Easter Trivia!

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you all have a great day with family and friends! Before you venture out, or when you're relaxing after eating, see how many of these wabbits you can name!

And then she was a runner....

So I've been using the Couch 2 5K app for about five weeks now (although it's been longer since I sometimes repeat weeks and then there was a 10 day stint where I didn't do anything - I do NOT recommend that!), but I am just finishing up week five. I did the first day of week five in Florida. I was nervous because every time I go up a week, I'm worried I won't be able to finish. On the first day of week five, I ran 5 minutes, walked 2.5 minutes, ran 5, walked 2.5, and then finished by running 5. I was so proud of myself because I finished, easy peasy.

Then I didn't run for like a week.

Yesterday I went out to do day 2 of week five (a little apprehensive, but thinking it shouldn't be a big deal because it was easy the first time) and usually the intervals are the same all week. So there I am, la, la, la la la, running along and the little voice comes on to tell me my stats. Now, on this app, you always get the stats when the interval changes - so you go from a walk to a run, or vice versa and she tells you your pace, interval distance, and total distance. So I stop running and walk, thinking that my ear buds were kinda falling out so I must have missed her telling me to change to a brisk walk. Then about 2.5 minutes later she tells me to slow to a brisk walk. I was so confused.

So I keep going and the second time I'm running, I pay more attention to her and she gives me stats but doesn't tell me to stop running, so I realize that the running intervals are getting longer (in this case, a 10 minute run, then a 5 minute walk, and then another 10 minute run) and I that I just screwed up the whole run.

Oh well, I thought. There's always tomorrow.

I go out again today, and this time, I'm running, and running, and running - get stats - and keep running, running, running - get more stats - and keep running, running, lalalalala, running - more stats, and one more running, running, running. And I did the whole thing. The whole 20 minutes (minus a few 30 seconds waiting on a stoplight) but yea! I did it! I wasn't even feeling tired cardiovascularly or physically and I was thinking, "So this is what  actual runners must feel like. You really can go and keep going, going, going."

It was at this moment when I thought back to what I've been reading about the mind and your thoughts - that you can run if you want to. Or, if you want to be a cook,  or save up money and go to Greece, or have a husband and a baby, or whatever - you can if you point your thoughts in that direction. In the book I've been reading about thinking habits one line that really stuck out to me was that you get what you think about whether you want it or not. (Dr. Wayne Dyer) It's so true!

So I'm in the process of changing my thinking habits about the food I was eating and it's working. (I'm on day 20 today!) For 20 days I've been eating nothing but good, nutrient rich food and I don't really feel deprived. I've done a decent amount of running along the way, and my body is changing. (Goal: To run more than 18 miles in April.) Some of my clothes fit better and I feel better about myself. I am sleeping a little better - I still wake up at least once a night, but when I'm asleep, I'm deeply asleep.

Other than that I can't really report any other improvements, but I feel good, and I like where I'm going.

And I'm not going to lie - I definitely want to lose some weight and look good in a bathing suit this summer...

Eye on the prize.

Learning Objectives

Welcome to my first blog about teaching! You know what's so nice? When you're away from school for three out of four days, but you make it back in time for dismissal on the last day, and the kids see you and kinda do a double take, and then smile and say, "Oh, Ms. Brezek! You're back! We missed you!" or "Hey best friend! How come you're so late to school?" (mostly) Love my students!

The last two days I've been in a training. Our district is using a new data collection system from a company based out of Phoenix. It's called Look 2 Learning. It's basically where you go into classrooms to collect data about learning, but you do it by talking to students. These little chats are conducted by teachers and admin and last from 2-4 minutes in length. They are non-evaluative and only used as a means to collect data about topics such as these:

• Whether or not the child knows the objective
• The thinking level of the work
• The qualities that make the classroom either: engaged, on-task, or off task (more to come on this...)
• (and there's more, but that's the short list)

No individual data is given, no feedback to teachers when the people doing the walks collects data, and at one point or another, all teachers walk to collect the data. Once it's collected, it's then used to plan for improvement that will lead to student achievement. Right now, the L2L team is making those decisions but eventually, after all teachers have walked classrooms and understand the system better, all teachers will participate in choosing areas for growth and then doing PD to make it happen.

