Moving Day

I have moved!

Follow me here.

It's been fun,

but the fun will only continue.

Run on over to my new wordpress site.

See you there!

back in action

I am a runner.

And when I say that, I don't just mean I run often.

I am a runner.

I am a runner because when I don't run,

I jones and seethe until I can run again.

These last three weeks I've been sidelined

due to a nagging knee pain.

A tight IT band was the diagnosis.

Rest, ice and strengthening was on order.

And no running until it felt better.

Then, add on a nasty three day cold.

I basically was a caged animal,

raging to get out and cause havoc.

I awoke this morning finally feeling normal.

A slight tinge in my knee, but nowhere near 

how it once felt.

I decided today was the day.

Today was the day I could return.

After all, Warriors don't quit.

As I tied my shoelaces,

I realized,

This is what being a runner feels like.

All you want to do is run.

And when you're not running,

all you can think about is running.

Glad to be back.

And can't freakin' wait to

let the marathon training begin!

Wednesday Delights

Since making my summer bucket list

I've been pretty determined to follow through

and complete at least one thing each day of summer.

Well, getting sick was not planned,

which has put a wrench in getting a few of the easy things crossed off.

(If you know me, I never get sick.  And when I do, I'm a HUGE baby!)

I admit that I haven't run once so far on this summer vacation!

Nor have I spent any time by the pool!

What kind of start to summer is this?!

However, after spending two days forced to lounge inside,

I had to get out of the house, despite my lack of energy.

I was in the mood to thrift, so Chris and I headed to 

Roseville's Antique Trove today to get a start on #16.

Much to my delight, I stumbled upon this cute juice pitcher 

for only 12 dollars and decided it had to be mine!

I just love the patterns and can't wait to fill it with a batch of fresh lemonade.

Perhaps that calls for a recipe on Pinterest,

which will allow me to start on #13!

After some time strolling among the antiques,

we headed to the bookstore next.

I'm trying to stick to my "Book a Week" plan,

so next on the list will be this one:

Said to be a modern day Catcher in the Rye

I've got high hopes for this one,

which gives me a little push of motivation

to get done with the book I'm reading now.

For being sick,

I've had a little luck on this Wednesday.

Family Bonding and Best Summer Ever #1

I don't think I brag about my family enough.

So this post is dedicated to them.

This weekend I had the pleasure to serve as

Camp Director of the Friedrich Family "Camping Trip."

Though long ago it did begin as a true camping trip.

We rented 3 awesome houses in South Lake Tahoe,

with enough room to sleep all 32 of us,

in addition to the 5 that came just for the day.

Complete with a softball game, volleyball game,

amazing food, Encore, betting on the Belmont,

pouting after a Celtics loss and beer pong, 

this trip was more than I could have ever hoped for.

However, the part that made the weekend was

Minute to Win It!

Yes, that's right.  My family played some games

inspired by the TV show, including ones called 

"Junk in the Trunk" and "Penny Hose."

Do you have members of your family that 

will willingly place their hands in a pair of panty hose

digging to grab two pennies?

Well I do!

Or family members that will race to unwind an entire roll of toilet paper?

Or attempt to inch a cookie from their forehead to their mouth?

I do!

Here's a sneak peek of my photos below:

My two cousins, Mary Kate and Maddy, competing during

"Face the Cookie." 

And let me tell you, my family is amazing!

For the most part I'd say we all get along,

 though we will take witty jabs at one another from time to time.

But if there weren't any jokes or one-liners

it wouldn't be a true Friedrich event.

We love impromptu games of Bridge and Apples to Apples.

We love to cheer for anything, even when it's just someone walking in the door.

We're loud, but we're lovable.

I feel lucky to call myself a Friedrich

and love sharing every minute with them!

I feel like the pictures can tell a better story of our weekend

than I can put into words.

A view from the lake looking up at one of the amazing

houses we rented.

Our own personal dock came with the house!

 Just a few of the players.

Spontaneous volleyball game at Raegen Beach.

 "Penny Hose" - My aunt Mary is a great sport!

"Bucket Head" - Toss 3 ping pong balls into the bucket...

