A Day in My Life

1-17 Bird Watching

2011-01-17T14:06:00.001-08:00

On of my favorite spots for photographing the birds is our upstairs bathroom window. The window opens easily and in winter there is no screen to distort the image. Additionally, the window slides open smoothly and more importantly, silently. Usually the birds pay it no attention.

So, this morning I was sitting downstairs enjoying my morning breakfast when I spied a beautiful cardinal at the feeder. I quickly went upstairs to see if I could grab a good shot. The bird flew away before I, and my shadow Addie, made it up to the window.

Apparently Addie wanted to see the birds too as she then climbed up to look out the window. I love this shot where she is turning her head as if to say, " What? I'm busy."
She is such a funny joy!

1-16 Stopping by the Woods...

2011-01-17T14:05:00.001-08:00

One of my all time favorite poems is Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost. I don't know when I first heard this poem or even why I like it so much. There is something so peaceful and majestic about it. Our backyard has this bench in our little "woods." I like to think of sitting there and watching the world go by.

1-15 Time for the Cardinals

2011-01-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

I have had this metal anti-squirrel feeder for over 10 years. It is rusting in some places - mainly where BBs hit. We do our best to keep it full year round so as to not attract birds and then leave them hungry. All year long I am fortunate to see all types of birds. My favorite remains the cardinal in winter. There is just something so bright and cheery about the crimson plumage against a dreary winter sky.

Ancient Life Forms

2011-01-16T14:24:00.001-08:00

Can you tell what this is? I was struggling with coming up with a photo subject as I feel that I have so many of snow and snowy scenes - dogs,birds, etc. Finally, in desperation as I sat in my car behind the ice covered windshield, I saw this. Cluster of ice stuck to the glass in spite of the blasting defrosters. Eventually, the ice melted and gave way to water - the origin of all life.

Sunrise 1- 13-11

2011-01-16T14:22:00.000-08:00

Leaving the house just as the sun came up allowed me to witness this beautiful sight. The sky was a lovely watercolor of blues, pinks, oranges and purple. With the white snow on the ground and the houses enshadowed it made a lovely scene. Photography helps to capture the moment, but it is never the same.

Snow Day

2011-01-12T12:47:00.001-08:00

Today was our third snow storm of the year. 6 - 8 inches of snow used to be consider a storm. However, after last year's record snowfall and major storms of 12 - 14 inches plus, 6 - 8 inches now seems like a dusting.
Today's dusting came last evening and didn't end until the wee hours of the morning. This lead to school closings and delays for may in our area.
After shoveling the front walks, (DH had wonderfully done the driveway and cars before work!) I took a walk over to the local sledding hill with the dogs. I let them play while I took some pictures of the sledders.
I really like this picture of Addie and Ahna having so much fun in the snow. They love the snow and enjoy wrestling each other. To the unknown observer their growls and snarls sound like a fight to the death. But I know that one yip of pain and the games stop on a dime.
I now have two exhausted dogs passed out dreaming of their snow day.

Deer

2011-01-12T12:44:00.000-08:00

We have plenty of deer in our area of town. I thought these white wooden reindeer looked so pretty with their red tartan bows, the snow and the back-drop of the gaily lit bushes. It looks like a Christmas card.

Our Little Town

2011-01-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

Growing up I lived in nine different houses in two states and many different towns. I never had a sense of "my town." When people asked where I was from I always used to say Philadelphia area.
When we had our children and were looking for a house sidewalks to a town were one of my major "wants." I am so glad we were able to find just the right house. We live on a cul-de-sac which was wonderful for our children. Additionally we, and they, have been able to walk or ride our bikes to the baseball fields, drugstore, hardware store, etc. It gave our sons an early opportunity for independence which is so often missing in our sprawling suburbia.
After the most recent snow, DH and I took a walk into town with our two dogs. It was quiet and peaceful in the "just-snowed" kind of way. I was attracted to this lovely house on the main street. Decorated for the holidays I thought it looked so warm and welcoming.

Dan and "The Girls"

2011-01-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

As someone who grew up with dogs most, if not all, of my childhood and adolescence, I never gave dogs much of a second thought. I love dogs and think they are the ultimate human companion. I am limited in which breeds I can own because of my allergies, but I truly love all dogs.
I also love that my husband who did not grow up with dogs is such a loving dog owner.
Our first dog, Bo, a "fat" Yorkie was our first "baby." We had a lot of fun with Bo, but unfortunately not for a long time. Bo got out on the day we moved into our first house and ran. Yes, he was a runner. He ran a mile or two to River Road where unfortunately my husband saw him get hit by a van. With a broken back, there was only one, sad outcome.
Our next dog was a brief blip on our life. Picked up for the "wrong side of town" this dog, Pepper was not destined to stay long. After he snapped at our then toddling son, it was "So long, Pepper."
Dog number three was a winner - and for 17 long years. Possibly a poodle, possibly a mix, Barkley was purchased from a pet store when our older son was two. Barkley was an awesome dog who lived a long and I believe happy life.
Today, we are the people of our two "girls." With just sons, Addie and Ahna our our girls. Dan adores them and takes better care of them than you can imagine. I am sure there will be many posts this year of "the girls."

Sign of the Times

2011-01-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

Today's picture is a sign of my times. Trying to eat in a more healthy fashion I went shopping tonight. Fruits and vegetables made up the bulk of my purchase. I rashly picked up the Green Giant "Just For One" single servings of broccoli with cheese sauce. Now, those who know me well, know that I am not a fan of vegetables. I try, honest, but I just don't like them. I can eat the starchy ones like potatoes (white and sweet), corn, and carrots. I have learned to be okay with lettuce greens, spinach greens, and celery. I would really like to branch out into other vegetables. First one to try - broccoli.

Thursday 1-6

2011-01-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

Today's assignment was to go high contrast. I am not sure I accomplished that, but I did really think the inside of a pomegranate looked cool. I have never eaten one before. I have had the juice and enjoyed it, but I never knew how or what to do with a fresh one. This past week one of my students was eating one for snack. She explained how to prepare one. (It is really easy, just quarter.)

So, I went to the grocery store and bought two. Easy to prepare, easy to eat, and yummy. Now I just need to figure out how to eat it without getting the juice all over me. And I hope it doesn't stain.

Wednesday January 5

2011-01-05T18:59:00.001-08:00

Today's assignment was to take a photograph of something ordinary and mundane. I played around with a penny at first because I thought that it was something so very ordinary. However, I didn't really like the way it looked in the photograph. After trying other coins and different backgrounds I chose the quarter where the United States of America is clearly visible with a reflection on the lower half. The background of black wool really set off the quarter.

Tuesday January 4

2011-01-05T18:58:00.001-08:00

Today's assignment was to take a photograph with a diagonal line leading the viewer's eye through the photograph. All day I searched for diagonal lines. I took a few photos but nothing that I really liked. In desperation I had a photo that I was going to use, even though I didn't really like it.

However, the following day, I was standing in my classroom when I noticed the flag. I liked the way the angle leads to the light, the windows and the timeline. It seems like a pointer for what we are studying in fourth grade.

Where does the flag lead you? Is it a pointer for you? Thoughts?

Day 3 - A Symbol or an Icon

2011-01-03T18:28:00.000-08:00

I have to admit it took me a while to find something I wanted to photograph. I thought of various logos and words but nothing seemed to fit. Then finally, my eyes landed on the iconic #2 pencil. How many tests and scantron sheets have we all filled out using the #2 pencil? What is it about the #2 pencil that makes it the champion of all assessments? Is it really better than the #1.5 or #2.5? And seriously, do they even make different numbered pencils? When these grading machines were made, why was #2 the lead (actually graphite) chosen?

As a teacher who has to proctor those oh-so-important-but-not-really state assessments, I can attest to the fact that not all pencils are #2, Furthermore most of the decorated, cutesy pencils have no numbers on them at all. I now wonder if this is some sort of conspiracy to alter the test results.

Teachers and students of the world - grab your #2s and let's go!

Day 2 - An Interesting Texture

2011-01-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

Today's assignment was to photograph something that has an interesting texture. I took some cool shots of paper towels, my dog's hair and other things. It was such a grey day though that everything seemed blah. Finally, I noticed my aloe vera plant 's pot on my kitchen window sill. It has a nice crackled finish with a green that hints of sunny days to come. Just what I needed today - a grey, rainy, last-day-of-vacation day.

January 2011 a New Year

2011-01-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

And so a new year begins. My online social networking sites are rife with people talking about the 365 challenge. Take a photo a day for a year. Some people just take a photo and upload. Others, like me, take a photo and write a blog post. I started 2010 with the challenge and didn't quite make it half way. Various things intervened - nothing huge - and the challenge went by the wayside.

And so, here I am again. A new year, a new challenge. I plan on using The Daily Shoot for ideas on themes. However, if I see something that catches my eye or captures my thoughts, I may veer off on my own.

