Confessions of a BloggerHolic #46
Good morning! We’re chugging away through the week and it’s almost Winter Break! Today’s the last real academic day of the week. Thursday is the class party day. And then Friday is a half day so that hardly counts. Which means I just have to survive today and the rest of the week will be smooth sailing!
Thank you to everyone who left me a comment, sent me a message, or replied – in some way – to my blog post yesterday. There have been very few “wins” this year in regard to supporting my students. Rural areas have small-town politics and a lot can stand in the way of getting the kids what they need. But, that “lightbulb moment” with the parents that was captured in yesterday’s post was unforgettable and makes me want to power through the rest of the school year.
Anyway, if you’re popping in here for your light-hearted Confessions post and not the trials and tribulations of living in a small town, you’re on the right page. Let’s carry on with the usual Wednesday post! This week, again, I’ve got a link-up down below if you want to link up your own Confessions posts!
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Confession:
Based on the couple classrooms I’ve been in, it seems like a lot of the teaching is very old-fashioned. The traditional approach. The teacher-stand-in-front-and-read-off-the-textbook method. (Which makes sense given the rest of the town we’re living in). While in one of the classrooms yesterday, I watched one of my students draw smiley faces on all of his pencils. Instead of intervening and telling him to pay attention, I just turned a blind eye. Because, obviously, this was way more entertaining than going over adverbs from a textbook.
Confession:
Instead of Christmas gifts for my co-workers, I’m making them brownies and packing it up in these cute Christmas tins I found while shopping. In order to make enough brownies, I had to whip up two trays last night. That means, Ankur and I each had our own bowl of leftover brownie batter to enjoy while watching Parks and Rec. #Adulting
Confession:
We have a “Secret Santa” thing going at our school right now. After Thanksgiving, we were assigned a “secret pal” to deliver small gifts to until the big reveal at our Christmas party. I’ve been recycling some of my gifts. I know that if I keep any sort of candy around, I’ll dig into it when I’m feeling stressed. So any candy I receive from people goes into a bag that I then turn around and give my secret pal with her gift.
Confession:
I haven’t seen Elf. Or A Christmas Story. Or It’s A Wonderful Life. I realize that it’s a big deal because every time I tell somebody that, they stare at me – wide-eyed – like I’m a crazy person. I should probably step up my Christmas movie game this season.
Questions of the Day:
- What’s your favorite Christmas movie?
- Do you recycle gifts?
- What did you have for dinner last night?
- ‘FESS UP! Tell me a secret! (Or link up below)
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haha great read! nice post
Ok. You MUUUUUUST see Elf.
That and love, actually are my two absolute seasonal faves
That’s nice😊
Ha,ha – Love these! My confession is that I love the movie ‘Bad Santa’ – it’s so bad it’s good:-)
WHATTT! You have never seen ELF what are you thinking LOL go and rent it or go watch it for free somewhere on a app ha ha. Elf is the best movie, now for A Christmas Story well that just annoys me every year now honestly. I cannot stand the movie. I guess watching it over time as a child has really gotten to me LOL. Also love the brownie idea, your workers must kill you in case they are on a diet LOL. Happy Holidays!
So Elf is our go to Christmas movie every year. We’ve already watched it this year and it never gets old! Love all the confessions! Small towns are a different kind of wonderful, but there are pros and cons for sure!
I love how you keep your blog real! Your secret confessions made me laugh out loud at work. I love that you are making brownies for your coworkers and friends. I love home baked goodies. This is the perfect gift! Thank you for sharing your secret confessions with me and giving me something to smile about while I am surviving my work morning.
I love Elf but that’s ok you haven’t seen it yet. I finally was able to see E.T. and my hubby couldn’t believe I had never seen it before.
Love this! I would rather make gifts (a.k.a. bake something or crochet something) for my friends than buy. Also, I watched Elf last night. I think I watch it every year. You must watch it!
Confession:
I’ve never seen Elf either because Will Ferrell bugs me. My fav Christmas movie is the Sound of Music which is not technically a Christmas movie but plays multiple times during this season
I am also making some Christmas gifts: lemon sea salt body scrub and “bathroom freshies” that can be used either as bath bombs or toilet fresheners (yes!)
So first and foremost, serious business, you most definitely should see Elf!, tonight!
Now then, I once taught in a school (in a smaller town) that was incredibly old fashioned. I would arrange group hands on activities, and the teachers around me would complain to me, “you are just going to cause your class to become insane, it’s really just going to be a head ache, you’ll see.” Eventually the head of our department sat down for a heart to heart, “these kids are here because they are problem kids, you should not be doing activities with them outside of my strict lecture plan.”
The problem was I was having way more fun at my job than they were, but I was also exerting like 50X the effort. Finally after the winter break came, the teachers who were complaining to me, obviously complained up the ladder, as just before the break I was called to the principal’s office. He looked at me sad, he had obviously lost a long fought battle. “I’m going to have transfer you Ms. E.”
Yup, that good ol’ education system. HighSchool 2.0
Love your confessions, Divya! Especially letting the boy doodle instead of study adverbs. I think most folks can relate1
I haven’t seen Elf, nor do I want to, but I have seen It’s a Wonderful Life and Christmas Story. I used to teach elementary school, so I understand where you are coming from. My husband is a retired Special Ed Teacher, so I have that perspective as well.
I love Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life, but HATE A Christmas Story. Worth seeing those movies at least once.
