Has anyone tried this DVD? I have been reading a lot of blogs where people are doing it, but I want an opinion from someone I know, if possible. I am thinking about doing it sometime soon-I would love to be in better shape, and I like that it has three levels, so you can work your way up to make it more challenging.
One of the reasons I am thinking of doing this is because my gym membership is on hold until May. I did this for financial reasons, and since my prime gym months are during the summer-I really wasn't using it at all over the last few months. I occasionally go on walks or bike rides on the beach path, but I know this would be a more challenging workout and would work on muscle, which is what I am missing.
Anyone want to do this with me? Accountability?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
What do you remember from 6th grade?
Every once in a while I do an activity at school that I think the kids might actually remember. The things I remember from 6th grade include dissecting owl pellets, an affirmation activity where we all wrote nice things about each other, writing protest letters to the school district, and current event discussions (during one of which I stood up and called a classmate a "male chauvinist pig!"). There are a few other details, but that's about it. The rest blurs together.
As a teacher, I know that my kids won't remember every lesson I teach. Hopefully the things they learn build on each other, and while they don't remember the lesson, they remember things that I taught them. But, it's nice every once in a while to know that I did something special, that at least a few of them will remember.
Today, I think, was one of those days. My kids did How-To Speeches in English. The lesson was public speaking and writing directions. They had to make a poster and give their speeches today. Highlights included a boy who did how to make a paper airplane. He brought in paper for everyone, we all made planes, and then I had them line up outside to see who could throw theirs the farthest. Another boy did how to make sugar cookies and brought in homemade cookies for everyone. Along the same lines, a girl did how to make cupcakes and brought in cupcakes. A boy from first period did how to clean your room, and his poster included pictures of him cleaning his bedroom, along with a before and after photo (I'm thinking his mom suggested the topic). One girl did how to make lemonade and printed recipe cards for everyone. I also learned how to pitch a baseball, how to straighten my hair, how to shoot a free throw, how to draw a dog, how to make paper stars, how to cure vomiting, and how to do a rear naked choke hold (the boy demonstrated on another student. Neither was naked, just to clarify).
The kids overall did a great job and put a lot of effort into it. Eve the really nervous ones said they liked the assignment, and I was proud of them. I told them that it really made me happy to see the effort they put into the assignment. Definitely a new staple of being in Ms. Fletcher's English class. :)
As a teacher, I know that my kids won't remember every lesson I teach. Hopefully the things they learn build on each other, and while they don't remember the lesson, they remember things that I taught them. But, it's nice every once in a while to know that I did something special, that at least a few of them will remember.
Today, I think, was one of those days. My kids did How-To Speeches in English. The lesson was public speaking and writing directions. They had to make a poster and give their speeches today. Highlights included a boy who did how to make a paper airplane. He brought in paper for everyone, we all made planes, and then I had them line up outside to see who could throw theirs the farthest. Another boy did how to make sugar cookies and brought in homemade cookies for everyone. Along the same lines, a girl did how to make cupcakes and brought in cupcakes. A boy from first period did how to clean your room, and his poster included pictures of him cleaning his bedroom, along with a before and after photo (I'm thinking his mom suggested the topic). One girl did how to make lemonade and printed recipe cards for everyone. I also learned how to pitch a baseball, how to straighten my hair, how to shoot a free throw, how to draw a dog, how to make paper stars, how to cure vomiting, and how to do a rear naked choke hold (the boy demonstrated on another student. Neither was naked, just to clarify).
The kids overall did a great job and put a lot of effort into it. Eve the really nervous ones said they liked the assignment, and I was proud of them. I told them that it really made me happy to see the effort they put into the assignment. Definitely a new staple of being in Ms. Fletcher's English class. :)
Friday, January 22, 2010
Cartoons make the best musicals.
Every year during my Israel unit I show The Prince of Egypt
to my history classes. And every year I forget how much I love this movie. I think I may have blogged about this before, but it's usually the part where they're crossing the Red Sea that gets me. This year though, it's an earlier part in the movie where they sing this song:
"How can you see what your life is worth
or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man,
you must look at your life through Heaven's eyes."
I don't know why this hit me so strongly...but it did. There are lots of things I think of as important in life. And I spend a lot of time thinking about the little things. And I know I still will. But for a second I thought about the things in my life that matter. It matters that I am the kind of teacher who cares about my students. It matters that I love people, and show that I love them. It matters that I am a good friend, sister, daughter. And it's so hard to keep those things in mind when I am distracted by the little things. But for a minute, while watching a cartoon, I looked at my life through Heaven's eyes.
to my history classes. And every year I forget how much I love this movie. I think I may have blogged about this before, but it's usually the part where they're crossing the Red Sea that gets me. This year though, it's an earlier part in the movie where they sing this song:"How can you see what your life is worth
or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man,
you must look at your life through Heaven's eyes."
