Oh-ho-ho...
So, I just started this new job two weeks ago. It's a doozy, teaching at an alternative high school where the majority of the student body don't work well in a traditional school setting. I'm finding myself teaching students that would normally be kicked out of my classroom, and having to manage their behavior and their abilities in a more flexible manner. Every day I walk the fine line of balance, trying to help motivate students and work with them where they are, while still trying to maintain (or establish) a respectful working environment in the classroom. It is trying. I come home mentally and emotionally exhausted every day. For the past two weeks I've focused on building relationships with my students, learning the ropes of what I do through trial and error (no training here!), and documenting, documenting, documenting! Because of the nature of the work that we do, everything needs to be documented for communication purposes, legal purposes, and in case we get audited in regards to our funding. It is crazy.
Needless to say, I have not done a whole lot of marking since my contract began two Tuesdays ago. I teach the self-paced math class. Normally math is not that bad for marking - students check their answers for homework assignments, I mark those for completion, as well as quizzes and tests. But the way the class is currently set up (and because I'm coming in partway through the school year, I'm keeping it as it is, at least for now), workbooks have been photocopied for students, and when a student has completed a package they hand it in and I am the one to check all of the work. Considering I have 5 different courses running, and students working within the same course are at different places, my marking load is very broad. Anyone who is a teacher knows that this is a huge time suck. For those of you who have never marked anything, I'll give you this one key point: it is far more efficient to mark 50 papers of the same assignment by marking page 1 all at once, and then page 2, etc, than it is to mark separate assignments in their entirety. As the marker, you start to form what is an acceptable answer, what you will give part marks for, and you're able to mark with consistency and be very quick. I look at my pile of marking and all I can think is, this is going to take me two whole days :P And, by a whole day I mean 8 hours of uninterrupted marking.
So, on Friday afternoon I got all my marking piled into one container. I placed on top my special colourful marking pens (hey, you got to make it enjoyable somehow) and my marking guide binders. Then I got my things together and left with only my lunch kit. The realization that I left behind my marking didn't hit me until 930pm that night, and I don't have after hours access to the school yet. Can we say Freudian slip?
Oh, and I left my knitting at my parents this afternoon. I think this evening I'll bake some muffins and cast on a new project. Goodness knows once tomorrow comes I'll be using any spare time to chip away at that marking!
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
A little bit of everything
I really do want to keep up with this blog... really, I do. There has been so much going on in my life that I have felt hesitant in throwing out into the blogisphere, but after a conversation with my brother, I think I need to stop being so hard on myself about having things just right, and be a little bit more casual with it all.
This week has been epic. The looming legislation that teachers thought was coming down the pipes, has indeed come down the pipes. It's bad, really bad, not just for teachers, but for students and education as a whole. I've read over it in detail, so I can specifically point out the bits that make major changes to public education; I can explain the whole thing in layman's terms, but I'm not going to bog down my blog with all of that... at least not yet ;) Here is a link to the legislation if anyone wants to take a gander. If you have any questions about it and you want a teacher's view, please feel free to drop me a comment, as I have no problem dialoguing (as many of my friends and family can attest... let's just say my facebook has been a hive of pro-teacher and pro-public education activity).
Teachers participating in a three day walk out this week, in response to the legislation. There was a rally on Tuesday that I attended with little Z strapped into the stroller. I wasn't sure how he would do with the big crowds and the shouting, but he actually fell asleep! My little activist :) The turnout was fantastic, and the weather couldn't have been better. Apparently, there were about 5000 who attended the march and rally, about 2000 of which were union members from other occupations showing their solidarity. It was so encouraging to have others standing with us, recognizing that this legislation is an assault to collective bargaining. The schools are now moving into spring break, which should be a nice break from all the political and job action drama.
