My "first date" top, remixed for "first discussion"
It's amazing how quickly I can get a sense of each discussion section's unique attitude and feel after only 2 meetings. I've decided already that my Friday afternoon class will probably be my favorite discussion section this semester. They're chatty and inquisitive and a lot of my favorite students from last semester are in it. Plus the board is lower for some reason, so I can reach the whole thing!!! My Friday 9am class is definitely the most dead - even more so than my Thursday 8am class! I'm thinking I'll arrive early next week to rearrange the desks. I've always noticed that classrooms arranged in a circle or a horseshoe or around a large central table always are the most chatty - the class relationship always develops better in classes with that set-up. Of course, perhaps Thursday night is party night and no amount of me rearranging desks will change that quiet mood.
As a teacher I used to feel disheartened, like I was doing something wrong, if one of my classes was quiet. But after 3 years of this now, I know I can do the same lesson 4 times in a week, and each class will take it differently, and out of my 4 sections, one was bound to be a quieter one. Though I shouldn't be too hard on myself, at least 3/4 of the class spoke up and contributed this morning, so I don't think it'll be a class where only like the same 3 people carry the conversation.
Overall I am pleased with how this first week of actual discussion went. The majority of the class piped up, they asked questions, and I think they learned quite a bit. I hope their reflections on the source texts are just as good!
Anyway, here's what I wore in the classroom this morning:
Cowl neck velveteen top: Kohls, c. 2003
Black Cardigan: Gift from Aunt Carol
Gray Pants: Express
Black shoes: Soft Walk via Off Broadway
Writing about that corduroy skirt yesterday reminded me of another article of clothing that I don't wear much, but have held onto for years - this shirt. Its sort of a maroon and brown swirl color with velveteen flowers on it, and I love the cowl neck.
But I really I love this shirt because I wore it on my *first official first date* with Steve in high school. We watched Love Actually and the evening was filled with nice and awkward moments. Haha. That didn't work out for a multitude of reasons, but my love affair with this top (and that film) has endured.
A closeup of the cowl neck & cardigan situation:
Earrings: Gift from my sister on my wedding day :-)
Glasses: Juicy, via Doc Hock @ Evergreen Vision Clinic
In other news, Casey and I have started watching Mad Men on netflix. I'm loving the show and really enjoying all the costumes, but goodness am I glad I don't live in the 60s. I wonder how much of this show accurately represents the attitudes of the era in which our grandparents lived and our parents were raised, and how much of it is overdone for tv drama. Either way, we're hooked, because the relationships are interesting, the acting is phenomenal, and the storytelling is very subtle, which Casey and I love talking through.
As a teacher I used to feel disheartened, like I was doing something wrong, if one of my classes was quiet. But after 3 years of this now, I know I can do the same lesson 4 times in a week, and each class will take it differently, and out of my 4 sections, one was bound to be a quieter one. Though I shouldn't be too hard on myself, at least 3/4 of the class spoke up and contributed this morning, so I don't think it'll be a class where only like the same 3 people carry the conversation.
Overall I am pleased with how this first week of actual discussion went. The majority of the class piped up, they asked questions, and I think they learned quite a bit. I hope their reflections on the source texts are just as good!
Anyway, here's what I wore in the classroom this morning:
Cowl neck velveteen top: Kohls, c. 2003
Black Cardigan: Gift from Aunt Carol
Gray Pants: Express
Black shoes: Soft Walk via Off Broadway
Writing about that corduroy skirt yesterday reminded me of another article of clothing that I don't wear much, but have held onto for years - this shirt. Its sort of a maroon and brown swirl color with velveteen flowers on it, and I love the cowl neck.
But I really I love this shirt because I wore it on my *first official first date* with Steve in high school. We watched Love Actually and the evening was filled with nice and awkward moments. Haha. That didn't work out for a multitude of reasons, but my love affair with this top (and that film) has endured.
A closeup of the cowl neck & cardigan situation:
Earrings: Gift from my sister on my wedding day :-)
Glasses: Juicy, via Doc Hock @ Evergreen Vision Clinic
In other news, Casey and I have started watching Mad Men on netflix. I'm loving the show and really enjoying all the costumes, but goodness am I glad I don't live in the 60s. I wonder how much of this show accurately represents the attitudes of the era in which our grandparents lived and our parents were raised, and how much of it is overdone for tv drama. Either way, we're hooked, because the relationships are interesting, the acting is phenomenal, and the storytelling is very subtle, which Casey and I love talking through.