Last week I was called and asked to sub long term for a teacher who was expecting. Without asking nay questions at all, I said, "Sure! I'd love to!" Only afterwards did I think to ask what grade and get some more details. To my surprise, it's not a grade: it's an ESL (English as a second language) classroom. I began to worry because I only had a few ESL students while getting my degree, but after going to shadow the teacher for a day, my fears were quickly relieved.
My days are busy, I have seven or eight groups of students throughout the day and walk from classroom to classroom. The kids are all well behaved and so far, I'm loving it. Even though I have to plan many lesson per day on different levels, I can mold each lesson to each groups needs and not have to worry about differentiating for an entire classroom.
Our lessons range anywhere from learning to read and sound out words to grammar and perfecting their writing technique. Some groups I just sit by and assist as needed while the mainstream teacher conducts the lesson. I am liking this more than I thought I would. It's also great to have an excuse to wear my work clothes again. I love looking professional.
Today was my first day going solo (the teacher went into labor a couple weeks early) and everything went very smoothly. I actually had tons of free time to decide how I wanted to run the classroom because one grade level took a field trip and I have two groups from that grade. So I planned a lot today and then came home to plan some more. :)
February 24, 2011
February 15, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day(s)
Since Valentine's Day fell on a Monday this year, Alan and I decided that we would celebrate by making dinner Sunday. Our menu: roasted lamb, potato and cauliflower dauphinois, steamed broccolini, and Samoa ice cream.
The dauphonois is a recipe by Alan's long time favorite chef, Jamie Oliver, and was so delicious! You begin by simmering heavy cream, milk, 2 bay leaves, 4 cloves of sliced garlic, and some nutmeg for five minutes. Just this made the kitchen smell wonderful and I instantly wanted to turn this recipe into a version of mac and cheese. Then in a casserole dish, you layer slices of potato and cauliflower, pour the cream over top, and bake for 40 minutes. After the first bout of baking, you press down on the mixture (use a kitchen towel, it's hot!) and top with Parmesan cheese and bake again for 10-15 minutes until browned. Delicious!
Then came time for ice cream, my favorite! I made Samoa ice cream this year with an entire box of cookies mixed into a coconut ice cream with caramel swirls. By the way, this is NOT Somona approved. :) Alan and I had the best time cooking together in the kitchen, even though it took dinner longer than expected. Monday rolled around and Alan went to work leaving me with a few household things to do and one babysitting job when he tries to figure out when exactly I would be home. Then he kept checking making sure that I was home. I had a pretty good idea of what he was trying to do. So I got home and waited... and waited.... and waited some more. Several hours later I asked Alan if someone was supposed to be coming by and he seemed surprised that no one had yet. So I waited some more. And finally,
The best hubby ever. :)
The dauphonois is a recipe by Alan's long time favorite chef, Jamie Oliver, and was so delicious! You begin by simmering heavy cream, milk, 2 bay leaves, 4 cloves of sliced garlic, and some nutmeg for five minutes. Just this made the kitchen smell wonderful and I instantly wanted to turn this recipe into a version of mac and cheese. Then in a casserole dish, you layer slices of potato and cauliflower, pour the cream over top, and bake for 40 minutes. After the first bout of baking, you press down on the mixture (use a kitchen towel, it's hot!) and top with Parmesan cheese and bake again for 10-15 minutes until browned. Delicious!
February 7, 2011
Back in the Saddle Again
Today I subbed in a first grade classroom and, I have to say, it was one of the best days I have had in a while. At first I was nervous, I didn't know what we would be doing or what the kids would be like. Turns out I was in luck, the kids were awesome, no behavioral problems at all! The teacher in me kicked in when it came to lesson time and the day flew by. We had a really awesome day! Some of the kids even said I was the best teacher ever. I talked about spelling, grammar, reading, and science today, even expanding on the lessons to help explain. I must say, I cannot wait until I am teaching my own classroom and am hoping for a long term sub position to pop up before the school year is out.
On the other hand, I'm back in another saddle, the SD saddle. My husband, whom I love dearly, is participating in this diet with me except on a different level. Junk food once to twice a week, eating cookies, pizza, Taco Bell, and more. All the while, he's still losing weight. So, I decide that I can do this too, if it works for him, why not me? Well, the answer is, not me. So, back to the SD this week, not that I hate it, I really enjoy the food. I just really love sweets also. Last night I got creative and ate an apple cut into slices drizzled with a little honey and sprinkled with a touch of cinnamon and it was delicious! I'm going to have to try a little harder to find dessert type foods that I can enjoy guilt-free.
