English Language Learner classes

I taught English Language Learners classes on Friday and by far, it was the best day I've had in a sub job! These kids were soooo sweet and appreciative! I loved these kids and they seemed to love me too--judging by the picture that was drawn on the whiteboard for me by one of the students. It was a huge heart with a message in the middle saying, "We love Mrs. Campbell. Thanks for teaching us and thanks for being wonderful! by Rosalyn." And on the side of the heart it said, "You are so pretty." It made me feel so good that they appreciated having me there. After going to the advisement appointment about the ELL endorsement, I had decided to push off admission til Fall of next year so that we could get in-state tuition, but after this class, it almost makes me want to start classes ASAP so I can get my own classroom of sweeties. One of the classes that I had to teach were critical learners, meaning they were VERY limited in the amount of English they knew. I did some worksheets with them. They were so cute and so excited to fill in the answers and when they would get it right, I would praise them and they would get this huge smile on their face. One girl, Fabiola, would hold her hand up so that I could give her a high five...hahaha... My 5th period was full of students from the Ukraine and so all I heard until the class started was them speaking so much Ukrainian....there were only 2 students in there that didn't speak that language and me. So, we just kinda sat there before class started and stared at each other. Near the end of class, we all ended up playing a vocabulary game and we were all having so much fun together! *sigh* I want to go back to that class.... :)

The absolute BEST recipe I've ever cooked so far!

Linguini with white wine clam sauce

1 lb uncooked linguini
1 tbsp olive oil
2 medium cloves of garlic, finely minced
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (you could make this optional if you don't like spicy)
1/4 c. parsley, fresh, finely minced
2 tsp basil, fresh, finely minced
13 oz. canned clams, drained, liquid reserved, chopped or minced
1/4 c. white wine (I found that Behringer Pinot Grigio was a good wine to use and to also have a glass with the meal)
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Cook linguini as directed (al dente)

In another large pot, gently heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook, stirring, for about 15-20 seconds, without allowing the garlic to burn. Add parsley and basil; cook, stirring, until coated and incorporated, about 30-45 seconds more.

Add reserved clam juice and white wine. Bring to a boil; boil uncovered for about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently until liquid begins to reduce, about 5 minutes.

Add clams and simmer until just heated, about 30-60 seconds. Add linguini and toss until it's well coated. Serve immediately. Yields about 1 1/3 cups per serving.

*If you don't have/want white wine, just substitute 1/4 c. of bottled clam juice instead.


IT IS SOOOO GOOD! I've had it twice already for dinner and I love it every time, so this recipe goes highly recommended! Oh, and one more thing, feel free to add another can of clams because just one can doesn't seem like enough. This meal tastes light and fresh--not too heavy of a pasta meal!

Two spills in a matter of minutes

Kyle and I went mountain biking today in the foothills and it was so fun! It was so cold too--so cold, that if you looked in the distance at the mountains, you can see a light blanket of snow on some of the taller mountains. We finally bought me a bike at walmart this past weekend and so today was the day we took advantage of it. Going up the mountains were hard of course because they were pretty steep but when it came time to descend, that's when the fun started! We were going along at a good, fast clip and to one side was even land but the other side was steep mountainside with some ditches (a hint of foreshadowing). I was in front of Kyle riding and we were going down this really deep dip in the path and with that deep dip, came a steep side to ride up. The path after the dip rose up so steep and it kind of slanted to the side a little so that if someone (that someone being me) wasn't careful enough to keep their balance, they would spill right over into a ditch. Guess what? I lost my balance and my bike threw me over the side onto my back into the ditch. My legs went up just about over my head and I couldn't get up out of the ditch without the help of Kyle. It kinda hurt, but no major injuries--just some bruising! I soon recovered and then we were getting closer to the end of the trail and there was another place kinda like that but not exactly the same--just a VERY narrow path with some sloping to it. I thought I could handle it...guess what? No I couldn't. I fell again the same way (on my back with legs up in the air). This time, it wasn't as painless...I thought I jammed my wrist but luckily I didn't. It just hurt a little more. I wonder if I'll be able to walk tomorrow? Well, anyway, today was fun and I got a little muddy with my two spills but maybe next time I'll be able to handle the curves a little better and not fall into any more ditches. I'm lucky I didn't fall onto a SNAKE!

So that was my day to cut it short. I won't get into the kind of crap I had to go through while dealing with doctors' offices!! Ugh! That's a whole 'nother story! The story ended up okay, but it sho' did tick me off A LOT today!! Kyle can tell you that! I don't like being sent in circles to get information--such a pet peeve of mine!!

