* Guess who's sick again? This girl! There's been some kind of ick circulating at school and this week alone five kids have come in running a low grade fever, sniffling, and hacking up lung bits. I managed to hold out through yesterday before my immune system threw up it's hands in defeat and caved to the germs. Fortunately it's not nearly as bad as the various colds I had earlier in the winter, and the predominant symptom seems to be extreme crankiness.
* Come to think of it, that symptom may not actually have anything to do with the cold...
* The oppressive fog that blanketed the Puget Sound last week finally lifted, I've seen the sun for at least a few seconds every day this week, and it's no longer pitch black outside at 4:30 pm. I feel like maybe I can see the light at the end of this dreary winter tunnel.
* My current class is English Language Teaching Foundations, and I am completely and utterly lost this week. It seems as though the further I get in this Masters program, the more it is expected that you have some teaching experience under your belt and understand basic teaching terminology and rules. I have neither, so I feel like I'm working twice as hard as everyone else just trying to understand what exactly the assignments are asking for, never mind complete them. If anyone out there could help me decode this statement, "compare and contrast either the ELL Proficiency Standards or the Language Arts Standards with the standards from an academic area, i.e. science, social studies, or math", I would be forever indebted to you!
* I'm so boring lately, oh my God. All of these updates are about my health, the weather, and school. I honestly thought I might have something more interesting to say if I just started typing. Turns out: No.
* Well, there is something kind of funny-slash-interesting that has developed on the Book of Faces recently, but since I link here from there I don't feel totes comfortable sharing on the blawg. Am considering doing an email post if I can't figure out how to do a private post, so shall keep you, my adoring and adorable readers, apprised of the situation.
* Oh, I know! How amazing is Lost so far this season? To all of you people who gave up on the show in the admittedly lame second and third seasons, wow, sucks to be you! I freaking love time travel stories, and I am SO thrilled that now we're starting to get more answers and having all of these overlapping time lines thrown at us. It almost makes up for the fact that Doctor Who won't be back for its 5th season until 2010!
* Exciting plans for the weekend include: Sleeping, homework, season 3 of Arrested Development, and if I am not feeling like total crapola on Sunday, a Super Bowl party. I couldn't give less of a crap about the game, but it'll be fun hanging out with friends. And eating their food. What can I say? It has been a REALLY long time since I went grocery shopping.

I am DEFINITELY excited for Lost.
And... ew, little kid germs.
Posted by: Heidi Renée | January 30, 2009 at 09:23 PM
Hmm - I have never gotten into Lost, but I've considered adding the first season to the Netflix queue now that appears the finale is not going to = total suckage. I thought maybe they would just end it with "the island was just a dream" and then I'd be glad I didn't get sucked into that series... I am such a dork. :)
Posted by: Becky | January 30, 2009 at 09:29 PM
We're having a few people over for the Superbowl on Sunday, and like you, I don't care who wins/loses -- it's all about the company and food.
I'm with you on Lost for last season and the first few eps of this one. It seems like ever since they established a definitive end, the producers have known what to do with the story instead of flapping around like we did in seasons 2 & 3.
Posted by: Becky | January 30, 2009 at 10:19 PM
hope you feel better! i will spending my weekend sleeping as well, i swear i've been so tired all week, i need to catch up.
Posted by: katelin | January 30, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Try this Wiki link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIOP_method
And, for more related acronyms:
ESL (English as a second language), ESOL (English for speakers of other languages), and EFL (English as a foreign language) all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with a different native language. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is described below. These terms are most commonly used in relation to teaching and learning English, but they may also be used in relation to demographic information.
ELT (English language teaching) is a widely-used teacher-centred term, as in the English language teaching divisions of large publishing houses, ELT training, etc. The abbreviations TESL (teaching English as a second language), TESOL (teaching English for speakers of other languages) and TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) are all also used.
Other terms used in this field include EAL (English as an additional language), ESD (English as a second dialect), EIL (English as an international language), ELF (English as a lingua franca), ESP (English for special purposes, or English for specific purposes), EAP (English for academic purposes). Some terms that refer to those who are learning English are ELL (English language learner), LEP (limited English proficiency) and CLD (culturally and linguistically diverse).
Posted by: Old Warrior | January 30, 2009 at 11:23 PM
every state board of education publishes a set of learning standards by subject area and age group. you should be able to download them from your state board of ed's website. it sounds like they want you to notice the difference between teaching English and teaching other subjects.
hope that helps!
btw, i'm almost done with my master's of ed program and i and everyone i've talked to (who wasn't already a teacher) has felt the way you feel over the 2 years of the program - not experienced enough, behind in some way, lacking the vocab, etc...
so DON'T PANIC!
you already work in a school and you are very bright, i guarantee there are other students who feel like you are way beyond them.
please feel free to fbook me with any questions/concerns/etc!!!
Posted by: meg | January 31, 2009 at 03:52 AM
Been there with the course you just have to "get through"--you can do it; I can tell you are already seeing the light at the end of that tunnel, too!
Posted by: Kate P | February 01, 2009 at 06:05 AM
It's amazing what a little sunshine can do for the soul. I can't even begin to figure out that sentence but just think how smart you'll feel once you can just casually throw it out during a conversation!
Posted by: Celia | February 02, 2009 at 07:59 PM
:) Hope you feel better soon!
Germ carrying little petri dishes. :)
Posted by: Mandy | February 02, 2009 at 09:47 PM
Awww..I hope you feel better soon!
Posted by: PrincessExtraordinaire | February 03, 2009 at 09:46 AM
LOST is SOOO GOOOOOOD this season! i am STOKED it's back :)
feel better! being sick in the winter is the worst!
Posted by: CAVFC | February 05, 2009 at 07:34 AM
Yup, I'm loving Lost too! My husband, on the other hand, keeps on getting confused with all the time travel. Thank goodness for Tivo - we keep pausing the show to clarify what's going on.
Posted by: Larissa | February 05, 2009 at 08:08 PM