On top of another players head!

 "Junk in the Trunk" - Shake 4 ping pong balls out.

 "Face the Cookie!"

 Another amazing view from our house.

My family rocks.  Just thought you should know!

*Side note: This counts as putting a checkmark by #1

on my summer bucket list; this being my first road trip of summer.

College Talk

At my school, we're all about college.

Each classroom is named after a different university.

We have "College Shirt Fridays."

 We use "college walk" and encourage "college talk."

My classroom is named after UCLA.

Our student of the day is known as "Bruin of the Day."

Our class money is known as "Bruin Bucks."

And we even have a class cheer!

Now, I am completely aware that college is not for everyone.

However, in my opinion, if college is what you desire,

then you should have the opportunity to work toward this goal.

(Keep in mind I said "work toward.")

You're not going to get into college if you don't have drive.

Let that be said first.

I have been working hard with my students on this idea of

"College Talk."

Better known as academic discourse, college talk

is the way students interact and discuss ideas in class.

We have worked hard to understand what this 

sounds like and feels like within a classroom.

This week we did a little wrap-up,

reflecting on this "College Talk" that we've been using all year.

However, now it's changed from college talk to Academic Discourse.

As I looked at their responses,

I felt one of those moments where as a teacher

you feel proud.  You say to yourself,

"Wow, I taught them that.  They learned this from me."

Yet, the words they reflected were deeper

than I ever could have articulated myself.

So let me brag for just a second and 

share some of their work with you.

(All you non-teachers out there,

this may make no sense, 

but it's a big deal to me.)

 Students created "Team Statements" to declare their 

own definitions and opinions of academic discourse.

 "It is important because it helps you be brave in college."

 

My favorite one from this page: 

"It makes you feel like a genius."

This group felt the need to highlight their cooperative effort

by labeling each group member on their Team Statement. 

Best Summer Ever - #12 and #17

Well I guess technically summer has not yet arrived,

(especially because the weather outside is breezy and overcast)

however, my mind has been on summer vacation for a little while now.

When my students and I set goals,

I always remind them

"If you can talk the talk,

can you walk the walk?"

We always talk about how the action

is always harder than the plan.

Well, people,

my "Best Summer Ever List" is already in action!

Exhibit A:

My amazing dessert this evening!!!

I have already consumed massive amounts of 

strawberries and cantaloupe galore!

(I think I have a cantaloupe addiction.)

Thanks to my mother who always provided tons of 

summer fruit as a child.  

I'm convinced that's when the love affair began.
I won't lie.  
The cantaloupe you see above?
Yeah thats the 3rd cantaloupe I've cut up
in the last two weeks.
Nom, nom, nom!! I just can't get enough of it!

So, I suppose I won't have any trouble  crossing off #12: 

Eating a crap-TON of my favorite summer fruits - cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries, etc!

Exhibit B:

The first book on my Summer Reading list!

Well I guess I will jump on the latest book bandwagon.

I'm not even sure I'll like it.

However, this is the first book up on my list for summer reading.

So that begins the quest to complete #17:

Reading at least 1 book for every week of summer vacation - 7 total.

I got this idea from Donalyn Miller, 

who wrote The Book Whisperer.

(one of my favorite teacher books!)

She has this awesome little challenge called

Book-A-Day,

where you read 1 book for every day of your vacations.

This includes summer, Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks.

I have to admit, I'm not an avid reader,

but I aspire to be.

So I gave myself a challenge I think I can stick to.

Well, Summer Vacation, you're almost here!

And I still have hope that this will be

The Best Summer Ever.

And I look forward to "walking the walk" 
as I post more 

PROOF

that it really was!

Stay tuned! 

Reflections...

Sometimes when we're well on our way,

we forget where we started.

Or when we cross that finish line,

we forget that first day of training

and what it felt like.

Reflection is a powerful, powerful thing.

My cousin emailed me the other day

to share with me that she's thinking about starting running.

I excitedly emailed her back,

trying not to overwhelm her with all my "getting started" ideas,

and then began reflecting on my own beginning.

