Orange Shirt Day

It was a fine day- nothing extraordinary at school.

Teaching:

We had a productive day, I guess. I always find Wednesday’s tough because my teaching buddy is off so it’s a lot more lonely.

We did calendar and a lesson on Orange Shirt Day. I was happy with my lesson as my sister in law recommended the book, When We Were Alone. It was great for my age group and gave some good concrete examples they could understand without going too deep. We then talked about how students should feel at school. I was incredibly impressed with some of the words they came up with- secure, safe, loved. Also when we were talking about the kids being taken to residential schools they can up with the word heartbroken! I think these guys are going to keep me on my toes!

We worked on our number booklet some more and then in the afternoon we had silent reading and took a close look at the Western Hemlock Looper Moths that are an infestation right now. The students were super engaged!

The best part of the day for me was finishing the alphabet letters and sounds assessment for all but two students. Tomorrow I’ll finish off the two and then I need to start on sight word assessment. Hopefully at some point I get to start teaching!

Medical:

I left right after school for another physio appt. and I felt good afterwards, though my back is a little sore now. He told me to go for a walk and put the heating pad on it and so far I’ve followed his advice. Hopefully just one more appointment will do it, though he says once a month for maintenance would be good. I’m all over that as I don’t think I’ve had such loose muscles since I started running.

Knitting:

I finished Lyndsay’s toque tonight and hopefully I will get a picture tomorrow when it’s on her head.

Well I’m going to curl up and finish my book.

Have fun!

AJ

Monday Again?

How did Monday get here again so quickly?

Teaching:

We had calendar and music this morning. We read The Party by Barbara Reid- the pictures are so cool- and discussed when our birthdays were. I was impressed that there was only one little girl who truly had no idea where her birthday was.

We tackled a journal entry where students could write about anything, but if they were stuck the prompt was, I can…

Last year I heard repeatedly how low this one little girl was, but today I was super impressed with her writing. She wrote, “ I picked apples at the farm and did a maze with my family. I had fun, so much fun”. That impressed me for a six year old!

This afternoon we watched a YouTube reading of Terry Fox and Me. I am so glad someone finally wrote a book about Terry Fox that is appropriate for Primary. We talked about prosthetics and who the kids would be running for. All but one girl got them done so I’ll take a picture when I get them posted tomorrow.

At the end of the day we went outside to play. It isn’t so nice now that my teaching buddy and I aren’t together:(. One little girl had to go for EAL testing during this time and both she and her mom were super upset as they thought she was going to miss outside play every time. Try explaining this when there is a language barrier. It was a great game of charades, I suppose.

House:

Last week I didn’t get any of my chores done and I was worried that my new chore schedule would collapse, but today I came home and got my floors done quick before I had dinner.

Exercise:

I did the 35 minute Full Body Strength and HIIT workout from NourishMoveLove. It was definitely a challenge and I was dripping sweat by the end so I will call it a success.

Well I’m going to enjoy my book as tomorrow is a busy day!

Have fun!

AJ

Solitary Sunday

I really need to make some plans for my weekends!

Exercise:

It was just Sarah and I for the run this morning so we went to Hyde Creek and ran ten kilometers there. I tried to be really cognizant of engaging that deep stomach muscle while I was running. My hip got a little sore as I think at times I was tucking my hip instead of engaging my abs. It was definitely better than last week though!

This afternoon I also did a half hour of weights. I didn’t want to do a NourishMoveLove workout after a long run, so I just did straight weights.

Knitting:

I have re-knitted the toque, but am still not happy with it. I will take it to work so Lyndsay can test it, but I think the yarn is too stiff for the style of hat she chose.

I haven’t done much else and think I’ll go to read in bed.

Have fun!

AJ

Stretching Saturday

I can’t believe how lazy I have been!

Reading:

I finished my latest book, Take a Hint Dani Brown by Thalia Hibbert. I find her books start off oddly, but end wonderful sweetly. I enjoyed the book and if you’re looking for fluff it’s a great option.

Shopping:

I grabbed milk and later in the day I picked up my new trails and road running shoes. It was an expensive day!

Family:

I got a text from my nephew asking me to see his name on his jersey so I did go over and pick it up.

Knitting:

I am trying to get a toque done for a friend’s birthday by Thursday so I started today. I got it almost completely done when I realized it was going to be big and I was going to run out of yarn, so I have ripped it out and will start again.

Exercise:

Thought about running because I didn’t hurt, but decided a day of rest wasn’t a bad thing. I did do a ten minute cardio and core workout from a NourishMoveLove and started her HIIT AMRAP workout, but didn’t get to finish it.

