Tag Archives: children

The first day

The first day was officially a bust, really. I got the William off to school – he finishes today, Thursday, 6/9 and I got outside before it got too hot to finish some yard work. Beth came out soon after Olivia went off to school and we worked together in the yard. I did not come in until just after noon. I have to say we got quite a bit done and where we worked, it looks great. But, there is more to do. Continue reading The first day

One more day…

Monday morning and I am asking where did the weekend go? It disappeared as they all do with household chores; yard work, games, and some much needed down time. It was hot and humid Saturday and I got sunburned watching Olivia’s softball game. It stormed mid-afternoon and was much better on Sunday, cool enough to open the windows at night. Continue reading One more day…

One year later…

William shows his colors on race day! GO Danica!

It has been 52 weeks since I began this odyssey called Making the Days Count dot Com. A year ago, school was out and summer vacation lay before me. Today, we have six days spilt over two weeks remaining in the 2010-11 school year and the kids are antsy, the teachers are antsy, and we are all ready to move to the next level. The kids are excited about the next grade and the teachers are looking ahead to summer vacation, recharge and the mental reset for the next set of incoming students. For me it will be this year’s sixth graders and my next batch of seventh graders. In the meantime, it is Memorial weekend with parades, barbecues, and the Indy 500. Continue reading One year later…

Why I became a teacher…

the story needed a picture, and a single dafodil fit the bill – happy spring!

There are days when I ask myself this question; today is one of those days. I remember seventh grade just like it was yesterday, even though it was thirty-six years ago. Maybe it is because I teach seventh grade and I am surrounded by seventh graders most of the day; this year William is in seventh grade and I get to ‘live’ seventh grade all the time. It may also be because being a teacher, a really good teacher, is reaching out to kids who are struggling but having a difficult time like the one I was watching when I started writing this a while back. Continue reading Why I became a teacher…

Railroading…

I pulled into the driveway this evening after a long day at school to find no one at home. Ivy greeted me enthusiastically, as she always does, and I searched the counter for clues. I found none and called Beth’s cell, only to discover it lying on the kitchen counter beside me. No help, at all. Continue reading Railroading…

Pridie Aprilis – last day of March

End of March, last day of the first quarter, March thirty-first, or the day before April Fool’s. The Romans used a different calendar and thankfully Julius Caesar reformed it and later Pope Gregory added his touches but for the ways to say a date no one beats the Romans. The Ides of March, which appears as a warning to Julius in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” is the fifteenth of Martius.   Continue reading Pridie Aprilis – last day of March

Spring Break – Mr. Freeze style!

William and Olivia - on the lake, last year they were in it!

Minus four at the airport, five on the temperature gauge at the cottage. There is no other way to say it, it is cold.

We left yesterday afternoon for a short trip to the cottage and visit with grandma and grandpa. We picked William up after his merit badge class – Citizenship in the World – stopped at Trader Joe’s and we were headed north by four. Continue reading Spring Break – Mr. Freeze style!

Spring Break – It’s Here!

The three of us, dad, and Julie May 1980, from a scanned slide

I set my alarm for 5.15 this morning, because I wanted to get a jumpstart on the first day of Spring Break, but instead I slept in until 6.15, dressed, and was out the door to get my haircut at seven. I enjoy the weekend mornings with time to read the newspaper and get a start on the day before everyone in the house is awake. Spring Break is here and I want to make the most of it. Continue reading Spring Break – It’s Here!