Psst! THE KIDS ARE BACK!

The kids are back!
I started my 19th year of teaching this week. Yep. That is a long time. I decided to force myself to take a moment and reflect on the first week. I tried to do it after the first day. Here is what I managed to write down.

"Off to a good start! First Period : Forgot how quiet these guys (my little 6th graders) are on the first ..."

That is as far as I got. That's an indication of what our first weeks are like. We are constant motion. I made it worse for myself by requesting (and being granted) a room change. In spite of working weeks before the start of school to be settled, there are still parts of my room still floating.There are so many e-mails coming from all different parties. E-mails about the new computer attendance system, e-mails about the new gradebook, e-mails about students with medical needs, e-mails about IEP students, e-mails about upcoming faculty meetings, e-mails about APPR, e-mails about meetings, e-mails about curriculum night, e-mails about homework websites, e-mails from the English dept head, e-mails about supplies, e-mails about committee sign-ups, e-mails about upcoming observations (first week of school) e-mails about the staff development catalog -- must read and sign up by second week, 86 e-mails plus the ones from the day before school started...I think you get my point.

Oh, and the kids are back!
So, attendance rosters need to be printed (find out which printer is actually working and figure out how to use the new attendance system to print the charts), desks arranged, warm-ups printed, syllabus modified and printed, rules and procedures explained, tours of the building (6th graders are new to my building), locker combination practice, plan with other English 6 teachers (on our own time -- no common planning there), plan with Special Educators pushing into my classroom so they can modify if needed, meet with my team about sharing first day responsibilities, parent conference 3rd day of school.

Did I say the kids are back?
Modified schedule posted on white board in the front of the room. Regular schedule posted on another board. Work out the kinks with technology in the new room. Each set up with Smartboard and projector is a little different. Mine clearly works when it decides it will. Set up hand in baskets for work, find a place for worksheets arriving daily from the district print shop, create a sub folder filled with pertinent info especially for the kiddos being followed by the Special Educator on the team, find a place for tissues and other supplies kiddos may keep in the room. Teach fire drill procedures and practice them -- fire drills start next week and can be very unsettling for some 6th graders.

But wait, the kids are back!
Seating charts with pictures so I can begin to learn their names, index cards with their names on them folded on their desks so I can begin to learn their names, sticks with their names on them so I can pick sticks for groups, to call on kids, and to begin to learn their names.

Seriously, the kids are back.
This is just the items I remember. Can we agree that I have handled or dealt with at least a hundred others in the first three days of school? But, let me be clear about this. None of that means any more to me than standing outside the door of my room and smiling at each child who enters. I need to know their names so I can greet them individually but right now that isn't possible. I have already learned who the avid readers are because they have borrowed books from me already. I learned another likes to hunt for pheasants but is also interested in weight lifting. There is a big fan of the Hobbit series of books. I already got a note delivered to my desk. Don't remember that happening every year. I have already mentioned the state tests at least 5 times. For the rest of the year I refer to them as "That which shall not be mentioned" well, until about February. I can see the ones that are very anxious and worried about doing all this Right. I don't know their names yet but remember the worried faces.

They have learned a few things about me already. I won't be the teacher "frowning and scowling at them until Thanksgiving." I will be the teacher constantly sharing great books with them. I will be the teacher telling them how proud I am of them. I will be the teacher noticing the new sneakers they are wearing. I will be the teacher seeing the new t-shirt they are wearing. I will be the teacher laughing in the classroom. I will be the teacher giving them chances to sit in my reading lounge during instruction. I will be that teacher.

Got my APPR HEDI score yesterday. I am officially an 88 this year and therefore identified as EFFECTIVE. Well, then, good to know. I know plenty others like me who have taught just as long who didn't get that score and are being told they are DEVELOPING. In the first week of school with so many really important items to worry about, I will be the teacher who couldn't care less about THAT SCORE. It doesn't really tell you anything about me. I will be the teacher I have been for the last 18 years and more. Because we all are improving, changing, modifying, yes, developing, every minute we are in our classrooms. And yes, we are also effective while we are doing all that. Have been pretty irritated lately to see editorials commenting on how important "enthusiastic young teachers are." Well, I am not young. I am 53. But I am as enthusiastic on the 19th first day of school as I was on my 1st first day. And, I know way more now than I did then. I know what is most important to pay attention to. Know what that is? My kids. Did I tell you the kids are back? And I couldn't be happier about it.

