Aspiration #8: Talk slower.
I know this is a repeat already, but I warned you some goals might take more time. This one failed miserably yesterday. It's no excuse, but we had a two-hour delay, which pushed my sense of hurry. I'd completely thrown out my lesson plan anyway because I'd decided the students needed more time on something before moving on to the next lesson. So, I'd planned what would comfortably fit into the 50 minutes, but I was racing toward the finish line!
I was a little better today, but only when I truly concentrated on slowing down my speech.
I'll have to get the kids on board with this... I'm just trying to think of a (polite) way for them to signal when I'm going too fast...
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Talk slower.
Aspiration #7: Talk slower.
I promise not all my goals will be school-related, but it is my focus at the moment...
I know I talk fast, especially in the classroom. I have a constant sense of 'Let's hurry up and do this,' and I talk at a breakneck pace. Actually, the more excited I am about a subject the faster I talk and the more Southern my accent (the accent deepens when I'm angry as well, a student once remarked to his classmates, "You all better stop. She's getting Southern," so I don't just imagine this tick).
This year, a student switched from one of my classes because he said I talked too fast and he couldn't listen as fast and understand so he'd stopped listening. Really, those are almost his exact words. At first, (in my head because you must be tactful dealing with students) I took the attitude of "Well, if you can't think fast enough, you must be too slow for my college prep!" But, then I got to thinking and realized he might not be the only student in this boat.
Then, I read the following "The average adult speaks at a rate of almost 170 words per minute...by high school, (the processing rate) grows to a rate of 145 to 150 words per minute" (NEA Today). Whew! My students are only able to process a fraction of what I say! No wonder I see their work sometimes and want to shout, "But I told them X!" Well, I told them, but they really didn't hear, not because they weren't listening, but because they couldn't process what I was saying. It's sort of putting to use the old adage, 'a little knowledge is dangerous.' They use the parts they understood to produce a mangled version.
I try to give them everything in writing because my personal learning style needs to hear and see instructions, but most students rely on one or the other and I'm probably confusing them.
So, I aspire to slow my speaking rate... I will probably tell each class this and have them devise a way to signal (politely) when I'm winning verbal NASCAR.
Works Cited
"Talk slower!" NEA Today. January/February 2009: 15.
I promise not all my goals will be school-related, but it is my focus at the moment...
I know I talk fast, especially in the classroom. I have a constant sense of 'Let's hurry up and do this,' and I talk at a breakneck pace. Actually, the more excited I am about a subject the faster I talk and the more Southern my accent (the accent deepens when I'm angry as well, a student once remarked to his classmates, "You all better stop. She's getting Southern," so I don't just imagine this tick).
This year, a student switched from one of my classes because he said I talked too fast and he couldn't listen as fast and understand so he'd stopped listening. Really, those are almost his exact words. At first, (in my head because you must be tactful dealing with students) I took the attitude of "Well, if you can't think fast enough, you must be too slow for my college prep!" But, then I got to thinking and realized he might not be the only student in this boat.
Then, I read the following "The average adult speaks at a rate of almost 170 words per minute...by high school, (the processing rate) grows to a rate of 145 to 150 words per minute" (NEA Today). Whew! My students are only able to process a fraction of what I say! No wonder I see their work sometimes and want to shout, "But I told them X!" Well, I told them, but they really didn't hear, not because they weren't listening, but because they couldn't process what I was saying. It's sort of putting to use the old adage, 'a little knowledge is dangerous.' They use the parts they understood to produce a mangled version.
I try to give them everything in writing because my personal learning style needs to hear and see instructions, but most students rely on one or the other and I'm probably confusing them.
So, I aspire to slow my speaking rate... I will probably tell each class this and have them devise a way to signal (politely) when I'm winning verbal NASCAR.
Works Cited
"Talk slower!" NEA Today. January/February 2009: 15.
Find peace.
Aspiration #6: Find my internal Buddhist monk.
Ok, I'm halfway through the day and hardly on the path to enlightenment... I'm slowly talking my way out of stress. You see, today we were given the gift of a Snow Day... more accurately an Ice Day that has sorta turned into a melty, drippy day... but, an unexpected break from school nonetheless.
As a rule, Snow Days are a time to NOT think about work, to curl under a blanket with my dog on my lap and a book in my hand and maybe a cup of hot Earl Grey; however, my current stress level meant I did feel the need to finish grading research papers.
