One benefit of visiting my boyfriend's family is that they are only 15 minutes (in traffic) from Chicago. Every late June/early July Chicago holds an event called Taste of Chicago. The Taste is run by the city and consists of various restaurants from the Chicago area putting up booths and selling food. Entrance is free and you then buy tickets to be spent at any of the food booths. I love the variety of food at the Taste. Last year I tried an Indian dish called behl (I think that's the spelling) for the first time, and this year I tried roasted goat in jollof rice. I'm a pretty adventurous eater. It turns out that goat is mildly stringy and reminds you of a venison or roasted beef. The rice was delicious and was reminiscent of mexican rice.
At the Taste you can buy burgers, many, many varieties of pierogi, desserts, salads, fruit, sausages, and most any other food you can think of. Parking is nonexistent but luckily the train has a stop right at the entrance to the Taste. Overall, I would recommend attending the Taste if you are in the Chicago area.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
New Obsession!
A month or so ago I watched the previews of a new show on ABC Family called "Pretty Little Liars." I thought the show looked intriguing, made a mental note to watch the first episode, and then promptly forgot.
A few days ago my boyfriend was talking about the website Hulu and this made me think of shows that I had never got around to watching but could on Hulu. I then thought of "Pretty Little Liars." I watched the first three episodes and can't wait for the next! (Note, if you check Hulu, the first episode titled "Pilot" isn't listed but can be watched on the ABC Family website.)
This is one of those shows that I want to introduce everyone to in the hopes that they love it as much as I do. The whole premise of the show is four (five?) high school girls that each have secrets. The girls are receiving text messages from a mysterious "A" who knows each of their secrets. The assumption is made that the mysterious "A" is really Allison.
Allison - Was the leader of the group of friends. She disappeared from a sleepover one year ago and was never seen again. She appeared to have dirt on every one of her friends and was talking about how sharing secrets made them all closer at the time she disappeared. Her body is discovered early in the series but the friends are not convinced that she is really dead and think the texts may be from her.
Aria - Has been living in Iceland for the past year and just returned to town. Secrets - having an affair with her English teacher, her dad is having an affair with an ex-student.
Hanna - Hanna has completely transformed herself from a chubby, plain girl in to a popular, mean girl. Secrets - has been arrested for shoplifting; mother is sleeping with the detective investigating Allison's murder
Emily - Befriends new girl Mya. Secrets - is bisexual and has been hiding it from everyone; kissed Mya
Spencer - Is a classic overachiever under tremendous pressure from her family to be successful at everything. Secrets - has kissed her older sister's boyfriends in the past; flirted and kissed her sister's current fiance.
So if you are a fan of mysteries, please watch this show with me so I can have someone to dissect the clues with. ;)
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Ooops
I could blame my lack of posts on the hectic end of school. Or I could blame it on being on vacation currently. Or I could blame it on.... oh I don't even know. But either way, a quick recap.
1. The school year has ended; finally. My classroom is packed and is probably being waxed and cleaned as we speak. I was sad that I didn't get a chance to say good-bye to some of my favorite students because they were suspended the last few days.
When we had the retention meeting on the last day, our number of retainees is about normal. We have 4 students who will be retained in the sixth grade because they earned Fs in every single class, every single marking period. (We have 18 students that will need to attend summer school and pass in order to go on to the seventh grade, and 5 students who we request attend summer school but will place in the 7th grade even if they fail summer school. This will be a discussion for a new post.) I need to remember to email the administration to request that two of the retainees are in my class next year. I don't necessarily request them because I think I am some outstanding teacher who will change their lives, but more because I know that some of the other teachers will refuse to have those students in their class due to behavior issues. I have never refused to have a student in my class for that reason.
2. I had exactly one day between the end of the school year and leaving for Indiana in order to pack. So that meant R and I had a 2 hour drive up to Mom and Dad's to drop off the guinea pig, and a 9.5 hour trip out to Indiana on 2 hours of sleep. Wonderful times.