On the home front, my little baby boy has been developing in leaps and bounds, and as a result has been keeping me up all hours of the night, fussing during the day and in the evenings when it's time to go to sleep. I should specify that by fussing, I actually mean full-blown air-raid crying. It has been a very trying week for me and I'm glad to see the end of it. Today is Saturday, and my wonderful husband is home, and nothing could make me happier than to have a helping hand. Most of the things that Z has been throwing my way are all natural and perfectly in tune with where he is developmentally (aka DON'T LEAVE ME MOMMY!!), but it's so much harder to handle when you haven't had a good night's sleep in days and are majorly sleep deprived!
On the knitting front, I really haven't been getting much done. I think that's probably a good thing as with my lack of sleep I'd probably be making a lot of mistakes! I have been plugging away on my dad's socks, and thinking about lovely things I could make for when the weather gets warmer. My knitting friends and I have been salivating over this beautiful pattern by Jane Richmond, a local Victoria-ite. I sense a KAL coming!
Oh, and I can't resist sharing this; it's in response to the asinine comments that Rush Limbaugh made on his show recently.
This week has been epic. The looming legislation that teachers thought was coming down the pipes, has indeed come down the pipes. It's bad, really bad, not just for teachers, but for students and education as a whole. I've read over it in detail, so I can specifically point out the bits that make major changes to public education; I can explain the whole thing in layman's terms, but I'm not going to bog down my blog with all of that... at least not yet ;) Here is a link to the legislation if anyone wants to take a gander. If you have any questions about it and you want a teacher's view, please feel free to drop me a comment, as I have no problem dialoguing (as many of my friends and family can attest... let's just say my facebook has been a hive of pro-teacher and pro-public education activity).
Teachers participating in a three day walk out this week, in response to the legislation. There was a rally on Tuesday that I attended with little Z strapped into the stroller. I wasn't sure how he would do with the big crowds and the shouting, but he actually fell asleep! My little activist :) The turnout was fantastic, and the weather couldn't have been better. Apparently, there were about 5000 who attended the march and rally, about 2000 of which were union members from other occupations showing their solidarity. It was so encouraging to have others standing with us, recognizing that this legislation is an assault to collective bargaining. The schools are now moving into spring break, which should be a nice break from all the political and job action drama.
On the home front, my little baby boy has been developing in leaps and bounds, and as a result has been keeping me up all hours of the night, fussing during the day and in the evenings when it's time to go to sleep. I should specify that by fussing, I actually mean full-blown air-raid crying. It has been a very trying week for me and I'm glad to see the end of it. Today is Saturday, and my wonderful husband is home, and nothing could make me happier than to have a helping hand. Most of the things that Z has been throwing my way are all natural and perfectly in tune with where he is developmentally (aka DON'T LEAVE ME MOMMY!!), but it's so much harder to handle when you haven't had a good night's sleep in days and are majorly sleep deprived!
On the knitting front, I really haven't been getting much done. I think that's probably a good thing as with my lack of sleep I'd probably be making a lot of mistakes! I have been plugging away on my dad's socks, and thinking about lovely things I could make for when the weather gets warmer. My knitting friends and I have been salivating over this beautiful pattern by Jane Richmond, a local Victoria-ite. I sense a KAL coming!
Oh, and I can't resist sharing this; it's in response to the asinine comments that Rush Limbaugh made on his show recently.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Because he loves me
It's been starting to feel more like spring out there. My husband asked me the other day if I thought it might still snow this winter. This is a typical topic of conversation for the people of Victoria. We don't get much snow, but we often get one or two "dumps" in a season, typically after Christmas, and usually when we least expect it (let's be honest, we rarely expect snow in Victoria). Then the whole city goes into practical lock down mode as we really don't have the infrastructure to deal with more than a couple of inches of the stuff.
