Tiny Changes Equal Big Results

I was first introduced to the short video, "The Story of Stuff" about a year ago. Since I am always trying to make my lifestyle more "green," this video truly spoke to me. It basically argues that our environment is becoming strangled by our quest for stuff.

Today I reintroduced this video to my film class. While I was watching it I began to reflect upon my quest for making my life more environmentally friendly. I realized that, in many ways, I have lowered my carbon footprint on this planet. I recycle almost everything I possibly can. I have replaced paper napkins with cloth napkins that can be washed and reused. I have lowered paper consumption in all of my classes by using a class website and hosting most quizzes online. I try to drive less and run all of my errands at one time to conserve gas. I also have a small garden in which I grow fresh herbs and veggies.

Even though I do more than the average American to help improve the environment, I still feel that I don't do enough. I could incorporate composting into my daily routine and lower my garbage output. I could also use less electricity which would not only lower my electric bill, but also decrease the amounts of coal used to power homes.

We all need to reflect upon ways that we can help improve the environment. Whether you believe in global warming or not, the very air we breathe is worth cleansing. By making only a couple of changes in your life, you can make the Earth a cleaner, brighter place.

What are some ways that you live a "green lifestyle?"

View "The Story of Stuff"

End of Quarter Blues

The end of the quarter is always an unpleasant time for teachers (in fact, I have wrote about this in the past). It is the time when students all of a sudden get serious about their school work and care about their grades. Students often decide to do all of this during the last five or six days of the quarter.

The end of the quarter is also the time when parents email or call in their last ditch attempts to negotiate a grade hike. Apparently, the grade was not as important during the quarter (when the bulk of the work takes place) but, all of a sudden, has become the be all, end all of the world.

Now, of course, I am exaggerating a bit here. There are usually only a small amount of students scrambling at the last minute to raise grades. Most of the students see the situation logically - grades rarely go up much during the last week of class. But, those few students cause teachers as much stress and strife as a group double the size. The pleading, complaining, and whining takes its toll and teachers do a lot of screaming on the inside (and perhaps some scream on the outside too).

So, give your teachers a break this week. Every teacher I know is working hard to get the final papers graded and grades finalized. If you are one of those students who slacked off during the quarter and wants a last minute reprieve, realize the reality of your situation and make the necessary changes for next quarter. Be diligent and disciplined throughout the entire semester and you will reap the rewards in the end.

Morning People

This morning as I was unloading myself from the work parking lot (quite early I would add), I noticed that the car next to me also had a passenger inside waiting to head in to the building. I gathered my bags, locked my car, and started walking. She decided to catch right on up to me and chat with all of the energy in the world. Now, I rarely, if ever, see this woman, let alone speak to her. But, she is one of those morning people. It was evident from her bright attitude, chatty demeanor, and look of concern as I quietly nodded or grumbled responses to her seemingly never ending questions. I can't recall those questions right now, mainly because as she was firing them off all I could think was, "Please leave me alone. I need some time before I speak to people. Can't you see that it is early!"

I am convinced that the self-dubbed morning people are a freak of nature. I get the whole "I am happy to be alive another day thing," but, what I don't get is the joy at being up so early on yet another day that you are alive. Can't you be happy to be alive at say, 9am rather than 5am? Is the level of joy really going to change within a couple of hours? I think not.

As you can probably tell, I am not a morning person. I don't wake up with a smile on my face, ready to face the day. I don't particularly like bright light shining in my window and I really don't enjoy listening to the "sounds of the world waking up" (as some of those morning folk like to say). I prefer to stay in bed until I am good and ready to roll out. Breakfast? Who needs it? Sure, I like eggs and pancakes but I can have those any time of day. I love the night. Curling up with a good book and just a small lamp to light my way is my version of heaven. I enjoy sitting on the couch discussing my day with my hubby. And dinner food rocks! There is something inherently wrong with having a big bowl of pasta for breakfast.

But those crazy morning people, they just don't get it. When I say that I would rather sleep until 9am and stay up until midnight, they just give me this sad look of pity while thinking "Wow, she is just wasting her days." And it is because of this belief that they will never cease to make everyone around them fellow morning people. To those folks out there still rebelling against the morning - don't let it happen! We gotta keep something good for ourselves.

For the Love of Writing

It was when I was in sixth grade that I fell in love with writing. We had been reading Greek mythology (still some of my favorite reading material) and as a supplementary activity my teacher asked us to create our own myths. We had to basically create a story describing the genesis of an object or idea. I chose to create the story of a rose (I was far more sentimental during those days). It was a story of a love affair between a beautiful woman and handsome man. I don't quite remember how the story went, but I do remember that the rose became a symbol for the couple's undying love. What can I say? Was it cliche? Yes. But, I was young and naive and loved the idea of love.

Despite the cliche plot, this activity awakened something inside of me that has yet to crawl back into its hole. I had such a wonderful time writing the story that I made everyone read it. My mom, my dad, even my cousin and his girlfriend. I wanted to share my writing experience with everyone that I knew (which at that time was not too many people). It was a turning point in my life. Writing was still challenging, but it also became fun. Writing was no longer something I had to do, it was something I wanted to do.

I still take the time to sit down every once in a while and just get words on a page. Sure, I write essays, papers, blogs, and lessons all of the time, but sometimes it is important just to write for the sake of writing, not for a specific purpose. This "free writing," as I like to call it, helps me in so many ways. It gives me time to reflect upon my life or just to engage with a creative outlet. It also gives me a forum to work my imagination - something we all need to work more often.

I share all of this with you because I have been pondering how I can help my students enjoy writing as much as I do. The writing that we engage in during a typical English class is formal because that is what is utilized in the collegiate and professional world. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of writing that makes students love the practice. I am well aware that there will always be those students that will never enjoy writing, just as I will never enjoy working out or watching golf. But, for those students who have a writer curled up inside, I want to help them set it free.

So, I am asking for your help. I want suggestions for ways that we can foster creative writing together. I am open to anything. More creative journals? Incorporation of a creative writing unit/project? Lay it on me. I am looking forward to your suggestions...