Rained In

A few weeks ago, we were working on data analysis in my class. My third and four graders made circle graphs to show how they would use 24 hours in an ideal day. Many of their first drafts looked kind of like this:After some work on fractional pieces, time, daily needs (i.e. sleep, food, etc.), and keys, they were much improved, but many of them still had some pretty quirky days planned. One of my darling students scheduled 4 hours for "washing my hair", and 2 hours for "eating pie."

That was funny and all, until today, which put me in mind of that graph. Except I haven't washed my hair.

I had a very long list of things I wanted to accomplish on my Wednesday off today, but as per usual, I've only crossed off a few. It has been raining non-stop all day and I just decided I would be not going out into it. So I've stayed in and looking back it would make a pretty sad circle graph. I would need wedges for:

• watching multiple documentaries on NetFlix on demand
• cooking
  
• grading papers
• eating pie
• eating other food of approximately the same nutritional value of pie
• laundry

...and that's pretty much it. I've opened the door to let the cat in and out, but otherwise have not been into the world.

Maybe I should dust off the treadmill...

Back to School...Well, Not Quite Yet

About November, when I'm buried under papers to grade, desperately trying to get everything done each week, and dealing with all the daily drama of fourth grade, remind me of summertime. It's wonderful.

It took about a week after the last teacher workday, but all of the sudden, I relaxed. I stopped having dreams about teaching fractions, didn't wake up panicking about what I needed to get done before school started, didn't worry about fitting it ALL in in one day. During the school year, I have a hard time relaxing, even on the weekends; lesson plans and student issues are always churning in the back of my mind.

In about a month, I'll start my third year of teaching and my main goal for myself as a person, and not just a teacher, is to stay a little more sane. I'm starting now with a some preliminary planning and organizing for my classroom. I think a little more structure and planning will help me separate my work from the rest of my life (and thus, let me sleep a little less fitfully).

My running has the potential to make a big impact in this plan. I'm thinking about taking my running gear to school, so I can run right after the students leave (or after-school meetings). That might get me re-energized for working on grades and planning for another few hours. Another possibility is running right when I get home. The run could be my official transition from work to home.

We'll see. I have a month left to figure it out. Anybody have any ideas?

So I really shouldn't hate, but...

This has absolutely nothing to do with running, but I was up way too late grading science papers the other night. The kids had drawn different animals in their habitats and labeled the living and non-living factors in each ecosystem. Honestly, they understood beautifully and with the exception of a few random fire-breathing dragons, their pictures were pretty accurate. There were a few illustrations, however, that simply cracked. me. up. As in trying to contain my laughter from the living room so I wouldn't wake my husband. Moments like these (as well as many more serious, meaningful, and educational moments) make me love being a teacher.

I just love that smirky grin he has.

Obviously, the long bill (in addition to the smile on his face) qualifies this bird as a toucan.

The label is indispensable here.

Is it just me or does this tiger look an awful lot like that big caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland?

Well, that's enough mocking for one day though (especially because my drawings are not a whole lot more discernable than that frog)...I'm going to run!

I just think Google is great.

If you have not experienced Google outside of just "googling," you are really missing out. I'm keep on discovering and falling in love with new Google programs. There is no ever going back from Gmail email. I love using Google Earth when I'm showing my students somewhere new (or just around here because there is STILL some confusion for a few kids about what country/state/county/town we live in). And, really, what could be cooler (and possibly creeper) than Street View.

The relevant Google application for today, though, is Gmap-Pedometer. If you do any kind of running/biking/walking/moving along streets, you will love this. You zoom into your town or area and then plot out your route and it will show you your mileage. Pretty amazing, right?! Well, I thought so.

P.S. This is not a paid infomercial for Google, I just like to gush.