How That Reading List Crashed 'n Burned

Last week, I posted about all the wonderful books I planned to read during my spring break.

So far, total, I have read three pages. Maybe.

I did a few other, more worthwhile (gasp) things instead. For example, I spent some time on my collage campus. Because I am student teaching from home, I have been on campus only two occasions this semester. I visited with a few friends, played games (Scrabble, Skee-Ball, Dutch Blitz), began watching two movies (Two Towers, and Sherlock Holmes, Game of Shadows. We didn't finish either of them), made food (you should try this), and marveled that I wasn't reading. I was also invited to a prayer service at a local church my last night on campus. It started at 7, and I planned to duck out around 8. The next morning was going to be very early for me. It turns out, this service was the first in a planned three day revival. And I didn't leave until 10:30, and I left truly blessed. I didn't get home until after midnight, which is very, very late for me, and managed about five and a half hours of sleep. Of course, the next day consisted of a few naps.

I also celebrated Easter with some family. We took separate cars, and I left half an hour after my parents and sisters. It was starting to snow; everything was slippery and visibility was pretty low for a while. I saw many cars in ditches and on the side of the road, a reminder to drive carefully. I had gotten ahead of the storm by the time I came to my exit. There was another vehicle on the side of the road about a quarter mile before the exit. The driver opened the door, and I was astonished at how similar she looked to my mom. So astonished I checked my phone. 17 missed calls. I pulled over on the shoulder, and called her back. She gave me directions and I picked up my dad and sister at the gas station with a full, five-gallon gas can.

Yes, there are still a few days left of my Spring Break. But I'm not going to miss opportunities with family and friends so I can read more books. That is an important lesson I have learned about reading. It can always wait.

Winged Allusions

soon, we will have painted lady butterflies.

what a mess

bookshelves overflowing with library books.
half the dishes are washed,
the other half are on the counters and table.
caterpillars trying to be butterflies.
floor needs vacuuming.
clothes need folding and hanging.
letters need writing.
still haven't fully unpacked from two weeks ago...
kettle is whistling.
one novel is waiting to be read
another, to be written.

the kitchen sinks are clogged.
homework is everywhere.
papers and projects and exams, oh my!
I think I'm catching a cold.
nearly out of cereal.
nearly out of patience.
sister coming to visit. (where will she sleep!)
bathroom could use a clean.
desk could use tidying.

Three Weeks 'Till School's Out For Summer

Books Instead of Movies

(If you think this post is going to be about the Hunger Games, or any other book-to-movie, sorry.)

My professor offers extra credit for a 700 word write up connecting a movie to our class topic of the day. You have to watch the movie within the last two weeks (or go rent it and watch it again), and you have to bring up the title during class to get it approved, and give everyone else a chance to watch it and do the write up.

Its a great idea, I think. It gets us students to think critically about whatever American Government Topic we are discussing that day. It gets us to apply what we talked about in class and read about in the chapter to a movie, which, as a future teacher, I think is a great way to 'trick kids into learning'.

One day, near the beginning of the semester, after class I asked the professor if I could read children or young adult books instead of watching movies. I could read a lot of thoughts on his face , one of which went along the lines of 'No one has really asked to read a book instead of watching a movie before, hmm.' Out loud, he said, 'Sure! I don't see why not!'

However, I've found that it is much more difficult to think of books that have to do with specific political issues, than it is to think of movies. With some help, though, I've found enough and I'm on my way to the maximum extra credit offered.

Hooray for books!

(If you're wondering, no- I have not seen the Hunger Games. Maybe I'll see it in a few weeks. Or when it comes out on dvd. We'll see.)

In Passing

I was at a conference recently, not the reading one, but a different one for teachers (and pre-service teachers).

Some friends and I were walking the huge, packed halls trying to find the room we were supposed to be in. The place is huge, and there are so many people, and we're already late, but we keep searching. Better late than never.

In passing, I heard one teacher say to another, "But its not in the standards, so I'm not going to teach it."

Gasp.

