Rock the Vote

I recently got an email saying that Sneaker Teacher was nominated for the Really Good Classroom Blog Contest. I have no idea how that happened and I think my blog pales in comparison to many of the other teacher blogs out there, but hey, I'll take it!

I am going to attempt to put this little banner up and it will link to the site where you can vote if you are so inclined. Hopefully I can get it to work.

I always struggle with the balance between focusing only on all things teachery and educational and other things that are going on. Sneaker Teacher tends to drift a bit and focuses a little bit more on my life in general, which happens to revolve a lot around school, teaching, learning etc., but I kind of just continue on and it is what it is. I definitely want to get back to posting more often, but when summer comes and I am not teaching, the focus tends to shift more away from teaching and wander to other areas of life. 

Here are a few of today's favorites...

 

Are these not the cutest cake pops you have ever seen? My good friend and roomie this past school year has a Boston named Bailey, and I am not a huge fan of dogs, but I HEART Bailey. These pops remind me of my cute little cuddle buddy and I am in awe of the creative talent that so many people have for making adorable pops! These were posted on Bakerella's site, but she didn't make them. My cake pops always taste great, but they are pretty plain in comparison...

my iPad

 I love playing Words with Friends with various friends, especially Mr. Sneaker (although he keeps beating me!). I am also really loving the highlight and bookmark functions on my Kindle app. I am reading a book about curriculum theory for my next big paper and I love how I can highlight important parts even though I am reading a digital book. I still have a deep love for "real" books, but I have to say that having an inventory of books on this one small device is fabulous! It would make traveling a lot lighter if all of my books were on this little gem!

My View

 

Although I haven't been out and about a ton in my little town in Germany aside from grocery shopping, a few trips to the gym, and a dinner with my friend, I love looking out the doors to our balcony and seeing the sun shining and lovely view. Unfortunately, it's too sunny to read out there and my iPad got so hot, it was hard to actually hold it.

Even though I have been reading for my paper, which technically counts as work, I am feeling lazy and ineffective. I am thinking about cooking up something fabulous for dinner which will make me feel a bit more productive!

Updates

And once again I managed to completed disappear from the blogosphere.... here are some highlights of what has been going on...

Sunday was my birthday, so Mr. Sneaker and I took a little trip to London. I love that going to London is just a short flight from Germany rather than a huge international debacle. We arrived Thursday night and spent all day Friday touring around and seeing the sights. We saw the Crown Jewels, went on the Yeoman Warder tour, saw the Tower Bridge and the London Bridge, the London Eye, and got in a little bit of shopping at Uniqlo. We stayed at a hotel on a street that was lined with Gucci, Prada, Burberry, and all the top names, but I prefer window shopping when it comes to the insane prices and crazy fashion that go along with those types of stores. It's fun to be immersed in that kind of atmosphere, but I recognize that I am clearly not part of that fancy schmancy world.

On Saturday, we were very posh and went to Wimbledon. I am not big into tennis, despite Mr. Sneaker's love for it, but watching the matches in person, at Wimbledon nonetheless, was awesome.  We saw three matches and for once in my life I was actually hoping the last one would go into a fifth set because I was seriously adoring Marcos Baghdatis and wanted him to pull ahead. We also go to see Roger Federer. I heart Rog!

I enjoyed some strawberries and cream, which apparently is the appropriate snack to enjoy when one goes to Wimbledon.

On Sunday, my very sweet husband trekked down the street and around the corner to Starbucks and brought me back a lovely little soy latte to start my day. We slept in, had coffee, then headed to Camden Market to meet up with a friend of Mr. Sneaker's mom. She lives in London and showed us around St. Paul's Cathedral after a lovely birthday lunch at a restaurant called Gilgamesh, which was beautiful. There wasn't much a lunch crowd, but apparently the place gets pretty hopping at night. Not to mention, it had one of the most beautiful bathrooms I have ever seen! We spent some more time shopping on my bday and Mr. Sneaker bought me a new dress and sandals which I literally changed into at the store and wore out because it was SO hot. We were expecting cool weather and rain and it was in the 80's and quite scorching, especially on the tube where so many people were jam-packed together in one big hot sweaty blob.

Later that day, we met up with a girl that I used to babysit and her mom. Nothing like visiting with a child you used to babysit who just graduated college to make you feel old! She had spent a semester studying in London this past year and happened to be there at the same time we were. I had asked her for some suggestions on what to do and she gave me some good ones....

Including...the Chocolate Bar at Herrods. A menu of everything chocolate = heaven!

