Saturday, in the park

Just kidding!  I was at PD all day.  Or, sorry, PL.  Jennifer Katz, she's pretty with it, I'd say.  She's all about UDL (universal design for learning) which is a premise based on the idea that we design buildings to be accessible to all, which makes them better for everyone.  Like ramps, elevators, door opening buttons, braille numbers etc.  In education, it means understanding and building your lessons around the fact that you know you have learners who can't sit still, who can't read, who can't focus for more than 5-7 minutes, who just need that little bit extra.  As she put it, why are we designing lessons and units that we know full well half our class can't do?  Why do the unit plan, and then go back and say ok, for Johnny (poor Johnny is always the example kid) I'll do this, and for Sally, that, and for Beth, this, etc.  It's easier (long term) to think of that stuff and plan around it at the get-go.  More up front, but way less as you go along.

I agreed with like, 94% of what she said.  She feels that 1-1 EAs are not a good thing, unless the child is actually a danger to the other kids.  She also feels that all kids should be in the classroom pretty much all the time, and that kids will just adapt to the noise / threat of violence.  These are things I take issue with, but like I said, overall it was good, and I will buy the books.  And be reimbursed for them, obviously.

But back to the title, it's effing cold out, and I wish it *was* the 4th of July.  For reals.

And, I'm on day ... 4 of no coffee / junk / facebook, and I'm still here!  I'm thinking maybe I'll do like a Sunday morning mocha or latte or something, because that sounds nice.  I'm not missing it at all really, but I do enjoy the sweet latte cappuccino type things.  The candy / chips has been harder because that shit is everywhere this time of year, and will continue to be until like, January.  I'm going to be super strict for a bit, and then ease up a bit.  I'm having homemade treats, just cutting out store bought stuff which is fairly terrible anyway.    

On that note, I think I'll make brownies tonight.