We are off from school to allow students and their families to observe Good Friday as they choose. Sometimes the day comes as part of Spring Break as it did last year and other times, like now it comes as a separate holiday. Continue reading Good Friday
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…
It is raining, but that beats the original forecast – snow. Yesterday, the forecast was for heavy snow across the area with accumulation. The good news is that a heavy snow in April does not last long. The bad news is that it is snow. But, even better news is that the snow is north of us and it is raining and we need rain. Continue reading New week – new start!
two – one hundred, twenty-three – forty-seven; No, that is not my locker combination! If it were, it would have to be a very large dial or one with very small numbers and even if it were my combination, I would not be able to read it. I woke this morning to the blaring of my alarm clock reminding me it was time to get out of bed and start a new day, a day that promises to be one more closer to spring break. The kids, my students, are restless and I must admit so am I. It is two days, two school days, before spring break. Continue reading two – one hundred, twenty-three – forty-seven
Fourteen minutes since Monday, we have gained fourteen minutes of sunlight since Monday! I fell fast asleep last night as the moon was illuminating Earth brightly. This morning a light frost graced the ground and rooftops, it will burn off later this morning as it warms up into the fifties. Monday afternoon, I was scouring the yard for signs of spring and I found couple of crocuses poking its head above ground in the backyard along the stone path. We will all be outside today and I will be looking for more signs. It has been a busy week, the days are screaming by as we get closer to spring and spring break and warmer days. Today is Saturday and it will be a busy day – as they all are. Continue reading Saturday: the super moon, equinox, and spring…
Yesterday as we were cleaning up from the Green and Gold banquet, I spied a patch of Earth with some shoots pushing through. When, I got home I looked around our yard for signs of sprouts and found none, but I will be back out again looking; it’s the time of the year when I scour the garden looking for spring’s first crocuses, daffodils, and other signs of awakening after a long winter. Spring, it is almost here. Continue reading Spring, it’s a comin’
The other day, I went to the grocery store with a list, Beth made the list and it included everything I needed. I ran my errands and drove to the store. I got out of the car, forgot about the list and left it inside the car, where it was safe, and went inside to shop for groceries. I added items to my cart, remembering the items from the list, as I walked down each aisle. I checked out and drove home. Of course, when I walked in and unpacked the groceries Beth asked where the sour cream was and it was still at the store on the shelf, where I had left it. It was on the list but evidently, it never made it to the Iist, I used. If it were the first time, I suppose Beth could have forgiven me, but this happens all the time; I make a list or am given one and do not use it. Continue reading The List
I am in Oxford – Oxford, Mississippi. A couple of months ago, in late November I texted my bother Warren – ‘Hey what do you think about Oxford for MLK day?’ Warren, being Warren, texted in return, ‘Wouldn’t Selma be a better choice?’ I have to admit he got my message, but he had me in the one-liner department. Continue reading Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend
The schools call it Winter Break, but it really is Christmas Break and the past week has been Christmas week. It has been busy and hectic since school let loose a week ago. We have logged almost 800 miles and have completed two legs of the triangle: Wheaton to Ohio, Ohio to Michigan, with the final leg to finish later this week after New Year’s Day and the trip home. Continue reading Christmas week
Saturday and Sunday all seem to run together. Weekends are busy and filled with unscheduled time to get things done including all of the tasks and jobs left undone from the week. Of course there is the unexpected, the task or job that pops up and needs to be done at that moment. I got pulled into such a job Saturday and am still finishing it Sunday morning. Continue reading Weekends in December