Plans for today at work!
Nov. 8th, 2007 09:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
candylandChoir rehearsal this morning went AWESOME!! \o/ One of the pieces we're doing is "Waltz of the Flowers," a vocal arrangement of the piece from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. And when we rehearsed it today, it was BEAUTIFUL!! :D They're really getting it down \o/ We're also doing a song called "The Snow" which was the All-State women's piece my senior year of high school. I think it's like Mozart in that learning the individual parts is a little bit blah, but once you put them together it's amazing.
Note to self: Bring in recordings of "Waltz of the Flowers," "The Snow," and the Mannheim Steamroller arrangement of "Pat-a-Pan." When we did that Guys and Dolls medley for the awesomeness that was conference choir, I brought in the soundtrack and had them listen to each song before we sang it--and it DOES help. I'm a firm believer in listening when it's applicable and available.
Last night's mentor meeting was actually very helpful. We talked about portfolios. This is a really big deal for us as first and second year teachers, and so the information we got was INCREDIBLY helpful. I'm still at the stage of "shove everything that looks important into this here binder and get it organized later," but it was nice to have some concrete ideas. Still need to look up some more, though. The more I can get done this year, the less I have to stress about next year when the thing comes due.
Here's how this all works--in the state of Iowa, a new teacher is on what's called an "initial" license. We're on this license for two or three years (depending on the administration), and at the end of that time (two years) we have to present our administrators with a portfolio featuring artifacts for each of the Standards and Benchmarks. If our portfolio is good and our professional growth is coming along as they feel it should, then we are awarded our Full License. They can also say that they think we need another year of "practice" (for lack of a better word)...or they can say that they don't think we should have a teaching license. At which point you are hosed.
I have nightmares about that happening, to be frank D:
I got stuff yesterday, too! I now have almost all of my purchased Christmas presents for people in my possession--I have another order that hasn't been shipped yet (I think they're waiting on one item that hasn't come out yet so they can ship it all at once), and then I have three more people to buy for. The gifts I'm making for people are coming along beautifully as well *cheers*
I really want to get as much of these made before Thanksgiving as possible. My mother works at a nursing home (office manager, bookkeeping, and payroll), and she found a pattern for a reading shawl with pockets. And so she asked me if I'd be willing to help her make as many of these as possible to give to some of the residents for Christmas. They're nice because they don't have sleeves (so those with less mobility can get into them more easily) and the pockets mean small things like reading glass and the like are at the ready. She asked if I would help her knit them, and I said absolutely :D
...in case you hadn't noticed, I function best when I keep nice and busy ^_____^
There will be a fic up tonight :D I just have to type it.
But my goal for work today is to GET MY DESK CLEANED OFF. There are papers all over the place!! I would also like to get some of this music filed. Been putting it off. These are the two big things I'd like to have done by the end of the week.
So I think I'm going to get to it! *victory pose* I'm in a really good mood today! So ping me here if you'd like--I'll be floating around here and there today, trying to get stuff done :D
Note to self: Bring in recordings of "Waltz of the Flowers," "The Snow," and the Mannheim Steamroller arrangement of "Pat-a-Pan." When we did that Guys and Dolls medley for the awesomeness that was conference choir, I brought in the soundtrack and had them listen to each song before we sang it--and it DOES help. I'm a firm believer in listening when it's applicable and available.
Last night's mentor meeting was actually very helpful. We talked about portfolios. This is a really big deal for us as first and second year teachers, and so the information we got was INCREDIBLY helpful. I'm still at the stage of "shove everything that looks important into this here binder and get it organized later," but it was nice to have some concrete ideas. Still need to look up some more, though. The more I can get done this year, the less I have to stress about next year when the thing comes due.
Here's how this all works--in the state of Iowa, a new teacher is on what's called an "initial" license. We're on this license for two or three years (depending on the administration), and at the end of that time (two years) we have to present our administrators with a portfolio featuring artifacts for each of the Standards and Benchmarks. If our portfolio is good and our professional growth is coming along as they feel it should, then we are awarded our Full License. They can also say that they think we need another year of "practice" (for lack of a better word)...or they can say that they don't think we should have a teaching license. At which point you are hosed.