You Teach Writing by Writing. Brilliant!

Today I sat down to write so I could post on the Teachers Write website. I was coerced into joining this online writing class by my colleague, Andrea Page, who has already written a book, belongs to a writing group, and is regularly encouraging me to write. She knows I have a story I could write. I am not so sure. I love to write though and through the process of signing up for the class started to blog. So, if you come to my blog and see just a few posts, don't abandon me like you would a boring book. Stick around long enough to give me chance. I am still figuring out this medium.


I purchased an e-book last week for my Kindle, Blog It by Molly Green, that I thought might help me with this process. If she were reading my blog right now, she would know which chapters I have already read! I believe there is much I need to learn as I venture into the land of blogging.  With Molly by my side, I feel braver already!

I am still not sure though, if I really have things to say that others will like to read. In my 6th grade classroom, I often model quick writes for them. They seem truly surprised that I can sit down in the time it takes them to sharpen their pencils, get out their journals, dream up an idea and have two pages of text already written. I write as they write and always finish first.

Bandit "Houdini Dog"

They often ask me to write about the stories I tell them. I had several to tell about our Houdini Dog who is able to escape from any and all kennels known to mankind given enough time and, perhaps, the added incentive of a scary thunderstorm.

 I regularly tell them about the mishaps that often occurred in classes before them. Hence the advice, "When the teacher leaves the room, do NOT fall out the window!" This is just to remind them that similar to what  Art Linkletter used to say, 6th Graders do the darndest things!

One day they suggested I write about coffee since ala Nancy Atwell's Writing workshop, you need to write about something you have strong feelings about. Well, clearly they heard me that day! They reminded me they often see me clutching my coffee cup as they work in my room.

So, I wrote in my first period class about coffee and read it to them. I boasted to them I had much more to say on the topic.  My next period class demanded to hear what I had written and challenged me to write again about coffee. So, I did and read it to that class and the next. By the end of the day, I had written four short essays on the topic of coffee. When I shared my writing with the 1st period class the next day, they were astounded. Incredulous even. Even I wasn't sure how I had continued to write about a fairly minor topic in my life. Well, but maybe, then again, it wasn't all that unimportant.  That was the lesson I followed up with. They needed to add to their writing territories often with topics and ideas because you just never know when you may be inspired to write about one of them.

Writing is not hard for me, well, this kind of writing. But, I may be the only person really ever interested in reading it. Well, me and, perhaps, my students. That's ok for now.  If I ever figure out how to write the story that Andrea keeps telling me to write, I will be ready.  Practice makes perfect, right?

Summer Projects

Having the summers off is a blessing, that is for sure.  I am desperately in need of time to breathe, to unwind, to find myself again after a hectic school year.  You will never hear me complain about too much time off in the summer. You will never hear me complain about the days seeming to drag. But, (you could hear the "but" coming, couldn't you?) there is a certain pressure to summer also. There is a pressure to finish all those projects you put off all year long. Remember the ones where you said, "Boy, I wish I could get to that ...for sure I will in the summer." There is a pressure to plan events and activities. The cruise director position is mine and mine alone. Finally, there is a pressure to find the perfect ideas to use in the classroom next year. You know, ...if I just had this, could make this, could do this, do what she did etc.. my year would be so much better. I call it "Pressured Optimism." If I can just figure it out, my upcoming 180 some days will perfection. 

