Before the Storm
Labour Day weekend always feels like the calm before the storm. Tuesday I'll be standing in front of a new class and then it'll be jumping in again with both feet. Taking it pretty easy this weekend. We have the first season of "Heroes" on DVD now, so we keep re-watching an episode or three each day building up to the new season at the end of the month. It's reacquainting me with just how much I like this series- it just has a unique atmosphere that's at once calming and compelling. Just watched "The Breakfast Club" here on TV as I worked on my long range school plans on my laptop. I'd forgotten how good that movie is.
I've set up a cozy corner here with a surge-protected power bar and all so I can do school work on the laptop in the living room and I'm sure I'll be here in front of the TV with the laptop a bunch from here on in :). It's encouraging, though, and maybe it's because the laptop is still such a shiny new toy, but I'm way ahead in my school work than where I would usually be at this stage. Usually I'd be scrambling to get my time table and long range plans done in early September and, hey, I already have them done. It's great that it's so easy to set up templates for day plans and unit plans, too, as that should save me tons of time as the year goes on.
Spent most of last week in a education course called TRIBES. It's a behavioral process that can be used in the classroom to teach students attentive listening, respect, empathy, self-esteem, giving appreciation, all in a non-threatening environment. Well worth the time spent. I'm going to implement some of the lessons right from the first week of school.
Have to get my haircut tomorrow. Have to go get groceries for school lunches. Have to get to a teacher store tomorrow for some last minute supplies.
And today I'm going to cook cous cous for the first time. I know NOTHING about cooking cous cous, but John got it into his head that we should try it and there were recipes on the cous cous box, so I figure it'll be an adventure.
And so it goes.
I've set up a cozy corner here with a surge-protected power bar and all so I can do school work on the laptop in the living room and I'm sure I'll be here in front of the TV with the laptop a bunch from here on in :). It's encouraging, though, and maybe it's because the laptop is still such a shiny new toy, but I'm way ahead in my school work than where I would usually be at this stage. Usually I'd be scrambling to get my time table and long range plans done in early September and, hey, I already have them done. It's great that it's so easy to set up templates for day plans and unit plans, too, as that should save me tons of time as the year goes on.
Spent most of last week in a education course called TRIBES. It's a behavioral process that can be used in the classroom to teach students attentive listening, respect, empathy, self-esteem, giving appreciation, all in a non-threatening environment. Well worth the time spent. I'm going to implement some of the lessons right from the first week of school.
Have to get my haircut tomorrow. Have to go get groceries for school lunches. Have to get to a teacher store tomorrow for some last minute supplies.
And today I'm going to cook cous cous for the first time. I know NOTHING about cooking cous cous, but John got it into his head that we should try it and there were recipes on the cous cous box, so I figure it'll be an adventure.
And so it goes.