I finished my book!
No, really!
I am thrilled at the moment, and I don't know what to do. I knew I would have to wait until after school was over to focus on it. But, Steve's grandmother was able to stay with Syd for the past three days so I could focus, uninterrupted.
Day 1: The majority of the day was spent reading what I had and making plot line notes on paper. I hadn't read it since I wrote it in November.
Day 2: Finish the main story. I had to tie up loose ends, bring about a way for it to end, etc.
Day 3: Write the closing chapter, double check loose ends (I really despise loose ends - I loathe watching a movie or reading a book and asking "What about ___? What happened to him? Why was this introduced with no follow up?" Drives me crazy and can truly ruin a solid story for me. I hope I don't have any I missed...) Is it decent? Yeah - I'd go with decent. It is awe-inspiring? No. Not a chance. But it is complete.
I am also utilizing Createspace.com to get it bound. I won 5 free copies for completing Nanowrimo.org this past November. Steve has claimed one copy. I promised G.W. a copy (the wonderful, brilliant, dark child of my heart who gave me a copy of her Nano book). And one must stay on my own bookshelves. The last two - well, we'll see...
The problem? It is taking for-ev-er for the 95 pages to load on to Createspace. Really. I've been sitting here, doubting myself, twiddling my thumbs, and writing the blog entry for nearly 30 minutes waiting for it to load. I hope it completes soon. But I am proud of my accomplishment, and I love the fact that I was able to use a photo I took for the cover art. I am anxious to see the finished copy...
Steve is excited - he said he'd like to participate in this year's Nanowrimo. I say go for it. But then again, if we both participate, there won't be any clean clothes for the month, and we'll probably subsist completely on chicken nuggets and french fries. Maybe, on second thought, I'll let him have this one by himself...
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
What Stirs the Teenage Soul to Read
When I first started teaching high school, Harry Potter was at its height. I was a self-confessed Potterhead. I had all the books that were released up to that point. I had seen all the movies produced up to that point. It was seamless for me to start teaching high schoolers and make allusions to and jokes about the happenings at Hogwarts.
But then the expected happened - more quickly than I anticipated - the student Potterheads started to dwindle - graduating out. The book series was coming to an end in 2005, with only one book left to publish and four movies (of course, the final book was made in to a two-part film) to produce and release. My point is, the Potter Hysteria was dying down. Slowly, something started popping up in my classroom that I didn't recognize.
Twilight sprouted, like a black dandelion. It gave no warning. It was nowhere one day and sporadically sprinkled across the lawn of my classroom the next. And it procreated madly. Before long, witches and wizards were the stuff of the past and vampires and werewolves were everywhere. But I noticed a trend with this particular series I didn't see with Harry. The general audience for the Twilight series was void of male readers. The Y chromosome didn't find the same draw to the fantasy that the double-X did. With Harry, I could crack a joke, make an analogy, and nods of agreement, laughter, rolling the eyes would be evenly distributed across the room. I hadn't read any Twilight, but the audience was solely female.
That being said, I managed to go quite a few years without reading the series. I got busy. I had a baby. I took on advanced classes. I had no time to read - for myself or for school. And Twilight stayed in the classroom, though the numbers began to dwindle. And then the next wave of excitement started.
I had heard of The Hunger Games from a coworker of mine. But the name dropped in my ear and flushed right out - I had too much going on to retain it. Then, I started seeing the book, and it's sequels, in class. Like the dandelion that is vampire, the combination that is 1984, Ancient Roman coliseum, and futuristic Civil War spread like the wildfire present the first time Katniss enters the games.
I read these. I read the first, and after finishing it, I took a break. SoLs were coming. The semester needed to be tidied up. I had no time to get hooked. And then I got sick. While cocooned in bed, I read Catching Fire. And while a reader could feasibly take a break between Book I and Book II, there is no way to take a break between II & III. So, I put all school aside while I finished the entire series. I was a fan.
Again, THG kept coming up in class - kids blogged about it; books were laying on the tables, waiting for classwork to end so they could read; the movie came out this past March. The difference was, again, I was able to make references to the series that both genders enjoyed and understood.