I am at that point right now. It's been a few weeks of blissful rest and now I am starting to feel like the family is looking at me and saying, "Hmmm, what did she do today?" Sometimes even I look at myself and say, "What did I do today?"  Somehow, I don't think they will find "I read a book from start to finish!" any great accomplishment.  It is though.  If I said, " Hah, I killed the laundry pile -- 12 loads washed, folded, put away!" my husband would be impressed. yuk. If I said, " Went grocery shopping, dropped off dry cleaning, scheduled hair appointments and dentist appointments," my husband would be impressed.Not me. 

I have read three books already. That is low for me.  I usually head to the library on the first Monday of break and lug home 10 or 12 books. Haven't done that yet.  I do have a Kindle. Don't love it.  Like it ..sorta. Will at some point sit at my computer and upload some books. (no wifi in my house) I have started this blog. No one in the house will care about that either. My grown son, Bill, is impressed but he lives in Minnesota and not in my household anymore. Not sure he counts (in that way..).So, even at trying to be mildly ambitious, I am failing in the reading regard. But I think I am winning in the writing regard.

I have accomplished a few projects so far.  I managed to get/hire someone to put hardwood flooring in my daughter's bedroom.  That has been on the list for a couple of years.  I also have just purchased the flooring for a second bedroom. Will need to completely empty that room this week.  :( That is simply not fun and ends up being very much like work. But when it is done, I will feel accomplished again.  I also assembled a shoe organizer for my daughter today. HAH! That included using a screw driver and a hammer. Definitely feeling accomplished about that. Even Ally (my daughter) commented as she was filling it up (way too quickly with her millions of shoes), "This is flipping genius, Mother!" A good day indeed.

The Shoe Storage Project

 I have planned a few events so far. I had a July 4th picnic here and it went off without a hitch except for the 88% humidity... that was unpleasant.  However, I have been lobbying for a while to have some sort of shade created for my deck and that picnic was the defining moment. My husband has agreed now that we do indeed need more shade on the deck! Victory is mine.  This is important because I have another event planned for that deck, an Engagement Celebration Picnic for Billy and his fiance, Erin. That is a few weeks away.  Hopefully, the deck will be gloriously shaded by then.  

I have a few ideas percolating with regards to the upcoming school year. I hesitate to say I am working on them because, well, I am not. It is just too soon. I need the month of July to clear my head and heart from the previous year. I love my kiddos and they seem to love me back. I just don't want to think about grading or planning or evaluations, Common Core, APPR ...yuk. I am having none of it right now. August is when I am ready. August is when I will drag out the bag of materials I brought home to work on over the summer. August, which often seems like a very long Sunday night, is when I begin to sit up and think about what I can do to make it the very best year ever. August.  It is only July 9th. I can wait. Can you hear me breathing?

Hamlin Beach State Park, Lake Ontario

Went to the lake yesterday. Well, not yesterday. It was true when I first tried to find time to write. Then I had to stop to help my daughter find all her soccer gear for her game yesterday. Mind you, I had asked her to get it all ready the night before so that she wouldn't struggle to find things at 7:30 am.  What do I know...I am just "the mother."

Our Favorite Tree

But, we did go to the lake two days ago.  We started this tradition some years ago. I love just sitting and looking at the lake. Boy, does that make me sound old. But it is true. There is something truly relaxing about the water with the breeze blowing past you and the familiar comforting sounds. The sounds that are the same ones I heard as a child at my grandparent's cottage wrapping themselves around me.. Never mind it isn't the same spot I used to hear them from. The sounds, the smells, the breeze...it's all the same.  The water was crystal clear on Saturday. Barely a ripple. So you really had to listen for the soft shush, shush, shush as the waves gently lapped onto the shore. But those sounds triggered a memory of lying upstairs at the cottage  in the squishy twin bed with the white dotted-swiss comforter feeling  totally worn out from a whole day of swimming. You know the feeling when you close your eyes it feels like you are still in the water being shoved around by the waves? The gentle shush, shush, shush of the lake would send me to sleep in minutes. I heard that sound clearly.

The water looked so inviting; I had to give it a try. My husband and I walked down by the shore and I took off my socks and shoes to put my feet in. Icy. That is what it was. I gingerly stepped in to just below my knees. Icy. It was really cold. Looking around at the roped-off swimming area, I saw people in up to their shoulders. Impressive! Apparently, the water temp was about 57 degrees. I don't remember that! I don't ever remember, as a kid, saying the water was too cold to swim. No one ever said that.

