Fall Retreat info

We wrote, wrote, and wrote some more. Writing endorphins pumping....oh, and three pounds of M &M's and three pots of coffee were consumed in the process.

For those who missed the writing retreat, I hope that you can carve a few minutes out of your Sunday to write. One of the articles that I distributed http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/1949 suggested that we all keep a "possible article file" of ideas. There are several more suggestions worth reading...

Laura

What a Difference

Like "the Man" I to have experienced a paradigm shift in my classroom. And it is ALL due to the wonderful guidance of Keri and Casey and the three weeks of OWP this summer. Everyday I walk into my classes excited and ready to go. What a change from last year! I think my colleagues also feel and see the changes in my teaching and they are encouraged and inspired. Even a History teacher asked about the OWP this morning as I was explaining my enthusiasm. I can't wait to get to the retreat this weekend and write and share! Hope to see you there! (Ok, my poetry is not so good.)

Follow up

I realized at the follow up meeting just how much fun I had last summer. I was priviledged to join the group once again. I am a competitive person that likes to feel like a winner, and I felt all summer long like I was playing for a winning team. I enjoyed seeing the various styles and ideas of teaching, and I enjoyed the fact that the "walls were knocked down" as everybody was free to express themselves and professionally let loose. This is an awesome group with awesome ideas.

Thanks

I had a great time seeing everyone yesterday. Thank you again for everything that you have taught me. I haven't integrated all that I would like, but this short refresher, and seeing how others have have done things in their classroom was a great motivator. This morning I changed the entire landscape of my plans for the rest of the semester, which is possible now thanks to SPS suspending the middle of the year testing. Without that crap over my head, I feel more free to explore.
I am stoked about all of the cool opportunities coming up, and hope to participate as often as possible.
Thanks for changing who I am as a teacher.

Poetry and Painting: Drinking It All In!

I have fancied myself a poet and a painter, inspired by great works like Starry Night. There's nothing like drinking in the mood as you pick up paint brush and pen to splash out beautiful images on canvas or paper. I was inspired to write this little rhyme of advice to my fellow teachers who might be contemplating a painting/poetry assignment like the demonstration shared this summer.

Before you haul your paints inside,
don't forget that you must hide
that lovely decal on the box
advertising Rolling Rocks!

School Safety: Keeping Our Parking Lots in Order

Fellow Teachers,
Parking lot safety and protocol have recently come into focus in some of our area schools. I'd like to report that in keeping with justice and fair play, I've begun to park in student parking, even though I am an important member of the school faculty.



On occasion, I do give rides to non faculty members, like the collie riding with me in the photo featured here. I told him about the infringements in our limited faculty parking and brought him in to apply for a security position, as I could see help was needed.


Riley's summer job was taste testing in the backyard tomato patch, but as summer has drawn to an end, he is looking for gainful employment. He is sure that his herding skills will qualify him for the security job.