My Year in Pictures

April 11, 2010

2010-04-11T20:15:00.003-04:00

FINALLY, catching up with this blog after the week. I'll do anything to avoid report cards. Today I got to play tennis, again, with Louann, Dawn, and Bonnie. We did pretty well considering they are a good team. It was hot out, so I got a little sun. Still, the bronchitis is hurting me, and of course the weight isn't helping me move as fast as I can. This past week, I gave up sugar for the week days. I ate it during the weekend, but it's all gone now. So in honor of that, I made a special dinner...pineapple shrimp skewers from the new web recipe site I love, Pioneer Woman. I love her recipes and the way she writes in her narratives.
This was so good that I loved it! Healthy, as well. In place of sugar, I used a sugar substitute.
I can't wait to try something else from her site.
This is a very very busy week. I'm just hoping to survive it....I will.

April 10, 2010

2010-04-11T20:11:00.002-04:00

Today was a surprise. I played tennis with Trish, Toby, and Louann, hoping to sweat some of this bronchitis out of my lungs. It worked on Thursday, but this day it was a bit tougher to run. Anyway, after tennis, we went to lunch at the Japanese restaurant called Kabuki, which just opened. I'm not much for sushi but ordered chicken. Again, not a place I'd go back to. Then we went and had a pedicure. I haven't had one for almost a year and it felt so good! Now I must remember to do it again at the end of April. It was a nice way to spend the weekend before my birthday.

April 9, 2010

2010-04-11T20:08:00.002-04:00

I made Easter baskets for Mom, Dad, and Mr. Holman this year. I knew that Mindy and her family were in Puerto Rico and Jeff would never think of it. Today Mr. H called me to thank me for doing that. He's such a cool guy. Wish his son remembered to be as gracious as he is sometimes.

April 8, 2010

2010-04-11T20:06:00.002-04:00

It was terribly hot this week...in the nineties...but driving home on Thursday, I passed our church and noticed how pretty it looked. Grace Church in Haddonfield, NJ, has been there for a long time and has been a sanctuary for many.

APRIL 6, 2010

2010-04-11T19:47:00.002-04:00

I'm sick. I think it stated with allergies, but now has progressed to bronchitis. I don't have time to go to the doctor right now with everything going on. Next week, if I still feel this way, I'll take a day off, but for now, drama, MEA, Jeff's dad, and other things are more important.

April 5, 2010

2010-04-11T19:25:00.003-04:00

Every three months or so, my parents and I get together with a couple that my parents have known since college, Bob and Kathy Wilson. This time we went to Long Branch, NJ, because I wanted to see the ocean at least ONCE during my shortened spring break. We went to Rooney's, a restaurant on the beach. Expensive and food just okay. Still we were there for the company, not the food.

April 4, 2010

2010-04-04T19:01:00.004-04:00

It's Easter and I am so lucky to be able to celebrate it with my mom and dad. Here they are after church, then breakfast in front of the Haddasorus, in Haddonfield, NJ. Not Palm Beach of days of 'or, but still to be together on this day is a true blessing.

April 3, 2010

2010-04-04T18:57:00.002-04:00

I am not a huge college basketball fan, but this year one of Haddonfield's graduates, Brian Zoubeck, is playing for DUKE University. Tonight, Duke reached the FINALS of the National College Basketball Tournament. After watching Brian play for four years, it's nice to see him try for a National championship. They are playing Butler University, a Cinderella story who is seems most people in the nation are rooting for, on Monday, the same day as opening days of the Phillies.

April 2, 2010

2010-04-04T18:55:00.003-04:00

Thirty days haf September, APRIL.....well, April is here.We are 1/3 the way through the year. This is one of my busiest months that will come to a crashing halt after the 18th, but I'm sure to find something to keep me going after that week.

April 1, 2010

2010-04-04T18:48:00.003-04:00

It's April which means egg dying time. These students, Skylar, Christina, and Aditya and using a sponging effect on their blown out, dried eggs. It was fun to get all nineteen eggs done. After they dried, the students added glitter to them. From what I understand, some of them went home and taught their families how to do this technique. Now, that's real learning.

March 31, 2010

2010-04-04T18:45:00.002-04:00

Philadelphia in spring is a beautiful place filled with trees in full bloom. This tree is across the street from the Franklin Institute. Unfortunately, it may be this type of tree that is causing havoc with my allergies. I'm not sure but there is something in the air.

March 30, 2010

2010-04-04T14:59:00.002-04:00

Photos of the actors of "The Wizard of Oz" have been added to the bulletin board. Thanks so much to Lorraine Altimus for donating the pictures and the frames. The kids look great and it's so much fun to see them be stars of the school for the weeks before the play.

March 29, 2010

2010-04-04T14:56:00.002-04:00

Each year I teach the students how to "blow out" raw eggs. By piercing each end with a thumb tack or paper clip, I then insert a straw so they can blow out the insides of the egg. They dry for a day or two and then are ready to be decorated. Lauren did a pretty good job at not making a mess.

March 28, 2010

2010-04-04T14:54:00.003-04:00

Today we went to the Franklin Institute as part of our field trip. I got to hang out with Brian, Zac, Daniel, Connor, Eric and Eric's mom. These guys were really into science AND shopping. I'm not sure if they realized that some day, one of them may be as famous as the man's feet at whom they stand.

March 27, 2010

2010-04-04T14:52:00.002-04:00

The Art Talent group comes in every morning to work with Liette Kelly, our art teacher. They have been working on the Wizard of Oz poster which has been hung in the hallway on the bulletin board. Pictures will be added of the actors tomorrow.

March 26, 2010

2010-04-04T14:50:00.003-04:00

The sets for the Wizard of Oz are being made an brought in. Parents are doing a fabulous job. This scene is the Gale farm complete with chicken coop, pig pen and screen door. The house with the porch is on casters so it can turn around during the tornado scene.

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-03-26T21:00:00.000-04:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

March 23, 2010

2010-03-23T21:36:00.002-04:00

It rained yesterday and last night and this morning and then again this afternoon. We are studying the water cycle in science, but I don't need all these visual aids! This is a new little pondthat has sprung up outside my school. If you look closely, you can see the building through the trees. It looks cool now, but I'm thinking ahead to the warmer months when this might turn into a breeding ground for our state bird...the misquote...just kidding. Still, for now it's nice to know it will never be a FROZEN little pond as the weather is supposed to warm up this week.

March 22, 2010

2010-03-22T22:24:00.004-04:00

The bright, sunny day of yesterday has given way to torrential rains, thunder and lightning. My poor daffodils bent over in the rain, so I picked them. Those flowers are just so darn pretty and last such a short time. As one of my friends said about them today, "Better to have had them even just a short time and enjoy them, than to never have had then before." I guess so, but I'd still like to have a field of them for longer than a week.

March 21, 2010

2010-03-21T22:08:00.002-04:00

SPRING HAS SPRUNG. My garden is a mess, but it always cheers me up to see these flowers pop up no matter how bad the construction has been.

March 19, 2010

2010-03-21T22:06:00.002-04:00

I knew I was a bit out of order. This event took place in school on Friday, March 19. Students and staff brought in a dollar to buy a "foot". This money is going towards fund raising to find a cure for MS, a disease one of our staff members has.

March 20, 2010

2010-03-21T21:57:00.003-04:00

On Saturday morning, Angleo Alberto presented Jeff with an award to add to his many others, at Centennial Courts in Haddonfield. Angleo did an amazing job getting the courts ready for the spring season and having a dedication during this first day of spring. I was happy to be able to know his family through Liz, his daughter, who was on the team I coached for a year.

March 19, 2010

2010-03-18T22:22:00.003-04:00

So much to write about the LIFE presentation today and lots of pictures, but at the end, always have to go with THE BEN!

March 17, 2010

2010-03-17T22:35:00.002-04:00

Lots of pictures to choose from today, but will choose the St. Patrick one of the students and save the others for when I need to catch up. It looked like a herd of leprechauns today at our school as a sea of green clothed students and staff showed up today. Even the carpet had glitter on it (that will never happen again) as footprints from the escaping leprecahauns were seen.
This evening I had the pleasure of having dinner at City Tavern in Philadelphia with the Discovery group. It was such fun to talk and see everyone

March 16, 2010

2010-03-16T19:27:00.002-04:00

This week in school, it is MS Awareness Week. Today teachers and students were asked to dress in orange. Of course I looked terrible (just call me a pumpkin) but Leslie, the teacher who organized the day looks wonderful. With her is Cindy C, a second grade teacher who is also wonderful.