3. I am currently typing this at a National RC competition. Before R got into RC cars, I honestly had no idea that these types of cars existed. I thought RC cars were the battery operated ones that you could buy from Radio Shack. (Is that completely dating myself by mentioning Radio Shack?) But actually RC cars are run by little motors that use real fuel. Who knew. So right now I am sitting at a table in a room with 60 people (mostly men) who are gearing up their cars to get ready for their qualifying heats. I am beyond bored. I have finished one book and have started on the second.
4. I went to a casino on Thursday with R, his parents, and his brother and sister-in-law and I was the only one who was carded!!! While I can laugh about it now, it was kind of embarrassing when it happened. I have not been carded since I bought paintballs when I was 20. Maybe it's really a blessing that the security guard thought I was under 21 when in reality I will turn 31 in October? :)
More updates to come because one of my goals this summer is to blog at least four times a week.
1. The school year has ended; finally. My classroom is packed and is probably being waxed and cleaned as we speak. I was sad that I didn't get a chance to say good-bye to some of my favorite students because they were suspended the last few days.
When we had the retention meeting on the last day, our number of retainees is about normal. We have 4 students who will be retained in the sixth grade because they earned Fs in every single class, every single marking period. (We have 18 students that will need to attend summer school and pass in order to go on to the seventh grade, and 5 students who we request attend summer school but will place in the 7th grade even if they fail summer school. This will be a discussion for a new post.) I need to remember to email the administration to request that two of the retainees are in my class next year. I don't necessarily request them because I think I am some outstanding teacher who will change their lives, but more because I know that some of the other teachers will refuse to have those students in their class due to behavior issues. I have never refused to have a student in my class for that reason.
2. I had exactly one day between the end of the school year and leaving for Indiana in order to pack. So that meant R and I had a 2 hour drive up to Mom and Dad's to drop off the guinea pig, and a 9.5 hour trip out to Indiana on 2 hours of sleep. Wonderful times.
3. I am currently typing this at a National RC competition. Before R got into RC cars, I honestly had no idea that these types of cars existed. I thought RC cars were the battery operated ones that you could buy from Radio Shack. (Is that completely dating myself by mentioning Radio Shack?) But actually RC cars are run by little motors that use real fuel. Who knew. So right now I am sitting at a table in a room with 60 people (mostly men) who are gearing up their cars to get ready for their qualifying heats. I am beyond bored. I have finished one book and have started on the second.
4. I went to a casino on Thursday with R, his parents, and his brother and sister-in-law and I was the only one who was carded!!! While I can laugh about it now, it was kind of embarrassing when it happened. I have not been carded since I bought paintballs when I was 20. Maybe it's really a blessing that the security guard thought I was under 21 when in reality I will turn 31 in October? :)
More updates to come because one of my goals this summer is to blog at least four times a week.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Things I've Taught this Week
The current unit in my 6th grade classroom is Ancient Africa. These are the highlights from my lessons this week.
1. We do not live next to the Pacific Ocean. I had three kids argue with me about this in B block. It should be noted that I live and teach in Maryland. My honors kids fell out of their chairs laughing at the kids who swore up and down that we live next to the Pacific.
2. African-Americans do not live in Africa. Some of the kids still didn't understand this even after I explained that African-Americans are still Americans.
3. Africa is not full of terrorists. This shocked about 70% of my kids.
4. We no longer ship slaves from Africa to the United States. I had two students who honestly were not aware that slavery has been over for quite awhile.
Oh. Dear. God.
1. We do not live next to the Pacific Ocean. I had three kids argue with me about this in B block. It should be noted that I live and teach in Maryland. My honors kids fell out of their chairs laughing at the kids who swore up and down that we live next to the Pacific.
2. African-Americans do not live in Africa. Some of the kids still didn't understand this even after I explained that African-Americans are still Americans.
3. Africa is not full of terrorists. This shocked about 70% of my kids.
4. We no longer ship slaves from Africa to the United States. I had two students who honestly were not aware that slavery has been over for quite awhile.
