Am I smarter than a 5th grader?

I'm at school right now... well, work. You know. My work is school.

Anyway, I have a student teacher right now and she is doing an amazing job. Because of this, I am out of my classroom a lot. This has been a little nice, I have to admit. 

Today, one of our 5th grade teachers is out sick. He had a substitute all arranged but the sub called in sick as well. What to do... 

Since Miss Chidester isn't doing an awful lot these days (and the office staff knows it), I was asked to go ahead and take over the 5th grade class for the day. Hmmm... it's been quite a different experience from first grade and we're not even to lunch yet. I'm in the classroom right now typing, trying not to make too much noise. It's their silent reading time and I don't think I've ever heard a classroom so quiet before... at least not in first grade. This would NEVER be possible with 28 six and seven year olds. It's kind of nice. They're so independent! I could get used to it, I think. Not that I WANT to change grades or anything. Except for the math... it scares me. I took a peek at it and it's been a while since I've seen math like that. I'm glad I remember how to make improper fractions proper, and super useful things like that. (insert lengthy eye rolling here)  Whew!

Should I become an overachieving YW advisor?

Seriously. I can't decide about this one.

Since I'm new to the Young Women's Program and will be teaching EVERY Sunday, I cannot decide just how "into" each lesson I want to get.

I've found several websites that have a ton of ideas for handouts for each lesson in the manual. They're super cute but I am wondering if I want to start that little trend with myself. Cute idea... but will the girls really care all that much?

The little card above is an example of what I can make. The idea and templates are all on the website. Hmmm... maybe just invest in a color printer?

It's not over 'till "you know who" sings...

Last night "The Boy" and I went up to The Capital Theater to cash in his Christmas present. For Christmas, I gave him two tickets to the opera and a gift card for dinner. Low and behold, but who does he take with him? Me, of course! (smart man) Date night! After a short journey to Salt Lake and dinner at the Olive Garden (with yummy desserts) we ventured across the street to the theater.

The opera we saw was...

Carmen

I thought it was great... except she dies... which I'm still debating if I think she "deserved" it or not. Don't get me wrong... no one deserves to die... but in an opera, apparently anything goes. Well, Jose killed her at the end because he didn't want anyone to have her if he couldn't. Personally, I didn't think she was ALL THAT. I mean, I may not expose my bare shoulders 24/7 but I certainly trump Carmen and you don't see anyone killing me because of it. Geez! But I also don't have cool dramatic music and a Toreador following me around everywhere I go either. Maybe I should hire one.

This morning when I got to school, I immediately got online to look up the next opera. I called "The Boy" and woke him up (totally worth it) to check to see if March 15th would be okay to go again. His tired butt gave me two thumbs up and cha-ching! Tickets have been purchased and we have another fun opera in store for us. Next on the list is The Italian Girl in Algiers.

 

 The Utah Opera website told me: "Gioacchino Rossini’s hilarious opera, The Italian Girl in Algiers, will delight you with a comic stumble of a shipwreck, missing lovers, jealous wives, and meddling servants. Rossini's energetic melodies and hilarious characters will have you laughing from curtain up to curtain down."

That's a pretty big promise, laughing from curtain up to curtain down.

 I'm looking forward to it!

Happy 81st birthday...

My three favorite excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech delivered on August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

"I have a dream that one day... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers."

Today at school our class talked about Martin Luther King Jr. and his movement to change the world. I am always in awe every year we talk about this. The students cannot fathom the world of segregation that existed a mere fifty years ago, and sadly still continues today in some places. After spending the morning talking only about the work and life of Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. we all went out to recess. While I was on recess duty, one of my students from last year came up to me on the playground. She is a cute little black girl. As she hugged me and was telling me about the book she had just read in her class, my thoughts left me for a few moments as I looked into her adorable dark face. Her smile seemed extra big and bright today to me as well. I couldn't help but think of all of the AMAZING students that teachers missed out on because of segregated schools. This little girl was a blessing in my classroom, and I am certainly a better person for having worked with her. Thanks, Dr. King... and happy birthday!

Let's move on...

I love Christmas as much as the next person.

I really do.
Really.

But can I just tell you that I think there needs to be some kind of city ordinance or monetary fine for people who are STILL lighting up their Christmas lights on January 15th. I really don't want to keep seeing everyones lit Christmas trees in their front windows at night or on my way to work in the morning. And, I'm W A Y past wanting to see Santa and Rudolph lit up on people's front yards as well. Take them down. please. And if you can't take them down, please don't light them up. Am I being too "Grinchy"?

Not neglectful, just neglected...

I have seriously abandoned my blog.
I resolve to do better!

2010 has already brought many changes my way.

At school, I started the new year off with a student teacher. I was pretty nervous about this because I didn't student teach and wasn't sure what exactly to do for her. I was an intern and jumped right in 100% with my limited experience. Fortunately she and I get along quite well and she is already taking much of the school day over. I felt like the best way for her to learn is to see me do it and then for her to do it herself. Experience is the best teacher! It's really fun for me to watch her.

I was also released from my calling as a Relief Society teacher. I've really enjoyed this calling (hey, a once a month calling is divine) but am moving on. I'll now be in the Young Womens program as the Mia Maid advisor and teacher. This will be a different experience for me and will take up a lot more time. I'll be teaching every Sunday except for the first one of the month, and will attend all of the planning meetings and weekly activities. (insert deep breath here) It will all be fine, right?

Things with "The Boy" are going really good. Can I just say... I love him. I think he's pretty wonderful. Hopefully there will be an exciting post sometime in the near future. I AM NOT MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT HERE... I'm just saying... I'll keep you posted SHOULD anything transpire.