I love watching Elf every year – maybe watch it THIS year?
http://www.whimsyandcosy.wordpress.com
Got here via BSL group on FB – Lovely to hear your comments about teaching and your approach to it. At least the faces on the pencils were creative! I had a spell of working with ‘problem’ children when I left journalism. My methods got results but I was not popular with the people who had old fashioned ideas and I was hounded out of the system despite the successes I had. The children were not the problem!!!!! And I really dislike Christmas and all the greed attached to it so I try to avoid everything except Christmas Day. A time to slow down and enjoy family but all the hype before hand is not for me (including films).
I’m doing the same thing this year.., instead of buying gifts.., I made Masala Chai Cakes and brought for my co-workers. They all loved it.
Aghhh that makes me so mad! I hate that people still think that the traditional teaching approach is effective. If I get bored when people teach like that, I can only imagine how my kiddos would feel. When I became a teacher, I promised myself I’d never do that to my kids. They deserve better!
Also, I laughed out loud when I read that you are giving your candy to your secret Santa. That’s totally something I’d do too haha.
I can’t believe you haven’t seen those movies yet! Also, how do you avoid Christmas Story?? It’s on EVERYCHRISTMASALLDAYEERDAY. HA! Go, and let us know your thoughts (elf is always a favorite)!! 🙂 My favorite of all time is definitely Home Alone though. And also Home for the Holidays, but thats’ really more about Thanksgiving, but the theme of family and crazy people are prevalent so it’s relatable for Christmas/Hanukkah too 🙂
I’m all about regifting, especially if I think someone else will get more pleasure out of something. It’s a good thing! (though don’t ever do this in front of the person who GAVE you the gift, obvs). 🙂 And really, there are just so many calories you can consume in a season, right? Glad to hear your week is looking up and that you didn’t scold the kid for those cute smiley faces. ha!
XOXO
Yes, please watch ELF and a Christmas Story! It’s the quintessential Christmas movie. Have it on in the background even while you bake or wrap presents. They are both really great movies that will make you smile. I love your idea of making brownies for your colleagues. I think I may do the same for our neighbors this year with chocolate chip banana bread.
My son is a teacher and I know how hard teachers jobs are. I am into watching the Hallmark christmas movies right now.
Favorite Christmas movie is probably A Christmas Carol – it’s a classic. And yep, I definitely recycle gifts!!! 😛
I would LOVE to get brownies! I love to eat, so when people give me food, I’m thrilled.
GREAT idea about gifting brownies — those look delicious! And bravo on having all that willpower with the candy…I could never do that lol
You have to watch Elf! It’s so good!! The secret Santa thing makes me laugh. I do that too.
Making baked goods for people is a great gift. We do that for our neighbors and they always really love it!
I love the brownie batter/Parks & Rec combo 😂 Believe it or not, I’m pretty sure this IS adulting–our parents were faking it as much as we are!!
Nice post! I can’t wait to watch Sing and Moana at the cinema this Christmas. It’s a beautiful life is a classic movie that you must watch hohoho!
EVER?! My favorite Christmas movie is White Christmas, but I have definitely seen the others!
Don’t sweat watching “It’s a Wonderful Life.” There’s no little Sebastion in that movie. Parks and Rec is so much better.
Last night’s dinner was Shepard Pie. I do enjoy A Christmas Story movie. I have not recycled anyone’s gifts yet. I do hate to have too much candy around as a temptation as well. Do you think your secret Santa could be the one receiving their candy back, lol?
Baking for those you care about is a nice gesture, besides something sweet coming out of yoru kitchen is better than any store bought present.
I’m one of those people that doesn’t find Elf quite as funny as most of the other people. I do not recycle gifts.
Girl you’re not alone on not watching those movies as it’s not something I was into I had different movies that I liked and never deviated lol
I love the idea of making homemade gifts. I’m sure your co-workers will love them. Also, my favorite Christmas movie is A Christmas Story.
I haven’t watched Elf, either.
White Christmas tops my list of best Christmas movies!
Am planning to watch all Disney movie this Christmas season (lazy day/disney moviethon).
Yeah I do recycle gifts, like recently I’m sorting some beauty and cosmetic products that various PR and brands been sending me, then put in on customized bags for re-gifting.
Hehe inreally enjoyd reading this post!! I recycle gifts too!!!
I can’t believe you’ve never seen Elf! It is legit one of my absolutely favorite movies!!
Ok I am going to be honest right now, the fact that you haven’t seen ELF just makes me sad. However, those brownies made me hungry.
Absolutely one of my favorite! You must watch it! You have very interesting post!
Omg. I’d love to get some yummy brownies. You wouldn’t even have to wrap them nicely for me. Lol.
Ok you are a crazy person and I’m staring at you wide eyed. Make a point this season to watch Elf. It doesn’t need to be in December – any time for elf. Smiling is my favorite!
Omg! I have to whole heartedly agree with confession #1… so many educators are still teaching like it’s the 1990’s. Oh and don’t miss the opportunity to watch Elf this Christmas!
Those smiley faces! I would be enthralled on watching him draw those as well. I can’t believe he actually got them to fit!
Haha this was so much fun to read. I loved how you replaced gifting materialistic things with delicious brownie. 😀 THis seems like a great idea.
Gifting brownies is a fantastic idea.I haven’t watched Ekf but have watched It’s a wonderful life .I live eating brownie batter.This is the worst time of the year for calorie counting
Omg I love the movie elf!!!! One of my favorite Christmas movies. Can never get enough of it!!!
It’s amazing the school term is coming to a close in a few days. The year is almost over too and I haven’t seen too many movies this year either. Time flies! 🙂
You know what I love getting things like brownies for Christmas. Those are the best gifts.