Wednesday HodgePodge 1/16/2013

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English...here's the list for 2013-

fiscal cliff, kick the can down the road, double down, job creators/creation, passion/passionate, yolo (an acronym for you only live once), spoiler alert, bucket list, trending, superfood, boneless wings, and guru

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why. Go here to read more about how the words were chosen.

I'm reclaiming YOLO.  I've heard so many ridiculous phrases followed with YOLO that I'm making it my life's mission to tweet even more ridiculous stuff and hashtag YOLO on the end for comic relief.  Maybe it will draw attention to the ridiculousness of the whole movement.

But if I were to get rid of any phrase?  "You'll have that."  UGH.  Do people just need something to say in response to a situation that requires no actual response?  My students use this one regularly and I just slap my forehead in disgust.  Basically I'm against raising a generation of people who say meaningless things just to have something to say.

2.  When was the last time you rode a train?  Where did you go?

I don't think I've ever actually ridden on a train.  I rode a subway in New York, though.  Does that count?  It was 13 years (!!!) ago.

3. Bagels-yay or nay?  Favorite 'flavor'?  Favorite topping?

I love bagels, but I don't eat them often.  I read an article once about how they are actually glue to your internal organs.  That freaked me out enough to include them only occasionally.

When I do include them, though, I enjoy Panera's Cinnamon Crunch with the honey walnut cream cheese.  It's a rare occasion I'll allow myself to indulge, but they are SUPER good.


4.  'Tis the season of awards shows...if you could star in a movie already made which one would you choose?

I would love to be in something like Easy A.  There's something about Emma Stone and her comedic delivery in that movie.  Frankly, I feel the same way about Ellen Page, but I'm pretty positive I don't look young enough to play in something like Juno.

5. The move towards single gender classrooms has been making the news in recent months....what say you?  Do you think kids perform better if seperated by gender and are taught differently or is that discrimination?  If you're a parent, is this something you'd support in regard to your own children? 

I'm not a fan--mostly because my classrooms revolve around discussion and regular conversation.  Those discussions depend on differing viewpoints so variety really is a necessary part of my day.  Guys view situations differently than girls.  I keep begging for a strong, catechized Catholic kid in my advanced American Lit class because none of my students seem to understand the Biblical allusions.  That student would be absolute perfection for class discussion.  Upper-middle class students often don't see the situational irony in "The Gift of the Magi" but it's rare a student with a lower socioeconomic status misses it.

I know those things don't just focus on gender, but I think it makes the point that all these perspectives are necessary to my classroom.  (Though not all teachers may agree--nor would I expect them to.  Each educator has a style that works for him/her.  Discussion just happens to be very effective in my room.)


6. What's your favorite thing about staying in a hotel?

The time away :)  Favorite and I used to love to stay in hotels when we lived in our trailer.  The rooms were so much nicer than anything we had at home so it was a total vacation.  Now, though?  Our house is pretty nice.  So it's rare a hotel room meets all the amenities we have available to us at home.  I guess the best part is I don't have to clean it.

7. Do you have a 'word' for 2013?  What's the story behind your choice? 

My word is Peace.  I've written about it here and here (if you are interested).  

I've been a little unsure about that word because I know the upheaval and chaos I'm getting ready to experience (ha!), but the first devotion in One Thousand Gifts (the new devotional book I'm using for the start of this year) discussed the fact that peace and gratitude are inextricably linked.  I felt like that was reassurance that those are definitely things I'm going to focus on this year.


8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Writing one day of sub plans is relatively stressful because it brings up all sorts of questions:  Will the students understand?  Will the sub follow my instructions?  Will the sub know what he/she is talking about?  Am I going to have to reteach this concept?  Is there any way I can delay this lesson until my return?

Six weeks of sub plans is turning out to be a little overwhelming.  So I'm trying to practice gratitude for the fact that I have six weeks worth of days to take off when Ryan is born.