Planning Period

Oh this magical period of "planning." Some days, I feel like I spend the entire 45 minutes or so running laps around myself preparing for the sophomoric bunch of adolescents that are too knowledgeable in things they shouldn't be to ransack my classroom, my brain, and my nerves. (Did I use the word ransack correctly?) Oh, the magic of a planning period. Instead of driving myself crazy with the things that I will never be able to get done, I am blogging. My contacts are still fuzzy from last night's sleep...or lack thereof. Jack is sick and has a bodacious sour throat. He will accidentally blow his nose and then rub his hands all in his own snot, tasting a little here and there, all the while having no clue that what he is doing is socially unacceptable and a little gross. He makes the socially unacceptable absolutely adorable. I believe my contacts are still dry because of the killer dry air that is hovering over north Alabama. No matter how many times I may complain about the humidity - give me humidity and you have given me freedom. I have a desert of dry skin and dry air makes being outside or anywhere intolerable. Don't even get me on the issue of static-y hair. No amount of dryer sheets OR dirty hair will relieve the static in my hair.
Am I complaining? I might be a little. But, after all, it's my planning period.
I do like my friend Brandie's latest post on her blog. If I had the brain power I would attach a link here: ___________________. I don't so you can find it on my sidebar.
Currently, I still have 25 minutes. I'm not wasting this "planning period." I am well aware of what my classes will be doing today and how I will instruct these eager minded students in the field of literature and English. But not my seventh graders. My co-teacher will teach usage today. It is always tricky when learning the difference between choose or chose, lay or lie, between or among, etc. So, I will have a little extra breathing time during 2nd and 3rd period! Eighth grade? The Diary of Anne Frank. I love this little girl. I read the book in seventh grade and told everyone that we were once friends in a far away life. What did I know? Still, her story, along with others, fascinate me. I could never imagine being faced with such challenges.
My Reading Skills class and I are reading a book entitled A Matter of Trust. It is the third book in the Bluford High Series. My students love these stories! And hey, if I can teach theme, main idea, sequence, etc using stories these hard to please young teens like - then I am all for it.
I have suddenly realized that I must make copies. We are only allowed 100 copies a week. Yes, hard times. Imagine if schools systems were managed like the NFL. Phenomenal.
So this blog is just as random as I am going to let it be. It helped wake me up. So, good morning Tuesday, Here I Come!!!
And yes, I do realize that I called Jack's throat sour instead of soar!! uhmm

Weather Worries

This is what happened in Huntsville last night at the end of the 5 o'clock hour. Serious, right? Luckily, the twister never really touched down and it did not come anywhere near us. I wish that I could describe the sky that I saw as the tornado was in the air. It was amazing and unbelievable. I never saw the tornado (only on tv) but the sky looked as if it were being pulled into a funnel. There were these big, thick, green, gray, blue, clouds that moved like lava. And if you looked in the other direction of the storm - blue sky. Right past the storm the stars were shining. It was incredible.
Huntsville and tornado are two words that do not sit well with me. Here is the aftermath of the school that I was in during the 1989 tornado.
Let's just say that I was a little scared of storms for a long while after that day.
Even as I sit and type this my heart begins racing. Nonetheless - seeing a tornado hover over Huntsville is pretty intimidating and amazing at the same time.
It would be nice if the weather would settle down now.

Ouch

Jackson bit me last night. He broke the skin.
I am not too sure how I feel about this situation.

Jack has his top two front and bottom teeth. He chowed down on my thigh last night with these very accomplished four teeth.

Thinking that Jack's mouth may be hurting him, I grab a cold rag and wrap it in some ice chips for him to munch and crunch to soothe any soreness.
It became clear that his mouth did not bother him all because he immediately started flinging the rag around trying to shake all of the ice free. He had fun. Me? Not so much.
So, in his excitement the little monster comes after me again in full force with his mouth wide open ready to chow down on my poor skin.
He did not get a successful bite this time. Few tears and then he went to bed- at 6:45pm last night.

He doesn't know that biting is bad or that it hurt me for that matter. At the same time, he shouldn't come after someone with a full mouth of teeth leading the way...

I am still not sure how I feel about this situation.

sweet little boy - strong jaws

At a glance

Jackson is now able to point out where his belly butt, nose, ears, and mouth are. He can tell you when something is awht or hot; He will shake his head no if he really means yes. Jack is so adorable when he wakes in the morning or from a nap...or any period of sleep.Jack can play the harmonica like no other one year old alive.
Jackson can blow a whistle as if he his directing twenty five kids. He can take the bread off of a bologna sandwich and just eat the meat. Every time he finishes a meal, the rest is thrown on the floor. Jack has conquered jello and pudding. He is also picking food up off his plate and placing it onto his little fork or spoon to feed himself. He can turn his own bath water on and take a bath and poo poo at the same time. He is a magnet to his daddy and wants so badly to give Dale a big lovin' hug. He is learning so much so fast. He will say shoes. He places everything in a specific place and if you move it you get a shake of the head. Jack loves black beans and hates to be fed. He will play hide and seek all day long. His new bike is his favorite toy and he is the absolute love of my life!!!

"IDK" because that was the answer I got

It is cold. I am wearing my favorite "round the house pants." I have my fake uggs on and I only had to work until 11:30 today! Oh, and it is snowing here!!! Not sure if it could get any better!!
Jack and Brian made a very large snowman this morning. By large, I mean at least past my knees! Brian swept the snow up from the drive way and was able to put together the cutest man of ice and snow ever! It was Jack's first snow adventure...not counting last year - Jack stayed inside while Dale and Brian played in the snow!
Not only did Jack get to play in the snow...but he also managed a fat lip too!
Brian and I, preoccupied with our Rubik's cubes, allowed our son to step off the bed whacking his face on the way down.
There was blood.
I almost had a panic attack. I had to hold him as much as he wanted to hold me.
We needed each other.
This is not the first time for Jack to receive a fat lip. His monkey costume cost him some serious pain when he slipped wearing the monkey slippers.
He is tough.

It took me an hour and a half to get over Governor's Mountain on my way home from work. I took video of the driving conditions with my phone. I will try to upload soon. I don't know how to do that so I will first have to figure it out.
This might take some time.
Brian and I had a 'discussion' one night during the holiday break. I left to get wipes and came home with acrylic nails. Not the most sane moment for me. I didn't even wear a jacket. I had leggings on. Fake Uggs. I looked seventeen. Rad!
oh, it might take some time uploading the video because typing/texting with anchors on the ends of my fingers is not that easy of a task.

Anyhow. I love 2010. You have to say, "twenty-ten" too. It creates a bigger impact. I will tell my students that "it's twenty-ten, we have to walk/dress/act like we have a purpose in life." They love it. I am such a cool teacher.
Try it. You'll notice the difference the minute it rolls off your tongue. STRONG.

Jack humms a lot. "Ohh-wee" and "uh-ohh" are his two favorites. He is the best.

And for a photo... Big CHEESE

(last thought: do you think exclamation points are overused? I think I use them too much because I can't come up with better descriptive words...uhmmmm)