{solsc} 17/31 #sol16 Since My Last Birthday...

Birthdays.
Some people hate them. They dread them coming around every year. They lie about their age.

I love them.

I celebrate my birthday as long as I can and proudly admit that this year I am 59.  Although, I'm wondering if I should have kept my mouth shut at school. There were a few, "OOO. Next year's a big one. We're going to have to do something."

I woke up this morning and checked Facebook. So many birthday wishes. I loved this one from my high school friend, Dan.


One of my granddaughters called me before school while she was riding the bus to school.

A friend's daughter sang me Happy Birthday in the enthusiastic way only a five-year-old can.

A class sang to me later in the morning, while also tormenting me with bananas (I hate them. The class thinks it's funny to torment me).

My husband took me out for supper and I had bacon wrapped shrimp. And green beer.

And, of course, March Madness starts today, so there are plenty of college hoops to watch the next few days:)

And Andrew Smith and Gae Polisner wished me Happy Birthday. I feel like a rock star, although I'm sure they wish everyone Happy Birthday...


I love my birthday.

{solsc} 16/31 #sol16 All It Takes Is the Right Book

"I'm going to have to buy the next book of this series."

HUH????

These words came from the mouth of Mechanic Boy. A self-proclaimed nonreader in my credit recovery class. 

But he's read TWO books this quarter. Really read them. As a class we read Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. 

It didn't suck. And we had great discussions.

Then we started an independent reading unit. Student could choose their own book and they would read it in 15 days. 15. Days. 

I was crazy, wasn't I?

Mechanic Boy was home from school yesterday with food poisoning. He finished the book. Finished the book on day 6! And loved it. He has to order the next one because "The author stopped this book is a really bad spot."  In other words, Mechanic Boy needs to find out what happened.

He kept telling Amanda (student teacher) and I that he still wasn't a reader. He just liked this book. I kept telling him, "Everyone is a reader. Some just haven't found the right book. Looks like you found yours."

He smiles, but still isn't convinced. 

I ordered the next book. It'll be here Friday.

The book that hooked him? 

{solsc} 15/31 #sol16 A New View...

It's so strange, sitting in my classroom and not being the one who leads the lesson. But that's what I did today as my student teacher, Amanda, lead my Creative Writing students in activities that will lead to informative writing.

She did a great job. And most of the kids kept on task as she led them through what she wanted them to do.

What did I notice?
Most of them had phones out and sneakily texted any moment they could.  Until I moved into their area and sat down.  That's the great thing about the comfortable furniture in my room. There are lots of places to sit and observe. And phones silently got put away.  I need to deal with this.

My room is a comfortable place to be.  Nice spaces. But. I feel bad for Amanda, because the seating is not of her choosing and it's hard, I know, for her to teach a lesson, while being observed by her advisor and me.  I'm not sure I can do much about this for her. But I'll check with her tomorrow and see if she has some ideas.

End of the year syndrome seems to have kicked in--in all of my classes--we still have a quarter to go. What can we do to combat this?

This is why I love having a student teacher. I get to look at my classes from a new perspective.  And fix what's broken!

{solsc} 14/31 #sol16 Avoidance

There are lots of ways to avoid doing school work (I'm writing a blog post, for instance), but some of my students have become masters of it in my room.  I've started a list of all the ways they stay off task and, sometimes, get me off-task too!

How to Avoid Doing Your Work in Mrs. Day's Room

1. Help another student with their homework--especially Math homework! Students know I  love those who collaborate and help each other out. Teaching someone else is a great way to show our own understanding of the work. HOWEVER!  Get your work for my class done first!

2. Discuss politics.  I can't help it. I'm a political junkie. And I love students who are taking an interest in politics, even if they can't vote yet.  Quote from a student in one particular class, "Any thought is three sentences away from being about politics".

3. Tell Me About Your Car (job, accident, girl/boy friend) I'm a sucker for talking to kids and love to hear about their lives. Unfortunately, sometimes I get a little carried away. And I have an at-risk student who is passionate about his cars--driving them, wrecking them, restoring them. I receive a daily update on the cars in his life.

4. Youtube videos. I hate them. Students love them. A constant battle.

5. Write stories about someone in the class or me for the writing prompt. There was a week where I was killed very creatively every day. The next week, it was another student.  These are always a way to get everyone in the room off task.

6. Fight with your girlfriend/boyfriend via text messages. Then make-up.

7. Snapchat stories. Gotta keep that streak alive!

8. In March, start talking basketball. We all have brackets and we're all experts--until Thursday, at least.

9. Prom. ENOUGH ALREADY!

10. When all else fails--or the assignment is due at the end of the hour. Do the assignment!

{solsc} 13/31 #sol16 Contentment

I am so content and peaceful as I sit in my chair, while the rain taps gently at the window. It is the contentment of being happy with who I am, decisions I have made and who I am with.

This time in our life is just for us, my husband and I. There is an easy rhythm to our life now. An ebb and flow. A give and take.

Life is good.

{solsc} 12/31 #sol16 State Speech Celebrations

I'm home after 15 hours of Speech today--5 on the bus and 10 at contest. I'm tired. Really tired. So today you get my celebration in tweets. And Pictures. Selfies mostly, because they're teenagers after all. But their chosen poses. I have to apologize to those I missed today, they all did great also!

{solsc} 11/31 #sol16 YIKES!

It's been a day.

Met with my student teacher's advisor before school.
Printed ballots for contest tomorrow--and the bus list, don't forget the bus list.
Packed the crate and the cart for contest--don't forget the projector--and the "clicker"--and the adaptor...
Reprinted Anna's poem, but not John and Mitchell's radio news transitions--they forgot to send them!
Oh, yea. Need paper for radio news--and check the radio boxes and make sure they have tape.

What else?  I know I must be forgetting something.

Rehearse after school
Who's coming for one last practice?
Today, no critique. Just remember what you need to do tomorrow.
Kelly's computer still doesn't connect with projector...remember to take mine
Send me your presentation...

What else? I know I must be forgetting something.

Time to head home
WAIT
I forgot my keys! Thank heavens I remembered before I left the building!

What else? I know I must be forgetting something.

Head to the store--need cheese popcorn for tomorrow. It's a long day.
Get home. Note on the fridge. Need milk. Back to the store.
Might as well pick up a few other things {wine}

What else? I know I must be forgetting something.

Home again.
Make peanut butter/chocolate chip bars for kids.
Don't forget to take one out and leave home for Greg.

Sit down with that glass of wine.
What else? I know I must be forgetting something.

YIKES!  MY BLOG POST.
I haven't written a blog post today!

This is just gonna hafta do!