But, why am I talking of snow??? It's beautifully bright and sunny out as I speak! I've managed to get out in the garden in the past few weeks, clearing away the dead and making room for all the new little shoots that are starting to pop up. On the crafting side of things, I've managed to finish this giant pink cardigan I've been knitting. I know it sounds atrocious, but it's really quite lovely, a pattern I've been meaning to knit for a number of years, and a project that I started back in June. Considering since then I've finished a school year, finished a pregnancy, and endured/enjoyed the first 6 months of my son's life, I think I've done fairly well! I'll take some pictures once I sew on the button (those who know me know that could take a while... ugh, finishing!). Since that project has been off the needles, I've been working on frogging (ripping out) a sweater I never wear to reclaim the wool.
You may recall, I held the yarn doubled for this project; that's a heck of a lot of yarn! I was hoping to hold off posting about this until I had the entire sweater frogged and the yarn re-balled.
So far, I have ripped out the entire sweater, but separating the yarn (since I had it held doubled), re-skeining, and then winding into balls has proven very labour intensive (aka huge pain in the ass). Suffice to say, I have about half of the sweater/yarn done and I already have five good sized balls! I think I should be able to get at least two sweaters out of this yarn.
For the record, I don't think it will snow again... bring on Spring!!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Actually sleeping... and other developments
It's interesting for me to come here and read my last post (which I had already completely forgotten - motherhood is good for that... completely forgetting about things as soon as they're out of your sight!). For the second night in a row, Z has slept through the night. I'm not talking about the textbook term of sleeping through the night (six hours of uninterrupted sleep), though that in itself is quite nice. No, for the past two nights, Z has had a final feeding around 10-11pm (a "dream feed") and then has not woken me until 8am the following morning.
Wow.
The first night, I still awoke like clockwork at 4am (our standard mid-night feeding time), used the bathroom, and paused outside his room, reaching with my ear to hear any sounds of hungry rousing. But, all I heard were contented little murmurings and so I went back to bed. The morning was not so comfortable, as I'm sure any moms who have breastfed can attest, but that seems more than a fair trade for an actual full night of sleep. Last night was even better; my body didn't wake me at 4am, and I wasn't nearly as uncomfortable in the morning. I'm hesitant to say that I could get used to this. Heck, I was even hesitant to post anything about this, for fear that I might upset some delicate balance in the universe that is allowing this to happen! But, I've given myself this pep-talk before, that it's nice to be overt about the positive and not just the negative. It's easy to send out stories of annoyances and trials into the public domain. Sometimes it feels necessary to solicit sympathy (and advice) just to help get yourself through the situation. But, it can be equally nice to send out reports of the positive as well... celebrate a little!
In other developments this week: we went swimming for the first time with the little guy, I bought an Ergo carrier (I no-longer feel like I'm carrying a 20lb sack of potatoes with my shoulders - thank the LORD!), and we started solids this week (quite possibly the reason for the recent sleeping-through-the-night development!). Also, I bought a skein of yarn... GASP! Without a specific project in mind... double GASP!! It's very difficult to hold out on buying local artisan yarn when the artisan actually attends your local knitting group! Here's a picture of the lovely fibre specimen from said artisan's blog,
via
Beautiful yarn, no? I bought one skein and it's even more gorgeous in person! There's only one more set of props (and a linky-link) that I'd like to give. I bought my Ergo through Funky Tricycle which is a great local online business that posts one "groovy deal a week, for moms, dads, and kiddies." Including the Ergo, I have bought two items from them now, the other being a great Ju-Ju-Be convertible backpack diaper bag. Their prices are typically 40-60% off retail, and because they're local to Victoria there's no shipping if you are okay with picking it up! The business is run by two sisters. I've gotten to meet both these lovely ladies and they are super nice.
Wow.
The first night, I still awoke like clockwork at 4am (our standard mid-night feeding time), used the bathroom, and paused outside his room, reaching with my ear to hear any sounds of hungry rousing. But, all I heard were contented little murmurings and so I went back to bed. The morning was not so comfortable, as I'm sure any moms who have breastfed can attest, but that seems more than a fair trade for an actual full night of sleep. Last night was even better; my body didn't wake me at 4am, and I wasn't nearly as uncomfortable in the morning. I'm hesitant to say that I could get used to this. Heck, I was even hesitant to post anything about this, for fear that I might upset some delicate balance in the universe that is allowing this to happen! But, I've given myself this pep-talk before, that it's nice to be overt about the positive and not just the negative. It's easy to send out stories of annoyances and trials into the public domain. Sometimes it feels necessary to solicit sympathy (and advice) just to help get yourself through the situation. But, it can be equally nice to send out reports of the positive as well... celebrate a little!