To explain, I should have graded them over the Winter Break, but I will never be on my deathbed saying, "Oh, why didn't I grade more papers?" But, I might say, "Why didn't I spend more time with family/friends?" So, I did NOT grade the papers over break. However, I wanted to return them to the students today so they could use my notes to prepare presentations from the research. I didn't quite get them done last night so used the extra time this a.m. so that I can give them back tomorrow. This is a totally self-imposed deadline, but it also helped me get them done. There is nothing more stressful to me than having a pile of ungraded papers in my courier bag.
Anyway, I looked at my school 'to do' list and feel a fraction more relaxed. I'm saying to myself that the rest can wait and can feel my breathing is at a normal pace.
Now, I will go exercise and maybe read a bit. Peace will be mine.
Ok, I'm halfway through the day and hardly on the path to enlightenment... I'm slowly talking my way out of stress. You see, today we were given the gift of a Snow Day... more accurately an Ice Day that has sorta turned into a melty, drippy day... but, an unexpected break from school nonetheless.
As a rule, Snow Days are a time to NOT think about work, to curl under a blanket with my dog on my lap and a book in my hand and maybe a cup of hot Earl Grey; however, my current stress level meant I did feel the need to finish grading research papers.
To explain, I should have graded them over the Winter Break, but I will never be on my deathbed saying, "Oh, why didn't I grade more papers?" But, I might say, "Why didn't I spend more time with family/friends?" So, I did NOT grade the papers over break. However, I wanted to return them to the students today so they could use my notes to prepare presentations from the research. I didn't quite get them done last night so used the extra time this a.m. so that I can give them back tomorrow. This is a totally self-imposed deadline, but it also helped me get them done. There is nothing more stressful to me than having a pile of ungraded papers in my courier bag.
Anyway, I looked at my school 'to do' list and feel a fraction more relaxed. I'm saying to myself that the rest can wait and can feel my breathing is at a normal pace.
Now, I will go exercise and maybe read a bit. Peace will be mine.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Be confident.
Aspiration #5: Be confident.
“I have never known a man who died from overwork, but many who died from doubt.” ~ Charles Horace Mayo, Surgeon
My husband and I return to work tomorrow after a 12 day break (eight work days, plus weekends). It is always difficult to return to the regimented schedule. This is kinda funny, because our natural sleep-cycle is the absolutely radical 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., but it is amazing how much harder it is to sleep 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. When I was a child, I remember my mother saying it was 'inhumane' to be up before 6 a.m. I'm not sure when she changed this philosophy (if she ever did), because I know she woke up at 5:30 when I was in high school to do her morning aerobics with some network exercise program. This time of year is particularly depressing anyway since we leave for work in the dark and often don't return home until dusk or later. Our poor dogs must think they've moved to Alaska with days upon days of dark night!
Anyway, the above quote is a reminder for us to be confident in our work. We are both teachers... of English, the most dreaded of subjects for a majority of students, which means an often antagonistic relationship with our classes (not individual students, we both connect quite personally with students). Teaching is often a thankless job and, unlike a mechanic that has a well-running car as proof of his skills, our 'product' may take a decade or more to show what we've done for them. It leads to self-doubt and that is so depressing, especially as we reach middle age. We aren't the only ones to question what we've done with our lives, but we both know we need to STOP questioning ourselves if we are going to be satisfied with today!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, I happened to read the following in an interview with Dustin Hoffman:
"You constantly live in doubt, whether or not you are successful or not. Am I a fraud? Am I doing good work, or am I fooling people?" (Sperling 45)
Well, if Dustion-Bloody-Hoffman, well-known and award-winning actor, can still have a midlife crisis, who am I to feel guilty over mine? Of course, that also deepens my self-doubt. If he can question the value of his life, what is the value of my tiny, insignficant, unknown existence? It really brings home the idea of how we must each determine success for ourselves and not depend on acceptance/approval from the world.
Works Cited (I know this is unnecessary on the Web, but I just finished grading 80 research papers and feel I need to be an example whenever I know where I'm getting the quotes or info. that isn't my opinion...)
Sperling, Nicole. "Checking in with Dustin Hoffman." Entertainment Weekly. 9 Jan. 2009: 44-45.
