longest day ever

Today has been a very long day. I was at school from 7:30am-930pm... (deep sigh)

oh ps. I really did some work...Wednesday night I was actually proud of myself for locking myself in our room for over 2 hours working on ideas for my india unit.

Now today... I taught Math like the rest of the week. Today they were extra hyper for some reason and would not stop talking. I have to admit it was a harder, more difficult, less important kind of topic, who needs roman numerals anyway :) Then, we had a learning excursion to two different statues of Columbus around Chicago for our explorers unit. That was a little hectic. Just me, the sub, and 14 kids with statues surrounded by snow and ice. THEN, prep for the learning showcase began after school. Three of the other teachers and I went to Panera as our 3:00supper.

Back at school we had 10 stations to set up. Most didn't seem very time consuming, like mine being homemade ice cream in ziplocs was not too difficult: set out ingredients, measuring utensils, recipe, etc. done. Even still, we were all running around quite a bit for the next few hours. Once it started the kids had to choose 4 of the 10, ice cream surprisingly didn't compete well with the other options in my category: sock skating (pledge on linolium) or SnoCones, but I still made quite a mess with the people that did come. by the end of the night my table was covered in a salty vanilla-y watery mess. Other options were: painting with ice cubes (that also had food coloring in them), science experiements with ice and temperatures, learning about the artist that did the ice sculpture, and creating our own that was really a mural made of puzzle piece styrofoam and tissue paper. It looks really really good though, I'll have to take a pic tomorrow and post it for you. everything there tonight had to do with ice based on that tues learning excursion to the sculpture. It was fun, though my feet hurt and I was tired and hungry again by the end of the night, it was fun to see the kids in a different setting. Clean up lasted about an hour more. Thankfully, the teachers are nice and one of them gave me a ride home. It felt good to not have to wait for the CTA after that day.

(another sigh)
I still have to work on my math lesson for tomorrow...
TGIF

rope breaks, bell rings, man dies

another uneventful beginning to the week.

School: Mr Hays is a really fun sub. He tells jokes and riddles all day long. The kids love it and I've even written a few down :) He also has NW ties, his daughter goes there and he was the runner up to be chaplan. Nice guy, its going to be fun to get ideas from his different teaching style this week. I'm doing math full time now. It is proving to be very difficult with three very distinct levels of student ability, containing both extremes. Finding that balance in my teaching isn't coming as well as I would hope. I also don't feel like I am doing enough, but I think it is just my mindset. I am used to the split up seven period days with the subjects taught with distinction. That doesn't really happen at this school with no textbooks. The students days aren't very uniform which bothers me a bit because I feel like there is too much lost in transition or in snack and lunch and bathroom break times... I'll get over it eventually.
I was hoping for a late start today as we had a winter storm warning until noon but it was just wishful thinking. We went on our LE to the ice sculptures at Millennium Park. It was an interesting atmosphere to keep track of 50 kids. Especially one particularly naughty kid who kept trying to walk away, have snow ball fights, etc. I sat by him on the bus to keep him in line :)

Work: I am definitely not changing my work habits :) procrastinator through and through.

Play: Monday night our new Dordt friends Karyn and Sarah came over for a 410 visit (this may seem to go against previous statements (friends dont let friends go to Dordt) but...). Tonight we went to the Museum of Contemporary Art. It was a good Contemporary Art visit, unlike the one you may hear about if you ask a few of my Spain friends... The exhibits were all very interesting and we stayed much longer than anticipated. One of my favorites was an 8' clam shell that was made by an artist that claimed to have gotten into art because he hated the 'do not touch' signs at museums. so in place of his 'do not touch' sign it said 'please remove shoes before entering.'
now, I actually plan to hit the grindstone...

