What made me happy today?
- Thread starter big soft moose
- Start date
It occurred to me this morning that when I first saw this guy, I felt I would be afraid to meet him in a dark alley; now I can't think of someone better to have by my side in a dark alley.
Sometimes the cover is all you need to see, sometimes the book reveals unexpected value.
I'd say as long as there's room in your heart to be pleasantly surprised, it's OK to let first impressions have their say.
So UK teacher standards include responsibility for pupil outcomes. Unfortunately many schools interpret this as undermining staff and giving kids carte blanche to do as they please. Under our old head, that would never have happened. In truth, it isn't the current head who undermines - it's other members of staff who just don't follow systems. It doesn't help diligent members of staff when others don't complete tasks they need to. We have a trip coming up this Saturday. I can't lead it, but I've done all the work for it, from external liaison, to writing the risk assessment, to providing training for students. Two other members of staff are leading on the day, and they haven't even had the risk assessment signed or asked a stipulated member of SLT for their phone number (instead trying to delegate to me). I'm leading on coursework in a subject and asked two members of staff to forward names of students of concern. One did. One did not, and I'm now having to chase when my workload is already twice as big. Sometimes it's hard to remember I actually enjoy teaching, but here we are.I'm confused. Why should it be up to you to get the truants into history anyway?
I understand you're their teacher, but if the kids choose to play truant from your class, there is nothing you or anyone else can do about it, other than discipline them in some way (e.g. you give them a zero, or the school disciplines them in another way).
It's about time that all school staff (teachers, deputy heads -- whatever) AND parents face reality: kids who want to learn will learn. Kids who don't ... won't. It's as simple as that. Forcing kids to go to any class won't make them love the class -- quite the reverse, obviously. Nobody loves doing things that they're forced to do.
There's another slice of reality that nobody seems to understand: everyone is responsible for themselves. A kid who refuses to show up to class or do any work should get a big, juicy goose egg. No excuses, no second chances. The only exceptions are if there's something like a death in the family, or if the kid comes down with a serious illness like cold or flu. Otherwise, plonk your butt in that seat, mister, and learn something.
Playing truant is stupid. Yes, I know being stupid is part of being a kid, but I hope they learn better the minute they get a job. Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised if they get the boot ... probably after a couple of days.The same could apply to a school class. Obviously you can't fire the little snits, but could it be possible to take away points if they don't show up to class (the same way that you take away points if they don't do the projects/assignments/whatever)?
This isn't about punishing kids, just teaching them responsibility. If they realise that not turning up to class means something, maybe they'll show up.Think it'll work?
Apologies for my rant. Congratulations!
This should go into the unhappy thread, but double negatives make me cry.
I agree: it shouldn't happen. It tips the balance of power way too much in the students' favour. *hands Dante Dases a bullwhip*
All right, it shouldn't go too far in the other direction either (as it was in the 60s, before "We don't need no education" became a philosophical mantra instead of a song). But there has to be a balance.
Now that's just wrong.
Can you tell them to do their own f***ing work instead of dumping it all on you? 
Well, technically it was yesterday at this point because I'm 9 minutes into the 26th, but I got my journal set up for next year. Twelve calendar spreads across the first pages, and a spot for "opening thoughts." I'm going extremely minimalist this year with the only colors being used on the calendars themselves to mark different categories of things. I think it'll fit me nicely. And I'm not doing individual sections for each month. I think that'll suit my tendency to vanish during depressive episodes. If I can't see the sad, it doesn't exist, right? heh heh ha...
The advent of the first winter storm always brings with it the same routine. Making sure the snowblower is ready (I got a new toy this year, an EGO battery-powered one, so that disproportionally excites me) and asking, "Where did I put my super-warm gloves and my stocking cap that includes a facemask?" I remember putting them somewhere so I would be able to easily find them, but the place itself escapes my memory. Not in the familiar places. Then I remember, and pull open a drawer from an old cabinet in the garage, and there, presto, is all my cold-weather gear, including things I hadn't yet remembered to look for.
Makes me happy.
Makes me happy.
As with many mornings, my lovebird makes me happy. Hand-raised, but as a solo bird, he has bonded with me. A great honor, but also a great responsibility. He demands to be out at least a couple times a day, and lets me know, loudly and insistently if I forget. Though he is quick to forgive and forget if I do. Most days we eat lunch together, him on the corner of the table eating cracker crumbs. Then he willingly returns to his cage, where he sits and preens, or sits and sleeps.