I don't know why this hit me so strongly...but it did. There are lots of things I think of as important in life. And I spend a lot of time thinking about the little things. And I know I still will. But for a second I thought about the things in my life that matter. It matters that I am the kind of teacher who cares about my students. It matters that I love people, and show that I love them. It matters that I am a good friend, sister, daughter. And it's so hard to keep those things in mind when I am distracted by the little things. But for a minute, while watching a cartoon, I looked at my life through Heaven's eyes.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
You Say You Want a Resolution...
In 2010 I will....
...stop cursing. It's not like I go crazy, but like I tell my students, there are better ways to express yourself.
...shampoo my makeup brushes once a month. I am terrible about this, and it's not that difficult. Once a month is probably not ideal, but it's a start.
...be more positive about relationships. I wrote down affirmations for when I get in my negative mood about it, and I will not harbor negative thoughts.
...start my house down payment fund.
...have 100 no drive days, meaning I will walk, carpool, or ride my bike rather than use my car. It's green, it saves money on gas, and it makes me exercise.
...complete my secondary credential in English.
...stop cursing. It's not like I go crazy, but like I tell my students, there are better ways to express yourself.
...shampoo my makeup brushes once a month. I am terrible about this, and it's not that difficult. Once a month is probably not ideal, but it's a start.
...be more positive about relationships. I wrote down affirmations for when I get in my negative mood about it, and I will not harbor negative thoughts.
...start my house down payment fund.
...have 100 no drive days, meaning I will walk, carpool, or ride my bike rather than use my car. It's green, it saves money on gas, and it makes me exercise.
...complete my secondary credential in English.
Friday, December 11, 2009
All about me...
I had my students do an activity where they wrote eight sentences on any topic they wanted and then they traded with a neighbor and marked them as either facts or opinions. Some of them were stuck and so I said they should write about me (because I'm vain.) Here are some of my favorites:
"Ms. Fletcher is serious about classwork."
"She also is strict when people are talking."
"Ms. Fletcher is a Dodger fan. Also she does not like the Angles." (That's how he spelled it.)
"She also had nice blonde hair."
"She is better than all my other teachers."
She is the best teacher ever."
"Ms. Fletcher is the fastest typist in our school."
"Ms. Fletcher's class is very very FUN!"
"Ms. Fletcher cares for everyone in the class."
"We are not allowed to eat in class."
"Ms. Fletcher is serious about classwork."
"She also is strict when people are talking."
"Ms. Fletcher is a Dodger fan. Also she does not like the Angles." (That's how he spelled it.)
"She also had nice blonde hair."
"She is better than all my other teachers."
She is the best teacher ever."
"Ms. Fletcher is the fastest typist in our school."
"Ms. Fletcher's class is very very FUN!"
"Ms. Fletcher cares for everyone in the class."
"We are not allowed to eat in class."
Monday, December 7, 2009
It's beginning to look a lot like memories...
I love decorating my Christmas tree because I have been collecting ornaments from various places I've traveled, and so decorating the tree makes me think of trips I have taken and people I love. For example...
My cherry blossom reminds me of DC and visiting Melanie and Tasha.
My Big Ben reminds me of my trip to London with Shelley.
My Eiffel Tower reminds me of my trip to France with my Aunt Katy.
My Shaker Village ornament reminds me of my trips to Kentucky with Bethany. (and of the Godshalls, though I have not visited them there.)
My Dodgers ornament reminds me of Becca and Justin, my fellow Dodger fans.
My Jamaica ornament reminds me of my fabulous trip in August with Jessica and Elizabeth.
So, decorating my tree last night was great fun, not only because I have a lovely tree in my living room, but because of the sentimental value of my ornaments. They are my favorite travel souvenir. And, if anyone has an ornament that goes with Italy, tell me where to get it (I am totally willing to cheat and buy it after the fact so I can think of my trip to Florence and Rome with Rebecca).
My cherry blossom reminds me of DC and visiting Melanie and Tasha.
My Big Ben reminds me of my trip to London with Shelley.
My Eiffel Tower reminds me of my trip to France with my Aunt Katy.
My Shaker Village ornament reminds me of my trips to Kentucky with Bethany. (and of the Godshalls, though I have not visited them there.)
My Dodgers ornament reminds me of Becca and Justin, my fellow Dodger fans.
My Jamaica ornament reminds me of my fabulous trip in August with Jessica and Elizabeth.
So, decorating my tree last night was great fun, not only because I have a lovely tree in my living room, but because of the sentimental value of my ornaments. They are my favorite travel souvenir. And, if anyone has an ornament that goes with Italy, tell me where to get it (I am totally willing to cheat and buy it after the fact so I can think of my trip to Florence and Rome with Rebecca).
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