That would be a trio of hot chocolate shots in front of me that were to. die. for. 

I got the Venezuelan, the Italian, and the Trinidad. All three were amazing, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be the Italian...dark chocolate with vanilla ice cream. It was so thick and creamy...delish!

We walked around Harrods, but the experience was more like walking in a museum than a place where you would actually shop. The store was HUGE and had every kind of item known to man. We saw some insane diamonds, some huge plush toys, and I posed for a pic with a ginormous British teddy.

We got home late Monday night and I actually had quite a productive day yesterday. I gymmed it up, did a lot of laundry, and read a lot. I started the book The Confession, by John Grisham and I finished it today. It was really good and I couldn't put it down. I also read Something Blue for the second time, which was really cool to read while in London because the main character Darcy goes to stay with a friend in London after her engagement falls apart and so many of the streets, shops, and cities I saw were mentioned. Something Blue comes after the book Something Borrowed which was just made into a movie. I definitely don't see Kate Hudson playing the role of Darcy, yet I am interested to see the movie anyway. I don't think I ever read Something Borrowed, but I guess it's more about how Darcy's best friend fell in love with her fiancee Dex and then Something Blue is mostly about her finding out and what happens after.

I will try to be a better blogger because this post was altogether too long and I am hoping you stuck around for the whole thing!

Still Alive!

When I was living/working in Germany during the 2009-2010 school year, I was the queen of to do lists. I think I literally made an itemized to do list every single day and relished the moment when I could cross the items off in permanent black Sharpie. Despite being über busy this past school year in Portland, the proverbial to do list somehow dropped off my radar. I remember drastically increasing the size of my to do list paper during fall term, going from a 5 X 5 inch lined Post It, to a full piece of 81/2 X 11 inch notebook paper. During class I wrote down the long list of assignments that I needed to complete over the weekend and somehow I managed to get everything done as needed. As I moved into winter term and then spring term however; for some reason I stopped making those lists.

It wasn't that my workload had decreased; in fact I think it was an all time high at the end of the school year (or at least my stress level was). I guess I was just too busy and flying a little bit too much by the seat of my pants to really focus on creating a list of everything I needed to get done.

Since arriving in Germany on Sunday I have been completely and gloriously unproductive. Yesterday I slept until 2:30 pm. Yep, that's right.... two-thirty. Due to the teeny tiny 9 hour time difference between Portland and Germany, it is a bit difficult adjust and it definitely takes a few days, but I slept almost the entire flight here (thank you Ambien!) and I took a nap on Sunday, and I went to bed at a normal time with Mr. Sneaker and slept the entire night. There really was no good reason to sleep half the day away, yet it just kind of happened. Sadly, I don't really have much to make me jump out of bed in the morning. Once Mr. Sneaker goes off to work to do sporty things, I am left to chill sans company in my little German apartment.

Yes, there is a lot of organizing that has to be done as a result of hubs living on his own for 10 months.

Yes, I have lots to read and write for my next very big paper.

Yes, I have ample free time to work out, go for long walks, and get in the best ever shape.

Yet, I have found myself doing a whole lot of nothing.

Don't get me wrong, I deserve it.

After busting my butt all year doing full time school and a full time job with five year olds, I think a lot of relaxing is definitely in order.

The problem is, I think I thrive being busy.

Is that sick?

I just think I do better when I have a lot going on and I have a regular schedule.

It just works for me.

Sure I complain when I am super busy that I would give anything to just sit around and read, and drink coffee, and sleep late. I love to do that.

But, at the same time, there is a certain emptiness in not having an important agenda.

So, it is back to the to do lists I go....

Even if my to do list consists of things like...

• grocery shop
• workout
• read article and take notes
• do laundry

at least I will feel a little sense of accomplishment in crossing out each of those seemingly unimportant items. I need to get a little routine back in my life...soon!

I had visions of spending at least 2 hours daily reading and writing for my next paper and that has not happened at all. Not to mention, I decided that moving back to Germany where Cola Light (which is just not the same) replaces Diet Coke, that it would be the perfect time to stop drinking soda. And I threw in coffee as well so I am having some pretty bad withdrawal headaches. I know I am way too hard on myself for being lazy for all of two days, but after a year like I just had inactivity seems like a horrible waste of time. I have to work out a happy medium so that I get time to relax, but also get in some good work time so I feel productive on the paper writing front.

I will try to be a better blogger and post more frequently. Last week went by so fast and before I knew it, I was on a plane on the way back to Mr. Sneaker who is still very cute I might add :0)

Stay tuned for more European adventures!

