Substitute Update

Since starting substituting I have been in the classroom everyday. It have been great to meet new people and see the students faces light up when they learn something new. 

I have known that I wanted to teach for a long time. However, it was always more hypothetical. Now that it has been a reality I feel like I have made the right choice. Every day has brought me so much joy.

I love my job.

I love that it is different everyday.

I love meeting new students.

I love the funny things that they say.

And most of all I love learning how to be a teacher. Watching experienced teachers work has been amazing. I have learned something every single time.

Today I sat in on a second grade class and the teacher was reading a variation of Cinderella. At the end of the book she reminds the students that the story is a Fairy Tale. She tells the girls that Prince Charming is not real and that he does not fall in love with you because you put on a pretty dress. Teaching students that Fairy Tales are fun to read but have no connection to real life is a valuable lesson that takes many people a very long time to learn. It was incredible to see that she is sculpting the minds of the future leaders in such a strong and truthful way. Because of her the students know that they can make their own way in the world. If you ever read this, Thank you for being amazing.

For the Love of Snow

Living in the South for four years was wonderful but there were somethings that I missed. Snow being one of them. So happy to be home in New York for the Blizzard Jonas!

Quote of the Week Wednesday

She is mine own, And I as rich in having such a jewel As twenty seas, of all their sand were pearl, The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.

- William Shakespeare, "Two Gentlemen of Verona"

When you are a beader you dream about thread paths...

When ever I want to make a multi strand necklace I am always looking to design ways to connect the strands. This week I was dreaming about the thread paths to connect my ropes of Ndebele necklace.

In the past I have created caps like the one below:

And below I connected the strands with two bars of Tubular Peyote:

This time I came up with a way to connect the Tubular Ndebele ropes into one rope. The process looks like this: 

I started out with a row of latter stitch, and then connected it into a ring. I continued normally with a four drop Ndebele passing around twice times. I then add one more row and closing off each three columns of one color and attach each of the coordinating ropes.  

A Chilly Afternoon

I spent a chilly afternoon with my family beading in front of the fire and listening to my brother Matthew practice for Battle of the Bands on the piano. It was just one of those moments where you could not feel more happy, and peaceful. 

And how can I miss a chance to share a photo of my favorite little snuggle pup.