I realize the reality I am going to be teaching in, where we really do want the students to learn certain things by certain grade levels. I understand the reality of it. I do not know what the teacher was talking about, maybe it really was something that was okay to drop from her curriculum. But, how sad is that?

There is so much out there that our standards (Illinois, or Common Core even) don't cover (or wont, when they finish writing them). And thats expected. The standards can't cover everything. The students can't learn everything. I mean, the teachers can't even teach everything. Sometimes they don't even cover all the standards. But How Sad that things we love or things students love are being ousted from our schools because we just don't have the time and motivation to teach it. (Which reminds me of my conclusion to my post on Beowulf)

It is reality, I know.
But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Or that I can't try to change it a bit when the 'pre-service' comes off my title, and I'm a full fledged teacher.

Friends

Sometimes you are really hard to get along with.
Sometimes you drive me crazy.
Sometimes we see things differently.
You've got to understand I don't get sarcasm.
You've got to understand I'm not taking as many classes as you, and that's why I can 'goof off''.
You've got to understand that I unwind differently than you.
I've got to remember you get stressed out.
I've got to remember many groups and people vie for your attention.
I've got to remember to take a deep breath and remember its not the end of the world.

We may not perfectly get along all the time, but we're still going to be friends because we are held together by something more than the superficial and surface level. We are sisters in Christ. We have many good memories together. And these little things aren't going to separate us-- not if I have anything to say about it.

Playing Hooky

You're in Springfield, the capitol of Illinois for two and a half days for a reading conference. Just a few blocks from the old state capitol, and a few more from the current state capitol. What are you supposed to do? Well, skip one of your sessions, of course.

Outside the Old Capitol 

High-fiving a bronze statue

What I wish my handwriting looked like

Outside the Current Capitol
of Illinois.

Inside the new capitol

On the railroad tracks

Down the street from Abe's old house
(that actually looks pretty new...)

Illinois Reading Council Conference

The exhibition room at the conference

Patricia MacLachlan

Blue Balliett

A small part of the line for Gary Paulsen

Gary Paulsen

Some girls from our group being interviewed about the conference

Dessert and Tea

Rush

Oh. We're leaving 24 hours sooner than I'd thought.
I'd say it was a misunderstanding, but that sort of implies a miscommunication,
 and really I just must not have been paying attention.
But, that's a good thing.
The departure time being sooner than I'd thought.
More reading.
:)

Laughing

I have insertional tendonitis. And maybe bursitis.
I just found out over the weekend.
Add that to the plantafasciitis I've had for eight years, and my feet are a bit of a handful.

It was starting to get to me, too. I was pretty much throwing myself a pity party on the one hour drive back from the doctor's. The doctor gave me a lot to do, and the healing process is going to take several months. In the meantime, lots has to change. Like the kind of shoes I wear, and by bedtime routine, and the activities I can participate in. It was almost too much to handle. I'm not going to lie- I cried a few times while I was trying to figure this all out.

But then God reminded me that I'm on his side. That his call on my life is still active. That if all these foot problems get in the way of that calling, I can call on him for healing. And if they don't get in the way, he still wants to use me. He still uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. I don't need perfect feet to do what God has called me to. And so long as I'm bringing the Good News, my feet are beautiful.

I'll be okay. God can still use me. I'm not going to let all these " itis' " get the better of me, and bring me down. There is something different about my life, and its times like this when it needs to show. It doesn't matter what 'Future' throws at me, I've  got God to help me through it. And suddenly, I'm able to laugh at the future again.

When you

When you find out two and a half days before the exam that its not over the lecture at all- its over the text.

Yeah, that text you havn't been reading.


And suddenly all other plans go out the window.
(and you wish the book could follow ;) )

Don't Get Distracted

especially when you know better.
you never know what will happen.

Timewasters

There are so many things that I do that don't really need done. Even while I'm doing them, I'm rolling my eyes wishing I'd just stop, and do something that actually needs to get done. Because there is a lot that needs to get done- in a week and a half all classes and finals for the semester are over, and its time to careen into Christmas break, my short trip to England (!), and then back for school again. Too much to do.