I needed to see for myself what the big difference was between the different series. I needed to keep my finger on the pulse that is teenage interest. I was donated the Twilight series by seniors who were no longer enraptured by the argument between Team Edward and Team Jacob. And I read the entire series. After I finished the series, I borrowed the released movies.
I will refrain from expounding on my thoughts on the books themselves, as this was initially a lesson for me in gender interest. My key reason for reading all of this, when I have so much more I need to do, was to understand why my students were in love with one thing over another. Twilight is, in essence, a love story. But then again, so is, in one aspect, THG. Why did boys find interest in Katniss and Peeta and not Bella and Edward?
Perhaps it was the peripheral plot lines that caught their attention. Or rather, the fact that the peripheral plot line in Twilight was everything else while the meat of the sandwich was the love story. And the meat of the sandwich in The Hunger Games was, in fact, everything else while the peripheral story is the love interests.
Having read all there is to read on Harry, Katniss, and Bella, and seen all that has been released to see (Twilight: Breaking Dawn Pt II is scheduled to be released in November of this year), I will say that the most rounded of the series is The Hunger Games - it feels the most realistic - the most applicable. Witches and wizards may exist. There may be dragons and quidditch. Vampires - who knows? Crime sprees abound and could be explained through newborns. But most of us tend to revert to a logical sense of thought that see what happens in Panem and can project that in to our own future, unless things change. And most of today's kids are not given credit for understanding that. It may be more visceral than forefront, but it is there.
Ultimately, I can only say I appreciate all three series for finding something that stirs the teenager to read. Regardless of gender, as an English teacher, I am thankful that the kids I've had the privilege of knowing in my 7 years of public high school teaching have found something to which to relate. It really doesn't matter which they read, as long as they read. But it leaves me asking - what is the next trend? Where do I need to start reading, again?
On a side note, not as a series, but it is of interest that the movie adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower comes out this fall. Another book that has stirred the teenage soul. I'm reading it starting tomorrow.
But then the expected happened - more quickly than I anticipated - the student Potterheads started to dwindle - graduating out. The book series was coming to an end in 2005, with only one book left to publish and four movies (of course, the final book was made in to a two-part film) to produce and release. My point is, the Potter Hysteria was dying down. Slowly, something started popping up in my classroom that I didn't recognize.
Twilight sprouted, like a black dandelion. It gave no warning. It was nowhere one day and sporadically sprinkled across the lawn of my classroom the next. And it procreated madly. Before long, witches and wizards were the stuff of the past and vampires and werewolves were everywhere. But I noticed a trend with this particular series I didn't see with Harry. The general audience for the Twilight series was void of male readers. The Y chromosome didn't find the same draw to the fantasy that the double-X did. With Harry, I could crack a joke, make an analogy, and nods of agreement, laughter, rolling the eyes would be evenly distributed across the room. I hadn't read any Twilight, but the audience was solely female.
That being said, I managed to go quite a few years without reading the series. I got busy. I had a baby. I took on advanced classes. I had no time to read - for myself or for school. And Twilight stayed in the classroom, though the numbers began to dwindle. And then the next wave of excitement started.
I had heard of The Hunger Games from a coworker of mine. But the name dropped in my ear and flushed right out - I had too much going on to retain it. Then, I started seeing the book, and it's sequels, in class. Like the dandelion that is vampire, the combination that is 1984, Ancient Roman coliseum, and futuristic Civil War spread like the wildfire present the first time Katniss enters the games.
I read these. I read the first, and after finishing it, I took a break. SoLs were coming. The semester needed to be tidied up. I had no time to get hooked. And then I got sick. While cocooned in bed, I read Catching Fire. And while a reader could feasibly take a break between Book I and Book II, there is no way to take a break between II & III. So, I put all school aside while I finished the entire series. I was a fan.
Again, THG kept coming up in class - kids blogged about it; books were laying on the tables, waiting for classwork to end so they could read; the movie came out this past March. The difference was, again, I was able to make references to the series that both genders enjoyed and understood.
