And we're off!

Today started like a normal day - I got up to go to the gym, ate breakfast, and headed to school. I had just finished making my usual cup of coffee when I walked out of the teachers' lounge and witnessed a marvelous sunrise...

4th floor vantage point

a more zoomed in view

I am pretty sure I stopped my coworker mid-sentence to get him to come into the hallway to see the same view. (It was even better than the photos show.) In less than 5 minutes, it was gone...and we were soon off and running for our shortened school day.

The kids were a bit excited, as rightly they should be, considering they were less than a few hours away from Christmas break and they had a Christmas party too. Many kids donned festive sweaters, and the teachers joined in too.

Yes, it really does light up...

Thank goodness for 11 a.m. dismissals.

It's been a crazy week, but now we're off for two. I have a handful of books to read, some materials for school to prepare and organize, and luggage to load in the car. Here we go...!

Ready to go

Only two more days until Thanksgiving break...by Friday at 3:30pm the students and their families will be on their merry ways, and we, the teachers, will be packing up and heading out for ONE. WHOLE. WEEK.

In teaching there are so many ups and downs, not only from day to day but also from class period to class period. Something goes amazingly well or the students are extra attentive in the morning but by afternoon you feel like you're ineffective as a teacher because kids can't seem to follow directions or sit still for more than two minutes at a time. What a roller coaster. I'm certain that mentally, physically, and emotionally I am so ready for this break.

My family's heading up north to us (well, within driving distance) for the holiday, so, alas, the warm weather of back home will continue to beckon to me until January (and only then for a weekend respite on retreat). But before I join them, I am heading to the opposite coast for some much needed visiting with friends. I have never spent much time in that part of the country. (Let's face it, Phoenix, AZ, is its own beast. And I mean that in the best sense.) To say I'm excited would be the biggest understatement of the year.

My bags are packed, and my grad school work for the week is (mostly) done. Let's get this vacation started! (But let's forget about the grading that's starting to pile up...it'll be here when I get back, right?)

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Year 10 - At it Again (A Poem)

Wouldn't you know it,
I'm at it again.
It doesn't seem easier
even though it's year 10.

Butterflies in my stomach
a lump in my throat;
teachers running between meetings -
we're in the same boat.

Class lists to analyze,
supplies to unpack,
new names to memorize,
routines to bring back.

It's all get to know you
and procedures, week one.
Then the year's off and running -
The work never seems done.

The grading, the planning,
and the stress never end.
But it's not just a job -
it's a vocation, my friend.

It's a joy and a challenge
all rolled up in one.
And each day is different,
Just breathe, have some fun.

Bonus! ;) 

Preliminary Photos:

The Many Faces of PLC 1...

We are #1 for a reason...

These are the many faces of PLC 1:

having dinner with our fearless leader/executive coach

sporting our red hats while working on our group project

finishing Day 1 of Deep Practice

repping RLP 15 (and leading with zeal)

successfully completing our grant proposal presentation

celebrating at the bar

being silly at the bar

enjoying the company of the ladies of PLC 1

hugging it out

Most of my Facebook posts would lead anyone to notice how special these four people are in my life, especially on my journey through grad school. They keep me grounded, they push me to be my best, and they realize the value of our team. From crying in frustration to laughing uncontrollably from the boys' NY accents, we had quite a time this summer. We're looking forward to the school year ahead...

The Art of Getting Rid of Junk

It all started when I decided to take a walk by the lakefront this morning. With coffee in hand, I more or less walked at a brisk pace, stopping now and then to admire the ducks, sunshine, and solitude.

When I got back to my apartment, I got the "cleaning bug." I attacked the bathroom first - lots of scrubbing, one sponge, 1/2 a bottle of Drano, and 3 kinds of shower spray (couldn't figure out which kind worked best) later, our shower was mostly mold- and mildew-free.

While I felt accomplished, it wasn't enough. I had the time, I decided, so my room would be next. Out came all of the tubs under my bed and the boxes in my closet, out and into either a trash bag or a bag for donations. What an accumulation of junk! (Well, it wasn't all junk, but I certainly wasn't going to look at some of that stuff again...) I think I went through 5 trash bags and filled 2 bags for donations. Phew.

