(no subject)

[summercomfort]

I dunno where the stress is coming from, but despite what everyone says, I still think it affects my stomach.

Yesterday we had a dinner party thing. Well, in the morning, I went to proctor the SAT. That was fun, because I basically got paid to grade homework while poor students took a 4-hr-long test. Then I came home and made tiramisu, because Chinese people like tiramisu. And I put them in cute little goblets so that they're all individual-sized and stuff. Then I made shumai. And then the guests came. I didn't really know them very well, so I ran away to the kitchen. But then my tummy started feeling ick, so I ran away to my room and hid there for a while.

Today I lost an hour. But mom was super-nice and gave me a break from teaching my Chinese class. Instead, I got to calculate and write company checks and deliver them to teachers. Then I proctored a test for 1st graders because the normal teacher lost her voice. The first graders are really cute! And then we came home and had leftovers from yesterday, and I drank a lot of alcohol in the process of playing "Never have I ever" with parents/brother. Interesting experience, definitely smoothed with alcohol.

I know I have a lot to do in the next week, but I just don't have the energy to do it. It's weird. Narcoleptia again?

Things to do this coming week:
- have a coherent Dictator unit, dammit
- lesson-plan for Russian Revolution
- apply for jobs (write cover letter, foo!), prepare for job fair on Saturday
- catch up on 3 weeks of LPP
- don't freak out

Comments

[illuminatedwax.livejournal.com]

Totally off topic, but what do you make of this:
http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/rethinkinghomework.htm

[summercomfort]

We had to read that for homework. :D I think Alfie Kohn has a point, but homework also teaches responsibility outside of the classroom. That said, I give very little homework, because only about 60% of the students do it. But I tell them that since I give so little homework, they are held doubly accountable to it. So I kinda subscribe to his idea of "changing the default".

[illuminatedwax.livejournal.com]

I think two things about this, myself:
- People should be clamoring for teachers to improve the quality of their homework and give less of it, not eliminated it
- This article is loaded with a bunch of annoying "let's all be winners" style teaching advice. Generally when people start advocating elimating grades in school, I get mad. Is that a rational reaction or have I turned into a conservative curmudgeony old man?

[summercomfort]

The current trend is that people want to get rid of grades, but not assessment. So that students get feedback, but aren't pressured to compete with each other.

I agree that homework should be quality, but I think Alfie is talking about the teachers who assign homework just to assign homework. Students end up getting busy-work, because some days you *don't* need homework. Some people also say that assigning homework to be done at home is a natural equity issue, because students have such different home environments. It's not exactly fair for a student who has to work and take care of siblings at home to produce the same level of work as a student whose parent has a law degree and helps with homework. So each time that happens, students are going to be further behind in class. Classwork, or homework done at school, however, is in a controlled environment.

[kitsuchan.livejournal.com]

While stress alone probably won't cause an actual ulcer, it can and will do horrible things to your stomach. I once stopped eating almost completely for over a month because of stress- after about six bited of food, my stomach would hurt too much to continue. For the sake of your poor tummy, you should figure out where that stress is coming from and try to reduce it. because everyone would be sad if you got sick. Seriously. Everyone.

On a happier note, mmm, tiramisu. I need to make that soon. And ooh, shumai. I was telling Ben about the tupperware exchange of yore and he wanted to start it up again until he remembered that dumplings don't ship well. Alas.

And one last food note- I accidentally bought waaaaay more baking chocolate than I needed and now have a constant urge to produce brownies until all the choco is gone. Would a tupperware of brownies from the east coast be a good thing or a bad one for your stomach?

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

The only solution is for you to come visit us. For dumplings, and for stress.

yrs--
--Ben

[summercomfort]

Devious, Ben. Devious. ;)

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

FYI, we sent you some of Alexis monumentally delicious cinnamon brownies in the mail yesterday. Look for them to arrive tomorrow or the next day. If they don't, uh ... we'll send more?

yrs--
--Ben

[kitsuchan.livejournal.com]

He's offering to send more because I always make double batches and then he gets to eat some.

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

I will note that "gets to eat some" means I eat one, and then Alexis eats the rest.

yrs--
--Ben

[kitsuchan.livejournal.com]

And Jyn!

Plus, I offered you brownies, but you turned them down.

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

ôo

So...

yrs--
--Ben

[kitsuchan.livejournal.com]

アタシの作ったブラオニーが食べたかったら，速く食べばいいじゃん！

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

好吃的东西不是最好慢用了吗？

－累禀先

[kitsuchan.livejournal.com]

きみの気が狂いそうな月の言語が全然話しません！

でも！おいしいものを速く食べなかったら，他の人が食べる。とにかく，アタシが作った，アタシがいつでも食べていい．アタシのだから。

And furthermore:

[kitsuchan.livejournal.com]

So there. Nya.

...Anyway, Sushu, enjoy the food. And the silly discussion/argument.

Re: And furthermore:

[summercomfort]

haha, it's a very amusing read. I feel like I follow the conversation... probably more than Ben. :)

[summercomfort]

oh man, excitings! <3

[summercomfort]

uhm... a good one? ::innocent look::

maybe I can fabricate ultra-dumplings that survive shipping...

[kimothy117.livejournal.com]

kim is always good. it's all good! no worries. played never have i ever with your family?!!!!

[summercomfort]

yeah, freaky, eh?