This has been a very rainy stormy summer so my guess is that the water turned over and that is why it was so cold. We chatted about that...my husband, "the king of informational tidbits gleaned from the local pennysavers," questioned the validity of my "lake turns over in a storm" theory.  How do I know that? Harummph. Cause that's what I always heard about the lake. He never went to a cottage. I cupped the water and poured it over my arms. Also amazing. So refreshing. No way I would go in any further but it just felt so crisp and inviting and invigorating. My husband was content to watch me from the shore line. He had no interest in dipping any part of himself into that icy lake.

My Brother and his family

We worked our way up the sandy incline to the sidewalk above.  There are so many areas to Hamlin Beach State Park that are soooo beautiful. It always astounds me that it is hardly ever crowded there. Rochesterians are so silly to ignore this treasure that is a mere 30 minutes away from the city.  However, I love the way the park seems to be waiting just for me. Our favorite spots are always available for us. They are all ready to choose to set up our picnics.  The tree that the kids love to climb up into is ready for boarding.  The grassy area just right for bocce? Yep, was waiting for us.  Picnic tables ready for picnicking? well, they were broken at our favorite spot but, no worries...we just (well, I say "we" but it really was my daughter and husband) dragged one over from another location to our spot.

Hamlin Beach Sunset

I can feel my blood pressure dropping whenever we go to the park. The lake, the sounds, the smells, the trees...just all of it makes you feel so much happier. It doesn't even bother me that it costs $7.00 to enter the park. That is a small price to pay for a whole day of relaxation.  Even better? I can usually get my husband to pack up all the food, coolers, and games etc. to get us on the road.  Love, love, love me some picnicking at Hamlin. One of my favorite summer things to do.

Teenage Drivers and Ducks

You often hear the phrase “my life passed before my eyes.”  I just always wondered how does that work?  Which events pass first? Is it the happy highlights?  Or maybe the chances left squandered? Which memories take precedence? Will it be in chronological order?

Would I relive the first terrifying time I skied downhill after falling off the chair lift?  Would I see myself in my Perkin’s Pancake House waitressing during a bar rush In the 80’s? I really never want to see that brown bibbed wraparound uniform ever again. I mean, who picked that really? But I did make a lot of money at that job no thanks to the uniform! I think it had more to do with diners who were hungry after disco dancing and drinking. They tended to be fairly free with their money. 

Hopefully, I would catch a glimpse of my parents; I sure would like to see them again.  Maybe, I would see my wedding day again.  Or the birth of any of my three kids. Well, maybe not the actual birth - I have no desire to relive that but to see them as toddlers again would be fun.

Especially my Ally – she was driving that day when I had that “life passing” moment. I remember her as a toddler chasing valiantly after her two big brothers trying mightily to hang with them no matter what they were doing.  Hard to forget how the boys would huddle protectively around their green turtle sandbox where they would have created an entire city using their matchbox cars only to have Ally come crashing in and erase the entire set-up.  She just wanted to be there too and they would have let her except for her destructive nature.

Ally was driving that day. She has been driving for about five months. It generally is me that takes her for driving practice. I will not lie. She has scared the devil out of me a number of times.  I have reminded her gently well, no not gently, that the car needs to be on all four tires when turning left.  She is improving though. I know this because I am grabbing the armrest less frequently. 

That day Ally had driven on the expressway for the first time. She drove to her doctor’s appointment and was on the way back home handling the expressway traffic very well, changing lanes with confidence.  I was breathing easily.  We approached a 35 mph zone and without reminders she decreased her speed. Up ahead I noticed with interest a mother duck and five babies marching sturdily across the road.  About the same time I noticed, the approaching car must have noticed them also. The car swerved to miss the ducks and then swerved back losing control in the process. Before you know it, the back end of the minivan was heading directly for us. I reached out towards Ally and froze just watching the car. 