Here's to a great 2011 for everyone and a new beginning. Whatever is past is past, the future begins today.

May 26 Nature's Fury

2010-05-31T16:57:00.001-07:00

Thursday afternoon was sunny and pleasant - beautiful for a spring day. The temperature was just right and there were few clouds in the sky. The weathermen insisted though that a storm was coming.

After arriving home, I sat out on the front porch with a tall glass of chilled ice tea and the daily newspaper. I felt like I could have been in Mayberry RFD.

Suddenly, the winds picked up and the temperature dropped. Too chilly to sit outside, I went inside to finish the paper. Within the hour, the skys had transformed from Mayberry to the Twilight Zone. Clouds upon clouds rolled in in a variety of shades of grey. The winds blew and the leaves turned (always a sign of rain in my family's folklore.) Before long, we had rain to accompany the clouds and wind.

May 18 Father's Day

2010-05-19T05:31:00.000-07:00

In keeping with our class theme this year of being green and ecologically responsible, I thought that perhaps we could create recycled coasters for Father's Day. I saw an interesting blog post on weaving with strips of old magazine pages. After carefully reading, and rereading the instructions - a few times! I finally felt ready to weave a sample for my fourth graders. After weaving and unweaving several times, I finally came up with a passable coaster. It looks cool.

However, seeing as we only have 18 days of school left, there is no way we will ever finish coasters for all the dads. Back to the drawing board I go!

May 15 An Apple for Teachers

2010-05-16T17:14:00.002-07:00

Today was another great DEN event. This time it was hosted by the South Jersey DEN Leadership Council. For over an hour Jason and Andrew of the Marlton Promenade Apple store walked the teachers through the many classroom applications of the iPad. Several of the teachers, already owners of the iPad, shared best practices.

After a fun time at Apple with many expressions of envy, the attendees were treated to breakfast at the nearby Panera. There teachers noshed and shared ways to use Discovery Media resources on the iPad as well as the lesser iPod.

read more anout this fun event at the NJ Den Blog http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/newjersey/page/2/

May 14 Surprise

2010-05-16T17:14:00.001-07:00

After a great evening at a colleague's retirement dinner I limped up the driveway. My husband was inside watching the last minutes of the Flyers game - Game 7 of a seven games series which was tied at 3 all. The score of the game was tied at 3 all as well. I listened to the game on the way home which made me think back to the early 70s Flyers Stanley Cup win when I list to the games on a transistor radio!

There was no sneaking in the house as Addie and Ahna, our two Portuguese Water dog sentries announced my arrival - loudly!! Uncharacteristically in heels after a long day I nearly stumbled on this likely spell-bound prince. Much to my husband's dismay, and the dogs continued barking, I simply HAD to take out my phone and snap a picture of the toad. He sat perfectly still and waited for me to photograph him.

May 12 Mother's Day 2009

2010-05-16T17:13:00.002-07:00

I was never really a big fan of rhododendrons - I can't really say why as I am a gardener and love most things green. Anyway, for whatever reason, rhodis have never been on my list.

Well, last year, my two sons bought me a small pink rhododendron plant wich I planted under our front Silver Maple tree. This winter, as most of you know, was a gorgeous, snowy, cold winter. Although I loved it, many plants and trees did not survive. I thought for sure, after pruning more than half of a dead plant, that this rhododendron too has succumbed. But, lo and behold after a warm spring jumpstart and some cool nights, I have a beautiful flower. It is awfully pretty after all.

May 11 Color My World

2010-05-16T17:13:00.001-07:00

"As time goes on I realize
Just what you mean to me
And now, now that you're near
Promise your love
That I've waited to share
And dreams of our moments together
Color my world with hope of loving you "

For those of you born in the last 25 years (Wow! Did I really just say that?!), these are the lyrics to one of THE most popular slow-dance songs of the 1970s - "Color My World" by Chicago.

Fast forward some 40 years (Really? Again?!) and colors make me think of Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O'Neill. Every year I read this wonderful anthology of color poems to my students. They never cease to amaze me with their poems. Lines like:
Black sounds like an evil laugh echoing in your head,
Green smells like grass just sliced up by a lawn mower's blade,
Purple is the sunset when the color drains from the world.

What colors speak to you?

May 8 Awww Shucks!

2010-05-09T19:02:00.001-07:00

I found this surprise waiting for me when I arrives home today. The DEN strikes again!

May 7 DEN Goes Green

2010-05-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

As part of the DEN Spring Training event, DEN Stars were asked to complete a variety of tasks and boost their DEN Stats. As a gift Discovery sent us these way cool recycling bags for the classroom. As always, the DEN continues to provide teachers with incredible tools to make the classroom experience richer for all our students.

May 6 PBS Innovative Educators

2010-05-09T19:00:00.001-07:00

Thanks to my wonderful PLN and all the amazing things they have taught me, I was selected as one of 50 Innovative Educators by PBS.

The PBS Teachers Innovation Awards program honors teachers who are transforming classroom learning and providing children with the tools they need to reach their full potential and succeed in the 21st century.

I truly could not have done it without all of you. Thanks!

May 5

2010-05-05T18:02:00.003-07:00

The sub title of this post is "I Fought the Butterfly Bush, and the Butterfly Bush Won!" I spent just 20 minutes outside gardening this evening. I pulled a few weeds, watered the hanging plants, and trimmed some bushes. I had no intention of making it a long-involved process. Next thing I knew, I felst a sharp burning pain in my leg. I looked down and saw a long white scratch. It seemed minor - until I went inside and saw blood dripping down my leg. Alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and neosporin later, I am left with this oh-so attractive remnant of my gardening experience. won't tell you about the similar scar on the outside of the same leg from a rogue rosebush! Who said gardening is not a contact sport?

May 2 Clones?

2010-05-05T18:02:00.001-07:00

As a pre-mother's day treat, I had a lovely dinner with DH and DS#2. These two men in my life look and behave so similarly. When DS was born, I immediately saw my father-in-law. Now, I had never noticed a resemblance between DH and FIL, but apparently they too looked alike. These two look so alike that strangers have come up to us in restaurants, in stores, etc, to comment on how much they look like each other. I wonder how it feels to look so much like someone else.

April 29 The Dog Ate My Homework

2010-05-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

One of my students came into school waving this ziplock bag. This student is one of those kids who always have a smile on their face and try their best. M was holding this ziplock bag and said laughing, "Mrs. Griffin, my dog ate my homework." Other students accused him of making it up, but he insisted. He related that he had gone upstairs for something and when he came back down, Sadie, his new puppy, had indeed eaten his homework.

So, although it is a trite saying, sometimes the dog really does eat the homework!

April 25, 2010 The Attack

2010-04-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

This picture sums up perfectly how I feel today. I am not sick, nor really tired, just under attack. I am under attack from invading foreign bodies - namely pollen. Being born with allergies to everything from trees and grasses to mold and dust means that I have some sort of allergic symptoms all the time (probably why I do like the freezing cold, blizzard days.)
This time of year however is one of the worst. (Now and then again in early fall.) Trees are pollinating - you know that lovely chartreuse dust you see on your car in the morning, as are grasses and spring blossoms - lilacs, tulips, daffodils, azaleas - You get the picture.

Unfortunately for me, this lovely picture of spring means red, itchy eyes, sniffling, sneezy nose, and a raspy, old man voice. But wait, you ask, aren't there medicines you can take? Oh yes there are, and I believe I have taken them all, from Allerest and Benadryl to Allegra D and Zyrtec. I have tried cortisone sprays, shots, and pills, ear candling and neti pots, as well as desensitization shots 0 not once, not twice, but the trifecta of three times. Each time I had to discontinue because my reactions become too severe.

Since there doesn't seem to be any real relief, other than living in the Arctic, I do my best, buy lots of tissues and try to stay indoors on the worst days. Snow anyone?

Virtual Conference 4-24-10

2010-04-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Discovery Education's Spring Virtual Conference. Unfortunately, I did not have an in-person event to go to. So, after a quick trip to the used bookstore and the drugstore I was home at my computer.

As usual, Discovery had a great line-up of inspiring, talented people to share their stories and excite us. Dean Shareski from Regina, Canada shared how networking makes us all smarter. Then Christina Asquith (previously a writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer) author of Sisters in War spoke about her time in Iraq living with two sisters and their family. Needless to say, it was inspiring and tied in to Three Cups of Tea which I had just read to my class. Education really is a global force in so many ways. Up next in the day long event was Lindsay Hopkins showing how Discovery Media helps language learners. Carol Anne McGuire, of Rock Our World, followed and the day ended with DEN Manager Lance Rougeux sharing all the great, amazing events coming up in the DEN world. It was an awesome day. The best part is that all the presentations were archived. So, if you missed some or all of it, or you want to share something with your colleagues or administrators, you can. Click here (in a few days time) to find the archives.