Monday, March 15, 2010

2010-03-16T19:18:00.002-04:00

Art Talent Students make a poster for the Wizard of Oz bulletin board. These kids come in early in the morning to paint this.

Sunday March 14, 2010

2010-03-16T19:16:00.001-04:00

The power of the wind and rain that happened over the past weekend.

March 13, 2010

2010-03-13T21:49:00.003-05:00

A Watery Day
It rained today...hard. It was windy as well and more than 41,000 people in the NorthEast have lost power. You can still hear the wind blowing hard. On my way back from grocery shopping, at the light in Haddonfield, I turned off my windshield wipers and took a picture of this house. It just seconds the rains covered the windshield, and I didn't need any type of filter.

March 12, 2010

2010-03-13T21:47:00.004-05:00

The boys try to memorize PI digits to the 33th place value...and they DO!
Although PI Day (March 14....3/14) isn't until Sunday, my third graders celebrated on Friday measuring everything from cups, plates, pies, cookies, M&Ms, everything and anything that was round. In addition, each team tried to see if they could memorize the digits past 3.14....two teams made it to the 33 place value. Pretty impressive!

March 11, 2010

2010-03-13T21:46:00.003-05:00

Kids start to learn how to use Kerpoof to make movies.
I'm on the board for Kerpoof and was reviewing their spelling section when I thought it would be fun to introduce the students to movie making since we were talking about characters and setting in writing. They took to it easily, making a movie with ease. Because of this, I think every Wednesday I should introduce them to a new site on line that they can use. I can test it out with them before presenting it to the teachers on Thursday, although I have to say, the kids will get it much easier.

March 10, 2010

2010-03-13T21:45:00.003-05:00

Field Club Off Season
Inside of the club house before the season begins

March 9, 2010

2010-03-13T21:43:00.002-05:00

Catching up with photos this week:
Nature's Decorations

March 8 2010

2010-03-08T22:32:00.002-05:00

Blog to follow

March 7, 2010

2010-03-07T19:10:00.004-05:00

THERE is something so fulfilling about starting something from nothing and watching it grow. So it is fun to watch this pot of basil start from seedlings and germinate. Putting a water bulb in it will help me as I'm not known for keeping plants growing very well. I still have a few others to plant, but those who are wiser at the ways of the earth, have told me to wait a bit until I'm sure it's not going to snow again. My patio is a wreck from construction so I can't wait to get some pretty colored flowers and plants on it. Hopefully, the basil will be a good sign that things CAN actually grow despite my less than green thumb.

March 6, 2010

2010-03-06T19:23:00.003-05:00

It may look like just an open window, but to me it's the first day in a long time I've been able to open a window and shut off the heat. The temperature hovered around fifty, the first time in months, the sun made an appearance and there was even talk about playing tennis! Tomorrow promises to be as nice with an entire week without one mention of the word snow...rain maybe on Thursday but not snow. We may even be go an entire week in school! Spring officially arrives on the 20th, but for now...there's a spring in my step.

March 5, 2010

2010-03-05T20:42:00.003-05:00

Through rain and snow and dark of night...oh, wait, that's the postal creed, which, apparently in 2010 doesn't ring true anymore, but back to what I was thinking...it's been a little more than a month since I was able to park in front of my house. Today, a FRIDAY!, I rounded the corner and didn't see the familiar sight of a yellow construction truck or even siding piled high in the parking spaces. There wasn't even any SNOW still on the ground. I actually had to check to make sure all was well before pulling in to the spot, but sure enough...I was home. Now all I have to do is get some nice plants so that the outside looks better, but I think I'll wait until after the last week of March. Who knows...maybe this is just a weekend thing.

March 4, 2010

2010-03-04T20:13:00.004-05:00

A pretty uneventful day all told. There are rumors flying about who is teaching third grade next year, but that happens every year. Next year, though, there are only two third grade classes and that WILL make a difference. the budget is going to be cut by so much that it will affect many teachers in the districts...wonder if it would affect administrators as well..No one seems to answer that question. The one thing, though, is that I hope it doesn't do anything that will affect the kids. No cutting of the arts, after school programs, and, while w could probably get by with less supplies, it's the students who should come first. As for professional development that could also be done in an less expensive way. I have a feeling if the administrators asked the staff for ideas, they'd be pleasantly surprised and could learn quite a few things from our POV.
In the meantime, life goes on in and out of the classroom. The kids are learning, doing math, and, as the picture shows, reading. I'm always amused at how many people tell me that it's tough to get boys to read. Not in my class. They are the first to ask for SSR, for me to read to them, and to pull a book out of their desk when they think I'm not looking. An e-mail from a parent yesterday told me her son was reading until 1:00am!!! Not the best thing for a nine-year-old, but not the worst thing in the world either. One of my favorite quotes is "Reading is inhaling....writing is exhaling." I'm so glad my students love to breathe.

March 3, 2010

2010-03-03T21:12:00.004-05:00

ANOTHER blog that doesn't need too many words. My house is almost finished. They started on February 2 and have finished the outside part of it...almost. There is still debris all over the place and now those ugly things in the front of the house need to be replaced, but at least I can see the end in site.

March 2, 2010

2010-03-02T21:14:00.002-05:00

I WAS going to write about Read Across America, but I'll save that for another day. When this picture came through, there was no doubt what the picture of the day would be. Welcome home, soldiers, welcome home.

March 1, 2010

2010-03-01T21:56:00.003-05:00

IT'S MARCH...we made it..It came in as a lamb and am a bit afraid of how it will go out
There is so much already scheduled for this month:
Read Across America Day March 2
World Math Day March 3
Workshop March 5
Free Wash and Blow Dry March 5
Shawnee High School Musical March 6
Pi Day March 12 (actually 3/14 but that's a Sunday)
Dinner at City Tavern with DEN March 17
Life Screening at Franklin Institute with DEN March 18
Field Trip March 31 Franklin Institute
Drama rehearsal every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday after school
Drama rehearsal EVERY DAY before school

....................and that's just what I know about the first day. So much more to fill in, I'm sure, but for now that's all I can look at without getting totally overwhelmed.

Goals: Bed by 10 on school nights
Vitamins
try to continue no soda for another month
cut down on SUGAR!!! That's going to be a big one...and difficult as Easter candy in my favorite of all holidays.

But, I'll try...and that's all I can ask of myself.

February 28, 2010

2010-02-28T18:21:00.004-05:00

Well, we made it...to the end of February even without that one extra day that would have made it a leap year. Today the Olympic hockey team (featuring a player from Cherry Hill, NJ) received the silver medal losing in overtime to Canada, but what an extraordinary game those young men played. Today my mom's computer went down...my old one that I think I had for about five years and she's had for three. She never learned how to back things up, so I'm hoping we can at least save the word documents she has. Lucky enough to have another lap top I set up for her, but now need to set up the printer as well. Today is Sunday, and hopefully, we will get back into a routine of school and good eating starting tomorrow. Four days off just sets off every "if it's a snow day, let's eat whatever" attitude. Today is the day I finished another month of my 365 photos...a record for me...so anything after this is such a bonus. Today is the day that marks two months without soda of any kind. A good thing.

And, today is the day I notice my bulbs starting to come up. Through the mud, through the snow, these resilient little plants are poking their stems up through the ground. THEY know spring is coming... I just hope someone has told Mother Nature that message as well.

February 27, 2010

2010-02-27T23:04:00.004-05:00

The world waited and watched today as an 8.8 earthquake in Chilie caused what could have been a devastating tsunami in Hawaii this afternoon. The hour of the predicted tsunami on the Hilo coast as well as in Oahu, came and went and, although thousands were evacuated from low lying areas, no harm came to anyone. The Hawaiian people practice this drill again and again like we practice fire drills. Last summer we visited the Tsunami Museum and saw the devastation the last one brought the island. I was so happy that they were spared this time.

Breaking away from a day of news and Olympics, I went to see the local high school production of The Wizard of Oz to see if I could get any ideas for my own production in April. The kids did a nice job and I did come away with some staging tips, but I have to say our Dorothys (we have two) are almost as good as theirs and our lion is JUST as good. I look forward to working with the kids again this week. But, no matter how good or bad the shows are, drama is something that is just so good for kids. It gives kids an outlet other than sports where they can feel accepted and have fun. For those who ARE good in sports and participate in a show, it fosters more team work and acceptance of others. I won't think about cutting anyone from our shows...it just isn't right. When our schools work on having students of all levels succeed, why would we even think of cutting a child from an activity. Just a thought.

