Wellness Wednesday: That Was a Year Ago

The Color Run 2014

Running a 5k was something that I never thought that I would be able to physically do. Whenever there was a fun 5K in town, I would contemplate doing a training program, but I never got very far. I even registered in 2013, but didn't even bother to go because I couldn't even walk a 5k. 

That was a year ago. Things are very different for me now. 

This year, I woke up early and got completely "geeked" up with my tutu, my Harley Quinn socks, and my various pins of Star Wars, The Sand Lot, The Goonies, and Doctor Who on my headband for good luck. 

I danced, I ran, I walked, and I had a blast 

I have discussed my struggles with weight, fitness, and nutrition in previous posts like A 24 Day Journey: 24 Inches Closer, How Being Fat Made Me a Better Friend, and Blondes Made Me Fat. It has been a struggle my entire adult life because of my heritage, my Southern food culture, and emotional eating.

That was a year ago. Things are very different for me now. 

I started Advocare on May 1, 2014. There isn't a magic formula or a fix-it trick; it takes work and dedication. Through the 24 Day Challenge, I learned how to eat properly, the importance of exercise, and the necessity of filling in any nutritional gaps. 

This wasn't a diet. It was a lifestyle change. 

That was a year ago. Things are very different for me now. 

As I look back on myself from a year ago, I am so thankful for the changes that have occurred in my life because I made the decision to become healthy. I also see that all of these pictures from a year ago lead up to the biggest eating season of the year.

In Weight Gain During the Holidays is Hard to Undo, Timi Gustafson, R.D. discusses the challenges that come from the minor weight gain during the holidays. Although recently studies have shown that the actual average gain is not as high as once thought, she addresses a finding from the National Institutes of Health that states, "Americans probably gain only a pound during the winter holiday season -- but this extra weight accumulates through the years and may be a major contributor to obesity later in life,"

This alarmed me because I view food so differently than I did a year ago. Of course I am going to enjoy Thanksgiving, but I will not binge all week long.

That was a year ago. Things are very different for me now.

Understanding how my system absorbs calories and how to enjoy food without abusing my body, I will incorporate the following products into my holiday. These are just some of the tools that have worked for me over the last year, as visible in the above picture.

Because I am still on a weight-loss journey, I will also make strategic use of the 24 days between November 30th and December 23rd by doing another challenge. The 24 Day Challenge can only be done every 90 days; in the time in between, I maintain a healthy diet (with one cheat meal a week in conjunction with the products above), moderate exercise, and supplemental nutrition. This is how I have lost weight consistently since saying "YES" to loving myself enough to make a change. 

The 24 Day Challenge works to cleanse my system, reboot my metabolism, and get my body prepared to utilize nutrition properly. I had such great results from my first challenge that I am really excited to see what happens with this one. 

If you are interested in a doing a group Challenge with me, there is still time. The coaching and teaching is what got me through my first round. My coaches have now become my friends and their support has kept me on track to successfully achieving my goals. Group challenges are always fun because there are lots of laughs, and support like no other. 

These are things that I didn't have a year ago. But, as I have been saying...

That was a year ago. Things are very different for me now.

Healthy Holidays!!!

Until Next Time,


Live Loudly!!!

Introduction to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

 Introduction to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

The second quarter began with Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Aside from a deeply-rooted “geeky” personality, I became very eager to explore censorship, government control, and general dystopian ideas with my students. 

Pop culture is exploding with dystopic teen fiction and movies currently, so I knew the building interest would be easier than with other novels that I have taught over the course of my career.

Banned Books

My very first activity coincided with Banned Books Week. There is a plethora of resources for information on banning books, but I choose to use  Banned  Books Week. 

I am fortunate enough to have computers in my classroom, so I allowed the students to make a collaborative mini-inquiry project. After the students had been assigned to their small groups, they began to do research on their individual parts: Banned Books that Shaped America, Mapping Censorship, Heroes and Highlighting Censorship: Tucson Unified School District. 

After obtaining their individual information, the students determine the method in which they want it presented to the class. Their options are a formal speech, a visual project presentation, or a PowerPoint/Prezi presentation.

Short Stories

Prior to beginning the main focus of a unit, I use short stories to reinforce literary analysis and the examination of elements of fiction. I use stories with similar themes to build text-to-text connection and the ability to identify and argue theme. 

This is the sample
that is on the right side
of the bulletin
board. 

I used “The Pedestrian”  by Ray Bradbury and “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Both stories work well to demonstrate a dystopian society that is maintained through an oppressive government and technology.  I have my students annotate their text and write a brief analysis with each piece that we read. After the selection and individual work is done, we hold a Socratic seminar regarding the topics and questions generated.

These two pieces work very well for a comparison essay. You can utilize a Venn diagram, Cornell Notes, a bubble map or a 3-sectioned T-chart. I allow my students to choose whichever strategy works before for their pre-writing process. This works well for different learning styles and gives them ownership of their creation.

