Quick, Someone Teach Me How to Draw!

This was our writing prompt today. My choice is simple. I would draw my father. I would need drawing lessons first so I don't bring him back looking like he walked out of a Picasso. I want him to look like...

Only, I'll draw some more modern glasses for him. ;)

I love you, Dad. I miss you.

A Gift for My Students

I have a gift for you.

It isn't wrapped with paper and bow.

The gift will be good whether there's sun or snow.

It isn't a gift card or a bouquet of flowers.

This gift does, however, hold special powers.

It isn't for a special occasion.

It isn't attached to any school vacation.

I'll ask you to share it with others you meet.

No worries, by sharing you'll make it complete.

The gift is knowledge, a most powerful thing.

No strings attached, and yours for the asking.

I Changed the Title

This was a challenging day. More so than most. Is there a full moon on the rise? The students were more talkative than usual, less attentive than desired. The school day has come to a close, for the students at least, and I find myself wanting desperately to be home sitting in a sunny corner of the family room with the two cats vying for my lap while I blissfully read the latest find from www.bookbub.com. 

Reading is an escape for me. I don't worry while I read. I don't do a mental creating, tweaking, recreating of lesson plans. I'm not distracted by the mess in the kitchen, the laundry that was washed, dried, folded, but then left in the basket waiting to be put in the dresser drawers. I don't think about what lies ahead in the days and weeks to come. I am totally lost in the words crafted by a clever author. Reading rejuvenates me.

Alas, I've too much homework to do. One being to post on my new blog. As much as I would like to just put things off until tomorrow I know that would not be in the best interest of my students. If the teacher won't do her homework, how can she expect her student's to do theirs? 

So,here I am, tackling the "to do list" as I should. Keeping my nose to the grindstone because I know that eventually there is a book waiting for me and that will be my reward.

Mom's Crisp Recipe

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Is there a recipe used in your family that you know for certain you will have in your own repertoire when you leave the nest? For me it was (and still is) my mother's apple crisp. It was always a hit with us when we were growing up. For a really special treat she would use peaches in place of apples. Yum! I use this recipe all the time. I rotate my fruit choices using apples, blueberries, cherries, or peaches. It is super simple and simply delicious. A great "go to" recipe that takes little time to prepare but always is met with rave reviews. Give it a try...

Fruit Crisp

Prepare 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Place a generous layer of fruit in dish. (On occasion I will make a blueberry compote to use as my fruit layer. Cherry pie filling also works nicely.)

In separate bowl mix together...

1 1⁄2 cups brown sugar

1 1⁄2 cups oatmeal (Old Fashioned Oats, not quick oats)

1 cup flour

2 sticks margarine

Crumble mixture on top of fruit, bake in 350° oven until golden and bubbly.

Create a blog.

Professional Development Assignment: Create a blog.

It was suggested that I start blogging. It was suggested that I simply reflect. It was suggested that I only do so Monday through Friday. Ah well, two out of three...

A month ago I learned I would have a Saturday PD in October. I wasn't thrilled, my Saturday's are already packed. It was very wise of our IC to give me a month's warning. That gave me plenty of time to grieve the loss of my precious Saturday hours and come in to today's PD with a desire to be here. It was time well spent. I learned A LOT!! Some of what I learned I have already put to practice. Some will take a few moments to be ready for release. 

In the meantime, I want to tempt my students with a Chromebook trick... If you comment on this post I will teach you how to get to activate CAPS LOCK on our Chromebooks. Keep in mind, this is a reward for posting, don't share the secret with your friends/classmates that didn't take the time to post. Your post doesn't need to be anything elaborate, a simple comment or emoticon will suffice.