Sorry!

Summer posts coming soon...check back on Saturday for some regularly scheduled updates!

Lessons Learned (Thoughts on 5 Years)

Yesterday Dan and I celebrated our five-year anniversary. Since I'm a contemplative person, I like to think back to those five years and all that happened. Somewhere along the way we went from this, 

To this, 

And this, 

To this. 

I like to think that I've picked up a few notions along the way, and dropped other notions as I've learned that they are not useful. However, five years by no means makes me knowledgeable about the ways and means of marriage. 

Thus, I'm not really surprised at my surprise that yesterday was (I think) my favorite anniversary so far. 

See, Dan left this morning for a business trip in San Diego. I'm joining him in a few days after school lets out, and we're doing "real" anniversary stuff there (you know, exciting/romantic/adventurous). However, since yesterday was a Friday and I strenuously object to cooking dinner on a Friday night after a long and busy week, we decided to get Chik Fil A with my calendar card. 

(Thanks, Mom!) 

So our anniversary was pretty simple. We did chores together, got Dan packed and ready, ate dinner watching our new (to me) Netflix show, and just relaxed together. I didn't get dressed up or worry about my hair or how the evening would progress. I didn't think about what we should talk about, or set up weird expectations about how it's going to be this idyllic romantic evening (it never is, and if you've known us for any length of time as a couple, you know we're not really into traditional "romantic" stuff). 

It was, in short, a really lovely evening together. 

Happy anniversary, my love. 

Finally...Garden 2014

I tend to hold to the philosophy "better late than never," mostly because I'm usually late for things. This year, that happened to include my garden.



My in-laws graciously allow me to use their yard for my garden, and there was some back-and-forth this year about if the garden would move across the yard to a sunnier spot, debating the cost of moving it, whether we should increase or decrease the size, build raised beds...on and on.



It went on long enough that I was ready to let it go for this year, and just try again next summer. Not because of any upset, just because circumstances kept adjusting. But then, surprise!



Mom- and Dad-in-law went ahead and put some raised beds together, ordered soil, and voila! Garden started. I was super excited, both because it was minimal effort and my part, and we can still have a small garden.

I especially like the woodchips around the bed. No more weeding, or even mowing, around the garden!



Since it's smaller this year (and I'm very ok with that) I planted tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, and arugula. I'm hoping to add some herbs--mint, lavender, thyme, parsley.

Three tomatoes and four pepper plants. 

Arugula, and those little stalks in the back? Green onion roots I stuck in there. 

Even Little Dog approves. 

Spring Picture Walk

These are a few shots from my days lately. These are the reasons I haven't been blogging.



^_^

Shopping trips with Sister and Little Dog. We are so happy it's nice enough to be outside!

Adorable babies at picnics! This little gal has the greatest smile ever, amiright?!

So glad it's warm enough for frappucinos and iced coffee. My jam.

Babysitting awesome kids. This was the day of the massive thunderstorm, so we made hot chocolate! 

What have you been up to lately?

Author Study

Sorry for the long break in posts, guys! I started (well, resumed, after a long time) an after-school job in January, which leaves me with very little time in the evenings. Also, now that the days are longer and the weather is warmer, I'm spending more time doing things and being outside, and less time in front of my computer.

All excuses aside, I have a cool teachery thing for you! 

Last year in my second-grade class, I had a leveled reading group, compiled of students from across the grade. My crew were some of the high-fliers from the grade, so I was free to do some unit planning and curriculum creating. One of my favorite units was an Author Study of Patricia Polacco. 

The unit I did last year took us over a month of 30 minute lessons four days a week. This year, I am supporting a 2nd grade class in the afternoons and the teacher kindly offered to let me do something fun with a small group of students, so I'm recreating that Patricia Polacco unit, and I wanted to share it with you. 

I started off by giving the students (6 children, 4 girls and 2 boys) some background information on Patricia Polacco. You can go to her website for her full biography, but I just gave some basic facts--she is a prolific author and illustrator, she writes her own stories, retells folktales, and shares things from her own life in her writings and illustrations. 

The first book we read was Mrs. Katz and Tush. It's a great story, and a wonderful introduction to Ms. Polacco's writing and illustrating style. I asked the children to notice colors and patterns in the illustrations, and we talked about the types of characters in the book--namely, a child interacting with an older person. We also discussed the variety of religious backgrounds and skin colors in the book (Mrs. Katz is an older Jewish lady who befriends a young black boy). 