The Play Part Deux

2010-04-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

No, we did NOT do another performance of the play but our room was still a wild rainforest on Friday morning. Much to the children's dismay, most of the trees and canopy leaves have come down. I have four copy paper boxes stuffed of play materials and props. I love when students donate what they have made. They are so cute when they say, "Mrs. Griffin, you can keep this." So, in the spirit of all the hard work and preparation, one more rainforest picture!

4-22 Earth Day, Take Your Child to Work Day, AND THE Play!

2010-04-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

What an incredibly busy day it was today!

First off, it was the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day. I hadn't realized it, but The first Earth Week debuted on April 16 to 22, 1970, in Philadelphia. U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie, author of the historic Clean Air Act of 1970, was the keynote speaker on Earth Day in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia in 1970. “Other notable attendees included consumer-protection activist and presidential candidate Ralph Nader, landscape architect Ian McHarg, Nobel Prize-winning Harvard biochemist George Wald, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott and poet Allen Ginsberg,” reads Wikipedia. As an interesting side note, Ira Einhorn , the infamous "Unicorn Killer" was a co-founder of the day.

Secondly, it was "Take Your Child to Work Day." Originally termed "Take Our Daughters to Work Day", the day was founded by Gloria Steinem and the Ms. Foundation for Women in 1993.
The day has generally been scheduled on a day that is a school day for most children in the United States. When I see the large number of children out of school participating in events of a dubious educational value, I have to ask why. Why do we do this during the school term instead of during vacation time? Why do we have children in elementary grades - specifically K - 3 participate? Why have parents taken this to mean it is "Take your child out to lunch day"? Perhaps this needs to be rethought as to its purpose and effect.

Finally, the biggest part of April 22nd in my classroom was Play day. It was the day my students performed The Great Kapok Tree for parents and guests after many hours of prop creation, costume conception and rehearsals - many, MANY rehearsals. I am proud to say that each and every one of my students performed magnificently! I am amazed at how well they rise to a challenge. From the soft-spoken shy student to the extra-energetic one, they all memorized their lines and acted with emotion and power. I like to think, that if given the same opportunity at that age, that I too could have pulled off what they do. But truthfully, I don't know that I could have. Bravo students of room 213!!

4-21-10

2010-04-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

Many of my posts in January and February this year were of snow pictures. Snow falling, snow blowing, snow being plowed, etc. Since we had the snowiest winter - EVER - this made sense. But now it is April and I am still thinking snow. After all, it snowed in Denver this past week and I saw a Tweet from Budtheteacher about bringing his sleds out. My husband and friends already think I am slightly crazy for how much I enjoy the snow. This snow in April thinking will only serve to convince them further of that. When I walked out to my car today and saw the pile of cherry blossom petals mounding under the cherry tree, I couldn't help myself, I thought of snow. Enjoy the seasons, I do!

April 20, 2010 Greens

2010-04-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

April showers bring May flowers the saying goes. This year it seems speeded up a bit and we have so many April flowers. One of my front beds is full of so many shades of green. The yellow narcissus and tiny purple vincas peeping out seem so delicate and fair-like. It reminded me of stories of fairies and gnomes, and such. I don't hear much about fairies anymore and wonder why.

4-19-10

2010-04-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I know! I have fallen behind in my picture a day blog. I have lots of good reasons too. And no, they are not just excuses.
* We just had a week (actually 6 days) of state testing which has rendered my mind numb as well as my posterior. Way too many hours watching students take a test!
* There really has been nothing else going on. It has been very quiet, typical April days, not too hot, not too cold.

So, this past weekend I went to the big box home and garden store and saw these beautiful Gerber Daisies. I LOVE Gerber daisies and never seem to have any luck. But, these plants had a tag that says they grow in full sun (check) and bloom from spring until fall (check +.) I bought four plants - two light orange (pictured) and two a deeper orange.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that they do well.

Welcome Visitor

2010-04-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

I really do enjoy seeing wildlife in my backyard. Although we live in a small suburban town, our backyard is full of trees, shrubs, and flowers. I keep the bird feeders filled, the bird baths clean, and even put up a couple roosting boxes. I love to see the foxes (unusual), possums, occasional dear, and the most frequent visitor - the birds.

For some reason the brightly colored birds stand out and make me stop and take notice. The blue jay, male cardinal or goldfinch all catch my eye. Sometimes I even get to spy a hummingbird. Today's sight was a thirsty cardinal. He was here long enough for one quick shot then off to wherever.

He's Back!

2010-04-11T16:45:00.000-07:00

I know how Bill Murray in Caddyshack felt. Every year we are host to one or more groundhogs. We have tried trapping and releasing them. They seem to return before we do. We have tried euthanasia - perhaps there IS life after death. Nothing has worked.

This year we replaced our old, worn wooden deck with a new, wood alternative deck. The deck sits much closer to the ground and I thought we would be safe. After all, it was no longer the familiar locale of old.

How wrong I was! Saturday morning, sun is shining, I glance out back and what do I spy? A fat, (probably pregnant) wobbly groundhog munching on my tender spring shoots and heading right for my deck. After snapping a picture I hisses and yelled hoping to scare him away. Hah! The little varmint just kept coming right towards the deck, towards the cacophony of noise I was sure would turn him right around.
Welcome back!

State Testing

2010-04-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

We are currently on day two of our Reading & Math state tests - the PSSA's. I am not sure who dreads them more - the students or the teachers. I do understand why we have state tests, and I think there is some value in them. I do worry however about the costs. The loss of instructional time, the effect of students' self-esteem, the amount of paper used and destroyed... Is it all worth it?

This morning, before the day's testing began, my students and I worked on feeling poems. We discussed how anger, excitement, and fear taste, smel, and feel. As I watched my students begin day 2 of the testing I cam up with this.

State Testing

Anxiety,
Smells like freshly sharpened number 2 pencils,
Tastes like minty gum guaranteed to help you focus,
Sounds like students struggling to write quietly,
Feels like rolling the dice in the game of Life,
Feels like waiting for a judge to deliver your sentence,
Feels like spinning a wheel on the boardwalk, hoping to win the big prize,
Anxiety.

2010-04-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

The weather did indeed change for the better, and we got to enjoy that rare occurrence - a warm, evening rugby game. DS #2 plays for his college club team and we try to get to as many games as possible, knowing that it will all be over before we know it. I love seeing him run and play, but I still get nervous when he is under a pile of large men. Being the mother of boys comes with some nerve-wracking moments.

The Rains Continue

2010-04-03T13:53:00.000-07:00

Today's picture was taken as I drove by a local farm. Every spring hundreds of people converge on this local farm to pick their own strawberries. What looks like a lake in this picture is actually last year's strawberry fields. Hopefully they have planted elsewhere for this season or we might not see too many berries. The weather forecast for this weekend though is sun, sun, and sun. We are all looking forward to it!

Spring Rains

2010-03-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

Lately we have been having April Showers in March. As much snow as we got this winter, we seem to be getting that much rain. The ground is squishy and soggy everywhere you step. Trees are falling over, those that were spared by the heavy snows that is. And earthworms are rampant. Big, fat, squishy earthworms. The kind that wiggle and squirm. The kind that boys love to use for bait and to torture their sisters.

What is it about worms that is appealing and repulsive at the same time? Think about it, gummy worms?! I think of the book, "How to Eat Fried Worms", the poem "Nobody Likes Me", and my childhood favorite "The Hearse Song."

The Hearse Song

Didn’t you ever think, as a hearse goes by,
That you may be the next to die?

They wrap you up in a big white sheet,
And bury you down in the 6 feet deep.

They put you in a big black box,
And cover you up with dirt and rocks.

And all goes well for about a week,
And then the coffin begins to leak.

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout.

Worms, delights for the harbinger of spring, robin red-breast. C 'mon spring!

Home Again

2010-03-23T17:48:00.001-07:00

After being away for a few days (weeks if you asked DH and DDs.), I returned on a glorious Sunday afternoon to find that all our daffodils and croci had bloomed. Luckily they had just bloomed so I will be able to enjoy them.
After lugging my many bags into the house, (no, you may not ask how many!) I quickly changed. Then it was out back to sit on the deck and soak up some spring sun - the best kind around. DH came home from his basketball tournament and we enjoyed the sun and a dip in the newly cleaned and refilled hot tub. Pure bliss. Then, I promptly fell asleep until Monday morning!!

3-20-10 NSTA

2010-03-22T17:58:00.000-07:00

First day of Spring and in Philadelphia it was apparently glorious. Highs in the seventies and brilliant sunshine. I say apparently because I was pending the day indoors at the NSTA conference. Now, I thoroughly enjoyed the conference. I met a lot of great educators, experienced many exciting activities, and in general, had a great time. But really, after the winter we had, the first really nice weekend...did it HAVE to be this one?!

At least I did get a few minutes outside walking across Arch Street to the legendary Reading Terminal Market. Best city market I know. From Italian butchers to Amish bakeries to Asian sushi. The market has it all.

