Tag Archives: writing

Fall, leaves, and walking Ivy

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Fog hugs the ground as the sunrises on a cool morning in early October.
Fog hugs the ground as the sunrises on a cool morning in early October.

It has been fall for over three weeks now. The autumnal equinox has come and gone. September 22nd marked the official start of autumn in the northern hemisphere and relatively equal day and night across the globe. That day, three weeks ago, we had twelve hours and eight minutes of daylight counting the daylight between sunrise and sunset. Today, we had eleven hours and six minutes and each evening and when the sunsets, we will have even less. Fall is here and we are on our way into winter. Continue reading Fall, leaves, and walking Ivy →

1492 – Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue, the rest of the story

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Painting of Christopher Columbus taking possession of the new world. In the painting, Columbus kneels on a rocky coast, with a flag in his left hand and a sword in his right. He is surrounded by European men, some of them bearing flags. In the background, three ships are in the water.

 This was supposed to be the weekend I caught up but, time is fickle and just as Johann Goethe, the noted German philosopher, wrote, “Every man has only enough strength to complete those assignments that he is fully convinced are important.” So therefore, I accomplished what I felt was truly important. Some of my to do’s will just have to wait for another day, or week. 

Columbus Day is one of those holidays that was intended to celebrate diversity when it first began to be celebrated in the late nineteenth century. The holiday has since been mandated as an official federal holiday, but it is now outdated. Continue reading 1492 – Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue, the rest of the story →

Reading and Football – Week 6

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I set the coffee to brew automatically hoping that the aroma would be enough of an incentive to get me up and out of bed before the rest of the house awoke, but I only beat Olivia by an hour. We were up late as we are most Friday nights in the fall. It is high school football night and our Tigers won, again. They have a solid team and so far they are 6-0 and ranked number one in the area. The Tigers have a lightning fast offense and a swarming defense which has allowed no more two touchdowns in any of their games, while at the same time they have averaged over 40 points on offense. Continue reading Reading and Football – Week 6 →

Free Write Friday

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My cutout and character for the class wall, the kids will appear next week

Every Friday in Language Arts is Free Write Friday or rather was…. I write in Free Write Friday, at least try to write most Friday’s, to model the practice. Yesterday, I used the computer and typed instead of using my notebook. Below is what I wrote for Free Write Friday…. 

I walked in this morning, late. I really need to work on this. I have not been sleeping well and it is affecting me in so many ways. I am tired and not as effective as I could be in any of the areas of my life – father, husband, son, or teacher. Continue reading Free Write Friday →

Week 4: Being Amazing and Brilliant – Part 2

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The American flag flies on 9/11 in front of our home.

It is hard to believe, but I am seventeen days into the school year with 155 remaining. Mind you, I am not counting them, but rather working to make them count. In my last post, I referenced Mawi’s Unstoppable Blog: A blog for unstoppable educators & anyone who wants to be inspired. I had stumbled across his post and shared it with my students last Friday – over a week ago. Over the course of the week, I have reflected back to that moment in class when I challenged my seventh graders to be amazing and brilliant. At the same time, I challenged myself to do the same. Continue reading Week 4: Being Amazing and Brilliant – Part 2 →

Amazing and Brilliant Today?

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Amazing and Brilliant Today?

As a teacher, especially a Language Arts teacher I read ALOT! Over the years, I have been exposed to many writers and thinkers. One of the writers who most impressed me was Mawi Asgedom, known simply as Mawi. I first met him when he spoke at my church about his journey from Ethiopia to Sudan to America and finally to Harvard University. His story is amazing and commendable; he wrote a book chronicling his journey of overcoming the many obstacles stacked against him in our society about how he overcame them through hard work, dedication, and focus. Continue reading Amazing and Brilliant Today? →

Week 2: Recap and MtDC!

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Olivia with our friend Adam - on the track rooting on the Tigers!

The week went quickly. Monday, Tuesday were over before I knew it. Hump day – Wednesday arrived and passed, then Thursday and finally Friday. It was the week before Labor Day and we (me, my family, and my students) all had something to look forward to, a three-day weekend, or if you are my students a four-day weekend because we have an in-service day Tuesday.

Continue reading Week 2: Recap and MtDC! →

Week 2: Tigers and High School Football

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Olivia and William root on their Tigers! State Championship game 2009

Nothing means Fall more than high school football. Of course there is cool crisp air and fall weather. It is leaves falling, harvest, pumpkins, apple picking, and Halloween.  Last year for Halloween, and the previous one as well, Olivia dressed as a Tiger. She came home from her school’s Halloween celebration and did not want to take her costume off. Continue reading Week 2: Tigers and High School Football →

Back to School Week 1: Getting Back in the Groove….

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Keep and eye on us, Making the Days Count

I can hardly believe it has been over a week since I posted to MtDC (Making the Days Count). It has been busy with school and other activities. William and Olivia started school the same day our school started with kids and it has been hectic. However, it is a much better beginning to the school year, than last year. Continue reading Back to School Week 1: Getting Back in the Groove…. →

Back to School: New day counts begin….

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Ivy and I work on the deck, Sunday afternoon...

When I woke up Thursday morning, a new day count began…. Summer was over, really over, and school was back in session. Well, not really. School for teachers was back in session. States across the country have different school codes and thus require students to attend differing amounts of school days. In Illinois, the state requires the school calendar to have a minimum of 185 days including student attendance, in-service, and emergency days. I have kept track of the days the past several years trying to make each of the days count. I have embraced the idea of making the days count for some time. I have even gone so far to number each student attendance day in my planner with the corresponding days remaining on my master calendar. Therefore, the first day of student attendance looks like 171-1: meaning 171 days remain and 1 because it is the first day of school. There are other days including parent conferences, in-service days, and teacher workdays – I just have not numbered them. Continue reading Back to School: New day counts begin…. →