The school year is quickly entering its "busy" phase - don't get me wrong - it's always busy...but this time of year seems to be "hold-on-to-your-dentures-or-they'll-fly-off-your-gums" busy. We just attended a major competition event. Homecoming is this Friday. We're gearing up for another competition. I'm judging at yet another competition before that one. Report cards will be here before you know it. Then, it's the Senior Trip to DC. SAT's are the week we return. National Competition is the week after that. I'm preparing to speak at our Ladies' Group the following week. Take a Breath. Field Trips and Finals. Report Cards, again. Meeting with Parents. Graduation. Get your Permanent Records done by Friday. Now it's Summer....did we really just finish another year?!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Just a Note...
Once upon a time (because that's how all good stories start), I read an etiquette article about Thank You notes. The author was waxing eloquent about proper wording and correct timing, but she made one comment at the very end that has stuck with me - even though I've forgotten the rest of the article. I seem to recall that she was answering readers questions or something, and someone had asked, "What act or gift rates a Thank You note, and for which acts or gifts can you get by with just sending an email or saying 'Thanks' in person?" (No, of course that wasn't the exact wording, but I figured saying, "the question was something about, you know, thank you notes, and gifts, and you know, when you should send one or not, and you know, stuff like that"....would probably sound rather....you know....stupid.) I have always remembered her response: "If you think that maybe you should send a Thank You note... you should." Although, I don't always listen to my inner Emily Post, I have tried to follow that advice ever since. If someone does something for me that touches me to the point that I contemplate undertaking the arduous task of sending them a handwritten note of thanks, then that person certainly deserves my effort.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Help us, Harry Potter...are you REALLY our only hope??!!
Note: This has been the week the earth stood still. Partly because I didn't get my nap on Sunday, which always messes up my entire week (hey, it's called the Day of Rest for a reason), and partly because I was up till midnight on Monday watching the Tide roll into its 14th National Championship (21 to Zereaux, Roll Tide). Since Bama Football is usually on Saturdays, my body thought it should be the weekend...all week long. Ergo: Longest. Week. Ever.
I had a blog post that's been rolling around my brain for the last couple of weeks, but I didn't have the energy this week to put pen to paper (or...cursor to screen). I still don't have the energy. But, since I'm starting to feel a little frantic about neglecting my New Year's Resolution, (and because I kinda like having an outlet for my brilliancy), I thought I would share the email that started it all... This was the first tiny little seed that began to germinate the idea that maybe, just maybe, I should, you know, maybe write a blog...or something...
The first Harry Potter book became popular when I was in college, but between working 40 hours a week and taking 20 hours of classes, I really didn't have time to pay attention to anything in the outside world. I do remember, however, reading an article about J K Rowling at the time. She was pictured reading Harry Potter to a group of eagerly listening 2nd graders. The article basically proclaimed her as the "Hero of Reading Teachers Everywhere" ...stating that her Harry Potter books had done what no other book in the history of education had been able to do: get children interested in reading. [Personal Rant: I am all for reading. And I pretty much will stoop to anything to get a child to read, and LOVE reading - especially boys. I have an entire shelf of "My Life As.." and other fascinatingly gross adventure books, that I used when I was teaching 5th Grade, to get my boys to read. There are plenty of books out there to get kids to read. One book (or series of books) isn't magical. The magic comes when a teacher can look at the child who has never finished a book report in five years, and can find that one book that is perfect for him and say, "If you read this, I promise you'll love it." An author isn't magical. A teacher who pours her soul into her students and inspires them to desire greatness, to reach for it, to search for it - that's magical. ...ok, I'm done with my personal rant now.]
Anyway, for some reason, Harry Potter has been all over Facebook this week. I don't know why. But it's made me think of this email I sent to my brother this past summer. I had just finished reading the first book in the HP series, and this was my gut reaction:
I had a blog post that's been rolling around my brain for the last couple of weeks, but I didn't have the energy this week to put pen to paper (or...cursor to screen). I still don't have the energy. But, since I'm starting to feel a little frantic about neglecting my New Year's Resolution, (and because I kinda like having an outlet for my brilliancy), I thought I would share the email that started it all... This was the first tiny little seed that began to germinate the idea that maybe, just maybe, I should, you know, maybe write a blog...or something...
