Paper cuts. Oh man. I really should be more careful when making copies...which I do several times a day...because I started my student teaching placement last week!!
(I don't have many occupational hazards, and nothing else in this post has anything to do with them.)
I am now assisting with teaching a 9th grade biology class! It is delightful. My cooperating teacher (CT) is very insightful and easy to work with, and I'm having fun getting to know the kids. I get excited when I arrive at school in the morning and see all the exciting things happening around the campus (which, by the way, looks like a botanical garden...Midwestern friends, did you know that high schools in California have lots of outdoor hallways/courtyards?) Last Friday, the school's student improv troupe was performing during lunch to encourage students to join. The school is also putting on a good musical this fall and starting a show choir. I know that some of my students are in band, and I really hope I'll have the opportunity to hear them play!
So far, we've been teaching an introductory unit to biology/science. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, we're taking the students on a nature walk! We're also going to be looking at some water samples under the microscope on Friday...hopefully they are full of protists. I. LOVE. BIOLOGY.
Speaking of which...Today, Hank Green (who is one-half of the brotherly duo whose video blogs I follow) posted this lovely, quirky video about butterflies:
Which also reminds me that I got a new issue of Mental_Floss in the mail today. There's an amusing article in it about what various historical artists and thinkers did to get inspired or motivated. Apparently when Greek orator Demosthenes felt distracted, he would shave off half his hair...that way, he felt like he looked too ridiculous to leave the house and would then stay inside working for weeks. Regardless of whether this anecdote is true, I find it hilarious.
I realize that this post was somewhat rambling. Such are the inner workings of my mind. That is all for now...I now have a strict teacher bedtime to which I must adhere.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
A pink convertible and an old film
I've been thinking that I should have a "You know you live in California when..." feature on this blog.
In this edition: You know you live in California when you see a pink convertible driving around campus with the top down.
Since my last post, I have spent my time enjoying my mornings, taking a class that requires minimal work, and socializing. I did have to go to the orthopedic surgeon last week for a check up, which ultimately left me feeling blessed that I am not more damaged. There were some people there with some pretty grisly wounds, as well as a lady who, while we were waiting to get x-rays, decided to share her entire life story of all the tragedies that have befallen her skeleton (most recently, she broke 6 ribs when a suitcase fell out of an overhead bin and onto her.) I could not feel more fortunate. I do hope her ribs heal okay...it sounded like she was pretty bummed about not being able to do Pilates anymore.
This weekend has been filled with fantastic shenanigans, among which were Thursday night bowling, watching Planet Earth with nerdy friends, attending a friend's choir concert, eating ice cream at an adorable diner, and seeing an old film in the theater. I am choosing to focus on the latter, as it was a cinematic experience that almost rivals midnight Harry Potter in epicness. There is a movie theater in downtown Palo Alto that only shows old movies, and I went with a friend to watch the Audrey Hepburn film Sabrina there earlier this evening. We had both seen the movie before, but we discovered that the experience of watching old movies is immensely improved by sitting in a theater full of guffawing old people. Everything that I had previously found chucklesome in that movie suddenly seemed hilarious. And, when the movie ends, the curtain falls, people applaud, and an old-fashioned organ rises from the floor with an adorable little man playing happy music!! That is icing on the cake, my friends. Can't wait until they show Bringing Up Baby in September...
In this edition: You know you live in California when you see a pink convertible driving around campus with the top down.
Since my last post, I have spent my time enjoying my mornings, taking a class that requires minimal work, and socializing. I did have to go to the orthopedic surgeon last week for a check up, which ultimately left me feeling blessed that I am not more damaged. There were some people there with some pretty grisly wounds, as well as a lady who, while we were waiting to get x-rays, decided to share her entire life story of all the tragedies that have befallen her skeleton (most recently, she broke 6 ribs when a suitcase fell out of an overhead bin and onto her.) I could not feel more fortunate. I do hope her ribs heal okay...it sounded like she was pretty bummed about not being able to do Pilates anymore.
This weekend has been filled with fantastic shenanigans, among which were Thursday night bowling, watching Planet Earth with nerdy friends, attending a friend's choir concert, eating ice cream at an adorable diner, and seeing an old film in the theater. I am choosing to focus on the latter, as it was a cinematic experience that almost rivals midnight Harry Potter in epicness. There is a movie theater in downtown Palo Alto that only shows old movies, and I went with a friend to watch the Audrey Hepburn film Sabrina there earlier this evening. We had both seen the movie before, but we discovered that the experience of watching old movies is immensely improved by sitting in a theater full of guffawing old people. Everything that I had previously found chucklesome in that movie suddenly seemed hilarious. And, when the movie ends, the curtain falls, people applaud, and an old-fashioned organ rises from the floor with an adorable little man playing happy music!! That is icing on the cake, my friends. Can't wait until they show Bringing Up Baby in September...
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