Lovin' me some middle school

Today I wore my black polka-dot skirt: the one that was a Christmas present back in the twilight days of my middle school experience - oh so classy. I put it on, sassed it up with a belt, and was on my way to teach middle school. Just lovin me some middle school I guess. I tried to imagine what my students would say if I told them about my vintage skirt. Do I have a really old skirt? or yes, I am just a really young teacher. Either way, this skirt has made its full circle.

Brown with Black and strips a polka-dots.
This would make my grandma Joanie shiver.

After deciding I wanted to be a teacher, I thought I wanted to teach high school, but for my practicum experience, I was assigned seventh grade. But, lately I have been thinking more and more that maybe I actually want to teach middle school. I always knew I would enjoy it, but honestly, I think I might even prefer it.

1. The kids are so stinkin funny. They do the cutest, strangest, most innocent or spacey things and it just isn't a big deal.

2. I love seeing them rise to the occasion and accomplish some pretty monumental stuff. Hold them to a high standard and they will rise to the occasion.

3. There isn't this huge distinction between class or social status or even coolness. They are all pretty much just sittin their little touches in my classroom, all interacting with each other on the same level - more or less.

4. They are just starting to grow into their unique selves; which is beautiful.

5. They still love to learn. Even those who say they don't love to learn, still love it. I can see it. They can't help but be interested in the lesson. Okay so there are still those who put their head on their desks and fall asleep, or those who throw little pieces of paper across the room all class period, but I can see it in even them, they can't help but learn something. The curiosity hasn't been beaten out of them yet.

So maybe, just maybe, don't hold me to it yet, but maybe middle school is for me. Helpin those sassafras students become life-long learners, or at least doing my best to head them in the right direction.

Flan

It is hard to think of something to write when you are sick and already have to remember all the other little things that have to be done. So I took Tani's advice: I googled writing prompts.

Write a list of things you would do to entertain yourself if you didn't see a soul for seven days.

1. read
2. write
3. make up songs and sing them really loudly
4. sleep
5. study French
6. run
7. climb trees
8. go on walks
9. research random topics
10. write letters

Alright, so my life would be beluga boring without other people. Sometimes I think all that matters in life is relationships, but then sometimes I cite myself for caring too much. if possible. But really, even the best activities turn flat when done solo for too long. So I guess I gotta live with people; I wouldn't have it any other way.

Sore Throats

I can stomp on sore throats like a boss, and it all started when I was sick in January and got a sudden desire to heat up water and add lemon and honey. I used to have hot lemon water with a little bit of sugar, but honey, I once heard, is actually a food medicine. I mean, I promise, I did think up this honey-lemon tea thing myself, but turns out a lot of other people did too, just google honey and lemon tea. But do a lot of other people have giraffe mugs like this? Not a chance.

Let me tell you why my favorite animal is a giraffe.

1. They are very gentle creatures. I fed them once, so I would know.
2. They are beautiful. How many animals have patterned coats? Well, a few, but not as cool as the giraffe.
3. They are graceful; it is beautiful to watch them run.
4. They have purple tongues. Okay so maybe that isn't that weird, but it was when I was ten.
5. Rumor has it that people can ride giraffes. Fine, I have never seen or heard of such a thing first hand, but there is evidence on the internet aka the source of all knowledge.


But if you aren't cool enough to have a dad that stuffed your Christmas stocking with a giraffe mug, then any ol' mug will do when you are brewing honey and lemon tea.

And yes, that is a little mini giraffe bathing in my tea.

Because I don't actually have time to blog

Things I need to accomplish in the next two hours:

1. go to the store
2. not fall asleep
3. make some dinner
4. do some reading assignments
5. make a list of my goals for France
6. tidy up the apartment
7. read my scriptures
8. do my laundry
9. water my plant
10. text a picture to my sister

Things I have already accomplished today:

1. Finishing my AQ paper
2. Going to all four of my 75 min classes
3. Visiting 4 girls in my ward
4. Blogging
5. Returning some borrowed books
6. Enjoying the weather
7. Throwing out some rotten potatoes
8. Getting the mail
9. Doing some poetry reading
10. Did I mention finishing my AQ paper?