New Adventures in Teaching Dance

Well, back by popular demand, I will tell you a few recent dance teaching stories. I haven't really wanted to, because I have been going nuts with a few certain students, but I've realized that it isn't as dramatic as I think it is. Looking back, it's pretty funny.

I have a certain class right now that I dread teaching. It is on Tuesdays, and as a result, I despise whenever Tuesday comes around. This is very sad, because Tuesday would be a great day other than the fact that I teach this one devilish class. There are only four girls that come to class. Two of them are cousins, one is extremely bossy, and the other is in her own little world. There is this one little girl (one of the cousins) who gets on everybody's nerves. It's almost like she annoys the others on purpose. She ended up getting hurt twice in the last month. BOth times were an accident, but they were also partly her own fault. All of these girls fight constantly. Going to class is like being in the deepest circle of Hades! I feel like I'm a conflict mediator rather than a dance teacher. Now, you'd think that I would very much dislike these girls. I'm also very ornery with them. Naturally, I would think that they would hate me. On the contrary, yesterday, one of them told me that I was the best dance teacher ever. This was after I had punished them by not letting them have the "surprise" I had talked up the entire class. What could I do? They were fighting, so I had to punish them somehow. I thought that they would hate me, but she said, "I love you Teacher," when she left class. On of the other girls heard her say this to me and wanted more attention, so she told me that I was the best teacher ever and that she loved me too. How can I stay mad at that!?!?!?!?!? Ugh! Little kids are so fickle!

I have another class that is extremely imaginative. There is this one girl who loves to pretend that she is a different animal every week. One week she was a panda princess, another week, she was a long neck, this week she came in as a baby deer and kept falling just like Bambi. I decided to play up this imaginative brain of hers. We have three lines of tape on the floor. The back one is "Home," the middle one is "School," and the front one is "The Movies." One time when we were at "The Movies," I told them that there was someone really tall sitting in front of us, so we had to go up onto our toes to see over him. One of the girls said that he was a giant. They played this up the entire class. When I took them to get a drink, they kept falling down because they said that the giant kept pushing them down and falling on them. Later, I set up an obstacle course, and I told them to tip toe across some blue dots. They had to be super quiet so that they wouldn't wake up the dragon. It was magical. They were quiet for fifteen minutes because they didn't want to wake up the dragon. When it was time to do their dance, I decided to tell them that the dragon was awake and he wouldn't hurt them if they did their dance. He wanted to see them dance so bad. They did their dance perfectly three times!!! It was a miracle!!!! I love it when imagination helps me with my job!!!!!! I love using my imagination, and it is great when I get paid to use it! Even if I panic right before I have to teach, sometimes.

Well, I know these stories were kind of long, but they were worth telling. Wish me luck with the rest of the dance year. Recitals are coming up in May, and we all know how stressful and crazy that can be.

-Michelle

Vampin' it up!

By "Vampin'," I don't mean vampires at all. As you can see, I've made a few changes to my blog. I was super excited when I figured out how to get a cute background, and even more excited when Melissa, Lance's sister told me how to get music. I know my music is a little old fashioned, but I don't care if nobody else likes it or not. It is some of my favorite music and it gives me warm fuzzies inside to listen to it. It's the kind of music that makes me want to dance and sing as if I were in a Broadway musical. That's what music should do, get them excited about life and be happy. I hope you enjoy, but if you don't, it's no big deal because I LOVE IT!!!!!!
-Michelle

Tons of questions about me.

My sister, Andrea sent this to me in an email, and I thought I'd just post it here instead of choosing people to email it to. A lot of this stuff goes around on facebook, too, but I thought I'd post it here, so you non-facebook people could read it too. I'd answer for Lance, but he likes to surprise me sometimes. Maybe I'll make him do a similar post. Yeah right, like that will ever happen.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
7:50 I had to be to school by 9:00

2. Diamonds or pearls
diamonds are a girl's best friend!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Twilight. It was actually the last two movies I saw! Once was with the girls in Lance's family and Bryce, and the other time was when it showed at WSU for FREE!!!! I enjoyed it thoroughly both times. The book is much better, though.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
The Office, 24, The Simpsons, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, there are probably more, but I can't think of them right now.

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Cereal or toast

6. What is your middle name?
Don't have one, unless you count my maiden name, Hansen.

7. What food do you dislike?
A LOT of items: brussels sprouts, cole slaw, sushi, peppers, onions, there are many more that I can't think of right now

8. What is your favorite CD at moment?
I love my Josh Groban CD, Michael Buble, Norah Jones, tons of my musical soundtracks. I don't really have a favorite. I have a very wide selection of music that I like. Too bad that the music Lance likes is the only couple genres of music that I don't particularly care for.

