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: 2007-11-09 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!