Last Day

Yep. Tiny Town High is done today. 

Only about 25 of my sophomores are taking finals.  Half of them finished yesterday, but the rest will take them today.  My hope is to be ready to check out at 3:30 or so. 

Summer begins at 4:00. 

Woo to the hoo!  And then some!

Last Week

Grading.  Cleaning.  Storing.  (Stowing?)

Most of the kids are done tomorrow.  Final tests for the rest on Thursday and Friday.

I think know we are all ready for summer.

Almost. There. 

Mother's Day 2013

What a beautiful weekend.  The weather was wonderful, which meant spending quite a bit of time outside. 

Saturday, I spent most of the day running loads of clothes out to the clothesline.  My whole house smelled like clothes fresh from the line. I had time to read and watch movies because the Mr. had to work, L stayed in Big City, and K had a house full of in-laws. 

Sunday, the Mr. and I headed to U town.  After a really great breakfast with K, the Lady Bug, CT, and his parents, I rode the bike trail through U town. 

This trail follows part of an old railroad track right through U town.  You can hear the traffic once in awhile, but you can't even see it.  This is right in the heart of town.

Then suddenly, you are riding with the town on one side and fields on the other.  But best of all--

you end up riding by a river that runs by U town.  Gorgeous morning for a ride.

After a lazy afternoon, K, CT, and the Bug came up for supper cooked by the Mr.  Buggy brought me a card with her fingerprints making the petals of the flower.  So cute. 

It was a wonderful weekend, but we sure missed having L around.  (We might have kept the cell phones hot between talking and texting!)

I'd complain about going back to school, but seriously-- only 5 days left. (And only 3 of those with all of my students.) 

If this weekend is a promise of what the summer will bring, I am soooo ready!

Mother's Day Clothesline

The Mr. came through! 

When I got home from school yesterday, he had put up my new clothesline.  I think he financed the expensive part of this plan.  I had painted our rusty poles with paint someone had left off at the landfill.  I might have paid a dollar or two for the can of old paint.  He paid about $35 for the new lines, hooks, and hardware to tighten the line easily. 

I'd already bought the clothespins a couple of weeks ago. Target:  $1.97 for 50 clothespins.  For that price, I took two.

Grandma used to have the neatest clothespin bag.  I had to do a bit of re purposing to find something that would work.  It isn't like Grandma's, but I figure it will work for now.  (Think I can find a peach basket and liner for my clothes basket now?)  I found one of L's old cheer tank tops and a hanger from when the girls were little.  One quick seam, and voila! a clothespin bag.

First things on the clothesline?  Sheets, of course.  I haven't slept on line dried sheets in almost 20 years.  Best. Smell. Ever.

And Happy Mother's Day to me!  (I'm sure our AC bill will thank me this summer, too!) 

When I Hate Being A Teacher

Two of my former students died this week.  Somehow, it never gets easier. 

Russell was one of those students who didn't give a rip about his grades, but he was 100% interested in learning.  He was curious and interested in everything.  His wicked, sarcastic wit often made me smile.  He knew I loved his intelligent humor.  His friends said he was the life of the party, and I can imagine the energy and fun he provided.  He did some time in the military, spent some time overseas, but I lost track of whether he was still in active service or not.  He took his own life earlier this week.  He was 32.

Kristin was 27 and the mother of four.  She went out to buy milk for the kids and never returned.  She had been missing for almost two weeks when they found her body yesterday.  As a sophomore, she was bright, but struggling to figure out who she was.  She had a quick grin and sassy strength.  That year, she wrote a paper about me that won a county contest.  She was so proud when they asked her to read her paper and present the award to me.  I always had a soft spot for her, and she knew it.  I'd been praying that she grew weary of motherhood and took off for a few weeks of rest and relaxation. Unrealistic, I know.  I just didn't want this ending.

This has been National Teacher Week.  Seniors parents have brought in goodies.  Our administration gave us some awesome insulated water glasses with our new mascot.  A former student brought me a candy bouquet and necklace.  We're having a red hat 50th birthday party for a colleague.  Let's face it, we are counting down the days until the end of school. But...

I have had two jarring reminders to enjoy my year with these sophomores, to cultivate good memories of their year with me.  In all likelihood, it will be all that we will get.

Thursday, May 9th

What's up?

We are burying Caesar today.  "Friends, Romans, Countrymen..."

The air conditioner is still silent on Easy Street.  We've thought about turning it on but have resisted.  Fans are our friends.

I need to grade a ton of late work.  Right now, I'm going with the theory--they are late turning it in, I'm late grading it.  (Probably not the best plan, I know!)

Trees are budding.  Flowers are blooming.  And spring has finally sprung. 

Yes, it really is the small things!

National Teacher Day 2013

The Best of Teaching

*Having students who have done amazing things with their lives
*Seeing former students make nurturing, loving homes and make a valuable contribution to communities all over the country
*Students becoming teachers themselves
*Sharing the things I love:  language, reading, and writing--and those kids who learn to love them, too.


The Worst of Teaching

*Being overwhelmed with grading
*Not being able to reach some kids
*Watching students make poor choices
*Seeing a once sweet teenager, wasting the incredible gift of their life
*When a student dies way too young

The Craziest of Teaching

*The last days of any school year
*The Pay
*Never, ever leaving work at work
*Being "ON" 24/7, 365 days a year 

Why do we teach?

*We're lucky enough to know that the work we do makes a difference in the world that will last long after we're gone. 

To love what you do and feel that it matters....how could anything be more fun?

The End Is Near

The end of school that is.  And it seems fairly obvious...

*Students are gone.  All.the.time.  Regional golf, tennis, track, baseball, softball.  FFA is off to final competitions.

*Students are cRaZy. All.the.time.  (Don't even go there.)

*Parent emails are inquiring about their cRaZy teens.

*I am swamped:  Finishing the final unit, study guides for finals to write and distribute, and finals to write.

*The supplies we ordered a month ago are starting to come in.  They've got to be stored for next fall.

*Grad announcements are arriving in the mail or slipped onto my desk.

*My summer is starting to fill up.  I will sacrifice June and the first weeks of August, but I am being stingy with July!

*Only one more Monday after today. 


How do I know the end is year?  I am exhausted!  (And this is why I could never teach school year round!)

Spilling Beans

Finally...Easy Street can tell the news. 

L and CB are having a baby in November.  Another new grandchild on Easy Street. 

Can't wait to see if those dimples make it to the next generation!

And now some of you know why I haven't been blogging regularly.  Sometimes, it is hard to find anything to write about, when all you want to tell is the Big News!

Busy. Busy.

Crazy busy week. 

Students catching up on missed work = me catching up on grading.

K-12 Art show, FFA BBQ, Horticulture plant sale, and our big senior production were all part of the spring festivities at Tiny Town High last night.

And.... (drumroll please)

L and CB are coming for the weekend!