Let me know if you get the riddle :)

above freezing

The progressive dinner was just as good as I anticipated. 3 rooms per course. I was already full after appetizers. Don't worry though, that didn't stop me. We ended up with an entire cake leftover, and a bit of puppy chow (fine with me). After the dinner about 10 girls stuck around and we played some games. 3-part cherades, first round you use anything to describe it, second you only get one word, and third you can only act it out. A lot of laughs were had, especially when we looked over to the apartment building across the street and noticed that some people were spying on us while we were looking silly acting things out :) I suppose that is what we get for spying on them as well!

Today was semi-warm out (almost 40°) so Janice and I decided to enjoy our close proximity to Lake Michigan. We are only two blocks to Lake Shore, then we walked on to Navy Pier. Today was Jamfest, aka cheerleading competition, aka Bring It On. Susan and a couple other girls actually went to watch that but Janice and I were just enjoying the outdoors. There were sooo many girls in cheerleading skirts, and their cheerleading attitudes, fun fun. But it was nice to pretend spring was here. I am ready for the warmth! and flowers and green!

Janice and I are the spirit of Chicago

fun with the mirrors on the pier

We also tried to go watch some live jazz at a little cafe in the hispanic district but they apparently don't do it every week. The amazing Cocoa Azteca made up for that loss though. I was hoping it was the spicy hot chocolate like in Chocolat but it was cinnamony deliciousness instead. It was a cool place though so we'll be back. I am really jealous that Janice gets to work over there with all the spanish signs and speaking going on... I need to visit there more often. I miss it. I suppose I will be good in August :)

And I will leave you with this hot little number

Siskel, Streeters, and Betty Crocker

Friday was basically all day homework for me. I tried really hard to get a lot done on my exit portfolio. Its hard to be motivated for it since it seems so far away and there are so many other things I could be doing! But, since I have to student teach until May 9 (same day our lease is up) and we graduate May 10, its got to be done...
After some grocery shopping for our Saturday activities, Janice and I went down to the Gene Siskel Film Center to watch a movie called David & Layla. It is an independent film based on a true story, a Muslim woman and a Jewish man fall in love, to their families' chagrin. So its a romantic comedy about the issues involved with that clash of culture. I recommend it, but it would be hard to find. This film center mostly plays obscure films that don't get the publicity they deserve. Though there are also classics, like last week, I missed The Maltese Falcon, kind of sad about that. I think if I lived here I'd be a big nerd and go there all the time. The movies are cheaper than to go to a regular theater too. AND the DIRECTOR of the movie we watched was there to have a Q&A afterward which was really cool. They apparently do that often too. In short, I enjoyed myself :) When we left the movie we found out a bunch our girlfrends were meeting at a college bar, Streeters, 'the best bar below ground,' so we joined them as well.
Tonight we have a progressive dinner in the apartments. We are dessert, so we made better-than-sex cake, puppy chow, and some good pie. Pretty excited. tons of food?! yes, please.

Syzygy

Tuesday was report card day for Daystar staff. That meant I didn't really have to be there, but it took me most of the day to write up another book unit for my reading group. We also took an hour lunch together and the principal made us soup. Its a really fun group of teachers, they are really easy to get along with. I worked a bit more on my India Unit as well. That is kind of stressing me out. They take a learning excusion to Indiatown and I have to plan it all out. Its an all day thing, at a community center, then buffet lunch, and a scavenger hunt, planned by me! ahh! but I am excited that we get that opportunity, I already have a bunch of ideas to make the classroom time fun too so hopefully it works out as well in real life as it is in my head :)

Wednesday was an inservice day. I started with an hour meeting one-on-one with my teacher to talk about my book unit among other things. It was a good meeting, she gave me good general ideas that I can use in a lot of areas, especially adapting for the lower learners. I was also given a weekly plan for the rest of my time here which is great to know. Then we had a 3 hour staff meeting about 'what is a Daystar education.' I felt a little out of place as I really don't know the answer to that after 2 weeks (nor did one of the teachers of 2 years). But it was an interesting conversation nonetheless because we talked about HOW we should teach and plan and other fun things that would only be fun if you were a teacher :)

After lunch today (only a half hour this time, brownbaggie style), just the teachers got together and planned out our learning excursion (LE) for tuesday to the "museum of modern ice" and our showcase night for thursday which is based on that. This meeting was actually a lot of fun, we laughed through most of it I think! Trying to come up with clever names for the activities at the showcase night.. example, building with blocks of ice (like the classic wooden blocks only ice): Arctic Architecture. I am working the Catch-a-Treat station, aka homemade ice cream (made by tossing ziplocs of ingredients in bigger ziplocs of ice and rock salt). I think its going to be a really fun night.

