Open House ...
I started this last week and then got so busy that I wasn't able to finish or post it.
I guess that I'll just recap a few of the highlights and move on since time is almost nonexistent these days.
Our school Open House was last Wednesday evening. Eight of my fourteen students came through the classroom and showed off their work. Many other students wandered through, too, and were very interested in what we were doing. We have a fairly popular classroom since we're always doing something fun (or so it seems from the outside). This was an especially poignant evening since I will be losing three of my kids when they open a new classroom on the 31st of this month.
The young man I that spoke of in the last entry was not able to come to the Open House but he did write me a note this last Friday that said how glad he was that he was still in my classroom and not changed to another room. That's sure worth a lot!
Yibbyl and the Goobers (my teenage boys) came with me and were able to see just a little of what we do and what it is like around here. They met quite a few of the students and saw some of the other classes, too. A small buffet was laid out in the cafeteria so the munchies were one of the highlights of the evening for the kids.
We all had a good time and it was nice to see my worlds (home and work) overlap for a while.
*****************************************************************
Thursday was Nor Cal Think Pink day in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. On the way to work that morning I stopped and picked up 25 of the free bags that were being given away. I gave each student and staff one of the bags (after removing anything that could be conceived of as "dangerous" from the student bags) and we spent half the morning talking about being self-aware and responsible for our own health.
We talked about breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate issues and many of the things that men and women (boys and girls) find uncomfortable. The kids were asking TONS of questions and we covered all of the issues with a light humor that made it all just a little easier to manage. I told them to ALWAYS tell someone when strange changes occur in their bodies. Any lumps, bumps, or bleeding that is unusual needs to be looked into. They seemed to really "get" it!
I mention all of this because one of the students wrote me a note today and told me that he was too embarassed to let the school nurse know that he's been bleeding rectally off and on for a while now. After our talk last week he has decided that he needs to take care of himself and have it looked into. I went to the nurse and an appointment has been set up for him. Sometimes those "off the cuff" lessons turn out to be the best ones. When the kids respond and really let what they have learned improve their lives then you know that you have done your job well that day.
This is what teaching is ALL about!
And these are the moments that make me so glad that this is what I do.
*****************************************************************
This last weekend we decided to grab one last camping getaway before winter set in. I'm so glad that we took advantage of the nice weather while we could. We drove up into the Trinity Alps and found a lovely campsite overlooking Lewiston Lake. Just a few miles up the road was Trinity Lake and the dam between the two lakes. We were camping at Ackerman and had an awesome view of the dam from our campsite.
We saw quite a few deer (and heard LOTS of gunshots). This was the last week of hunting season but it sounded like quite a few of the hunters in the area were hunting birds as well as or instead of the deer. We also saw a bobcat run across the road right in front of us. That was pretty awesome! I had seen a mountain lion before but never a bobcat.
At night we slept under the stars and the bright moon (the rainfly for our 13'x20' tent was left back at home!) and listened to the howling and yapping of the local coyote population. The temperature dropped down to about 39° - 41° at night but we didn't mind so much. The beautiful night sky more than made up for it.
The boys did some fishing but didn't catch a thing (well, maybe a cold). We could see some fish jumping so we knew they were out there. Maybe next time we'll have a canoe or something and they'll do better. They seemed to have a pretty good time. I know that I did!
Well, that's about it for now. Take care of yourselves!
~M~
I guess that I'll just recap a few of the highlights and move on since time is almost nonexistent these days.
Our school Open House was last Wednesday evening. Eight of my fourteen students came through the classroom and showed off their work. Many other students wandered through, too, and were very interested in what we were doing. We have a fairly popular classroom since we're always doing something fun (or so it seems from the outside). This was an especially poignant evening since I will be losing three of my kids when they open a new classroom on the 31st of this month.
The young man I that spoke of in the last entry was not able to come to the Open House but he did write me a note this last Friday that said how glad he was that he was still in my classroom and not changed to another room. That's sure worth a lot!
Yibbyl and the Goobers (my teenage boys) came with me and were able to see just a little of what we do and what it is like around here. They met quite a few of the students and saw some of the other classes, too. A small buffet was laid out in the cafeteria so the munchies were one of the highlights of the evening for the kids.
We all had a good time and it was nice to see my worlds (home and work) overlap for a while.
*****************************************************************
Thursday was Nor Cal Think Pink day in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. On the way to work that morning I stopped and picked up 25 of the free bags that were being given away. I gave each student and staff one of the bags (after removing anything that could be conceived of as "dangerous" from the student bags) and we spent half the morning talking about being self-aware and responsible for our own health.
We talked about breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate issues and many of the things that men and women (boys and girls) find uncomfortable. The kids were asking TONS of questions and we covered all of the issues with a light humor that made it all just a little easier to manage. I told them to ALWAYS tell someone when strange changes occur in their bodies. Any lumps, bumps, or bleeding that is unusual needs to be looked into. They seemed to really "get" it!
I mention all of this because one of the students wrote me a note today and told me that he was too embarassed to let the school nurse know that he's been bleeding rectally off and on for a while now. After our talk last week he has decided that he needs to take care of himself and have it looked into. I went to the nurse and an appointment has been set up for him. Sometimes those "off the cuff" lessons turn out to be the best ones. When the kids respond and really let what they have learned improve their lives then you know that you have done your job well that day.
This is what teaching is ALL about!
And these are the moments that make me so glad that this is what I do.
*****************************************************************
This last weekend we decided to grab one last camping getaway before winter set in. I'm so glad that we took advantage of the nice weather while we could. We drove up into the Trinity Alps and found a lovely campsite overlooking Lewiston Lake. Just a few miles up the road was Trinity Lake and the dam between the two lakes. We were camping at Ackerman and had an awesome view of the dam from our campsite.
We saw quite a few deer (and heard LOTS of gunshots). This was the last week of hunting season but it sounded like quite a few of the hunters in the area were hunting birds as well as or instead of the deer. We also saw a bobcat run across the road right in front of us. That was pretty awesome! I had seen a mountain lion before but never a bobcat.
At night we slept under the stars and the bright moon (the rainfly for our 13'x20' tent was left back at home!) and listened to the howling and yapping of the local coyote population. The temperature dropped down to about 39° - 41° at night but we didn't mind so much. The beautiful night sky more than made up for it.
The boys did some fishing but didn't catch a thing (well, maybe a cold). We could see some fish jumping so we knew they were out there. Maybe next time we'll have a canoe or something and they'll do better. They seemed to have a pretty good time. I know that I did!
Well, that's about it for now. Take care of yourselves!
~M~
posted by Michelle at
10:37 AM
2 Comments:
What a beautiful life for such a beautiful person! The fact that the kids actually listen to you just goes to show how exceptional you are. And then getting to spend the weekend camping with your three favorite men had to have been wonderful. Reading your posts is always a highlight of my online time.
By
edieraye, at 10/25/2005 6:27 PM
you are the best inspiration for me. Thank you for being you.
Lots of hugs to you, Yibbl and the boys
By
Anica, at 10/28/2005 9:10 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home