Snow Day #3

So yesterday before work I turned on the news and watched the weather...there was word that we may receive a few inches over the evening. When I arrived at work, one of my colleagues said, "Snow day tomorrow?". I replied, "Don't jinx us!". Although I am not sure that I wanted one....the only reason is that every day that we miss we have to add at the end of the year. However, once last night rolled around, I got the snow day bug and kind of hoped for a day off...but honestly did not expect it at all...

However, just in the event that there was one, I left my email up last night so that when I awoke this morning I could see if school was cancelled. I checked...we had school...or so I thought...and so I jumped into the shower. Checked just in case when I got out of the shower, and to my surprise, SNOW DAY!

I have to admit, I am glad. It's always great to get an unexpected day off...

It has been a great day...I went ahead and stayed up....so by 8:00 I already had my planning done for Friday's lesson. Then I went to Mass, took care of things that I keep putting off due to lack of time, went running, caught up on this blog, and now I am about to go see my former roommate Katie and her husband and son. They have asked me to be the Godmother of their second child. So tonight I am going to go to their house for dinner, play with Joachim a bit, and then go to Baptism formation with Msgr. Krische.

It has been a great day, and a great way to almost lead into the 3-day weekend...I must say, teaching has it's perks!

Have a great snow day, no matter what you are doing!

P.S. - Don't worry mom, I have on the Snowman Socks in celebration!

New Year, New Semester, New Miss D...

Well, not really. Over Christmas break I had some time to reevaluate last semester and consider some things I would change for the new semester. As much as I am not sure if I completely agree with having semester courses in high school, I do like that fact that I get to live as though I am starting my second year of teaching within my first.

This semester I am teaching Geometry. I really like geometry, but it is definitely a change from Algebra. I can see that many of my students are struggling to switch gears and use a different part of their brain. I am actually there with them. I have found it difficult to switch gears, although I am enjoying the challenge.

I think what I am going to enjoy most about teaching Geometry this semester is that it is more visual and I can attempt to be a little more creative with my lessons. Time will tell...

The semester has started off well. We are about to complete our second full week of school. I feel like we have already been in the groove for awhile, but I definitely feel refreshed from break.

I came into my classes with 70 new faces and 10 familiar. I asked the students I had previously to hold me accountable as the new Miss D. Basically the only changes I am trying to implement are consequences for excessive talking in class and for confiscating cell phones. I am now over the fear of washing them ;)

Hopefully this semester will bring forth more funny anecdotes that I can share with you and give you a good laugh. Right now it is business time and I am still trying to get to know my students.

I think this will be a great semester, and I am still impressed with my colleagues that surround me.

I will share more as time goes one, but I will leave you with the corniest joke that I said to my students the first day...please excuse my lame humor!

What did the acorn say when he grew up?

~ "Gee, I'm A Tree!"

Some random shots of 2007

Here's just a collection of random shots....a few from Christmas in St. Louis with the Kirkwood gang (courtesy of Jessica) and a few from a game night my roommate Stacy and I hosted (courtesy of John)....note the artistic Jenga shots inspired by John...we were striving to become the new promotional pictures for the Jenga box....

Game Night...

get ready for ....


the big loser...but at least it's a nice action shot!

Then a little Cranium...

Christmas in Kirkwood, with the ol' crew...

Jessica Green and me

Kelly Watters and David Godfrey

Rick, Aubrey, Nathan, and Kevin

New Year's Celebration

The Catholic young adult group in KC is up and thriving. They hosted a New Year's Bash at one of Kansas City's trendiest art lofts, the Arts Incubator, in the Crossroads District of downtown KC. I extended the invitation to Robyn and Tim, and to my surprise they came along with Tim's brother and girlfriend, and Tim's stepsister and boyfriend. There we joined several of my friends for a night of dancing and celebrating the coming of the new year! Here are some pictures, mostly "courtesy" of my friends...

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S....12:00am!

Happy New Year's to you! Cheers to 2008!