So back to my training, now that you have a little background. Today, we were talking about posting objectives. I was raised by an amazing district and I learned the value of posting objectives so kids can focus their learning. This practice has been named in research and has outstanding results that are tied to impressive student achievement. However today, I saw the posting of objectives in a new way.

Let's say you're a 9th grade English teacher and today you are going to have your kids diagram sentences, so, like the good teacher you are, you post on your board: "Today we will diagram sentences." Now, instead, let's say you are a 9th grade kid and you come walking into class, and check the objective that is already posted on the board. As you're walking to your seat in after seeing the plans for the day, do you suppose you are thinking, "YES! Diagramming sentences....this was what I was hoping to do the second I woke up!! I can't wait!" No. You are most definitely not thinking that.

This does not happen.

Here's the thing - just because you post (or don't post) your objectives doesn't mean the kids will (or will not) know what you're doing. What if instead, your lesson on diagramming sentences went like this:

(Nothing posted on board.)

Kids come in and sit down. Teacher starts, "Hey kids, grab some paper and a pencil and write down three things that happened to you last night."

9th grader writes:

1. Went skateboarding with friends at park.
2. Dropped my phone on the concrete and shattered the screen.
3. Was late getting home and in trouble for broken phone.

Teacher next tells students to share out with their group about their night last night and gives them a few minutes so they can pay mind to their egocentric ways - telling and talking about their stories.

Next, the teacher tells the students what they are going to be doing - still diagramming sentences - but with their personal stories. Now, even though they are still doing the same objective (and the teacher may have now just written the objective on the board) it's better, because the kids have come in and have had an opportunity to do personal response (one of the 8 qualities that lead to high engagement found by the two guys who came up with this process over the course of walking upwards of 16,000 classrooms).

I can totally see now how by doing just that personal response piece, the lesson has been tweaked, just a tiny bit. While the kids are, at the end of the day, still diagramming sentences, they didn't come in and see the objective, think, "Aaawwwwhhh, damn," and go to their seats with a negative attitude about how they will spend their next 45 or 50 minutes. Instead, they are doing the same thing, aware of how to focus their learning, and have just a tiny ounce of positivity about it, because the teacher made them take a teeny-tiny part of ownership in the process.

You know, sometimes you go through life doing stuff without objectives - like dating or getting married. You start dating someone or you get married and maybe you're not sure of how it's supposed to go or what to do next, but that doesn't stop you from doing the activity. That being said, perhaps it's okay in school if students are engaging in work that was crafted by thinking of not only higher order thinking levels, but also qualities that engage students when they are used (more to come on the other 7 of these) and high yield academic strategies, such as note-taking or considering similarities and differences (lots of Marzano's work) even if for the first part of the lesson they may not be sure where they're going...but the teacher knows, because they crafted the whole experience.

So, along with lots of other great ideas I have from the past two days, I'm going to keep this in the back of my head. Sometimes teachers come and walk my classroom and ask the bonehead who doesn't know the objective even when it is posted on the board!

Thoughts?

Easy Peasy

Two weeks to go!!!

Today I was a little worried because I had a work training. No, not because of what we were doing/learning, but because of lunch. Lunch is usually catered, and I was just unsure if whatever lunch they ordered would comply with the challenge. I didn't want to have to be annoying and ask to run out - but I would have, had it come to that. Luckily, it ended up being subs and pasta salad, so I grabbed a sandwich and went to town on the insides, leaving the cheese and bread (ooohhhh....bread, how I miss you. I will more than likely have my reunion with bread on day 31 by way of bagel. I miss it way more than sugar!)


Halfway through lunch, someone who was sitting behind me from another school asked me if I had allergies (since I wasn't eating much), and I explained that I was doing the Whole 30. We ended having lunch together and talking about all of it, and I think she is going to look into it. What was great about it was that it totally took my mind off lunch and food, and I love when people are interested and ask questions. Of course, you have to come to this decision on your own to do something like this, but even planting the seed of Whole 30 into someone's head is just an excellent start. From there it can take awhile to come to fruition, as was the case in my experience.

