in 3 days...

I leave for California, AH!  I cannot believe it's nearly here already!  I'm not really only feeling moderately prepared, but positive about the fact that I am a good teacher.  I just have to show them that!   I'm so grateful to have Kelly with me again this year and to not be alone.  Last year when I received my email telling me I had been "unsuccessful", I felt so defeated...   But, reflecting back I realized all the things I could have done better - mostly, commanded the room.  I had zero self confidence and control...  which is so unlike me.   

All my steps are ready to go, and I've practiced a few times.   I will be doing a dry run with Wendy and some students tomorrow night... Eep! :)

This exam is the hardest most terrifying thing I'll ever do in my life.  If I can conquer this, I can do anything.. 

Life according to my iPhone photos...

little talents...

In my preparation to retake my exam, I have to be sure I have steps of an appropriate range of levels...  By doing this I am haphazardly learning or re-learning steps from the competitive program.  Price I pay for not being at that class weekly, brain fart central.   Mary had sent me some videos of the new slip jigs.  One of which was made up with one of our students, Gwyn.  Now, something you need to know about Gwyn is, that she's my little student.  She started a few years ago with us, but was unavailable during the normal class time for her age group.  She took private lessons with me all year, her mom even joined in and I choreographed a 2-Hand for them for the recital.   So, needless to say she's near and dear to my heart.  

Tonight I asked her to teach me her slip jig she choreographed with Mary - the look on her face was priceless.  I could see it meant a lot to her that I had asked.  I have to tell ya, it's a beautiful step!!  I'm very excited to have it in my repertoire


back to practicing...

in review...

So, I may have lead on in my last review... since receiving a Kindle I've been reading a lot.   After finishing Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I thought that something a little more light hearted and humorous would do.   This book was suggested to me through Amazon.com after I had gone in pursuit of a Sophie Kinsella book...   

It was funny, charming, obnoxious - all the things a "chick lit" recipe calls for.  The main character, Georgia Fulton, walks us through each man she encounters in her search to find a great man, true love, and of course...herself.   It starts out in college at University of Washington where she bumps into a not so attractive guy who introduces her to Talk Radio.  After becoming instantly attached to being a radio personality she realizes not only does she love it, she's quite good at it!  There was a small point, where just like that friend who just can't seem to get it right, I truly wanted to slap Georgia Fulton and her gentlemen chasing antics.   But, like any solid main character, she pulls through in the end :)

On to Girl Who Played with Fire next...

I have made it to Vermont.  I'm not exactly sure what the weekend brings, but it will involve snow and possibly a very sore hiney...  

Week of class...

This week Mary and I swapped classes. It was a nice change of pace to teach the competitive classes, and quite motivating for me since I'm preparing for my redo section. I realized that I remember a lot more steps than I had originally thought. Which is refreshing after the panic I had this previous weekend.
I had careful instructions from Mary on what to drill and for how long (she knows me so well, that I need a plan, a schedule to keep). About half way through the list, the poor kids just looked whipped. Like they had just ran a marathon.
I'm not good at faking the fluff so when Gwyn asked me if her arms were better after she had done her hornpipe again I said, "no, I'm sorry everyone looks as if they've just ran a marathon".
They all kind of laughed in a way that said, "please spare us more!" the toughest thing is to convince the kids to continue to give 100% when I too, am extremely exhausted...

We had fun, though and the parents thanked me for pooping them out!

I'm taking the weekend off of studying my steps. Heading to Vermont tomorrow to visit Chris, epic tale to follow no doubt - I'm hoping to use my snowshoes for the first time and maybe learn to snowboard....

Stay tuned!

in review...

First, I need to explain that I received a Kindle for Christmas.  Thank you Santa!  I wasn't quite sure how I was going to like the little eReader Device - because, frankly I love the smell of books and get quite a satisfaction out of turning the pages and feeling the thickness roll from one side to the other... 

After traveling through Ireland with a book, I decided it would be a lot more convenient even just for traveling sake to have a Kindle or any other eReader.   It's remarkable how much like paper it is reading, I'm so glad I hopped on the boat.    The first book I downloaded, on Christmas day was: 

Now, I'm certainly what I'd consider a "reader".  This book was extremely difficult to get into.  It took about 9-10 chapters to get moving on the plot and I was severely confused for a lot of the beginning and set up.   Once this book got rolling, it was great - could barely put it down.   

It's very dark and twisty - somewhat of a mystery and left me begging for more.  There are quite a few very disturbing areas/scenes in the book which make me a bit reluctant to go see the movie (now in theaters with Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara).  I am pretty stoked to see Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist :)

A light hearted chick lit is on the reading list next, then off to the second book in Stieg Larsson's series or book 1 of the Hunger Games...

Read any good books lately? 

to teach....

Sometimes means you're tying shoes all night, or begging a child to cooperate, even yelling over loud noises... or learning yourself.

I've learned that you just have to roll with the punches. Which typically I'm not very good at - I'm getting better. That a 5 year old who just started kindergarten this year is and receives information much differently then a 6 or 7 year old. Now you might think, course that's common sense, I thought so too - but, it's a little different after you experience it.

Last nights class are my babes. The 5-8 year olds in the first class. I have a few difficult/resistant 5 year olds who don't really trust what I have to say all the time. Probably because I'm not Mom... They are always challenging, exciting, and some times frustrating to teach. But, I can see on their little faces when they enter class each week that they're soon falling under my spell. :)

They all shout questions at the same time. Which can be overwhelming but, it's usually the same question. They will never have quiet feet in hardshoes no matter how long I stand and wait or ask, and they will indefinitely have the "cute factor" during St. Patrick's day shows.

These kids are slowly teaching me to be better in aspects of my life - and they don't even realize it.