No excuses for the long time in between updates; I was gone and now I'm back. :)
Life updates, part 1.
School. I'm currently on spring break and loving the life of a teacher when we get week-long vacations. It came at a much-needed time; I think every teacher and student was desperate for the time off. In early April, our 3rd through 8th graders had state testing. What does that mean for first graders? Well, we were effectively banished from the school building and went on field trips every day. The park, the zoo, the insectarium, the Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge, and the movies to see Hop. If that sounds like an easy week to you, you clearly don't work with children. ;) It was a fun week and soooo nice to have a break from the typical week of planning lessons and saying things like, "Sit down," "Pay attention," "I'm up here!" and "Seriously, your pencil broke again?" Buuuuut it was definitely thoroughly exhausting- constantly counting children to make sure no one jumped in with the lions, trying to maintain the reputation that McDonogh 32 does have decently behaved children, being in the sun, and convincing children that is only 9:30, and while yes, they brought their lunch, that no, it is not yet lunch time.
My amusing story of the week centers around a little girl we'll just call M. M absolutely cracks me up; she's the youngest in her family and also the only girl, and she's adorable... and knows it. Earlier in the week, she heard Cori on the phone with his mom, telling her he loved her, and she was ready to pick a fight with him, thinking he was talking to another girl. She's got Miss Taylor's back. ;) So here we are, Thursday morning, over halfway through our week of field trips. I'm rushing around before school starts, making sure lunches and buses and money are all ready for the hour drive to Baton Rouge, when I see M... with a rabbit. She insists that it is a fake rabbit... and that the poop coming out of it is 'fake poo.' I almost believe her- because really, what child, even at age 6, brings a bunny to school? I pick it up, and discover that it is, indeed, a live bunny. I carry it out into the breezeway, absolutely befuddled over the fact that a student actually brought an animal to school, and wondering what the heck we do with it while the rest of the school is taking their most important tests of the year and we prepare to go on a bus trip. M spends a few minutes denying that it's her bunny, but finally gives in, insisting that it 'accidently hopped into her lunchbox' and that she 'didn't know' until she got to school. Please note that this lunchbox is a small tin box with a latch... so M evidently has a very talented bunny.
I know this should have been the moment for a stern lecture, but really, the situation was just too comical. We arranged for the bunny to stay in a teacher's classroom for the day, and I called M's mom so that she wouldn't worry if she noticed that the family bunny was missing. Mom picked up the bunny later that day, I don't believe M will be bringing any more pets to school anytime soon.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
just like Spongebob
Yesterday, I went to the beach with some of my favorite New Orleans friends. We had a great time and it was everything a beach day should be- napping, reading, playing in the ocean, and of course... getting burnt.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am red. Painfully, awkwardly, awfully sunburt. The kind of burnt where it hurts to walk and where you live for the moments that you slather aloe on yourself. In retrospect, 15 SPF wasn't quite strong enough.
It will be amusing to see my kids' reaction to my sunburn. Since most of my kids have minimal interactions with white people, sunburn is a new phenomenon for them. My favorite story was an interaction between one of my kids and a co-worker last year. This was right after I'd run the Mardi Gras Half Marathon, so I came to school with a burnt face.
Waynetrell: Ms. Holmes, what happened to Ms. Taylor's face?
Ms. Holmes: She was out in the sun, so she got red. It's called sunburn.
Waynetrell: Oh.... that happened to Spongebob once!
This cracks me up beyond belief... Waynetrell's only context for sunburn was an episode of Spongebob. That's right, Waynetrell. I am just like Spongebob.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am red. Painfully, awkwardly, awfully sunburt. The kind of burnt where it hurts to walk and where you live for the moments that you slather aloe on yourself. In retrospect, 15 SPF wasn't quite strong enough.
It will be amusing to see my kids' reaction to my sunburn. Since most of my kids have minimal interactions with white people, sunburn is a new phenomenon for them. My favorite story was an interaction between one of my kids and a co-worker last year. This was right after I'd run the Mardi Gras Half Marathon, so I came to school with a burnt face.
Waynetrell: Ms. Holmes, what happened to Ms. Taylor's face?
Ms. Holmes: She was out in the sun, so she got red. It's called sunburn.
Waynetrell: Oh.... that happened to Spongebob once!
This cracks me up beyond belief... Waynetrell's only context for sunburn was an episode of Spongebob. That's right, Waynetrell. I am just like Spongebob.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
note to self.