I needed to see for myself what the big difference was between the different series. I needed to keep my finger on the pulse that is teenage interest. I was donated the Twilight series by seniors who were no longer enraptured by the argument between Team Edward and Team Jacob. And I read the entire series. After I finished the series, I borrowed the released movies.
I will refrain from expounding on my thoughts on the books themselves, as this was initially a lesson for me in gender interest. My key reason for reading all of this, when I have so much more I need to do, was to understand why my students were in love with one thing over another. Twilight is, in essence, a love story. But then again, so is, in one aspect, THG. Why did boys find interest in Katniss and Peeta and not Bella and Edward?
Perhaps it was the peripheral plot lines that caught their attention. Or rather, the fact that the peripheral plot line in Twilight was everything else while the meat of the sandwich was the love story. And the meat of the sandwich in The Hunger Games was, in fact, everything else while the peripheral story is the love interests.
Having read all there is to read on Harry, Katniss, and Bella, and seen all that has been released to see (Twilight: Breaking Dawn Pt II is scheduled to be released in November of this year), I will say that the most rounded of the series is The Hunger Games - it feels the most realistic - the most applicable. Witches and wizards may exist. There may be dragons and quidditch. Vampires - who knows? Crime sprees abound and could be explained through newborns. But most of us tend to revert to a logical sense of thought that see what happens in Panem and can project that in to our own future, unless things change. And most of today's kids are not given credit for understanding that. It may be more visceral than forefront, but it is there.
Ultimately, I can only say I appreciate all three series for finding something that stirs the teenager to read. Regardless of gender, as an English teacher, I am thankful that the kids I've had the privilege of knowing in my 7 years of public high school teaching have found something to which to relate. It really doesn't matter which they read, as long as they read. But it leaves me asking - what is the next trend? Where do I need to start reading, again?
On a side note, not as a series, but it is of interest that the movie adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower comes out this fall. Another book that has stirred the teenage soul. I'm reading it starting tomorrow.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Comes in like a Lion and goes out like a...Lion?
I should have known by the end of the first week of school that, regardless of the caliber of student I would be teaching, leading, coercing, it was going to be a trying year.
And I would have been correct on all accounts, had I known.
Our first week of school, which is recaptured here, I discussed how exciting it was to encounter an unexpected earthquake, hurricane, and tropical storm. That particular entry was written before the (ahem...) repercussions of both - a huge sink hole opened up in our school's driveway, causing our particular school to close for the day. A heck of a way to begin the year.
Summarize briefly - testing, illness, surgery, testing, illness, emergency room, testing, AP test. A rough year, though these are some of the best kids I've had the pleasure of teaching, leading, coercing.
Today was the first day of exams. My four classes of juniors have all passed their two state standardized tests (except one poor girl who doesn't test well - she passed one but not the other). My seniors are all graduating, all have plans, and we're waiting for their scores. I finished their final grades to be handed in today so we know, ahead of time, who still is a valedictorian, etc. My pile of semester-long reading projects have all been graded. My room is peaceful for the first true time since the work week in August.
And buses are delayed for those who were not exempt from their exams for today.
And a "I'm-trying-to-play-off-my-frantic-feelings" assistant principal comes on the loudspeaker asking everyone to stay in class.
And the "I'm-also-trying-to-play-off-my-frantic-feelings-but-failing" other assistant principal comes on remind us all to stay in classes.
A minute later, he comes back on and says we're in lock down.
Apparently, a group of youngsters were dressed in camo on the hiking trail behind our middle and high schools, playing "war" with air rifles. Imagine their surprise when they looked up to find themselves surrounded by police, guns pulled, ensuring the safety of our students and staff. I liken this to the scene in Jaws where the two tween boys are pretending to be the shark - complete with fake fin strapped to their backs. "He - he made me do it!" one shakily points out to the Coast Guard, harpoons drawn.
Lock down drills on the first day of exams. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tropical storms, and sink holes. I wonder what the remainder of this school year will bring?
And I would have been correct on all accounts, had I known.
Our first week of school, which is recaptured here, I discussed how exciting it was to encounter an unexpected earthquake, hurricane, and tropical storm. That particular entry was written before the (ahem...) repercussions of both - a huge sink hole opened up in our school's driveway, causing our particular school to close for the day. A heck of a way to begin the year.