On the other hand, I'm back in another saddle, the SD saddle. My husband, whom I love dearly, is participating in this diet with me except on a different level. Junk food once to twice a week, eating cookies, pizza, Taco Bell, and more. All the while, he's still losing weight. So, I decide that I can do this too, if it works for him, why not me? Well, the answer is, not me. So, back to the SD this week, not that I hate it, I really enjoy the food. I just really love sweets also. Last night I got creative and ate an apple cut into slices drizzled with a little honey and sprinkled with a touch of cinnamon and it was delicious! I'm going to have to try a little harder to find dessert type foods that I can enjoy guilt-free.
February 2, 2011
Happy Groundhog Day
Typically this day goes by with very little celebration, but for me, this day was a great one! After a few days of down and out, I woke up in a great mood. I quickly headed to the gym for body pump then an additional hour of cardio to get my spirits back up and in the mood for healthy eating.
Then I went back home, goofed around on facebook and checked my email. Finally, I received the note saying I was approved and could start subbing. Just after that was an email asking me to work Monday! This just sent my day up and over the top and now I cannot wait for Monday to arrive.
Then I went back home, goofed around on facebook and checked my email. Finally, I received the note saying I was approved and could start subbing. Just after that was an email asking me to work Monday! This just sent my day up and over the top and now I cannot wait for Monday to arrive.
February 1, 2011
Getting Back on Track
I met with the principal of the elementary school on base Monday, and while it was a good meeting, I left feeling almost discouraged and let down. The good news, I am doing everything right so far, applying for substitute teaching and making myself available. The bad news, nothing really, just that I felt let down. I had prepared all morning, got all dressed up, and psyched myself out on how this was going to be an amazing meeting.
Because I felt down, I reached for the Girl Scout Cookies. But they didn't have the effect I was hoping for. This time after eating a sugary processed sweet, I literally felt sick. I really don't mind giving up these things for the Sonoma (diet). I feel so much better eating real foods, nothing processed. However, a day later, I still feel all messed up inside and I hope it's the sugar.
In hopes of getting back on track, I am making a yummy dinner of fish topped with a zucchini relish, lentil soup, and a small salad. Lentil soup has become a favorite of mine and it's easy to make a couple meals worth. But chopping the onion for the soup has made me tear up and my eyes still haven't fully recovered. It seems that Japan has some of the juiciest onions.
Also, I was hoping to get to the gym today for a run to let off some of this anxiety inside. However, while walking to body pump this morning, I felt that familiar pain running from the top of my foot, up the front of my leg, and to my knee. Well, hello shin splints. I guess I'll be taking it easy for a few days until they heal.
In the mean time, I hope that I will soon receive an email saying I can begin subbing. I cannot wait to begin working again. I have a few babysitting job this week to help break up the monotony but I really want to work full time. I hope that maybe I can get put on a long term sub.
So here's to a better tomorrow, getting back on track and hopefully feeling back to my normal self. The Wednesday morning bible study isn't meeting this week so maybe I'll take the time to finally take down Christmas decorations. Yes, We still have a Christmas tree with garland hanging up.
Because I felt down, I reached for the Girl Scout Cookies. But they didn't have the effect I was hoping for. This time after eating a sugary processed sweet, I literally felt sick. I really don't mind giving up these things for the Sonoma (diet). I feel so much better eating real foods, nothing processed. However, a day later, I still feel all messed up inside and I hope it's the sugar.
In hopes of getting back on track, I am making a yummy dinner of fish topped with a zucchini relish, lentil soup, and a small salad. Lentil soup has become a favorite of mine and it's easy to make a couple meals worth. But chopping the onion for the soup has made me tear up and my eyes still haven't fully recovered. It seems that Japan has some of the juiciest onions.
Also, I was hoping to get to the gym today for a run to let off some of this anxiety inside. However, while walking to body pump this morning, I felt that familiar pain running from the top of my foot, up the front of my leg, and to my knee. Well, hello shin splints. I guess I'll be taking it easy for a few days until they heal.
In the mean time, I hope that I will soon receive an email saying I can begin subbing. I cannot wait to begin working again. I have a few babysitting job this week to help break up the monotony but I really want to work full time. I hope that maybe I can get put on a long term sub.
So here's to a better tomorrow, getting back on track and hopefully feeling back to my normal self. The Wednesday morning bible study isn't meeting this week so maybe I'll take the time to finally take down Christmas decorations. Yes, We still have a Christmas tree with garland hanging up.
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