About two and a half years ago a friend of mine bought me a black travel journal with an Eiffel Tower on it (very fitting for me). I meant to write in it, but of course I haven’t. It is sitting in my bookcase. At first, I wanted to talk about my travels moving to North Carolina and the travels while living to North Carolina, but I felt like I didn’t have much to say even though I have traveled since I have been here. I think I may have missed the whole point to that journal. It was not just about travels that I take, but also the adventures of life.
Moving to North Carolina was a new adventure for my life. A completely new experience, which I thought I would never have. I never thought I would live in North Carolina. I have learned so much since I have been here. I have learned about culture, about local history, and met people from all over the country and other countries as well. I have had the experience of getting a top notch education through working on my master’s degree in education. I have learned how the schools here are similar and different in many ways from New Hampshire. I would not give up these experiences for anything. I have grown as a person and feel more independent than ever.
It was a lot of work to relocate, but I would do it again. I love living here, but in some ways I wouldn’t mind moving to another area and experiencing and learning more. I am looking forward to completing my master’s degree and having more time to experience life, travel, and learn more.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Top Five Things I Love About Fall
I love fall. It is my favorite season. I wish we could just repeat September to December all year long. I was spoiled for many years when I lived in New England. Fall there is so beautiful. It just has that romantic feeling to it with fall craft fairs and beautiful changing leaves, especially when you travel up to the mountains and lakes while visiting those small New England towns. It is still really beautiful in North Carolina. One year we went to Old Salem in Winston-Salem, NC in November. It was so pretty to see the old homes with the falling leaves and drink hot apple cedar.
Last weekend I picked up some pumpkins at Whole Foods for our front walkway, so now it feels so fall like when I leave for student teaching and come home at night. It has been in the 90's all week in North Carolina, but the weather is supposed to cool down to the 80's this week and it might just start to feel like fall is in the air.
Here are the top five things I love about fall:
1. Pumpkins and pumpkin flavored food
2. Cooler fall weather--I love those brisk fall mornings
3. Leaves changing color
4. Halloween decorations, trick or treaters, and carving jack-o-lanterns
5. Fall fairs
Last weekend I picked up some pumpkins at Whole Foods for our front walkway, so now it feels so fall like when I leave for student teaching and come home at night. It has been in the 90's all week in North Carolina, but the weather is supposed to cool down to the 80's this week and it might just start to feel like fall is in the air.
Here are the top five things I love about fall:
1. Pumpkins and pumpkin flavored food
2. Cooler fall weather--I love those brisk fall mornings
3. Leaves changing color
4. Halloween decorations, trick or treaters, and carving jack-o-lanterns
5. Fall fairs
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Reflections on Literacy
September is nearing its end already. Every year International Literacy Day is celebrated on September 8. I just wanted to take a few moments to discuss literacy and share a few resources.
I am working with some of my students on reading fluency right now. Reading fluency is a newer concept in schools. It was discussed in the National Reading Panel Report. The National Reading Panel is a great place to start for looking at best research based practices for reading instruction. Reading fluency deals with how quickly you read, if you pause appropriately, and if you use proper tone and inflection when you read. Fluent readers are really engaging to listen to. A non-fluent reader sounds monotone and thier reading sounds and feels laborious. Being a fluent reader increases your enjoyment in reading. Being a fluent reader has also been linked to reading comprehension. If you read fluently and can add the proper emotions and expressions, it is easier to comprehend what you read.
I found an article on Scholastic.com that discussed some tips for teaching reading fluency that I wanted to share http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4367. One of the recommendations is to try readers' theater in the classroom. I am currently working with a group of students on readers' theater. We just started a few days ago, and I can already hear some improvement in their reading (at least for the script we are using).
I also wanted to share an article that was published in the last edition of Instructor Magazine about Dyslexia, which includes some tips for working with students with Dyslexia Dyslexia: What Teachers Need to Know.
I have also added a few new links for reading resources on the right toolbar of my blog including Dyslexia Texas, LD Online, Reading Rockets, and the National Reading Panel.
Though International Literacy Day has passed for the year, literacy is something that should be constantly promoted and celebrated. As part of my student teaching I went to a literacy leaders meeting with the teacher I am working with. The literacy leaders (part of Special Education Services) has a saying that, "Literacy is a right, not a privilage." I think we should all consider this in our professional and personal lives. Literacy is key to a happy life.
I am working with some of my students on reading fluency right now. Reading fluency is a newer concept in schools. It was discussed in the National Reading Panel Report. The National Reading Panel is a great place to start for looking at best research based practices for reading instruction. Reading fluency deals with how quickly you read, if you pause appropriately, and if you use proper tone and inflection when you read. Fluent readers are really engaging to listen to. A non-fluent reader sounds monotone and thier reading sounds and feels laborious. Being a fluent reader increases your enjoyment in reading. Being a fluent reader has also been linked to reading comprehension. If you read fluently and can add the proper emotions and expressions, it is easier to comprehend what you read.
I found an article on Scholastic.com that discussed some tips for teaching reading fluency that I wanted to share http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4367. One of the recommendations is to try readers' theater in the classroom. I am currently working with a group of students on readers' theater. We just started a few days ago, and I can already hear some improvement in their reading (at least for the script we are using).
I also wanted to share an article that was published in the last edition of Instructor Magazine about Dyslexia, which includes some tips for working with students with Dyslexia Dyslexia: What Teachers Need to Know.
I have also added a few new links for reading resources on the right toolbar of my blog including Dyslexia Texas, LD Online, Reading Rockets, and the National Reading Panel.