Friday NSTA

2010-03-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

I had a great day of science sharing and learning at NSTA in Philadelphia. As a NSTA newbie, I wasn't sure what to expect. I definitely wasn't disappointed. I saw presenters eat lit "apple" candles, adopted a mealworm, and attended a crime scene reenactment. The presentations were all top notch. Friday evening, my roomie and I attended a crime scene CSI type event where we enjoyed snacks and a show from Ward's Science. On our way back to our hotel, we passes this chair in the lobby. Being the inquisitive sort that I am, I had to get closer to read the post-it on this chair. I found it funny that a chair was chained to power cords in the first place. Funny again that a post-it was used to advertise this fact. But perhaps the funniest of
all is not shown here. On both sides of the chair are large glass cases filled with jewelry of varying style and cost.

Life

2010-03-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

A wonderful evening was had by all at the Philadelphia premiere of Life. Life picks up where Planet Earth left off. Discovery Education and Siemens planned an amazing evening at the Franklin Institute - Philadelphia's premiere science museum. Attendees were welcomed to the

evening's festivities with a cold drink and what else, but a bag of popcorn. After some brief introductions, the lights dimmed, and the theater grew silent. I am not sure how long episode one lasted, but I do know that the theater was silent except for an occasional sharp intake of breathe. Amazing photography does not do the film justice. I have no idea how the film makers were able to elicit sympathy for a fly, but that they did.
Episode one aired this past Sunday on the Discovery Channel. If you didn't see it, make sure to catch episode two next Sunday. If you did see it, you know to catch episode two.

St. Patrick's Day in the City

2010-03-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

March has been an extremely busy month and my pictures/blogging have suffered. Although I don't have the time, and I really need to pack, and I really need to work on my presentation, and I really want to read the paper, and I really want to go to bed...I had to post a picture from tonight's fun DEN event. Discovery Education hosted a great evening at City Tavern. Many Discovery people, including some of the Student Adventures people shared great food, swapped cards and stories and enjoyed a pleasant evening. Thanks also to our gracious servers seen below.

The Damage Continues

2010-03-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

After 24 hours of torrential rains and hurricane strength winds, there was bound to be downed trees. Driving through my neighborhood this morning I saw tree after tree just upended root ball and all. Most of the trees were massive evergreens like this one leaning against the large deciduous tree. There are branches and twigs everywhere. I wish our town had some sort of program whereby we could chip all these branches rather than just put them in the garbage.

From Sun to Rain!

2010-03-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

After a very snowy winter, March came in like the proverbial lamb. It was sunny and almost 60 degrees for three or four days. People were smiling again. And even though there were still many piles of snow, people believed that winter was over.
Indeed, winter may be over, but Mother Nature is surely not finished with us. Saturday brought torrential rains - upwards of 4-5 inches. I kept thinking how much snow that could have been! Not only rain, but hurricane sized winds as well. Backyards flooded, rivers crested, and many lost power. It is amazing how much damage a simple storm can cause.

Oh What a Beautiful Day!

2010-03-09T15:54:00.002-08:00

Left school this afternoon and noticed that my car thermometer was at 65 degrees! What a beautiful almost-spring day. Made it home in time for a lovely walk into town with DH and two dogs. Stopped at Starbucks for a green tea lemonade. I know that rains are coming, but it sure was nice today!

Water, Water Everywhere

2010-03-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

My fourth grade students are currently studying water. They are learning about how little fresh water we have on our planet and how crucial water is to our survival. One of the early experiments has them predicting what happens when a drop of rain falls. This prepares them for the water cycle which comes further in the unit. My students enjoy dropping water on bricks, wood, sand, and other surfaces and making observations. They are always surprised when the water piles on the wood, or soaks through a brick. Hands-on-Science is the best!!

Hearts for Haiti

2010-03-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

Every year our school does one large, school-wide fundraiser. This year we were going to raise Pennies for Peace. Based on the #1 New York Times Bestseller Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School At A Time, by Greg Mortenson, children the world over have been earing, saving, and donating pennies to other children. Through there actions children on both sides of the equation are connecting with one another.
As I said, we were going to do pennies for peace. The catastrophic earthquake and the resulting damage and destruction led us to change our focus to assist those people in a more immediate crisis. After discussing the earthquake with my fourth graders they decided to "sell" hearts for Haiti. For one dollar, students could purchase a heart. They could then decorate the heart or write a wish for the Haitian people on it. We have formed the smaller hearts into large hearts as seen here. So far, we have four large hearts. I am so proud of my students for the care and concern they show others.

Spring Pushes Through

2010-03-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

After a record breaking winter of snow, ice, and more snow (Which I thoroughly enjoyed by the way!) March has arrived. Unfortunately, March is my least favorite month of the year. Save for St. Patrick's Day and the rare Easter, there are no holidays in March. The weather is no longer winter crisp and clear with hopes of snow. Yet, it also isn't yet warm. March is the month of mud. The month of brown from winter and not yet green of spring. March is morose. Have you gotten the sense that I dread March?!
For all its faults however, March is usually when the daffodils start to poke through the just thawing soil. No one has told them that the nights are still cold and the risk of frost remains for another six weeks. And somehow, even if they could be warned, I know they would soldier on. For daffodils, like no other flower, embody the hope that beats within us all. We know that it will get better. The sun will come out tomorrow, or the next day.
To paraphrase Petula Clark (Downtown) When you're alone and life is making you lonely, you can always get daffodils.

Wolftones

2010-03-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

Monday night I had the chance to see the Wolftones - again - with some dear friends. We can't remember if we have seen them four or five times in the 20+ years we have known each other. One thing is certain, we always have a grand time.
The venues have changed over the years, but the songs remain the same. Everyone knows all the words and singing along is encouraged, even expected. It is amazing seeing people in their early twenties singing along with those in their sixties and up. This group transcends gender, generation, and time.
Céad míle beannachta

A Penny for Your Thoughts...

2010-02-26T18:56:00.000-08:00

As part of my general office cleaning today I cleaned all the pennies out of my change jar. When you see pennies, what do you think? It seems sad to me, but many kids today think "worthless", "trash", or "why bother?" I often find pennies lying on the ground. I know it is only worth one cent, but I usually stoop and pick up the penny. After all, the voice in my head reminds me,
See a penny,
Pick it up,
All the day,
Have good luck!

See a penny,
Let it lay,
All the day,
You will pay.
So, what do I think of besides that rhyme when I see a penny? I think of penny candy stores with glass cases filled with Mary Janes and Root Beer Barrels for just a penny. I think of the Franklin Mint here in Philadelphia and tossing them on Ben Franklin's grave outside. I think of wishing wells and fountains. I think of Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln Memorial. I even think of math manipulatives. That is where these particular pennies are heading. To my classroom to help students figure out fraction of problems.
So, what do YOU think of when you see a penny?

Between the Storm and the Storm

2010-02-25T18:13:00.000-08:00

I haven't been able to get around to the south side of my house for weeks now because of the high mounds of snow. After a few warm (in the 40s) days. Enough snow had finally melted so that I could make my way with calf high books to the back. Previously I would have needed waders of some kind.
I was dismayed to see my beautiful crepe myrtle broken and battered. About a third of the tree is down, presumably due to the weight of the snow. While I know that we are a little north for a crepe myrtle, I had thought that it was sheltered enough in the corner between the shed and the house. In a normal Pennsylvania winter, this was sufficient protection. This winter however is far from normal. This evening's weathercast said that we have received almost 80 inches of snow so far this winter!! This is by far a new record. In addition, the amount of snow in February would rank 5th for the snowiest season!
Many people are feeling desperate with talk of another possible snow storm next week. I can't say this too loudly, but I have to admit that I am gleefully hoping for one or two more big storms before spring.

Controversy and Conversation

2010-02-25T18:12:00.002-08:00

Of all the sessions I presented, this by far was my favorite. Using the premise of teacher liability and internet safety for our students, I facilitated a discussion among teachers, IT professionals and administrators. We looked at CIPA and COPPA and attempted to determine what truly is legal and illegal and the ensuing implications for our classrooms. The presentation generated a lot of great conversations and questions for further consideration. We left agreeing that this conversation MUST go on and educators need to be at that table. Internet use and education requires input and discussion with legislators, educators, and administrators. All sides need to be included. What are YOU doing to become involved? Contact your state or national representatives and demand a voice. Start small, or go big. But, in the words of NIKE, "Just do it!"

Sir Ken Robinson

2010-02-25T18:12:00.001-08:00

Monday's Keynote speaker at PETE&C was Sir Ken Robinson. Sir Robinson is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He spoke about his new book, The Element. According to Robinson, the element is "the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. When people arrive at the element, they feel most themselves and most inspired and achieve at their highest levels." He argues that being good at something or having talent is not enough. To truly be creative and at our best we must also love what we do.
Robinson makes an excellent case for following our own star.