I didn't start running until 

my third semester of my teaching credential.

It was my mentor teacher 

who inspired me to try it out.

"How was your weekend?" I'd ask.

"Oh my husband drove me to ________

so I could do _______ race."

I played soccer on the weekends,

and visited the gym once or twice a week,

but nothing crazy.

I finally said to myself,

If she can do it, so can I!

I started by running

to a stoplight in my neighborhood and back.

Ha!  I can remember multiple days

feeling crazy for trying this "sport."

Rubbing my side,

waving my hands over my head,

hoping for the side ache to just go away.

And sometimes, just plain giving up and walking.

I probably looked like a huge idiot.

But something kept me going.

Soon, I was able to make that run

without stopping.

And then came the addiction.

That summer I worked as a camp director.

I had to report to work by 7am.

By the time I'd get home from work,

it'd be blazing outside

and running on the treadmill became less fun.

I'm not really sure how I convinced myself into this,

but I started setting my alarm
 for 5:45am two times a week,

just so I could sneak in an early morning run.

Whaaaaaa?

Who was this girl?

---Flash Forward---

Here I am now.

I would call myself a real runner.

Obviously I'll never be an Olympian

or win my age group in a race.

But I'm a runner.
I relish on improving as much as I can.

And I honestly never thought I'd be where I am now

when I first started the trot to that stoplight long ago.

----

Teaching and running are so similar,

it's actually kind of nuts.

Maybe that's why runners make good teachers.

And/or vise-versa.

The end of the school year always brings a reflection

of where we are and where we've come from.

And, more importantly, where we want to go.

Though I came into my "first year of teaching"

with a lot of experience in a TON of classrooms,

I think I've grown more than I ever imagined

in these first two years of teaching.

I feel like I've finally found my teaching identity

and I'm excited to see where it's going to take me.

How it will evolve.

And I'm sure in a few years,

I'll look back and reflect on my first two years teaching

and view them as my runs to the stoplight.

Because things will look so differently then.

I can't wait for that day.

It's hard to see the finish line when you're so early in.

But looking back from the finish line,

that's the fun part.

And when you finish,
that's only the start to another race.

summersummersummer!

Running is a mental game.

And sometimes teaching is too.

While running miles and miles

it's easy to become bored,

frustrated even.

But when those moments arise,

it's important to give your mind a reason to wander

just so you forget all about the 

temptation to give up.

Only 18 teaching days until summer vacation!

And so, with that, I have decided

upon 18 things that I hope to do this summer
to give my mind a little motivation
to daydream about
"My Best Summer Ever."

My Best Summer Ever will include...

1. Road trips - South Lake Tahoe for my family reunion, Santa Cruz with my mom, and more!

2. Watching So You Think You Can Dance! I vow to not miss an episode this year!

3. Spend as much time by the river as possible! 

4. Early Morning Runs to beat the heat
5. Camping - hopefully beach camping so I can cross something off my 30 things before I'm 30 list
6. Bike Rides galore! - I hope that this is the summer my brother and I actually follow through on our plan to bike ride from Sunrise to Negro Bar.
7. Making salsa and trying out other fun recipes with the tomatoes I am growing.
8.  Spending lots of time by the pool while getting a great tan.
9.  Paddle Boarding for the 1st time! 
10. Sewing projects with Abuela 
11. Finally learning a weights routine at the gym
12. Eating a crap-TON of my favorite summer fruits - cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries, etc!
13. Baking/cooking as many of the recipes I've pinned on Pinterest as I can.
14. Watching Baseball - Rivercats, Giants, A's, who cares!
15. Saving money to plan an AMAZING Disney trip for my Fall Break/Birthday
16.  Antiquing/Thrifting a little more often 
17. Reading at least 1 book for every week of summer vacation- 7 total!
18. Donating - Time & things I don't use anymore.

You ever hear people talk about a

"runners high?"

Well, this is all where it stems from.

Mental games.

Because when you allow yourself

to daydream or make lists in your head

you forget what mile you're on

and you just keep on going.

Before you know it,

you're done!

And the best part has arrived!