Summarize briefly - testing, illness, surgery, testing, illness, emergency room, testing, AP test. A rough year, though these are some of the best kids I've had the pleasure of teaching, leading, coercing.
Today was the first day of exams. My four classes of juniors have all passed their two state standardized tests (except one poor girl who doesn't test well - she passed one but not the other). My seniors are all graduating, all have plans, and we're waiting for their scores. I finished their final grades to be handed in today so we know, ahead of time, who still is a valedictorian, etc. My pile of semester-long reading projects have all been graded. My room is peaceful for the first true time since the work week in August.
And buses are delayed for those who were not exempt from their exams for today.
And a "I'm-trying-to-play-off-my-frantic-feelings" assistant principal comes on the loudspeaker asking everyone to stay in class.
And the "I'm-also-trying-to-play-off-my-frantic-feelings-but-failing" other assistant principal comes on remind us all to stay in classes.
A minute later, he comes back on and says we're in lock down.
Apparently, a group of youngsters were dressed in camo on the hiking trail behind our middle and high schools, playing "war" with air rifles. Imagine their surprise when they looked up to find themselves surrounded by police, guns pulled, ensuring the safety of our students and staff. I liken this to the scene in Jaws where the two tween boys are pretending to be the shark - complete with fake fin strapped to their backs. "He - he made me do it!" one shakily points out to the Coast Guard, harpoons drawn.
Lock down drills on the first day of exams. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tropical storms, and sink holes. I wonder what the remainder of this school year will bring?
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Catching Up
It's been awhile. And for good reason. I haven't done much in nearly a month due to final preparations for my seniors and their AP test and my juniors and their standardized state tests. AP was last week, and we're now playing the waiting game. We'll find out scores some time in July. (Ugh! The waiting!!)
SoLs are this week, and my students don't actually test until Friday. But for various reasons, unlike in the past, I may not find out scores the following week - it may take until exams to know how they did. I'm not thrilled about that.
On a bright note, however, I did finally get my Writing SoL scores back from March, and I am quite happy to say that not only did everyone pass, but they all passed quite well - I had higher scores than ever before. Again, I don't feel that was ME nearly as much as the preparation (and getting accustomed to the testing) that took place in years prior to me leading these children.
All in all, it's been a stressful month - Syd and I fought through 2 more colds, the Nichols family had an "interesting" trip to see my best friend graduate with her M.D. (Dr. Dodd, if you please!), and testing, testing, testing, and more testing. I would really like to get back to teaching now...
SoLs are this week, and my students don't actually test until Friday. But for various reasons, unlike in the past, I may not find out scores the following week - it may take until exams to know how they did. I'm not thrilled about that.
On a bright note, however, I did finally get my Writing SoL scores back from March, and I am quite happy to say that not only did everyone pass, but they all passed quite well - I had higher scores than ever before. Again, I don't feel that was ME nearly as much as the preparation (and getting accustomed to the testing) that took place in years prior to me leading these children.
All in all, it's been a stressful month - Syd and I fought through 2 more colds, the Nichols family had an "interesting" trip to see my best friend graduate with her M.D. (Dr. Dodd, if you please!), and testing, testing, testing, and more testing. I would really like to get back to teaching now...
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Saying Goodbye
My seniors just left for the day. I have 5 classes left with them before their AP exam, and 12 classes left before the year is over. I am having a harder time now than in the past saying goodbye.
What is so special about the majority of my seniors is that I had most of them when they first entered high school as freshmen. They were in my first Pre-AP classes in 9th grade. Most continued on through the AP tract to rejoin me their last year, as high school seniors, in my advanced placement class. Some, however, decided to drop down to college-bound English during their 10th or 11th grade year, which means I had a handful last year, as well. Some I've grown especially attached to I had for three of their four years of high school. And some merely roped me in this last year of their high school career.
And now it is time to say goodbye.
