Halloween at Elise's

Every year, Elise proves to outdo herself at her annual Halloween party. This year, she decided to incorporate her house into her costume. They pulled off an amazing Beetlejuice array of designs, including a sandworm, sculpture, and ghosts complete with polaroid photos. It was outrageous! She even took the theme so extreme that she cut her hair for it!! Elise with BANGS!

Of course, we sit on the beach in August talking about our Halloween costume ideas, but yet we never tell each other what we've decided on. This year, we also have a wedding to attend that is Halloween themed, so I wanted to make the costumes good. We opted for gelflings from The Dark Crystal. See for yourself below!

Technology is beautiful and other tidbits

So I was handed a laptop two days ago at school. I was excited to get using it in the classroom, which involved getting my Octobers up and running and figuring out some minor logistics of it all. Yesterday, the acting principal (otherwise known as the SUPERINTENDENT for curriculum and revision) came into my classroom informally while I was using the computer with the projector. I explained that I could not use my activboard because I didn't have sufficient plugs. He said he would get a powerstrip for me.

Well today, B, the head of district technology came in to help me. Lucky for me, I was using the technology, although not the activboard, and she took a few minutes to help me get set up. In that time, the kids were quite disengaged, but they were well aware of what was going on as many of them are already familiar with using the activboard in the classroom. After she got it all set up, she pulled them right back into my lesson simply by writing a question on the board. Instantly, they were back. I had their undivided attention and they were eager to participate. It was an exciting moment!

This week has really kicked my ass. Yesterday, I was observed for the first of three times this year. My VP had the honor of coming in. I had planned to have him in third period, while I was taking a big risk on a technology lesson that could have potentially bombed. But life is about taking risks, right? Well, he had to defer to a later period, same subject, same lesson. It was an invigorating experience to pull off the whole lesson without a hitch! He was impressed with my classroom management skills and various other things within my lesson. The only suggestions he had were two minor issues with time management and one regarding team teaching. It was a success!!

Now, if only the weekend would get here faster!

Students at Shows

Teaching 5th grade, I always thought I'd never have to worry about students being at shows that I'm at. I've never run into them and many folks knew about my phish obsession..but ladies and gentlemen, it's happened. Today, as my students compiled lists of topics to write about through the year, I just happened to notice "Music Festivals" on one students list. Mind you, this student, who I shall call W, also listed the Beatles and often tells me stories of his vast travels. I asked him about it. He said it's a festival outside of Utica, with a lot of bluegrass. I asked him if he'd been to a lot of concerts with his parents, and he proceeded to tell me ALL ABOUT going to see Phil Lesh and Friends this summer and "the lead guy from that band Phish"..yep..at Camden Waterfront..Sure enough, W was at the same show as me, and very well could have been at some festival I've been at..

This scares the hell out of me! Imagine me, all dressed in patchwork to the nines, running into a STUDENT! Oh, how the world has new perspective!