February 26, 2010

2010-02-26T20:21:00.002-05:00

I don't know if it's because we had another snow day today or the Flower Show is opening in Philadelphia next week, but when I was in the Christmas Tree Shop today and saw these I just had to buy them. It gives me hope that spring is on the way. I immediately planted the basil kit (on the left) and inserted a water bulb (I'm notorious for forgetting to water). The other things will be put away until I am sure they are finished with the construction in my yard. Phlox is the ONLY thing that ever grew in my front and I'm not sure how much construction, mud, and snow has ruined what I already have.

It's not that I don't love winter...truth be told I do, and if we had a few more snow storms in March, I won't be upset, but once Easter comes, that's it. It's spring time for me which means a new beginning, an awakening. And maybe, just maybe, some of these plants will actually make it.

February 25, 2010

2010-02-25T21:24:00.001-05:00

Winter February 2010: "snow"

This isn't actually a photo but it is a video. To see it, clic on the words, Winter February above. It was processed on flixtime, a new program I learned about on Plurk. Good thing, too, because I am a bit concerned that I can't find my external drive right now...I mean the computer isn't reading it. I hope to take my own advice and reboot to help it be rediscovered.

Today we had a snow day...a bad call on the district's part as it didn't even stick to the ground, but it gave me time to discover this program. Now it IS snowing and sticking and the wind is howling. SO tomorrow is up in the air. Next week we have an in-service, so that would mean another four day week. And February isn't even over yet!

February 24, 2010

2010-02-24T19:44:00.003-05:00

The phone rang in my classroom just as we were finishing up reading. "There's a guy who is going to put a hammer through your wall," my mom informed me. Just what someone wants to hear with nineteen kids getting ready to go to gym.

"Give me five minutes," I begged. "Let me call you back."

The outside of my house is being sided...not resided as this community was not sided to begin with, so for the past few months we have put up with reconstruction on the outside. On the inside of my house, there is a wall bowing out. It's in the stairway, leading to the second floor, and has a cathedral ceiling. I didn't know if it was structural or termites, but the management company was sending someone over to find out, but if someone is going to put a hole in that wall to find out WHY, that means replastering and hiring someone to repaint that wall. It's not that this is the first time I have complained about this, but it's the first time the managment company has sent someone over to see it. Of course it's during the construction time OUTSIDE the house as well.

What I liked about this was that my mom is such a great person. She had the tough and rough construction guys eating out of her hands. They are going to have to repair and repaint at their expense. What I like even better....I don't have to deal with it. What I LOVE about it is that my parents are there to help me out. Thanks, Mom and Dad.

February 23, 2010

2010-02-23T22:26:00.002-05:00

I love zwieback crackers, or toast, or whatever the classification is. When Nabisco stopped making it earlier this year (the one you find in the baby aisle), I wrote to the company but didn't get a response. Last week I went to the Christmas Tree Store and they had this type, which was cheaper and just as good. I don't know, there's just something about this crunchy toast paired with cheese or tuna fish that is so good. I'm sure the next time I go to to the CTS, these will be gone and I'll start my hunt again, but for now, they are a good substitute.

February 22, 2010

2010-02-22T20:40:00.003-05:00

100 days ago nineteen students walked into my room. We didn't know each other; they were a bit afraid of all the"scary"things they had heard about me. I was a bit apprehensive of the"second graders" I had heard about, plus this was my firs year in third grade without an assistant. Still 100 days later, we have made it into a tight knit group who care and protect each other. They have gone from "I don't know how to write cursive" to putting my handwriting to shame." They have gone from not using a computer to begging to get the mobile lab every day. There have been tears, fears, some let downs on both sides, but still each day these amazing students come back. Day after day. I walk into the room and their faces light up with a "Hi, Miss Kasse" like they are happy to see me. They tell me that I am intelligent, pretty (thank goodness for a nine year old eyes), and love to see me smiling at them each morning. I have pushed them farther than they or I thought they could go. We have laughed at 100 jokes, cried at the loss of pets, grandparents, friends. I have met their amazing parents and marvel at the way we are all working towards the same goal...the best for their child.

Today we celebrated by each person bringing in 100 of "something" and distributing it to the rest of the class. Paper, paper clips, mints, Cherrios, even pasta were given out in our celebration.

100 days doesn't seem very long in the scheme of things (considering I've been teaching for more than 4, 500 days in my life), but even so, just the thought of only having this class for 80 more days brings a twinge of sadness to me. The one good thing is that they will be in fourth grade, and I'll get to see them for at least 360 days after they leave me.

February 21, 2010

2010-02-21T21:41:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to be part of the DEN (Discovery Education Network) team in Hershey, PA, to help where I could, sit in on a few sessions, and help present at 'recess'. My ride TO Hershey was fairly easy, although I did make a few wrong turns. I arrived before lunch and spent that with Patti and Meg, going to Fudruckers, a restaurant I haven't been to in a long time. After that we helped by stuffing folders, putting together name badges, and, along with lots of other dedicated DEN members, get the day ready for the session on Sunday. After that I tried to go to the bank across the street, but the ATM was out of money (?). Upon returning to the hotel, I lost my parking space and had to park in another lot. When I entered the hotel, I was totally lost for at least fifteen minutes, but have to say I got a good workout in walking the halls. After that, we were all treated to a wonderful dinner at the Lodge. What fun meeting new PA and NJ Leadership Council people and catching up with Matt M, Steve D and meeting Whitney, all DEN leaders. Turning in, although not really sleeping, knowing I had to be up at 6 in order to go to work at 7. Back to the conference room (which I swear was as far away as it could), I hope I was helpful setting up and meeting and greeting people for the the first session. I bought so much "stuff" that I decided to move my car during the first session which meant MORE walking, but this time after I packed the car, I moved it closer to the entrance. Back to a session, lunch, and to present at recess. Of course my laptop wasn't working to its fullest (it's old and I know I need a new one), but my netbook was in my car, so OUT to the car, again, about 1/4 mile away! Moved it closer this time. The netbook worked, recess was great. I loved talking to people and meeting new ones. Then I had a session about making videos with kids, which I already do, then to give out prizes and I actually WON a microsope (toy one but the kids will like it). Then it was time to leave. When I got to the car I realized I couldn't find my phone. Back into the hotel (more walking) and no one had seen it. Robin helped by going to my car to see if it was there, and of course it was, inside the cover for the netbook. Sigh...I was exhausted. Luckily, the drive home was so easy (three roads to get home from Hershey!), no traffic and I was home before it was too dark. A quick shower, checked things here, and I'm ready to bed. I won't find a kiss on my pillow, but I sure will have "sweet" dreams.

February 20, 2010

2010-02-20T22:27:00.002-05:00

If it's February it must be HERSHEY time...and so it is...Discovery's FREE pre-conference before PETE&C, the technology convention for educators from PA. I'm an interloper, being from NJ but as part of the Leadership Council if I can help, I do, so this time I can help by setting up and presenting at a recess session. I pay my own hotel room, but it's a fun way to reconnect with friends and people I have met over the years in Silver Spring, MD. It's also very nice of Matt M and the gang to invited us out to dinner at the Hershey Lodge, which is where I was tonight. Last year was my first year and that was my first chocolate martini so to celebrate the anniversary, I did it again. But the food and drink were secondary to the lively conversation, magic tricks and even a little fire that went on. So, even though I give of myself this weekend, I also get a whole lot back.

February 19, 2010

2010-02-19T21:06:00.003-05:00

I knew it as soon as the words were out of my mouth. "Kids, bring your notebooks over to the rug so we can start reading." I looked up to see nine students bringing their laptops to the reading area. No this is not what I meant, I meant...as they always remind me...to say binders...but these kids were doing research and just figured I wanted to see what they had already added to their notebookzoho.com sites. I laughed to myself thinking I wish my principal could see this. She's always saying the kids are too young to do these things (they are in third grade). Little does she know one of my students was bored last night so he made a power point presentation of the biography he was writing for Black History month. Another sent his script to me through the school e-mails.
"If you save it to the S drive, Miss Kasse, I can then copy and save it to my H drive." Nine years old. NINE! They have talks about technology all the time. They e-mail, they word process, they audio record, they ARE the "T" generation (technology) Even though they are still learning their times tables, learning to write in cursive (because their teacher is a dinosaur and proud of it), these kids are not only digital natives, they are the digital babies born of this generation. And I am proud to be their teacher guiding them along the way.