A not-so-good day

Yesterday wasn't so good of a subbing experience. Long story short: last period caused me to call in another teacher to handle a "ganging up on the teacher" scenario. I told the students that they could not listen to their Ipods while doing their classwork (which is pretty much a school policy that the kids can't listen to their stuff or talk on cellphones unless they're in the hall). 3 boys started to gang up on me about it and I saw it as a losing battle so I called in for reenforcement and got results. The guys backed off of me and didn't say much to me for the rest of the period.

Can't sleep

I'm writing because I can't sleep. I don't really have anything new to say except that our cat is driving us crazy! We can't wait until he gets declawed in a week because then he will finally stop clawing at the door frames and making me have to repaint! He has a scratching post but I guess that isn't good enough or tall enough like a tree is. I guess that's why he claws at the door frames--they're tall like a tree. He's still a cutie though and I spoil him too much. I know he claws things to spite me. hehehe...

I have a sub job tomorrow. I'm subbing for a teacher that I've already subbed for and I'm kinda dreading his last class period. There's a kid in there that claims he's a foreign language genius and he knows like 3 or 4 different languages and one of them happens to be German (or at least he thinks he knows German). The bad thing is he tries to get me to answer his inappropriate questions (which he constantly slaughters the pronunciation of the words so that I really can't understand him). I just know to say no when he asks me a question. Never say yes to something you don't quite understand. I'm gonna have to tell him to stop or I'll write him up for the teacher to see when he gets back. Other than that, I think it'll be a pretty smooth day.

Ugh, I can't sleep and I have to get up at like 5:45am so that I can leave at about 6:40am in order to avoid MAJOR traffic. I was late to my Friday job because of traffic. Luckily, the teacher I was subbing for wasn't a classroom teacher. They were very understanding and apparently, I wasn't the only one being held up by it either. Oh, and much to my misfortune (or at least I thought it was) the school provided teachers with (huge) breakfast muffins in the lounge and that being my weakness, I took one--and ATE THE WHOLE THING!! I even ate another for lunch!! AHHHHHHHHHH!! I couldn't help myself and plus, I ate a slice of pizza later!! I just knew that WW weigh-in was not gonna be pretty....UNTIL I got to the Saturday morning weigh-in and found out that I LOST pounds instead of GAINED them. Wow...how did that happen? I must've done something right in the process of the week...maybe it was because I felt guilty Friday evening and ended up going to the gym and did 1 hour on the elliptical? Maybe that helped. Needless to say, I was relieved. They did say at the meeting one day that this plan really works because it helps you even when you tend to "fall off the horse" occasionally and you can always "get back on the horse" when you do mess up. That's exactly what I did...This week will be much better and to start it out, I ate a 3 point meal tonight (Caesar salad with tuna on it). I got the recipe from the new WW cookbook I purchased last night. Of course, I added the tuna myself because the salad wouldn't have been enough by itself. I needed some protein. So, the point of this story is that WW helped me even when I started to slip back into my old eating habits. I'm hoping that by the time Christmas rolls around that I'll be even more disciplined because that's when it'll count the most--BUT I also don't want to deprive myself of the goodies that come along with that special holiday! As long as I can get my physical activity in, I'll probably be okay.

We bought a bike for me today so that we can finally go bike riding together in the foothills. Now all we need is the bike rack for his car--unfortunately, it costs altogether around $500...what a bummer. I think we should wait a little while, right? For now, I think we can just disassemble the bikes and probably just take 2 cars to where we want to ride since we can't fit both bikes in our cars. That'll be the temporary solution, I guess...

Okay, guess I better get to sleep if I don't want to be yawning all day tomorrow and feel miserable. Good night, folks! Oh one more thing before I forget! Tonight at the grocery store, I was wearing my Georgia bag from Granny (Kyle's grandma) and we were waiting in line to check out...this man came up to us and asked if we were from Georgia and I said yes. He asked us where from and I said the ATL area and he said, "oh yeah? we're from Savannah and we've been here for about 12 years! My nephew (I think that's what he said) goes to UGA now!" I thought was so neat to meet someone from home here in Idaho because it's so rare. Also, it's kinda weird because my accent got kinda made fun of on Friday at the elementary school. It was all in fun, but it still was strange that these ladies got such a kick out me...they kept asking me to say stuff like the number 9 and the word "my". Apparently, they can hear it really well. Okay, more about that later...it really is time for me to go.. Night, for real!

An update because it's finally the weekend

I worked for almost the whole week and I'm so glad it's the weekend now. I'm starting to get calls and requests for me out the wazoo. I had 3 jobs that requested me this upcoming week. Unfortunately, 2 were scheduled for the same day and so I picked the one that came to me first and the other one was for Wednesday, which conflicts with my advisement appointment with an education advisor because, yes, I probably will be a college student once again next semester. I'm going to pursue my English Language Learners endorsement! Hopefully I won't have to take too many classes and I can be out in a semester or so.