For anyone that has a glass door:
Do not press hard on the wood frame of your door, even if it is just so that you can get the door to stop sticking so you can deadbolt it. Your hand just might slip and might go through the glass. If you are fortunate, you'll just get minor cuts, but you'll still have to pay the maintenance guy to fix it, and you'll be scared for 2 nights that someone is going to realize that they can easily cut through the bag you placed over the window, unlock the door, and rob you. They won't, but you'll be scared that they will.
I may or may not be speaking from personal experience...
Monday, March 7, 2011
the most wonderful time of the year.
I have so much love for Mardi Gras.
Seriously, it is one of the most fun times of the year. While it can be sketchy- mainly for the college students and tourists- for much of the city, it's a hugely family oriented holiday involving grilling out, eating King Cake, and yelling, "Throw me something, mister!" in order to get beads and other fun prizes.
Muses, one of my very favorite parades, was Thursday night. Cori and I went together and successfully caught a shoe, the prized throw of the Muses. Saturday, we went with a co-worker to NOMTOC (New Orleans Most Talked Of Club) on the Westbank, and while we got soaked, it was worth it- we saw our school's band.
Saturday afternoon, I made a tutu with these lovely ladies.
And Sunday night, I wore it. A whole group of us went out to Napoleon, made our way to the front, and left with all sorts of loot.
Tonight, we'll go to Morpheus (or is it Orpheus? so many different krewes that put on parades, I get confused.), then tomorrow we'll celebrate actual Mardi Gras day with Zulu and Rex. Here's to hoping we get a coconut! Coconuts are the prized throw of Zulu. I've gotten several in my years of Mardi Gras... here's a throw back with a picture from my very first Mardi Gras.
Between Ken's sign- it says, "We want a lovely bunch of coconuts"- and Danielle and I getting on the boys shoulders, we scored 11 coconuts that year.
Here's to friends, food, fun, and celebrating! Happy Mardi Gras, everyone!
Seriously, it is one of the most fun times of the year. While it can be sketchy- mainly for the college students and tourists- for much of the city, it's a hugely family oriented holiday involving grilling out, eating King Cake, and yelling, "Throw me something, mister!" in order to get beads and other fun prizes.
Muses, one of my very favorite parades, was Thursday night. Cori and I went together and successfully caught a shoe, the prized throw of the Muses. Saturday, we went with a co-worker to NOMTOC (New Orleans Most Talked Of Club) on the Westbank, and while we got soaked, it was worth it- we saw our school's band.
Saturday afternoon, I made a tutu with these lovely ladies.
And Sunday night, I wore it. A whole group of us went out to Napoleon, made our way to the front, and left with all sorts of loot.
Tonight, we'll go to Morpheus (or is it Orpheus? so many different krewes that put on parades, I get confused.), then tomorrow we'll celebrate actual Mardi Gras day with Zulu and Rex. Here's to hoping we get a coconut! Coconuts are the prized throw of Zulu. I've gotten several in my years of Mardi Gras... here's a throw back with a picture from my very first Mardi Gras.
Here's to friends, food, fun, and celebrating! Happy Mardi Gras, everyone!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
the one where everybody cried.
As a teacher- in general, but especially in public school New Orleans- I am often faced with situations where I have to choose to either laugh or cry. Over the past 2 and a half years of teaching, I have chosen to laugh at several situations that could have easily sent me to the fetal position.
Situation 1: first year teaching. A child is upset with me because I made him listen to me as I read a test aloud to him (he was a non-reader). Afterwards, this child is drawing a picture. I hear him tell his neighbor, "This is Miss Taylor getting run over by a truck." And if you look at it, sure enough, there I am, getting run over by a truck. When I called him out for this particular offense, he insisted it wasn't his picture and blamed another student. Which, of course, could be the case... if it wasn't that I didn't see him draw it, hear him describe it, and... his name was on the truck. Laugh or cry? I laughed, told everyone I knew, and was disappointed to find out when my roommate, who was worried about psychological damage, secretly threw it out.
Situation 2: this year, third year teaching. (I have fewer memories of laughing during my second year... let's be honest, I mostly just cried.) I come back to my room after car riders duty to find a student (not one of mine) scrummaging around my bookcase, clearly looking for candy. When he sees me, he says, "Oh, Miss Taylor! I was looking for you!" Really?! Really? You were looking for me? On my bookshelf? Where I keep my candy and snacks for my kids? How interesting...
Situation 3: today. Let me set the scene. Every Wednesday, from 1 to 2:30, I join all the Kindergarten to 3rd grade teachers, plus our master teacher for a meeting. We learn new strategies to better teach our kids, examine reading scores, and generally try to become better educators. During this time, my kids are in Spanish. Let me say that our Spanish teacher is fabulous. She has my kids singing, dancing, swatting Spanish words with fly swatters, and making shapes in the air when she gives the Spanish command. My kids love Spanish. Well, this afternoon, I make my way to the Spanish room, ready to pick my kids up, do a little math, then pack up and head home. No big deal, right? Stress free last hour of the day. Wrong.
