Who Wears Short Shorts? Not me. Gross.

I'm having a love affair with these shorts. Praise you, St. George Gap outlet. I got them for less than $20 and I should have bought every single color.

Awkward photo brought to you by SnapClap - the app I'm still trying to figure out since The Beard HATES taking outfit photos more than losing to the Yankees. I'm serious. And that's a lot. 

I wanted to wear them the first possible day that I'd have a chance to sit in the sun - and I planned on going to Mitch's Senior Day game today. (Unfortunately didn't happen as the game wasn't at 3:30 as planned. booooo)

However, shorts on the job is generally frowned upon if you are a professional of any kind. Here's my take on dressing them up so you CAN wear them to work and still look semi-serious about your job. Even though we all know you're daydreaming about summer and looking up the beaches of Kauai on your breaks. Just me? Oh. Welllllll

Fancy up your shirt. A classic button down is the way to go. Black was my option because... it's in the name of my blog. I love black. Dressy chiffon blouses or shells work well too.

Belt it! A coordinating belt ties it together and makes it look intentional. Also I had to buy these shorts a size too big so they'd cover up my testimony, so I have to wear the belt or I look like I'm a gansta.

Class it up on the ground level. Shoes, I mean. Pointy stilettos and shorts is such a cool look (see below. Drool. Repeat). A little much for school though, so I wore my trusty black sandal wedges.

"Mrs. Holdaway! You're so tall!!!" Now they can see me coming when I try to sneak up and steal their cell phones. :(

Day to Night

Yesterday I wore one of my new high-low dresses to school (my latest obsession. Bought 2 on my last shopping trip. Yikes.), and we had dinner with the Holdaways planned for that evening. I thought all day about my outfit change for dinner so I figured - Hey. Why not make this an outfit blog post? Voila. Here goes.

I'm 100% for changing your outfit multiple times a day. But ain't nobody got time for that. Usually when I do, it's around a staple piece - a pair of jeans, a shirt or in this case - a dress. It took me less than 15 minutes to completely change my look for a little family dinner date. 

For school I paired this coral-y high low dress with a navy blazer and navy flats to ground it a little (this dress can easily scream "Long Hair Don't Care Also I'm Obsessed With Mermaids") and to look professional. Normally heels would be a good option, but it was a project day where I was running around and Thursdays are always my toughest schedule days - therefore, comfy flats.

You ALWAYS need a belt with a plain column (uncinched/ungathered/otherwise plain-fronted) dress. So I added a thin gold one to complement the warm coral undertones. Throw on a blue necklace and throw a quick bend in my ends and that's a pretty standard school outfit for me.

 

Dress: F21, Flats: Famous Footwear, Blazer: Cotton On, Belt: Gap, Necklace: F21

For dinner (or any other evening activity) you want to have a little more fun with it. I swapped the blue blazer for a cheetah cropped cardigan. I swapped the flats for a dark heeled bootie. And obviously I swapped the gold belt for a black one.



















I touched up my makeup with a bit more powder, undereye concealer (thank you blue circles under my eyes for making me look like I work harder than I do), hot pink creme blush and a swipe of mascara. A blast of dry shampoo, a few turns of the curling iron and Danica went from a classic but boring school day look to fun night out look.

Dress: F21, Boots: Famous Footwear, Sweater: H&M, Belt: Gap

I like the flats look better. It wasn't until I looked at these pictures today that I realized how short the boots and sweater make me look by hitting at unflattering points. Curse you, curves. Just kidding. Love you lots.

I don't take it back. It was a fun outfit to wear anyway. 

YOLO.

Bribing Teachers Works and Other Confessions

Sorry for another teacher-y post in a row. I'm very pensive and introspective about teaching right now (they call this our "reflection" period after we get out of our "burnout" period which is from about January-March).

I'm including an outfit pic at least (blurry and crappy - taken by my ipad and an app that takes pictures when you clap! haha I'm pathetic) to at least make it slightly less boring to those of you who don't care about junior high stuff. I don't blame you.

I've worn 3 maxis this week. Yikes. They are pretty much sweats so it means I've given up until this cold leaves me alone.

 

Only a free Diet Coke can give me that goofy grin

 

Today, a kid came in with our latest map - Asia - and asked if I could put it in our online gradebook before lunch even though it was due last week and was really late. See, he had a REALLY IMPORTANT soccer game after school and his grades weren't good enough to play.

Once again, awesome teaching moment where consequences can and should be used. Praise be to this soccer coach for holding his players accountable. I could kiss him on the cheek.

So I tell this kid that I'll TRYYYYYY but that he shouldn't leave things to the last minute and should never turn in things late and that he owes me big time. I saw the fear in his eyes and I know it worked. This kid will be an A student for me forever.