I remember Katie telling me about the Whole 30 when she did her first one, and I told her there was no way in hell I could do that. That would mean giving up wine on Tuesdays and dinners out on the weekends. I would have to give up sweets and.....well, everything. It was great for me that Katie was blogging about it, because that seed that was planted kept growing and growing. By the middle of March, I was just going overboard with the eating out and drinking all the time (not to mention all the money I was spending on the two!) So here I am, months later and halfway through the challenge feeling so great.


At the day 17 mark, I still can't weigh myself, but I know I have lost weight. I was waiting until I came back from Florida to test it out with a few dresses I bought awhile ago. When I bought them, I really liked them but thought that if I lost just a little bit of weight they would fit perfectly. They definitely have a better fit than they did when I bought them, and I can only imagine how much better it will be two more weeks from today. (I'm officially done on Wed, April 18th.) I am definitely feeling so proud of myself and learning to appreciate how far I've come in just the two short weeks it's been.


The not weighing yourself is so key. I know if I got on the scale - even though I'm so curious - I could possibly be disappointed with the number that comes up. I wouldn't want that to ruin my progress and all that is to come, so if you ever decide it's time for you to partake in this challenge, stay away from the scale! The website even advises going "Office Space" on your scale in your backyard!


So for now, I will be happy and excited with the progress I'm making. I'll set a good example for others and hopefully inspire someone new into this challenge. Really, by the time you're on day 17, it's cake till the end! (But I will not be rewarding myself with cake. Maybe peas....? okay, not so much.)

What I'm Loving Tuesday

So I have a great blogging mentor (slash bff) and I figure it's better to not recreate the wheel, so Katie Cartier I am copying your ideas here.

Katie Started writing the "What I'm Loving" blog a long time ago, and she just started a new one - Permission to.... that I'm going to steal later on. But for now, I'll use her old stuff to add a little variety to my blog.


Here are a few things I'm loving at the moment...

Lemon Water

My cousin has blogged about it (find it here) and I've been drinking lots of it since I started the Whole 30 two weeks ago. I really like it SOOO much better than just plain water, so spice yours up too, and see what you think! I've also used limes and oranges. I know you can do cucumbers as well, but I'm not a huge fan.

Sweet Potato Chips

Finally - a crunchy, salty vehicle for guacamole and salsa! These chips are great. They are all different - some have more ingredients than others or are spiced differently. Now, maybe they're not the strictest version of Whole 30 compliant - some of the oils they use to fry them are canola and sunflower? (no, that doesn't seem right, but I can't remember at the moment) but either way, I'm doing so much better the last two weeks eating than I ever have!

No Nitrate/Nitrite Bacon by Oscar Mayer

So, the whole thing with the meat is trying to avoid any preservatives that are added. I may be mistaken, but from what I've learned so far, the nitrates/nitrites are preservatives added to meat to help it retain it's color - preservatives that could potentially mess up your digestive business. I originally found this when I was at my mom's and so I'm on the look out for it here, as well!

Pilot Easy Touch Pens

Anyone else a pen fanatic besides me? Best. Pens. Ever. I really don't like working with crappy writing utensils, so I have a few favorites, but these take the cake. I am even picky about the colors - I prefer blue and purple mainly, but if I buy the combo pack, I'll use all of them.

Next Dress to Buy

I've been eyeing this in my emails from The Limited - with a gold belt - but just haven't gotten there yet to try it on. My coteacher asked me today if I bought it yet. She had gone shopping with her friend, who saw it and told her to try it on, but being the good friend she is, she passed since I already called dibs. With my gold belt it will look so cute! We'll just have to see if it looks cute on me!

Modern Family

Okay, who loves this show as much as I do? I got season 2 for like $10 after Thanksgiving and the bf and I watched the whole thing through, and then he got me season 1 for Valentine's Day - which we're not yet finished with. So funny...best show in so, so long. I couldn't find my favorite episode, but here's Gloria, and all her mispronunciations....

and what I'm hating...
Delta Airlines

They definitely lost my bag. When I decide I need to pay up to check a bag, I take my moster of a suitcase - that thing was loaded. All my best clothes (including new dress), flip flops, running clothes and shoes, makeup, blow dryer and curling iron, jewelry, a few books - all tied up in that suitcase. Luckily I had the smarts to pack some overnight essentials in my carry on and I happen to have my glasses and makeup remover towel thingies (not that I need them tonight - definitely went to work with zero makeup...tan helped TREMENDOUSLY) but I'm NOT a fan of this airlines.