I did feel a lot better after that. A purge of stuff is good and makes one think about becoming less dependent on material things. (Though, it's probably better to purge more often and in smaller amounts.) After that I went to the donation center and then ran a few errands before coming back home, talking to a dear friend on the phone, making dinner (oh, the ease of frozen pizza), and reading my (for fun!) book.

I'm not sure what's on the docket for tomorrow - let the "chronicles of Kelly's boredom before grad school starts up" continue!

Alone Time

It's been a fun couple of days around here. Last night was a free concert in Millennium Park, which I attended as a birthday celebration for a friend, and then today a little further north was a music festival at which one of my all-time favorite artists, Brendan James (!), performed. Music is wonderful for the soul, and it's even better with friends.

It's weird to actually be alone right now. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't have much alone time. Now, I find an abundance of it, and I know I should soak it in while I can because starting next Friday my life is going to get a whole lot busier once grad school summer starts up. But it's so different - the people who used to fill my time (students & co-workers, ex-boyfriend, roommates, etc.) are not around, and my routines are completely thrown off...

But mostly I just don't like the waiting phase. I know I've talked about this before - at least to people through conversation if not on this blog - the waiting phase is like that time in the airport from where you get dropped off and through security to when the plane actually takes off. Let's just go already! It drives me nuts. And I know that's where I metaphorically am right now - the in-between of I just ended school and am back from road trip but not quite ready to start grad school yet. I'm ready for the change of scenery...now.

Summer - so close, yet so far...

Summer-like weather hit Chicago this past weekend, so we made the most of it...

Exhibit A: Boating on Lake Michigan:

Exhibit B: Ice Cream (Rainbow Cone!!):

Summer vacation (well, it's not going to technically be a full on vacation due to grad school) is so very close...yet, there is still plenty to get done before the end of the year - grades, report card comments, spring music show, volleyball play-offs, final field trips, classroom clean-up, etc.

These next two weeks are going to be jam-packed, but then there is some freedom. Woot.

Happy (almost) summer!

Let me Google that...

Vocation = from the Latin vocare, meaning "to call"

Teaching this unit to 6th and 7th grade at the same time, albeit different standards, is causing my head to spin. I can't keep things straight half the time. And all the time, students are asking me what my vocation is... Most common comment - "Married life?" wink wink. (Let's just say I'm praying about and working on it...)

In 6th grade, they get to do one of my all-time favorite projects: "Doodle 4 Google - Vocations". After designing a Doodle that represents the vocations (as named in the church), the student is asked to provide a written explanation of his/her symbols as well as what the role of each vocation is in the Church.

Most of the students got really into the project, some even begging me to come and see theirs before turning it in because they were so proud of their designs. (Some asked if I could send them off to Google!) Here are just a few of the designs I received today:

I'm really very satisfied with how today shaped up in each class, even though it was a Friday. Nothing was too crazy or difficult to handle, which is sometimes the case at the end of the week, so we are ready to gear up for just a few more weeks of school. It makes me think that some days I am doing things "right" as an educator...

In other news...

At the end of a long day, sometimes the best medicine is fresh-squeezed orange juice (especially when you've had a headache all afternoon and fear you might be coming down with a cold)...

And even feelings of aching and cold-like symptoms can be somewhat forgotten by supportive comments from grad school supervisors... :)

Looking back...and looking ahead

Just finished up trimester 2 parent teacher conference day.

I realized a lot has happened since the last conferences for trimester 1:

- I finished my first semester of online classes for grad school.
- I enjoyed Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with my family.
- I got a shot of cortisone in my foot and started running again, getting up to 9 miles!
- I started dating a very faith-filled, fun, and generous guy.
- I went to a couple of shows, including at the Shakespeare theater and for Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.
- I witnessed my 8th graders receive the Sacrament of Confirmation (and served as a sponsor).
- I attended the annual FL retreat with my grad school classmates.
- I led 4-8th grade Advent retreats and Reconciliation services.
- I started coaching volleyball again.
- I helped some alumni start a new chapter for the school service club.
- I roadtripped for a long weekend to St. Louis to visit with friends.
- I gave a homily during Catholic Schools Week about why I stay in Catholic education.
- I played in the student-faculty basketball game.
- I saw more movies in the theater than I had seen in the past year combined.
- Lent started, and I am working hard to maintain my Lenten promises and use them to help me grow closer to God and others.


And there was probably plenty more that happened along the way (as I know I have had many failures and mistakes too)...