DEN Preconference PETE&C 2010

2010-02-25T18:11:00.001-08:00

No, "THE" Mythbusters weren't really there, but I don't think they could have made the preconference any better anyway! Discovery Education and the DEN (Discovery Educator Network) arranged an amazing day of professional development. Science tips, technology tools, Social Studies strategies, and Math answers were shared by Discovery STARS. In addition, Lodge McCammon (of FIZZ) led two great sessions where participants collaborated to create and publish two different types of videos using surface area rules as the topic.
Check out the PA blog for session materials.

Googly Eyes

2010-02-25T18:10:00.001-08:00

Saturday night after a great afternoon setting up for the DEN preconference and an awesome dinner in the Hershey Lodge Forebay restaurant, my roommate and I returned to our room to be greeted by - googly eyes. It was an anonymous reference to the Saturday Night Live skit
called "Indoor Gardening Tips from a Man Who's Very Scared of Plants" starring a deadpan Christopher Walken. He puts googly eyes on all his plants from cacti to ferns so they aren't so "scary". We still aren't sure how the eyes got there, but we have our "eye"deas.

Pennsylvania Turnpike

2010-02-25T18:06:00.000-08:00

After a day with a stomach virus I left home to head north to Hershey for PETE&C 2010. While driving along the PA Turnpike I spotted many deer grazing along the side of the road. It was interesting how blase` they seemed with 18 wheel trucks rumbling by. I pulled off at a safe spot and grabbed my camera. Luckily I usually keep it handy anymore. I was able to notice that the deer's coats seemed unusually full and bushy. With all the snow we have had this year, I am not surprised.

Theme

2010-02-15T16:08:00.002-08:00

This winter I have noticed two themes to my pictures. The first theme, for obvious reasons, has been snow photos. This year has been the snowiest year on record inn the Philadelphia area which has led to giddy weathermen and grumpy citizens. I love the snow and am thrilled that we have had so much. I am secretly, well not so secretly anymore, wishing for even more snow.

The other theme of many pictures is birds. Perhaps the juxtaposition of the birds against the snowy backdrop has caught my eye. Or, perhaps it has been the cold, windy weather and the seemingly delicate, fragile nature of the birds. Whatever the reason, I have been drawn to the scenes of birds in the snow.

Birthday Brunch

2010-02-15T16:08:00.001-08:00

To celebrate my MIL's 80th birthday we took her and a friend to brunch. Here are my two sons walking out to the car with her. I am so proud of my boys and how they help her with shoveling, yard work, and other chores. She is lucky to have them...and so am I!

Winter Breakfasts

2010-02-15T16:06:00.002-08:00

Lately I have been interested in eating warm, comforting breakfasts. Things like pancakes, french toast, and oatmeal. On Saturday morning my DH made pancakes - cranberry ones for me and peach ones for himself. They wee just what I needed.

Holidays

2010-02-15T16:04:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrated, as it were, the holiday of Valentine's Day. Celebrations today seem so much less that what I remember from my elementary days.

Today, we aren't really allowed to have a "party." We may have a small celebration with an exchange of cards. I make sure that my students know that IF they choose to participate, they must bring a card for everyone. In addition, there may be no special cards or gifts for anyone distributed in school. So, our celebration is the distribution and opening of cards and a small treat.

I do however fondly remember the school celebrations of my youth. Valentine's parties with shoebox mailboxes decorated with heart doilies and stickers. Washington's birthday with cardboard hatchet boxes and hard candy cherries. St. Patrick's Day with irish potato candies and shamrocks. Yes, some of our celebrations seem less today than in the past.

The Day After

2010-02-11T17:10:00.000-08:00

Walking around town today I saw a few snowmen, igloos, and forts. This by far was one of my favorites. Perhaps the American flag and the fort like structure appealed to me.

Anyway, while it was heart-warming to see evidence of childhood fun and play, I was disappointed to not see more. In all, I probably saw three snowmen, a couple of igloos, and a fort or two.

Why are children not playing outside? Is it a lack of adult supervision? Would they rather be inside watchinh tv and playing video games? I think I am going to survey my class tomorrow to see how many built a snowman or dis some other type of outdoor activities. I'll let you know tomorrow. And those of you with young children, what do your children do on snow days?

Snow, Snow, Snow!

2010-02-11T17:08:00.001-08:00

We certainly got what the forecasters predicted - approximately two feet. Which was on top of the foot or so from Saturday. It snowed all night and most of today.
Thank goodness for neighbors with snow blowers!

Tuesday 2-9

2010-02-11T17:07:00.001-08:00

The calm before the storm, literally. We has a snow storm this past weekend which left about a foot or so of snow. It was on the weekend so nothing much was disturbed. No school closings, no traffic tie-ups. Tonight however, we are supposed to get a massive storm. Words like snowmageddon and snowcoplypse are being bandies about. I know that not everyone likes snow. And for some people it truly does make life more difficult. But, all things considered, I do love the snow - in the winter.

Sledding Hill

2010-02-08T16:15:00.000-08:00

This morning on my way in to work a talk radio host was bemoaning the end of the multi-letter high school athletes. His commentary was in response to a local 12 year old having a verbal commitment to play football for USC in 7 or so years. For whatever good or bad of that particular story, it led to a discussion concerning the one sport athlete so prevalent today.

No longer can a boy play football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring. All sports have their season of course. But in the off season there are camps and league plays. Indoor soccer, fall baseball, coaching sessions are the norm in my area. I know that this isn't new. My 24 year old had to choose between trying out for the baseball all-stars or attending his travel soccer spring game when he was about 11 years old! It just seems that it is worse.

Children today are so scheduled and never seem to have any free time. No longer do they arrange a game amongst themselves. Sledding seems to be off limits as well, unless there are parents present. Today, a beautiful sunny afternoon, less than two days after a BIG snowstorm, there was NO ONE sledding on the local hill. The elementary schools had dismissed. It wasn't that cold. There was plenty of snow. I had thought that there would be plenty of sledders. Wrong! Not a single child was out sledding. I guess they all had other obligations - religious school, music lessons, team practices, etc. What a shame!

Snow Day Part II

2010-02-07T17:07:00.001-08:00

I had intended to go out to the sledding hill today and take some pictures. Dogs and I trudged through the deep snow and drifts only to find that camera battery was dead! I know the cold zaps a battery sooner, but I thought I would have more time. Oh well, I got so many nice pictures from yesterday that I will use one of those.

This is one of my favorites. DH, dogs, and I had just returned from our walk and I was making a cup of tea when I spied this beautiful cardinal perched atop our clothesline. I gingerly opened our sliding door just enough for the lens of my camera. He loos so pretty and his bright red is such a nice contrast to the weathered wood and snow.

THE way to get Around Today!

2010-02-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

This time all the weather prognosticators and seers were correct. We got walloped! Snow started falling last night about 9:00. It fell lightly at first. We awoke to a snow covered world. I love the description of a friend, "It feels like I am inside a snow globe."

We leashed up the dogs, I grabbed my camera, and we headed for town. Most roads had been plowed at least once, and we saw quite a few plows on our walk. Not many cars were out at all. Although we saw people walking, a few four-wheelers, and one man enjoying a rare chance to use his cross-country skis on our town's Main Street. The world seemed to be fast asleep and truly exhibited the sound of silent. Everything was clean and pristine.

I know that not everyone enjoys the snow as I do. I have to say that the news of another possible snow storm this week made me shout, "Yes!" Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

February 5

2010-02-06T14:36:00.000-08:00

February 5th, 2010, a Friday, the day of or day before (depending upon your location) of the storm to come. I cam down this morning and spied this "vignette" in my living room. The plant, I have no idea what kind, seems to be highlighted from the window and the morning sun reflecting off the snow.

Setting a Course

2010-02-04T18:50:00.000-08:00

The school year amazingly enough is more than half way. I can't believe that we are in the third marking period. It seems like only yesterday I was meeting these quiet, timid third graders who would become fourth graders in the fall.

They have grown so much in the last 100+ days. They have become confident, inquisitive, and determined. Determined to master division, five-paragraph essays, and so much more!

Explorers are a large part of our Social Studies curriculum. We start with indigenous Americans (North & South), move on to explorers, and finally end in Colonial Times, just before the Revolution. I find that fourth graders love this topic and really "get" the ideas of "discovery" vs "discovering", savage vs civilized, and ideas of ownership.

As part of our year, I ask my students to explorer themselves, what kind of learner they are, what they want to improve upon, and what they do well. Every quarter, we reflect upon those goals and re-chart our course. While we may not "discover" new continents or gold, I am certain we will all discover riches and experience new wonders.

Pictured is our bulletin board where we write a goal on our telescopes and draw a picture of it in the lens.