In other developments this week: we went swimming for the first time with the little guy, I bought an Ergo carrier (I no-longer feel like I'm carrying a 20lb sack of potatoes with my shoulders - thank the LORD!), and we started solids this week (quite possibly the reason for the recent sleeping-through-the-night development!). Also, I bought a skein of yarn... GASP! Without a specific project in mind... double GASP!! It's very difficult to hold out on buying local artisan yarn when the artisan actually attends your local knitting group! Here's a picture of the lovely fibre specimen from said artisan's blog,
via
Beautiful yarn, no? I bought one skein and it's even more gorgeous in person! There's only one more set of props (and a linky-link) that I'd like to give. I bought my Ergo through Funky Tricycle which is a great local online business that posts one "groovy deal a week, for moms, dads, and kiddies." Including the Ergo, I have bought two items from them now, the other being a great Ju-Ju-Be convertible backpack diaper bag. Their prices are typically 40-60% off retail, and because they're local to Victoria there's no shipping if you are okay with picking it up! The business is run by two sisters. I've gotten to meet both these lovely ladies and they are super nice.
This article was originally posted on http://ayeartoexpand.blogspot.com/ Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Eco - rehash
Oh man, I am so tired, but such are the trials and tribulations of parenthood (especially with a baby). Regardless, I have been working on my goal of trying to match patterns to yarn (both already owned - or in the case of patterns, if not owned then at least free or available from the library). Let me tell you, it has been HARD!! I am very much a person who loves organization and planning. Have I ever told you that I'm a teacher? Well, I am (though currently on maternity leave) and in my job if you're not organized, you will SINK... big time! I'm always making myself lists (and including things I've already done on them; a great little trick if you ever feel oppressed by a mountain of things to get done). But, I digress.
Back to the point! It has been difficult linking the yarn I own to patterns I would like to knit, and I think I know why. Knitting isn't just something to get done, it's a creative process! And part of that creative process is the yarn in and of itself. I truly feel that every yarn has a pattern that is just meant for it, and that pairing can't be forced. I'm sure that anyone who's ever created something can say the same, sometimes a certain medium is meant for a particular project. So, needless to say, to attempt to pair ALL (or even a great deal) of my yarn with the RIGHT projects is a great task! But, the process hasn't been in vain. I've decided to just come up with a few yarn-project pairings at a time, and to be flexible in changing them if the fit doesn't seem right.
First up on my list of yarns is Cascade Eco Wool. At a hefty 478yds per skein, this yarn is an economical choice for projects requiring a lot of yardage, and with a variety of subtle natural shades, it's a really nice yarn to work with. Now for something a little different: I plan to turn these
back into these
I know this seems like reverse logic, but a few weeks ago when I was trying to keep myself from going to the latest Beehive sale, I started thinking about any knitwear I might have that just doesn't get worn, and these were the two that I came up with. The Aran sweater that I made for my hubby is just an overall horrible design. Even though I did a gauge swatch, it still turned out way too large, and the shaping of this sweater is just non-existent. It reminds me of those boxy sweaters guys used to wear in the 80's... blah! As for the sweater/jacket that I'm wearing, it is a GREAT piece. I actually really love it, but the fact remains, I never wear it! I think it's a combination of our rainy climate in Victoria, BC, and the fact that I held the yarn doubled when I knit it. I know, DOUBLED! Anyone who's ever worked with Eco wool knows that it can be used as a bulky weight yarn, but at the time when I started the project, I was a fairly fresh knitter and was advised by the lovely staff at my LYS that it was a lighter weight and hence should be held doubled. This resulted in a really stiff fabric which I attribute as one of the reasons why I never wear it.
