It’s Saturday morning and the past week has passed quickly, much too quickly. Honestly, the past nine days have been a blur. Summertime is usually my blogging time, school’s out and I am on vacation, sort of. While the past week or so has been a blur of days, I have been focused.
This past week I am doing what many educators do over summer break – professional development. I am taking a class on teaching science using the modelling science methodology. The class is certainly keeping me on my toes and I am taking notes and making sure I don’t miss anything. Trying to stay focused on why I am in class in the first place – to use the science modelling framework in my science classroom.
Last summer, similar class – Modelling Biology but, this summer I am taking Physics: Mechanics. The instructor was my son, W’s, physics teacher and W enjoyed having him – but the class pushed him as a student, just as my own physics class and teacher did when I was in high school. I am having flashbacks to Mrs. Matney’s 3rd hour physics class from 1979-80. The class content is definitely keeping me on my toes and I need to remind myself to stay focused. Coincidentally, Mrs. Matney is STILL teaching high school physics. I made a brief visit to my old high school in April when I was visiting my mom. I asked to see Mrs. Matney, she was out of school at a high school science competition. The year I had Mr. Matney she was selected as the high school’s teacher of the year. I learned a lot that year in science, but I learned more about myself and grew up, sort of. I sent Mrs. Matney a thank you e-mail over a decade ago and she responded that she was still teaching science. I am thankful for her dedication to teaching and especially her patience understanding with me when I was her student.
Wednesday afternoon heavy thunderstorms passed through our area and we got quite a bit of rain and wind. After the storms passed, I went outside to check the rain gauge – we had a little over 2 inches of rain (5.1 cm). We need the rain and it gave the backyard a fresh watering and made the greens a little greener. I captured the photo at the top of the post and had to re-focus because I wanted to capture the rain gauge not the flowers.
It has been dry since, at least without rain Thursday or Friday. It’s summer, so when it gets hot here in northern Illinois it’s humid and when it is not hot, it’s pleasant, or it’s raining. Yesterday afternoon, we did a few outdoors chores. O mowed the lawn and it looks nice. B and I scrubbed several summers worth of grime and weathering from the wooden deck chairs and footstools. They’ll get another scrub before we let them dry and seal them.
Yesterday afternoon after class, I sat down to write my summer goals, because if it’s not written down, it never happened or likely won’t. In previous summer’s I’ve typed my goals, however, this summer I am trying out a new notebook – the Rocketbook Wave – and I chose to record my summer goals in the new notebook. My plan is to use the notebook to model notetaking and learning with (and for) my students. Trying to stay focused – keeping my eye on what is important and what is possible. Stay tuned…..
It’s Saturday morning and that means chores and homework and a blog post – but not in that order. Tomorrow is Father’s Day and my dad is not far from my thoughts. Monday is a new week and the last week of class, but not the end of summer learning or learning, because learning never ends. It’s gonna be a great day, so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, trying to stay focused on what’s important.
How do you stay focused when time is seemingly infinite?
Today’s post is inspired by this week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Focus. This week, share a photo that represents focus to you. Are you a stickler for getting in close to your subjects and capturing every detail, or do you prefer a more ethereal look that illustrates the sensations of the moment? Or both? And remember, you don’t need a professional camera to consider focus. Using your phone camera can provide an even more interesting approach.
I can’t wait to see your contributions!
I like the perspective and taking the time to explain. Great post
thank you – we got a storm yesterday morning and had another 0.6 inches of rain the lawn and garden have gotten greener… it’s all about perspective. Thanks for stopping in and have a wonderful week.
I always think that focus and dedication are your defining characteristics, Clay! Enjoy the summer, and don’t work TOO hard 😉
Thank you! Summer has been enjoyable so far….
And the forecast says that tomorrow will likely be a million and six times better.
So make every minute count, jump up, jump in, and seize the day,
And let’s make sure that in every single possible way,
Today is gonna be a great day!
and tomorrow is Father’s Day here and I hope to enjoy the day with family. One day, one step, one written promise to myself. Peace.