February 18, 2010

2010-02-18T20:25:00.002-05:00

There's a difference between reading about the tragedy that happened in Haiti and LIVING that tragedy. Mr. Mayer, parent of my third grade student, Christina, LIVED it in a way very few of us can. Mr. Mayer came to school today to tell us of his experience working as a coordinator of the rescue mission in Haiti. Traveling to Georgia on his first leg, he was getting ready to coordinate the teams who work with the Red Cross and the United Nations. After leaving Georgia, by a small plane, they headed for Port au Prince. In flight, the plane took a nosedive, sending a flight attendant to the ceiling and oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling. A quick detour to Turks Caicos set the plane down safely and people regained their nerve. That was just the beginning as his team finally landed in Haiti just two days after the devastating earthquake.

Put to work quickly, tents were erected, supplies were organized, and even the boy and girl scouts of the island came together to do what they could. Looting, crime, mayhem as food and medicines got to people. Young children dying who could NOT get medicine fast enough. Young children being kidnapped by those who take advantage of such situations and the young...baby and girl trafficing happening before it could be stopped...but was, the reason why the ten people were arrested so quickly although they were NOT part of the "other" group.

Mr. Mayer was gone from Christina and his family for three weeks, but in those three weeks, he made a difference. Something everyone can do each day of their lives...if they care like Mr. Mayer does.

Feburary 17, 2010

2010-02-17T22:45:00.002-05:00

Respect...it means so much to so many people. Tonight, though, it was a play I went to see at the Society Hill Playhouse in Philadelphia. This musical review, consisting of four talented ladies and two male band members, is a journey through one woman's life. She ponders the question...what if your life had a soundtrack...what songs would be included. Starting back in the 1900s through to present times, the songs are lively, poignant, happy, sad, clap your hands and stomp your feet, wipe the tears away type of songs, but all songs you know the words to. I remember thinking at one time, actually THANKING my parents and my grandfather for their love of music and singing to me when I was young and in the car. I knew Hard Hearted Hannah...I knew These Boots Were Made for Walking....Que Sera Sera....and remember living the song "Let It Please Be Him" when the phone would ring during middle school.

I highly recommend this revue for any woman...and bring your daughters who are over 16. They may not get all the songs, but the message of loving yourself and knowing you ARE good enough...messages young women need to hear over and over...the message of RESPECT...should be heard by more.

Running through April at the Society Hill Theater. Check Funsavers.com Philadelphia for discount tickets.

Review of the restaurant forthcoming.

Feburary 16, 2010

2010-02-16T21:45:00.003-05:00

Guess what?? It STOPPED SNOWING. Oh, not until after lunch, but it stopped and there wasn't even enough to shovel. That may not seem like much until I walked into a dark house and tripped over the pairs of boots I've been using for the past week to wear when shoveling. It will be good to give them a break for a few days...at least until next week...for them to dry out, and to think about buying a pair of new ones while they are on sale at the end of the season. End of the season??? And when, pray tell, will that be?
Robin Williams once said,“Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"” Well, I AM READY TO PARTY!!!!

February 15, 2010

2010-02-15T20:13:00.003-05:00

THIS TIES my posts for last year! Which means I'll have succeed in making a goal to get past where I was last year. It's always good to do better.

This day I could take another picture of the construction outside my house...I COULD take another picture of snow (yes, it's snowing again, but softly and not sticking), but what the heck, let's go with the cute dog/dad picture. I want to take as many pictures of my family as I can, and am making a point of posting at least one a month of each person...including myself if I can. So, here is my dad and his FAVORITE...Sunny saluting Presidents' Day 2010.

February 14, 2010

2010-02-14T21:05:00.002-05:00

It's Valentine's Day and usually that means I would be taking a picture of a nice card, some chocolate, or even a gift given to me by someone...but not this year. I did get some very nice things from my students, but Dad forgot this year (the first time, but he's forgetting things now, so I can't blame him...although it's hard since this is the first time it has happened). I bought things to him, something for Mom, and a gift certificate for my brother, but nothing in return...except that I HAVE them...and that is a GIFT...that many people would give their right arm for...the fact that their family is still intact, nearby and I can see them whenever I want. So the gift, this year, is in the giving.

NOT to say, I didnt' give MYSELF a few things...my first flat iron for my hair. I did go back to the hair dresser and if I want some lighter streaks, they will put them in for free, but maybe, just maybe I should go with this look for a bit. I bought some clips to pull it back with...a better look, which means more eye make up....and a skirt, pants, and top at Walmart. Travel pieces, so we'll see how they work.

NO, today I'm taking a picture of what has been outside my door every day for the past week. I have shoveled around it, thrown snow AT it, and lived with it as it is SUPPOSED to help put the siding up around my condo. Tomorrow they should be back at work, but tomorrow is a holiday so probably not. We'll see.

And how will I feel when this is gone??? Probably how I felt about today...grateful to have had it there, but happy the day (and it) will be gone.

February 13, 2010

2010-02-13T20:15:00.002-05:00

I know, I know...this picture was not taken by me (I'll add one that was) but this picture is just TOO important not to share. This is the troop that we adopted in Iraq this year. It is Patrick's cousin's troop. His grandmother helped us out with the mailings at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and now Valentine's Day. The happiest thing...they are coming HOME! In fact they are on their way now. That is so much more important than the icy color my hair turned out today or the fact that someone important to me didn't call until 5 to see if I wanted to go out to dinner TONIGHT! Putting into perspective that no not one soldier in this troop was hurt or died while they were there...that's what's important. So, for today...this is THE picture of the day.

February 11, 2019

2010-02-11T20:33:00.002-05:00

It was a nice day...the morning was filled with making CDs for the cast of The Wizard of Oz...don't know if I made enough, but I'll find out tomorrow. Shoveling was harder today than yesterday and there was more water and ice, but the cars were moving. There is a ton of snow in our parking lot blocking lots of parking spaces, but until the construction equipment and people go to work during the day, we can't get rid of it.

Went to the Christmas Tree Store and got some things for the play and Valentines for my class. Then to Wegmans for lunch and then to Kia to order my new side view mirror. Luckily, the part will only cost 25.00 but the painting will cost 60. What is the rationale in that? Then of course there is installation. Pop it on. Another thing I can do myself.. Hmmmm....maybe I should just do that.

The part is coming from CA so it will be about a week.

Home around 3, more CDs and just down time on the computer. Going into school at the normal time tomorrow to have practically half a day since we have a party in the afternoon. Then, after school, I get to model at Rizzeri's again for wash and blow dry. Nice way to start the weekend.

A three day weekend...time to get ready for PETE&C in Hershey, PA.

Today's picture is a new glass I bought for water. This makes five. I needed something like this today to remind me there IS hope...spring WILL get here...construction WILL be finished...and life will be renewed.

February 10, 2010

2010-02-11T01:08:00.002-05:00

I'm an hour late,but the fact that I can even post this picture is a tribute to the men and women who work at PSE&G, my electric company. I have been without electricity for about seven hours. It was interesting and a wake up call. I DID have a battery powered radio and batteries to keep it running. I found out that the ALL News All the Time radio station...doesn't really tell you anything new in seven hours. Like WHY you don't have power and when you'll get it back. I did get to listen to the 76ers lose (that isn't new) and the Flyers win in overtime (a good thing). I had flashbacks to when I was a kid reading with a flashlight under the covers...and I miss my mom yelling at me to turn it off and go to sleep. She called enough times to make sure I was okay...but it's not the same. I found out my laptop battery is terrible and I need to keep my netbook charged at all times. My cell phone would have survived the night, but I kept looking at it for time and e-mails. And to charge it I would have had to gone to my car.

I loved the DAY part of today...off from school, shoveling every hour on the hour was great exercise. Going for walks in the snow to take some great snowtograhs....a term coined by almost every news channel here in Philadelphia. I even attempted a snow sculpture, although not a good one. When was the last time I made a snow man...it seems like forever.

We are off again tomorrow. The roads are treacherous and the trails of Medford no where near being dug out. And to top it off, more snow is expected on Monday. I guess I have a love/hate relationship with snow right now. I love it now, but in June when I'm still going to school, I'll probably not be as happy.

For now, I'm awake again, there is heat and noise in my house (which I realized I DO like) and maybe NOW I can go to sleep.

February 9, 2010

2010-02-09T21:51:00.002-05:00

So...it was one of those days. Woke up a bit later as I had a meeting in Moorestown, NJ, as part of a Medford Educational team. It was very interesting and more details to come, but I had such fun there. Then off to school where my kids were wonderful. Mrs. Freidberg came in to thank the kids for the great job they did with her nephew's troop in Iraq...sending them Thanksgiving, Christmas, and now Valentines. She gave each of the kids a gift. Daniel was so cute. He told me his parents have taught him that if he does something nice for someone, he shouldn't take a thank you gift. I told him this was special because HE was special.