As I look ahead to trimester 3 and the ending of my second semester of online classes for grad school, I have a full, happy heart. I am so grateful for the people who have been walking this journey with me. As I close the chapter of year 30 of my life and prepare to turn 31 this upcoming week (ah!), I can't help but smile.

God is good and always here - in the best of times and in the lowest of times. May these 40 days of Lent be a time of preparation, reflection, healing, and hope for all of us. Amen.

La La La... The Music that Makes Me Dance

iTunes had a sale this week: "Albums We Love" for $6.99.

I wasn't going to look...but then I saw "La La Land" and decided to make the purchase.

I've had it on repeat on my phone the past couple of days. It's so catchy - some so upbeat and some downright melancholy.

I just might have danced around in my kitchen to the opening few numbers. (No judgment, please.)

I love music.

I thought about the idea of being blind versus being deaf (which is not a new idea) - which would I prefer? Well, I would not willingly choose either of them because both are such spectacular gifts to be able to use, seeing and hearing. But honestly, to live without hearing music or people's voices - for me, that would be harder than not seeing things.

Music makes me so happy - my heart feels lighter and my soul is happy. I just want to dance when there is a good beat or strong melody. It's hard to explain...yet it would be even harder to replace or live without.

Tra la la la la...let the beat go on...

Mistake Not Worth Making Twice

Pretty busy after school today (though, I have found a surprising few minutes to post), so I thought it would be in my best interest to fix my hair and wear a little make-up before going to school this morning, as I will be on my way (after physical therapy) to a gala for Big Shoulders later this evening.

Let's just say that was a mistake.

Considering I usually wear little or no make-up, the girls decided this was a big deal. These are a few comments I received.

Student A: "Miss F, you look nice today!"
Me (in my head): What do I look like every other day?

Student B: "Miss F, my aunt has one of those bracelets. She says they're really old."
Me (in my head yet again): Gee, thanks.

Student C: "Miss F, I like your purple eyeliner."
Me (in my head): Not sure what you're looking at, but it's black.

Student D: "Miss F, are you engaged?"
Me (in my head): Um, not sure how you jumped straight to that...

The boys were great - no comments, no side conversations, nothing different from normal. (Boys are easier.)

Let's just say I'll think twice before ever doing that again.


Ok, well, it's off to PT and then a quick turn-around at home before off to the gala. Let's get this weekend started!

Quick check-in: Feelin' Good

Just finished YEAR 8 of teaching...
About to embark on 6-state (4 of which are new for me!) road trip with a friend...
Going to start classes for my Masters of Educational Leadership in less than 2 weeks...

Feeling pretty good. Bring it on, summer!

You can learn a lot

You can learn a lot from watching yourself (or, in my case, others) in action.

That's what the second year ACE teachers just did and submitted - videos & related analyses of their teaching from paper to practice. What went well? Who needed help? Where are areas for improvement.

Sometimes I kick myself for signing up for another thing to do, but I found that watching the ACErs' videos and reading through their unit plans and analyses was very insightful. There are definitely a few things I plan to take away, especially in regards to getting students' attention, not talking over students, and use of more movement & student talk.

And we march on. So much to do, but it's all part of life. We just can't let the life part get away. This week I'm heading to see the opera "Romeo and Juliet" with my sister and a friend, and I have my Lenten prayer group on Thursday. This weekend is St. Patrick's Day festivities in Chicago, but I'm planning to keep it low key with a few fun "projects" and a birthday brunch on Sunday.

Have a great week, everyone!

Tick tock goes the internal clock

Internal clock, why must you be so precise, on such a schedule?

Hadn't you heard? Today is a holiday. No school. Ta-da!

Get up or you won't fall asleep tonight...
Better drink your coffee before 9 a.m. or you'll be up past your bedtime...
No napping or your whole week will be thrown off...

Such were a few of your messages today - messages, which, thank you very much, I heard loud and clear.

On the flipside, I do suppose I can be grateful to be forced to keep such a schedule. After all, I managed to go for a quick run at the gym, watch episode 3 of Downton Abbey, read over half of an Advanced Reader copy of a soon-to-be-released children's book, packed tomorrow's lunch, and got a few things done for school. (I still have a retreat meeting to go to, but that's another story.)

Oh, and I may have just realized that the latest episode of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! had Sutton Foster as the guest. Guess what I'm listening to in just a few minutes...

