Venn Diagram takes on a whole new meaning

My kids are reading Edgar Allen Poe short stories and interpreting poems. (in my beloved Honors class) This is my last year teaching the honors kids and I am sad about that. More than sad. However, I thought I'd share a cool activity I did w/ them a couple of weeks ago when we were comparing two short stories of Poe's. I decided to make a huge Venn Diagram on the floor and then have the kids work in groups to discuss the similarities and differences b/t the two stories, then write them on sentence strips and share out to the group. It worked out well despite the fact that my diagram is not exactly round. The kids focused on writing techniques, literary devices, and elements of fiction.

In lieu of all of the jaded thoughts I've been feeling regarding the proposed transformation of our school, our principal who is leaving told me he wished he could take me with him to his new elementary school. :) Quite a compliment, I'd say.

Brynnisms Part IX

Brynn is laying in bed talking to her dad, holding her stuffed meerkat in her hands. All of a sudden, she takes the meerkat's tail and sticks it through the front "crotch" part of the animal.

Brynn: "Look Dad, it has privates!"

Daddy: (trying not to laugh): "We don't talk about that stuff, Brynn."

Brynn: "It's okay Daddy, it's just my meerkat."

Blue Hair!

Tonight the kids and I had our hair cut and our lovely hairdresser, Ali found some fun blue gel to put in Bay's mohawk. He loved it.

Update

I know I haven't been posting pictures of the kids lately. Work has been consuming my life basically b/c I have let it. In an effort to forget about things that are upsetting me, I'm trying to focus on what is really good right now: my kids. :) Last weekend, a good friend of mine took photos in the Japanese Gardens. She is starting her own photography business and needed to build up her portfolio. I took my little camera along and snuck in a few shots of my own. I am looking forward to seeing the outdoor shots she took. Hopefully there are some good ones. :)

I'm just sad...

you know when something you've worked so hard at (mostly by yourself) and so long is taken away without having the chance to give much input towards it feels very defeating. :(

and then told i'll be the expert on how to serve them best within the new plan doesn't make it any better. I just want to flip my middle finger and not say a word. it hurts. a lot.

Things that are pissing me off...

Ugh I am in one of those moods today...staff meeting got me all rantin' and ravin' about a variety of things...namely this:

1. Inclusion. That's right, folks. An idea that I don't agree with. Period.

2. Change. I am a hard person to deal with change. I just am. I don't like it. It takes me a long time to come around and like change when I am not on board. Obviously #1 item of the week that's pissed me off is not a big deal to most people but to me it is. And if they do choose to get rid of those programs, then what will I do? I freak out. I become really upset. I eat a lot of peanut butter M & M's. :( *sigh*

3. Work frustrations in general (not my students--they are AWESOME beyond belief this year).

4. Brynn's dance recital tix for spring recital are $24 a piece!!! Ridiculous if you ask me...

5. Plane tix are so expensive. I have to go back to IA by myself for Daniel's graduation. I'm excited to go but I am sad my kids and hubby can't come w/ me. That sucks.

6. Baylen has no interest in potty training and my motivation is low. It's a lose-lose situation right now in the potty dept.

This is a Debbie Downer week for me....I'm in a funk.

First week of school...

as a grad student was a lot more work than I envisioned. My problem is I'm a perfectionist. I want to learn and read everything. The only issue with that problem is I have to figure out how to balance my time. I may not be able to read every single reading or every single piece of text ALL of the time. I guess I need to get used to it for a few weeks and find my groove. On a positive note, I have earned 100% in the class so far on all assignments and quizzes. :)