I could get a lot done if......

Wed., March 23:

Nothing new or notable on Wednesday.  We had tornado watches all day, but we really didn't have any bad weather.  I worked after school, went to 5:30 Zumba and then went to my 7:00 Ladies' Bible Class.


I love Carmen's Zumba class.  WE GET DOWN TO SOME AWESOME MUSIC IN THAT CLASS!  The class usually has almost 80 people in there!!  I am actually now brave enough to go to the front row!!

Thursday, March 24:

The weather turned off really cold. (Low 40s)

I had read Dr. Seuss' Bartholomew Cubbins and the 500 Hats  and we made newspaper hats.  The kids loved them. 

We also played a game in Science.  Second graders always are ready for a game.

Friday, March 25

Woo Hoo! It's Friday

Sunrise as I leave the neighborhood

Progress on Buffalo Wild Wings



It's a good thing it's Friday, this is a scary picture of me!!



I'm sitting here in my quiet classroom.  It's Friday afternoon and the children have been gone for about an hour.  I'm taking some time to get caught up for the next week and I'm enjoying some the peace & solitude.  Here are some thoughts that I'm having as I listen to the sound of nothing............






We teachers often joke and say, "I could sure get a lot done if I didn't have any children here."  You non-teachers out there may think that sounds crazy, but, we actually have many things to do.  Some relate directly to the children and some indirectly.  Some things don't relate at all to children.  Our main responsibility is teaching the children, but often the kids get in the way of the teaching. They aren't learning robots, they are kids!





With the current emphasis on test scores, everything is data driven.  We now have people telling us: when to teach,  what to teach, and how to teach it.  One of the new terms is "differentiated instruction".  That simply means that we need to teach things in many ways, so that we can reach all of the children.  It also means that we are supposed have many different levels of work, so that we meet all of the children's needs regardless of what their level is.





  That all makes sense to me, but the "differentiated instruction" doesn't seem to apply to teachers.  We don't seem to have the freedom to be different.  Well, that's enough venting.  It may not make sense to anyone but teachers anyway.








Don't get me wrong, I have a good job and I have great administrators.  They have pressure from above.  It's just a shame.




Okay, this is another tid-bit for the teachers out there. I have just discovered teacher blogs.  The other day, I was doing an internet search for Dr. Seuss activities and I came across an awesome blog by a first grade teacher.  Most bloggers include a list of blogs they follow on their blog.  This teacher had a full list of other great teacher blogs that she followed.  I am going to be busy reading blogs!!  :0)



http://fun-in-first.blogspot.com/2011/03/water-cycle.html





There are blogs about anything that you can think of, so, do a search.  You may find a blog that covers something that you are interested in.


The hubby is home from a business trip, so we are hoping to do some geo-caching this weekend.  I will defin. keep you posted!!!




xoxo
PJ

Sunday Fun/GeoCaching/Lessons from Dr. Seuss

Better picture of last night's Super Moon


Sunday, March 20

Taking home lunch after church

I love the way they have planted willow trees around the edge of their property.  This is a house in our neighborhood.

Here I am going to Zumba!!  :)





Errands after Zumba:


I was looking for a cover for my back seat.  Cocoa hasn't ridden in the car since I got my new car back in August.  She loves riding and has missed it.



Parking lot by Pet Smart





The Humane Society was outside of Pet Smart and they had dogs to adopt.  These puppies were very sweet!!



Bingo! This is what I needed!

Pet Smart is always fun.  Lots of people had their dogs.  I love dogs.  There was a St. Bernard.  I took a picture, but it didn't really do a good job of showing how large it was.



This little puppy had an accident.

 

If you look closely, you will see that their are three very young children and a puppy.  I told that mom that she had her hands full!!!






We used the new seat cover and took Cocoa for a ride.  Can't you tell that she is happy?

We decided to take Cocoa for a short walk on the River Walk in downtown Clarksville.  We didn't have any poop bags, so we stayed on the concrete path and kept it short.

View of the river

Beginning our walk at Riverview Inn.

If you aren't from Clarksville, you may not know about Wilma Rudolph.  She overcame polio and won several gold medals in the 1960 (I believe it was 1960.) Olympics in track and field.  She was from Clarksville.

Above you see views around the Riverwalk

It is very hard to take a self-portrait when the sun is in your eyes.  W. Rudolph statue (or part of it) is in the background.

We decided to have dinner at Zaxbys.

There was only a few minutes left of daylight, but we decided to try out some Geocaching. I had talked to someone from church who had tried it.  So, I was armed with a little bit of knowledge.  I downloaded an app on my IPhone.  You basically used the GPS on your phone and clues to find hidden notes.  (More on this subject later!)  I will keep you updated on future geocaching adventures.