ANOTHER Snowy Morning

2010-02-03T16:39:00.001-08:00

It has been an unusual winter so far. Where we would normally get two, maybe three storms of a few inches, this year we have gotten three or four nuisance storms already. A few of them have come in the very early morning hours which leads to delayed school openings and tricky driving.

The benefit of these storms is the beauty. In the early morning grey light, everything looks so peaceful and serene. It is almost as if Mother Nature has applied on of those special camera filters to the world. It is quiet and hushed and everything looks clean.
Forecast says more snow Friday night into Saturday. I am looking forward to it!

A Stitch in Nine...

2010-02-02T17:29:00.001-08:00

There are so many things in life that I enjoy yet there never seems to be enough time to truly do it all. Part of accepting that time is limited, for me, is making sure to do what I like at least sometimes. One of those things I enjoy doing, but don't get to do much - especially during the school year - is knitting.
So, every Monday night, my husband and I DVR "24" and watch it about 15 minutes later. That way, we can zap through the commercials. During that time, I sit in my husband's den with him and the dogs, watch TV, and work on my latest project. Right now I am working on a shrug type shawl for yoga. Now I just have to get back to yoga!!

Full Moon A'Rising

2010-02-01T17:41:00.000-08:00

Saturday in Philadelphia brought more cold and another surprise snow storm. Actually, the weather folks had predicted that it might come by or it might head south. Anyway, I was safely warm inside the Science Leadership Academy by 8:30 in the morning so although the weather outside was frightful, the learning inside was delightful. (With apologies to Sammy Cahn.)

A full day of learning conversations left my brain full. After many hours spent discussing changing pedagogy in the 21st century, managing on-line and off-line lives, and science inquiry to name a few I was ready for a relaxing dip in a hot tub and bed. But, one of the great things about EduCon is the people. People truly come from all over. I had the opportunity to reconnect with so many friends. Additionally, I got to meet some of my on-line friends for the first time. And of course, I met some wonderful new friends. So, instead of relaxing, five of us headed to Sang Kee in Chinatown. It was a wonderful Chinese restaurant and I understand why so many locals eat there. Over Peking Duck, tea, and way more food than we could ever finish, we continued our conversations from the day.

The evening ended with more conversations at Rembrandt's. Do you sense a pattern here? As I felt myself fading, and knowing that the next day held more of the same, I caught a taxi with a few friends and headed back to the hotel for SNL. On my way back I snapped this picture of a beautiful full moon on a crisp winter's night.

Friday Night Lights

2010-02-01T17:31:00.000-08:00

Picture taken from my hotel balcony overlooking Philadelphia City Hall on a cold night.

Friday night in Philadelphia marked the beginning (for me) of EduCon 2.2. Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia held its annual education conference. I rushed out of school Friday afternoon and sped (while maintaining a legal speed) south to Philadelphia. After checking in my hotel, I quickly hoofed it over for the evening panel discussion at The Franklin Institute on "What is Smart?"

Dr. Frederic Bertley moderated as five distinguished panelists offered their opinion on what is smart. Gardner's Multiple Intelligences were referenced as well as passion. Nature and/or nurture was considered as well. Can one be smart in one area of their life (Tiger Woods in golf) and not so smart in an other area? Discussion flowed as the 300 plus audience tweeted observations and questions. The one topic that seemed conspicuously discarded in the discussion was one's Intelligence Quotient, or IQ.

I did learn that the IQ test, originally developed by Alfred Binet, was to identify students in the French school system that were struggling academically, and give them help to catch them up with their peers. Perhaps a good idea at the time, but one that has surely been misused and perverted over the years.

Thursday January 28

2010-02-01T17:25:00.001-08:00

Freak snow squall this morning paralyzed traffic for hours. This morning an unanticipated, unannounced and unplanned for snow "storm" dumped 1-2 inches of the slippery white stuff on local roads. Normally, we have accu-weather and Doppler Dan warning us days ahead of any and all possible snow events. The road crews are out to brine the roads and at the sighting of the first flake flitting to the ground, plows are dispensed.

Apparently all these advance preparations have left us completely unable to handle a surprise snow - even of two inches! Traffic was snarled, accidents were all over the place , and many people were late for work. What would we do without the news to keep us informed and tell us how to react! Geez!

Grades

2010-01-27T17:09:00.000-08:00

Report card time. One of the least favorite times of the year for many teachers, many students, and many parents. The time when students find out if they are "good enough." Did they make the grade? I have been thinking about grades a lot this past year.
My district has a traditional grading system with A-D and F. Although, in practice, Ds and Fs are rarely seen. A gentlemanly C with modifications and accommodations is more the norm. I guess the party line is something like, "Students don't fail. We fail them as teachers."
On one hand, I feel that the grades for some students are a distraction. All many seem to care about is "What did I get?" Many parents want their child to get As regardless of learning and effort, or lack thereof, as is sometimes the case. And for the students who are struggling, getting Ds or Cs can't be beneficial. The grades seem to represent some artificial quotient of knowledge that bears no relevance to students' learning.
On the other hand, I know that grades are motivating to some students. Some of my students want desperately to get As and will push themselves to achieve that goal. They will work hard and go the extra mile. Their As are an accurate reflection of their effort and work.
I have mulled around alternatives (not that I am in any position to change anything at this point.) Pass/Fail seems to encourage a regression to a mean. After all, if a Pass is for 51 % and for 100%, many students will quickly realize that there is no need to work hard. Although I agree that there will always be those who are intrinsically motivated to do their best. A narrative record of a student's achievement would be beneficial, but I know most teachers would balk at the time it would take, and many parents want to know how their child is doing in relation to others.
I have come up with the idea of a continuum of knowledge and skills, Teachers could report where on the continuum a child is. The districts could set general grade level expectations for the continuums. Then it could become more like developmental milestones. A child may reach it early, as expected, or later. No real big deal. Also, there would always be something more to strive for.
What do you think?

Postage

2010-01-26T16:39:00.000-08:00

Postage stamps...caught between this century and last. I used to go through rolls of stamps in a year. Between greeting cards, bills, and letters, stamps were something everyone had on hand. They even sold, and maybe still do, cute little stamp cases. Somewhere in the last five years ago or so, everything has changed. Except for Christmas cards and an occasional birthday card, most greetings are sent via email, Twitter, or Facebook. Bills, most are automatically debited. And letters, I believe those are reserved for antique stores and road shows. Letter writing , a forgotten art, seems like a blog post to come.Isn't that an oxymoron?

Now, I have more stamps on hand than I feel like I will use in a lifetime. And to add insult to injury, they are for a variety of values. I have 37 cents, 39 cents, 44 cents, 5 cents, 3 cents, and forever stamps. I don't even know what it costs to actually mail a letter these days. I believe it is 44 cents. It seems inefficient (especially with my local hours) to go to the post office every time I need a stamp. But, it also seems a waste to have so many different stamps on hand. Sometimes I just put two 37 cents on an envelope. I know postage isn't that much, but I just want to get rid of these stamps. I promise, if I ever do get rid of all these stamps, I will only buy forever stamps from then on.

A Clearing

2010-01-25T15:13:00.000-08:00

What a day it was today. I feel like I could recite a virtual litany of annoyances and detours today. It started about 2AM when one of our PWDs had a sudden fit of head shaking. Nothing we did seemed to stop it. After finally falling back to sleep for about three hours I awoke to the sound of heavy rains and winds. oh well, off to a day of PD. A day of integrating literacy with technology seemed like a good idea, and for many people probably was. However, my session was plagued with problems, no laptops, no flash or shockwave installed on presentation computer...
Unable to access Plurk, Twitter, or FB, I felt so disconnected from my PLN. I wanted to share what was going on and ask for help. Yet, since I was at work, I couldn't connect. Why do we insist that our students collaborate and work together because, "That's what they will need to be successful in the world of the future." and then block teachers from doing the same thing?! Why should it be a problem if I am using P, T, or FB appropriately for academic collaboration which enhances my students' learning? I think of a magazine...If I brought in a magazine that could appropriately be used as a quick reference or a way to engage a student, I think that would be okay. However, if I brought in a magazine and sat all day reading it, my administrator would have a legitimate issue. So then, is the issue Social Networking &, PLNs? Or is it really one of appropriateness, professional judgment, and management? Think about it!

My picture today was the sky about 5:00 as I arrived home. The sun was out to the west and the clouds were rolling away. Ah, tomorrow is another day.

Still Winter

2010-01-24T18:16:00.000-08:00

Took the dogs out for a walk today and it was warm, yet damp. Tomorrow we are supposed to get 1 - 3 inches of rain and they are calling for flood watches all over. So many people are happy with the warm winter temperatures, but I miss the frigid weather of January. The kind of day where you walk outside and it is so cold that it clears out your breathing passages like a menthol vapor. I love living where I do when we get four seasons. Each season is good for its own reasons. In winter I like it to be cold, really cold, and to have lots of snow. Note: Lots of snow to me is two to three feet!! Maybe the next storm will be snow.