Oh. Dear. God.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sheep Birds
So my class started their unit on Ancient Rome and of course we begin with the story of Romulus and Remus to explain the founding of Rome. We read two different versions of the story and talk about why stories tend to change over the centuries.
Chris: I like the version where the bird saves the twins?
Ms. C: The bird?
Chris: Yeah, the bird. The book said that the sheep bird saved the twins from the wolf.
Ms. C: That says "shepherd."
Chris: Oh.... I don't like that as much.... what's a shepherd again?
23 more days I tell myself. Only 23 more days.
Chris: I like the version where the bird saves the twins?
Ms. C: The bird?
Chris: Yeah, the bird. The book said that the sheep bird saved the twins from the wolf.
Ms. C: That says "shepherd."
Chris: Oh.... I don't like that as much.... what's a shepherd again?
23 more days I tell myself. Only 23 more days.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
When Did Nothing Become Lazy?
Right now we have about 24 days left in our school year. Of course the questions have started, "What are you doing this summer?"
Now during the school year I am extremely regimented and organized. You have to be. But during the summer, well, my boyfriend is lucky if I am dressed before noon. So when people ask what I'm doing this summer and I shrug and say "Nothing big," I'm surprised that they are surprised.
My response of "Nothing big" is usually met with a silence and then the other person tries to cover it up by saying something along the lines of "Oh well that sounds fun. You need it. The time to relax." And then I'm given a smile and a nod of approval. But it's always followed by a list of what the other person plans to do this summer. "Well my husband and I are traveling to New York for a few weeks to visit his family. I'm taking a few college classes this summer, and I really want to paint the living room and both bathrooms. And then in August we're taking a trip to Las Vegas. Of course my parents want me to come to the family reunion in New Jersey so we're going to try and fit that in too." This was the actual answer given to me from another teacher.
NO! This is not the purpose of summer vacation. Or at least, it's not the purpose for me. I look forward to not having a schedule. I look forward to not having to get up every morning at 5. I look forward to doing the chores (if I feel like it) that get shoved to the side during the school year. I look forward to taking naps whenever I feel like it. I look forward to going to the bathroom whenever I feel like it. (Okay, that last one sounds completely odd, but not if you're a teacher.) But I don't know why I am made to feel that I am doing something wrong if I don't have these grandiose plans each summer.
So I guess my point is, it's my summer. And I celebrate by doing nothing. :)
Now during the school year I am extremely regimented and organized. You have to be. But during the summer, well, my boyfriend is lucky if I am dressed before noon. So when people ask what I'm doing this summer and I shrug and say "Nothing big," I'm surprised that they are surprised.
My response of "Nothing big" is usually met with a silence and then the other person tries to cover it up by saying something along the lines of "Oh well that sounds fun. You need it. The time to relax." And then I'm given a smile and a nod of approval. But it's always followed by a list of what the other person plans to do this summer. "Well my husband and I are traveling to New York for a few weeks to visit his family. I'm taking a few college classes this summer, and I really want to paint the living room and both bathrooms. And then in August we're taking a trip to Las Vegas. Of course my parents want me to come to the family reunion in New Jersey so we're going to try and fit that in too." This was the actual answer given to me from another teacher.
NO! This is not the purpose of summer vacation. Or at least, it's not the purpose for me. I look forward to not having a schedule. I look forward to not having to get up every morning at 5. I look forward to doing the chores (if I feel like it) that get shoved to the side during the school year. I look forward to taking naps whenever I feel like it. I look forward to going to the bathroom whenever I feel like it. (Okay, that last one sounds completely odd, but not if you're a teacher.) But I don't know why I am made to feel that I am doing something wrong if I don't have these grandiose plans each summer.
So I guess my point is, it's my summer. And I celebrate by doing nothing. :)
Goal For Today...
What I Would love to happen today:
1. Groceries
2. Buy shoes
3. Finish grading papers
What will probably happen today:
1. Groceries
2. Buy shoes
3. Read
4. Nap
1. Groceries
2. Buy shoes
3. Finish grading papers
What will probably happen today:
1. Groceries
2. Buy shoes
3. Read
4. Nap
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