I was bummed this morning when I woke up to the persistent pattering of rain, and when I took Lucy for her morning walk, my carefully careless coif curled crazily. Later, driving to school in soggy sneakers and damp clothes, I passed my garden and relaxed a bit and stopped grumbling. At least the tomatoes were enjoying the weather.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
The Money Quote
"You want give the subject of your profile the last word," I told my students. "End your piece with an inspiring quotation that really sums up the essence of that person." And to help them do so, I showed them examples and we imagined what questions the reporter had asked to get such a response.
Even so, we were looking at student work, which can be flawed, and when the words of a young basketball player flashed up on the screen one kid in the room grimaced and shook his head. "That's not very inspiring," he said.
"Well," I said, shrugging, "sometimes reporters have to work with what they get." I made eye contact with him and raised my eyebrows. "Not everyone is lucky enough to get someone who is well-spoken. We all have different strengths."
He nodded in understanding. When the lesson was over and it was time for them to follow up with their subjects to get that perfect ending, he walked over to me. "What advice do you have for people considering getting a puppy?" he asked, and I gave him my inspirational best.
"I really am lucky to have someone well-spoken!" he said.
Lesson taught; lesson learned.
Even so, we were looking at student work, which can be flawed, and when the words of a young basketball player flashed up on the screen one kid in the room grimaced and shook his head. "That's not very inspiring," he said.
"Well," I said, shrugging, "sometimes reporters have to work with what they get." I made eye contact with him and raised my eyebrows. "Not everyone is lucky enough to get someone who is well-spoken. We all have different strengths."
He nodded in understanding. When the lesson was over and it was time for them to follow up with their subjects to get that perfect ending, he walked over to me. "What advice do you have for people considering getting a puppy?" he asked, and I gave him my inspirational best.
"I really am lucky to have someone well-spoken!" he said.
Lesson taught; lesson learned.
Monday, May 29, 2017
Obsolete
We were driving past a family on their bikes this afternoon when Heidi asked me if I thought a certain student at our school could ride a bike. "No," I answered, "but there are lots of kids at school who can't ride bikes."
In Washington, D.C. there is a PE teacher who wrote a grant to teach a unit on bike riding to third graders, and in our district, third graders go to one of the high school pools to learn to swim. "I guess kids today don't learn the same things our parents taught us when we were young," I noted, before I thought better of it.
"I wonder if there was a time when people thought it was a shame that some kids couldn't ride horses," I mused. "Maybe they said things like, Can you believe so and so can't drive a carriage?" I laughed.
"And who knows what the future will bring," Heidi said, "Especially with self-driving cars on the horizon."
"Well," I shrugged, "I'm glad I can swim and ride a bike," I paused, "AND drive! Also? I wish I could ride a horse and drive a wagon."
"It's never too late, Babe," Heidi told me. "It's never too late."
In Washington, D.C. there is a PE teacher who wrote a grant to teach a unit on bike riding to third graders, and in our district, third graders go to one of the high school pools to learn to swim. "I guess kids today don't learn the same things our parents taught us when we were young," I noted, before I thought better of it.
"I wonder if there was a time when people thought it was a shame that some kids couldn't ride horses," I mused. "Maybe they said things like, Can you believe so and so can't drive a carriage?" I laughed.
"And who knows what the future will bring," Heidi said, "Especially with self-driving cars on the horizon."
"Well," I shrugged, "I'm glad I can swim and ride a bike," I paused, "AND drive! Also? I wish I could ride a horse and drive a wagon."
"It's never too late, Babe," Heidi told me. "It's never too late."
Sunday, May 28, 2017
They Shall Inherit the Earth
An unexpected evening spent in the emergency room has been a revelation. This world is being taken over by young people! Not a single one of the health care professionals we saw tonight was over the age of 35, and most of them were under 30. Fortunately, if these folks are any indication, the future is in good hands.
Saturday, May 27, 2017
1 is for One More
Technically, I'm finished with the writing challenge, but for students who are trying to complete 100 days of writing, I have added the numbers 1-9 as well. I thought I would be relieved to finish, but like that April 1st eight years ago, I find myself at kind of at a loss. Turns out I like writing something for my students to read every day. Go figure!
So, 1 is also for 1st time at the garden. Today was the day we cleaned out all the spring and winter weeds and planted vegetables in our community garden plot. To be honest, even though I love having a garden, I was seriously considering making this the last year, because the season for putting the garden in falls at a very busy time for a teacher. Fortunately, my nephews Josh and Treat helped today, and we were done in under four hours. Now all that's left is to water and weed, and sit back and wait for the homegrown veggies to start rolling in.
Oh, and Lucy was there, too. She has never been to the garden, and so we brought a bone for her to chew. It kept her busy for a while until she literally tried to bury it!
Life Lesson: Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still. ~Thoreau
So, 1 is also for 1st time at the garden. Today was the day we cleaned out all the spring and winter weeds and planted vegetables in our community garden plot. To be honest, even though I love having a garden, I was seriously considering making this the last year, because the season for putting the garden in falls at a very busy time for a teacher. Fortunately, my nephews Josh and Treat helped today, and we were done in under four hours. Now all that's left is to water and weed, and sit back and wait for the homegrown veggies to start rolling in.
Oh, and Lucy was there, too. She has never been to the garden, and so we brought a bone for her to chew. It kept her busy for a while until she literally tried to bury it!
Life Lesson: Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still. ~Thoreau
Friday, May 26, 2017
Z is for Zonked
Lucy got a little taste of beer at one of the graduation celebrations last weekend, and now she's right there whenever she hears a bottle or can open. In fact she knocked over a little glass a bit ago and lapped up as much as she could before we scooped her up. So far she seems fine-- no staggering, barking, or canine confessions, but we're watching her closely. Hopefully she will sleep soundly tonight.
She also had a chance to try coffee, but it must have been too bitter, because she made a funny face and ran away. Or maybe caffeine is the last thing a puppy needs!
Life Lesson: Sometimes you're old enough to know better, but too young to care.
She also had a chance to try coffee, but it must have been too bitter, because she made a funny face and ran away. Or maybe caffeine is the last thing a puppy needs!
Life Lesson: Sometimes you're old enough to know better, but too young to care.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Y is for Yawn
Lots of animals yawn, and we do it for many different reasons. Yawning in people can be a sign of boredom or sleepiness, and they say that yawning in dogs is a sign of stress or anxiety. Why do we yawn in these situations? No one is sure. It is possible that a yawn just gets your lungs working and your blood flowing, which helps to wake you up and/or calm you down.
Whatever the reason, Lucy has the cutest yawn I've ever seen. She opens her mouth so wide it looks like a crescent moon, sticks her tongue out in a curly cue, and makes a little squeal. If you've ever seen Snoopy from Peanuts yawn, then you can picture it.
Yawning, by the way, is also contagious. Just reading about it can make you yawn.
Life Lesson: Admit it... you are yawning.
Whatever the reason, Lucy has the cutest yawn I've ever seen. She opens her mouth so wide it looks like a crescent moon, sticks her tongue out in a curly cue, and makes a little squeal. If you've ever seen Snoopy from Peanuts yawn, then you can picture it.
Yawning, by the way, is also contagious. Just reading about it can make you yawn.
Life Lesson: Admit it... you are yawning.
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