January

Only one week left of the new month. Work has been exceptionally busy so it's zipping past. We're having a warm spell though and that's nice. Left the classroom door open to the outside twice last weeek. Fresh balmy air. Mmmm. The daffodils are up a couple of inches and buds have formed on the wild current. When I finish up by 5:00 there is still light in the sky and 6:00 isn't quite pitch black. I love the approach of Spring. Winter is my least favorite season. Something to be endured and wished away. I love spring with its fresh colors and birdsong, the frog chorus and gentle rain mixed with lots of sun. Hooray it's nearly here!!! Meg

3 Months Later

Yikes! My last entry was in October. Three months ago. I promised myself I'd do better in the new year---NOPE! I was looking for the perfect photo. Don't think I'm going to find it.

No picture and not sure what to write. Life at this moment is full of school. No projects under way, but I have read lots of really good books. Must be winter. Have added a few pounds, found some low carb cocoa, and have been to the library and bargain shelves at the book store. Warren can't pry me out of my corner of the couch. Oh, add to that cozy picture a well-worn quilt and a purring kitty.

Do I need to clean house? No, I don't think so. Do I want to go for a walk? No, not now. How about a turn at the swimming pool? Much too far to drive. I'll just take 5 more minutes in my book on the couch with my cat.

So, my new year is full of surprises at school but calm and cozy at home.

I hope to find an inspiring picture and write more soon. Much sooner than 3 months.

Meg

Fog on the water

It's Sunday and as I look out the window I see a view very similar to this. Fog rolled onto itself and just touching the clouds as they roll past in a similar grey, just higher.

It has been weeks since I posted an update to my blog. I just read all of the Sept and Oct entries made by my sis. Wow what beautiful sights...quilts, kids, family, small towns and more. A lot has happened since school started.

September hit hard and there is only now a bit of breathing room. I have never had to work so hard so long to get a class up and running. OMG!!!!!!

There was packing and unpacking and packing and unpacking. An early open house and meeting parents the night before school started, then again a week later to discuss curriculum and classes. Then there were assessments and grouping kids and schedule changes and changes and changes. Add meetings, meetings meetings meetings and data collection data data data and packing again to paint the room and unpacking again and parent conferences and training sessions and meetings and data and meetings and broken printers and offline computers and book fairs and meetings and oH yes...teaching. And this week-end all day sessions to finally catch up on grading papers, because progress reports then report cards will be due soon.

BUSY. Not to mention thousands of other details and trying to live and exercise and oh, yes sick as a dog for three weeks too.

But today the sun has broken through. Yesterday I did catch up and had time for a walk on the beach. Today I have time for home. Laundry, shopping, cooking, cleaning, maybe even a little quilting. What an overwhelming time and how lovely it is to hope for a more humane pace to come.

Love you all. Me(g)

Changes

Changes indeed! When I posted the photo of those cute little frogs, I thought I was nearly ready for the school year to begin. My boxes of books and materials were unloaded and put away. The room was organized and the last of the decorations were finished. A little garden was planted and other little things were in place to perk up the portable and make it a fun place to be.

Then, the possibility of moving to a new school developed. It meant tension and sleepless nights. Two days of all-day meetings (sore bottom, tired mind). Finally I learned I would stay where I had been moved to but in a different classroom. Soooo, a day spent reboxing and labeling everything. Then most of 2 days cleaning up after the last teacher in the "new" room. It took one full day just to clean out her overloaded and unindexed files. Then moving furniture around, unpacking again, and finally today a bit of decorating. It's not as finessed as I would like it, but its OK. And I can spend Labor Day at home. One last day. Then more meetings and finally the kids will arrive. I'm eager to meet them!

Despite all of the work, its been fun. The staff at the new school is really nice and helpful. The move and prep have been filled with smiles and laughter as well as work.

OK. More later. Maybe even a picture of the new space soon.

Love ya'll. Meg

Wrapping Up Projects

The Papier Mache animals are painted and sealed with plastic. I'll include a photo once they are installed, that is, if they are installed. Wouldn't you know it?! I just finish my improvement plans for my portable and learn there is a possibility my classroom will be changed again.

Yep, that's schools for you. And when will we know for sure? Maybe next week or maybe after Labor Day. Of course whichever room it is, it will need to be in order by Thursday after Labor Day for Open House.

Sheesh. Kids are being shuffled to different schools and some teachers as well. This will result in additional moves. We don't know yet if we can volunteer for change or if it will be mandated. No child left behind is leaving those who work in the schools in the dust!

I just lined up a great event for my class, the local music store has several talented teachers and they've agreed to come and teach my kids about their instruments! Cool! We'll also read stories that connect to the instruments. Elementary will be a lot of fun (and a bit of work).

Summer is still wonderful. Full of sun and swimming and creativity and books.

Talk later. Meg

More Projects

Two more projects completed! Yahoo. The summer is moving along. It's nice to reach some of the goals set back in June. The little frog in the photo is one of four I bought ages ago. They have magnets in their bottoms and move around our house staying where they can and surprising us with their little smiles and goofy colors! They've been a ton of fun.

So, when I found these little crocodiles for 50cents I bought a few for my classroom. I have a favorite book, that is a version of Red Riding Hood which takes place in Louisiana. The woods are now the bayou and the basket of food is filled with Cajun delights. A lovely crocodile shows up in this version and I thought the magnets would complement the story. The other day I opened them up and added magnets. Now I can move them around the classroom and entertain the kids.

The second project is pillows to sit upon during silent reading. I bought themfor $1 each, but the neon colors screamed and weren't at all silent. so, these have been covered with bugs and butterflies and hearts in quieter, but still "perky" colors.

What do you think?

I also put the second coat of gesso on the papier mache. Company this week-end, but next week that project will finish as well. Fun!!!!

Talk soon. Meg

Projects

This summer has been full of projects. I'm getting ready for the upcoming school year and vacation means time to think and to create.

One of the projects is papier mache. The outside of my classroom, a portable looks so institutional it makes me want to run every time i approach it. I have run through a half dozen ideas to improve it, but most of them are either too expensive or they would get me in trouble with maintenance. So, I'm making little paper animals to hang outside during the first few weeks of school. Then I hope to instigate a mural project in partnership with our art teacher.

I'm including a couple of shots. At the moment my figures are all painted white with gesso. We are supposed to have a couple of rainy days next week, so that will be my big indoor paint day. Watch for the results. I'm having a ton of fun if nothing else.

What are you working on?