so loverly

on the last day of school before our three day weekend, the whole school celebrated valentine's day on friday, 2 days before the actual love event. every year, i get some chocolates and flowers from my students.

but this year was especially sweet because my student sergio just plain stole my heart. he said, "ms. bagnatic, this is for you." it was a huge box of rocher chocolates (which my sister promptly demolished when i brought them home).

AND then he said/did possibly the sweetest and most thoughtful thing ever. he said, "and ms. bagnatic, this one is for charlie." omg, he got charlie a chew bone!! i was floored how thoughtful he was and i told him "charlie is such a lucky dog! he is going to take this bone and run to a corner and chew it and he only does that with his favorite things." i guess all the stories i told them about charlie when i used him as an example to teach my students about different concepts really "hooked" them in. i'm just amazed more than anything else. and yes, charlie demolished that bone.

another student who told me every day of the week that she will bring me something because she said she pestered her mom incessantly and her mom had agreed, ended up not bringing me anything. OF COURSE i didn't expect gifts, but it never ceases to amaze me the things parents tell their children just to shut them up. of course they forget their children are little human beings and will remember promises as much as the next person, if not more vividly. well, on that friday, she kept apologizing to me because she couldn't deliver and it just made me feel bad to see that SHE felt bad, kwim? i don't ever need anything from my students other than their effort and willingness to learn. throughout the year, she's given me that and that's all that matters to me. as they were putting away their backpacks, i see her digging into hers and she offers me her own gifts, erasers and a mini notebook that was probably for her own use. she insisted that i keep them because she really wanted to give me something.

now THAT is sweet. all these little things reminded me of my 3rd/4th grade teacher ms. tang. omg, i LOVED her so much and i always made my dad take me to kmart or a drugstore to get her gifts for the holidays because i just wanted to GIVE her something even though we didn't have much. at that time, that was the best way i knew how to show her my adoration. i'm not saying my students adore me, but it tickled me to no end remembering how hard it was at the beginning, and how far they've come along. my god they've blossomed so much, as learners and good little human beings!

it's not the presents but the thoughtfulness that my students show me that reminds me why teaching is an awesome profession. even with the threats of another slew of cuts in the budget, i know that for as long as i've taught, i've had a hand in churning out some amazing learners, and YES, i will take my share of the credit in that.

i hope you all have a lovely valentine's. love and peace! smooches, bagnatic ;)

the pedometress

i'm still fat, but now i'm a fat girl with a pedometer. check this out!

i know the best weight loss solution is to reduce caloric intake and to go to the gym to work out, maybe run about in the open air like an antelope, or just doing SOMETHING....ANYTHING active. but after reflecting upon my hodge podge schedule, i also know the best solution will have to fit into what i already do on a daily basis if i want to see a small measure of success rather than complete failure. since i walk anyways (pacing around like a nazi teacher making sure kids do their work), i'm thinking i can just "up" the pacing a bit and see if i can clock in the 10,000 steps that are needed on a daily basis. mind you, i've read that 10,000 steps a day is a SLOW ASS way of addressing weight loss, but surely it's a step up from blogging and dreaming about chocolate donuts don't you think?

anyways, i tried it for a day and clocked in over 10,000 steps. i admit, i was aware of it so i paced a lot more than i normally would have. example, walking around my students several times to check on the same question. unneccesary? you bet. then you think about the tons of people that have office jobs that drive to work (getting the closest parking spot of course), then heading straight for their office chair just to sit in front of their computer THE WHOLE DAY. i wonder if they can clock in 10,000 steps a day without having to do extra?

here's my first day with the ped. the weekend was definitely NOT as productive (sunday in particular) since i cleaned and weeded for a large part of it. no walking involved with those kinds of chores. i'll check in again in about six months (8/7/10) and tell you if it worked or not or if the chocolate donuts got the best of me.