At end of the school day, it was announced we won't have school tomorrow because of the impending snow storm! You could hear the cheers all over the school...including the teachers. I don't mind a snow storm on the weekend, but trying to dig out before trying to get to school...no thank you.

After school we had drama practice. I went from teaching 20 kids the Munchkin Dance to almost 50, but they did a wonderful job. I want Munchkin Dance and Emerald City to be show stoppers. I may not be directing as much this year as I'm doing choreography, but we'll see how it goes. Then to ANOTHER Medford Education Association meeting where I'm a building rep. Interesting discussions there as well.

Came home to find my parking space already taken. Yes, it's MY parking space but a huge yellow construction truck was in its place. They have started the siding on my house; just the doorway, but now it will be a while before they get to the rest. I had to park across the street in a space that hadn't been shoveled out yet. SO..I got my mom to come over and take me to Best Buy so at least I won't loose THAT space. At Best Buys I got some more CDs so I can finish the kids' accompaniment CDs tomorrow and black ink. I HATE the fact that ink is still so expensive. $20.00 for ONE cartridge.

Back home and the space NEXT to the construction truck was empty so I quickly moved my car. NOW if the snow is too much, I'll just throw it on the truck.

By 8:00 the snow started in earnest here. It has totally covered the walkways that were just cleared and is coming down steadily now. By morning it will be another foot or ever more. My snow shovel and I are getting quite the workout these days.

Tomorrow I get to sleep in and enjoy the day. I just hope we get back to school sometime this week. We have off on Monday for Presidents' Day. I just hope I don't have to look forward to having the Fourth of July off.

February 8, 2010

2010-02-08T20:51:00.002-05:00

Valentine’s Day is special and this year my class did a wonderful activity of interviewing each staff member in our school. After that they typed up the mini biographies of the teachers and printed them using http://www.festisite.com for the center of the Valentines. Then they made them, some working with doilies for the first time, and hung them on the bulletin board. Stickers and roses added a three dimensional touch. This is something the staff looks forward to each year. There are over fifty staff members so this was a huge undertaking. The kids were so proud to have started with nothing and now have this to show. Plus, they know more of the staff than they did last month. Even though this takes up time in the classroom, I feel the social, writing, and organizational skills far outweigh the time lost.

February 7, 2010

2010-02-07T21:22:00.003-05:00

The day after the storm...Hammered....is what the headlines in the Courier said today, and one has to agree. The total inches for Cherry Hill turned out to be something like 24.3 which makes it the second biggest snow storm in history.

I am so glad I got the car shoveled out yesterday as there wasn't all that much more to do today, but it still felt great getting out there, shoveling, and working up an appetite for today's Super Bowl food eating frenzy. I feel I ate more today than I have in a week. Still, no soda, no potato chips, and while I ate three things AFTER 8:00 tonight, I won't be doing that again. I also started taking vitamin B6 which is to help with mood and metabolism along with the fish oil. So, adding another good for you this week.

And a busy week it's going to be...tomorrow we have a two hour opening delay so I can work out in the morning or sleep in (lol), then on Tuesday I have a negotiations meeting in the morning. Wednesday is a half day for conferences, Thursday I have a reading/writing meeting in the morning, and Friday is the Valentine's Day party in school and I'm getting my hair blow dried at Rizzeri's for a model day. Of course there's also drama on Monday and Tuesday. Dance practice for me for the munchkins, which should be fun. At least this year I have the dance almost finished, so it should be fun to see if planning ahead works.

Hard to decide on a picture today. There were so many fun ones to take. I chose this one because I love the colors and the shapes.

Super Bowl is turned into a really good game in the end. The Saints won, which is nice for New Orleans. They need to celebrate some good things in that city these days.

February 6, 2010

2010-02-06T21:10:00.005-05:00

AS predicted, it snowed...and snowed...and snowed. It finally stopped around 4:00. By that time I had been outside four times to get my car uncovered. Talk about a workout. I may be sore tomorrow, but it felt good at the time. It especially felt good to be wearing a size 12 jeans that were a little lose as well. Next goal...sz 10. I won't wear jeans unless it's a size 12 or less and even 12 is too much for me, I know. ANYWAY...after shoveling, there was no way to get OUT of the development, so spent the rest of the day inside. I don't have a clue of what the rest of the roads look like, but I'm sure to find out tomorrow.

February 5, 2010

2010-02-05T20:16:00.002-05:00

Well, it DID start snowing about two hours ago and already the ground is pretty well covered, and it's coming down fast and furiously. Which means I'll get to stay inside all day tomorrow (except for the shoveling out). That's a GOOD thing as a cold has really taken hold of my body...my eyes are watering, I'm sneezing, the whole nine yards. Stopping into CVS tonight before going out to dinner, the pharmacist suggested I take Alka Seltzer. I THOUGHT I had picked up the pills,but didn't, so I'm enjoying my water with AS. Now my eyes are at half mast and I'm ready to hit the bed and not wake up until I have to.

February 4, 2010

2010-02-04T19:55:00.004-05:00

Snow! Snow! Snow! It's in the air, it's in the voices of my students, it's in the crowded aisles of the supermarket, which, I am happy to say, I DID NOT succumb to, it's all over the tv. We're having a blizzard...we're having 3 inches....it will start tomorrow around 3...it will start tomorrow at noon. Hey, as long as I have electricity and water this weekend, and maybe a snow day on Monday, I'll be one happy camper. I wanted to post these pictures of predictions, though, to see just whose prediction comes true.

February 3, 2010

2010-02-03T20:16:00.003-05:00

This was the first week of drama. It was different this year because the kids already knew their parts before winter vacation so anyone who wanted to it before today had their chance. Not many did. This week we read through the script. It took three days to get through it, but it was so great. In the morning, I have singing practice with some of the kids for about ten minutes so they can hear the songs and get to know what they have to do. The best, though, is to watch them become a “team.” They sit in a horse shoe shape every day, so no one’s back is to another, read with their acting partner, and help each other learn lines and meet new people. It’s fun to watch the interaction between the fourth and fifth graders. Our school is pretty close and most of these kids already know each other, but this is such a special place for more than 70 kids to gather together knowing that they are doing what they want to do. Kirby Pucket wrote, “Find out what your gift or talent is and do it.” For these kids it’s acting, singing and dancing. Nothing wrong with that.

February 2, 2010

2010-02-02T19:52:00.003-05:00

Each day, we say pledges. One of them is from Kirby Puckett's Be the Best You Can Be....and one of those thirteen is try new things. Well, today in geometry I wanted to show kids how to use shapes to draw. Now, I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination. I watch ArtSnack and try, but it's just not my thing. Still, I wanted the students to see that shapes, triangles, circles, rectangles, and others are not things to be afraid of or boring, so I took out the drawing book and together we drew this dog. Yes, it IS a dog, not a cow (stop laughing). The kids know that when I draw, that's the one of the times they can laugh at me (okay, you can laugh) but it also shows me taking a risk at something I'm not good at. By doing so, I hope they will take a risk in their lives whether it be math or something more serious. So, go and try something new. You may not be the best, you may not even be second best, but at least you tried and laughed and shared...and what's better than that?

February 1, 2010

2010-02-01T19:42:00.002-05:00

MADE it to February 2010. And it's a LEAP YEAR. Always good sign when one makes it to the next month. Not to say it was error free. The script I thought was sent to the secretary to run off for after school drama today never got to her. Thanks to my great parents (my OWN Mom and Dad), they brought it down to school and it was set to give to the kids who were so excited to start drama once again. But other than that, the day went pretty well. This week we are working on Valentines for our soldiers in Iraq, our pen pals, and the staff of Taunton Forge. If I can get all of those done, and make it through geometry, I'll be happy.

GroundHogs day tomorrow. Don't know if the groundhog will see see his shadow or not, but I'd love to see spring come right around the corner. Two days of snow are predicted in the forecast so we'll see.

Here's to a day tomorrow where drama only comes in the form of the club.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

2010-01-31T21:27:00.002-05:00

First, of all, congratulations to all who made it through the first month of the 395 challenge. It feels good to set a goal and actually accomplish it. The other goals for this month, giving up soda for four weeks and potato chips of any kind were also accomplished. As someone who actually has a hard time FINISHING things, this gives me encouragement that I can. Next month I am starting to NOT eat anything after 8:00 and if I do, only popcorn. I'm also trying to take wheat out of my diet as much as I can...leaning more towards corn. I'm not gluten intolerant but maybe giving it a try for a few weeks...well, I'll see.

