Today

Today*We had conferences for our youngest daughter. They were "student-led" and she was wonderful. Her grades are great and she gets upset when she isn't perfect in everything, so we knew her academics were fine. Her teachers confirmed that she is a wonderful leader who speaks at the right times. I am so thankful. Today*Our oldest daughter reminded me how much I will miss her next year. She finished up two college applications last night. Today, with conferences, the youngest didn't have school, so our oldest came home on her school lunch time and took her out to lunch. I am reminded how lucky we are that they are so close. I am so thankful. Today*My running has been going well, times coming down, even as distance goes up, but my shins have been very painful, again, as of late. They are swollen and painful to the touch. I decided to pitch a walk or bike ride to my husband, and ended up suggesting we walk a mile or so to a local restaurant, eat and walk home. He agreed and we had such a lovely time. Still seems strange sometimes to go places like that without our girls and see our "empty nest" future. We had plenty to talk about and enjoyed our time together. I am so thankful. Today*My dog snores beside me. His health issues are getting more noticeable. His big fatty deposit lump is very large and he is getting skinnier, sleeping most of the day, now. My husband took him to the vet over the summer and she said she doesn't expect a year out of him, now. The lump can't be removed safely, and is taking his nutrients. He still doesn't display pain or discomfort, other than carrying around the heavy lump. The vet said that most dogs, when they become ill or decline like this, pull away from their families. Mine gets closer, not willing to leave my side, if I'm home, for moments. I am so thankful. {Our other dog gets older and more crotchety, but that's a story for a different day ;)} Today*Teaching went well. In the eighth grade I taught a lesson about the Acts during the late 1700s-Stamp Act, Navigation Acts, Townshend Acts, etc. I had a wonderful activity I had received from another teacher. The kids were active and engaged, they drew wonderful connections. I had them discuss the experience as well as their thoughts as a result, and they were excellent. I was a proud teacher-those moments can be rare sometimes, when you see their growth and enjoyment of history. I am so thankful. I don't know where I'm headed, where my days ahead will take me, but I do know today was a great day and I am so thankful for all the wonderful people and moments that today held. How was your day?

October 23 2012

I have unpleasant tasks looming ahead. I have the daily tasks like laundry, but our oldest daughter has been helping out a lot with that. I have things to schedule like getting some fillings fixed. They are old, metal fillings that are pulling away from the tooth. I don't want to do that-the shots, the working in my mouth... but it needs to be done. I need to clean out the fishtanks, too. There was a good post I read this morning about "eating the frog" here. I am hoping to work on my daily and weekly schedules a bit so that I can get everything done during the week. I have, however, accomplished some things like grading papers and putting them into my computer grade book this morning. I met with another teacher this morning, as well, to pick his brain about ideas and teaching style. There is still so much I need to learn. He teaches U.S. history and has for about 15 years, so he has much to teach me! :) I am eager to learn so I can be a better teacher. What are you dreading or hoping to improve upon?

