It’s August. Many of the teachers in my PLN have already returned to the classroom, but here in Ontario the students aren’t coming back until after labour day weekend. I am hoping on going into school later this week (once the car comes back!) to do an organization blitz, but in the meantime, I’ve been working on some Long Range Plans.

For those who are interested – I’ve updated my regular LRPs to two terms instead of three, since fall 2010 Ontario is rolling out two report cards per year instead of three – one in Jan/Feb and one in June. There is also an added “progress report” that will be sent home in the fall (which really isn’t that much smaller than the old report card).

Here is my overall LRP for 2010-2011 – Clicky!

Here are my more specific Math LRPs – Clicky! and Clicky!

answer the phone? behave/sit in assemblies? go to the bathroom? get a drink? eat lunch/snacks? use agendas? use computer lab? use classroom library? listen to instructions? get dismissed? enter/leave the classroom? get attention? react to visitors? act during lit block/math block/etc? walk in the hallway? behave during indoor recess? listen to announcements? manage our lunchboxes? sharpen pencils? know where to sit/work? recycle? work in groups? make up work missed?

I went to school today. They were waxing my floor, so I cannot get in until next week probably. A little behind schedule this summer – new bricks, new walls, new paint job, new windows and SMARTboards for the entire school.

I have a lot of cleaning to do.

Technically, by leaving mini chickens with my bill at restaurants already makes me a pseud0-guerilla artist, but I want to do more. I found this supercute “guerilla-type” art and decided that would be my first project. I gathered some inspirational words and wrote them on some coloured card stock.

Equipped with my masking tape, I set off to leave messages on ATMs. After being out, I realized that lots of people use ATMs during the day and the bank tellers watch – I’d have to be much sneakier – so, instead, I just left messages in assorted places around Stratford.

In a used book store, at a cafe, on a bathroom mirror, in an eco-store (p’lovers), at avon theatre… I don’t know what will become of them. Hopefully the custodians won’t just take them down (like they took down my youarebeautiful stickers from Althouse), and they go to people who need to smile.

I have a lot more notes to go – but I’ll save some for other locations…..

This is not the end of the guerilla artist, but i will find a new project.

I didn’t think that I watched a lot of TV – but there are just so many shows I love. Sadly in the summer when I have time to watch, they aren’t on. But thank you TiVo.

I am looking forward to new episodes of:

GLEE - I. can’t. wait. Rumours: Rocky Horror, Michael Jackson, Madonna part 2, britney, john stamos…. I really really really want to see a duet between Idina Menzel & Kristen Chenowith. They can somehow bring those two together to sing “For Good”. Can’t they??? (side random fact: The kids from Freaks & Geeks also went to a McKinley High)

Dexter – Rita. I still want to cry. If you haven’t seen a preview for season 5. Go watch. now. wild. (and while you’re at it, buy yourself a trinity killer bobble head).

Being Erica – If you’ve never heard of it-  it’s probably because you don’t watch enough CBC. Come to think of it, I am going to rewatch seasons 1&2 before season 3 starts.

Modern Family (photo above) - I started loving this show late (but caught up this summer). I love love love this. So hilarious. I could rewatch these episodes over and over and over. Phil makes me laugh so hard. and Cameron. and Manny. and. and. and. sigh.

United States of Tara – Things are getting crazier and crazier. A new alter. Weird connections with Alice. Charm&Neil. i heart John Corbett. A wild season to come.

Gossip Girl – Chuck….. chuck??!?!?!?!?

Big Love – does anyone know if this is coming back? They revealed their family secrets on the season finale last year…

The Office – not sure if I will like it sans Michael. I just hope he doesn’t get replaced. Dwight would make a perfectly hilarious office manager. No need to add new characters now.

This year I will truly miss Jack/Kate/Sayid/Sawyer/John Locke/Hurley/Jin/Sun/Desmond/Benjamin

(photo by brandoncwarren)

i feel bad that they aren’t all canadian. i really should be listening to more radio 3… but…. alas..

Rocket Surgery by Amy Kuney

Love to Love by Lady Danville

In the Sun by She & Him (love love love this video)

I Know by Meagan Smith (cdn)

**

I am also still digging some of my go-to peppy songs: Myriad Harbor by the New Pornographers; You/Me & the Bourgeoisie by the Submarines; Relator by Pete Yorn/Scarlett Johansson; Veronica by Elvis Costello; Hotel Yorba by the White Stripes; Giants in my Field by the Parkas (cdn); It won’t be long (by the Beatles) covered by Evan Rachel Wood for Across the Universe; old weezer & sloan (cdn).

wouldn’t you love to visit a popsicle store? yum.

