The Force

I was afraid before I started student teaching that I was too laid back and that the children would run all over me.

Now that I've been teaching for awhile, I'm afraid that maybe I'm coming across as a little too, um, forceful.  I give them a direction, I give them one warning, and then, then I punish.

I had just had two boys stay in at recess for not listening and not following directions.  I had an in depth discussion with them as to what it meant to listen and what it meant to follow directions.  I had them explain how they broke the rules and how they would do better in the future.  I had them write the two rules ten times each.  I felt satisfied they understood.

Immediately following recess, we began a new lesson.   Two minutes into the lesson, those same two boys were not listening and not following directions.  I was livid.

I pulled them aside and said, "Listen carefully.  I want your main focus for today, your only goal, to be to listen and to follow directions.  Try focusing really hard on that."

To which one of the boys responded, "Like a Jedi?"

"Yes," I said while hoping my face was displaying a Darth Vader mask of seriousness, "Try to use all  your powers of the Force to listen and follow directions, just like a Jedi would."

His (almost) perfect behavior for the rest of the day was an astonishing turnaround.

I guess all this time I have been channeling the wrong force when it comes to classroom management.

Tomorrow, I will have them start calling me Miss Obi-Wan.

Me and George

When I was in the second grade, I was told that George Washington died of a common head cold.  From that moment on, every time I have suffered through a cold I have sincerely believed that I could very well be on my death bed.

I mean, if the common cold took down George Washington - the first president of the greatest nation on earth, the war general who won freedom for all of us, the leader who could have been king but was courageous enough to step down - if the cold could get the man himself, then it could get any of us.

I've been battling a George Washington-esque sinus infection for almost a week now.  Today was one of the worst days yet - the pounding headaches, the congestion, the pain of swallowing, the incessant coughing, the throbbing teeth, the feeling of two tons of liquid sloshing around in my head - it's enough to make a girl try to make peace with her life.

I've found peace in the idea that I guess it's not so bad to belong to the Death By Common Cold Club.  I mean, if it's got good ol' George then it's bound to be a party.

On the other hand, I guess it's not so bad to belong to the Age of Amoxicillin Conquering All Club either.  Here's to hoping I belong to that party soon!

Fine by Me

I've been floating high on the grooves of some awesome love songs this week.  Call it the season or call it being lucky enough to know the lovely Morgan Kitchen who introduces you to new, hip, stick-in-your-head tunes.

Indonesian Superstar!

Please send all your requests for autographs and pictures to my assistant because

I'm officially an Indonesian superstar.

1,282 youtube views, baby!

My only question is who, exactly, are all my viewers and when will they be expecting a live concert?

Happy to Report

#1 - I'm happy to report that I am currently working on making all those snowflake patterns and requests.  I hope to have them up by the end of the week!

#2 - I'm happy to report that we are 42 days into the new year and I have flossed on every single one of them.  I love when New Years resolutions actually work.

#3 - I'm happy to report that I am using my student teaching position to introduce and convert young minds every where to the joy that is bagpipe music.

I was giving a music lesson to 78 students on different genres and how different types of music make us feel different and move differently.  They swayed perfectly to Claire de Lune, they got a little twitchy when the techno came on, they bounced like clockwork to Elvis, and boy did they come alive during the Ugly Duck rap song (it was very clean, I promise, and it was by far their favorite - they begged and begged to listen to it over and over again).

But then I turned on the bagpipe music and they all froze.  Half of them covered their ears, some of them were screaming, and the rest of them quietly begged me to turn it off/change it to another song.

I guess I now know what I can threaten them with when they don't do what I say.

More Snowflakes! (Part 3)

I love leaves.  Ergo, I love this snowflake.

This snowflake reminds me of the ones Snowflake Bentley took pictures of (the first snowflakes to ever be captured on film).

Presents.  Kind of boring, but still kind of cool because they're in a snowflake.

Happy Pioneer Day!  And yes, it does spell Utah in between the oxen.

This turkey took me quite a few tries to get right.  Everything I did at first seemed to look like an alien.

Matt wore this snowflake on his graduation cap so that his family could spot him in the crowd.

And finally, the BYU Travel Office logo.

If you would like a pattern for any of the snowflakes you've seen - just let me know!  Or if you have your own pattern, please share!

Also, at this time I will be taking any requests.  

But hurry, snowflake season is almost over.

More Snowflakes! (Part 2)

I should make it clear, that not all of these patterns are mine.  My BYU Travel Office coworker, Matt, made many of these.  We were all having fun cutting regular snowflakes until Matt realized all the letters in his name were reflective and he could make his name into a snowflake.  

We just went crazy from there.

The star watching over the baby Jesus:

Presents waiting under the Christmas tree:

For Miriam, who loves butterflies more than anyone I know:

In honor of my favorite holiday, the leprechaun with his pot of gold:

Disneyland Castle (I know, the door of the castle looks a little like a muppet face but just go with it):

Matt made this one for my birthday:

I like to call this one "Maria, Don't Look":

I hope you're not tired of these because I'll show the last of the snowflakes tomorrow!

More Snowflakes! (Part 1)

Word on the street is that the people wanted some more.  So here's some more.

In honor of this little guy seeing his shadow this week:

Do you know how often 1st graders have to talk about/make/read about/watch movies on snowmen during January?  It's enough to make me want to go punch Frosty in the nose.

S'mores, anyone?

This guy always seemed to have a shady mustache to me...

For years, Mary wanted me to make her a daffodil snowflake.  My last summer at the T.O. I made one for her.  I think she cried.

I like to call this one "Sassy Bunny"

For Gracie, who was born in the USA:

(This patriotic snowflake is one of the first snowflakes I made once I realized you could cut anything that was reflective.  I know the S isn't perfectly reflective, but I was still pretty proud of it.)

I've got more coming, hold on to your mittens!