Right now, he's perched on my left hand as I write on the keyboard, rising and falling like a seagull on a piece of driftwood, staring silently at me, his eyes bright and focused, happy and restful, nonjudgmental and accepting. Like he's communicating with me, sending something of value. Sometimes I think of him as a reincarnation, perhaps of pet birds long ago, perhaps, even, of family or friends who have passed on. Reminding me that I have a purpose and a valued place in this world.
But this morning I realized he is not the reincarnation of anything or anyone.
My lovebird is the incarnation. . . of love.
Right now, he's perched on my left hand as I write on the keyboard, rising and falling like a seagull on a piece of driftwood, staring silently at me, his eyes bright and focused, happy and restful, nonjudgmental and accepting. Like he's communicating with me, sending something of value. Sometimes I think of him as a reincarnation, perhaps of pet birds long ago, perhaps, even, of family or friends who have passed on. Reminding me that I have a purpose and a valued place in this world.
But this morning I realized he is not the reincarnation of anything or anyone.
My lovebird is the incarnation. . . of love.
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It's my stepmom's birthday. I never know what to get her because she's one of those "I'll get what I need/want" type folks, which is lovely, but makes presents hard to pick. I usually give her foodie gifts because we share a love of cooking and food exploration, so I'm going to scoot myself to the store briefly to pick some stuff up for her before I go to my dad's for whatever feast is happening.
Been super grateful for my friends today, too. I've had very little sleep, so maybe that's contributing to the "everything feels so big" going on, but it's important to me that they know, haha. I also get to see my favorite kids today, so I'm very, very happy I get to be around my people.
Been super grateful for my friends today, too. I've had very little sleep, so maybe that's contributing to the "everything feels so big" going on, but it's important to me that they know, haha. I also get to see my favorite kids today, so I'm very, very happy I get to be around my people.
I saw some extended family today. One of my relatives is expecting which made me so happy for her. I also changed my kitchen lightbulb yesterday. I ended up not needing a ladder due to some ingenuity and even though the accomplishment was small, it made me happy.
Congratulations to your relative, edamame! 
Well done on not needing a ladder. Did you use a chair instead?
Well done on not needing a ladder. Did you use a chair instead?
Chair and alternately kitchen counter.Congratulations to your relative, edamame!
Well done on not needing a ladder. Did you use a chair instead?
Went for a morning walk in the nature conservancy.. Moderately heavy snow, cloudy, 25 degrees (F), mild wind. Great to be out in it all. Great to have the opportunity and ability. Good too to get home to warm coffee, and to win at Scrabble. Little things worth having.
The snowblower worked wonderfully, quieter than a vacuum cleaner, and about as powerful as the old gas one, but easier to use. We got about a foot of snow, so I cleared things twice -- with once more planned once the sun comes up; and no fear about waking up any slacker neighbors who choose to sleep in on a Sunday morning. Though I've always enjoyed laying (or lying?) in bed listening to someone else laboring -- unless it's one of those high-powered gas-powered blowers.
Snow here, too. We've had the first and second woodfire of the year, which makes me happy.
Clean bedsheets. Something about doing the flying squirrel to get the fitted sheet on makes me feel like a kid.
Got up this morning worked the NYTimes Strands game. Got the spanagram right away, then finish the rest of the puzzle in less than 5mins.
Fed the dogs cleaned up. Went to the dentist, I was the first appointment of the day , for a cleaning. Went back home walked Lucy and Bones. Hope you all have a great day.
Fed the dogs cleaned up. Went to the dentist, I was the first appointment of the day , for a cleaning. Went back home walked Lucy and Bones. Hope you all have a great day.
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26 hours without a cigarette so far.
This also belongs in the unhappy thread.
This also belongs in the unhappy thread.
Good for you! I've got my alarm set on 90 minutes per and am ready to eat the drywall. I'm going on Buproprion next week, which allegedly breaks the urge. I've got my doctor, my shrink, my wife, and the homeless screamer outside my office window on the case.
ETA: Christ, just writing that makes me want to light up.... 36 minutes to go.
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