The finish line!

new books!

I remember when I was in the credential program

I had this professor who was obsessed with literacy.

She was always so amped to share

her latest idea to hook kids into loving reading.

I always thought she was nuts.

Don't get me wrong,

obviously as a future teacher, I thought literacy was

super important and should be promoted to students.

But I never really saw what she was so excited about.

But now, two years into my teaching career,

and I'm starting to see what she was so hyped about.

There is nothing I love more than 

having discussions about reading with my kids.

I love when they ask me what I'm reading

and I love when they ask me to help them pick out a book.

I love the look on their faces when I ask them

how their latest book choice is going.

Or when I ask them if they think I should read 

their book choice next.

And I especially love the surprised looks they give me

when I tell them it's okay that they need to abandon a book.

You're actually telling me it's okay to put this book down?

Yes, yes I am.

But I'm also asking you to go find one that you won't want to put down.

---

A few months back,

I got an email from Donors Choose,

a website that helps teachers fund projects for their classrooms,

saying that many companies have been fully funding

projects and encouraged members to post a new project.

Sadly, I had already posted two projects with no success.

But I thought, eh, why not?

So I created a project called "Reading Like Its Going Out of Style."

I chose over $300 worth of books

I thought would never actually make it to my classroom.

But then yesterday,

I awoke from a well-deserved nap,

and checked my email to find a message that said

Bank of the West had fully funded my project!

I have to admit I almost even forgot I posted the project in the first place.

But I was so excited!

Afterwards, I had the best time looking through

the list of books that I had chosen.

After rereading the synopsis of each one,

I made mental lists of which students in my class

might want to read each of the books first.

But hopefully among the stacks of books that will be arriving 

will be the one that a student just can't put down.

I guess I wouldn't say that I'm obsessed

with literacy like my professor was.

I think I'm just more obsessed with

my students actually loving to read.

So hooray for acts of kindness

and hooray for new books!

30 things before I'm 30: #2

A friend of mine from my running group

invited me to sign up for this race a few months ago.

I wouldn't consider myself a Diva

but she was new to Sacramento

and I'd never done a race outside of my city.

Sounded like a pretty good idea.

Not to mention her informing me that the finish line would

greet me with pink champagne,

pink roses, a pink boa, and a medal given to me

by a shirt-less firefighter.

SOLD!

I guess you wouldn't call this race a 

destination race but for me it was

only because it was my first race outside of Sacramento.

So technically, I can cross something off my

30 things before I'm 30 list.

Here's a list of true destination races I have on my list so far:

-Disneyland Half Marathon

-Wharf to Wharf from Santa Cruz to Capitola

-Rock and Roll San Diego

-Big Sur Half Marathon

-Bloomsday 12k in Spokane, WA

 and I'm sure they'll be many, many more!

Fried Brains and Hand Phones

This was a long week.

Due to testing, 

my kids brains are fried.

So today,

I broke out the "hand phone"

as we played

Who Wants to be a Science Millionaire.

"Hand phone?" you ask?

Don't tell me you've never pretended to

use your hand as a phone before.

What would have been even better 

is if I would have had a banana handy.

But I had already ate mine for snack at recess... 

---

As a way to get my kiddos excited to review science

I busted out a powerpoint millionaire game

a teacher had emailed me.

I used my equity sticks to choose a contestant for each question.

They stood up to the challenge.

If they could answer the question without help,

they earned 6 class dollars.

But they also had the option to 

"phone a friend."

Though I hoped that they could answer each question

without help,

I almost wanted them to phone a friend

just so I could use my "hand phone" and fun phone sound effects.

"Brrrrrrrrrring! This is the host of 

Who Wants to be a Science Millionaire.

Is this _________?

Well I have ___________ on the line and they need your help

to answer this question.  You'll have 30 seconds."

---

Anyway, you get the idea. 

The kids LOVED it!

I feared they'd lose all control as I turned on my 

game show voice and sound effects.

But they didn't.

It was so fun!

I love when spur of the moment,

crazy, fun learning happens!

It's sometimes better than those lessons

that you spend time planning.