I don't know if I jinxed myself by taking the picture of a full moon on Thursday but ever since that shot, I have had a few things go wrong this weekend. In the scheme of life, these things are not life threatening or horrible, just an inconvenience. Today was no different as I awoke to my water not working. The pipes, I guess, were frozen. Luckily, my mom brought over a space heater from my aunt, I taped up the opening in the shed, and hoped that maybe the water would be back on. Not so much for drinking, I had bought three gallons of water at the store, but for bathroom purposes. As of 9:30, the upstairs water is working, but not the downstairs. I'm hoping that will be better in the morning (or the middle of the night), but now I know I can stay here tonight free in the thought that I don't have to use an outhouse or go someplace else to "do" my duty.

Tomorrow is February. The month is already filling up with lots to do, but hopefully the month will be filled with smiles, flowers, and love.

January 30, 2010

2010-01-30T18:47:00.002-05:00

My poor car had its first booboo today. After driving home from Atlantic City in a horrific snow storm (snow headed right at me so I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of me) and making it out of the Walmart parking lot without an incident, I was driving home on Haddonfield/Berlin Road just past the town border. The road kind of curves to the right. I was in the right lane when the lady next to me got too close and clipped my rear view mirror. It was like she was trying to get in front of me coming into my lane. The sound was horrible, but the damage not as bad as I thought She accused me of coming into her lane...I never go to the left around the curve...so she called 911. It took the police about 1 hour to get there and when they did the police officer (a woman) wrote up an accident report. I don't know what it says because she never gave it to us so now i have to have my parents pick it up on Monday. It's such a bother and my poor car Good thing is that HER car was a Kia as well so the way that they are made made it not have that much inpact, although it sounded bad.

January 29, 2010

2010-01-30T18:11:00.002-05:00

THERE are days you search for pictures and then there are days you have way TOO many pictures...that has been my past 24 hours. I have pictures from the luncheon after the funeral, I have pictures of Atlantic City, and I have pictures of my poor car's first encounter with another car; actually that was today, so I'll save that for the next blog.

Yesterday after the luncheon hosted most graciously by Jeff's dad, I grabbed by computer and luggage and started towards Atlantic City to participate in the NJEducational Association Leadership Meeting. Staying at the Sheraton is always fun, especially when someone else is paying for it. A huge kind sized bed greeted me around 4:00 By 5:30 I was listening intently learning about health care and negotiations with other districts from around SJersey. By 700 we were pretty fried with PPOs and PPS and HMOs and all so broke for dinner. I met Tammi and her team in the lobby where we took a cab to Ceaser's Casino. Anna and Tammi and their friend are all so nice. They are on their negotiations team in Upper Township so it was fun to compare ideas and stories. Tammi and I have known each other for about five years, having presented at NECC in Philadelphia We had dinner at the Continental Restaurant, a really nice place. After ordering martinis or wine, we decided on tapas...salad, sliders (my first time trying Kobe beef), Philadelphia cheese-steak egg rolls, lobster macaroni and cheese which to my surprise was delicious! Calamari and I'm sure something else along with dessert rounded out the dinner. The best thing...bill for drinks only. Sweet Then to the casino where I promptly lost 20.00 quickly I don't like the new casinos...you don't play with cash or coins but just push a button. No putting coins off to the side, no dirty hands...no work. Usually, I would be gambling up a storm, but it just wasn't any fun, but Tammi's friends won about ten dollars each so that was good. Then back to the hotel where I promptly collapsed until this morning. I did get this great shot of Atlantic City, though, at night. That flag is really a building that changes pictures throughout the night.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

2010-01-28T22:15:00.004-05:00

It's a full moon tonight. Well, almost a full moon. The time I always found I travel. So, tomorrow I'm traveling a new part of my life...Mrs. Holman has passed and we will travel that road without her. I will be traveling to Atlantic City tomorrow night for a NJEA workshop. I will be traveling towards having a new student come into my room on Monday. Traveling towards a new month...February...and all it will bring, including two half days off for union and writing work already scheduled...the play starting rehearsal on Monday....traveling just doesn't always mean going away...sometimes it means coming back....or even traveling down a new road of self discovery, self awareness...travel...it means many things to many people. What does it mean to you?

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

2010-01-27T21:46:00.003-05:00

Ah, Space Lab. This is something the kids look forward to each year. It is a HUGE portable planetarium that comes to our school media center each year. In tech lab, kids are learning and writing about planets. In art, they are drawing about planets. In science, we will learn about space. It's so much fun. You take off your shoes, crawl through the opening and sit inside. Then the media specialist lowers the light to blackness and shows us all the stars, identifying constellations, planets, and the like. She is so enthusiastic about it, the kids remember from year to year.It's a great thing and available to all the schools in Burlington County, NJ. Maybe your county has something similar. Check it out.

January 26, 2010

2010-01-26T20:17:00.002-05:00

Today is not a dress rehearsal...well, I hope not because I don't want to act through this day again. Still, there were good parts, the kids, the weather wasn't THAT bad, helping my mom with her computer, finding old slides I want to make into pictures...but then I thought about my picture of the day...I hadn't taken one.

I looked at my calendar and gasp...it's almost February which means GroundHog's Day and Valentine's Day. I still have my winter decorations up...my snowmen. I collect snowmen...it's something to tie me over from Christmas to February. I took a picture of PART of my collection tonight. The iphone camera isn't the best in low light so it had to be enhanced a bit. And, ironically, I just heard the weather report for tomorrow...what's up next...snow, of course.

January 25, 2010

2010-01-25T19:07:00.003-05:00

It seems like many of my posts this month revolve around water. Today is no different. When I awoke this morning, the rain was pelting SIDEWAYS. And, considering I don't have any hedges anymore, the mud in the side of my house is awful. Trying to buy donuts for today's inservice was a chore, trying to keep the box dry. Then, finally to central office, and to work, the electricity went off. Considering we were working on a state document for professional development, not exactly what we wanted to have happen. Still, we plugged through the work, the lights came on around 1:00, and the sun actually came out. But even so that's not what this post is about.
Each day I try to drink at least ONE full pitcher of water. This is a water filtered pitcher my parents bought me (okay I BOUGHT me) for Christmas this year. It is in place of the five (at least) liters of soda I would drink a week. Has it helped? I think so. I don't feel as bloated, and for some reason, even my food choices seem better. I've traded pretzels for potato chips, and yesterday I actually had carrots, lettuce and tomato on my sandwich yesterday. I NEVER even liked tomatoes before. I even seem to be sleeping better, albeit I have dreams I've never had before (like being stranded in Australia without a passport). Dos this all have to do with water? I don't know, but I'm going to try to keep trying to drink it for the third week in a row.

January 24, 2010

2010-01-24T16:17:00.003-05:00

Wow, only seven more days and I'll have actually completed my goals of one month of pictures. This week will be difficult to blog as much, but I'm determined to get the pictures done. Writing can come later.

Today I went to Moorestown, NJ, on my way home from shopping. There is a pond there that I've always passed but never really looked at. Today I did. While I was there, a blue heron came swooping down. He swooped up just as fast and didn't get a picture of him, but I did get one of these two ducks, a male and female, just swimming up and down the pond, together like an old married couple. There was another family of ducks swimming the other way, but these two just stayed together. They reminded me of my parents..together after more than fifty years, going their way, being happy with who they are, with each other.

I also liked the lines of this photo. There are so many curves and waves created by Mother Nature. I thought of using a watercolor filter, for it has that feel, but that didn't enhance it at all. Sometimes even technology can't improve upon Mother Nature.

January 23, 2010

2010-01-23T21:55:00.002-05:00

This was the day I was SUPPOSED to get my report cards done OR go to Tuesday Morning and grocery shoppin, but at 7AM Comcast called and said they'd be here at 1:00 to rewire the house for the great siding event that is happening in my condo. The guy arrived at 12:30 and started in every single room...none of which was cleaned. I am convinced this was my mother's way of getting me to clean up my room! Seriously, the guy did a good job so if I hear one thing about the siding people having problems, I'm going to push them off their stupid ladders.
Tomorrow it should rain so maybe I'll get caught up on what I didn't get to do today.

January 22, 2010

2010-01-22T20:47:00.002-05:00

Every other Friday, my students have the option to use their "Kasse's Kash" to buy things from my class store. This can be anything from Principal for Half a Day
($1, 000.00) to pens and erasers. They earn the money from doing their homework, winning games in class, getting compliments, etc. The students must hold on to their own money throughout the year. If they lose it, they lose it. Some put an identifying mark, but the money is recirculated each week. One of my parents collects the reading calendars each month and pays the kids money for their reading over fifteen minutes a night.