Tradition

2010-01-24T07:51:00.000-08:00

This evening I had the chance to get together with a group of friends and neighbors for the annual "Gift Swap." We discussed how long the swap has been going on and figure that it has been at least 15 years. Many of us are the original owners, living here for 18-19 years. Usually the event is held the Friday after New Year's, but this year it was delayed - which seemed to work out better,, especially for me. It was great fun to sit, talk, and share with women I don't have occasion to see often.
As is often true with women, a major topic of conversation was our children - where they are, what are they doing, how are they. I heard about children starting preschool to children graduating college, first jobs, semesters abroad, and girl scout cookie sales. The ages of our children range from 3 to 25 or so. So far, I think we have been blessed. Our children are relatively healthy and well. And yes, there have been detours and challenges for many. I wish all my friends a healthy, happy 2010!

Let Sleeping Dogs...

2010-01-24T07:46:00.000-08:00

This morning as I was getting ready for work, I couldn't help but notice our two Portuguese Water Dogs dead to the world.
They were stretched out across the bottom of the bed. Addie was almost hanging off the bed and Ahna was resting on Addie. This scene reminded me of the old saying, "Let sleeping dogs lie." While I understand the meaning of the phrase, I am never sure whether to use lie or lay. It is one of those grammatical points that I need to look up over and over again. Do you have one of those tricky points?

New and Old

2010-01-20T17:03:00.001-08:00

I hadn't taken a photo yet today when suddenly I heard the tell-tale loud buzzing whirr of a stink bug. I don't remember these bugs from when I was little. Truthfully, I have only been aware of them in the last few years. Why is that so? Did they not come so far north, but now they do with global warming. Or are they like the kudzu, an illegal alien immigrant that has taken over native species? Or, did I just somehow miss them lo these many years?

Whatever the reason, stink bugs are here. They have been in my house for a few years now. Once it begins to get cold they invade. At night the fly around. They aren't really that bad. They don't see, to sting or bite. And, I have never smelled anything to explain their name. Also, my dog Ahna loves to eat them. When she hears their buzz she freezes and then "gulp", they're gone.

So, stinkbugs are the new of my post. Can you figure out the old?

The Graduate

2010-01-19T16:44:00.000-08:00

When I write "The Graduate" I can't help but think back to that 1960's movie starring Dustin Hoffman. "Plastics, The future is in plastics" his character was told. My older son just graduated and we are so proud of all his work. Yet I wonder what his future holds. Can someone give him a one-word answer?

Being a new college graduate is both exciting and anxiety-producing, for the young graduate and for his parents as well. On one-hand you have finished a major life goal, attend and graduate college. On the other hand, where do you set your sights next? The last 16 or so years of his life (not including preschool and Mommy & Me classes!) were linearly shaped with a single goal - graduate. Sure, there have been many side goals; become certified in SCUBA, make the NCAA baseball playoffs, etc. The main focus however has been finish school and then.... Well, now it is "and then".

I know that when I graduated many years ago I had no idea what my "and then" was going to be. I tried many things from stock broker to nurse to cake decorator. I enjoyed all in one way or another. But sometimes I envy those people who seem to have known what they wanted in life from the age of three. How could they possibly know what they wanted to do with their life? I never really "got it." And then, yes, and then, I think of all the wonderful experiences and learning I have had trying things. Not knowing my "and then" has opened many roads and choices in my life.

So, my dear son and all you other graduates out there. Your future is open. The possibilities are endless. Let it take you where it will. Learn from each and every experience and become better in the process. And in the oft quoted words of Rudyard Kipling, and then, "you'll be a man, my son."

Love of Learning

2010-01-18T17:17:00.001-08:00

Today I had the privilege of doing science training at a great little school district here in PA. The administrators and teachers were so enthusiastic and eager. I could tell they really wanted to learn how to be better at what they do. Technically, I had off today and I heard from more than one person,"Why did you work?" Well, I had to think about that one. Why DID I choose to work on my day off?
I guess there are a few reasons and to be honest, most of them are selfish ones. Sure, I could say that I was training other teachers to be better teachers and thus positively impacting more students. And, that is true. But I also do training because it energizes me and reminds me what I love about learning and teaching. The camaraderie and fellowship of educators is the best. No where else can you get a group of adults to sit on the ground and blow at little toy cars through a straw...and have fun. These teachers put themselves in their students' shoes and explored science concepts. And, why do we do that? I think we do it because we love learning and we want to share that joy with our students. I hope you learn something today.

January Rain

2010-01-17T16:30:00.001-08:00

Heavy rains in January. Why isn't this snow? Is it because of global warming? Because the last two weeks had lower than normal temperatures every day. And why do we find rain so dreary, dismal, and depressing? It makes me wonder. Humans are something like 90+% water. Our planet is referred to as the watery planet. We love to go to the beach, the lake, the pool. Yet, our general attitude toward rain is quite negative. Perhaps, as water becomes scarcer in the coming decades, we will hear phrases like, "It's a beautiful rainy day." and "You are my raindrop." Makes me think.

TV Options

2010-01-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

Out of the basement clean-up trash pile I spied this innocuous looking object and wondered if my sons even knew what it was. Surprisingly enough DS#1 knew exactly what it was. I plan on taking it into school one day and seeing if the kids know what it was.

I remember growing up we had two antennae on the TV. One was the "rabbit ears" for regular stations - 3, 6, & 10 in my area. The other was a round wire that screwed in and brought in the UHF stations, 17, 29, & 48. Growing up, the sum total of available stations were abc, cbs, nbc, pbs and the "extra UHF stations - I don't remember their call letters. In addition, all of those stations went off the air around 1:00ish with a playing of the national anthem and a waving flag.
Today I believe we have over 500 channels - I am not sure because it would take too long to "surf" them all. And, TV never closes. With some of the shows on TV, perhaps it should!

January Days

2010-01-14T18:35:00.000-08:00

I thought for sure that I would fall behindwith my photos and blogging this week. I have been fighting a cold, or something, for days. Nyquil, Dayquil, Emergen-C...Hmmmm, all the things I bought for DS#1 last week. Wonder where I caught this? Anyway, been dragging all week and just getting done what has to be done. I was waiting for a friend this afternoon in the hallway and saw this cute bulletin board. Fourth graders made snowmen glyphs with a first grade "buddy." Then they wrote compare and contrast paragraphs about themselves and their buddies. The snowmen seemed to epitomize the friendship and joy these children share.
My fourth graders have first grade buddies and just love them. They are so cute and feel so grown up when we get together. I love to hear them talk about their buddies and how "cute" they are. It makes me wish we (and they) had more opportunities for intergenerational experiences. We learn so much from our elders and our youngers! Who did you learn from today?

1-13

2010-01-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

Last night I was scheduled to go to the gym and on my way there the sky was so colorful and alive I just had to photograph it. Looking to the west, the sun was setting and reflecting pinks, purples, and a golden amber off of the clouds. The clouds seemed to open a passageway for the light. Made me think of those apocolyptical films.

The Tail of the Wobbly Stair

2010-01-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

After 18 years living in a five year old house, there are bound to be some minor repair projects. One such problem was the banister at the top of the stairs. It wobbled like a twelve year old girl wearing her first pair of heels. "Nothing can be done" said my husband. "Nothing can be done" said our neighbor, the contractor. Last summer, I refused to believe these two normally quite knowledgeable men. So I unscrewed and hammered at it until I too gave up in despair and bemoaned that nothing indeed could be done.
Lo and behold two college men, aka DS#1 and DS#2 are home and tending to some household chores when I mention something about the railing and the fact that "nothing could be done." I had no sooner waved this obvious red flag in front of my testosterone driven tool men sons, when hammers, screwdrivers, putty knives and all sorts of metal implements appeared.
I was on the lower side of this picture, in my office, reading email, and talking with my sister. Suddenly from the hall came this creaking sound. The kind the passengers on a seagoing vessel probably heard just before the mast cracked in the midst of the hurricane's wind. As is the wont of young men, they acted without thought of damage nor repair.
Several times I expressed my concern and that "I was really worried about this." They assured me that it would be fine. (I am experiencing a sense of deja vu from the last five or six years with these two.) And indeed, they did manage to return all pieces of the original banister to their rightful place. No, they weren't able to tighten it rock-solid, but it is so much tighter and steadier than it was. So, these two young men have done what those older and more experienced had said "couldn't be done." Well done guys!

Couch to 5K in ...?

2010-01-11T18:27:00.001-08:00

I have been trying to get going again with some kind of physical activity. I was great about going to the gym three times a week until I hurt my hip on the elliptical. Then I had to rest. Well, rest quickly turned into doing nothing which has to end. So, I toyed with the idea of Spin class...not really my thing. Zumba looked interesting, but definitely not ready for that. CoolCatTeacher, aka Vicki Davis, had tweeted about her success with the Couch to 5K app. It has been a while since I was running regularly. And it was never something I was particularly good at. To be honest, I am not good at many athletic pursuits.
Anyway, last week while updating my iPod with podcasts, including a cool Spanish one, I found the couch to 5K one. So, tonight I went to the gym and figured I would give it a shot. I felt like I would die and my shins were screaming, but I did finish the 30 minutes and then ride the bike for 15 more.
I feel like it is a start. I am hoping that by blogging about it I might feel more compelled to keep it up. Here's hoping!