I walk into the Spanish room and am greeted by a class full of crying first graders. Literally half of my class was crying, some full out sobbing. I think the final assessment was a combination of hurting tummies, needing to go to the bathroom (although we went right before Spanish...), and $5 that had been confiscated. Honestly, I think these kids are just ready for a vacation from school, from each other, and from sitting in desks. Thank you, Mardi Gras break. I can't wait for you!
But back to all the crying children. I quickly realize that there's no way my kids are going to quietly make it back to the classroom like this, so I do some damage control. I turn off the lights, and then run across the hall to borrow a book from one of my fave coworkers, Sara. I explain the situation and the other adults in the room (Sara is a special ed teacher so her classroom often functions as an office) and am told that the crying noises had started about 20 minutes ago. One of them compared the noise to a nursery. I couldn't agree more. So, I get my kids calmed down with a soothing reading of Edwina: The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct, take them back to class, let those who need to keep their heads on their desk do so, and teach a 15 minute math lesson to the class before we pack up.
So laugh or cry? Well, everyone else was already crying... so I instead I chose to stifle my laughter. Just another day in Miss Taylor's first grade classroom...
Situation 1: first year teaching. A child is upset with me because I made him listen to me as I read a test aloud to him (he was a non-reader). Afterwards, this child is drawing a picture. I hear him tell his neighbor, "This is Miss Taylor getting run over by a truck." And if you look at it, sure enough, there I am, getting run over by a truck. When I called him out for this particular offense, he insisted it wasn't his picture and blamed another student. Which, of course, could be the case... if it wasn't that I didn't see him draw it, hear him describe it, and... his name was on the truck. Laugh or cry? I laughed, told everyone I knew, and was disappointed to find out when my roommate, who was worried about psychological damage, secretly threw it out.
Situation 2: this year, third year teaching. (I have fewer memories of laughing during my second year... let's be honest, I mostly just cried.) I come back to my room after car riders duty to find a student (not one of mine) scrummaging around my bookcase, clearly looking for candy. When he sees me, he says, "Oh, Miss Taylor! I was looking for you!" Really?! Really? You were looking for me? On my bookshelf? Where I keep my candy and snacks for my kids? How interesting...
Situation 3: today. Let me set the scene. Every Wednesday, from 1 to 2:30, I join all the Kindergarten to 3rd grade teachers, plus our master teacher for a meeting. We learn new strategies to better teach our kids, examine reading scores, and generally try to become better educators. During this time, my kids are in Spanish. Let me say that our Spanish teacher is fabulous. She has my kids singing, dancing, swatting Spanish words with fly swatters, and making shapes in the air when she gives the Spanish command. My kids love Spanish. Well, this afternoon, I make my way to the Spanish room, ready to pick my kids up, do a little math, then pack up and head home. No big deal, right? Stress free last hour of the day. Wrong.
I walk into the Spanish room and am greeted by a class full of crying first graders. Literally half of my class was crying, some full out sobbing. I think the final assessment was a combination of hurting tummies, needing to go to the bathroom (although we went right before Spanish...), and $5 that had been confiscated. Honestly, I think these kids are just ready for a vacation from school, from each other, and from sitting in desks. Thank you, Mardi Gras break. I can't wait for you!
But back to all the crying children. I quickly realize that there's no way my kids are going to quietly make it back to the classroom like this, so I do some damage control. I turn off the lights, and then run across the hall to borrow a book from one of my fave coworkers, Sara. I explain the situation and the other adults in the room (Sara is a special ed teacher so her classroom often functions as an office) and am told that the crying noises had started about 20 minutes ago. One of them compared the noise to a nursery. I couldn't agree more. So, I get my kids calmed down with a soothing reading of Edwina: The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct, take them back to class, let those who need to keep their heads on their desk do so, and teach a 15 minute math lesson to the class before we pack up.
So laugh or cry? Well, everyone else was already crying... so I instead I chose to stifle my laughter. Just another day in Miss Taylor's first grade classroom...
Sunday, February 13, 2011
fingerprints
Phew. Cori and I got back to New Orleans yesterday after our busy wedding planning week in Virginia. Later this week I'll post about all that we got accomplished, and add some pictures as long as I can steal them from Cori's camera. But for now... some serious thoughts.
I've been praying that God would put His fingerprints on our wedding; that as we talk about how things are coming together that it would be so evident that the Lord was a part of it.
