Today I tried something different. A principal friend of mine who lives in Atlanta, home of the Peachtree, invited me to join some educators for a Webcast with Aimee Buckner. That sounded exciting to me, but a little scary. I had never done that alone...only with my colleagues. Still, I am in the process of reading Aimee's latest book: Notebook Connections AND she is going to be presenting at the All Write!!! Summer Institute in a few weeks.
I took the challenge. I clicked on the link, dialed my phone and there was Aimee, well, really a picture of Aimee. It was a thrill to hear her talk about her book while I thumbed through it to the pages she discribed. I underlined and highlighted things I had already read, but now it seemed more real with the actual author talking about it.
I am even more excited to finish the book. I am even more excited to get to meet her in person in just a few weeks. So, for a rainy, dreary Thursday I got to speed away to another place and listen to one of my favorite authors. Hey, Aimee, I am a FAN!!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
AUDREY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY
Audrey looked super cool in her new shades. She was ready to open all her presents!
Time for the cake!
She was a very neat eater and kept looking at everyone as if to say, "Can I really do this?"
She was a very neat eater and kept looking at everyone as if to say, "Can I really do this?"
In her new car she is ready to take off for a wonderful summer. Happy First Birthday, Audrey!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
ALL WRITE SUMMER INSTITUTE
All-Write Summer Institute.
What do these people all have in common?
Carl Anderson
Max Brand
Aimee Buckner
Dan Feilgeson
Candace Fleming
Kelly Gallagher
Lester Laminack
Stephanie Parsons
Gary Schmidt
Frank Serafini
Jacqueline Woodson
Besides being leaders in the field, they are all going to be speaking at the All-Write Summer Institute on June 22 – 23 in Northern Indiana. Interested in registering? Go here
What do these people all have in common?
Carl Anderson
Max Brand
Aimee Buckner
Dan Feilgeson
Candace Fleming
Kelly Gallagher
Lester Laminack
Stephanie Parsons
Gary Schmidt
Frank Serafini
Jacqueline Woodson
Besides being leaders in the field, they are all going to be speaking at the All-Write Summer Institute on June 22 – 23 in Northern Indiana. Interested in registering? Go here
Saturday, June 6, 2009
OFFICIALLY BIKERS!!!
Not sure if it is an age thing or a man thing...but the Big D got a motorcycle today. He has been wanting one for a very long time. Last winter he took the bike safety course and passed that. He had his license. I knew what was coming next, just not sure when it would happen.
Last week he told me he had heard of someone who wanted to sell their bike and it was a bargain! Yes, a bargain! He and Brandt went to look at it this week, but they were closed so he could only look through the window. Still, that was all he could talk about...the bike.
He called the owner and made a very good deal for it. Today we drove to the big city and looked at helmets. We tried two places until we found TWO that I felt were safe enough. They made a very good deal on us buying TWO...matching, of course. Then we were off to check out the bike...with checkbook in hand.
He went in, talked to the person doing the selling and made the deal. In a few minutes he was out with a big grin on his face, grabbed the helmet and climbed on the bike. I rode behind him just to be sure he made it home safely.
We are now officially bikers...yes, I AM a biker-chick!!!!
Last week he told me he had heard of someone who wanted to sell their bike and it was a bargain! Yes, a bargain! He and Brandt went to look at it this week, but they were closed so he could only look through the window. Still, that was all he could talk about...the bike.
He called the owner and made a very good deal for it. Today we drove to the big city and looked at helmets. We tried two places until we found TWO that I felt were safe enough. They made a very good deal on us buying TWO...matching, of course. Then we were off to check out the bike...with checkbook in hand.
He went in, talked to the person doing the selling and made the deal. In a few minutes he was out with a big grin on his face, grabbed the helmet and climbed on the bike. I rode behind him just to be sure he made it home safely.
We are now officially bikers...yes, I AM a biker-chick!!!!
Friday, June 5, 2009
SUMMERTIME IN A SMALL TOWN
It's Friday night and anyone who knows me well, knows that you will find the Big D and me at a local restaurant and then on to Wal-Mart for our weekly shopping trip. That happened again tonight. But now it is June. Now it is summer. Now things are different.
We live in a small northern Indiana town. Small Hoosier towns are the best place to be in the summer. Tonight was the beginning of a new tradition, I think. We went out to eat at Applebee's and then off to our shopping adventure. We unloaded the groceries, grabbed the foldable camping chairs and jumped in the "yellow-bug".
Our small town has an addition this summer. We now have the DeKalb Outdoor Theater. Tonight was a special night with our local radio station: Froggy, sponsoring the performance. We pulled the bug into a parking spot in a big field/parking lot. The band was already playing and people were walking up the lane with chairs, coolers, and jackets on their arms. They just kept filing into the area. We walked over, unfolded our chairs and listened.
The place was full. People were clapping along with the music. Kids were playing catch in the background. Families had carry-in food in plastic containers. Everyone was smiling, talking and enjoying the weather and the music. The band was a local favorite with one of our neighbors on drums and other friends on guitars. Choice has always been a band we love!
Summertime in a small town in northern Indiana is the best place to be! Check out the schedule of events and if you are in the area, stop by. Did I mention: IT IS ALL FREE!!!!
We live in a small northern Indiana town. Small Hoosier towns are the best place to be in the summer. Tonight was the beginning of a new tradition, I think. We went out to eat at Applebee's and then off to our shopping adventure. We unloaded the groceries, grabbed the foldable camping chairs and jumped in the "yellow-bug".
