MY SISTER

My sister turns 31 day and I would like to share a few moments that we shared and that I will always cherish:

• When my sister and I were younger, we had to share a room.  We even shared a Queen size bed, which is not wierd when you are like 7.  Anyway, we always started out with A on the left and me on the right and somehow in the course of the night... A ended up on the right and me on the left and yet we never woke up.  STRANGE... I know.
• My sister was my biggest supporter during junior high, and high school,  and even now.  I would not have survived without her.
• My sister is the model mother.  When I watch her take care of her daughter, it is amazing. She does not strive to be mimic the so-called MarthaStewarts, she has created her own style in motherhood and it is beautiful
• I am very protective of my sister because sometimes she is just too darn nice and people take advantage of her.  I am the less-calm of the two and frequently would like to kick these people's A**.
• My sister provides some of the best ADVICE for me.  She knows me and she knows when I am being irrational and crazy and she has a nice way of putting me in my place.
• When my sister has had too many glasses of wine (which could actually be just one glass), she is absolutely hysterical and starts to try to dance, which is even more funny.
• My sister LOVES Christmas.  I love going to her house during the holidays and seeing all of her beautiful decorations.
• My sister is selfless... she is often times so concerned with the needs of the people around her that she forgets to take care of herself.
• Finally.... I LOVE MY SISTER DEARLY AND HOPE SHE HAS A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!

Everyday Editing

As an English teacher, I have always struggled with the most appropriate way to teach grammar. I mean teach it in a way that does not focus on rules, rules, rules. I want to teach it in a way that shows students how to use grammar to enhance their writing.  I also want to teach it in a way that inspires students instead of focusing on grammatical errors, which is how grammar is most often taught: students gets a bare sentence full of mistakes and teacher asks the student to find all of the errors and fix them. 

So I came across the diamond in the rough in terms of teaching grammar. The book is entitled Everyday Editing by Jeff Anderson.   In this book, Anderson shows teachers how to create invitations for students to notice, mimic, and then create their own writing pieces using specific grammatical mechanisms. 

I plan to start implementing these practices in my own classroom next week.  I will let you know how it goes.

I WON! I WON!

       

One of the first blogs I began to follow was Camile's blog: Classroom Confessions. 

Camile is an awesome teacher and I felt so privileged when she awarded me the Kreativ Blogger Award.  As part of this award, I am suppose to tell yoiu 7 random facts about myself:

1. 
   
   I love to get massages.  I mean I really love to get massages. 
   
   
   
2. 
   
   I traveled to Brazil with a group of students and Congressman Dave Loebsack during college.  It was so much fun.
   
   
   
3. 
   
   My favorite place to read is by the pool.
   
   
   
4. 
   
   My favorite food and it has been forever is potatoes.  I can eat potatoes everyday.
   
   
   
5. 
   
   My favorite quick, dine-in experience is Chili's. 
   
   
   
6. 
   
   I drink at least 2 Dr. Peppers everyday. 
   
   
   
7. 
   
   I am a hopeful romantic. 
   
   
   

Thank you again Camile !

A new look on immigration..

This quarter, as part of the school curriculum, I had the unique opportunity to teach a unit on Immigration.  Many of my students are immigrants, many undocumented.  This unit had brought my students together and my class together.  We have had so many classroom discussions about immigration in the United States.  They have taught me and opened my eyes to issues that are unimaginable.

Before you start to talk about all of "those illegal immigrants", I urge you to watch the HBO special entitled, Which way home?  This special chronicals ths lives of immigrant CHILDREN as they try to make it to America ALONE.  Below I have included a clip of the movie.  I hope you will watch it and ask yourself why children deserve to live like this.
 

Not Me, Monday!

• I certainly did not stay out until very late... I mean very late on a school night dancing salsa.  I would never be so irresponsible.
• I did not eat potatoe chips for dinner because I was too lazy tired to make something.  I would never be that unhealthy.
• I did not watch a Harry Potter movie twice while grading papers.
• I did not do the happy dance when a cold front came to Houston that made it actually feel like fall. 
• I am not a Gratitude Challenge Dropout.  I am a really, really thankful person.  I just couldn't manage to respond to those prompts.
• I did not have an absolutely wonderful time last night, on a school night, with an amazing person....

What has Ms. G been up to?

Well, it has been a few days, okay about a week, since my last post.  Why?  Well, here is a recap of what I have been up to:

• Grades are due on Wednesday and I have been frantically trying to finish grading.
• I have been reading the book Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.  While my favorite Albom book is still Tuesdays with Morrie, I did enjoy this quick read.
• I have been working my ass off in the classroom.  I don't remember ever working this hard in the past; however, the rewards are also beginning to show.  I love my kiddos and it is so exciting to see them progressing.
• Salsa Dancing has been going really well.  I dance about 3 times a week and it has proven to be so much fun and I have lost some weight... 8 pounds to be exact.  It has also proven to be an excellent stress reliever.
• I have started dating.  I wasn't sure if I was really ready to date, but I faced by fears and put myself out there.   With who?  Well, those details will come later.
• I have been enjoying the beautiful weather with the Rez Girl.  We spent 3 hours...yes, 3 hours... at the dog park and had so much fun.

What have you been up to lately?

Capitalism: A Love Story

Last night I had the awesome opportunity to chaperone some amazing Government AP students to the movie Capitalism: A Love Story directed by Michael Moore.  It brought back memories of my early college years when I had to do a research paper in my first Political Science class on Roger and Me.  From an intellectual point, this movie really brings up some excellent questions about the role of capitalism and democracy in our society today and the diminishing role and power that America is playing globally.  If you have not seen this movie, I recommend that you see if for no other reason than to gain perspective from various viewpoints.  

Salsa is my new obsession....

Last night began week two of my salsa lessons, and I am having so much fun.  I mean I love it. Who wouldn't love cute boys and dancing?  My instructor is super cute too.  After class, we all hang around and dance and a few of the really cute boys danced with me.   After a few dances, I looked down and it was already 11:30.  Needless to say, it was difficult to get out of bed this morning.