Well, the reality is that while some things have come together easily, a lot has been difficult. We've struggled to find reasonably priced bridesmaid dresses, registering feels overwhelming, and 150 guests is just not enough to accomdate all the people in our lives. I got frustrated this week, and realized that I was frustrated with the process, but also frustrated with God. Hello, God, where are those fingerprints I've been asking for? Then it hit me- I've phrased it very spirtually, "Oh, Lord, be glorified through our wedding!" But really, that's not what I've been wanting. I just want the whole planning process to be easy. In reality, I wasn't asking the Lord to make Himself known- I was asking Him to be a magic genie that would grant me all my wedding wishes.
It was humbling to realize that was where my heart was. So my new prayer is that Cori and I grow and learn in this engagement process. I want us to know ourselves, each other, and our God better. I want Jesus to prepare us for the lifelong committment of marriage, and if that means learning to better love each other in stressful moments, then I want that. I want people to know more about Jesus and His goodness to us.
...and you know, if He wants to make those bridesmaid dresses I love go on a huge sale, that'd be great too. ;)
I've been praying that God would put His fingerprints on our wedding; that as we talk about how things are coming together that it would be so evident that the Lord was a part of it.
Well, the reality is that while some things have come together easily, a lot has been difficult. We've struggled to find reasonably priced bridesmaid dresses, registering feels overwhelming, and 150 guests is just not enough to accomdate all the people in our lives. I got frustrated this week, and realized that I was frustrated with the process, but also frustrated with God. Hello, God, where are those fingerprints I've been asking for? Then it hit me- I've phrased it very spirtually, "Oh, Lord, be glorified through our wedding!" But really, that's not what I've been wanting. I just want the whole planning process to be easy. In reality, I wasn't asking the Lord to make Himself known- I was asking Him to be a magic genie that would grant me all my wedding wishes.
It was humbling to realize that was where my heart was. So my new prayer is that Cori and I grow and learn in this engagement process. I want us to know ourselves, each other, and our God better. I want Jesus to prepare us for the lifelong committment of marriage, and if that means learning to better love each other in stressful moments, then I want that. I want people to know more about Jesus and His goodness to us.
...and you know, if He wants to make those bridesmaid dresses I love go on a huge sale, that'd be great too. ;)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
virginia is for lovers.
This weekend, Cori and I had the joy of attending a wedding in Virginia Beach. Cori was good friends with Gonzo at Virginia Tech, so I was excited to meet him and his girlfriend when they visited us in New Orleans, LA, last March. Sarah and I enjoyed getting to know each other as Cori and Gonzo caught up, and the 4 of us had a wonderful weekend, eating crawfish, taking the streetcar, and checking out the herb gardens of the Willow House. ;)
No one was surprised when Gonzo and Sarah got engaged over the summer- when they visited in the spring, Gonzo already had the ring, and despite their short dating period (less than me and Cori!), we all knew it was only a matter of time.
It was a fun day. I got to meet more of Cori's friends, spend more time with the ones I already love, and celebrate with a very happy couple. Plus, there's something about being engaged that makes weddings even more exciting. You know, I get to take notes. ;)
And now? An entire week off work! We get 10 days off a year, and they carry over from year to year, so I've collected quite a few. I felt a little bad asking for 5 days off- what will my babies do without me?!- but even with this, I have a lot left... and what better reason to take off than the desperate need to plan wedding? I'm definitely thankful for the time; it's been exhausting to come home from school at 6:30, pooped, and have wedding tasks to complete... and even more difficult when it's all long distance. Cori and I are meeting with photographers, tasting our menu options for our reception, getting some pre-marital counseling from my pastor, and more. We're also hoping for a little time to relax! :)
What does your weekend hold for you?
No one was surprised when Gonzo and Sarah got engaged over the summer- when they visited in the spring, Gonzo already had the ring, and despite their short dating period (less than me and Cori!), we all knew it was only a matter of time.
It was a fun day. I got to meet more of Cori's friends, spend more time with the ones I already love, and celebrate with a very happy couple. Plus, there's something about being engaged that makes weddings even more exciting. You know, I get to take notes. ;)
And now? An entire week off work! We get 10 days off a year, and they carry over from year to year, so I've collected quite a few. I felt a little bad asking for 5 days off- what will my babies do without me?!- but even with this, I have a lot left... and what better reason to take off than the desperate need to plan wedding? I'm definitely thankful for the time; it's been exhausting to come home from school at 6:30, pooped, and have wedding tasks to complete... and even more difficult when it's all long distance. Cori and I are meeting with photographers, tasting our menu options for our reception, getting some pre-marital counseling from my pastor, and more. We're also hoping for a little time to relax! :)
What does your weekend hold for you?
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