However, now both these yardage eaters will be my gain as I reclaim the wool. In the mocha (brown) I have 2390 yds, and in the natural (white) I have 1912 yds... that's a LOT of wool! I have been hunting around for projects I thought would suit, and this is what I've come up with:
Back to the point! It has been difficult linking the yarn I own to patterns I would like to knit, and I think I know why. Knitting isn't just something to get done, it's a creative process! And part of that creative process is the yarn in and of itself. I truly feel that every yarn has a pattern that is just meant for it, and that pairing can't be forced. I'm sure that anyone who's ever created something can say the same, sometimes a certain medium is meant for a particular project. So, needless to say, to attempt to pair ALL (or even a great deal) of my yarn with the RIGHT projects is a great task! But, the process hasn't been in vain. I've decided to just come up with a few yarn-project pairings at a time, and to be flexible in changing them if the fit doesn't seem right.
First up on my list of yarns is Cascade Eco Wool. At a hefty 478yds per skein, this yarn is an economical choice for projects requiring a lot of yardage, and with a variety of subtle natural shades, it's a really nice yarn to work with. Now for something a little different: I plan to turn these
back into these
I know this seems like reverse logic, but a few weeks ago when I was trying to keep myself from going to the latest Beehive sale, I started thinking about any knitwear I might have that just doesn't get worn, and these were the two that I came up with. The Aran sweater that I made for my hubby is just an overall horrible design. Even though I did a gauge swatch, it still turned out way too large, and the shaping of this sweater is just non-existent. It reminds me of those boxy sweaters guys used to wear in the 80's... blah! As for the sweater/jacket that I'm wearing, it is a GREAT piece. I actually really love it, but the fact remains, I never wear it! I think it's a combination of our rainy climate in Victoria, BC, and the fact that I held the yarn doubled when I knit it. I know, DOUBLED! Anyone who's ever worked with Eco wool knows that it can be used as a bulky weight yarn, but at the time when I started the project, I was a fairly fresh knitter and was advised by the lovely staff at my LYS that it was a lighter weight and hence should be held doubled. This resulted in a really stiff fabric which I attribute as one of the reasons why I never wear it.
However, now both these yardage eaters will be my gain as I reclaim the wool. In the mocha (brown) I have 2390 yds, and in the natural (white) I have 1912 yds... that's a LOT of wool! I have been hunting around for projects I thought would suit, and this is what I've come up with:
Hooded Sweater with Lace Pattern (Rebecca Magazine #32)
via
Eco Vest (Katie Himmelberg)
via
Owls (Kate Davies)
via
Aidez (Cirilia Rose)
via
possibly for Max: Woven Bands Pullover (Hana Jason)
via
This article was originally posted on http://ayeartoexpand.blogspot.com/ Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.
via
Eco Vest (Katie Himmelberg)
via
Owls (Kate Davies)
via
Aidez (Cirilia Rose)
via
possibly for Max: Woven Bands Pullover (Hana Jason)
via
Well, what do you think? I still need to decide which colours to use for which projects. Suddenly, I'm really excited!
This article was originally posted on http://ayeartoexpand.blogspot.com/ Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Stash
I am a knitter.
For those of you who knit, this is all the explaining I need to do. For those who don't knit, there is a whole culture associated with knitting that you may or may not be familiar with. Cue the secret knitting terms (really, they're not that secret):
UFO - unfinished object
FO - finished object
Frogged - object that has been ripped out (rip-it, rip-it... get it?)
and, my all time favorite?
Stash is how knitters lovingly refer to their collection of yarn. I believe it's used commonly in other crafts as well (ie stash of fabric). Dictionary.com defines the word stash (noun) as
- something put away or hidden: a stash of gold coins buried in the garden.
- a place in which something is stored secretly; hiding place; cache.
- (slang) a supply of hidden drugs.