A couple hours later he was back with an ice cold Diet Coke and a big thanks. Yahtzee.

Moral of the Story: Kids don't realize how little things they do can seriously help them out in the classroom. Bribery, favorites, it's all true and it all works.

Top 5 Teacher Confessions that will Amaze and Help You

1. If a student is quiet and nice, I subconsciously grade their work easier, because they make my life easier. They can get away with so much more. Sometimes I see really really really good kids texting and I don't bust them on it. I know I should, but I don't want to because I trust them and have a good relationship with them
2. If a student usually works crazy hard and is perfect, I stop grading their work eventually and just give them 100% on everything to save myself time.
3. When current work comes in, I have 200+ to grade so I spend about 2 seconds on each one (meaning if it looks good at first glance I usually give it points). When late work comes in I only have like 2 or 3 to look at at a time (meaning I tear it apart and grade hard). 
4. When you come talk to me about your grade, I'm 436x more likely to help you out and get your stuff in. When your mom emails me, especially in a rude way (see earlier post) it makes me want to grade your work so hard and let it sit on my desk for a week. I know that sounds bad. But it's fact. 
5. Kids that bring me Diet Cokes, food, cute notes, compliment me, etc. - well. It's hard not to love them. Emotional bank account, people. 

The main idea here is that forming a relationship with a teacher is worthwhile. These are actually universal principles and you should just work hard to make people like you and think you're a good person and your life will automatically get easier. Promise.

More #jrhighprobs for Your Reading Pleasure

A few weeks ago my bestie Katie suggested that I write more about the funny things that happen at school. I'll oblige.

I think a lot of people still view school, and history classes in particular as super ineffective, useless and boring. Textbooks and movies and date memorization. In reality, education has come a long way. We focus on small-group collaboration, DOING rather than TELLING, and focusing on big themes and concepts rather than date/fact memorization. The new "big thing" is standards-based grading - meaning we ONLY grade whether they meet the standard or not - no behavior, homework, effort,

Last week we were studying the theme of Movement as we did our Europe unit, so we had a lesson about things that originated in Europe and are now seen as "American" and are important to our lives. The list included things like blue jeans, hamburgers and hot dogs, the music of the Beatles, Adele, One Direction, Led Zeppelin, etc, and principles of government like democracy and republics.

We mapped these at their origins and then the assignment was to write one page on something that came from Europe that they think is important to America today.

Here are a few funny exerpts from their papers (I did not correct their original spelling or grammar, fyi)

• France is a very "legit" place.
• Your not American if you don't at least know what a hamburger is.
• The hamburger is the ultimate sandwich it is no ordinary sandwich, it has a big slab of beef that is so good that it will tickle your tastebuds.
• Hamburgers are so jucie and meaty, and just really good and talking about this is makeing me really hungry.
• Cheeseburgers are one of the main reasons in the US for Obesity. Cheeseburgers in my opinion are amazing.
• One Diretion sings like angles.
• One Direction is probably the second best thing that has happened to American girls. Justin Bieber is probably the best thing thats happen to us. 
• Adele also came from England. She writes songs that make people want to cry.
• Adele has perfect skin she has no acne.
• The Sex Pistols music is crap, I won't sugar-coat it. They sound like an infint walrus being thrown into a blender while still consious and I love them for it.
• Music has saved many lives throughout the years. Yes, it may also lead other to a more worse depression, but overall, most lives are saved from it. 
• Girls wouldn't have their cute diamond butt jeans and guys wouldn't have their silly saggy jeans.
• Fences make it so you don't need to look or talk to them if you don't like them. 
• With a fence you can keep the neighbors dog of your lawn and poop free.
• If your yard looks uglie you should protect and block with a fence.
• Democracy is one of the greatest things America has, and I hope we never lose it.
• Democracy made our lives so much better because we would have a king and we would have a good chans that he would be mean. 
• Republics are important to our government. We need both (meaning democracy) to balance it out so we don't go crazy and start shooting.  

So many days I wonder what I'm doing. If I'm having a positive effect on their lives. If they are even learning. If I can overcome the overwhelming circumstances in their lives that inhibit education.

Then I read stuff like this and realize that I couldn't pay for better entertainment. And for the most part, despite the spelling and grammar, they understood the assignment and will remember the theme of movement and globalization every time they listen to One Direction. Maybe even Democracy. :)

Then I feel better and love my kids for a few more days. Until another penis is drawn on my desks. 

BYU's Best/Worst Classes

I've been reflecting on my BYU career and the classes I've taken. Some were more helpful than others. Some were absolutely useless (I'm looking at you, Calculus) and some I still use every day. For my BYU and prospective BYU friends, I thought I'd do a review of some of the best/worst classes I took. As always you should check out Rate My Professor before signing up for any class.

