Things I didn't do on my Christmas break

My break is almost finished and over my almost 2 weeks off I did not....
1. clean out the fridge
2. grade any papers
3. go to the gym every day ( just once).
4. convince O that pooping in the potty was really a much better option than his pants.
5. lesson plan
6. take down my christmas tree even though it is already January
7.ever set my alarm clock
8. shave my legs
9. keep O home from preschool just because me and shaun had the day off
10. read my usual allotment of books during a break ( only 3).
11. eat moderately
12. step on a scale
13. write anything profound
14. save money by not going to starbucks or eating out
15. think twice before getting another tattoo
16. manage to stay awake until midnight on New Years Ever ( heck I didn't even try)
17. finish Owen's first Christmas album ( this was his 3rd).
18. deny my son the pleasure of watching cartoons any time he asked
19. shower daily
20. manage to convince O that he could not get seconds on communion at the christmas eve service without him throwing a fit.
21. get caught up on anything excpet possibly and most importantly sleep
22. remember to mail the bills on time ( yes again)
23. stay a few extra days after Christmas at my parents house
24. hesitate when anyone offered to watch my child
25. dust anything
26. shed those extra few pounds

what did I do you might ask? I slept in, I played spiderman and pirates, I went to a few movies, I ate until I had a stomach ache, I turned up the radio, I hung out with old friends, I drank coffee, I got a tatoo, I outgrew my skinny jeans, I got to spend some time alone with my husband, I watched Tech come back and win their bowl game, I played cards and pretty much a lot of nothing. So yep, it was a pretty good break. I love a good list and checking things off of it as much as the next girl, maybe even more so.... but why ruin a good break with productivity.

Comments

multiple choice

As I write I am procturing a test ( yes on a Saturday, and no I am not getting paid for it.) The room is silent. The only noises I hear are pencils scratching on papers and pages turning. If I listen closely enough I swear I can hear their brains turning. I have always been a good test-taker. I would still regularly brag about my SAT scores if it wre socially appropriate to do so(or an actual indicator of anything meaningful). There is something comforting about multiple choice. (well as long as you don't have the crappy all of the above or none of the above choices...just the classic A, B, C, D variety). There are parameters. Multiple choice means you have options. The right answer is right in front of you, and all you have to do is find it. Even if you don't actually know which one the right answer is there are usually clues, it can be narrowed down or worked backwards. Even a blind guess is likely to be right 25% of the time. These aren't bad odds. All you have t...

Turning the question

My school has been sending me to some inquiry training. The “i” word has been thrown around since my education classes in college. It is one of those things that is really good as a concept but kind of hard to pull off in the classroom well. For lots of reasons. But the big one number is because teachers are reluctant to let go of the control. To let the kids loose with a concept and see where they end up. Let them discover, own it and share out all on their own. Without intervening. Then push them a little bit further and clear up any misconceptions that they are holding onto before they slip out your door. This is supposed to be the most meaningful way for a kid to learn. For them to discover rather than memorize. One of the other problems with inquiry and science is that kids have stopped learning how to ask questions. My son bombards me with whys all day long. Why are owls nocturnal? (which comes out a lot more like “not-turtles”) Why do I have to take a shower? Why ...

Meet the teacher

People keep asking me how I am or if I am going to cry. And few weeks ago, I kept saying no. I mean, I am used to dropping Owen off everyday at school. Or I’m at least used to Shaun dropping him off. I am used to school. I do it everyday. But. The first day is Monday. His and mine. And I am not ready. And I don’t just mean that my syllabus isn’t copied and that there are boxes all over my room. That would be true. But I am having doubts about my kid entering this world. The kind with lockers and buliten boards and hall passes. And tests. A world where from now on, he will be receiving a grade. Where he will be compared, judged, scolded, and ranked. We met his teacher the other night. Turns out I taught her son not too many years ago. Owen was off playing within seconds with a friend from his soccer team. Tearing the room apart. Ecstatic when he saw a big tub of legos. He will be just fine. But I wasn't so sure about me. I was suddenly filled with questions. The basic ones. Like how...

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