Occupational hazards

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.