Day of Rest

Everyone needs a day to relax and hang out with themselves. I'm glad that I had the courage and enough sense to realize I needed some "me time" today. This week has been a week from hell with so many things to do, so many deadlines to meet, so many meetings to attend, and so many things to catch up on. I was sick, sick, SICK...physically and emotionally.

In the midst of all this chaotic madness, I managed to sleep for 12 hours last night and be at home when my husband came home this morning. He had Hardee's in hand, and some pucker'd up lips. It was GREAT!

Man, I need this more often!

To Steven - working all day

On Thursday I gave my students the assignment to create a dialogue between two people. They were able to choose their own partners, and after lecturing them on how to "properly choose a partner...not just your best friend," I'd have to say they did a pretty good job.

This was their first BIG project, and it is kind of scary to see what they come up with. Most of you are thinking....PROJECTS....cool, I love projects! But I've found out that if you don't set high standards and expectations from the beginning, things just get worse and worse as the year progresses.

Anyway, the students had about 15 minutes at the end of class on Thursday to begin their "creative thinking." On Friday, they had to present. After all kinds of mean looks, questions of my sanity, "are you serious"-type faces, and many many MANY excuses...they completed the task.

Yesterday after school, I was on cloud nine. They were the best projects ever! My students are very creative this year, and even though they only have a handful of words in their banks of vocabulary, they found a way to make it work. The rule of thumb is..."If you don't know how to say it...either find another way to say it, or don't say it at all!" Most students find this rule very cruel and hard to live with. But that's ok...they learn so much more when they use what they know, and are forced to "make it work" with the little they have been given.

September 11th

Sad Silence
World Trade Center

September 11, 2001

Through the eyes of an eight year old

I heard the glass hit the ground,

even though I only seen it through a screen

I could feel the pain go through so many life lines,

even though I could only hear their screams

Little children wait for parents to come home,

but the only thing that will is love that will always be with them

An invisible hand gently touching their cheek...

Courtney Nicole Gaither, Berry

Copyright ©2001 Courtney Gaither, Berry

Let's get S-I-C-K

Yes Indeed, the time has come again...school has started.

It's only been three weeks, and I'm already halfway through one box of Puffs!

UUGGGGHHH!

Why me?

"¡YES, DRILL SERGEANT!"

Today, I literally felt like I was a drill sergeant. I had all of my Spanish 1 students out marching and chanting the entire Spanish alphabet! It was GREAT!

The idea was not planned originally, but due to circumstances (no air conditioning) in my first hour class, we decided to go outside and stand in a circle in the open fields. I had told them to make a circle, and to my surprise...they just kept walking. So, I let them just keep walking. It was AMAZING! All of the kids that just want to fiddle or daydream...they were all on task!

Sometimes the biggest disasters end up becoming a huge blessing. Today, I experienced just that. So, whoever it was who made me so upset this morning by turning off the AC unit in Trailer C this weekend, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

¡Muchíssimas Gracias, amigo!

Relaxing Saturdays

I just LOVE Saturday mornings.

Waking up late with Steven, lying in bed procrastinating cleaning and bills, dreaming of the fun Internet games I didn't get to play all week but will soon get to play, tweaking my Spanish lesson plans and having fun coming up with projects, making a few calls to friends who I never talk to anymore, doing laundry, etc, etc, etc.

All of that is great and all, but the best part is breakfast. Hardee's is where the fun begins. I crave either the biscuits & gravy or the sausage & egg biscuit. Their Coca-Cola beverages are wonderful as well.

Can't EVERY day be a Hardee's Day?