brandy

These are some of my girls that are so great. These girls are always ready to discuss the text,learn more and ask questions. Brandy, the second one on the left is my question student. I realize that after reading "Asking better questions" I needed this refreshing information to help my relationship with brandy>

greg

This is a student named greg. He was a student of mine last year. This year he came to me and said his father died. Greg had never met his father and he had all these things bottled up he wanted to tell him and it was too late. He wanted to ask his Father why he never came around or wanted to be with him. I told Greg that maybe this was a blessing in disguise, sometimes things turn out for a reason. Greg and I talked everyday about the situation and he finally worked thru it and he is fine now. I usually don't council with students but he really wanted to talk to me and not the counselor.

Working together

Everybody in class helps each other. I like all students to work together on house plans and math problems. I encourage cooperative learning and peer reveiw systems.

Fountain Lake Football

I have never enjoyed football until now. At the first of the year, I introduce myself and really try hard to get to know these students. I have the a group of football players in two of my classes that never brag on themselves and are so modest about thier abilities or being in the newspaper and has our community talking. I assume they have been taught not to have vanity, and to show grace and manners when discussing the talents and highlights of the year 2008.

I find myself fixing those classes special treats because I am so proud of them. They really are a great group and much fun. I enjoy going to the games and being a part of knowing this fine group.

Sundays at Tiffany's

My mother has begged me to read the new James Patterson novel "Sundays at Tiffany's". I usually like something deeper and more complex. I enjoy reading history and suspense, but after the months of classwork I was really in the mood for a lighthearted novel.

This James Patterson novel hit the spot with love and fun. The main character reminded me of myself. She had absolutely no luck when she was a child and spent most of her childhood alone. Her mother was a famous actress with no permanent man in her life and spent very little time with young Jane Margaux. Jane had a imaginary friend called Michael and they were best friends.

Jane was suppose to have no memory of Michael when he left her at age 8, yet she did and her heart was broken once again. Throughout her teen years she learned never to trust people, even her mother. When she reached her twenties life had remained terrible but she had never forgotten michael. When life got her down she would remember the good friendship and times she had with Michael and her heart was lifted. I have had bad times in my lifetime and remembered something special that happened to pass the bad times away.

Later in the book Michael somehow became human and ran into Jane and they fell in love. The first part of the novel was actually the best, describing the uncertainty about people and the behavior of her mother. The love story made the book end well but was not my favorite part.

I really enjoyed this James Patterson novel.

Ms Fountain Lake

Today, my prettiest and most popular student was named Ms Fountain Lake. She arrived in class and all the students were buzzing around her. I walked by and overheard her commenting on another girl that lost her dad. She was really concerned about someone else instead of herself. She was in a position to really feel proud and brag on the situation and instead she switched her conversation and concern towards the unlucky girl in her class. I was proud of this young lady as a student and person.

Thanksgiving dinner with kindergarten classes

I invited 100 kindergarteners to our classroom for Thanksgiving dinner and thier parents. We split it up into three days and it turned out great!!! My food and nutrition class cooked with the children and the parenting class played games with them. We all had a good time.

The reason I put myself through such an ordeal is to thank Ms High, a kindergarten teacher, for being my one and only friend last year. I had always worked at DHS and a small college where I had so many friends and a social life with these various women. I was certainly lost last year finding myself all alone, downstairs, with no one to see all day but my students. I had cafeteria duty with Ms High and for a while this was the highlight of my day. I needed the adult conversation and a friend.