I love the way this year's "kash" looks...very realistic. Of course, the picture in the middle is the give away, but it does look good.

This week I also added a rewards card...based on what adults get by using their rewards card at BestBuy or Staples, etc. The kids can use their reward card ONLY IF they finish their morning bell work. Then it can be used throughout the day to garner reward points (for turning in homework, getting As on tests, etc). When they have ten, that gives them 10 chances in the chance bag. They can earn more than ten a week. Then, on Friday, we choose three numbers from the chance bag and those three people get something from the store "on the house". The students have really taken to this. I hope it lasts more than just a few weeks. Homework has increased, and I feel better about rewarding the kids who do their work.

The class store is something I hope to continue next year.

January 21, 2010

2010-01-21T21:55:00.002-05:00

Tonight I went to dinner with five friends from school to celebrate a birthday of one of them. Three of us there, Kathy, Maryann, and Linda ... I have known for almost THIRTY years. It's ind of remarkable to think that. We started together at Memorial School (middle school) and then were separated into different elementary schools. The wonderful thing is, that as we are closing out our teaching careers, we all ended up together at the same elementary school. Linda, Kathy and I are still teaching, and Maryann has retired, but I still love getting together with these women who know the stories of my past and hold some of the fun of my future in their hearts.

Maryann ordered the talipia for dinner (shown above). I had the crab cake. Mine was just okay, but Maryann said hers was delicious. Izzy's is a favorite restaurant of ours in Medford, NJ. So favorite, in fact, that we have already penned in our next meal next month there.

January 20, 2010

2010-01-20T18:20:00.004-05:00

Okay, I admit, this is NOT a picture taken today. I wish I COULD take it today, but I can't. The lovely woman in the picture is Jean Holman, mother to Jeff, Steven, and Mindy and wife of more than fifty years to Joe. Grandmother, activist, volunteer, just a wonderful all around lady who raised a wonderful family, allowing her children do follow their dreams. She encouraged them, as well as those around her, to do what they thought was best in life. Oh she gently guided, or at least tried to, guide them (myself included) towards good food (health food that was WAY before our time) and to always help others. She traveled the world as a corporate wife, enjoying time in Florida as well as New Jersey. Her home in New Jersey was not pretentious, although it could have been.

Her hardest times came when both of her sons would be playing against each other in tennis matches. She would tell me she never "favored" either of them....she couldn't...but was happy that her sons were still friends on and off the court. We were so lucky that she was able to watch Jeff's team win his first state championship this year. Coming to matches made the girls work even harder.

She left us this week. She left behind a family who will always hold her in their heart. She left friends and people even she doesn't know she touched by her kindness.
I am sure to add to this post, once her obituary comes out, telling about her life, the details that people always seem to add, the details many don't know, but this was the Jean I knew. The one I remember. The one Jeff called "Mother"...and I called friend.
*************

HOLMAN,Jean P. Of Moorestown, pass-ed away on January 20, 2010. Born in Philadelphia in 1926 as Jesse Jeanne Polk, Jean grew up in Merchantville and graduated in 1944 from Merchantville High School, where she was voted "Class Leader." She attended New Jersey College for Women, and after graduating with a degree in psychology spent two years working for the Campbell Soup Company. In 1950, she married Merchantville classmate Joe Holman. In 1952, the couple moved to their home in Haddonfield, where they lived for the next 56 years. During the early period of her marriage, Jean focused on raising her three children, particularly enjoying motherhood once the kids matured and could voice coherent opinions. She spent many happy hours exchanging and debating thoughts and ideas with her kids and their friends, and dispensed wisdom which has continued to guide her children to this day. Her years of childrearing were also marked by close friendships with her neighbors on Station Avenue. In addition to concentrating on her children, she donated many hours volunteering with both the Red Cross' blood bank program and CONTACT Community Helplines. Jean's devotion to a healthful lifestyle became evident during this early period, but blossomed fully in her later married life. She was a great devotee of vitamins, protein shakes, and exercise. One of her greatest joys was practicing Pilates; she continued her Pilates sessions until weeks before her death. After raising her children, Jean attained a master's degree in educational psychology from Temple University and worked for the university as a career counselor. Subsequently, she joined the family business and served as a Special Projects Coordinator for the Human Resources Department. She regularly influenced the company's direction not only as a member of the Holman Enterprises Executive Committee, but also at home over dinners, when conversation - as it often did -- turned to the business. In addition to her husband, Jean is survived by sons Jeff of Barrington and Steve (Georgine) of Dorset, VT.; daughter Mindy (Frank Beideman) of Moorestown; two sisters, Helen Peitz of Haddonfield and Elizabeth Soderland of Mt. Laurel. She has four grandsons: Jeffrey and Brett Holman and Brad and Joe Beideman. Friends may visit with the family from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Thursday, January 28th, or from 9:00 am - 11:00 am on Friday, January 29th, at the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown, 101 Bridgeboro Rd. A memorial service will follow visitation on Friday morning. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053, or to the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown. Arrangements by STEPHENSON BROWN FUNERAL HOME, Merchantville, N.J.

January 19, 2010

2010-01-19T20:08:00.003-05:00

I know...it doesn't look like anything...but it is A LOT of something...
It is water...a full NEW glass that I am using this week to encourage my drinking of water, not soda.
It is water...something that fills me up so I don't want to eat as much.
It is water...life sustaining that people in Haiti are clamoring for it now after the earthquake devastation.
It is water...something children in the Sudan walk miles and miles to the nearest water hole for their family and then carry the water back on their backs or small heads so others may live.
It is water...what my school raised money for last year so we could dig a well in Africa for others.

While water may seem to have nothing in it, it means a great deal to many.

January 18, 2010

2010-01-18T20:11:00.004-05:00

Being friends with someone for five, ten, or even twenty years is great, but imagine being friends with people for over FIFTY years. That right. The two couples on the left met in college, stood up for each other at their weddings, and are STILL meeting three or four times a year for lunches. The Wilsons are such a great couple. They are in the middle. They have three children and love to travel. My dad (on the left) and Bob were in the same fraternity together in Upsala College. Kathy Wilson was a teacher forever and LOVES being retired now. She and I always have something to talk about and argue about. My mom, she's the one who holds it all together. She makes the phone calls to arrange the lunches (with a bit of prompting from me) I love being a fly on the wall, listening to all the stories over and over again, and finding out new things about my parents whenever I can. This lunch was at Basil's in Freehold, NJ (not a place I'd give more than two stars to), but we don't go for the food. It's the company. And what wonderful company it is.

January 17, 2010

2010-01-17T18:45:00.004-05:00

My cousin, Sarah's father, had dementia in his later years. Sarah's mom (my aunt) lives in the same town as we do, but Sarah lived in Philadelphia. She met and married an amazing man by the name of Alex. Alex decided that my aunt needed help, so he went looking for a house in town...in fact in my aunt's backyard so if she needed help at any time, he and Sarah could be there at a moment's notice. Now, he didn't have to do that. They could have stayed in Philadelphia, which isn't that far away, but that's the type of guy he is. Even though my uncle died this year, he still insists that they stay in town and now my dad gets to reap the benefits of Alex's kindness. He is generous and gracious to my dad as well as to my mother and brother. It isn't often that we have family that everyone likes, but my cousins, on the whole, did very well with their picks of first or second husbands. The majority of the men are kind and generous to all...and they are fun to be around. So, this day is in honor of Alex who inherited not just one family, but an extended one as well.

January 16, 2010

2010-01-16T21:54:00.005-05:00

I have six girl cousins who grew up in the same town we eventually moved to. They were my "sisters"growing up, we were always at each other houses', my mother and their mother being sisters. About ten years ago, things kind of changed and the closeness just wasn't there. This past year, their dad died. He was a different kind of man, who never got along with my dad that well, and he and I had not the greatest interaction due to something that happened about five years ago (not terrible, but enough to mar my opinion of him). Still, he was a father and husband and he is missed. Tonight, it is the eve of my aunt's birthday. The youngest sister lives in town and invited my family (mother, father, brother) and her sisters and mother over for dinner. The oldest, who lives in North Carolina, could not make it, but others from Florida, Virginia, and California have all come for a few days. We all had such a great time reliving old times, telling old stories, and having a wonderful time going through pictures. Yes, pictures. Black and white, colored, pictures that were taken at camp, the beach, Florida, of grandparents, past boyfriends, holidays...pictures....It made me wonder...will future generations have them? Will there really be memories held in small squares that prompt laughter and tears? Or will they still be on the computer and cell phones to be flashed through, not identified, not to be shared. Don't get me wrong. Tonight we were all there with our digital cameras taking pictures left and right, but I wondered who, in twenty years, will be looking at them or if they will even be there to seen.

