COVID 19 Social Distancing

COVID 19

I have told my journalism students they are living through history right now and need to journal about this experience.  So like any good teacher, I'm going to be doing the same thing.  But rather than using my beautiful Flair pens and paper that are in my classroom--this blog is going to be my place--I probably should do paper too--just in case this blog disappears into cyber space.

WHS extended the Spring Break we had through March 20.  I did have to go to school on Wednesday and Thursday getting ready to go to remote/online teaching.  I had to call all my second period students's parents and make sure they had proper internet access and if not I would provide paper copies of my assignments.  It was nice to see my colleagues--we spend so much time together its always good to connect and see what is going on in their lives. 

I finished my calls on Thursday morning and my online assignments.  I did a video assignment for my Theatre Production class and it was great to see all their faces.  We have been challenged by Howe Theatre to do a lip sync battle--I'm hoping for Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" but it is student choice--hopefully we will get to it.

In all this chaos, Jeff and I are putting our house on the market.  Sara received a job offer in Dallas and hopefully will be finding her place there and I have plans to go out and live with my dad--he has a giant house--we may never see each other.  So Sara and I have gone to see several houses in Dallas--yes we were practicing social distancing as all the houses were empty--most were flips--some were much better than others and well some were in placing her Daddy said you could not live. 

So I have been very productive--de-cluttering, deep cleaning, and getting ready for this place to have some pictures. 

I am trying to post positive things on social media--mostly Bible verses and songs.  Sara and I are doing well.  We will see how things go in this uncertainty.

New School Year!

Well, tomorrow starts my 21st year of teaching!  I started way back in 1985-86 at Windom High School in Windom, Texas.  It was an amazing place to be at the time.  Lori was a toddler and all but one of the high school teachers was a first year teacher.  My classes were small (the largest was about 7) and my math counterpart and I played some high scoring scrabble games during our conferences.

I was also the only non-coach teacher besides the Ag teacher, so it fell to me to be the cheerleader sponsor, take gate money at all the home ballgames, and be the junior prom sponsor.  It was two of the most wonderful yet chaotic years of my life.  I was very sad when the school board decided to consolidate and I had to look for another job.  Jeff and I headed to Oklahoma and it was nearly 3 years before I got an opportunity to teach high school again.

Now I'm back for my fourth year at Wolfe City High.  I started my tenure there teaching English I and this year I will be teaching those same students English IV.  Wow--the time has gone by quickly and I hope I find some maturity in those English IV students.  To all my other teacher friends and moms and dads sending their kiddoes out tomorrow--have a great one!

Back to Blog--Two Years Later

Today in my school's inservice we once again began to talk about teaching in the 21st century.  I've had these same discussions since 2001 and to be honest, I'm pretty much bored with it.  We need to change and adjust all the time.  When it was just Jeff and I in the house it was quieter, we watched whatever we wanted on television, and ate when and where ever we wanted.  Fast forward about five years, and we have a toddler and a baby.  We had to adjust.  Television was monitored much closer.  There was a schedule to follow.  We adjusted.  Its what you do.  I say this because I'm tired of listening to the same thing, year after year.  I love technology--I love my Kindle Fire, my computer, my digital camera.  I want to use it in my classroom--but I still believe reading and writing are skills that technology enhances--not dictates.

We talked about blogging with our students and having them blog because if there friends are reading it--they will take their time and make sure its written correctly.  I'm not so sure about that--there is a spell checker on this blog site--guess I will use it, but I'm not really concerned that any of my friends will read this--I don't really care if my administrators read this--I want someone to give me concrete ideas about teaching students who are tied to the phones.  Do I really want to lose the art of conversation or reading cursive handwriting?  I'm not an everyday ranter--just a today.  I'm through--maybe I'll blog--wonder if my students want to read what I like?  Guess we will wait and see.

Back to School

Well, today is the last day of summer vacation.  I am spending it by first, going to church and then lunch, and now watching various movies on NetFlixs.  So far I have watched 10 episodes of the Syfy Channels, Alphas, then a Christmas movie, and now a more modern movie about a morning show.
This should get me in the mood for school right??

I did get a few things accomplished this summer.  Spent time with the girls.  We traveled to Florida, Canada, and several trips to College Station/Bryan.  I tiled Lori's bathroom floor and repaired the hole in the sheetrock--that was hard.  Went to the wedding of one of my best friends--its was AMAZING.