Our small town has an addition this summer. We now have the DeKalb Outdoor Theater. Tonight was a special night with our local radio station: Froggy, sponsoring the performance. We pulled the bug into a parking spot in a big field/parking lot. The band was already playing and people were walking up the lane with chairs, coolers, and jackets on their arms. They just kept filing into the area. We walked over, unfolded our chairs and listened.
The place was full. People were clapping along with the music. Kids were playing catch in the background. Families had carry-in food in plastic containers. Everyone was smiling, talking and enjoying the weather and the music. The band was a local favorite with one of our neighbors on drums and other friends on guitars. Choice has always been a band we love!
Summertime in a small town in northern Indiana is the best place to be! Check out the schedule of events and if you are in the area, stop by. Did I mention: IT IS ALL FREE!!!!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
WE'RE DONE!!!
The last day of school was yesterday. I had gotten an invitation to go see another one of my fifth grade classes. The teacher emailed me and said, "The kids want to know if they will see you one last time." I chose to run over before their graduation. I am so glad I did.
I would love to share pictures of what they all looked like, but due to privacy laws, I can't. I will try to paint a picture with words for you. When I entered the room, all the chairs were lined up in the order they would sit for the graduation. The students were sitting quietly talking in small voices with each other. The girls had their hair all combed nicely with braids or bangs or just flowing free. They were in cute little sun dresses with flip flops to match. Their legs were crossed and hands in their laps. Was this really the class I taught just a few months ago?
The boys were even better. They were all cleaned up. One had a suit on. A couple others had vests and ties. One looked so cute in a big bow-tie. They too were sitting quietly just talking to each other. When I told them they looked so handsome, they smiled shyly and sort of looked the other way.
The teacher gave them the last minute orders and it was time to line up. As they left the room each of them gave me a hug, or a high 5 and said, "Thanks for all your help this year." I snuck around them and hurried to the gym where the ceremony would take place.
Parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers filled the bleachers and spilled out into the sides. There was a large table in the middle of the room with flowers and balloons decorating it. The orchestra was off in a corner with the seats and music stands already in place for them to file in and start warming up. I slipped down the side and sat where the teacher had a seat for me...right behind where the class would sit.
Before long the music of the orchestra began. The strong chords of Pomp and Circumstance filled the gym. The principal, dressed in a long dress with a sparkly jacket, stood. The entire gym full of anxious parents stood, too. Then the graduating class marched in with each class behind their teachers. I was so proud of those kids. They were serious and walked slowly across the gym. I cried!
After watching them grow up, watching them discuss books, watching them write pieces that took over a month to publish just the way they wanted it...it was just the feeling of: this is why I teach! Way to go Weisser Park 5th graders!!!
I would love to share pictures of what they all looked like, but due to privacy laws, I can't. I will try to paint a picture with words for you. When I entered the room, all the chairs were lined up in the order they would sit for the graduation. The students were sitting quietly talking in small voices with each other. The girls had their hair all combed nicely with braids or bangs or just flowing free. They were in cute little sun dresses with flip flops to match. Their legs were crossed and hands in their laps. Was this really the class I taught just a few months ago?
The boys were even better. They were all cleaned up. One had a suit on. A couple others had vests and ties. One looked so cute in a big bow-tie. They too were sitting quietly just talking to each other. When I told them they looked so handsome, they smiled shyly and sort of looked the other way.
The teacher gave them the last minute orders and it was time to line up. As they left the room each of them gave me a hug, or a high 5 and said, "Thanks for all your help this year." I snuck around them and hurried to the gym where the ceremony would take place.
Parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers filled the bleachers and spilled out into the sides. There was a large table in the middle of the room with flowers and balloons decorating it. The orchestra was off in a corner with the seats and music stands already in place for them to file in and start warming up. I slipped down the side and sat where the teacher had a seat for me...right behind where the class would sit.
Before long the music of the orchestra began. The strong chords of Pomp and Circumstance filled the gym. The principal, dressed in a long dress with a sparkly jacket, stood. The entire gym full of anxious parents stood, too. Then the graduating class marched in with each class behind their teachers. I was so proud of those kids. They were serious and walked slowly across the gym. I cried!
After watching them grow up, watching them discuss books, watching them write pieces that took over a month to publish just the way they wanted it...it was just the feeling of: this is why I teach! Way to go Weisser Park 5th graders!!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
MORE FINAL DAYS
One of the hardest things about Final Days is to say goodbye to the fifth graders. These kiddos were in second grade when I started working as a coach in their building. I have seen them grow as students, writers and readers. I have used them in studies for me to grow and watched them grow in turn. I have tried out ideas on them to see if lessons were really as good as I thought they were. They never let me down.
As the days wind down, I am sure their teacher is having anxiety attacks and many sleepless nights in tears. She has lived with them for two years day in, day out. I only visit once in awhile...but still, it has been four years. I knew them as babies and here they are almost teenagers for heaven's sake!
I am so proud of them. They are thinkers. They push the bubble and try things that I never thought fifth graders were capable of pushing. They can talk about books like an adult...they make ME think!
I know they will be wonderful middle school students. I only hope those schools are ready for THEM! I hope they will challenge them and keep them thinking. I hope they will see what they can do and push them even more. Someday we will see these wonderful kids as graduating Seniors going off to college or trade school. There is nothing they can't do!
So, good-bye fifth graders! Keep up the great reading...don't stop. Keep writing...persuade people with your challenges, entertain with your poetry and keep your thoughts and ideas in those terrific writer's notebooks! Make us proud!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)