Next week is a really busy week and my teacher is gone! Having a sub there all week basically means I am the in-charge right?! :) at least the go-to... On top of the LE Tues and the showcase night Thurs, we are also starting a new unit on explorers and have a class LE to statues of Columbus for that. Its kind of an intense week, fun for the kids, a lot of prep for the teachers.

Last night was a total lunar eclipse, I hope you all watched it!

a terrible pic as you can't even see the moon, but this is the view from our buildings doorway.
the Hancock is just to the right

While we were on the street waiting for it to happen, this guy walking by decided he wanted some conversation. He was an attorney, his name is Terry, he likes astronomy, he's been divorced, he goes to Shenanigans often (the bar down the street from whence he just came), and I could continue but I think you get the point :) Anyway, I loved that he introduced me to the word syzygy: three celestial bodies form a straight line configuration. Its a good word, bank it.

Today= no school, no roommates, sleeping in, pretending to do homework. aka Good Time

(I added pics in their relevant places, so scroll down! I'll try to add them at relevant times from now on as well)

Le Lundi

It's been a happy Monday! No school, or work for the roomies. I slept in (while my roomies went out to exercise) and after a quick lunch we (me, roomies, and two other NW kids, Matt and Elise) headed downtown to the Art Institute of Chicago. They have quite a few well-known pieces, to name drop a few:
Water Lilies - Monet; Self-Portrait - Van Gogh; A Sunday on La Grande Jatte - Seurat; Paris Street, Rainy Day - Caillebotte; American Gothic – Grant Wood; The Old Guitarist – Picasso; and others by the same along with Matisse, Chagall, Manet, Dali… basically, I enjoyed myself :)

From there Janice, Matt and I traveled to Wicker Park to wander around before our reservation at Le Bouchon (or the cork). As it was below freezing point outside today and very windy, we stopped in a few shops and then found a coffee shop to warm up and chill until supper. The restaurant was kind of small but cute. Janice and I opted for the 3 course option as it was only a few dollars more than an entrée. I had: Salade Lyonnaise, Le Steak Grillé Maître d'Hôtel, and Marquis au Chocolat. OR salad, steak and chocolate mousse. It sounds much better in French. Tastes better in French, too. It was delicious. The steak was covered with a butter with some sort of herbs in it and came with good French fries, and the chocolate mousse… I’m going back for that one. Janice had the French onion soup which was also very tasty. Wines are half off today so we got a Bordeaux as well. It was a great time, we were actually there for 2.5 hrs. It may have been a little on the spendy side but it was well worth it. They even bragged about it being Zagat rated… well my rating is pretty high too.

Unfortunately, now I have to get up and go to staff development days tomorrow and Wednesday… But it would be so much more fun to just live and play!

Sunday Lazy Sunday

Friday night was pretty fun. The roomies and I plus three went out for dessert. I got one of the biggest pieces of chocolate cake I've seen (and dominated it of course). The improv show was a good laugh as well. One guy was just really intense and not funny but it was still good. Made for one of our latest nights :)

Janice and I went downtown on Saturday. It started with getting tickets to Wicked for her family and then we decided to find somewhere to eat. We tried to find a non-chain restaurant but were not very successful so we settled for Potbelly Sandwich Works since, though a chain, is much lesser known than the likes of McDs or Subway or Quiznos etc which were our main options (meaning every other block). We decided to hike it back to our apt, turns out riding the train can be deceiving because the walk is not too bad from the loop the the apt. I would guess its only about 1.5-2 miles. But we had walked a lot before that too so however many miles a person can walk in 2 hrs thats what we did. It was good to explore around downtown more, I haven't done enough of that yet.