9. What kind of car do you drive?
Sometimes I drive our Dodge Journey, and sometimes I drive our Geo Prism.

10. Favorite sandwich?
Egg salad, or PB & J

11. What characteristics do you despise?
Dishonesty, unreliability, quick to anger, insecure, etc.

12. Favorite item of clothing?
It depends on the day. When I'm just at home, though, I like wearing pj's or sweats. But if I am going somewhere, I like to look a bit more decent.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Europe

14 .. Favorite brand of clothing?

I don't really have a favorite, but my favorite store to shop at is Aeropostale, and they have their own brand name.

15. Where would you like retire to?
Somewhere around my family.

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
My last birthday was pretty cool. Now that I'm married, it's fun to celebrate more than once.

17. Favorite sport to watch?
Sports are DUMB!!!!! Why do people think it's highly entertaining to watch some people throw a ball back and forth? I don't understand it! However, if I have to choose one, I would say figure skating. Most of you would think I'd say dance, but no. Dance requires too much brain power to be degraded by calling it a stupid sport.

18. Furthest place you are sending this?
Well, I don't know, but there is someone in Canada who might read this.

19. Person you expect to send it back first?
I didn't really send it to anyone, so nobody!

20. When is your birthday?
November 16

21. Are you a morning person or a night person?
I HATE mornings!!!!!! Why wake up and ruin a perfectly good dream just to start the same routine over and over and over again? I like more creative things than my boring little life.

22. What is your shoe size?
6 1/2

23. Pets?
I don't have any at the moment, but I am trying to talk Lance into getting a cat when we get our own house. I used to have a cat and a dog. My cat died about a year ago, and my dog lives with my brother.

24. Any new and exciting news you 'd like to share with us?
Not unless I miraculously got pregnant over the last couple weeks. Most of you know that I'm graduating this May, and I already announced Lance's new job.

25. What did you want to be when you were little?
A doctor. That would never work out, though, because I get very faint when I think about medical stuff. I passed out on a tour of the hospital when I was in preschool. They were talking about the tubes that go through your body, and I lost it when she talked about the trachea.

26. How are you today?
Nervous for my dance class. I have a little four year old that likes to yell at me all of the time because she doesn't get HER way all of the time. She can be quite a little brat! I love kids, but teaching dance is not a very fun job when your students are so defiant.

27. What is your favorite candy?
Reese's peanut butter cups are the greatest things ever invented!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chocolate and peanut butter is a combination sent from heaven. If they aren't in heaven, it won't really be in heaven.

28. What is your favorite flower?
Daffodills!!!! It's almost time for them to come out!

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
I'm not sure if it's May 1 or May 8, but that's when Lance and I graduate with our Bachelor's degrees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

31. What are you listening to right now?
The gentle humming of the computer, and the ticking of my fingers pressing the keys of the keyboard. Oh, and the dryer drying clothes.

32. What was the last thing you ate?
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream....YUM!!!!

33. Do you wish on stars?
Of course!! I still have my childish fantasies of wishes coming true. It never happens in real life, but it's worth a try.

34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Pink!!!!!

35. How is the weather right now?
Overcast, but calm.

36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
I don't think I've spoken on the phone today. It's a miracle!!!! The phone hasn't been ringing off the hook! I've noticed that it's never for me, either. It's always for Lance, unless it's Lance calling me.

37. Favorite soft drink?
Cream Soda. Whenever I see people in movies or on TV drinking beer, it looks like cream soda, and I start to crave it.

38. Favorite restaurant?
Red Lobster, but I don't get to go there much. It's expensive, and Lance doesn't like seafood. The last time I went there was on my birthday in 2007

39. Real hair color?
Strawberry blond. I was born with orange hair, though. Then it went golden.

40. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Dolls.

41. Summer or winter?
Summer, I like not having to layer clothes, only to still be cold.

42. Hugs or kisses
Both, but kisses are reserved for my hubby.

43. Chocolate or Vanilla?
I'm a girl! Chocolate is a definite, however vanilla flavored things are good, too.

44. Coffee or tea?
Tea, but only the herbal kind. Well, the only kind I've tried is the chamomile, and I like it a lot. The smell of coffee just makes me want to puke!

45. Do you want your friends to email you back?
Well, I didn't email them, but sure, I always like emails.

46.When was the last time you cried?

The other day. My hair almost got pulled out, and it hurt real bad. I didn't bawl, though. I just shed a few tears because of the pain.

47. What is under your bed?
Tons and tons of boxes with Christmas decorations, tools, extra items we don't need yet, and some stuff of Lance's that he needs to go through but probably never will.

48. What did you do last night?
Went to work, which sucked because little kids are obnoxious when you have to be in charge, watched TV with Lance, and surfed the net a little bit.

49. What are you afraid of ?
Everything!!!!! I'm afraid of work because little kids love to push my buttons, but I still have to keep a happy, calm facade. I'm afraid of spiders, snakes, other scary animals. I'm afraid of horror movies because of the nightmares they give me. I don't care if you say it's only a dream. At that moment, it's reality in my mind. Don't EVER make me watch a scary movie!!!!!

