life beyond the well…

Author Archives: erin.almond


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What Do You Do On Your Day Off?

I’ve been enjoying some time off, courtesy of Rosh Hashanah, and it’s a weird feeling.  I’m used to having the weekends off, not a random Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.  I’ve been spending time catching up on all the stuff that I’d love to do on a Saturday, but I’m unable to because college football has my attention; or what I’d do on a Sunday but after church, all things related to school take over.  So, here’s what I’ve been up to on my days off:

1.  Going to the bank, cleaners, and other places that I generally can’t make it to because I’m at work

2.  Actually eating breakfast (no bagels on the go!)

3.  Watching Good Morning America

4.  Getting AHEAD on my work (yay for completing powerpoints, getting some grading done, and doing some lesson plans)

5.  Going to the cleaners

6.  Reading blogs (okay, I do this when I have to work too, but much more when I don’t)

7.  Organizing my calendar (don’t want to forget things to do)

8.  Catching up with friends and family

9.  Do some planning for my business

10.Catch up on blogging

11.Relax, relate, release!

So…what do YOU do on your day off?


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Books I’ve Recently Read

Those who know me, know that I LOVE to read…it’s more than a hobby for me, it’s kind of a lifestyle.  I can go to Borders, Barnes and Noble, or even the book sections in Wal-Mart and Target and stay for hours.  I’m amazed that there are so many things wrapped up in books and I want to know them all.

Teaching doesn’t give me MUCH free time to read anymore, so I’m forced to handle it when I can.  This usually consists of reading while I’m at the hair salon, the bathroom (disgusting, I know….but please don’t act like you don’t do it), or when I need to wind down.  Here’s the books that I’ve recently read:

1.     You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah by Fiona Rosenbloom

2.     We are SO Crashing Your Bar Mitzvah by Fiona Rosenbloom

3.     Letters to a Young Teacher by Jonathan Kozol

About books 1&2: I work at a Jewish Community Day School, and it’s important that I understand the rites of passage for my students.  This book is being read in the Pre Bar/Bat Mitzvah class taught by one of the teachers that I share a classroom with.  To say that these books are hilarious would be a serious understatement.  By following the life of Stacy Freidman, a precocious middle-schooler trying to navigate the world as she knows it, the reader gets insight into Jewish customs and culture, as well as the thoughts of a typical American teenage girl.  It’s easy reading and fun.  I HIGHLY recommend it.

Book 3:  I snagged this book while also purchasing the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Judaism.  I’ve read other books by Jonathan Kozol, and this did not disappoint.  I love the way that he imparts wisdom through sharing letters with a young teacher named Francesca.  While the book includes some educational politics, I felt that the way that Kozol shared his knowledge and expressed his frustrations at the current educational system was what truly made this book special.  This is a great book for new teachers, but also for more experienced teachers who may wonder why they do what they do.