Well, let's see...let me recap who I subbed for this past week. Tuesday was only a half day at a middle school. It was a geography class and I went in at about 11am. It was kinda tough because I came right as the next class began and the teacher didn't leave until he "got them started" on their activity. I quoted that because he really didn't get them started and he was WAY too lax with them and so that made them crazy for when I took over. They were VERY talkative and wouldn't quiet down because he had gotten them riled up. So, finally that period was over and I decided that I would crack down on the next period and see what happens. This proved to really work on the next period! I had a great time with them and they were quietly working the whole period! The aide that comes in everyday at that time was surprised. I did good. The rest of that teacher's day was really easy because he coached P.E. and he had told me that the kids were playing with another class and the other teacher would probably take over and not need me. So, I got to go home after the kids were settled in the gym and they started their warm-ups. The teacher also had planning period for last period so I really didn't have to stay! That was nice to get paid for a half day and only have to stay for 2 hours.

Wednesday was at Boise High and I had a traveling teacher's position. That wasn't bad because I was used to traveling across a school with a cart. She didn't have a cart though for that day--just movies. It was really laid back too.

Thursday was another half day at a middle school and I just realized that Thursday was the geography day and Tuesday was another middle school, so just switch the stories with the days. Both half days were good in their own ways.

Friday was at Garfield Elementary and I was subbing for a Title I tutor. That also required me to travel and then pull out some kids to work in small groups on their different activities. I liked it. It was fun!

Anyway, it was a good and exhausting week at the same time! Monday, I have a job already lined up for a teacher I have already taught for a couple of weeks ago. It should be a good day.

Another good recipe worth trying!

Beef with blackbean sauce and stirfry veggies:

5.5 oz. lean beef (thinly sliced)
Frozen Chinese stirfry vegetables
1/4 c. blackbean sauce
1/4 c. beef broth
Hot sauce (to taste or it can be optional)

Brown beef in a large skillet or you can use a wok if you want to feel authentic :). Make sure you put some oil in the pan before so the stuff doesn't stick. After beef is browned, dump in the veggies and stir constantly until cooked, but not too much that they're not fresh and crisp feeling. Add blackbean sauce and beef broth and stir until evenly coated. If you're feeling adventurous, add as little or as much hot sauce as you want. It's ok if you don't want any in it. Just don't put too much in it or else your mouth will be on fire!

This recipe had a really good taste to it. Also, remember that this is measured out to only serve 1 person.

A couple of really good recipes

Things are still going good for us. Kyle is still on the night shift but he's getting used to it and so am I. It's not so hard to go to bed anymore. I just had our sprinklers blown out for the winter today. Luckily, the guy was right across the street and so I called his number and he just drove right on over when he was done with the house he was doing first. If we didn't get the sprinklers blown out, our pipes would've burst probably in the cold temperatures. I think we've already had some really cold nights. Kyle said that he came out to his car after work and there was frost on it! It was really cold today--almost the kind of cold that seeps into your house and makes you chilled to the bone. I love it!

Anyway, we've been trying some new Weightwatcher recipes and here are a couple that proved to be REALLY tasty! I added the point values in case you wanna know.

Burger 'N' Fries: (8 points)

Shape 1/2 cup lean ground turkey into a patty. (I mixed in some grilling seasonings to give it a good taste, otherwise, we think it would've been a little plain tasting). Grill (or broil in the oven) until cooked through. Serve on a toasted (whole wheat) English muffin with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles (basically whatever you like on a sandwich). Cut one sweet potato into thin wedges. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes.

Spaghetti 'N' Meat Sauce: (6 points)

Brown 1/2 cup lean ground turkey in a skillet. Add 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 tsp each of basil, oregano and garlic powder, and chopped fresh spinach. Simmer 10 minutes. Serve over 1 cup cooked whole wheat spaghetti.

(these recipes only serve one person, so do what you have to in order to make more for a family).

These were soooooo good! I highly reccommend! Enjoy!

A pity!

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is coming to Boise and I can't go to it! I really wanna go but they're performing on November 28th and that's a Wednesday night and Kyle works on those nights. Plus, I think I've decided that I actually am coming to GA that week for my friend, Ashley's wedding. Kyle thinks I should definitely do it because if I don't, I might never see her again and it would put a strain on our friendship. I think it's kinda true, especially the part of not seeing her again. So, Mom and Dad--I guess I'll probably see you around Nov. 28th-Dec. 4th. I'm gonna try to make a week out of it. Anyway, I keep hearing ads for the TSO and it really makes me sad that that I won't be able to attend the concert this year. However, it does sound like they come every year, so maybe I'll be able to go next year.

Subbing is going good....no major problems yet. :) So far, I've taught 3 English classes and a 4th grade class. I think I'm getting the hang of it now.