The one where I got lazy

I promise I've been taking pictures every day. Life just interrupted the part where I actually had time to post one per day. Consequently, Here is a week of pictures in review... Bear with me as I try to remember which picture was from which day.

1/9/11 at Lost Leaf (the wee hours of the morning)(a bar in downtown Phoenix):


1/10/11 from the World History textbook. My students said Napoleon and I looked alike. Awesome.


1/14/11 in my classroom. A student's thesis statement on a paper about closing the achievement gap.


1/17/11 while hiking Piestewa Peak in Phoenix.

(this one too)


More to come. Some pictures from other days in the week are on my actual camera (versus phone), so I'll have to upload them and then post. Sorry to leave you hanging!

Until next time (which shouldn't be a long time)!

The one at the "lesson planning" party

My buddy Theresa here and I often attempt to have lesson planning parties, especially on Sundays. This is the most productive thing we've done since I got here. So, 1/9/11... You're not going down as very memorable.




Until next time!

The one with the caption contest!

So, typically I write some kind of explanation for the picture o' the day (today's is 1/8/11), but I think a caption contest would be more fun. Therefore, please comment with your best, most witty caption! :)



Until next time!

The one where there is actually one picture not from school

I was grading a student's notebook and found a couple amusing doodles...

Preface for the picture: From time to time, I'll play music while my kids are working. When Katy Perry's "California Gurls" came on once, I let them know exactly how much I detest that song... Therefore, I present you with photograph numero uno from 1/7/11:


That's right. "KATY Perry - hater Ms. Shuki"... Haaaha

Later on, I found this, which I thought was just kind of funny, although completely random:



Finally, a picture outside the realm of education and my school. This is my "Jackie O's" of Tempe, AZ. Ladies and gentlemen, the best bar on the west side of Phoenix: Casey Moore's. And yes, it is January... And yes, we were sitting outside (I'd say easily 2/3rds of the seating area of the bar is outside - jealous?).



Until next time!

The one with the hot messes

So, for your ocular pleasure, I have two pairings of hot mess photographs from the last two days. Yesterday, 1/5/11, I had a late day at work. I didn't leave until around 7:15. School ends at 3, and I got to work at 7. Long. Day. Anyway, in the mess of meeting with my TFA program director (PD) and my school district teacher-in-residence (TIR) (there are too many acronyms in my life right now), I collected a couple trees worth of papers to grade, sign, etc. So, I felt the need to document the NOLA post-Katrina mess that was my desk. Voila:



The good news is I'm a neat freak, so after I entered a few grades, the beast was tamed and my desk looked more like a desk again.



Moving on: the school I teach at is not too unlike your average American high school. You've got some preps, some jocks, some goths, and, well... There's a faction of the school population that seems to have a general disregard for any and all fashion norms. Therefore, for today's photograph, I present you with two fashion faux pas I happen to catch during passing time.


I couldn't tell if those were socks or actually part of her pants... I'm not sure which would be better or worse...

And then there's this trend to wear colored jeans... But bright yellow's a new one.


Maybe this is extremely passe for me to admit, but back when I was in high school, I don't think our garb was quite so... unique. However, I should note that I respect the kids who choose to where whatever the heck they want. I was (am?) the type of person who'd rather conform and blend into the crowd than stand out - it doesn't sound like the type of thing someone wants to really admit, but it makes life easier, I guess.

Well, until next time!

The one where I kind of change the purpose for this thing

BAM! Just like that, I actually have a reason to keep this thing going AND possibly (maybe even shamefully) share it with people? I made a different kind of New Year's resolution this year. Instead of resolving to do things that would make me a better person (and subsequently failing to stick with it and staying the same, average person I am today), a friend (Bacha) and I were inspired by a friend (Hanrahan) who told us about someone she knew who makes achievable, unique resolutions.

You know, they always say that copying is the highest form of flattery, so that is what we're doing. Bacha and I resolved to take one picture every day this year. I'm going to be posting those on here (and probably also the occasional/latest rant and/or rave from my classroom).

Here are my photos thus far:

1/1/11: Photograph yet to be acquired. I didn't use my camera at all on New Years, but I stole my friends and used it aplenty. Once I badger her enough on Facebook to upload them, I shall prove my point by reposting it here.

(Or, actually... Here)

1/2/11: Back home in Phoenix. This serves no purpose other than to exhibit the extreme adorableness that is my jump drive, which has yet to be stolen by a student at my school (the fate of the last jump drive). The key is to give you an idea of just how small and cute it is. Who knew jump drives could be so endearing!?



1/3/11: A picture from the glorious school at which I am employed. The building on the left is the cafeteria, although there are a bajillion tables outside underneath those blue tent-like things in the background. Perks of living in a state that is like an ultraviolet ray emanating from the sun's surface 9 months out of the year (I guess...).



1/4/11: Shout out to my homies!



Until next time!