A List: Places I Want To Go

Oh goodness, what a long list this could be! I'll try to focus on my most-wanteds.

• Italy
• Paris
• London
• the Grand Canyon
• all Major League ballparks (a journey in progress!)
• Philadelphia (been many times, but haven't been in a long time and there's family there I miss!)
• New England in the fall

A List: My Favorite Albums

This was a hard one - I can't remember the last time I purchased a whole album! As such these are pretty dated, but they're the ones that come to mind!

Billy Joel: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II

Soundtrack: Walt Disney's Beauty & the Beast

Soundtrack: West Side Story, Original Broadway Cast

Soundtrack: A Charlie Brown Christmas

And here's the album that plagued my classroom for months on end:

We never got past three. And that time included Memorial Day weekend. >Sigh<

A List: Things That Make Me Feel Healthy

Another weekly list! (I promise I'll get back to the marathon recap soon, for those who have been asking!)

• running
• sleep
• dates with my hubby
• girlfriend time
• good habits
• helping students get excited about fruit salad!

A List: Ways in Which I Can Love Others

And this week's list...

• listen
• remember their stories
• send a note - snail mail!
• share pictures
• accept them as they are
• start each day fresh

Student connection tip: have you tried Remind? This is a double-blind texting service tailored for education. You set up a class, provide your students with a link, and they sign in to your class with their phone numbers. You can then send them reminders and other messages, without you seeing their number or them seeing your number, and you have a record of all exchanges in one place. It's a great service!

How is this relevant to this week's list? Occasionally I send out a "Throwback Thursday" message to my former students, to connect with them and show them I still think about them and care about them. Often it's just a photo to remind them of fun times past!

A List: Things I Am Grateful For

Taking a pause in the marathon talk for this week's list and a classroom management illustration!

• a wonderful marriage
• a safe, comfortable home
• good health
• great friends
• happy pets
• a job I like
• the electric kettle in my office
• memories like the one below

As we all know, towards the end of the school year there are "one or two" students who like to start trying to play it fast and loose with the rules. This door in the back of my classroom opened up onto a fire escape. Students were not allowed to be on the fire escape, so they were not allowed to even open the door. A few decided that rule wasn't applicable in warmer weather. So, I posted this sign:

Suddenly it was no longer a problem. How about that?

A List: Current Dreams and Goals

Continuing with the listing theme...

• tackle all of those WIPs (works in progress) in my sewing room!
• catch up on our family vacation photo books
• run my first half marathon in April
• run my first RAGNAR in June
• improve my marathon time in October******
• write in my ten year journal every day this year
• read a LOT of books

******I run the Chicago Marathon with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training to raise money for blood cancer research. Last year as a fundraiser I offered a special deal of over 100 FACS resources in exchange for a $25 donation to LLS. That same fundraiser will be re-opening this weekend! So for those of you who missed out, be sure to check back on Sunday. 

For those of you who did take advantage of the offer last year, I will be preparing another bundle this year. It won't be ready for a while yet, but I will let you know when it's available.

Thanks to all of you who have joined in the fight!

A List: Things I Should Be Proud Of

• Being a good friend
• Learning to run
• Fighting blood cancer as a part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training
• My education
• Taking risks

A List: My Current Podcasts

Inspired by another blogger (Little Mrs. Married) who is regularly posting lists to write more consistently, I'll share the podcasts I subscribe to:

• Freakonomics Radio
• Radiolab
• StoryCorps
• This I Believe: Podcast
• Happier with Gretchen Rubin
• TED Radio Hour
• PostBourgie
• Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

And a new favorite reserved for the gym: 

• Serial, Season 1

The ones at the top are what I listen to in the car, and sometimes while cleaning or cooking as well. Though I heard a lot of buzz about Serial last year I never picked it up until a couple weeks ago, and was immediately hooked. I like having something specific to look forward to during my treadmill sessions, as they are sooo booooring otherwise. I'm only halfway through the first season, so no spoilers please!

What do you listen to? Any suggestions I should add to my list?