Action Research Project

For my master's, I have to do an action research project instead of writing a dissertation.....yay!  I'd much rather do a research project instead of writing a really long and boring paper!

My action research will be on how implementing Writing Workshop into the classroom affects students.  I am hoping to see students become more encouraged to write and take pride in their writing.  I chose this project because writing will be a HUGE component of the new common core standards that will be implemented in all Maryland public schools by 2014.

Haven't heard of Writing Workshop?  Click here for more info!

Haven't heard of the Common Core standards?  Click on the Common Core for more info!

This is a word cloud!  Tagxedo.com or Wordle.com are great places to make word clouds.  You type or upload any document into the site and they make the cloud for you!  Both sites pick up on the number of times a particular word is used and the more its used, the bigger it is!  This word cloud is my action research proposal paper.  You can see that students, writing, workshop, sharing, and school are the words I used the most!  Give it a try!  They are really fun to make!

How Do You Know You're a Teacher?

A comical list by comedian, Jeff Foxworthy!  So many of these are true!

How Do You Know You're a Teacher?

1. You get a secret thrill out of laminating things.
2. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.
3. You walk into a store and hear the words, “It’s Ms./Mr. ____________ and know you have been spotted.
4. You have 25 people who  accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.
5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under 25 minutes.
6. You’ve trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day, lunch and planning period.
7. You start saving other people’s trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.
8. You believe the Teacher’s Lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.
9. You want to slap the next person who says, “Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off”.
10. You believe chocolate is a food group.
11. You can tell if it’s a full moon without ever looking outside.
12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, “Boy, the kids are sure mellow today.”
13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.
15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.
17. You can’t pass the school supply aisle without getting at least 5 items!
18. You ask your friends to use their words and explain if the left hand turn he made was a “good choice” or “bad choice.”
19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.
20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.
21. You understand, instantaneously, why a child behaves in a certain way after meeting his/her parents.

Birthday Birthday!!

The day after wedding #5 was my 24th birthday!  It was a great birthday.  I did have to do work for most of the day but it was nice to be home with Ben and relax.  Ben gave me tickets to see the Lion King broadway show in Baltimore!  The show is Dec. 18th (today!!!!) and I am super excited to see it!  There are three Broadway shows I've always wanted to see and the Lion King is one of them!  Stay tuned for my review after the show!

Wedding #5...Lindsey and Todd!

On November 19th, Ben and I got to celebrate in the marriage of two of our good friends, Todd and Lindsey!  Lindsey is in our bible study and we met Todd through her.  We've had a great time getting to know them and Lindsey even asked me to be a bridesmaid!  We had a wonderful time at their wedding!  Below are some pictures that Ben took with his super duper awesome camera.  Also, follow this link to Todd and Lindsey's blog for more pictures!  Todd and Lindsey's blog

 Melissa and Me!

 First dance as Mr. and Mrs.!

 Make your own cupcake table!  They were delicious!

 Kayla and I!

 Two Lindsey/Lyndseys!  Me and the beautiful Bride!

 The five bridesmaids and David

Finally, a few minutes to post!

It's official, I am halfway done graduate school!  Woohoo!!!

Since the last posting was awhile ago, I have quite a few things to update!  Be prepared for a bunch of posts over the next few days