Next, we read Thank You, Mr. Falker, which is a story near and dear to pretty much every teacher ever. We had similar discussions as above, but including a discussion on learning disabilities and how we should approach differences in learning in ourselves and others. This is really valuable for students around 2nd grade, I believe, because they are becoming so acutely aware of who is different. Reassuring and imposing the belief that differences are ok is so important. At this point I also had the students make a T-chart about Patricia Polacco--one side was things they had learned about Ms. Polacco from her stories, and the other side was any connections, observations, or pattens they had noted while reading the first two books. 

This is where I got all teachery. The next two books in my mini-unit were Chicken Sunday and My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother. I divided my group into two sets of three students, and gave each group a pile of sticky notes and one of the books. I told them to picture-walk through their books, and jot down any questions they had or observations they made. I did ask them to keep their observations focused to the books at hand--any colors or patterns they recognized from other books, use of photographs in the illustrations, etc. This really served to pique their interest in what they were reading, as well as giving them purpose for the actual read-through since they wanted to answer their own questions. 

I asked the groups to write a 1-2 sentence summary--what they thought their book would be about based on their picture walk. Then, finally! Each group read their stories and I checked in (frequently--the groups sat at either end of a long table and I sat in the middle literally leaning back and forth between groups) to answer questions or help with sounding out tricky words. 

Next, rather than doing a traditional jigsaw, I asked the groups to essentially play the game Two Truths and A Lie. The groups wrote down two true facts or events from their book, and one false statement. They swapped papers and books, and predicted which of the other group's statements were false. Finally, they read each other's books! They loved this--it made the second book like a treasure hunt, and the group that guessed correctly was so proud. I was also pleased because they were reading closely and staying focused. 

From here, we went back and added to our T-charts. The last part of this mini-unit was a journal entry. I asked three questions: 

1) Which of the books we read was your favorite? 

2) Give two reasons why it was your favorite. 

3) Write two things you learned about Patricia Polacco from that book. 

It was super fun, and the kids did really well. I'd highly recommend any of Ms. Polacco's books, for teachers or parents or students. She writes so brilliantly and so feelingly. One of my personal favorites is The Junkyard Wonders, but beware, it's a tearjerker. 

What children's books or authors do you love? 

Still Here

Yipes stripes, it's been a while. I'll be back soon with some updates, pictures, and stories, but for now I'm going to bask in the sunshine with my puppy.

Currently

I'm working on a deeper post for you guys, but in the meantime...



Currently...



Watching: Breaking Bad...yes, I know I'm behind the times, and no, I don't really care. I know basically how it ends, and that actually makes it a little easier to watch. For me. We got to see Bryan Cranston on Broadway playing Lyndon B Johnson, and it inspired me to give this show (or as I call it, this study of human depravity) another chance. Dan loves it.

We are also watching Game of Thrones, and DUDE. I'm terrified, like, every other second. Which I'm pretty sure is how George R. R. Martin wants it.



Reading: The Secret History, by Donna Tartt. This is on some list somewhere of Books to Read in Your 20's, or Female Authors You Should Definitely Read, or Books That Will Simultaneously Make You Question Everything in Your Life And Appreciate How Good You've Got It. Anyway, it's extremely fascinating and compelling and so beautifully written. I can't quite believe these characters aren't real people, they're so vibrant and flawed.



Cooking: All the Things on the cast iron skillet. Dan got me two cast iron skillets for Christmas, and they are the.bomb.diggety (been hanging out with 5th graders too much). Every single time I use them, and carefully rinse them in scalding hot water with a soft cloth or bristle brush, then swab them with fresh oil to keep them seasoned, I am happy. Also when I eat the delicious things I am now capable of cooking (steak, anyone?).



Feeling: a bit disappointed in my spring break. I had Tuesday through Thursday off last week, and you know what I did with it? Pretty much nothing. I had all these grand schemes and they all fell through. Except planting seeds. And cleaning out one drawer. Oh well, take what you can get!



Stretching: I've been doing lots of yoga lately and I LOVE it. I feel like I've found a stride (pun) in my exercise routine--I like to run outside, not for very long and not very fast, and I love yoga. It makes me feel strong and powerful, instead of frustrated with how little I can do. My newly minted ab dents (they are certainly not abs in the proper sense) and nice toned arms don't hurt either.



Working: constantly, which is probably why I haven't been posting as much. Without trying to make some lame excuses, I have a pretty full plate without fun crafts or cooking projects. Here's hoping that changes over the summer (although only until the fall!).



What have you been up to lately?