Thrilled

I passed!

It was very challenging and I got asked some tough questions...but I did it! 

So glad that is over with :0)

the time has come...

It's core defense day! 

at noon, it will all be over...stay tuned for more!

Surviver

I survived my first year as a Kindergarten teacher!

I can still remember receiving the letter from my school district indicating that my new placement upon returning from Germany would be Kindergarten at a different school than I had previously worked.

I was less than enthusiastic to say the least.

As a first grade teacher, I always thought that Kindergarten students were just so needy. I was not interested.

But, after teaching two groups of little cherubs all year, I have to say that not only did I survive my first year as a Kindergarten teacher, but I loved it!

Loved

It

I had many challenging days and many moments of frustration, but it was so worth it. I was definitely very choked up today reading Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten and watching the end of the year slide show. My AM kiddos were actually pretty subdued (at least until PE) and I think they were very unsure about experiencing the last day of Kindergarten. I got lots of hugs as they left to get on the buses. My PM class was a bit more excited about the last day.

It feels surreal that the year is over. It's hard to believe and as I have said many times, this year feels like it went by on fast forward. It is also weird that it was only the last day for 1/2 Kinder and everyone else still has school tomorrow until noon.

I immediately starting organizing and recycling after the kiddos left and I am pretty sure grades are 100% done. I am still waiting on grades from the specialists, but I am donezo. I am excited to have a day and a half to just fix up my room and organize everything!

I just have that one little hurdle to get over tomorrow and I will be the happiest girl in the world. Ok,  I will be happier Sunday when I am in the arms of my hubby, but tomorrow is going to feel pretty good. Hubby officially has a job back in Portland starting later in the summer, so we are really excited for many things.

Happy Summer!

So Close

Today I took both of my classes on a fishing field trip. Yes, that's 41 kiddos out and about with fishing poles and nets.

I was kind of dreading the hour long bus ride both ways, but it actually wasn't that bad.

I had tons of parent help, which always makes field trips much better.

The kiddos were so excited to catch fish, so it was great to see their enthusiasm and their uninhibited enjoyment of nature, worms, fish, and the yuckiness of cleaning their catch.

We got a little delayed due to one of our buses hitting a parked car in the parking lot at school before we got on. But, that was the worst part of the day, so I consider myself pretty lucky.

No serious injuries, no lost children, no illness. Just fun.

It is really funny to see all the kiddos who usually have the most energy and are the most challenging in class completely asleep on the bus ride home. They sure were tuckered out. Thankfully I had parent chaperones for most of my more difficult boys. It was great to have their support. 

Since it's a bit tough to stay organized with both of my classes in the classroom at once, I put on a little slide show that I made with photos from the year. It was the perfect way to keep the kiddos occupied during morning check in before we left on the buses. I wanted to show just part of it and save the rest for the last day, but we ended up watching the whole thing since we couldn't get on the road when we had planned. I think I am going to show it again tomorrow because 1. I didn't really get to sit and enjoy it since I was busy this morning and 2. I still need to do a little bit of assessing tomorrow so I need something to keep the kiddos busy. They were so excited to see themselves and their classmates in the photos, so I think they will enjoy watching it again in a quieter setting without all the field trip energy pulsing through the room.

I am almost done with report cards, with the exception of some random things I need to assess tomorrow with certain kiddos. I am happy that reports are almost entirely under my belt so that once school is over tomorrow, I can just focus on getting 100% ready for my core defense on Thursday morning.

Tomorrow is the last day of school! ::big smiles::


(but also some sadness that some of the sweetest kiddos I have ever taught will be leaving me...)

Almost There

Wow, it's hard to believe that next Sunday at this time, I will be fast asleep in Germany right next to my very cute husband! This year has flown by and I am in disbelief that the school year is almost over. I am officially done with classes and homework until next fall (pretty psyched about that!) and I am only taking one course per term next year and that class only meets once a month (one weekend per month I should say), so it is quite the big relief to leave behind the year of 13-14 credits each term while also working full time and missing hubs.

I have three days left with the kiddos before it's officially summer break. Monday is a regular day, Tuesday we are going on a fishing field trip, and Wednesday is the last day. I brought their journals home this weekend and am trying to get report cards mostly completed so this week I can focus on just enjoying the kids, getting through my core defense, and then just cleaning and organizing in my classroom Thursday afternoon and Friday. I have my room at home almost entirely packed up and put in storage with the exception of the two bags I am taking with me to Germany and some other stuff I need for the week, so I am feeling pretty ready to go. I honestly do not have anything planned for my kiddos, so I need to put a little something together so there is some structure in the classroom up until the end. I know we have several post fishing trip activities planned, but I need some stuff on the agenda for tomorrow so I can do some final assessments, listen to kiddos read, and make sure everything is in order in terms of wrapping up the year. I am pretty much done with teacher led stuff and will probably have them make some father's day cards, work in their journals, and wrap their father's day gifts. It's always fun to involve them in some end of the year clean up/organizing as well.

