Torn Rotator cuff

So shoulder has been achy hurting for a while and finally got to the point that I wanted to take some Ibuprofen for it.  Decided it was time to go to the Doctor and figure out what was going on and how to fix it.  He did this lovely little test where you hold your arm out to the side at shoulder height, and then he pushes down.  I guess if you scream or yelp it proves that you might have a problem, yes I kind of did that!  That quick blast of pain surprised me.  Dear me!  Referred now on to an Orthopedic specialist to see what step comes next.  From what I have now read it is common for  a "degenerative tear in the rotator cuff of the dominant side"  translated meaning: the arm I do pretty much everything with, is the one that is having a problem.  Will be doing some creative teaching in order not to be writing on the board so much!  Thank goodness for technology, nothing like something to inspire me to use it more.

Don't Jiggle

When I first started teaching my children, some of whom were in their teens, sought to give me good advice.  It definitely wasn't the kind I learned in my teaching courses.  They told me to make sure that when erasing the blackboard to make sure not to jiggle.  They explained that if you go from side to side with the eraser it helps avoid such unknown embarrassments. 
When teaching I always try to think of our complaints when studying and avoid requiring the same frustrations of my students.  One major task I despise is group projects.  If they are ones that students do in class that works fine, but as soon as they require outside time inequality sets in, with one or two students doing the lion's share of the work and a couple going along for the ride.
  Anything that involves learning and  fun at the same time should be high on your list of things to include!  This is easy as a language instructor with all the resources available.  I love showing students Disney songs in Spanish and the surprise on their faces when they recognize the music and find out they can look up something on their own.The realization that learning can be fun is a great start to a life long pursuit.  I am always in class before it is time, so having a Disney song on before we start works out perfect, doesn't take up class time but gets everyone in the mood.  Two of the favorites for today.

Mulan in Spanish!!! 

MULAN

ALADDIN

Color Coding the World

I accidentally used the wrong lesson plan for one of my classes yesterday, or at least part of it.  We will just say that the second year students  got a lovely review- up to the point when I told them to open their books to a page that did not exist in their texts.  Flustered, we laughed and I proved my less than perfection to the world once more.  I have now set about to put things in order by color-coding my world!  Each level has their own color of sticky notes, lesson plans and the marker that I use when I have completed an assignment, or to highlight something I want to make sure I cover in class.  Our amazing Administrative Assistant is also going to get me some colored gel pens that aren't red for grading my papers, hoping for purple or green just to liven up the world!  I figure if you get a paper back with green corrections you will see it as a positive color and showing you can "grow" and improve.  Purple is kind of a happy color to me, so maybe it will make the corrections something seen as a positive, not so much negative that they want to throw in the towel!