Tag Archives: teaching

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 →

Day 67 – is it real?

Friday, December 2, 2011, @ 5:03 amFamily, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingeducation, hard work, quotes, reading, teaching, winter, writingClay

Milton-20111201-00016 — looking back - the sun rises on the first day of winter

Today is the sixty-seventh day of the school year. It doesn’t seem possible, but, it is. It is funny how time moves so quickly. This week has virtually evaporated. A week ago, it was Thanksgiving Break and now I am looking down the barrels of Winter Break and a long two-week holiday, which will seemingly go faster than Thanksgiving’s five days. Continue reading Day 67 – is it real? →

Giving Thanks – Happy Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 24, 2011, @ 9:44 amcountry, Family, jobs, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, eating, Family, great days, hard work, making the days count, Paris, pets, reading, scouting, teaching, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving 2011, writingClay

I went back in time yesterday morning to last year, the year before, and all the way back to Thanksgivings past. I went way back. I have been blogging at Making the Days Count since late May 2010 and have a few readers who follow along, so I feel I can go back to last year’s post without much of a problem for readers feeling like, ‘hey, I have been here before!’ Continue reading Giving Thanks – Happy Thanksgiving →

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 →

Veterans Day 2011

Friday, November 11, 2011, @ 4:43 pmcountry, Family, history, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, education, Family, history, patriotism, reading, teaching, writingClay

poppy1111 — a poppy, symbolic of veterans everywhere

It is Veterans Day and I am off school. My students are off school and it is a vacation day. But, not all schools are out, my kids are in school and a few other local school districts are in session. I teach in one school district and I live in another. It is nice to have a day off, but it would be nicer to celebrate what the day means and honor veterans for the service and sacrifice.

So far, I have accomplished little with my day off. It sounds like a whine, and it is. I took Ivy to the groomer and have picked her up – she’s resting upstairs, I have e-mailed a few folks, replied to a few comments, called my mother-in-law, talked to a friend about a fantasy football trade – I declined, and in general had a restful day. It is Veterans Day and I should have done more with it than I have. I feel guilty. Continue reading Veterans Day 2011 →

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 →

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 →

Falling Back

Sunday, November 6, 2011, @ 7:24 amFamily, jobs, Life in General, pets, teachingBethany Hamilton, children, eating, fall in the Midwest, fall leaves, Family, hard work, pets, reading, Soul Surfer, teaching, weatherClay

pancakes to start the day, what better way?

It was wonderful to stay up to 10PM with the kids and put them to bed knowing that it was really 9PM or would be in a few hours. Daylight Savings Time is the bomb! At least for a day. I looked at today’s details the sun rose at 6:30 AM and will set at 4:41 PM, even this early in the morning that is 10 hours and 11 minutes, how can that be? Regardless, that is the daylight we have, so we must make it count, worthwhile. Continue reading Falling Back →

Do I have your attention?

Thursday, November 3, 2011, @ 10:53 pmFamily, Life in General, Reading, teaching, WritingColeen McGregor, Dulles Jr. High Class of 1976, education, Family, hard work, reading, seventh grade, teaching, writingClay

It is that time again, narrative writing season in my classroom. So far, the students have shown some sparks and I mean that is a good thing. I, on the other hand, have fallen down a hole.

It has been a great year so far; the first quarter is history and I am not. I am enjoying my students and I think they are enjoying me, at least some of them are. Teaching seventh graders to write is a delicate balance Continue reading Do I have your attention? →

Sunday morning, again

Sunday, October 30, 2011, @ 11:34 amadventure, Family, jobs, Life in General, pets, Reading, Writingchildren, education, fall in the Midwest, fall leaves, Family, hard work, high school football, politics, reading, seventh grade, teaching, writingClay

It is Sunday morning and somehow, Saturday passed me by. Saturday morning, I got up late, about quarter to eight. The rest of the house slept and it was quiet, peaceful, it was wonderful. Everyone needed rest, I included, but I was awake, so I got up. Friday night we had been out at a – you guessed it – high school football game Friday night and had been the last off the field as William and Olivia helped the grounds crew pick up the yard markers, end zone cones, and put them away for another week and perhaps the season. The Tigers had made the state playoffs but have had a difficult season dropping three games this year. They won Friday night, but next week play the number one seed in the bracket – in their stadium, so it will be interesting.

This morning, the phone rang and woke Beth and me up. She went back to sleep, or tried to and I came downstairs, let Ivy out and made coffee. We let the kids sleep; Continue reading Sunday morning, again →