Magpie B.

The Essential 55

I picked up Ron Clark's The Essential 55 while I was looking for some fun math workbooks. It is a FABULOUS book. It describes all of the rules that Ron Clark teaches his students. But it doesn't have to be rules that only children follow. If everyone followed these rules, the world would be a better place! Read it. I know you will love it!

Grosgrain Ribbon Rocks!

I saw this watch while I was reading US magazine. I want one! They are from Tracy's Place. You can choose the ribbon you feel like wearing and tie one on!! Ahh, lovely!

It reads your mind!!

School's out for summer! I just finished yesterday and today I started my summer job. Is it a little stinky that it started the day after school finished? Yes. BUT, it is actually a lot of fun so I am not too upset. I am just going to fall into my summer schedule right away!

Now for the coolest site ever! You MUST go to this site and try it out! It guessed both of the people I had in mind!

Happy Father's Day!

Did you see how Google celebrated?

I could make this...

I am going to use this idea and make my own when I throw a party with a candy theme (When would I do that? I don't know.) Once again it's from Traylor Papers and I think I could make it. Get a lollipop stick, bits of ribbon, a plastic bag, and a swirly striped "lolli" and you've got yourself a Lollipop invitation.

Purse Alert!!

I found the cutest purse/basket at Traylor Papers. This site has the CUTEST stationary and ... stuff! The purse is only $12. And the invitations are beautiful!! Look at that Adirondak Chair - it actually folds into a chair! I don't know what kind of party I would have that would require chair invitations (maybe if I owned a beach house?) but I know where to get them just in case.

Almost there......!

I have the day off today because in Massachusetts we are celebrating Bunker Hill Day! So I finally have a day to breathe and do some things around the house that I have had NO time to do! I also get to post which I have not been doing faithfully. (That's the Bunker Hill Monument over to the left!)

First, I get to plan for my first meeting with my student teachers on Wednesday. I am a mentor teacher at the Cambridge Harvard Summer Academy and the new recruits arrive next week.

Second, I get to clean my apartment. I have figured out my problem. I get really busy and I don't have time to clean for a good stretch. When I do finally have an afternoon without meetings and errands, I am exhausted and plop on the couch. Hmmm, how do I stop this ugly cycle? HOW???

Third, I get to catch up on my grading which is really important since my grades are due on Monday and I have NO intention of working on them during the weekend.

Love and Marriage!

The parade did not disappoint. There were SO many people and it seemed longer this year. Marriage was clearly the theme this year - whether it was official or unofficial! The two little old men in the red beetle were so happy!
I also went to the library to do a little research. I had a great time! I haven't had a reason to do any research since I was in grad school! I actually enjoyed it?!? Maybe I should think about getting my PhD. Ummmm, maybe not.

I love a Parade!

Finals ended yesterday. I worked like a crazy woman to get them all graded and two of the three classes did well. That third class - I don't know what's up with them. No one can get them moving and shaking. I have NEVER had a class like it! I have always been the teacher that could say, "I never have trouble with (fill in name)" with big eyes. This means any problem children are given to me. The trouble is these kids are not problems; they are simply the laziest children on the Earth. You might think I am exaggerating. No, I really am not. Oh well - so I couldn't turn them around like usual. They will learn their life lesson another year. (It just bugs me that I couldn't be the one to lead them to amazing academic heights!)

Anyway - I was so tired after working SO HARD all week that all I wanted to do was sleep. But NOOOOO - today is the Gay Pride parade and starting at 8am trucks, street cleaners, police cruisers, motorcycles, gay(well, that's an assumption, but there are a lot of men with their hands in each other's back pockets yelling to each other) tourists, and garbagemen are all walking around outside of my apartment making A LOT of noise! I love the Gay Pride parade every year. Talk about a fun, funky, wild time! I just forgot that it is today! And this year the city is expecting 500,000 thousand people, including our mayor - especially since Massachusetts passed the marriage law. I've heard all of the newlyweds will lead the parade. How great is that?

So here I am at 8am - awake and cranky!!

This STINKS!!!

So I left school and went straight to Harvard. Left Harvard and went straight to the Red Sox game. It was 93 degrees out and I was sweating buckets, along with everyone around me. Nomar returned this evening and every time he was at bat the WHOLE crowd gave him a stanging O. I bet he felt really good. All of a sudden, we could feel the temperature drop. And then it began to rain. I mean POUR!!! The game was stopped and the field covered. I love watching the field get covered in the plastic. It's so choreographed that it's like a dance! Amy, Rebecca, and Chris comtemplated staying until the game resumed. They are probably still waiting to see if the rain passes. They'll wait until 2 in the morning if they have to! Boston doesn't want to lose this one and we were behind by four.

PS I just checked and they started the game again after waiting for TWO hours!!!