That night Janice and I walked over to the other apartment building and found a couple people to play boardgames with. It was another low key night but we had some laughs. Susan was ushering for the Blue Man Group concert which then allows you to watch the show free. Janice and I are going to sign up for that some upcoming weekend, hopefully we get the gig too :) Susan also scored tickets to be in the audience of Wheel of Fortune, I love random stuff like that here. We're still hoping Oprah will work out somehow too.

Speaking of random... some of our friends from NW saw B.J. Novak on the train! To fans of The Office that is Ryan! I would have loved to have seen him, especially since we have had such a hardcore marathon these past few weeks. Apparently his brother even asked them for directions so they've got a pretty brag-able story :)

Tonight we mostly stayed in. I did a lot of lesson planning, we watched a movie, and we played some Nerts. Tomorrow is an all roommate day off so we will see what it brings!

RENT Snoopy and John Lithgow

For the most part this week has seemed uneventful, hence not writing Tuesday or Wednesday. I started teaching Math to the whole class, and I lead a lot of the random little things so I am beginning to feel a bit more like a teacher. I have needed a lot more time at night lately to prepare lessons, good and bad. Next week we have two staff development days, I predict I will be bored out of my mind. so we'll see how that goes.

Thursday night the CS program took us out to RENT. It is just as great (or possibly more so) live. The guy who played Tom Collins was in American Idol 4, Anwar Robinson, fun fact. oh and Roger was the winner of South African Idol... Anyway that was a lot of fun!

The set, pre-show. (illegal picture, don't tell)
Stage right was the band, piano man/director sitting there in view on stage the whole night. That was one of my favorite parts. One of my least favorites: see that light in the upper right corner? thats the exit door. every time a cast member enters or exits backstage, we knew. But hey, I guess thats what you get with cheap tickets.

That's Anwar next to me :) The other is mr South African Idol.

Today we had our learning excursion to the symphony which I also enjoyed pretty thoroughly. I got to sit between the troublemaker boys that I love so much; they didn't really misbehave at all thankfully. Snoopy showed up to the party too. It began with Peanuts Gallery, a composition based on the Peanuts comics, so when it was through Snoopy came out on stage and asked for his part to be played again and did a little dance which all the kids LOVED. How can you resist a man in a big dog suit shaking his tush?! It was all schools there today so it was a pretty loud hysterical laughter, so cute. Then it moved on to the Carnival of Animals. Mr John Lithgow (yeah, Harry and the Hendersons, Third Rock, Footloose, you know) wrote a book based on the music so he was there to narrate for us. It was a really fun take on the idea behind the music and he of course was really good, actor that he is. Tonight we are going to an improv show at midnight, and having a Singles Awareness dessert and drinks gathering before. Three day weekend begins!!

Um... Brr.

So it's really cold out. I understand it's cold pretty much everywhere, but seriously, our windows have a definite breeze coming in. Single paned, don't latch correctly, good for nothing...
At least we don't have to pay utilities (which leads to wonder why they do, or at least don't replace the windows) heat is on high and we still bundle and blanket up while sitting here. Poor Janice sleeps by the window at night, she has every extra blanket piled on. Everyday I go to school I wear at least two layers of pants and shirts. One half of the building doesn't have heat! Thankfully my classroom seems to be the warmest.

One little boy has been making my days at school. He is the cutest little kid, it may lean towards inappropriate but I just think its hilarious. He started by asking me random quesitons throughout the day, "how old are where do you live, how many states have you been to, you, are you married, etc" the next day it progressed into every time he walked by me he'd look up at me and do the cutest grin and say, in of course the 'cutest' voice, "i love you." Today it was "he dared me to say this....... i have a crush on you" It is all for the attention the others give him in amazement that he says these things to me but it is so darn funny I can't get mad! He even added some eyebrow lifting today and while doing my best not to crack up I tried to convince him it wasn't funny. We're supposed to be working, right?!