Have ten weeks today until my birthday and would like to feel more in shape by then so I’d better pull up my socks with my eating and exercise!

Baking:

Last year I had done some of the Sally’s Baking Challenges and this year, Abbey and Kathy and I decided to all do them.

This month the challenge was a cinnamon swirl quick bread. I actually made it earlier in the month and found it quite easy to make. I used Bob’s Redmill all purpose gluten free flour, Earth’s Own Unsweetened vanilla oat milk and Earth Balance vegan buttery spread. Otherwise I followed the recipe exactly.

I would not put the topping of cinnamon sugar on as thickly as they call for in the recipe again as I found it just brushed off, and I may add raisins if I make it again, but otherwise I was happy with the recipe.

I took it to work to share with friends and two of them loved it, but unfortunately I dropped it on the floor before anyone else got to enjoy it:(

Well I think that’s my day in a nutshell.

Have fun!

AJ

Productive

It was quite a productive day.

Exercise:

My colleague from work was supposed to run with me this morning, but I woke up to a text saying it was raining too hard. To be fair, it was running so hard that I drove to work and I was a little worried about what my hip would do, so it’s probably a good thing. Though I am really starting to worry about my mileage:(

This evening I did a NourishMoveLove workout. It was her new 30 minute yoga sculpt. It was a neat workout because it changed quickly and I did mindfully try to keep my pelvis lifted while I was doing it.

Maybe tomorrow I will get out for a little run in the morning as I am kicking myself for not getting one in this morning.

Teaching:

Today was a ProD day and it actually felt quite productive as my teaching buddy is working Fridays this year. We got our Teams set up in case we go virtual (I really don’t think we will be). We also got our TOC book written and reviewed our year plan and made some plans. Not a lot, but things we can’t get done when the kids are there.

The funniest/saddest story I heard today was that a little girl refuses to wear anything but grey leggings each day which she insists her mom or dad warms up with a blow dryer before she puts them on. The sad part is that the parents are actually doing this!!!

Family:

I grabbed Gus after my school day and we went for ice cream. I had the raspberry pistachio, but then they gave me a taste of the new raspberry cheesecake that I had requested. It was amazing!!! I just can’t imagine how I used to eat two scoops though as I was stuffed!

Well I’m going to go crawl into bed and read my book.

Have fun!

AJ

Ya I Get to go Home

I was so excited today when my run was canceled and I realized I got to just go home and stay home!

Teaching:

It was a pretty good day. We did calendar and I was happy I could regularly get to my little guy with poor fine motor so I could help him with his printing. We then had music. I had to go back into my class to grab something and it was interesting to see my awesome class out of control. Guess that’s what you get when a teacher has only taught high school and the kids are bored by your lessons. Do five year olds care about beat, meter, rhythm, etc? No. There is actually a collective sight when I tell them they have music 😦

We played with numbers and the kids are so funny. The simplest games entertain them. Each child has a box with number cards and they got to take turns naming which number everybody had to find and show them. They loved it. Sometimes little kids still amaze me!

This afternoon we had silent reading and I tested two more kids on their alphabet knowledge. I am really missing having my volunteer who usually does this all for me! We also had some catch up time and read a book about having a positive attitude. We ended the day with outside play, though it started to rain again with three minutes left. It was funny to see all the kids huddle under the tree as though the rain was going to melt them.

I can’t say I’ve done a whole lot. I have stretched and rolled and played scrabble and read.

Reading:

Have finished the book That Summer by Lauren Willig. I love her Pink Carnation series so was happy to borrow another of her books. This one was interesting as it has some mystery to it, but I did find the ending sad.

I also finished You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria. This book took me forever to read and I have to admit I didn’t love it and I won’t recommend it.

I have now started reading Take a Hint Dani Brown by Thalia Hibbert. It was once again a weird start, but I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt as her other book turned out so well after a weird start too. She takes the idea of a quirky hook to the extreme.

Well I’m going to go crawl into bed.

Have fun!

AJ

Busy!

I feel like all I have done all day is be on the go, but maybe that’s because I was limping so it took me forever to get anywhere.

Teaching:

It was not our best day because we had an inside recess and lunch because of the torrential rain. We got through a lesson on worrying, and a favourite leaf colour graph, but the rest of the day was administrivia and go noodle videos.

We were just told today that we could finally use our coat rooms, but mine is full of all the things I’m not allowed to use in my classroom:(. Right now I’m thinking we’re just going to stick with putting our bags and jackets on the back of our chairs.

