Ahem... ANNOUNCING...

I hereby present to you....

MY NEW BLOG DESIGN!

Didn't Deidre do an amazing job?  It is seriously just what I want.  So simple.  So clean.  So freaking legit!

Say goodbye to this bad boy.  We are officially parting ways forever.

Here's what happened.  I desperately needed a new blog design.  Desperate as in "I've had this same design for ten months and although I loved it at first I am now so sick of it that I could literally projectile vomit all over my computer screen every time I open my laptop" kind of desperate.  Yah.  It was bad.

So, I posted a frantic and desperate facebook message, "HELP PLEASE!  I need a blog designed cheap and fast!"  The fast part was important.  The cheap part even more important.

I got back a couple of offers of blog designers who were cheap.  I looked at a couple of sample blogs and was narrowing in on a decision.  Then Deidre told me she'd do it for free because she's just that gosh darn nice.

And hey.  Free is always better than cheap, am I right or am I right?  (Hubs once told me I'd walk away with a bag of used toilet paper if I thought it was free.  Hmmm....)

So I said, "Deidre!  You bet your sweet bippy that you've got yourself a deal!  In exchange for your free blog design I will... think you're real great!"  And yes, I admit someone got real screwed on this deal, but I'm not going to say who...

And so, Deidre did her amazing free work and by golly, you'd never know the blog design was free from the looking at it.  Deidre, my dear, you have out done yourself and I simply cannot thank you enough!

Does this lady deserve a round of applause or what?  Let's give her a round!

In other news, a student from last year saw me in the hallway for the first time this school year.  He yelled out to me as I scurried down the hall to retrieve my copies, "Teacher!  You went blonde?!? Huge mistake!  You were way hotter brunnette, just to let you know!"

Uh... thank you?  Kids these days!  Just where do they get their nerve?

P.S.  Do you notice those super professional looking social media buttons on the top right side bar?  Do those things look amazing or what?  Now you can follow me any way you want because it's that freaking easy!

To teacher: A love note. Question mark?

The first ten minutes of class I have my students write in a journal.  You know, kind of like Freedom Writers.  Minus the gangs and the big black kids because I teach in Utah so we only have big white kids.  Oh, and minus the failed marriage.  Sorry students, I like you and all, but I ain't ever gonna sacrifice my marriage for you.

Sometimes I give the young uns prompts for their journals, other days are open- they can write about whatever they want.  Today was an open day.  After students finish their writing, I always allow students to share if they want.  I don't exactly know why I do this except for that I feel like it is a good idea and I'm sure there's some kind of educational research somewhere that supports my claim.  Public speaking and reading aloud and class unity and all that jazz.  (Also, I have no idea why I suddenly feel like I have to defend my teaching practices on my blog.)

After their writing today, students were unusually excited to share their writing.  First Shayla shared about how nervous she was for Dance Co. Tryouts.  Then Adam shared about how he learned how to catch and even gut his own fish this summer.  Next Keenan shared a rather long and extensive list of every death metal band that he likes.

Last, Ezra raised his hand.  Shyly, as if he wasn't quite sure he wanted to share, but knew he should.

"Ezra, you're up!"  I called.  I'm kind of like Bob Barker in my classroom, try to imagine it.
Ezra hesitated, licked his lips, and then started slowly,

"Dear Teacher.  Why do you keep staring at me?  I notice you looking at me while I'm writing this as if I committed some kind of crime.  I didn't do anything I promise.  Or is it because you think I am so hot that you keep looking at me?"

Naturally, the class erupted in laughter and Ezra got his two seconds of fame that he so desperately desired.  I replied, "That's all you wrote in ten minutes?"  He nodded proudly.

For the record, I was looking at Ezra because he was off task.  Someone's gotta keep those students working!

On another note, in an essay I had students write the first week of school I asked them what they felt was the most important thing they had learned in their last year's English class.  Nick, who had me for English last year, wrote in his essay, "I learned some really good things last year.  I've learned some lessons the hard way.  For example, you actually have to read an assigned book.  And that Sparknotes can only take you so far."

Thank you Nick.  I'm glad to know that my teaching has made a difference in your life.

(P.S.  Ezra's isn't the first "half love note" that I've received!  Last year's was more cryptic, but more romantic, no doubt!)