Clouds

2010-01-10T14:20:00.000-08:00

I noticed today that a number of my fellow 365ers shot photos of clouds. KShelton had a lovely shot of fishing boats, a beautiful blue sky, and wispy clouds. On another coast, MColeman shot a similar early morning fishing pier scene with blue skies and clouds that look like a cotton ball pulled apart.

Why do we take pictures of clouds? My father was fascinated by them and when flying would easily take a roll of cloud shots on each plane ride. And this was back in the day when it was film that required developing - actually they were slides. Slides that we five children would then have to "ooh" and "ahh" over. As we grew the "oohs" and "ahhs" slowly turned to "D-A-A-A-D, not another cloud!" And here I am, so many years later, taking a picture of a cloud. Perhaps clouds are the inescapable tug of nature. Our lives are here and then they are gone. All are different yet all are flimsy. Easily blown away by a storm. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Nature is a mutable cloud which is always and never the same."

Day 9 and 10 Images

2010-01-09T15:17:00.001-08:00

I love my dogs dearly.
Addie and Ahna, 7 and 4 years old respectively, are the apple of my husband's eye and a joy to our life. The give unconditional love and exhibit a zeal for fun. They don't shed so there is very daily cleanup around the house. What DOES need to be cleaned often, hourly, or even minutely if there is such a word, is the back window. Our kitchen window overlooks our deck and garden and yard. There are many things which Addie and Ahna need to be on the lookout for. Squirrels may enter unexpectedly. Groundhogs have been known to actually come up on the deck and nosh on our romaine. Imagine! We have even had the occasional deer or fox running through. Needless to say, these dangers require a constant vigilance which naturally leads to many nose prints. Just consider it a cost of being safe.
Anyone own stock in Windex?

Yeah, Science!!

2010-01-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

I love science and have always liked learning about science. I don't however remember loving science in school all the time. My district instituted a new science program last year (The Science Companion from the University of Chicago) and I hear my students say things like, "Yeah! Science!" all the time. The awesome part of this particular program is the amount of hands on science the students get to do.

Today, my students learned about mixtures - creating them and separating them. They had popcorn kernels, popped popcorn, and steel nuggets. They had to discover how to sort or separate their mixtures. The students in this picture were using a magnet to separate the steel nuggets. Other students blew off the popped popcorn. Our room was noisy, the good kind of noisy, with kids excitedly discussing and sharing ideas. We had popcorn, water, and steel nuggets all over. The kids had a blast, and they learned some very important science - both content and process. When it was all over, a few dustpans and rinses of containers and we were ready for math.

As Captain Sullenberger said the other night (when quoting a Soviet scientist), "The purpose of science is to provide humankind a more complete and accurate understanding of reality." In other words, Science rocks! It is fun and AND important! Be like a kid and say "Yeah! Science!!"

A Day Missed Already

2010-01-06T17:36:00.000-08:00

I have to admit I am wracked with guilt. I guess it harkens back to my "good girl" days in Catholic school. After all, I accepted the challenge to blog and post every day this year. I do have a reason, or an excuse as I'm sure one of my teachers would have put it. And it is a really good reason. I had the unbelievable luck of attending the premiere screening of "Brace for ImpactThe Chesley B. Sullenberger Story.

My DH and I met up with some good DEN friends and we caught the late afternoon train to New York City. A trip to NYC, on a school night, was I crazy??! Sure, but what I saw and heard reminded me that we have to "go for it" when we have the chance. Almost one year ago, 155 people nearly lost their opportunity to have that chance. Thanks to the strength and skill of a dedicated pilot along with professional aviation personnel and brave rescuers, those 155 still can "Go for it" today.

Meeting Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger and his wife Lorri was inspirational. They are both warm, genuine people who graciously answered question after question and stood for hundreds of photographs. The big smile never let Sully's face and he made me feel as if he had all the time in the world for me. It was a pleasure to meet them both.

On January 13, 2009 a tragedy was averted by many people "just" doing their jobs. These people changed the lives of the 155 passengers of flight 1549 in exponential ways. Your job and my job may not affect that many lives in a single day. Or maybe it will. It is impossible to predict the ripples that come from "just" doing our job.

Today, I take two things with me. Two precepts if you will. 1.) When you have a chance to "go for it" - do it. and 2.) When you do a job, whatever it is, do your best.

PS Let me add a third. Sometimes there really is a good reason!

"tis the Season

2010-01-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

Today started out as a whiny day. I didn't want to get up so early, I didn't want to go to work, I didn't want... After all, it was a Monday, a very, very cold Monday, and I hadn't been able to sleep the previous night. I was all set for it to be a no good, very bad, horrible, rotten day (with apologies to Judith Viorst.)

Instead, it wasn't really that bad. I got up on time. Yes, it was cold, but it IS January in the Northeast. The kids were good and we got a lot accomplished. I suddenly wasn't feeling so bad at all. I came home convinced that I should go right to bed - after all, I was exhausted! Somehow, actually to prevent murder (another story for another day), I discovered enough energy to go to the gym and walk the track for an hour while listening to podcasts. I learned about Tetrawatts and how much electricity it takes to power the internet - they have no real idea.

Finally, I came home, ready now to relax and perchance, to sleep. Except, DS#1 was feeling awful. You know the drill, headache, sore throat, stabbing pain when he coughs. Although he is 24, mommy-mode kicked in and I was back out to the local pharmacy for various and sundry elixirs.

Now, 16 hours after my first morning whine, I realize it was a good day. And you know what? Tomorrow is another day.

Day 3 of 365

2010-01-03T16:01:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of Christmas, or winter vacation. All over the blogosphere people are whining and bemoaning the end of vacation. I definitely feel the pain of early mornings and long days. Yet, we all love what we do. We love our students and teaching them brings us great joy and fulfillment.
You may be wondering what any of this has to do with my picture of the day - chocolate cake. Just like teaching, I love to bake and cook and make delicious food for my family. Yet, I often get caught up in the whining and bemoaning of not enough time, too much to do, etc. While not an official resolution, I would like to do more of what I love, and ignore the unpleasant sides of things.

Day 2 - January 2, 2010

2010-01-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

It was a very cold and windy day here in Pennsylvania and I should have been working on any number of "To do" projects. Let's see, I need to finish my sons' high school photo albums, clean up my math problem solving binder, prepare for spring presentations. But wait, is that a chicken I see. More accurately it was cobwebs. Big, dusty strands of stuff hanging from the hall chandelier espied as I walked down the stairs. I certainly couldn't get work done knowing that such toxic material was hanging in the very air we all breathe. Thankfully tall DS#1 was able to get the 2-story ladder into the hall and dust away all vestiges of reasons for further procrastination. Now, onto my work! Wait, is that a spot I see on the curtain...

Welcome 2010

2010-01-01T15:59:00.000-08:00

I wonder is this the first year of a new decade. Everyone, well, most people anyway, tell me that the new decade starts with 1 so, this (2010) is actually the last year of the decade. That may be true technically, but I feel since we are starting double digits, it seems to be a new decade to me. So much has happened in the last 10 years, and yet so much remains the same.
As a way of tracking, or cataloging my day-to-day I have decided to attempt the 365 photo challenge. Will I actually take and upload a photo a day? I don't know. But I do think it will be interesting to look back and see again what I saw.

Technically, this was the last photo of 2009, cream puffs made for friends. After a dinner and movie, dear friends came back to our house for dessert.
In response to a few requests, recipe follows. It really is very easy.
Ingredients:
1 cup of flour
1 tsp white sugar
1 cup butter (unsalted is best)
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 TB white sugar
1tsp amaretto, rum, etc. flavoring - optional

Place butter and water in a heavy saucepan on medium heat and bring to a boil. Add flour and sugar mixture and stir with a wooden spoon. Lower heat and stir until mixture pulls away from sides and forms into a ball. Remove from heat and beat with electric mixer 1-2 minutes. Gradually add beaten eggs and mix well.
Spoon 24 mounds of dough onto baking sheet and place in 400 degree oven.
Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees. Bake 35 minutes more. Turn oven off and let cool with oven door ajar.
Filling: chill bow, beaters, and whipping cream, vanilla, and sugar. Whip until soft peaks form. Do not overmix. Add optional flavoring.
To assemble: Split pastry shells in half. Fill with whipped cream. replace top half. Dust with powdered sugar. You may also drizzle with melted chocolate or flavored syrups.
Enjoy - makes 24 cream puffs.