What I wished I would have taken:

• More religion classes. They are the best.
• A raquetball or other fun sports/fitness class.
• More specialized history classes like The American South or World War II.
• School of Family Life (not religion) classes on marriage and kids and stuff. I learn it secondhand from Eliesa.
• Gone to more Devotionals. I always really enjoyed it when I went or watched Devotional, but usually used it as homework time.

So here they are, my most memorable classes - best to worst:

Intro to Social Psychology (PSYCH 350) - Amazing! The best class ever. We talked about cognitive dissonance, conditioning, social norms, and my favorite assignment was to break a social norm and write about it. I invaded people's personal space. It was awkward and hilarious. I loved reading the textbook and class time flew by even though it was like 2 hours each time. Take this class if you can.

Classroom Management with Burr (SC ED 379) - The most useful class of all time, and only 1 credit hour! I wish it had been 3 or 4 credit hours. I use it every day and I learned so much from Sister Burr. She's awesome. You'd only take this if you were an Education major obviously, but if you are make sure you take it from Burr if she still teaches now that she's a principal.

Book of Mormon (REL A 121+122) with Merrill - The Best! He ended up being my favorite religion teacher and I took Book of Mormon pt. 2 and New Testament pt. 1 (REL A 211) with him. He's very frank and really helps apply scripture to your life. But, as any BYU student will tell you, you can't go into BOM thinking it will be easy because you've read it 50 times already. Take it seriously.

Econ 110 - Loved it! Most people hate it. I didn't take it from the famous Kearl guy though, so that may be part of it. It was really hard, but so interesting to me. If you dedicate yourself, it's actually rewarding.

Mission Prep with Goodman (REL C 130) - Awesome! I took it because all my friends were in Mission Prep classes because they were actually going on missions and I felt left out. Turns out I loved this class. I learned teaching basics and more importantly, how to teach with the Spirit. I also had to wear a fake engagement ring to avoid a weirdy. But that's a story for another time.

World Religions with Choi (REL C 351) - Incredible! Sort of. Choi is this little Korean dude who is super hard to understand at first (Sa, right?) but knows his shiz. The only trouble is that he tells you super cool stories all class period and then the test is all out of the book. Out of class intensive study is necessary. But it's amazing and testimony building.

Political Geography (GEOG 341) - So good! I'm a geography nerd. But we talked about Israel/Palestine, Kurds, Quebecois and tons of other interesting, relevant stuff. Again, he'd get off on a tangent of personal experience and you had to study a lot. He has a really cool interactive project, but I worked with two less-than-bright BYU football players so I did all the work. Worth it, though.

Comparative Government & Politics (PLSC 150) - Hard but super interesting. I still remember and apply the stuff we learned as I teach and when I read current events. I can't remember the professors name but he reminded me of Steven Colbert so I really liked it. Try to get in a cool TA group, because mean ones screw you over.

D&C (REL C 324) - hated it. Never went. Got like a B-. Don't take religion classes at 9 am. Just don't.

Political Inquiry (PLSC 200) - Shoot me in the face. Hated it. So bad. Also I'm pretty sure I was the only freshman. Because I already had so many UVU credits, I didn't need to take generals, but I got last pick of real big kid classes because I was on paper a freshman. I hated this class. I have no background in stats. Shoot me in the face.

Calculus (MATH 112) - enough said.

[Note that I somehow got out of American Heritage even though it's sort of right along with my major... lolz]

What about y'all? Favorite/least favorite classes? Classes you wish you would have taken?

Confucius Say...

On Monday we learned about Confucianism, so I had the kids read some Confucian sayings and then write their own. This was the best idea I ever had because they wrote some great and hilarious stuff.

Actual Confucian Sayings:

• Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

• The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterward speaks according to his actions.

• Choose a job you love and you will never work a single day in your life.

• A lion chased me up a tree, and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top.

My kids' Confucian Sayings:

• Girls are like war, dangerous and unpredictable.
• Nature is beautiful because it chose to be.
• Boys are like Pop-Tarts-- They're better when they're hot! (LOL LOL)
• If you look at the ground you'll never see a rainbow.
• Seek to express, not impress.
• Chocolate makes a moment perfect.
• Don't wait for a miracle - become one.
• If you have haters, then you're doing something right.
• No matter how good you are at something, there's always an Asian better than you.

I think the mix of hilarious and poignant is a great snapshot of what life is like here at the junior high. :)

Out of the Mouth of Babes

I know I can't compete with this gem for student-answer entertainment. But I had a good one today.

When explaining the importance of a certain news article, my student wrote:

"People get pissed off at rapists."

In his defense, they do. They totally do.