Medical:

I decided to try a physiotherapist for my hip pain. It turned out it is actually my low back that is irritated which is in turn irritating the nerve that runs down the outside of your leg. He did dry needling and I have to go back for one more appointment of that and an appointment of laser. I sure hope this helps!

Shopping:

My evening ended with a trip to Costco for gas, playdo and pictures. Quite the list huh. It is unfortunate that I was quite full so I didn’t buy anything else and will probably have to go back again

Well I’m ready to go curl up in bed with my book!

Have fun!

AJ

Trivia Tuesday

It was an okay day today.

Teaching:

We got through a lesson on emotions, some work on number words, and a mini book about Fall colours.

I am amazed at how slow my students are sometimes and how fast they can be at other times.

Exercise:

I had a workout after school. It was a pyramid run- 1 min, 1:30, 2:30, 4 and 5 mins. And then back down with a minute of rest between each.

I was tight to start, loosened up and then really had it clamp down at the end. When I went to roll, I was rolling my IT Band when a ball popped out on the inside of my calf. Needless to say I won’t be running tomorrow but will instead be rolling.

Trivia:

Tonight there were only four of us.

In the first round we knews

Who was the famous train toy?

Thomas the Tank Engine

What is the headdress worn by Jewish people?

Yarmulke

What is the first M in M&M?

Mars

The music round was tough! Bands with Brothers, song titles with big, song titles with little, Janet Jackson songs, and 1992 songs I really wasn’t much help.

In the Kahoot! round we knew:

Which was not an adjective? Quick, quicker, quickly, quickest

Quickly

What colour is not in The Wiggles?

Green

What is 9 and 3/4 as an improper fraction?

39/4

Which is not an Olympic Sport?

Artistic swimming

Who is the little girl in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas?

Cindy Lou Who

Which company has a gecko as a mascot?

Geico

WHere is Mount Rushmore?

South Dakota

Where did the characters go in Romancing the stone?

Colombia

Well that’s it for me, time for bed!

Have fun!

AJ

Organizing

Teaching:

I would just really like it if I could get everyone in the classroom organized and be done with it! Today I had two more students join us so I have finally seen all students except one. I just wish they would all send all the supplies!! Every day I get dribs and drabs and I never feel organized:(

We got through calendar, music, math, journal, silent reading, science and outdoor play. My students have the playground this week so they are super happy! I say we got through all of those things, but most were abbreviated and not completed how I wanted them to be:(

Tomorrow we will try again.

I wanted to show you the self portraits we did on Friday afternoon. We did each part together and they are super funny. I am still waiting for two more kids to finish.

I left work really quickly to get to my massage appointment and boy did that feel great after the run yesterday!

Knitting:

I have been knitting the test knit?, but it seems extremely large and am thinking I should go down even more.

Well sorry it’s not that interesting.

Have fun!

AJ

Family and Weekend

Does it get any better than seeing family and having a weekend?!?!

Cooking:

I spent Saturday morning cooking and baking. I did a green salad, deviled eggs and “nan cake”. My grandma used to make a cake that we all remember. I have been trying to recreate it. This time I was told that I got the topping pretty close, but I need to find a fluffier white cake. Finding a fluffy gf cake might be tough but I refuse to make cake I can’t eat!

Not much of the salad got eaten so it will become my lunches for the week and meant that I didn’t need to spend today in the kitchen.

Family:

My brother, sister in law and niece and nephew showed up early so we walked over for ice cream. The banana fudge walnut was just as good this time!

We then headed over to my other brother’s for dinner. It was a great night of food and visiting. It’s nice to have a family that gets along. Here is the best picture of the night.

Exercise:

Today I finally got back to exercising. This last week just didn’t go according to plan due to long work days and horrible air quality, but this morning I got out for 10km with Sarah and Dennis. I found my hip starting to hurt again at about 7km and I am wondering if I change my gait when I am running slower with Sarah? I will have to do some experimenting to find out.

I also got a workout in this afternoon. 44 minutes of weights. I did the three sets of 10 with increasing weight. I like doing this, but am tempted to go back to doing NourishMoveLove.

Knitting:

I had gotten really close to finishing my sweater yesterday, but ended up doing the bottom edge this afternoon. I hope this sweater ends up being as useful as I think it will be. The one problem with it, is that this Debbie Bliss Eco Baby Cotton is not colour fast:(

I am now starting on a test knit, but have done three searches and haven’t gotten gauge yet. I will have to go back to trying tomorrow night as right now I’m going to go crawl into bed with my book.

Have fun!

AJ