I have nightmares about that happening, to be frank D:
I got stuff yesterday, too! I now have almost all of my purchased Christmas presents for people in my possession--I have another order that hasn't been shipped yet (I think they're waiting on one item that hasn't come out yet so they can ship it all at once), and then I have three more people to buy for. The gifts I'm making for people are coming along beautifully as well *cheers*
I really want to get as much of these made before Thanksgiving as possible. My mother works at a nursing home (office manager, bookkeeping, and payroll), and she found a pattern for a reading shawl with pockets. And so she asked me if I'd be willing to help her make as many of these as possible to give to some of the residents for Christmas. They're nice because they don't have sleeves (so those with less mobility can get into them more easily) and the pockets mean small things like reading glass and the like are at the ready. She asked if I would help her knit them, and I said absolutely :D
...in case you hadn't noticed, I function best when I keep nice and busy ^_____^
There will be a fic up tonight :D I just have to type it.
But my goal for work today is to GET MY DESK CLEANED OFF. There are papers all over the place!! I would also like to get some of this music filed. Been putting it off. These are the two big things I'd like to have done by the end of the week.
So I think I'm going to get to it! *victory pose* I'm in a really good mood today! So ping me here if you'd like--I'll be floating around here and there today, trying to get stuff done :D
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-08 04:56 pm (UTC)OGJMGKSDIFJ!!!! School is so boring!! DX I spend an hour in class just watching music videos, then the last 2 hours watching all the Pixar shorts (omg they are love!)
and now I'm in my secound class for the day... Teacher is out... so it's like a damn study hall!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
but...>> could you help me think of an idea, because you're a writer and all...
See for our final in Effects class, we have to record someone telling a story that you;ve heard over and over, and then add effects and animation to make the story come to life... Only I don't really recall any of those stories in my house... (I don't think we ever had any) but if you know one... Care to share? :D
Wow... that was long... DX sry
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-08 05:22 pm (UTC)I actually brought my Mythbusters DVDs with me. I've got one playing while I'm bustling around the room filing music. Got the piano cleared off and most of the music put away :D I ARE PRODUCTIVE!!
Poor you... *pets the boredom away*
Hmm...did you have a favorite fairy tale as a child? Or perhaps a fable (Aesop or something like that) that you liked? I had to tell a story from another culture in my Human Relations class. I took off my shoes, sat cross-legged on the table at the front of the room, and told them the story of Princess Kaguya (from Japan), starting with the words, "Konnichiwa, minna-san. Let me tell you a story..." and ending with the word "Owari." It went over REALLY well.
... [/tangent]
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-08 05:34 pm (UTC)I went with the story of how I am WAY behind the times and don't quite get what's going on in the world of American music... (Since Vicky never stops telling people that story XD) Thanks though!!!
I could never tell a story like that... *hates being in front of people* but I wish I could have seen it!! :O
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-08 05:51 pm (UTC)That sounds like an interesting story! :D And I didn't have a choice on this--it was a project for class. We had to memorize the story and tell it to the class. I was the only one who sat down while I told mine--I thought it fit the way I wanted to tell the story, and my classmates (and prof) seemed to enjoy it ^____^
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 07:20 am (UTC)I don't think I could have told a story like that either! (Though I would have had to, if I didn't have a choice. XD) But it would have been fun to watch you do it!
Speaking of telling stories, I'm still considering making a fic announcement comm for people on LJ. If I do, I want to call it something like Ladybug_Tales, and it would be very much inspired by your Candyfics! Would that be okay? ^^ I'd make sure to credit you!(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 03:59 pm (UTC)It turned out to be really fun to find the story and learn it and figure out how to tell it. So it was a good project at the end of the day. But I was the only one who took a casual approach like that.
I actually swiped the idea of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
candyfics from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
impfics by Icka, so it's not like I have a copyright on it. Go right ahead and make the account--you don't have to credit me :D(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 01:52 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 04:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 03:16 am (UTC)I had no idea there was a choral arrangement to Waltz of the Flowers. That must be so interesting. Is it part of a set of different dances from that? Or is it just that one?
btw, I love the new layout. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 04:41 pm (UTC)I didn't know there was one either, but I found it and played through it and it was sort of pretty. And it was even prettier to hear them sing it ~♥ I haven't found any other arrangements like this (as yet), so I think it's just this one.
Thanks! :D
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 04:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 04:43 pm (UTC)Poor man. He had no idea that it would turn out to be his most endearing legacy. That and the 1812 Overture, which is also entirely awesome :D
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 09:01 am (UTC)Good luck with school stuff tomorrow!! *cheers you on*
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 04:44 pm (UTC)Thanks, hon! *glomps* Talk to you soon!