#sol16 But I Still Wish I Could Wear My PJ Pants...

That "Day After Conferences" hangover. You know you have to get up, leave your pjs at home and get to school. No, you can't have another cup of coffee. Yes, those pieces of writing are still waiting to be graded. No, you can't cancel rehearsals. You have contest on Saturday.

You live for Friday, when you know you have a day off.

You sit at your computer for one cup of coffee before school and open up Facebook. And there, you find the nicest post just waiting to make your day.

Facebook post from a former foreign exchange student

And suddenly, you are ready for the day. You can have a second cup of coffee at your desk as you finish those last writing pieces. And tonight's rehearsals don't seem quite as overwhelming.

Especially since your husband already has supper planned. You can have a nice glass of wine while it cooks.

You look forward to kids coming in to work, you have plans to make for the rest of the week, and maybe, a couple more notes to write to students.

Because they do mean something...to both of you...

But you still wish you could wear your pj pants to school.

Celebrating Snow, School and Friends

1. Celebrating Snow Days
Is it wrong to celebrate two snow days and a two-hour late start?  I'm going to. There's something about an old-fashioned blizzard that's just kind of fun. Well, not fun for my husband. He had to go out and blow the driveway (I did help a little).  I snuggled in comfy clothes and a blanket the whole first day. I read and wrote. I dozed in my chair. When Greg came in after clearing out the driveway the first time, we binged watched half of the first season of The House of Cards on Netflix.  We are now officially addicted to this show.

The second day, I did do a little grading and planning, but still found time to read and write.

2. Celebrating School
It was nice to get back to school and see my kids. Lots of fun discussions about what everyone did on their days off.  I keep telling students that as the oldest teacher in the district, it is my job to decide if school is called off, so I was thanked a lot for the midweek vacation.

3. Celebrating Writing
I have been writing EVERY DAY.  Since discovering the #Edtime2wrt hashtag on Twitter, I've been committed. Most days I share the page in my notebook and what I've written. Even if I haven't shared, I've written.  I've noticed the more I write, the more I have to write about. Hmmmm. All I have to do is

4. Celebrating Students

I am teaching a credit recovery English class this semester. Five kids who have failed English previously.  They are working hard!  They don't think they are, though.  They are showing up. They read, write and discuss daily, with a minimum of griping. We're reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which they have deemed "not too bad". High praise from kids who admit to never reading and doing homework!

5. Celebrating Friends

Greg and I spent time with lake friends last weekend and it was much needed.  I love my school friends, but most are younger and not at the same point in life I am at. It was nice to talk to others who understood my indecision on retiring, thinking about instructional coaching, or staying where I'm at. They know the tiredness I talk about and the needing to be re-energized by something. Indecision is my middle name right now. I have to make a decision in the next couple of weeks, though, so I need to figure out where I'm headed.

Well, that's the highlights this week.  Stay tuned. I've got a couple of blog posts in progress!

#sol16 Snow Day Possibilities

Snow Day Possibilities

Up and Moving at the

Usual 6:00 AM starting time

It's dark,

quiet,

The perfect

MOMENT

to begin the day.

Make coffee

Make a list

  Write

  Read

 Nap

     Repeat

Enjoy another cup of coffee

Snuggle into my blanket

and

Enjoy the possibilities

You Should Read This

The books pass hand to hand, never making it to the return basket or the shelf where they belong. Sometimes, they don't even make it back to my room. The book pass, a silent recommendation.

You should read this.

The library cards in the box tell only part of the book's life story. Because, sometimes, the names of the readers aren't written there, but instead on the pages of their soul.

You should read this.

Short days become reading days and talking about books. At least once a week a plea is heard, "Can we please read all hour? I'm almost done with my book, and...."
"Are you done with that book yet? I'm ready for it."

You should read this.

Ten minutes of reading guaranteed every day. Any book you want.   NOTHING, interferes.  NOTHING. Come in. Sit down. And read. Pages and pages.

The books pass hand to hand, never making it to the return basket or the shelf where they belong. Sometimes, they don't even make it back to my room. The book pass, a silent recommendation.

You should read this.