This week seems like it will be quite easy: Tomorrow is a regular day but Wednesday is half day plus we are walking to the police station to give them the V-day cards we made them, Thursday is V-day goings-on, and Friday we have a learning excursion to the Symphony Center. THEN, next week no school. And the week after that the regular teacher is on vacation so substitute!
I should really plan out my three week lesson on India, but thats so far away! :)

(I added pics to the previous blog, check em out)

Desfiles Chino

Full tights, leggings, capri sweat pants, and jeans. Two pairs of socks. Long sleeve shirt, tshirt, fleece, and winter jacket. Hat, mittens, hood, and pashmina.

This is what it takes to watch the chinese new year parade, and still freeze your butt off.

I was surprised at how American the parade felt with the fire engines, minitrains, candy/frisbee/other free stuff giving out, princess waves, and Ronald and the Hamburgler. But there were definitely dragons and such that made it fit in a bit more with the Chinatown scenery. I would say it was worth it, even through the bitter cold. If you are in the city for something like that I think it almost has to be attended.

dragons!

Clashing of cultures?!

Susan and Janice give a little glimpse of the bitter cold

Afterward we invited three of our friends over for some gaming. We got in some quality Yahtzee and Phase 10 before the chicken quesadillas.

Yesterday we ended up not going to the Jazz club but Martini Park instead, still a dress code and still very expensive drinks but also a live band. One $11 appletini later, we were done. The band was a little odd but we still managed to have some fun. It was kind of an early night as the bouncers at the bars on our street pointed out. Though we don't go to their bars they know us and our goings on pretty well. They even ask how [insert our nights activity] went when we walk by on our way home :) Now I need to lesson plan...

Chinese Weekend

Very soon I will get something I have desired for some time - my fortune

Gung Hay Fat Choy!
(Wishing you Great Happiness and Prosperity)

Tomorrow the roomies and I are going to the Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown. Unfortunately weather calls for a high of 7 along with high winds; we will bundle in multiple layers and try to enjoy it anyway. Tonight, as pre-celebration, we went to a recommended by locals Chinese restaurant, Lee Wing Wah, described as the best in Chinatown. It was pretty delicious.

Last night my roomies along with five other girls from the program and myself, wanted to go ice skating at Millennium Park but weather again prevailed as it started raining. Reschedule date TBD. So we walked around downtown a bit more, took a coffee break at Starbucks, and then went to 27 dresses. A low key Chicago Friday night but I enjoyed it quite a bit. Later tonight there is free Jazz at a (dresscode) club down the street, so we're thinking of hitting that up, should be good.

Dan Ryan and Howard

Last night we walked a few blocks over to some friends' apt for game night. It included both funfetti cake and rice krispy bars, a very welcome treat as it is not something we have around our apt (I'm working to change that). We played a fairly large game of Uno and just hung out. It was the first day for a lot of the other kids with their internships today, my roomies included. Though I still leave before they get up. Our cooking schedule has been working out quite well, everyone two nights a week. I've gotten to take leftovers to school a couple days already and I dont know how everyone feels about that but I personally love it. Tonight was my night to cook, rice with eggs and chicken. delicious.

It seems weird that we already have a routine pretty much down before the week is out. I personally get all ready in the morning, get my lunch together, and then make some oatmeal in tupperware so I can eat it on the L :) I get on in the am toward Dan Ryan, something like 7 stops and then depending on the day (temp or precip) I either walk the .5 mile or take a bus. After school I walk back and ride in the direction of Howard, 7 stops and 2 blocks later, home sweet home. We are kind of computer junkies here, during supper we like to watch an episode of something that we have on dvd as there is no tv, and then we internet for awhile and so far I have been the only one with homework.