Twilight Zone

Most people are visual learners and our current students have been raised on technology. Incorporating an old T.V. show does a couple of things: it shows universal theme and how far we have progressed.

“Time Enough at Last”  maintains the loss of knowledge by way of discarding books. Upon completion of the show, I have the students review various pieces of art and propraganda. In small groups, the students must compare the video to one of the visual representations of book burning and will create claims based on the standard (student-generated prompt). The students will use poster-size chart paper to create a visual aid to represent their thoughts. The students will participate in a Gallery Walk, making notes of strengths and weaknesses on each poster with Post-its.

 Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 

I work in an urban school with a high poverty rate. This makes at-home reading difficult because we have a shortage of books and a lack of technology in the students’ homes. Therefore, we do our reading in class.

I start the class with a Do Now/Bell Ringer that pertains to the subject matter or a reflective writing prompt about the previous reading. This is especially easy at this time due to current events worldwide.

Next, I spend a small portion of my time providing instruction and information. We also address any areas of concern and commentary.

After reading the selection in their small groups, the students work collaboratively on their graphic organizer. These snapshots are from my smart book; for the download go to Dialectical Journal: Literature Circle Activities

 I have the students recreate the graphic organizer in their journal. This one in particular is a combination of a dialectical journal, Cornell notes, and Literature Circles. The students are able to work collaboratively while providing individual work and avoiding the argument of how much their partners are contributing.

Common Core State Standards Used

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.7

Until Next Time,

Learn LOUDLY!!!

P.S. If you enjoy using lyrics as poetry and are looking for connections, Lit Tunes offers the following suggestions:

• "In the Year 2525" by Zeger and Evans Summer of Peace Love and Music
• "Choose Your Own Perfume" by Chris Hawkins SIBL Contest Winners                       
• “Conformity 451" by Norine Braun SIBL Contest Winners                                
• "Let Down" by Radiohead OK Computer               
• "Fahrenheit 451" by Utopia Swing to the Right  
• “The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel Wednesday Morning, 3 AM       

                                                                                       

Mommy Monday: After the Divorce

I very recently got divorced for the second time. My first marriage, the one that resulted in my beautiful boy, could be a full novel; the short of it is that we were married entirely too young. Rarely does marriage work in this country, but the odds of two 20 year olds making it “till death do us part” is almost silly. By the time we were 30, we were very different people.

My son was 2 years old when we divorced, so he has no memory of his father and I being together. His father married his childhood sweetheart and I married an old college friend within two months of each other around a year after our divorced was finalized.

My son has seen a relationship forged between his parents that is based on his best interest and being co-parents. All of us, step-parents included, worked very hard and through many challenges to come to a place where we could co-parents and friends.

When I got married the second time, it was an impulsive elopement after a romantic weekend in Eureka Springs. Although I was nervous, I felt that it was a practical match built on a strong friendship with love. Where I am an emotional, bleeding-heart, extroverted loudmouth, he was stoic, calm, reserved, and an extreme introvert. Focusing on an Austen-esque mentality, I thought for sure that it was a “prudent” match.

 There is only one Darcy and he will forever be the fictional love of my life. 

After a short four years of marriage, it was not a prudent match at all and we made the choice to return to being friends. Yes, I am probably one of the friendliest ex-wives in the South.

My current Austen-esque mentality

Through all that, my little boy had lost someone from his life and it had to be dealt with quickly. I will forever advocate co-parenting if possible because his father and step-mother helped in ways that I couldn't begin to imagine. Although my kid was sad and had to adjust, he also had already been given the basic answers that he needed, which were:

•  You will forever have the love of your mom and dad.
• Divorce is never a child’s fault.  
• Things will change, but it will be okay. 
• When you feel sad or angry, let someone know.

To say that it was immediately the easiest adjustment would be a lie.  There were many tears, fits of anger, manipulations, clingy tactics, mild regression, and typical responses to losing a step-dad with whom he was very close.

My support team (my parents, friends, and my boy’s co-parents) helped me to maintain consistency with enforcing rules and not caving to negative behavior. This seems like a no-brainer, but it takes conscious effort in the middle of a divorce. Part of that is because you are in your own post-divorce haze and part of it is because you want to take your child’s hurt away.

Falling into that haze, encouraging bad behavior, and reinforcing the regressive behavior would do nothing, but prolong the effects of the big life change.

I think we all try our best as parents and it will take many years to see how it turns out. Every day is different and a challenge, but I hope that my son learns that life is pretty much that way and you just have to do your best.

The things that I learned through this process are:

• Some days are good; some days are not. It doesn’t make you a failure as a parent.
• Use your support system, especially when they are blunted.
•  Love yourself because your child is instinctively aware of your hurt no matter how much you smile and hide it.
• Be present.

Until Next Time,

LOVE LOUDLY!!!