So there you have it - edition one of What I'm Loving. Next blog up will be pics from Florida, so stay tuned!

Eye on the Prize

Well, I've got 14 days down...and today marks the halfway point in the Whole 30. I spent my whole spring break at my parents in Florida and didn't have one drink or eat one thing that wasn't Whole 30 compliant. (I did get a great tan....and fried my legs two days ago, but I'm feeling better today!)

Now, don't get me wrong, I definitely had a breakdown last night when the whole family was ordering Pei Wei, but I got some lettuce wraps with no sauce, and I'm hoping that was compliant. (If not, let's just pretend they are - it will have been the only thing I've cheated with!) They definitely didn't taste as good, but I (hopefully) didn't screw it up so it's all good.


In other news, I did try some new food that I found out I really like - flounder and spaghetti squash. Spaghetti squash was super easy to make (microwave the squash and it's ready to go!) and the flounder was delicious. We cooked it with some onions and peppers. Oh - and I found some bacon that is new by Oscar Mayer with no nitrates/nitrites or other added preservatives. Winning!


So, 15 days left after today. Eye on the prize Michelle....you can do it!

Don't Think. Just. Keep. Going.

So I'm at my mom's and it's morning and she's making breakfast for my stepdad, Rob. She's making blueberry waffles. I really, really want some. Like, lots. I can smell them, they're right there...fresh blueberries swimming in a thick batter. (Let's get real - my mom was making Eggos!) Lucky for me, my mom won't let me ruin my 9 days that I've finished so far, and honestly, waffles or not, I don't want to ruin it either. So I tell myself in my head, "Michelle, the waffles will be gone in 5 minutes. You will be ahead when the waffles are gone. You don't need them." (Same thought, different day. I have this conversation every day with myself.)

Fast forward a few hours to shopping, and I can only imagine how much MORE fun (I love shopping regardless) this will be when I have finished this 30 day...but not only that but put in place some great habits to keep me moving forward even after. Even though I have already mentioned some food items that I definitely want to bring back, I will also be wise enough to let my body tell me when I should cool it on the not-so-healthy food.

btw - I ended up walking through the food court at the mall. There I was, trying to find a bathroom, and being assaulted by all the food. (Make this the second assault today, after the waffles.) I could smell orange chicken cooking at Panda Express and pizza at Sbarro. I could smell fries turning a golden brown in the fryalators at McDonalds. The sugar wafting from Mrs. Fields was calling my name. As I walked through there I was just considering that maybe I could hang around and indulge in all the fantastic smelling food (to clarify: just smell it all. not eat.) and then be good to go. Turns out that doesn't work. At all.


So I bought myself a dress instead : ) : ) : ) : ) : )

20 days to go. I have definitely been craving things today - chocolate and even something munchy, but I didn't budge. One of the only differences I've noticed so far is that I'm eating WAAAAY less than I used to. Today, I had 3 egg whites, bacon, and pineapple for breakfast, a Larabar, and then a salad and some pot roast my mom made for dinner. That's all....except a fruit rope and some OJ just a little bit ago. (I know, I'm eating too much fruit.) I'm not hungry at all, but I guess I just need to break all those old habits I used to have. I don't need to be eating all the time. I need to get busy! (Interpret as you wish.)

In an effort to give myself something in the way of my chocolate cravings, I'm planning on making this tomorrow (minus the chocolate chips, of course):

Paleo Mug-Cake

One last (random) thought --
Today I got a manicure and pedicure and had a white girl as my manicurist. Hello! My new bff would totally be the girl who did my nails if I had a white girl doing them all the time. We talked about drama with her best friend, how her boyfriend should be proposing soon and ideas for her wedding, the Hunger Games and Twilight...the list goes on and on. So. Much. Fun. Much different than this (although she's pretty funny) --->

So lesson to be learned - if you're having a hard time with this challenge, just go do something instead. Go running. Go shopping. Go lay out by the pool or beach. Get a manicure. Call a friend. Trick your mind to forget about the food you're not eating. Practice making good habits.

More to come on the mind games. I'm reading up on it!