“I have never known a man who died from overwork, but many who died from doubt.” ~ Charles Horace Mayo, Surgeon
My husband and I return to work tomorrow after a 12 day break (eight work days, plus weekends). It is always difficult to return to the regimented schedule. This is kinda funny, because our natural sleep-cycle is the absolutely radical 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., but it is amazing how much harder it is to sleep 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. When I was a child, I remember my mother saying it was 'inhumane' to be up before 6 a.m. I'm not sure when she changed this philosophy (if she ever did), because I know she woke up at 5:30 when I was in high school to do her morning aerobics with some network exercise program. This time of year is particularly depressing anyway since we leave for work in the dark and often don't return home until dusk or later. Our poor dogs must think they've moved to Alaska with days upon days of dark night!
Anyway, the above quote is a reminder for us to be confident in our work. We are both teachers... of English, the most dreaded of subjects for a majority of students, which means an often antagonistic relationship with our classes (not individual students, we both connect quite personally with students). Teaching is often a thankless job and, unlike a mechanic that has a well-running car as proof of his skills, our 'product' may take a decade or more to show what we've done for them. It leads to self-doubt and that is so depressing, especially as we reach middle age. We aren't the only ones to question what we've done with our lives, but we both know we need to STOP questioning ourselves if we are going to be satisfied with today!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, I happened to read the following in an interview with Dustin Hoffman:
"You constantly live in doubt, whether or not you are successful or not. Am I a fraud? Am I doing good work, or am I fooling people?" (Sperling 45)
Well, if Dustion-Bloody-Hoffman, well-known and award-winning actor, can still have a midlife crisis, who am I to feel guilty over mine? Of course, that also deepens my self-doubt. If he can question the value of his life, what is the value of my tiny, insignficant, unknown existence? It really brings home the idea of how we must each determine success for ourselves and not depend on acceptance/approval from the world.
Works Cited (I know this is unnecessary on the Web, but I just finished grading 80 research papers and feel I need to be an example whenever I know where I'm getting the quotes or info. that isn't my opinion...)
Sperling, Nicole. "Checking in with Dustin Hoffman." Entertainment Weekly. 9 Jan. 2009: 44-45.
Healthy Relationships
Aspiration #4: Spend time with family. This includes the weekly telephone call to Mom, lunch with my father-in-law, and e-mails to farflung friends.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Be present.
Aspiration #3: Be present.
I pledge to pay attention to the people in my life. I will not scrub the toilet while talking on the telephone. I will set aside the magazine when my husband wants to talk at the table.
Whew! I kept this one today, but it's more difficult than it sounds, especially for someone like me who can't spend a minute idle.
I pledge to pay attention to the people in my life. I will not scrub the toilet while talking on the telephone. I will set aside the magazine when my husband wants to talk at the table.
Whew! I kept this one today, but it's more difficult than it sounds, especially for someone like me who can't spend a minute idle.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Healthy Pets
Aspiration #2: Take better care of my pets' health.
This seems like an odd aspiration, but, since I'd previously scheduled a yearly checkup for our Jack Russell Terrier for today, it seems fitting to make a commitment to all the pets.
Therefore, grooming for the dogs and the monthly scrub down for the fish tank.
Therefore, grooming for the dogs and the monthly scrub down for the fish tank.
That's Angel, our inappropriately named Jack Russell Terrorist, looking angelically sweet, which she is... when no one is around. She was by far the smallest dog at the vet today, but she let everyone know she was there by telling them what to do. She's always been a barker (you've seen Jack Russells during Animal Planet's broadcasts of agility competitions haven't you? Jacks like to talk); however, she had a bad experience at a vet a few years ago and this only makes her behavior worse. She used to love the veterinary assistants, but now she backs away from them as well. We can't really blame her, but boy, is she embarrassing!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Aspirations vs. Resolutions
Aspiration #1: Maintain the daily goal setting.
Too often, we establish resolutions at the start of a New Year only to have them fall by the wayside by the end of the month. While we might still resolve to lose weight or save more money, I like the idea of simply aspiring to be a better me than I was yesterday.
These daily aspirations are not necessarily things I don't do now, but things I've chosen to concentrate on for each particular day of the year. I won't promise "no duplicates" as I might decide a certain trait needs to be worked on more than one day or perhaps revisited during the year. Also, these aspirations may be worded as commands to do something or they might be what psychologists call "affirmations" -- statements that affirm certain beliefs thereby encouraging positive thinking.