50. Salty or sweet?
Both!!! Potato chips, popcorn, chocolate, skittles, starbursts...I love them ALL!!!!

51. How many keys on your key ring?
I don't know. I'm too lazy to count. It's about seven.

52. How many years at your current job?
4 long years. I'll be glad to get a real job without someone else's kids running around that I'm afraid to discipline because of potential law suits. I heard of one where someone got in trouble at a school for putting a kid in a time out! How ridiculus can parents be?

53. Favorite day of the week?
Thursday or the weekend! Thursday is when I only have 1 hour of school and 1 hour of work.

54. How many towns have you lived in?
2: North Ogden and South Ogden

55. Do you make friends easily?
I can talk to people easily, but I don't make friends and keep them easily

56. How many people will you send this to?
Whoever reads my blog.

57. How many will respond?
Copy the answer from #56 and paste here.....Stupid question!

Not Much to Say

Hi Friends! I know it's been a while since the last update. I haven't really known what to post.

Lance and I are in our last semester of college, woo hoo! We're both excited to be DONE! I don't really know what I'll do with my degree yet, but I do know that I will be getting a REAL job, whatever that may be. Lance just got hired at the Treasury Inspector General of Tax Administration (TIGTA). He gets to audit the IRS!!!!!! He starts on Tuesday, February 17. We are so excited for him to get this job. It's taken a year for everything to go through, but we're happy for it.

I have acquired a few new hobbies in the last few weeks. I know you're thinking that I have too many hobbies already. I say, what the hey! I need some variety every once in a while. I still love dancing and playing the piano, but I have found a new love that might or might not contribute to our financial well-being. I have become interested in writing. I've started a children's book and a novel. Don't get your hopes up too high to read them, though. I am doing it just for fun and for my own mental escape. I still don't know if I will have enough confidence to let anyone read them. If I do let people read them, it will be when they're finished, and who knows how long that will take? If I have the confidence to show them to people, I might consider getting them published. As for now, it's fun simply to let my imagination run wild and come alive on my computer screen. Like I said, don't get your hopes up.

Well, I guess that's it for now. Lance and I don't have very exciting lives. We're still in college for a couple more months, so until that's over, we are boring. Actually, we'll probably be boring after that, too. We'll both have full-time jobs. Yay...note the sarcasm. Well, have a great day! Thanks for reading!

I was looking through some old school items, and I came across some fun poems that I wrote when I was in high school. Here is my favorite:

Lunch Time
I am so hungry that my
Stomach is yelling at me
It seems that the class I am in
Will never end, because
I want to go to lunch so much.
It hurts. I can smell the aroma
Of mashed potatoes and gravy.
The scent is teasing my stomach
It wants food. Any food
Would be absolute bliss.
I would even eat spinach
Or maybe liver and onions
Thank you for the lunch ladies
That make food everyday
For us hungry students
Grabbing food like a pack
Of wolves attacking the
Fresh carcass in the snow.
It's almost time for the
Lunch bell to ring.
Ring bell,
RING!

Adventures in Dance Teaching

This is for all of you who have wondered what it's like to be a dance teacher. I teach ages three to eleven, and let me tell you, it's an absolute adventure every single day!

Today, for example, we had a Christmas Skills week, since it's the last week before Christmas. I have a little girl who speaks Korean, but she knows a little bit of English. She was so excited to tell me something, but all I could understand was Teacher!...Santa....Reindeer....mouse....book! I guessed what she was saying and got excited with her. It was so cute!

A couple of weeks ago, an older girl dropped her glasses and decided not to pick them up. Another girl came hopping along, and yes, disaster happened. She hopped on the glasses. The girl who owns the glasses was devastated. A little later on, she came up to me and asked, "teacher, do I still look cute without my glasses?" Of course, my heart just melted. I told her that she looked really pretty, and I loved being able to see her beautiful green eyes.

This summer when I taught dance camps, I taught the three-year-olds. Everyone knows that three-year-olds are tons of fun, but also a lot of work. One girl decided to dig for gold, and out of the blue, I hear, "teacher, I have a booger." It was just so matter-of-fact, she wasn't even disgusted! She actually sounded kind of bored. It was gross to me, but I think it's a funny little story.

I decided to save the best for last, and yes, it's about a three-year-old. This one is classic! I was in the middle of teaching, when one of my dancers said, "teacher, I need to go potty!" I tried to tell her she could go, but she interrupted me by crying out,"I'm going, I'm going!" I felt so bad. I was very impressed that the other students were able to stay out of it while I was gone to get her taken care of and get cleaning supplies to clean up the mess. The ironic thing is that every time a three-year-old asks me to go potty, I always let him/her, to avoid such accidents.

These are just a few of my many adventures in teaching dance. Stay tuned for more, if there are any worth writing about.