Though International Literacy Day has passed for the year, literacy is something that should be constantly promoted and celebrated. As part of my student teaching I went to a literacy leaders meeting with the teacher I am working with. The literacy leaders (part of Special Education Services) has a saying that, "Literacy is a right, not a privilage." I think we should all consider this in our professional and personal lives. Literacy is key to a happy life.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Greeting Cards
I love greeting cards, and I love writing greeting cards. I have loved designing and writing cards since I was a little kid. I used to love using construction paper to create homemade cards for family members when I was in elementary school. Sometimes I really miss creating my own cards. I have always wanted to publish my own greeting cards or at least write a greeting card and be able to see it in a store someplace. Someday I am actually going to put aside some time to accomplish that.
Hallmark cards are my favorite. I found this Hallmark website that has some lines from their cards published, and I wanted to share this site and a couple Hallmark card quotes that I really like. Of course a couple of my favorite are about travel. Check out the site at http://www.hallmark100years.com/From-Our-Writers
"There is no greater measure of our worth than our capacity to love."
"We travel not to find ourselves in the world, but to remember that we have a world inside of us."
"Life is short. Have a donut."
"Be your own exclamation point!"
"Overnight successes usually only look that way to everyone else."
"Sometimes the words you don’t say are the most important."
"A wise man travels light on the road trip of life. Wisdom is his map… wonder, his fuel… and a good story, his favorite souvenir."
Hallmark cards are my favorite. I found this Hallmark website that has some lines from their cards published, and I wanted to share this site and a couple Hallmark card quotes that I really like. Of course a couple of my favorite are about travel. Check out the site at http://www.hallmark100years.com/From-Our-Writers
"There is no greater measure of our worth than our capacity to love."
"We travel not to find ourselves in the world, but to remember that we have a world inside of us."
"Life is short. Have a donut."
"Be your own exclamation point!"
"Overnight successes usually only look that way to everyone else."
"Sometimes the words you don’t say are the most important."
"A wise man travels light on the road trip of life. Wisdom is his map… wonder, his fuel… and a good story, his favorite souvenir."
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Update on Student Teaching
What a challenging profession teaching is, but very rewarding as well. I had no idea how much work teachers put in every week until I went to school for education. I have a new appreciation for all the hard work millions of teachers put in every day.
The students I have been working with are great. This week I am going to be teaching a third grade math class. That means planning and teaching my own lessons. This weekend I have to plan three more days of lessons for math. I already planned for Monday and Tuesday. I have done some instruction over the past week. I did a couple of warm ups and worked on helping a couple of students finish their assignments yesterday. I am excited, but a little nervous as well.
It is going to be a busy week. Wish me luck.
The students I have been working with are great. This week I am going to be teaching a third grade math class. That means planning and teaching my own lessons. This weekend I have to plan three more days of lessons for math. I already planned for Monday and Tuesday. I have done some instruction over the past week. I did a couple of warm ups and worked on helping a couple of students finish their assignments yesterday. I am excited, but a little nervous as well.
Monday, September 6, 2010
10 Things You Might Not Know About Me
1. I am a huge World War II history buff.
2. A couple years ago I lost 70 pounds. I wrote an article about my weight loss for the New Hampshire Mirror in January 2008, which you can read at How I Lost 60 Pounds. I lost another 10 pounds after writing this article.
3. My favorite Broadway musical is "Wicked."
4. I love to play Scrabble.
5. My favorite book is "1,000 Places to See Before You Die." I recommend everyone own a copy.
6. I have always wanted to be a teacher. When I was a kid I used to play school with my brother and some of my friends.
7. I love cheesecake.
8. I sometimes sing in the shower.
9. I love watching Disney movies.
10. When I was a kid I always wanted a cat, but I couldn't have one. Now Joe and I have two cats named Kitsy and Freddy.
2. A couple years ago I lost 70 pounds. I wrote an article about my weight loss for the New Hampshire Mirror in January 2008, which you can read at How I Lost 60 Pounds. I lost another 10 pounds after writing this article.
3. My favorite Broadway musical is "Wicked."
4. I love to play Scrabble.
5. My favorite book is "1,000 Places to See Before You Die." I recommend everyone own a copy.
6. I have always wanted to be a teacher. When I was a kid I used to play school with my brother and some of my friends.
7. I love cheesecake.
8. I sometimes sing in the shower.
9. I love watching Disney movies.
10. When I was a kid I always wanted a cat, but I couldn't have one. Now Joe and I have two cats named Kitsy and Freddy.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Relive Our Wedding?
We had a blast planning it (or maybe I should say I). Sometimes I wish I could go back and plan it again and have a second wedding day. I would probably change some stuff, but some of it I would leave the same. I would probably have less people at the wedding. Getting married at a bed and breakfast in the mountains or some kind of destination wedding would be fun.
It was even nice planning the details like the invitations. I spent hours and hours looking at invitations. I wanted the invitations to be perfect. Once Joe and I finally decided on a fall themed invitations with gold lettering, I had my mom write all the addresses, since she has such nice handwriting. I wanted the invitations hand written. I just like the elegance and the personal feel of hand written invitations.
I loved our red and gold and fall theme, since we got married in the fall, but I might have done something more personal for a theme if I were to plan my wedding today. How cool would it be to have a Paris themed wedding?
A wedding is a once in a lifetime opportunity to throw a party of that magnitude. You could have a vow renewal and throw a big party as well. Maybe that is something Joe and I will do. It is always fun to plan a party.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)