I'm in love with--

--Photo Booth.  I'm as bad as a student.

Today my adventures in yearbook were in full swing.  I don't want to bore you with exact numbers (frankly, the exact numbers scare me), but the gist of it is--we are behind.  Way behind.  My editors and I are already plotting to gather over vacation, no longer a sacred holiday away from good ol' BHS, and motor through this madness.  

In celebration of yearbook, I came across a blog dedicated specifically to typography.   With articles like "Who shot the serif?" and "Sex, lies, and type" how could I not be sucked in?  In yearbook, we are constantly looking for the font that expresses the right tone of the page.  Words convey much of our message, but font is really icing on the cake.  "Hockey Team Suffers Losses" just wouldn't look right with curlicues and tiny-hearts.  

Ironically...the font choice on this blog is atrocious.  Other than webdings--which seriously, who uses that?--we have variations of Times New Roman.  Blah.  Come on Blogger!  What the font?

Would a blog by any other name--be as confusing?

All my blogging life (it began two summers ago, and ended about 4 weeks later) I was under the assumption that a blog is whatever you wanted it to be.   It's your trip to Oregon (that was mine), daily adventures , or a teen's rant about how crazy their family is.  Then came along Will Richardson's thoughts on connective thinking, and I realized, I do very little synthesizing/analyzing of information on my blog.  Does that make me any less of a blogger?

In pursuit of meaning to this blogging business I turned to Google and a simple query: great blogs.  My first hit is 101 Great Blogs You Should Be Subscribing To and I am ready for action! This is perfect!  #7 catches my eye as it promises all that I could ever want.  How to make a blog.  The heavens open, and at last, someone is speaking my language.

I point and click through articles that intrigue, including ones that promise to make me funny, popular, and wealthy (it's like being in high school clique).  More pointing and clicking finds me here, an article that brings together Stephen King's On Writing with the blogging world.  Just start it.  Do it for joy.  Write a lot.  King's words strike a chord in my English teacher heart.  My blog is for me; it doesn't always have to be about synthesis!  It can be about a love of the writing craft!

But then I remember.  This blog isn't just about me.  It's also about a class I am taking.  

So then, I am left wondering, what are the facts about this blogging business?  Who set the rules?  Who am I to believe?  Will Richardson has some thoughts on the depth of responses, but how am I to be sure that when people are "synthesizing" information--their information was correct in the first place?  Can I even use blogs as references?  What kind of weight do they hold?  

THEN I start to wonder about my new fav: How To Make My Blog.  Is he reliable?  I don't even think I know how to check!  He has 564 Facebook friends, but I'm certain that isn't a sure sign of quality.  Then I click on Marko Saric's (creator of How To Make My Blog) information page.  I'm ready for a slew of degrees from accredited universities.  I picture a man, mid-forties, glasses dipped low on his nose, researching away the best blogging techniques.

Nope.  I get this.

I shake my head, more confused than ever about what I am to survive in this blogging world.  Who can I turn to?  Who can I trust?  And yes,  what makes a great blog? Until these answers are solidified, I suppose I can simply ask myself WWMD (What Would Marko Do)?  

What's so funny...

...about teaching?

Funny is when a student tells me, "Hey!  Ms. Peterson, I have that shirt too!"

Funnier is when that student is a male.

Funny is when I can't find a single pen, and I sternly remind my students about returning items to my desk.

Funnier is when they pull one out of my hair.

Funny is when my students ask how old I am.

Funnier is when they try to set me up with their older brother.

Funny is when the yearbook miss-spelled the last name "Haradon" as "Hardon"

Funnier is when the following caption for boy's soccer slid across my desk earlier this week: 

"Senior Dave Smith goes up against a player from Mt. Blue for a header.  Dave did not get the header but moved fast to get the ball back to his team.  When trying to do headers Dave said, "I think of my girlfriend Amanda, she is very soothing to my mind."

Keep smiling!

Procrastination

Fellow M.A.T.-alums Michelle and Martina have abandoned our evening plans because of snow...so now I am really stuck doing the last of my grading.  Sigh.  I have discovered my latest form of procrastination is checking/adding to my blog.  It's rather addictive.  Anyone else feeling this way?  

I've noticed that the more natural entries for me are more narrative (and more often of the venting variety) than academic.  I'm assuming this is okay...?  How is the blogging life treating other folks?

Please post some thoughts--or take my survey!--so that when I check this thing every thirty minutes, I will have an update!

Classroom Library

So I have this classroom library that I've been working on for a few years.  I'm in love with it.  I go to Goodwill and scour the shelves for good titles, hit up yard-sales, and when I am feeling particularly wealthy, I go to Border's and use my 25% to buy a NEW book I know the kids will read.  It's thrilling!  In my next life, I'm quite certain I'll be a librarian.  

Here is my grief: students suck at returning books.  I know, I know, it's bound to happen.  I had a class with Rich Kent where he assured us that if the books aren't being returned, it probably means they loved it so much they wanted to keep it.  And don't we want kids to love books? Grrr. At first, I was on board with this philosophy.  Then I realized how much of my money I was putting into books that were only being read by one student--then vanishing into the depths of an unknown bedroom or locker, never to be seen again.

Students sign the books in and out on an honor system.  I get after them once in a while with friendly reminders for return---but more often than not, the book never returns home.  My most recent tragedy was a brand new hard copy of Ellen Hopkins' latest book TRICKS, a must read for at least half of my girls.  I had a sticky note with a WAITING list inside the jacket.  And then...the student moved.  With my book.  Of course.

I might sound whiney.  I don't mean to.  Rather, I am hoping some of my colleagues can offer some advice on the situation.  Do you have systems that seem to work in your own rooms?  I'm also interested in any solutions you have to my secondary issue, which is getting the books back in good condition.  I mean, I'm glad they are available for the next reader, but kids do judge them by the covers, and if the covers are dog-eared (or missing!)....well, there isn't much clamor to check it out.  

Many thanks!

Followers?

I have followers of my blog...how do I follow other blogs?  Enlighten me!

PS

I've sent my blogging link to my dearest teaching friends:

Michelle M

Andrea 

Christie

Michelle A

Martina

Meredith

Ian

Now that you know where my blog is ladies and gentleman, you must check it out--and respond!  IF you don't, I might just have to write about you...