I have two students that I have been working with quite a bit. They are by far the lowest in their class. one doesn't understand the simplest math concepts, I mean after addition of single digits she starts to get lost, so the fact that we are now on borrowing while subtracting three digits... The same student also cannot read very well along with another student so I take them out during reading and have created my own book unit for them while their classmates work on their novel. Both also have very small attention spans and never listen to directions, needless to say I have to force myself to be calm and supportive at times. I think its a great challenge for me to have at this point though, I have heard that if it came easy for you you won't be as good at teaching it so this is my test I suppose.

Fat Tuesday

I failed to introduce my roommates last time, my bad...
I am living with Janice and Susan, both from Northwestern. Last semester I lived with Janice as well but I didn't know Susan at all before now. They are both really fun girls (of course) and they have internships around the city. We seem to be pretty similar in a lot of ways so I think its going to be a really good time living together. We already have a plan for groceries and a schedule for cooking and doing dishes, so far so good.

The apt building that we live in has a bunch of students from the Chicago Semester program as well, and the other kids we know are only a little trip on the CTA. I'm also pretty excited about the closer proximity to a bunch of my Spain friends. Janice and I have a fairly large list of things we decided we have to do while here like Oprah, finding a random date, salsa dancing, among others...I'll let you know how that goes.

One of these upcoming Wednesdays we are going to a show called Felt, described as "few things are funnier than puppets behaving badly," should be good. On V-day I think I'm going to Rent. Wicked is in March. Next friday my school is going on a field trip to a symphony playing the Carnival of Animals. My school actually takes field trips quite regularly, 'chicago as a classroom' is a motto of theirs, so thats a perk for me too.

Tonight, my roomies are going to a free Sara Groves concert with some others from the program while I stay behind and do some lesson planning. Being fat tuesday, we are going to meet up later at a place nearby and celebrate a little. nothing too crazy, have to get up for school at 6:15am. Tomorrow there is a sub so I think I may have more responsibilities, which I am actually looking forward to. It is an easy day too because Wednesdays are early outs for staff development reasons so we only go until 1. Its also pizza day so the kids are a little crazier. They only have hot lunch once a week, and every day we eat in the classroom. There are so many little things like that which all add up to make this most definitely a unique experience for me.

Genesis

It has begun. I finally(!) got everything to work out in my favor in order to live here in good ole Chicago.

This has been a fairly long weekend for me: flying to Chicago for the initial school visit, then missing my plane home making my Thursday something like 15 hours of travel- an hour subway ride to OHare, the flight to Minneapolis, the drive to Albert Lea, packing for 3 months, driving to Forest City, driving to Cedar Falls to sleep on someone's couch only to get up by 6am for an intense weekend of interviews for overseas teaching positions. The interviews went pretty well I'd say as we got two job offers. Did you hear that, we actually had to turn someone down! and the list of people still searching was quite long, not that I'm bragging or anything... Which also means that we told someone yes. That would be Colegio Ingles in Torreon, Mexico. Jenna and I will both be there starting around Aug 15.

So I moved in Sunday around 3:30-4 and minutes after unloading my goods, I was off with the roomies to a SuperBowl party uptown. Turns out this was a non-superbowl superbowl party as none of the tvs in the building seemed to be functioning, but it was ok with most of us as there was still plenty of good food, movies, and fun. The guys ducked out to find it somewhere but most of us girls were fine with hearing the score later :)

I would say our apartment can be described as cute college crappy. The line separating the kitchen from the living room/study area is nearly invisible. Though we have two refrigerators, neither completely follows through. The three twin beds fit nicely in the one bedroom with inches to spare. We are also the proud owners of a walk-in closet of sorts, on the way to the bathroom, though there are others so we each get one of our own as well. But its like they say in real estate: location location location. and I'd have to say we've got a pretty good one. My school is just a short ride on the Red line, same street and everything, pretty convenient.

I just started my first real day of student teaching today at Daystar School, a private, christian school. I am in the combined 3rd and 4th grade room, only 15 students who all seem to be really fun (hopefully I still think that in a month).