October 22 2012

More time has passed than I would care to admit. I have been swallowed into the social media abyss. Checking Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader and Instagram can be done in a matter of seconds on my phone, but add up those little bits of time and they turn into chunks that steal away my productivity and blog posting. My new phone makes it easier to check anywhere, anytime, which isn't good. My husband and I were discussing blogs. He suggested I create one about my history teaching with project ideas, topics I find fascinating, and teaching resources. I don't sit down to post enough, here, so would I post there? I'm not sure, but it would be fun to try. There are resources out there for middle school teachers, but it usually takes some digging to find them. Elementary sites pop up like crazy when searched for, however. I'd love to be creating an ongoing resource where other teachers could come find what they are looking for. My teaching is going well, still part time in the middle school social studies room. Currently, the sixth grade is learning about the Ancient Israelites, the seventh grade is learning about the Romans and the eighth grade is learning about the French and Indian War. We also will be having discussions about the elections (the process, etc, not who we would choose to have win the election, that would have everyone up in arms and disputing). We have an enrichment period at the end of the day for thirty minutes where all of the middle schoolers get together most days. Mondays are not set in stone, days like today when we have good weather we have fresh air fun, since those days are few and far between as we head into Midwestern winter. Tuesdays are study hall, Wednesdays are Newsbowl. Newsbowl is a variety of questions from current events and we play in our own classrooms as a competition, with each question assigned points. Thursday is a social savvy lesson as we are teaching teenages and most could learn a thing or two. ;) Fridays we meet with our "buddies" from younger grades and do an activity or we have a critical thinking project. Some Mondays or Fridays I have chosen a history topic to talk about, like November 12 we will have a Veteran in to talk about Veteran's Day and their military experiences. As for our family, both of our daughters are done with their cross country running seasons. Our oldest finished up her senior season on Saturday. I did fine throughout the season, but on the way home on Saturday I began to cry. My husband was unnerved, not recognizing the cause of my tears at first. We've been chasing her around cross country courses for six years! And now we are one quarter through with her senior school year. It's gone so fast. Our youngest had her last meet on Sunday. This was her first year running, so there weren't tears, but it is her last year in middle school, so that is also unnerving! I hope you are well. What is happening with you, Reader?

Ah, August

It's been a long time, again. Summer has been busy! :) We kept a daughter of a friend of ours for three weeks this summer, for starters. I think I've mentioned how I like to make it like "summer camp" for her. It was fun! :) We have also visited another possible college choice, with a few more scheduled in the weeks to come. I have tried to meet my "read more" goal, reading Killing Lincoln, Gone Girl and am halfway through the Discovery of Witches. I didn't like Gone Girl, as much as most people I know have. Just too much for me. I have loved Witches very much, can't put it down, thus little blogging. ;) I cleaned out one side of our basement crawl spaces, leaving quite a large pile of trash for our garbage pick up and an organized set-up in its place. I still have more "organizing to-do's" ahead, like the other crawl space. It seems mundane, I know, but I feel better once it's done. I've convinced the husband that we needn't keep all the junk that lies down there! So, it will be finding its way out of here soon! I have been watching the Olympics, though not as much as I have in years past. We have also been watching Gilmore Girls-It's a series I have enjoyed so much over the years, first seeing several episodes on tv, then getting dvds and watching them all in order a few years ago. I wished my older daughter would watch and love them... and eventually she had seen a few. She enjoyed it, but now, as we start from dvd 1 of season 1, we three girls have watched and love it. My youngest daughter proves to be my partner in crime in that we memorize and remember points/lines and bring them up again later. Working on a list of things to blog through August...So glad you are reading and checking in on me. :) Hope you are well, Reader.

Hello, my long-lost friends. I know it has been ages and I apologize. Since I wrote last: *I attempted my third half marathon. I was hoping for a 1:45-1:50 time range. I ended with a 2:20, but can't look poorly upon it because I started getting sick at mile 4 and continued for quite a while, up to mile 8 or 10. I later found out I had the flu. Blech. I took time off to recover from the flu, and was down and out on Mother's Day. I was secluded in my room with no visitors so they didn't get the bug. Then that turned into respiratory yuckies. I finally got over that. *My girls finished their school year and are now going to be a senior and an eighth grader. Wow. We have begun the college search for the oldest, also. Again, Wow. *I finished my first year as a middle school social studies teacher. A busy year flew by and I worked hard. I'm excited to plan ahead this summer! I have bought a lesson plan/record book so I can begin penciling in information! *I also finished my second class so I could renew my teaching license. I got another A, but I also was swamped/overwhelmed and frantic for a while. :) I'm glad it's done! I gleaned a lot of information from both classes this year, but it was stressful trying to get it all done, while finishing up a school year of teaching, as well. *My family went to Alaska on a cruise. We started in Seattle, headed out on Princess Cruise line, went to Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, B.C, arriving back in Seattle a week later. It was beautiful! I will have to post a whole post about that soon! I promise not to wait so long, now, till my next post. :) Thank you for popping in!