Sound familiar my knitterly friends out there? Secret, hidden, drugs? Heheheh... seems to describe STASH to a T! Sweet Georgia, MadTosh, Sweatermaker, Indigo Moon, pretty much any hand-dyed indie yarn I could die for! Cascade, Berroco, Drops, commercial yarns that I looooove to use! I always say to myself, "yarn never goes bad," especially if you keep it in ziplock bags like I do (a residual habit from when we moved). But sooner or later, as the STASH builds up and inevitably outgrows your storage, one starts to wonder if maybe things have gotten a little out of hand.
Like many of my knitting friends, I have accumulated quite the stash, and it's always tempting to buy more, especially when you have visions of new projects dancing in your head and your LYS is having a sale. But, with all the wonderful yarn in my STASH, buying more can leave you feeling a little guilty and I've come to wonder if I might be better off simply buying yarn ONLY when I need it (and by "need" I mean actually need... like I'm about to start a project right then and there, because let's be honest here, "need" can be a slightly subjective term).
So, here is the challenge I am giving myself, call it a resolution if you will. My aim this year is knit primarily from my STASH, and to not buy ANY yarn (I cannot believe I'm saying this) unless it is absolutely necessary for a project that I'm going to start right then and there. I have some really GREAT yarn in my STASH that keeps being put aside for the newest flame. To help me out, I have given myself the goal of pairing the great yarn I have with the equally wonderful patterns I've been hoarding. And, because I think goals should be measurable (I think this one is), and should have a time frame, I am giving myself until the end of January to pair these fibres with their pattern destinies!
This article was originally posted on http://ayeartoexpand.blogspot.com/ Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.
For those of you who knit, this is all the explaining I need to do. For those who don't knit, there is a whole culture associated with knitting that you may or may not be familiar with. Cue the secret knitting terms (really, they're not that secret):
UFO - unfinished object
FO - finished object
Frogged - object that has been ripped out (rip-it, rip-it... get it?)
and, my all time favorite?
Stash is how knitters lovingly refer to their collection of yarn. I believe it's used commonly in other crafts as well (ie stash of fabric). Dictionary.com defines the word stash (noun) as
- something put away or hidden: a stash of gold coins buried in the garden.
- a place in which something is stored secretly; hiding place; cache.
- (slang) a supply of hidden drugs.
Sound familiar my knitterly friends out there? Secret, hidden, drugs? Heheheh... seems to describe STASH to a T! Sweet Georgia, MadTosh, Sweatermaker, Indigo Moon, pretty much any hand-dyed indie yarn I could die for! Cascade, Berroco, Drops, commercial yarns that I looooove to use! I always say to myself, "yarn never goes bad," especially if you keep it in ziplock bags like I do (a residual habit from when we moved). But sooner or later, as the STASH builds up and inevitably outgrows your storage, one starts to wonder if maybe things have gotten a little out of hand.
Like many of my knitting friends, I have accumulated quite the stash, and it's always tempting to buy more, especially when you have visions of new projects dancing in your head and your LYS is having a sale. But, with all the wonderful yarn in my STASH, buying more can leave you feeling a little guilty and I've come to wonder if I might be better off simply buying yarn ONLY when I need it (and by "need" I mean actually need... like I'm about to start a project right then and there, because let's be honest here, "need" can be a slightly subjective term).
So, here is the challenge I am giving myself, call it a resolution if you will. My aim this year is knit primarily from my STASH, and to not buy ANY yarn (I cannot believe I'm saying this) unless it is absolutely necessary for a project that I'm going to start right then and there. I have some really GREAT yarn in my STASH that keeps being put aside for the newest flame. To help me out, I have given myself the goal of pairing the great yarn I have with the equally wonderful patterns I've been hoarding. And, because I think goals should be measurable (I think this one is), and should have a time frame, I am giving myself until the end of January to pair these fibres with their pattern destinies!
This article was originally posted on http://ayeartoexpand.blogspot.com/ Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.
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