because it is what is going to decide if I am a good candidate for a Masters. It's sort of like writing a Masters thesis, but it's not as long. But it's just as serious, and I think that is starting to wig me out. I know I'll write a good paper, but will it be good ENOUGH for the panel to think I deserve a Masters?

I'm freaking out and I need love and support. And maybe some writing advice.

HELP!

Nay

I'm a Sucker for a good ad

TV marketing has changed the way Americans live, it is so true. And we often buy products just because we like commercials. Guilty as charged.

Case in point, Progresso soups. I love their ads these days- with the cans on the string "Ring Ring!" - so cute!

Check out their website for all their soup ads Progresso Soup ads. My favorite is called "Going Out" and the one about the wife and the husband losing weight.

Not only do I like their ads, but I also like their soups. A can of their soup is enough for lunch and they are quick and easy. AND TASTY!! My favorites are the Traditional Chicken Noodle and the Clam Chowder. YUM-O!

So yes, the commerical makes me remember to buy their soups. And the taste of the soup reminds me why I buy them in the first place- pure comfort food goodness.

Score one for the marketers at Progresso. Another consumer bites the dust :)

Soupily yours,

Nay

Mommy Says Share... Just Not Germs

An interesting thing happens the longer you are a teacher. When you first start teaching or are around elementary age kids a lot, you get sick ALL THE TIME. I mean, you pretty much have a cold the first 6 months of your job. But as you work there, your body builds up an immunity to their germs. And believe me- these kiddos are GERMY.
Perfect example? Swine flu season last year. We had 600 kids out over a 2 month period. And here I am right in the thick of it with their snotty noses, their phlemy coughs, fevers, you name it. I saw it. And I didn't even get the sniffles. Didn't get the H1N1 shot either. (thats a whole other story)
My point is, you build up a tolerance to the germy wormys. Which is good, until you change schools and encounter a whole other set of germs.

Ergo, the bronchial infection I now have, thanks to my 3rd graders. We've had students out most of last week with these god-awful coughs, and now look who has a cough- Miss N. Way to go 3rd graders.
And you know, when I go back to FRES after student teaching is over, I'll probably get sick from their germs too.

Le sigh.

Coughingly yours,
Nay

Not so big Apple.

So I did it. I went to New York. I saw the sights. I heard the sounds. I smelled the... smells? Yes, I did that too. Those street vendors smell like Heaven. And the subway manholes smell like Hell.

Our trip started on a sour note- the city was pelted by 9 inches of snow Thursday night into Friday morning. The plane was supposed to leave at 10:45, was delayed until 12:45, then didn't take off from Richmond until around 3:30. We barely got there, rode the AirTrain and the subway to Manhattan, checked into our hotel, dressed, and scooted out the door at 7:30 to make our 8:00 Broadway showtime.

The Broadway was the best part of the trip, hands down.

And that's about it.

It didn't thrill me. I wasn't in awe, I wasn't blown away, I wasn't swept off my feet by the grandeur that is Manhattan that is New York City. In fact, I was rather disappointed. I don't know if it was because I was bummed about missing half of a day in the city because of our delayed flights, but I just wasn't feeling it.

It didn't really help that my travelmates and I argued pretty much the whole time. Snap here, snipe there, sarcastic comment everywhere. That really put a downer on my trip. I know I was just as bad as they were, but in my defense (and I can say that because this is MY blog), I'd never seen New York before, and so my questions were genuine, and I didn't appreciate hearing a snide or sarcastic retort to my statements or questions. Moral of this story? Travel alone.

Secondly, it really wasn't all it's cracked up to be. There was no glamour- about the only thing glamorous were the pictures I took of Prada, Gucci, and Ferragamo storefronts on 5th Avenue. Truth be told, it looked a lot like a taller version of DC. Well, been there, done that. DC is prettier- more monuments, more history. There, I said it. The city I couldn't wait to move away from is now the city I prefer.

Would I visit New York again? Of my own accord, no. If I was cajoled and begged, told I'm a bad friend, or that this was someone's dying wish, yes, I would go.

But let me forewarn you- if I go again, I will do what I want to do, when I want to do it, and if you don't want to come, fine. Let me find my way around this place. If I can figure out DC, I can figure out NYC.

That being said, I want to thank my best friend and travelmate for the birthday gift of a lifetime- Lion King tickets. Truly, that was the highlight of my trip and it could not be topped, not in a million years.

Ok maybe Europe. But that's another milestone birthday.

Honestly yours,
Nay