fossil – Teachers Have Lives Too!

09/03/201409/03/2014 Erika S. outfits

Birds and Shit

I did it this year – I brought poop into my classroom today. I did my “alive/dead/not-living” lesson today, as I do in the beginning of every school year. The lesson includes an activity where students circulate through about 14 items, where they have to determine if the item is alive, dead, or not-living. It helps to prime the kids on what it really means to be alive (biologically speaking). It’s a brilliant lesson borrowed from my mentor/coach from my first few years of teaching, Eric. It’s a hit every time, and really gets the kids thinking about common characteristics/processes that all living things share. Today, the lesson was a smash – because now I’m the teacher who brings dog shit to class (in a sealed baggie).

birds birds2 birds3 birds4

glasses: warby parker beckett – shirt: anthropologie pintucked buttondown – jeans: f21 – shoes: birkenstock arizona – tracker: fitbit flex – watch: fossil

03/02/201303/02/2013 Erika S. outfits, teaching

Thinking aloud – the teacher outfit

Thinking-aloud: a strategy used by teachers to teach reading comprehension or problem solving.

I’ve never tried the “think-aloud” strategy in my class. I saw a teacher model it once and it felt awkward, silly and uncomfortable. Then again, that teacher was generally awkward, weird and uncomfortable socially anyways. Go figure.

Like a good teacher should, I thought that maybe I should at least try this strategy at least once before throwing it off as gimmicky. So here goes: Think-aloud – the teacher outfit version.

Damn – hit the snooze 2 too many times. panic! brush teeth, wash face, pee and Hmm..it’s overcast outside, and my app claims it will be 48°F out today – warm!! Oh crap it’s late – panic! what do I wear, stare at closet, WHAT DO I WEAR? panic! coffee. I’m going to need 11 cups today. cooooooffffeeeeee. load the thermos. what do I wear? oh eff it, same old black jeans on! oh yeah…I like that t-shirt and it’s dressier than just a t-shirt, it has “leather”! edge! k. k. k. k. k. now what else do I need…belt, shoes. I’m tired of boots and it’s “warm” out – yay favorite oxfords! I’ve missed you. crap, they dont match all the black….uhhh…sweater! solved. warm, soft, brown, present from an ex-boyfriend. slap concealer on spots brought on by burrito and beer binging in SF last week, where’s my grape soda flavored lip balm? coooooffffeeeeee. shit, if i dont leave now, I wont have time to organize before classes start. grab puffy coat, throw bobby pins in hair, keys! bag! cooooooffffeeeee. hustle.

the edge

the edge2

the edge3

the edge4

the edge bass bellingham

the edge5

the edge6

glasses: warby parker – sweater: j.crew – t-shirt: zara – belt: gap – jeans: bdg – shoes: gh bass – watch: fossil

Every lesson needs an assessment, so here’s the exit ticket: Using evidence to support your answer, predict which item from friday’s outfit will most likely be incorporated into the look for Ms. Schenck on monday.

Yup, think-aloud still feels silly, awkward and uncomfortable.