The first Harry Potter book became popular when I was in college, but between working 40 hours a week and taking 20 hours of classes, I really didn't have time to pay attention to anything in the outside world. I do remember, however, reading an article about J K Rowling at the time. She was pictured reading Harry Potter to a group of eagerly listening 2nd graders. The article basically proclaimed her as the "Hero of Reading Teachers Everywhere" ...stating that her Harry Potter books had done what no other book in the history of education had been able to do: get children interested in reading. [Personal Rant: I am all for reading. And I pretty much will stoop to anything to get a child to read, and LOVE reading - especially boys. I have an entire shelf of "My Life As.." and other fascinatingly gross adventure books, that I used when I was teaching 5th Grade, to get my boys to read. There are plenty of books out there to get kids to read. One book (or series of books) isn't magical. The magic comes when a teacher can look at the child who has never finished a book report in five years, and can find that one book that is perfect for him and say, "If you read this, I promise you'll love it." An author isn't magical. A teacher who pours her soul into her students and inspires them to desire greatness, to reach for it, to search for it - that's magical. ...ok, I'm done with my personal rant now.]
Anyway, for some reason, Harry Potter has been all over Facebook this week. I don't know why. But it's made me think of this email I sent to my brother this past summer. I had just finished reading the first book in the HP series, and this was my gut reaction:
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Oh There You Are!
I love stumbling across something that I had forgotten about...rediscovering a hidden jewel that I had tucked away.
I used to enjoy reading all the posts on The Pioneer Woman, but in the jumble of my life I seem to have misplaced her...just found her again today. Ree Drummond. Hilarious. Wish I had half her funny.
...I also wish I had her cookbook. (So, you know...Christmas is coming...eventually...)
Just in case you wish to peruse the site yourself (and in case you don't know how to use Google...), here's the link:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2011/12/my-new-cookbook/
...oh look! That's the link to the new cookbook! How did that get there?!
I used to enjoy reading all the posts on The Pioneer Woman, but in the jumble of my life I seem to have misplaced her...just found her again today. Ree Drummond. Hilarious. Wish I had half her funny.
...I also wish I had her cookbook. (So, you know...Christmas is coming...eventually...)
Just in case you wish to peruse the site yourself (and in case you don't know how to use Google...), here's the link:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2011/12/my-new-cookbook/
...oh look! That's the link to the new cookbook! How did that get there?!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Airborne, Take Me Away!
I am a germaphobe. (Did you know that's not really a word? The correct term is mysophobia - a pathological fear of contamination and germs. ...apparently, I'm also a word nerd...) But I hate germs. I always wash my hands, and I often use hand sanitizer. I never hold on to handrails, and I always use my own pen. You remember that show Monk? Yeah. That kid had nothing on me. Diamonds may be every other girl's best friend, but my best friend is Clorox Wipes. Disinfectants are kinda my thing.
One time, I had a student who needed an idea for a science fair project. I told her it would be awesome if she tested all of the brand label disinfectants to see which was most effective. (We had had a nasty bout of sickness that was making its rounds of the school.) Her conclusion - Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface Cleaner. I bought ten bottles. I DARED the flu bug to show its face in MY classroom!!
One time, I had a student who needed an idea for a science fair project. I told her it would be awesome if she tested all of the brand label disinfectants to see which was most effective. (We had had a nasty bout of sickness that was making its rounds of the school.) Her conclusion - Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface Cleaner. I bought ten bottles. I DARED the flu bug to show its face in MY classroom!!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Bros Before Hoagies
Note: If you haven't read the previous post "Slap Yo' Mamma," you're going to be confused... you've been warned...
So my brothers were in town this weekend. We spent quite the quality family time together. Translation: epic Words With Friends tournament/battleground (...103 points for "farouche" ...oh yeah.) There's nothing like sitting around the living room with your family with everyone glued to his or her iPad, laptop, smartphone, or what have you, yelling out such encouraging remarks as, "Two letters gets you 45 points??!! You stink!!" or, "How is THAT a word!!" or better yet, "You can't ask MOM! That's cheating!" ...good times, good times.
In betwixt the wild sesquipedalian antics, I showed my brother my blog. I pulled it up on his iPad and twiddled my thumbs nervously while he read it. I looked over his shoulder as he perused the first two posts.
So my brothers were in town this weekend. We spent quite the quality family time together. Translation: epic Words With Friends tournament/battleground (...103 points for "farouche" ...oh yeah.) There's nothing like sitting around the living room with your family with everyone glued to his or her iPad, laptop, smartphone, or what have you, yelling out such encouraging remarks as, "Two letters gets you 45 points??!! You stink!!" or, "How is THAT a word!!" or better yet, "You can't ask MOM! That's cheating!" ...good times, good times.
In betwixt the wild sesquipedalian antics, I showed my brother my blog. I pulled it up on his iPad and twiddled my thumbs nervously while he read it. I looked over his shoulder as he perused the first two posts.
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