Category: Blogging A to Z

Conversations with My Students: The Prequel #SOL18

Right, so, Wednesday was also a good teaching day, but I got so distracted by the donuts that I didn’t talk about it.

First, we did an awesome self-annotation assignment that I stole from KO. My students were thoroughly engaged. The reflection question was “If you had 48 hours, what would would you change about your draft?” and they all answered, “I would fix it.”

A couple of students tweeted that it helped them a lot (although one said it reminded her of her high school class that she hated–sigh, you can’t win them all), so I am calling that a success.

Continue reading “Conversations with My Students: The Prequel #SOL18” →

A to Z Reflection 2017

So, this is my second year participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and the mods have again asked for reflection posts from participants.

1. I’m going to start by seeing how well I used what I learned last year. In that reflection post, I said that I would (a) use a theme, (b) write my posts in advance, and (c) identify blogs w/shared interests early so I could follow them before the challenge starts.

(a) I did, indeed, use a theme (mine was gratitude). In fact, I really cannot imagine doing this challenge without one. I need the structure.

(b) I did not write my posts in advance. I will probably never write my posts in advance. To be fair, my theme didn’t allow for it since I wrote about something I was grateful for each day. But to also be realistic, I almost never do anything in advance, so.

(c) I did, in fact, identify blogs early on to follow. This was smart. I did find some new blogs throughout the course of the challenge as well, but it was nice to have a starting point.

Continue reading “A to Z Reflection 2017” →

Z is for Zippy #AtoZChallenge

Went to a meeting today that ended before time, which included everyone checking their schedules and setting the next meeting. A+ work, team!

And with that, my participation in the 2017 A to Z Challenge has come to an end. Thank you to everyone who read and/or commented on my posts as I explored my theme of gratitude.

I also did two (two!) month-long blogging challenges back to back and I am exhausted. I’m going back to my once per week posting schedule for now. Of course, Armchair Book Expo is right around the corner… (and for once I won’t be teaching during it!).

Y is for Yakety Yak #AtoZChallenge

I spent all day today talking to super cool people which is totally my jam. Not only that but I got a chance to celebrate a milestone in someone’s life while also catching up with a friend. Win win win all around, I’d say.

Blogging from A to Z is a challenge that runs through the month of April.

 

For the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year, my theme is gratitude. Every day, I am going to post about something I am grateful for. Tune in tomorrow to see what I pick for Y.

X is for x #AtoZChallenge

aka xxxxx

aka crossing things off the to-do list

aka I am officially done grading because I entered ALL the grades for ALL my classes

aka no more grading until fall

It’s handled.

aka I just turned off/deleted all the various alarms on my phone (get up for work, go to class, end class, stop working, go to bed)

HUZZAH!

Blogging from A to Z is a challenge that runs through the month of April.

For the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year, my theme is gratitude. Every day, I am going to post about something I am grateful for. Tune in tomorrow to see what I pick for Y.

W is for When Past Me Makes Good Choices #AtoZChallenge

When I was looking to buy a new car a few years ago, one of the the salesmen at the Toyota dealership was telling me how great keyless entry is and how you only need the key fob and blah blah blah. I told him that I wanted a car with an actual key to open the door. “But you won’t need it,” he insisted. “That’s what the key fob is for.”

Guess whose key fob has been sometime-y about unlocking and locking when I push the button?

source

Guess who has had to use the actual key to open the door several times in the past week or so?

Guess who would have been really pissed if she were locked out of her car because the key fob didn’t work and there were no other way to get in?

So yes. Good job, past me.

source

 

 

Blogging from A to Z is a challenge that runs through the month of April.

For the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year, my theme is gratitude. Every day, I am going to post about something I am grateful for. Tune in tomorrow to see what I pick for X.

V is for Vacation #AtoZChallenge

 

It’s so close, guys. I can almost taste/touch it. One more week to go.

source

For the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year, my theme is gratitude. Every day, I am going to post about something I am grateful for. Tune in tomorrow to see what I pick for W.

U is for Undergoing the Natural Hair Journey #AtoZChallenge

Today’s topic was given to me by my friend, TNT, who shared that she’s been natural almost 20 years, which reminded me that it’s been almost 20 years for me, too. When I told her that, she asked, “What’s your hair story?”

I got my first relaxer when I was 9 or 10, and I remember the stylist marveling that it was “bone straight.” And so it went until after I went to college and especially after I had my daughter. Then, I started waiting longer and longer between touch ups. I waffled quite a while between making the big chop and transitioning while wearing extensions.

Me being me and because this was before the natural hair care explosion on the internet, I used Let’s Talk Hair by Pamela Farrell and Good Hair by Lonnice Brittenum Bonner as my guides. (I found them by, of course, going to the library.)

Continue reading “U is for Undergoing the Natural Hair Journey #AtoZChallenge” →

T is for Taking a Break #AtoZChallenge

So, yes, I went on my church retreat and it was quite relaxing and delightful. I took several naps and even got to play Catan, which I now want to play again. Don’t worry. I have pretty much already set up a game night to make that happen.

Ah, the beauty of retreat.

Speaking of the beauty of retreat, here is a picture of my view from the dock on Saturday morning.

Continue reading “T is for Taking a Break #AtoZChallenge” →

S is for Scheduling Posts #AtoZChallenge

As I said in my last post, I’m on my all-church retreat. However! Through the wonders of technology, I am still able to do my S post and not miss a day of the challenge. Huzzah!

Or in the words of erstwhile poet Jay-Z: I will not lose, ever.

Blogging from A to Z is a challenge that runs through the month of April.

For the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year, my theme is gratitude. Every day, I am going to post about something I am grateful for. Tune in Monday to see what I pick for T.