And yet, here I am, tapping my fingers all annoyed with myself.

Creating new playlists in iTunes, and renaming old ones
Changing the artwork for the music in iTunes to paintings by Renoir and Monet
Making sweet iced tea (ok, this one isn't a timewaster at all. This is perfectly acceptable)
Learning about copyright laws, and the presidents, and whatever else seems interesting at the time
Rewriting everything I have left to do for the semester- over and over and over in different places
Trying to keep five different book lists updated. They are all the same books, just in different places.
And, well, blogging about how I keep wasting my time.

I'd like to say I'm off to do some homework, but in all likelyhood I'll keep changing the artwork on iTunes...

Manvember

or, No-Shave-November. Here's a video advertising the month-long, campus-wide event:



cute, yeah, but... wrong? Yes, I think it is wrong.
Growing a beard doesn't make you a man.
Getting your mancard punched doesn't make you a man.
Asking a girl out doesn't make you a man.
Knowing how to open doors doesn't make you a man.

Well, not according to God's standards anyway.
For Him, and hopefully Christians in general, the things that make you a man are more like
showing respect to all people
defending the widow and orphan (ironic, then, what happens at the beginning of the video)
and using your life to glorify God.

Go ahead and grow the beard, and do all the other things MRL is sponsoring this month, just be sure you don't get fooled into thinking that suddenly, now you're a man. Search the scriptures and find out what is on God's list- what things would God have on the mancard?- and let those define your manhood.

chapel woes

Everyone's been talking about how great chapel was this week.
But I think they think it was so good because the speaker uses a lot of humor. I like the humor, don't get me wrong- and its satire, even, which can be more fun.
And his messages to us are good, and worth hearing (even if slightly hidden behind all the jokes).
But why is it the students here only seem to talk about the speakers who are funny? Why don't we encourage our friends to come to chapel to hear the speaker tomorrow, because he was so great yesterday,

when the speaker is serious, and convicting, and challenging?

Frightened

We watched this video in class today before we learned about students who are emotionally and behaviorally disturbed. Not gonna lie, I cried. Its times like this I don't know if I can stand being a teacher. When I realize how difficult it will be. When I see all the negative parts of the job. I mean, I know how important it is for good teachers to be out there, but sometimes I don't know if I can handle it. It frightens me.

Student

Sometimes I don't want to be a good student. I don't want to read the textbook. I don't want to pay close attention throughout the whole class. I don't want to take good notes. I don't want to study hard for quizzes and exams. I don't want to come to class fully prepared.

But then I realize the irony, because I'm an education major. And of course I will expect my students to do the assigned readings, and pay attention, and take notes, and study, and come to class prepared. So, I end up doing those things because it feels fake to not do them, with the intent of requiring them of others.

But that's not good enough. I should have more of a sense of obligation, no? I should have a better work ethic. We are called to do our best at whatever we do, to try to be the best at our job. And right now, my job is Student. And the type of work I do, shoddy versus exemplary, represents Christ.

growing (again)

try two!

because almost all the plants from try one died.
and I'm still not sure why.
Some possibilities:

~there are rocks at the bottom of the pots, and the pots are small. Maybe the roots reached them, and couldn't find dirt and drink and nutrition? there's a parable about that, you know...
~I watered them too much. once, twice, a day. because they're right there, and on my mind. Out of sight out of mind, but when you can see them, you're thinking of them.
~too cold. I mean, the're right next to the air conditioner. And you usually grow plants in the heat of spring and summer.
~not enough light. the only windows we have face north. Which isn't ideal, I've heard. And one of the pots was pretty much without direct lines to sunlight (accident!).
~aaaannndd, I'm finding bugs in the dirt. NOT good.

no idea if any of those are real reasons why my plants died.
but, I'm watering less, and I moved the large pot precariously onto the windowsill. We'll see how long they survive this time!
The seed packets said to expect seedlings in 10-14 days for some, and 14-21 days for others. I must have picked overachieving seeds because they started showing after four days. Should I be worried??

Oh, and I've added daisies! I got two packets from a friend, and just planted them today. I can't wait!

