Tag Archives: seventh grade

What a difference a year makes

Wednesday, February 1, 2012, @ 11:21 pmFamily, jobs, Reading, teaching, Weathereducation, Family, football, high school football, making the days count, pets, reading, scouting, seventh grade, weather, winter 2012, writingClay

snow_corridor — a year ago I had to rescue Ivy – today the deck is bare! Might as well be spring!

A year ago, I was climbing into bed dreaming of sleeping late, really late – past seven, eight, maybe even nine in the morning – which is unheard of for a middle school teacher. Except, we had been pummeled by 20+ inches of snow beginning Tuesday night and school had been cancelled for not one, but two days! Fast-forward to this year and we have had hardly any snow, yesterday it was in the upper 50s, and except for a few patches in shady areas, there is no snow on the ground. Continue reading What a difference a year makes →

Embarrassed, seriously.

Saturday, January 28, 2012, @ 10:58 amadventure, Cooking, Family, food, pets, Reading, Scouting, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, eating, Grayling, great days, making the days count, scouting, seventh grade, snow sports, Summer Vacation, teaching, writingClay

I got up early this morning and finished my book, Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt. I have been reading it since early January at night before bed, reading as much as I could before I could no longer hold my eyes open. Last night, when I got home from the dance, I wanted to finish it, but I was exhausted and spent from a long week and read only a few pages before falling asleep. I woke in the middle of the night and went downstairs to read – to go back to sleep. I read a bit on the couch before dozing off with the light on and the dog at my feet, I woke up to a bark and dog who needed to go out. I made pot of coffee and covered up on the couch and finished the book. Overnight, we got a dusting of snow and the dreary cloudy days of Thursday and Friday were erased by a clear, bright sunny Saturday morning. Continue reading Embarrassed, seriously. →

Winter Break is over

Sunday, January 8, 2012, @ 6:26 amCooking, Family, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchurch, eagle scout, eating, education, Family, Grayling, great days, Guys Read, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, scouting, seventh grade, teaching, weatherClay

moon0105 — Thursday night's moonrise and the sunset highlights the trees

Winter Break is over. I suppose that is a good thing. I need to get back to work and have a bit more structure in the day, but I have certainly enjoyed the time to rest, relax, and restore. I have enjoyed cooking, reading, and spending time with family. I have my regrets – I didn’t accomplish as much grading as I wanted, I didn’t clean up my desk and organize my personal office like I planned and sadly, I have been restoring my waist line and not vice-versa. Continue reading Winter Break is over →

Making Time

Thursday, December 29, 2011, @ 8:44 amFamily, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, travel, Writingchildren, Christmas, church, education, Family, Grayling, great days, making the days count, reading, seventh grade, weather, winter sports, writingClay

moon_margrethe — A sliver of a moon slides across the sky as a frozen Lake Margrethe sees the last part of day

@MakingDaysCount and MakingtheDaysCount dot org, on many occasions, I have written about time and using it wisely; and if you have been looking for an update and wondering where I have been, I’ve been here, or there, seemingly everywhere – but not on the internet and certainly not at MakingtheDaysCount dot org. It has been a long three weeks. During that time, I have started a couple of entries but they have died on the figurative vine and been left unfinished. Continue reading Making Time →

Pearl Harbor – 70 Years Later

Wednesday, December 7, 2011, @ 12:28 amcountry, Family, history, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Today in History, WritingDay of Infamy, education, Family, Guys Read, hard work, making the days count, patriotism, Pearl Harbor, politics, reading, seventh grade, teaching, writingClay

I wasn’t around seventy years ago, but my in-laws were, they were teenagers then and remember the day quite well; much like I and my generation will remember 9/11

Yesterday, I casually mentioned to my seventh graders that today was an important anniversary and they looked at me in odd way – sort of like Ivy when she is confused, tilting her head to one side and cocking her ears back, as if to say, “So, you say?” What it really means is that they have no clue what you are talking about and they don’t have a good answer, because by the way I am looking at them, they should know. Continue reading Pearl Harbor – 70 Years Later →

Thanksgiving Eve

Wednesday, November 23, 2011, @ 8:38 amcountry, Family, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, eating, fall in the Midwest, Family, hard work, making the days count, reading, scouting, seventh grade, Thanksgiving Eve, Thansgiving, weatherClay

People do not call it that, but that’s what today is, the day before Thanksgiving. Hence, Thanksgiving Eve, I am calling it!

I have today off and there was the ‘Friday’ feel in the building yesterday. The kids were giddy, the teachers were too and it was a day when learning and leisure collided. My kids, on the other hand, have been off since last week and have the entire week off. Continue reading Thanksgiving Eve →

Elementary, my dear Watson

Sunday, November 20, 2011, @ 12:28 pmFamily, Life in General, Reading, Scouting, teaching, Writingchildren, education, fall in the Midwest, Family, hard work, high school football, mysteries, reading, scouting, seventh grade, Sherlock Holmes, teaching, weather, writingClay

Another busy weekend, full of choices: what to do, what to leave undone, unfinished, or unstarted. It had been a busy week at school and home. For my kids – William and Olivia, it was the last week before Thanksgiving break. They get the entire week on vacation. For me, it was the end of the narrative unit and the beginning of the mystery unit and Sherlock Holmes. I like Sherlock. I like how he helps me think at a different level and I marvel at his ability to see things others do not. Continue reading Elementary, my dear Watson →

Part 5, the conclusion, and the ride home

Wednesday, November 9, 2011, @ 5:16 amFamily, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, Coleen McGregor, Dulles Jr. High Class of 1976, education, Family, hard work, history, making the days count, reading, seventh grade, teaching, weather, writingClay

The gentle rain on the roof, rolling into the gutters outside my bedroom window was soothing and I slept well last night, perhaps, too well. I had a hard time convincing myself it was a good idea to get out of bed and start the day. I finally got up went downstairs, started the coffee, and made lunch for William and me – salads. Continue reading Part 5, the conclusion, and the ride home →

It is raining and Falling Action

Tuesday, November 8, 2011, @ 3:00 amFamily, jobs, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, Coleen McGregor, Dulles Jr. High Class of 1976, education, Family, hard work, making the days count, reading, seventh grade, weather, writingClay

I made it through Monday, though barely. The weather was dreary today and it made it even worse. I read that at our latitude we lose 3 ½ minutes of daylight each day, that sucks! There is just no delicate way to put it. In addition to being narrative writing season in my classroom, it is a busy time in the school and at home. I got home from school and helped Olivia with her math homework and then we were off to a book fair at her elementary school, that wasn’t. We ended up at the town library instead. She was ‘on fire’ to pick up a good book to read and I wasn’t about to stand in her way. Continue reading It is raining and Falling Action →

Going back to school and the climax

Monday, November 7, 2011, @ 4:39 amFamily, Life in General, model airplanes, Reading, sports, teaching, Writingchildren, church, Coleen McGregor, Dulles Jr. High Class of 1976, education, Family, football, hard work, high school football, making the days count, reading, seventh grade, teaching, writingClay

It is Monday and some things never seem to change, like the feeling on Monday morning. It was a busy weekend we jammed in high school football, chores, leaf cleanup, church, cooking, and spending time together. Beth got home from Ohio Sunday night and the kids were excited to greet her, having momma home is the best. Continue reading Going back to school and the climax →