I got a manicure and a haircut this weekend. I took one last load to my storage unit. I celebrated a birthday with my dear friend Jilly. I am in the middle of baking a cake for some cake pops. And, I am learning what it feels like to have free time again.

5 more days in PDX before a fabulous summer in Europe enjoying my tiny German apartment, walking everywhere and not using a car, running the trails in the woods near where we live, sleeping late, and most importantly feeling married again!

can.not.wait!!!!

Disappearing Act

I disappeared again....

I had such a nice little blogging streak going, but then four days in a row of class happened, a little celebration shopping happened after the last class of the weekend, and a busy Sunday ensued.

Here's a recap:

Wednesday: Last Proseminar class of the year! Done and done!

Thursday: Tore out of my classroom at three to get to campus in time to practice my core presentation before my actual class. Left my classroom in total disarray and left for the weekend without a single thing written on my lesson plans for next week. Did my practice presentation for some friends, had class until 7:45, went to my other weekend class that happened to be scheduled the exact same weekend as my writing class until 9, hung out with some friends from class until 10:15, stopped at the grocery store on the way home to get a snack to bring to class the following day, got totally lost in choosing father's day cards, got home at 11:15, stayed up until 1 creating slides for my presentation on Saturday.

Saturday: Went to class from 9-2. Decided to treat myself and went to the outlets. Bought some baby gifts and a new Coach bag (which was totally on sale by the way!), caught up on some TV namely Glee and How I Met Your Mother. And, I have to say I was pretty disappointed by the finale of Glee. Considering they were in New York at Nationals, I was totally uninspired by the music and fastforwarded through several of the solos. This girl does not have time to waste. I was so tired after being up so late so many nights this week that I took a sleeping pill and crashed early.

Sunday: This morning I skipped my weekly Sunday run and slept in! It was so nice to wake up without an alarm. I went with my roomie to see her new place, got Starbucks, hit up the adidas store, then came home and immediately went back out to do errands. I got some storage boxes at BBB, came home and started packing and organizing since I am moving back to Germany in TWO weeks. I only have one more weekend in PDX.... I got pretty organized, but I just have a lot of stuff, so there is still lots of work to be done. Finally at about 5, I went to school and tried to get stuff ready for the week. Unfortunately my first nightmare happened while I was there working alone and both of the copiers got jammed. Not good for productivity considering we are supposed to have our office staff deal with that stuff so I was afraid to really try to fix the jam because it would be very likely for me to break it in the attempt to make it better. Actually, setting the alarm off is really my biggest fear, but I already did that earlier this year, so since that was already off the table, jamming the copiers is the runner up. My roomie and I watched a movie and I spent the whole time cutting out the things I laminated and alphabetizing kiddos' letter books so they will be ready to go home this week.

This week is our last full week of school, but I am taking Thursday off for an appt, so really it's only a four day week and then we have three days next week. I tried making a cool slideshow with pics from the year for my kiddos but it didn't really work and I was too tired to try harder.

Now, it's time for bed because I was a walking Zombie all last week from not getting enough z's!

dunzo

Paper

is

in

41 pages representing two years of hard work, endless hours of homework, weekends that passed me by as I sat in class, evenings overshadowed by highlighting and post its, and year number three of my marriage spent away from my hubs as I worked hard to catch up with my colleagues who were not off living in Germany last year.

It is 11 pm and I feel like partying! Who's with me?

The hard part is over...

yet it's not.

I still have to present and defend this baby of mine in front of my advisers and anyone else who wishes to subject themselves to what will probably be a very nervous person talking about scripted core reading programs and culturally and linguistically diverse students.


But, for now, I have a little bit of reprieve until my defense date [June 16]. Am I going to enjoy that?

Hell yeah!

Am I temporarily ignoring the fact that I still have a book review to write that is due on Friday and I haven't even finished the book. Oh, yes.

But, right now, this is my moment to just sit back and smile...soaking in the relief that comes with turning that paper over to my three committee members who now have the next two weeks to pore over it and prepare some tough questions to fire my way on 6/16.

Mrs. Sneaker is having sweet dreams tonight people!