(via my mid-century modern life)

i want a popsicle. i am going to get a grape one.

but, i will leave you with this amazing treat by the wonderful color me katie. marshmallow faces with icing hair. {how rad are they?}

click to sign up!

The month of June was a little bit slower for reading than may (likely because of the crazy school stuff I was doing on most of my week nights to finish off the year with a bang!), but nonetheless, I got a few in.

Dead Celeb – Lindsay Maracotta

Andrea left this book here when she was visiting. A real steal at 3 dollars. I picked it up, since I haven’t read a good murder mystery in a long while. Somewhat trashy, but surprisingly enjoyable. This is probably due to the fact that it is an easy read and a guilty pleasure. (and completely not a genre I typically read). But nonetheless, Thanks Ange for leaving it here! It is about Lucy Freers – a wife of a rich movie producer who likes to solve crime. In this particular book, she is trying to figure out who “poisoned” Jeremy Lord – a famous movie director/womanizer. The suspense is killing me. (ha ha)

Durable Goods – Elizabeth Berg.

This book took me an afternoon to read. It didn’t tug at my heartstrings as much as some of her other novels have – i imagine because the protagonist was a preteen – who had a childhood that I cannot relate to. Nonetheless, I enjoy anything written by Elizabeth Berg. There is always a life lesson, usually involving love – although I found Durable Goods a bit predictable. I’ve also just realized that it is the first book in a series of three about the narrator Katie.

Generation A – Douglas Coupland

As mentioned in my May Reads post, I am a general fan of Mr Coupland, and like to read all of his stuff. After a disappointing Gum Thief, I picked up Generation A. I did enjoy this sci-fi -esque book, but like much Coupland – something was still missing. The premise: It is the year 2032 and bees are extinct (sadly, quite realistic). Five people around the world are stung by a bee. They become instant celebrities and are whisked off for scientific study (they refer to themselves as the Wonka Kids a few times). Zack – a farmer from Iowa who likes to farm (and webcam) naked; Harj – an Abercrombie & Fitch customer service rep in Sri Lanka; Samantha – a New Zealander who likes to connect to people online with “earth sandwiches”; Diana –  a christian Canadian with terrible Tourette’s and Julien – a Parisian who just got kicked off the World of Warcraft after 114 days of consecutive play. These people are not only connected by their bee sting, but also because their lives have no “purpose” and they communicate with other people primarily with technology. They also have no interest in trying the new “designer” drug. (one that forces people to live in the present instead of the future). Witty and entertaining – but definitely not for everyone.

Getting the Girl – Markus Zusak

Because I loved The Book Thief so much, I wanted to read another book by Markus Zusak. This time around, it was about a young boy named Cameron who is “finding himself” in life – normally being overshadowed by his two older brothers, he explores a first love and begins writing in a journal. Another “coming of age” novel – written by the perspective of a boy. A very quick – but enjoyable read.

Juliet Naked – Nick Hornby

This book is about Annie and Duncan – a couple whose relationship isn’t quite working. Duncan has an unhealthy obsession with a washed up American musician – Tucker Crowe, and Annie is bored (and jealous). Through an online discussion board, Annie meets Tucker and they begin a secret friendship. I enjoyed this book – in it’s strange way. This book had an equal dose of humour and heartbreak – in which I liked. Quirky Hornby (not his best – nothing can hold a flame to High Fidelity – but still better than others!).

I also attempted to read SLAM by Nick Hornby, but quickly abandoned it. I had no interest in the memoir of an adolescent boy who “spoke” to Tony Hawk when he was feeling blue. Sorry Nick.

Time to go to the Library for some more!

1. become a guerilla artist

2. visit the library more often.

3. join a book-club

4. host a murder mystery party

5. start some traditions

6. visit my family

7. make a list of people we give gifts to at christmas. divide them for each month – gather gifts

8. bake more peanut butter cookies

9. make fun things like dioramas and artist notebooks

10. make another blurb book

11. do wii fit regularly

12. write letters to people

13. decorate my walls (perhaps another mural?)

14. go outside

15. eat lots of fresh food

16. buy a patio set

17. plan an amazing math program

18. throw a backyard party

19. explore Bruce County

20. collect some pretty outside blankets

21. make more puppets

22. get some new favourite sensible shoes

23. become a better blogger & photographer

24. love with all of my heart.

25. renew my passport

26. discover new favourite bands and musicians

27. make my home pretty

28. be a good and generous friend

29. PAINT.