Summer Flowers

November 30

It is so exciting that other people read what I write.  I have always written, always enjoyed writing, but have never had the thrill of knowing that others read what I write.  So, thank you to all who take the time to respond to my writing.  I am glad it touches you in some way.   I just came back from Columbia from a meeting for coaches.  I always learn so much while I am there.  This time we talked a lot about ways to give positive feed back to students and to teachers.   I have always believed that “Great Job” is not really very effective.  When someone tells me I did a good job, I want to know why.   Tell me What was good about what I did so I can do it again.   We talked about effective assessment – how can we tell when someone really knows something?  I think we have spent too many years counting on pencil and paper tests and teaching the same old way.   Several teachers are looking at ways to change that pattern, spend more time one-on-one with students, learning to check for learning in alternate ways…… I am really excited.   I can only see progress in store for all of us!

November 25

It seems like months since I was last at work – I went to Furman for a day of classes, then to Columbia for the NWEA meeting.  I learned a lot all three days but it really has been ages since I was able to work at school.  I think what I love most about classes (when they are good) is the stimulating ideas we share – education is a constantly growing mass of theories that, hopefully, will improve how we teach children to become life-long learners.   It is such a sad moment when I hear people brag that they never read, when they revel in their ignorance.   One program I enjoy is “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader”.   I was watching when Kelly Pickler was on.  Here we have a young person who is a role model for others and she seemed to revel in her ignorance.  Once she even said, “Boy, when I leave here, I’m going to go home and study!”  But then she spoiled the moment by grinning and saying, “Not…!”    So kids see someone rich and famous saying that it is ok to be ignorant.  I realize you don’t have to know everything to be an educated person, but I think it is important to at least be conversant with a variety of topics.  To only be able to speak about one thing whether it be sports or fashion or babies is sad.   I realize these topics overwhelm us at times but we should at least be able to converse……

November 19

I have been in Columbia today at a conference on Formative Assessment.  I have gotten such great ideas on simplifying and still assessing more effectively and then using those results.   I am looking forward to talking with some teachers about trying some new ideas that are working very effectively in other schools.  I heard today, and have thought this for a long time, that MAP testing is a WASTE of time if the scores are not used to improve individual instruction.  And since I was trained to teach using small groups, I am looking forward to encouraging teachers to step out and try this – it really isn’t as difficult as it might seem at first glance……

November 15

The season is upon us.  I don’t know how Thanksgiving got here so quickly.  But my trees are up – lights, no ornaments yet.  We always have a get-together at our house for our men’s group from the church the Monday before Thanksgiving.  They put together fruit baskets for seniors in the church.  I try to get the spirit going with Christmas set up.  It just doesn’t seem like time yet – it isn’t cold, it isn’t rainy, and it’s a week early on top of that.   So I’m having to work on the spirit.  Maybe the ornaments and a little music will help – perhaps even turning on the air conditioner!

On another note. . . Today I packed up 6 giant garbage bags of discarded coats, sweaters, fleeces, sweat shirts…… most of them were REALLY nice.   Students have left them around the school.  We try to return them in the classroom and when that fails, put them in a box in the cafeteria.   And this is what was left after all that.    I would string my child up if they lost such nice, expensive clothing!   At least we are sending it to our local Upstate Community Center so it can be distributed to local kids who would otherwise be cold.   

November 12

Well, we went to the Carolina/Florida game……:(   It was a sad day in Mudville…… But still, good friends, good food, good weather.  I can’t complain especially since I went as a guest!  And though many would disagree, it is “only a game.”  Since I no money on the game, it was just a good time.  Amazing how much trash a game can generate!  I guess what surprises me is that otherwise decent people feel it is perfectly ok to just drop their trash on the ground wherever they stand.  SURELY they don’t do that at their own homes!  I mean, these are not street people at these games – these are people who spend TONS of money to attend.  Another thing that hits my moral sensibilities…… I realize everyone has the right to spend their personal money as they see fit, but when I see the millions of millions of dollars spent I wish some of those who spend $100,000 without batting an eye would consider supporting our schools.  $100,000 would go a long way toward making changes in our school alone and we are better off than many.   I won’t even go to feeding the hungry and housing the cold…….  But I think we each need to take a look at our moral responsibilities in this world.  No, we can’t change the whole world, but we can change one life at a time.    I suppose this is as good a place as any for me to set up my soapbox!

November 7

We’re baking cookies tonight.  Bill has a catering job tomorrow for 160 sack lunches.  All the police in Spartanburg county are treated to a sack lunch, served at 9 libraries.   I think he will be busy tomorrow!  Restaurant business is so interesting.  All my life, I have been an employee, fairly self-contained in my little classroom, reporting to others, but never really having much reason to interact professionally.  Now I am in an entirely different situation.  I never want to be an administrator, but now I have had a chance to see teaching from an administrators perspective.   Observing the big picture has been a revelation.  It never really dawned on me before that if I was 2 minutes late for something, it could throw a wrench into the entire works.  Though a completely different situation, working with employees at the restaurant has many similarites.  It seems employees only get sick on days when you REALLY need them, their children and spouses get sick and they have to take off, they don’t see the big picture, you have to be very specific about what you want to have accomplished……  I think I am glad that I am an employee, not an employer. 

November 3

LONG week.  My husband and I own Cafe on Morgan Square, formerly The Sandwich Factory.  Charming, quaint…. I really do love the restaurant.   We are open from about 6:30 am till 4:00 pm which is perfect for MY schedule.  (I rarely have to work there!)  We also do catering and this week was a killer – a party Sunday, Monday and Friday nights.  On top of that, we worked late at school Monday and Tuesday so I am DRAGGING!  Catering is fun, the money helps, but I can tell I am getting old    Guess it is getting me in practice for Dickens of a Christmas downtown.  That is one of our busiest days.  If you haven’t come downtown to this event yet, (always the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving) you really ought to do so.  There are people dressed in “Dickensonian” costumes, the Spartanburg ballet has exerpts from The Nutcracker, there are carriage rides, Christmas music by various groups, food everywhere, and of course, the lighting of the Christmas tree.  It really is a great way to start Christmas.   Anyway, got to cut this short.  I have to make a cake for a wedding shower tonight, and today or tomorrow, I HAVE to put up my greenhouse.  It won’t be long before we have a freezing night……