That’s when I started to think about what might happen. It looked to be about to crash into my brand new jeep..the first new car we have bought in over 25 years, that seemed a bit unlucky. Then I thought well, she won’t make the soccer game later that evening if this car hits us..and she just got back to playing after a knee injury also unlucky. A few more fleeting thoughts went through my mind. As if in truly slow motion, I looked at Ally. She had calmly brought our car to a stop and as she did, the approaching car skidded right past our bumper and ended up facing the other direction on the side of the right next to us. How that car missed us is anyone’s guess. 

In shock, I looked at Ally.  What she said sounded straight out of ZuZu’s mouth in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” 

“You know Mom, Daddy says …never swerve for anything smaller than a fox. That  women shouldn’t have done that.”  That is good to know. I burst into tears. She was so calm and I was darn near hysterical.  She patted my hand and said, “Let’s drive into Walgreens and park for a moment so you can calm down.”

Can’t really question her driving skills; she did everything right that day. I don’t think it is true that your life passes in front of you. Instead I saw the future where my daughter is a strong, competent, capable individual who can handle whatever life throws her way.  That was a great image to experience.  Maybe a little bit, I saw the one who will comfort me as I grow older (like I did for my parents). That is a time I really can wait for. 

But seriously, can we all agree that, in spite of being cute and adorable, you should definitely not swerve to avoid ducks when they are crossing a major highway? There is just too much that can go wrong. Luckily for us and momma duck who also made a poor decision, everything went right instead.

Hardwood Flooring- Wait for it...

Today I will have the first of what I hope is many hardwood floors installed in my house.  We built this house about 15 years ago when hardwoods were not in fashion. All those HGTV shows have sent the lovely, plush carpets packing. Unfortunately, my husband does not enjoy watching any of those shows. His favorite shows are Antique Road Show and Pickers on the History Channel. He likes old things. He likes our carpeting despite how old and worn it is. He likes the linoleum flooring in our kitchen and dining room. He has no idea how painful it is to wash that floor on your hands and knees to bring back any semblance of shine or luster.  He doesn't remember his mother ever replacing anything in their house, so why should we? Oiy.. So, I have begun slowly to creep up from behind and stealthily begin to update a few items in our house. It helped that our daughter demanded, asked, begged, pleaded for hardwoods in her bedroom. It also helped that prior to it being her bedroom, it had been her older brother's and he did some major damage to the carpet. Working together (a rarity for a mother and 16 year old daughter) we prevailed. Today is the day.  The flooring is nearly done and I am thrilled.  It will really be an improvement to what was there and should help pave the way for more rooms being done. It helps that I found someone who would do just one room for me. It helps also that I managed to squirrel away more money this school year so I can pay for this out of my account. I can't wait to see the finished product. If  I can figure it out, I may even post a pic! Hah! Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. One step at a time...

Me... A Blogger?

Interestingly enough, I have won an award in technology. I am a "Twenty Educators to Watch in the field of Technology" award winner. Hah. I am bewildered, perplexed, puzzled, intrigued by the process of creating a blog. I finally resorted to calling my twenty-something son for assistance.  How lame is that? I know if you have a blog, you are probably wondering what is wrong with me.  

Is it possible to be technologically "handy" (I prefer that over proficient) yet bumbling at the same time? Why is this process so difficult to navigate? You see I created the Google account. Then created the blog. (I thought) Then I looked for where to post but instead was asked did I want to create a blog?! Ahah! First Base! (Laurel and Hardy fans...you know where I am headed with this.) 

So that was the first phone call. In creating the blog, I was asked to name it and then choose a URL. Hmmm. Thought I did name it.  Nuts.  Some clarification from my son and I simply typed the same thing into both windows.  That may or may not have been correct but it got me to this point and Voila I may be blogging. So, this will be a process but it is on my bucket list for this summer.  Really, how can you wear a technology award if you don't know how to create a blog? Seriously. Step down.  More thoughts later, I am going to see if this really worked! (hope I can remember all the signins etc....)