Hey All!
So, here it is, Tuesday evening, and it's time to get together and do some DIDS!
What are the DIDS? DIDS stands for "Damn, I Did Something!" It's a weekly cyber-gathering to celebrate the cool things we've accomplished--miniscule or herculean! It's all a possible DIDS!
More below the break.
First, to all DIDS regulars who may have been looking for the DIDS earlier today...sorry its a little late. CSK a) posted a diary earlier today b)was crazy busy at work all day c) did not remember it was Tuesday until I said, "Sweetie, Did you do the DIDS?" and d) multiple interruptions during the composition of this diary including a broken coffee cup, several trips to the potty with the I-Pod and breaking up several sibling disputes in which the younger child was tormenting the older child by taking important parts of a helicopter-under-construction.
So, here we are...
My theme this evening--what I'm doing this summer.
Like most classroom teachers, one of the perks of my job is a six-eight week break every summer. Like most teachers, I use the summer to catch up on tasks that I did not have time, energy, or attention for during the school year while I was in the thick of planning lessons, grading papers, dealing with students, and caring for family.
As I enter each summer, I usually have several projects planned. Here's my adgenda for this summer (and my progress so far):
- Dig into data analysis for the teacher-research project I've been working on so far. I've made good progress here. Last week, I participated in a four-day teacher-research institute and my writing partner and I made major forward movement. I've sorted through all my notes and have begun serious reading, coding, and thinking about my data. Whoo-hoo!
- Potty train our youngest son. We started this on Monday, and, I'm amazed to report that we're off to a great start! The only way I know how to potty train a child is to simply make him go cold-turkey on diapers and keep him in the house, near a potty at all times. So, on Sunday we bought the youngest pod some "unna-wear" and on Monday began the project in earnest. He went to school on Monday in underwear and shorts. I fully expected him to be in new clothes when I picked him up at the end of the day, but he wasn't! He used the potty all day like an old pro. Today he stayed home and we continued to have a fair bit of success. There have been a few pee-on-the-floor/poop-on-the-floor moments, but nothing to make a person puke, so I'm very happy. Wish us continued good progress!
- Catch up on dental visits. The older pod went yesterday for a cleaning. I'll go in on Tuesday to get some fillings replaced.
- Read! This week I finished Vygotskian Perspectives on Literacy Research: Constructing Meaning through Collaborative Inquiry. Next week I'll dig into Study Driven: A Framework for Planning Units of Study in the Writing Workshop. Note: Both great books, but not recommended as beach reading.
- Begin the very-necessary, long-overdue "Declutter Our House" project. Yesterday the oldest Pod and I sorted through all the toys in the living room and bonus room and rearranged everything, moving most of the toys upstairs, and transferring the downstairs toys to a tasteful basket from World Market that has a lid. We also filled up two bags with trash and one box for Good Will.
Ok...I'd go on, but the youngest is running around with raisins in his hands...