But in all seriousness, internal clock or not, I am grateful for the day off from school. This weekend was much needed.

Quotable Inspiration

Sometimes you just need a good old-fashioned inspirational quote. Or a handful.

I was scrolling through Pinterest this morning, killing time before braving the brutally cold elements to go to the gym, when I came across some of these gems - enjoy:

Up 2 Date

Recently updated my "Book List 4 Life" - be sure to check it out! Maybe you've read some of them...

Adventures Never Cease

Here are some more pictures from the week thus far:

Trader Joe's (right behind my hotel):

Had the chance on Wednesday to run along the Charles River at sunrise:

Ice Cream at one of the best joints in Cambridge:

PB Cookies & Cream = my new favorite flavor:

Again, such interesting eating combos - enjoyed lunch in Harvard Yard on Thursday with my dried fig & port jam toasted sandwich (complete with toasted walnuts and brie cheese):

More ice cream...this time with ACE friends here in Boston:

Spent some time in Harvard Yard too...

And at the Gutman Library (Harvard Graduate School of Education):

Sunrise was absolutely beautiful from my hotel room:

So much learning and fun packed into these 5 short days - what an incredible experience! It will be hard to leave this place and these people on Friday.

Beautiful Things Not My Own

1) A beautiful song entitled "The Silence of God" came across my Feedly reader this morning. It's so peaceful and ripe for meaningful meditation.

2) This week, Fr. Mike (of UMD) had an incredible homily that focused on three things we can do to ensure that Mass matters: 1) Embrace our priesthood by offering sacrifice too; 2) Live out in your life what you profess in Mass; 3) Be willing to change because God wants to transform us. I'm not going to go into much detail, for Fr. Mike is far more eloquent than I could ever hope to be. But the bottom line is that Mass matters, just like setting time aside to practice something in order to get better at it or to get to know someone more. Just listen, trust me.

3) Apparently Bishop Lynch (Diocese of St. Petersburg) & Archbishop Cupich (Archdiocese of Chicago) are putting regional food on the line in a bet on who will win the Stanley Cup - LOVE it!

So sorry that I have no original content this evening - what can one do the eve before the last day of school, right?

In the Imperfection

While driving back from Cincinnati, a semi pulled in front of me and (unintentionally) sent a decently sized pebble shooting into my windshield.

CRACK!

Though it wasn't of huge width, my windshield now sported a rather deep "crater" about the size of a quarter. Needless to say, I was shaken up and upset.

Fast forward to one week later.....

Safelite was pretty fast about filling in and fixing up the windshield. (To quote the Safelite guy, "It's not the worst I've seen, but that's pretty deep.") And, while you can still see remnants of the crack in the glass, it's not so terribly bad.

And it got me thinking - sometimes the imperfections look bad at first; they remind us that things (and we're) not perfect. But there's something freeing in that. My car, for example, still drives fine from point A to point B, and its new imperfection isn't that visible unless you're up close or looking for it. The thing is, now I don't need to worry about keeping it perfect (though I'll still try to keep it as good as new as I am able).

Maybe it's a stretch, but we, likewise, have many imperfections, be they large or small, and we're not going to be perfect (though we still need to strive for heaven), no matter how hard we try.

And imperfections are like scars - therefore, I'd like to leave you with the words of Chris Cleeve in Little Bee: "We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived."

So, when things get tough or something comes that you weren't wanting/expecting (e.g. a rock in your windshield), smile when it's over, look at the "scar," and look to the future. We've all got scars - some people are better at hiding them; some people are better at remembering and learning from them...

Things Miss Foyle Says...

Years from now, my students may not remember much of what they learned in class (or, maybe they will - I can only hope), but, if they think of me at all, they'll probably remember these oft repeated phrases that have become staples in our classroom:

Unless you're about to throw up, bleeding, or on fire, you may not come speak with me when I'm with a reading group.

The only thing you need to bring to the carpet is your lovely self.

That book is my favorite. Well, that one is too...

Mints are good brain food (for tests).

(while praying Stations of the Cross) Jesus suffered on the cross for three hours; you can stand for 20 minutes.

Doing nothing is not an option.

Nowhere on the board does it say talk to your neighbor.


Anyways, you get the idea. What you say says a lot about you, doesn't it?