I hate to say that I'm not quite ready to let them go. I'm not prepared to not be present in their lives. I'm certainly not ready for them to forget me, though I know I have to accede that I am not the foremost thought in their lives. I feel completely invested in their futures. I hope for them to be successful, to grow, to achieve their potential. I want for them to find their feet and their place in this world. I hope they will come visit me and stay in touch and continue to let me know how they fare.
This is my blog, but the post is not about me - it is about the students, the investment I and every teacher put in to their lives and futures, and it is about letting go. And as difficult as this is for me, I am still excited for all they will experience as they grow, bloom, and live. And I can only hope I've done what I need to to ensure their success and happiness as they reach their roots down and rise up to meet their individual suns.
What is so special about the majority of my seniors is that I had most of them when they first entered high school as freshmen. They were in my first Pre-AP classes in 9th grade. Most continued on through the AP tract to rejoin me their last year, as high school seniors, in my advanced placement class. Some, however, decided to drop down to college-bound English during their 10th or 11th grade year, which means I had a handful last year, as well. Some I've grown especially attached to I had for three of their four years of high school. And some merely roped me in this last year of their high school career.
And now it is time to say goodbye.
I hate to say that I'm not quite ready to let them go. I'm not prepared to not be present in their lives. I'm certainly not ready for them to forget me, though I know I have to accede that I am not the foremost thought in their lives. I feel completely invested in their futures. I hope for them to be successful, to grow, to achieve their potential. I want for them to find their feet and their place in this world. I hope they will come visit me and stay in touch and continue to let me know how they fare.
This is my blog, but the post is not about me - it is about the students, the investment I and every teacher put in to their lives and futures, and it is about letting go. And as difficult as this is for me, I am still excited for all they will experience as they grow, bloom, and live. And I can only hope I've done what I need to to ensure their success and happiness as they reach their roots down and rise up to meet their individual suns.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Kites, Kites, and Impending Nap Time!
This past weekend was the annual Kite Festival in the valley. I've always wanted to go but something always came up - either I was at a track meet, or was ill, or was swamped with work. Last year, it was rained out. But this year, we finally got to go and use the kites we've been holding on to for several years, just waiting for this opportunity to break them out.
Here, Steve is busy getting his shark (I know - shocker, isn't it?) elevated.
I was busy trying to ensure the little one didn't fly away with the dolphin kite he was using.
Mommy and Syd get very skilled at flying. At one point, I had them both up in the air, by myself, before handing the dolphin off to Syd.
Syd loved his dolphin. He enjoyed looking at all the kites going (I heard a report that there were 8,000 people there. Crazy! Thankfully, we got there early, right after music class, so we were gone [and on our way to a lengthy nap] before it got too busy.) but was quite content to fly his own.
Daddy and Syd with their aquatic animals.
It was a beautiful day. Rain storms were called for the afternoon, and rightly so - we're in the midst of the beginning of a springtime noreaster. But the sun was shining while we were still there. The weekend would be perfect if I were granted a snow day for tomorrow!! Hint, hint...
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Milestones and Tradition
It seems that, other than the obvious, Easter weekend is becoming a weekend of milestones for my little one. It was on Easter Sunday, three years ago, that we surprised our family, who had given up on us, with the news that we were pregnant.
It was on Easter weekend Syd's first year that he had his first real illness - Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (see my girlfriend and co-worker, Christie's, blog posting on that particular illness here). 
It was on Easter weekend last year that Syd took his first trip to the zoo. 
This year, Syd moved from his crib to a BIG boy bed! Our crib came with a toddler 'wall.' Syd anxiously worked on the baby gate while Daddy installed the wall to the crib. Syd did very well, for his first night. What really got us tickled was that he still called out at 5 am that he wanted to get up. I don't think he realized he had that option, now. 
Last, this is also his first year to participate in Easter Egg hunts - and actually get candy. Understandably, we severely limited the sugar intake, but the fact is he is now officially inducted in to the non-secular traditions that accompany this holiday.
All in all, it has been a tremendously fast three years. I wouldn't change a thing, even though he is a morning person and I, most definitely, am not. Steve told me that even through high school, he regularly got up at 5:30. I cannot fathom that in the least, but I look forward to not having to fight Syd to get to school on time.
Happy Easter to everyone! I love you all.
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