I have looked at several new ideas about teaching...hope they work.  Bought some new clothes.  Didn't lose any weight--sure need to before Tanya's wedding and a few other things coming up this year.

 Jeff and I will be married 30 years this year.  I've been noticing that a lot of people say they married their best friends.  I don't know--I really like my best girlfriends.  Lori and Robin and I had some amazing good times in college and continue to have them, just farther apart in time.  Jeff, well he drives me crazy sometimes.  He works too hard and spends too little time doing fun stuff with me.  Is that what best friends do.  Don't worry about us, I love him today just like I did 30 years ago.  Its more fun now,  we have gotten past the first year of marriage--that was a doozy and enjoy what time we do get to spend together.

 I think this blog went beyond Back to School.  Oh well, now its my turn to be too busy to do the rest of the things I wanted to do this summer.  I have trips planned for Julie's 21st birthday and Tanya & Mark's wedding in Spokane.

Off I go, back to WCHS!  Hope its a great one!

Caraline--my new favorite song

Sara, my second daughter, has decided that she is going to pursue her dream of being a singer/songwriter.  Of course, it was a little easier when she found a producer who wanted to work with her and a manager/agent who believes in her as much as her parents.  This past week, she spent two days in Magnolia working with Jeffrey, her producer, working on her first "finished" song, Caraline.  Now, I know I just a little prejudice, but it it really a catchy tune.  Love the chorus, of course the old age hearing of mine, I couldn't repeat it word for word.

She put in her two week notice at work and will be moving back in with mom & dad.  I'm excited that she has a new challenge in her life.  She and Jeff are also working on a concert schedule for this next year going around to college campuses and doing concerts and spreading the word about human traffic trade.

Praying for you sweet girl.  Go like her page on facebook.  When I can learn to download her song--I WILL!!!

The Great Physician

Today I learned that a very dear teacher friend's grandson has been diagnosed with leukemia.  It broke my heart.  I took care of this little boy's father when he was this same age.

Jeff and I experienced the same type of parent nightmare about twenty-two years ago.  We were in Whitewright visiting my parents from Oklahoma.  Sara had been sick for about two weeks.  She had been running a low grade fever for a while and I just couldn't seem to get her past the fever.  Luckily for us, Dr. Sisk in Bonham saw her without a second thought.  Jeff was actually at RA camp in Oklahoma.  I couldn't believe my ears when Dr. Sisk wanted to recommend sending her to Children's in Dallas as he thought he blood work looked like it might be leukemia.  Jeff came to pick me and we took our little sweet girl to Children's.  I still remember getting off the elevator on the oncology wing and almost losing all composure. Within two hours, Sara had blood drawn and the most intelligent doctor came in and told me that she had something I still cannot say or spell.  But one thing I knew--it wasn't leukemia.  Thank you God.  That was the scariest thing we ever had to go through with our girls.

Now the sweet little six year old and his parents and grandparents are going through this trial.  I know God is in control and is the great healer.  I'm praying now and hopefully each day to remember this little boy.  God heal Cale and give his parents and grandparents the peace of understanding.

Time to Blog: House Hunters Commerce TX

Today was the fifth or sixth day of house hunting.  I'm a big fan of HGTV and love House Hunters.  Lori and Julie went with me to try and narrow down the hunt and actually find a place to live!  It began on-line with a list of seven houses. Our realtor, Quay, is really patient with me and lets me see some places two and three times.  In our family, we name the houses in order to remember which ones they are--example the house in the country with a little guest house is tagged "dwarf house," no reason, just a Jeff name.  I usually can't remember the street names so that is the reason for the names.

We started with the "FRAT" house--it really is a fraternity house.  One of the guys forgot to get the message and leave--but that is a different story for another day.  Five bedrooms and two bathrooms.  Wow!  It was huge, smelly, and dirty.  Next!  The Ash house was a little cottage that was designed by someone who loved color.  Orange on the ceiling with red walls, lime green in the bedroom--really a fix-er upper.  Moving on...walked out of one--stinky--saw one way out of our price range, but beautiful--several others, and then came the moment to narrow down to three.  I didn't have a problem.  The three were in no order 1) Ash street, 2)BriarHOOD, 3) Golf yard--yes one was golf yard.  We were just like the house hunters.  Narrowed down to three and put in an offer--you will have to wait to see whether we get a house!  Stay tuned!