Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I teach 5th grade; no news there. I did change schools this year however, same grade, but it feels like I changed professions. I haven't been this happy at work in a very long time. When all we do is give, give, give, we grow resentful and tired. After 20 years in the classroom, I had arrived at curmudgeonly and cranky. I didn't particularly enjoy my job, and I was focused on the countdown. I recognized that I needed a change. Fortunately, I teach in a large enough district that changing schools is not really a big deal. I was also lucky enough to time my need for a change for a year where big boundary changes were already happening. My current school brought in about 10 new teachers this year from around the district. I am sure this has a lot to do with why I feel so energized. With so many new staff members, the school got a good shake up which seems to have refreshed everyone. I say all of this because I once again feel my creative juices flowing. Instead of feeling that I am giving, giving, giving, I feel like I am receiving. With so much positive feedback from my students and their parents, I find myself looking for ways to spice up my classroom and make it as fun a place to be as possible. Not that I ran a sweat shop before, but seeing new faces in a new building encouraged me to shake the dust off and sweep away some cobwebs. So, here are some pictures from my classroom demonstrating the ways that I've brought my equine passion to my other passion. I have one more equine inspired thing that I did new for this year, but it's so cool that it deserve a post of its own. Look for it next week.
10 Comments
Judy
10/22/2014 10:32:04 pm
You are such an awesome Teacher! Your students are so lucky to have you!
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10/23/2014 11:18:18 am
Sometimes I get it right, other days … maybe not so much, but my heart is in the right place. :0)
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10/23/2014 11:19:27 am
For a while there, Lauren, I was wishing that I was doing anything else OTHER than teaching. Cleaning toilets at the Holiday Inn was looking pretty good. I am really happy where I am right now. :0)
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jenj
10/23/2014 04:02:40 am
Love it! What a fun thing to bring to your students!
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10/23/2014 11:20:20 am
They find most of it pretty fascinating. Today we had a long talk about how the farrier NAILS on a shoe. They just couldn't believe that it doesn't hurt (usually).
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Val
10/23/2014 08:34:47 am
I have one of the same horse posters! My librarian gave it to me after the book fair.
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10/23/2014 11:24:12 am
All of the posters are from the book fair, even the one of Jimmy Johnson. The kids like to buy them for me. Our annual book fair begins in the next two weeks so I am hoping they have some new ones.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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