As I've been sitting home this summer trying to pass time, I looked forward to my summer workshops in order to break the monotony. It's been quite boring in between my summer vacations being at home and looking for things to keep me busy. I've made some materials in preparation for next year, played with my dog, and watched every marathon of every TV show made in the last few years--including: Kimora Lee Simmons: Life in the Fab Lane, Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, Food Network Disney Challenge, Jon & Kate Plus 8, Little People Big World, Whose Wedding is it Anyway?, Flipping Out, Clean House, How do I look?, Cash Cab, Deadliest Catch, (a new favorite) Wipe Out...and basically any other show that has come on back-to-back-to-back-to-back.
On to the break in the the dullness of my summer. I wasn't sure where the school I was going to was located this morning, so I woke up super early in order to work out, get showered, and then ready for a fun-filled day of science ideas. I showed up to the school super early because it wasn't as hard to find as I thought it would be. I find the classroom for my workshop and my hopes for the day are raised. I see materials everywhere, an agenda with fun lessons planned, and energetic presenters. UNFORTUNATELY, I realized that this was not my class. I walked into this one because it was where I was told to go, but this was the K-2 workshop for the same topic (Managing the Science Classroom). I was told where my class would be and walked into an empty room. My presenters were not here yet. As I sat in the empty, silent classroom thinking about how lame I was for being the only one there, the presenters walked in. The word flustered doesn't even begin to describe how they looked and sounded. They rushed around in order to prepare for the day and in a rush of things told us that we would not be starting for another 30 minutes. **If there is one thing I can't stand, it's people who are late.**
After a bit of waiting, we began. We were given a packet of materials and engaging lessons...oh, I think it's time for me to go now...I've got what I need. Well, I didn't leave and stayed to hear the presenter babble through the lessons. Imagine a man too nerdy to work for the Best Buy Geek Squad and you're probably not even imaging the "nerdiness" I witnessed all day. It made me smile, but more in the manner of laughing at rather than with.
Well, in the midst of learning how to implement easy science lessons in my classroom (and for my team next year), I was constantly watching the clock. Similarly to the way my students count down to lunch or specials, we were counting down for our break and lunch. In fact, we were getting so antsy, that I think it's why we went to lunch early. He then wanted to trade minutes at the end of lunch, but that didn't happen...a room full of women overpowers a man any day of the week. Even with a long lunch that came a bit early, we still negotiated our way into an early release. We started telling him that we didn't need to actually do the lesson ourselves in order to get through the packet much faster. We managed a release 1.5 hours early...GIRL POWER!
All in all, it gave me something to do all day. Oh, did I mention the cube puzzle that I spent most of the day being distracted by?? It was quite entertaining and kept me engaged...too bad the engagement wasn't focused on the presenter. Tomorrow I have another workshop, but this one is technology based...probably not something I need practice with, but it gets me those professional development hours that I need each year.
The Colosseum at night
The Colosseum at night
A Temple in the Acropolis
The Trevi Fountain
The Vatican
Temple of Athena
Pompeii Ruins
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robin Roberts and Chris Cuomo from Good Morning America
Match made in heaven!
Seriously? Couldn't believe this was happening!
