One Class Down...One To Go!

I finished my first UCLA class and just started my "History of the American Musical" class.  It's wonderful!  Professor Gardner is amazing!  He taught the first class, too and he has done so many productions and has worked with some phenomenal people.  If you ever get the opportunity to take one of his classes you definitely need to jump at it.

I have been taking boatloads of notes and the information is exactly what I wanted to have in my bag of tricks to take back to my students.  The classes in combination with the differentiated instruction conference have not only given me great information to use in the classroom, but have provided me with ways to present this information in the most meaningful way to my students.  School starts on the 22nd and I can't wait to get started.  I think I've already planned too much to do in one year!

"The Chandelier"

A little time for fun!

The photos I've attached are from our tour of the "Phantom Theatre" in Vegas...with Ian, who played "Phantom" and then a special photo for Traci and Leslie!

Have a great beginning of the school year...I'll let you know how my class goes!

P.S. George and I decided not to go through with the wedding!

 

Me...on the "Phantom" stage!

What Happens in Vegas...

Well, what happened in Vegas definitely won't stay in Vegas! It was amazing!  The National Differentiated Instruction Conference was energizing, exciting, and exhilarating!  I had a number of my teaching techniques validated by the speakers at the workshops I attended and I learned lots of new ways to bring technology into my teaching.  I have a SmartBoard in my classroom and up until now I have only been using it, in a very basic way, for my math lessons.  I learned how to embed video, music and games into my lessons for not only my math students, but for my theatre students as well!  I couldn't write fast enough to take down all of the information!

Now... Phantom.  All I can say is OMG!  It definitely was spectacular!  The show had us on the edge of our seats and the meet and greet and tour was more than I could have hoped for.  We met with the actor who played the Phantom for about a half hour and he told us lots of amazing stories.  He is such a talented man and has played the role over 2,000 times.  The tour let us in on all of the "magic" that takes place on the stage and we were able to see how they make it all come together.  Let me just say that the chandelier was brilliant! I learned so many things about putting on a major show that by the end of our 2 hour (yes, I said 2 hour!) tour, my head was just spinning!  The most exciting part was being able to stand on the stage and look out into the audience!  I will show you some photos after I get organized and get them off my camera.  All in all it was a wonderful experience.

I'm almost done with my first class...our final paper is due next week.  The next class is all about the "American Musical!"  I'm really looking forward to that!

I can't wait to get back in my classroom and share all of the things I've learned in my classes, at the conference, and at Phantom with my students!

That's all for now!

Lots of Reading...Getting Ready for Vegas!

Last week we read, Our Town, Death of a Salesman, and Loman Family Picnic and I realized what I have been missing by not reading more plays.  I can't believe that I have never read Our Town!  It's so great to be able to see what my classmates' perceptions of the plays are and how they compare to mine.  This is such a blast!

This week we read Streetcar Named Desire and a deconstruction of Streetcar called Belle Reprieve.  To say the least it was very interesting!  Our midterm is to write scene 10 1/2...what happens between the time Stanley and Blanche's unfortunate incident and when Blanche is taken away.  Very interesting!

I'll be on my way to Vegas next week for the Differentiated Instruction Conference and to go backstage at Phantom of the Opera!  Hopefully I'll be able to take some backstage photos!

Have a good one!

School's in Session!

My first summe school class started yesterday!  This week we are discussing Desire Under The Elms.  As I was reading the welcome notes from all of my classmates I realized that even though I don't feel it, I actually am truning 50 next month!  There are kids in the middle of their college experience, kids who are almost done, one who is completing her credential, and me...a teacher beginning her 27th year!  Amazing!  I'll keep you updated on all of the plays we're reading.  Hope everyone's having a great and productive summer!

Countdown to June 2nd!

It's been a busy few weeks!  After attending our celebration dinner and the mix and mingle the next night, I had to start getting ready for testing...ugh!  We tested for two weeks, had our "Field Day" at school, and then Guys and Dolls opened at Chaffey with my daughter, Mariann, playing Sarah Brown!  It's really a great show if you're in the area and can go see it.  They have shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 12-14, at 7pm and Sunday, May 15 at 2pm.  I had the opportunity to spend some time backstage during rehearsals and just couldn't stop staring.  It's such an amazing theatre.

My kids' May Show is this weekend and they will be presenting two student-directed one-act plays.  They are really pretty funny and the kids are so excited.

I just ordered all of my books for my UCLA classes and I can't wait to get started!  My sweatshirt...and a few other Bruin items arrived and I feel like a college kid again!

I just received an email providing me with access to all of the handouts at the Differentiated Instruction Conference.  You get to print all of the handouts out for the sessions you're attending before the conference even starts...pretty cool.  As Leslie commented, for me, what happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas!  I'm just waiting to get my tickets to Phantom...I can't wait!

Step Two Completed!

I just got my confirmation in the mail for my classes at UCLA.  I forgot how exciting it was to get stuff like that in the mail!  I signed up for the National Differentiated Instruction Conference in Las Vegas and booked my room at the Venetian...so cool!  I signed up for workshops called, "From Mickey Mouse Club to Glee," "You Tube/Teacher Tube:  Are You Plugged In?," and "Hip Hop Education in the Classroom."  They sound so exciting and I can't wait to get started!  Oh...I almost forgot...UCLA sweatshirt...ordered!

This is so exciting!

Well...it's official...I'm a BRUIN again!  I just signed up for my UCLA theatre classes and I'm so excited!  I'm now officially a student in the School of Theatre, Film and Television.  I think I might have to buy myself a sweatshirt!

Next week I'll be signing up for my Differentiated Instruction conference in Las Vegas.  Las Vegas in July...good thing the hotel has a gigantic pool!

While Susie's sampling breads in Denmark, I'll be tasting all of the different colored M&M's at the M&M store!  I can't wait!