Friday, January 15, 2010

2010-01-15T19:55:00.003-05:00

It's pay day! In an effort to go green and not create MORE paper, I get my check automatically deposited and e-mail the information to myself. It works out well. Now, if I could just get my students to think about their paper use. Each week, I make it a point to have them clean out their desks. Now to some, this may seem like a waste of time, but I couldn't imagine what they would look like if we didn't take that ten minutes a week to clean, organize, and get ready for the next week. Here, Lauren is trying to figure out what to keep and what to get rid of.

2010-01-14T20:40:00.002-05:00

The kids are starting their unit on planets. Each student has a planet they must research by finding 18 facts. They are typing those fact in Word, formatting them using style and color and may not be more than four inches wide. One of the facts will be in a spiral print. Then, those facts will be added to these "books". The books are circles that are folded and then cut. After that they are accordianed folded. There's more to be done between the folding and end, but that will be the subject for another entry. Our tech instructor and I took a course about book making. How wonderful it is to save the "old" way of book making and merge it with new technology.

January 13, 2010

2010-01-13T18:41:00.003-05:00

My students are putting together a Valentine's Day project by making Valentine's for EVERY staff member in the school. There are so many people that each "team" of students has five staff members to make Valentines for. They made a time line to see how long this is going to take, and the students have planned it out to the last day. Right now they are preparing questions for their interviews. Those answers will be incorporated into the poems about the staff members. It's a lot of work, but they see a finished product at the end. This is a photo of Connor checking out his return letter from a staff member and checking it off on the door.

January 12, 2010

2010-01-12T18:58:00.004-05:00

I love potted plants outside and indoors, especially in the winter. My paper white this year bloomed right at time during the holidays but my amaryllis...well, I thought with that one I just got a bad bulb. Lo and behold, this past week, it totally came out...and still has one more blossom to explode. What a lovely winter gift given to me by nature during this cold spell. I colorized this one, using the water color filter.
Here is one that is natural:

January 11, 2010

2010-01-11T19:03:00.005-05:00

In the spirit of being healthy this week, went my FIRST WHOLE day without soda...diet soda for me...and it's been a LONG time since I did that. For dinner, I made a breast of chicken (skinless) on the nu-wave and it was SO GOOD! Truth be told I made it yesterday and it's still moist and delicious. Then I put it on Pepperidge Farms whole grain sandwich rounds. The sides were carrots for crunch, cherry tomatoes and a few chips that I had made from the tortillas that I made in the nu-wave. All in all a great meal. The BAD thing about today is that I didn't eat lunch, and skipping meals is never good. I had to fill out some paper work for a meeting for tomorrow and before I knew it the time was gone. I did refuse a brownie one of the kids brought in today...that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Breakfast was hot chocolate and a 100 calorie bagel. So, there is improvement to be made for tomorrow, but all in all, not a bad day.

January 10, 2010

2010-01-10T17:11:00.000-05:00

This past week, I gave up baked potato chips. I had started eating them because I had given up regular potato chips, but I found out the baked ones had SUGAR in them (no wonder I liked them), so I wanted to see if I could give them up for a week...and I did. THIS week, my goal is to not drink diet soda. Even though I drink Sprite Zero (no caffeine), it still has artificial sweeteners in it. So for a week (Monday-Friday) I'm going to see if I can just drink water or decaf tea. It should also save me about 5.00 a week, at the least. I bought a new glass to make drinking the water even more pleasurable.

January 9, 2010

2010-01-09T15:43:00.000-05:00

Discovery Education always offers the best things and today was no different. All day long, there was a ScienceConference on line. Lots of presenters inspired teachers all over the world to engage in science activities by telling about different topics. While they were all wonderful, I was very impressed, and moved, by the presentation about the polar bears. In addition, Patti told a great way to teach the scientific procedure and Mike and Brad showed different science experiments that didn't cost and arm or a leg. DEN is always coming up with something for me to learn. I'm glad I had the chance today to do the same.

January 8, 2010

2010-01-08T19:19:00.000-05:00

There were many great shots taken of Captain Sullenberger on Tuesday, January 5, but this is one of my favorite shots of...ME! I call it a shot in a shot....showing a flip camera of someone taking a picture of me while a digital camera is taking a shot of the flip camera and myself! Pretty cool.

More photos taken that night be found here: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/rrdAqON4llB/Premiere+Screening+TLC+Brace+Impact/Bi_si-3qDIY

January 7, 2010

2010-01-07T18:32:00.000-05:00

Even though the holidays (Christmas and New Year) are over, we still needed to perform "Dasher's Holiday Dilemma" today. It was fun to watch the kids acts, sing, and be admired by kindergarterns, first graders, and parents. The play was written by fifth grader Carolyn DeSantis (who is now in high school) and myself. It's so cute...about how Dasher feels that Rudolph is "all that" and how HE should be in the front of the reindeer line. It's only about ten minutes long, but the kids did it three times today, so they were happy. NOW, maybe I can get the holiday things put away and the penguin/snowflake decorations put up.

January 6, 2010

2010-01-06T20:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I went to New York City with friends from Discovery Education to see the premiere of "Brace for Impact" the story of the landing of a US Airbus in the Hudson River last year. Captain Sullenberger, the pilot, and many other people who were on the plane as well as first responders, were there as well. Before the premiere there was a cocktail hour, then the movie, and then a reception in the penthouse.

I'll be writing more about it, but I love this photo taken around 10PM looking east into Manhattan. It was a perfect winter night, clear, crisp and full of energy.

Throughout the week, more photos will be posted, but for tonight...this is my favorite.

more links:http://www.popeater.com/2010/01/07/sully-brace-for-impact/#comments

January 4, 2010

2010-01-04T20:31:00.000-05:00

The first day back at school and it was great. The kids were wonderfully behaved, we got so much done, and they are set for tomorrow. My eating plan was good, but after dinner I was getting cold! So, instead of turning the heat higher, I turned on the Wii Active and did some exercising. Soon, I wasn't cold anymore, and felt good about what I had accomplished. Felt good about doing that. Tomorrow it will be difficult to blog and to exercise as I'm going to NYC, but I am sure I'll have more than enough pictures from THAT event to make up an entire week.

January 3, 2010

2010-01-03T16:53:00.000-05:00

Today we went to the RiverView restaurant in West Deptford, NJ. It was nice. The view is beautiful...it looks across the Delaware River towards Philadelphia. I wish there were more restaurants like that on our side of the river. It must be really nice in the spring and at night. We went for lunch because 1) it's cheaper and 2) it's cheaper. No, really I like going for lunches over dinners most days. Plus, of course, the Eagles are on at 4:00 so Dad wanted to be home for that game. Not that it matters...they are still in the playoffs, but still fun to watch.

We had crab/lobster bisque, which was really good, but served too cold. I'm sure had we sent it back, it would have been fine, but even the second bowl that was ordered was served the same way. Mom's mussels were very good, served with sausage, but they need to include a plate for the shells.

Dad had a flat iron steak perched on steak fries. A flat iron is not the best cut of meat, and this proved to be a bit tough. The potatoes didn't seem to be cooked through, and only cut as fries, not crisp.

I ordered the Parmasean encrusted shrimp with mozzarella. It was good, and I'd make it at home, but there was too much bread AND fries. I guess they do this because it's lunch, but I'll know better next time.

Dad, to our surprise, ordered dessert. That was delicious. It was a white chocolate on chocolate with a cream of white and milk chocolate inside.

Service was good, and our bill came to 75.00 with tip for three people/ no drinks. Would I go back? Sure. The setting is very pretty and the service wonderful. I would try something else, though.

January 2, 2010

2010-01-02T13:56:00.000-05:00

As someone pointed out, today is a paladrome date: 01/02/10 Pretty cool.

Today's picture is a picture of the Nu-Wave oven I purchased last week. I put a frozen whole chicken in it a little over an hour ago...let it cook for 30 minutes, then put the seasonings on it. Since I could control the spices, butter, etc,I feel it's much healthier than having someone else do it. AND...it was cheaper than getting it in a supermarket, believe it or not. These are the before and after pictures. It was a four pound chicken and took a little more than an hour from frozen to finished. I used a citrus flavoring, stuffing the chicken with orange peels and the juice for basting. Not bad and will have the chicken for salads for the week.

January 1, 2010

2010-01-01T21:31:00.000-05:00

January 1, 2010

The start of a view of my world...through photographs...and words.