CARPE DIEM!

Sieze the day! That is my wish for Mr. McLaughlin, teacher extroadinaire, who retired yesterday, June 5th. I will miss his wisdom, good character and friendship. As one teacher stated, "I want to be just like him when I grow up." Mr. McLaughlin will be sorely missed for many reasons:

1. His whit.
2. His knowledge (he is a renaissance man, I hope he goes on Jeopardy)
3. His compassion (he truly cares about everyone)
4. His sincerity (he never waffles, never backstabs)
5. His commitment (always the first to arrive and the last to leave)
6. His fairness (to both staff and students alike)

As I tearfully say "farewell" to Mr. McLaughlin I know that in the coming years he will touch more lives with his kindness and generosity of spirit. That is what makes our parting a sweet sorrow.

I can't hold onto him forever, I must share him with the world and maybe the rest of the world will be a better place because of my willingness to share.

Mr. McLaughlin: CARPE DIEM!

The LAST DAY of SCHOOL!

Hooray! It's finally here! It's the last day of school! Celebration abounds through the halls and into the classrooms. I am giddy with excitement as all teachers because now the fun really begins.

Today the little darlings get a "bash" (party). This event fills an entire morning with dancing, singing, food, and yearbook signing. The bash is normally held outdoors, but, thanks to Mother Nature, the party will be moving inside. I have mixed feelings about the change of venue: first, how chaotic will it be having students roam the school in search of events? second, how am I supposed to begin my summer tan? The outdoor bash was a perfect opportunity for base tanning (or burning flesh).

Oops, I keep forgetting that it's not all about me!

After the students tearfully (sure!) leave the premises, we teachers will sigh with relief, or exasperation, because we now have to submit final grades (before 3:30) and clean our rooms (take down those posters and cover that technology!). This needs to be done today because tomorrow is filled with meetings, a retirement luncheon and (thanks to the compassion of the powers that be)a teacher relaxation afternoon.

So, we must work until work is done to reap the rewards of tomorrow. A small price to pay to have a long (?) summer vacation.

I hope that you will enjoy your summer.

This blog will be updated as I work with curriculum (whoopie!) this summer.

Days of Fury!

Just 7 and a half days to go! WOO HOO! I can't wait and neither can the students. The parents? That's probably another issue. Summer is just around the corner and what a short summer it will be! Our school district dismisses June 4th and begins on August 19th. Gone are the days when Labor Day signaled the beginning of school.

So, what is a teacher to do during these last 7 days when the ADHD students are saving the medication for summer?

First, we stick to the curriculum (that's for any administrator that may be perusing the internet for teacher information). Seriously, the curriculum is important and I will stay within its constraints, but I will create as many fun activities as I can to keep the students engaged (admin talk, again). Actually, the activities will keep the students from running roughshod over the teacher!

Next, we give very little homework. Why? It won't be done so notices are sent home for parents to get upset over. What's the point? There are 7 days left, why give yourself a migraine?

Finally, keep a morale compass. Don't let the administration's new edicts, the overpriced retirement meal, or the new (just have to buy them now) staff shirt get in the way of good character. Cursing is for highways not hallways!

And, yes, prayer in school is a good option for those of us, like me, who gets a little edgy.

In conclusion, the last 7 and a half days will be filled with joy and tears. Joy that the school year is coming to fruition and tears because we need to order for next year, clean our rooms, send home portfolios, grade the students, collect text books, box up the books, squelch bad behavior choices, cover for absent teachers, turn in our room keys....etc, etc, etc....

Less Than A Month!

Hooray, hooray! I'm counting down the days! I am remembering that old ditty from yesteryear:

No more homework, no more books
No more teacher's dirty looks.

Now for today:

No more grading nor I.E.P's
No more tests or NCLB!

Summer lovin' for me will be reading by the pool and time with family and.....


did I forget to mention looking at the new books for next school year to prepare lesson plans?

STOP THE WORLD! WAKE ME UP! The nightmare continues....

Who am I kidding? If I didn't like school, I wouldn't be teaching.

Oh, yeah, I forgot...I teach for the money!!!!!!

Snow days....Are they over?

Snow is falling, the wind is howling and school is cancelled. HOORAY! Now I have time to grade that huge stack of papers. No interruptions, no meetings, no .... wait! They are still on a pile on my desk. How can this be? Oh, that's right. The weather man predicted snow last week and I brought home a large stack only to take them back the next day (no snow, weather man wrong...imagine!). Why bring them home again just in case the weather man was wrong AGAIN?

Here is a thought: I'll do paper work at school during my planning time. No, won't do. Have meetings daily, papers to copy (which takes forever since the machines aren't always working properly) and planning with other teachers. Did I mention the surpise IEP meetings and parent conferences?

PLAN B: Professional days. I can "catch up" then. NOT! Each are jam packed with so many thrilling activities that I can hardly squeeze in a bathroom break!

PLAN C: I'll stay at school until most have left, bring home papers to check during the weekend, and maybe, just maybe, I will be caught up before SUMMER BREAK!

I will relax this summer. After I take a few courses to keep my certification, that is!

I COULD REALLY GO FOR ANOTHER SNOW DAY!

Figurative Language? Go Figure

Today's activity: compose a Haiku poem using one of three types of figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification). What? Did I give criteria? One wouldn't think so after reading the poems created. Maybe I am speaking in a foreign tongue? OR Maybe the students don't understand figurative language even though I have been teaching it for over a week and they role their eyes each time it is mentioned.

Possible Haiku:

Metaphors, Simi-
les, personification
too is difficult.

Does this make sense? Maybe I should try hyperbole!

Happy Halloween....oops! Can't Say That!

What is Halloween in education? Just another day for students to learn....Whatever happened to celebrating the "fun" part of halloween? As a child, the best day was when we could dress up, march around the building and eat great homemade snacks made with (dare I say it?) SUGAR! Today, students can't dress up (may offend someone) and parents and teachers aren't supposed to offer "sugar" snacks (because the obesity problem is directly linked to the classroom consumption of sugar during the 1 halloween party).

PLEASE?! Why can't students enjoy this one event of the year? Why must all good things be put aside? Is this because we are being considerate of one another's beliefs or can't we miss one minute of instruction due to the upcoming state testing?

It's a sad day when the "great pumpkin" isn't so great anymore....