Can You Do It?

Saturday was beautiful. This would be the first time I had roller bladed in years. I'm doing pretty well, I think, for someone who hasn't roller bladed in a while. But then, up ahead, I see some small rocks scattered across the paved path. Last minute, I try to avoid them, but my movements were too sudden and I lose my balance. I fall backwards, landing on my hands.

My right hand has it worse, the skin was actually cut open a little. I just have pavement looking bruises on the heal of my left hand. But my right hand hurts, a lot. It stings, and somehow my wrist feels thick when I try to move it. Thick like something is trying to keep it from moving. I make it back to the dorm on the roller blades, and don't risk climbing the stairs with them on. I manage to take them off only using my left hand. I run cold water over my right hand, and elicit help from my roommate and my friend, both of whom are nursing majors.

They buy me a wrap, and ice my wrist. They both say it is sprained, and my RN aunt gives a third opinion that says the same thing. A sprain. In my writing hand. The weekend before finals. My timing is impeccable, no?

I've had to do a lot of things without my right hand, and now I challenge you:

things I dare you to do without using your dominant hand

type

eat

read a book

ride your bike

brush your teeth

 eat a banana

turn a key and open a door

Pack

pay for something

use a computer mouse

eat a banana

turn on your car

shift gears in your car

take a bubble test

wash your hair

change your clothes

put on socks

write

tie your shoe

how many were you able to do?

So Many Books

I just received an email from a professor of the Children's Lit. Class I have signed up for next semester. She suggested getting a head start on our required reads over Christmas break- I looked at the list, and there are 26!
I am going to try to avoid reading any books I've already read, and try to find some good 'new' ones. In double parenthesis I've written a book or two I'm thinking I may read. If you've got a better suggestion, though, leave me a comment!

1.     Reread one of your favorite childhood books ((I'm thinking one of the Boxcar Children books, or Too Many Books))

2.     Newbery Award Book ((The Giver))

3.     Caldecott Award Book (( Tuesday ))

4.     Rebecca Caudill book from the most CURRENT reading list atwww.rcyrba.org (( Frindle))

5.     Book by the Annual Invited Campus Children’s/YA author (2010-2011 – Sharon Draper) (( Out Of My Mind)

6.     Wordless Picture Book (( Home))

7.     Picture Book with Words ((Miss Nelson Is Missing [I'm familiar with the story line, but I've never actually read it] ))

8.     Easy-to-Read Book ((Tarantula Toes))

9.     Mother Goose Book (( My Very First Mother Goose))

10.     Counting Book   (( One Gray Mouse))

11.     Alphabet Book (( The Vegetable Alphabet Book))

12.      Graphic Novels (( Secret Science Alliance and the Copy Cat Crook))

13.     Folktale (( The 'Wasna' (pemmican) Man and the Unktomi (Spider)))

14.     Fairy Tale (( Sinbad the Sailor))

15.     Fable, Legend or Tall Tale (( Trojan Horse, or King Aurthur) 

16.     High Fantasy Work  (( Need Suggestions for this One!!!)

17.     Realistic Fiction (( The View From Saturday))

18.     Historical Realistic Fiction (( Up a Road Slowly or War Without Friends))

19.     Poetry book (( Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices)) 

20.     Informational Book published in last 5 years (( Suggestions Welcome!!!)

21.     Biography or Autobiography (( Who Was Leonardo da Vinci?))[Unless you have a better suggesion...]

22.     Real-Life – Children with Challenges ((Need Suggestions!)

23.     Multicultural Work (African or African American) ((Othelo, A Novel or With Every Drop of Blood: A Novel of the Civil War))

24.     Multicultural Work (other than African or African American) ((Peacebound Trains, or Finding My Voice)

25.     Digital or online text (( Any Good Ideas??)

26.     Any Touchstone of your choice. A touchstone is a title that has stood the test of time (i.e., it is still in publication), and other books are compared to it (i.e., the story is timeless). ((There Are So Many, I Can't Decide. Suggestions Encouraged!!))