Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Thanksgiving Rap (yep that's what I said)

Bahahahahaha! These kids kill me. So I asked my students to tell me about the story of the first Thanksgiving and that if they didn’t know it then to make something up. And did these two ever make something up. They made up a rap. A Peanuts rap no less! And if you really know me you know how I feel about Peanuts. Without further ado:

"Alright yo so you think you know about the first Thanksgiving
well na na you don’t. Here’s the throw down

lil Snoop Dawg went to Compton
with a homie named Charlie BROWN!

When they saw the turkey they shot em
And laid the bird out.

When Woodstock rolled up in a caddi
Saw that his brotha was down

Pulled out two 9 millimeters
And showed the mutha effer who’s boss.

A boy rolls up who can, it be
A lil white cracka named Linus G

He saw the shoot out that went down
And he about fell to the ground

The mutha trucka grabbed a fork
And started grubbin like a little pork

He stuffed himself so big
That he looks like a pig

Yeah Boiii"

I thought about editing some of their word choices for the sake of my blog…I don’t think even some of their fake cursing is school work appropriate but I didn’t want to compromise the integrity of their work.

I couldn’t believe this.

Even though I won't miss student teaching I'll miss these kids.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Coincedence?

I just realized that Obama Nation and Abomination sound very similar. I don't want to be a pessimist but...yikes. We still got time right?

*Editor's note: For the record I support our president elect and I'm excited to see what he'll do. I just couldn't ignore this.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Free Write

I gave my students the chance to write about whatever they wanted to write about to today. It was interesting to see some of the things they talked about when given the opportunity to say whatever they wanted to. Most complained about school, getting up early or excited to see Twilight this weekend but there were a few gems in the group . Let me share…

Surprisingly I had a poet in the bunch…totally unexpected…he’s the jock type…

“I wish it would snow

So I could go

All the way to see the show.

If it would snow then I could see,

All the snowmen watching me.

With buttons and carrots they stand so tall

Watching everyone hoping not to fall.”

Brought a tear to my eye.

Here’s another. I told them they had to write at least three sentences. This guy barely filled that requirement but at least he did it with unfailing optimism:

“Utah Utes will donimate BYU!! Jazz will go all the way to the finals. I will ace this upcoming history test.”

This one is filled with the kind of drama I was glad to avoid in High School and even I’m more happy I don’t have to deal with now.

“This weekend was so full of drama it was crazy! Girl drama that is. So on Saturday me and some friends were hanging out with Skyline women. Then these girls that we had recent relationships with came and crashed our party. The Skyline girls left, probably because of the other girls. So that made us be in a bad mood and then that made those girls mad so they left. It ended up being a guys night of venting.”

Listen bud, if it’s got four wheels and/or wears a bra it’s gonna give you trouble for the rest of your life (someone very wise told me that). Give yourself a break and don’t start so young. Or it’ll be one eternal headache.

To those non Skyline girls I say…don’t even bother with those boys. Let them all practice and goof up on those Skyline ladies. Then when you’re like 20 something those boys will realize what they’ve been missing out on AND they’ve already learned what NOT to do with you. Perfect. Go for ice cream and a movie with your gal pals until then.

From a shy, nerdy girl:

“I’m thinking of writing a story about how the president of swing club created a mind control device and used it to control the minds of swing club members and used them to take over the school! (Insert evil laugh here)”

But then…so cute:

“I’ll miss you. I’m going to bring you Almond Joys on Thursday.” (I told them that was my favorite trick or treating candy).

How sweet. I’m going to miss these kids.

On another note: I’m so stressed. It seems like every day I think of five new things I need to take care of. Wish things would slow down.

At least my students are cool.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Deal?

Dear people who are persecuting the Mormon Church for supporting Proposition 8,

I can understand why you’re angry. However now that you are mad at us about this can we finally be off the hook for polygamy? It hasn’t been practiced for over 100 years in our church and we’re still getting grief over it. It doesn’t make sense for you to criticize us for practicing an unorthodox form of marriage 100 years ago when that is what you are fighting to have the right for today.

Sincerely,

Heather Handy

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Halloweekend

How am I so blessed? What did I do to deserve to be surrounded by people who go out of their way to make me happy? I'm not sure but I hope I can keep on being deserving because I just had the greatest weekend.

The goodness of the weekend was underscored by the awfulness of the preceding week. It was the end of the quarter so grades we
re due and so I did nothing but grade and grade and grade. My lessons suffered as a result of my grading which my co-operating teacher was kind enough to point out. Maybe he forgot that I'm teaching four of his six classes for zero pay while he sits and watches without offering any help. Anyway it just added insult to injury. My students were crazy. With the end of the term and a short week and Halloween they were just crazy. Wouldn't listen or cooperate which was made even harder by my bad lesson planning.

The first thing that happened that week that made me feel the love was that my mom and sisters Mary and Sarah sat down with me on Wednesday night and helped me get all my grading done. My mom and I sat there from 7-ll. She was really insistent that I get everything done so that I could have the day off on Friday. I wasn't going to argue with that.

Thursday was just terrible. Ugh. After a bad day at school I had to go to my weekly two hour seminar. On my way there my mom called and asked if I could run to the airport after my class and pick up my dad because she had to run to Orem to help my grandpa. Trusting daughter that I am I didn't think about it too hard. (like it was weird that my dad's car was in the drive way this morning and that I saw him the night before) I just figured that she had spent the night before helping me with my grades so I was willing to do anything she asked me to do for her.

On my way to the airport I took advantage of the quiet moment to call Will. I hadn't really been able to talk to him all week because of how busy I was and he was. But now my week was over. It went straight to voi
cemail. Weird. Even if he was sleeping or at the gym it still would have rung. Maybe it was dead. I left a message as I approached the airport. I pulled up to the curb where you pick up arrivals scanning for my dad. My phone rings. Its Will. Where are you? The airport, picking up my dad. Where are you? Oh I stopped by the mall on my way home from work.

Someone stopped suddenly in front of me. I braked. He asked what was wrong. I explained. I looked up and tried to see around
the car in front of me. Wait...that guy looks A LOT like Will. But Will's in a mall somewhere in Cleveland. But this guy is on the phone. And he's saying the same things that the Will in my ear is saying.

He came to Salt Lake City to see me. He (with my mom's help) completely surprised me. I didn't think I would get to see him til Thanksgiving and I didn't know how I would make it. But he took care of both of us by buying a plane ticket and coming to see me.

Nobody has ever done anything like this for me. Ever.

Apparently everybody knew. From my sister at UVU to my neighbor down the street. Apparently it was hard to keep it a secret. They over-estimated my cleverness. Maybe if I hadn't of had such a busy week I would have been more aware. They were 100% successful. I was 100% suprised.

It was so fun to have him here. We went to a Halloween party in Orem in matching skeleton t-shirts. We went and saw Thriller. I took h
im to Crown Burger and he thought it was the weirdest place he'd ever been. And once he mentioned it, I realized it really is strange. We played two on two basketball with my dad and Mary. He played video games with Michael and went to the Rec center with Mary and Sarah. My mom spoiled him like crazy. I was afraid he would start to believe pumpkin pie and new clothes would appear whenever he expressed a wish for them. He met Molly and Co. And Jill and Beckie and Heidi.

I was sad to see him leave again but it was so much easier knowing that he'll be back in three weeks. Three weeks people! Mark your calendars. We'll go bowling and for fro yo.

I feel so loved. Thanks.