Here you can see the hubby adding our names to the many who had found it before.

Here is the update on Buffalo Wild Wings

Tsunami Lesson #1 (I had planned on elaborating on Sunday's sermon on this topic, but I left my journal in hubby's car & he's traveling.) So, instead........

Monday, March 21





A Lesson from Dr. Seuss  As you may know from reading my blog, last Friday, my school had a special Reading celebration.   The theme was Dr. Seuss.  I read the story, Horton Hears a Who to my class.  I'm sure you are familiar with that story.

In this story, the jungle animals think Horton is crazy because he is talking to a flower.  He actually hears a "Who" which is a tiny person and his whole community that are specks on this flower.  The animals keep teasing him, but he is determined to take care of the Whos.


Horton keeps saying, "A persons a person know matter how small".  We used this story to discuss how everyone is important and everyone has skills, talents and their thoughts and opinions are important and we should treat everyone with respect, even if they are different from us.  (We don't get too heavy in second grade!)

 Here are the Hortons that we made.

Looking on the internet, people tend to think that this book was a metaphor about racism. (The book was written during the civil rights movement.) 

Tuesday, March 22





I even found a whole sermon based on this book.  Before I found that, I thought of the religious significance of this story.  Every person on Earth has a soul and like our preacher always says, "Every person is either saved or lost."  That is simple, yet profound. 



A persons a person, no matter how small!!!  Horton cared, do we????





2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

(I actually turned around this morning to get this daybreak shot.  The picture doesn't do it justice.)

Spring has sprung in Clarksville, TN!!!

xoxo PJ

Weekend Update/Empty Nest Reintergration



I took this picture while I was walking down the hall.
I am wearing a Dr. Seuss shirt.

 Friday, March 18:  It was a crazy day.  I had run out of the classroom early yesterday because I had a doctor's appointment.  I knew I had half-day training, but I mistakenly thought it was in the morning.





I actually think I took this picture the other day.  This is the neighbor's tree that is behind my house.  Tragically, I found a tick on me after I was out in the yard that day.



I rushed in to get things ready for a sub.  We had a "Reading Celebration" & Popcorn Friday. The celebration was for ending our Tera Nova testing and we had a Dr. Seuss theme.  I won't even try to explain about the art contest and the turning in money for the popcorn. (Some pay a set amount for the whole year.) 


Well, I had actually requested having my training for the morning. I was glad the training was at my school, if not, it would have been bad.

The whole school was having a Pajama Day, but second grade decided to let the children dress up as their favorite Dr. Seuss characters. Needless to say, the kids were very excited.  Here is a few of the cute costumes!

These girls were dressed like Whos.

Thing 2

Storytime in the Library

Friday afternoon:  Reading Streets training, It was very low key. (nice for a change)

Friday night: Sushi date at Kori.  My younger son joined the hubby and me.  He enjoyed the won ton soup and the pork stir fry. (sorry, no pics)

Saturday, March 19:  I slept a little late for me. (7:15) My plan was to go and weigh in at WW.

Sadly, I maintained my same weight.  :0(   I WILL NOT GET DISCOURAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I killed time until my Zumba class.  I also had a scheduled date with the hubby. (Breakfast)  He has been traveling all week.

Hobby Lobby has lots of furniture.  I keep taking pictures because my mom is looking for a few things.  I also wanted a small basket because I'm donating some earrings for a silent auction for a MS walk that will be at our church during the weekend of April 2.

Spring has arrived in Clarksville.  Check out the Bradford Pear trees.

I checked out one of my favorite stores.

Do you remember "hot pants" from the 70s?  Well, evidently, they are back in style.  This was actually in the ladies (not juniors) section!!! You may be surprised, but, no, I didn't buy them!



My hubby and son decided they wanted to go to Hananoki for a last meal before college.  I like that place, but I usually forgo going there because it's so expensive.  I looked around at the mall.  I was having trouble making phone calls.  When I got to the Y, I called the hubby and found out that I couldn't make calls because he had gotten me an IPhone. (and disconnected my old phone)




While they had dinner at Hananoki, I tried out the new food court at Governor's Square Mall.  It was pretty good.  (A lot cheaper!)



Our new food court



Cute stuff at Old Navy (Doesn't this make you want to go to the beach??)

About town on Saturday










Here's the much hyped "Super Moon".  What do you think????

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This has been a short and sweet blog.  My younger son goes back to college tomorrow.  The nest will be empty again.  It will mostly be me and the dog.  I will be counting down the days till Spring Break and Vegas!!!!!!

Happy Spring!!!

xoxo PJ