This is not my denial of resolutions. I've become quite good, actually, at setting goals and achieving them. Therefore, here are some tidbits of advice for setting resolutions: 1. pick one or two resolutions each year; 2. make sure they are attainable; 3. make sure there is a measurable outcome; 4. design short-term goals or the roadmap to achieve the desired goal.
For instance, in 2008, I set the following resolutions and achieved both: 1. Cook at least three meals from scratch each week. I surpassed this goal and averaged five meals each week. I would not consider myself a gourmet chef, but I definitely learned a lot about cooking by following recipes found in purchased cookbooks and recipes in our local paper or from family. I've actually started being adventurous and mixing ingredients or adjusting recipes to create my own dishes.; 2. Attend the Northern Virginia Writing Project. This one seems easy on the surface, but overcoming the fact that I would spend five of the eight weeks of summer vacation in a classroom from 9 to 4 was quite a hurdle. Once I'd set the deadline for applying as my deadline for making the decision, I was committed. It was a sacrifice of time, but well worth it in the end since I returned to my classroom with many new lesson plans and a refreshed attitude about teaching writing.
One resolution from a previous year that is now a habit: Exercise daily. Several years ago my husband and I looked at each other during an episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and said, "Why are we just sitting here? We say we can't find time for exercise. This is the perfect time." No excuses. We DVR the The Daily Show and The Colbert Report and each hop on the treadmill for 22 minutes Monday - Thursday. We've now selected back-up shows for when these satires don't air, including holidays and the other days of the week. Between this and our commitment to healthy, homemade eating, we spend few days a year feeling sick.
I need to credit my cousin for the change in mindset between resolutions versus aspirations. She decided to try aspirations last year and I liked the semantic difference.
Well, folks, nows the time to start aspiring for 2009. Feel free to post your own adventures with these aspirations or e-mail me suggestions for the coming days, weeks, and months. I'll be sure to give you credit for the aspiration!
Too often, we establish resolutions at the start of a New Year only to have them fall by the wayside by the end of the month. While we might still resolve to lose weight or save more money, I like the idea of simply aspiring to be a better me than I was yesterday.
These daily aspirations are not necessarily things I don't do now, but things I've chosen to concentrate on for each particular day of the year. I won't promise "no duplicates" as I might decide a certain trait needs to be worked on more than one day or perhaps revisited during the year. Also, these aspirations may be worded as commands to do something or they might be what psychologists call "affirmations" -- statements that affirm certain beliefs thereby encouraging positive thinking.
This is not my denial of resolutions. I've become quite good, actually, at setting goals and achieving them. Therefore, here are some tidbits of advice for setting resolutions: 1. pick one or two resolutions each year; 2. make sure they are attainable; 3. make sure there is a measurable outcome; 4. design short-term goals or the roadmap to achieve the desired goal.
For instance, in 2008, I set the following resolutions and achieved both: 1. Cook at least three meals from scratch each week. I surpassed this goal and averaged five meals each week. I would not consider myself a gourmet chef, but I definitely learned a lot about cooking by following recipes found in purchased cookbooks and recipes in our local paper or from family. I've actually started being adventurous and mixing ingredients or adjusting recipes to create my own dishes.; 2. Attend the Northern Virginia Writing Project. This one seems easy on the surface, but overcoming the fact that I would spend five of the eight weeks of summer vacation in a classroom from 9 to 4 was quite a hurdle. Once I'd set the deadline for applying as my deadline for making the decision, I was committed. It was a sacrifice of time, but well worth it in the end since I returned to my classroom with many new lesson plans and a refreshed attitude about teaching writing.
One resolution from a previous year that is now a habit: Exercise daily. Several years ago my husband and I looked at each other during an episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and said, "Why are we just sitting here? We say we can't find time for exercise. This is the perfect time." No excuses. We DVR the The Daily Show and The Colbert Report and each hop on the treadmill for 22 minutes Monday - Thursday. We've now selected back-up shows for when these satires don't air, including holidays and the other days of the week. Between this and our commitment to healthy, homemade eating, we spend few days a year feeling sick.
I need to credit my cousin for the change in mindset between resolutions versus aspirations. She decided to try aspirations last year and I liked the semantic difference.
Well, folks, nows the time to start aspiring for 2009. Feel free to post your own adventures with these aspirations or e-mail me suggestions for the coming days, weeks, and months. I'll be sure to give you credit for the aspiration!
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