Thanksgiving Break is practically upon us!  The students are restless.  I am restless.  I can practically smell the pumpkin pie and cookies and all things yummy fresh from the oven!  So close!  When I was in school Thanksgiving Break consisted of Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday; we were busy in classes Monday-Wednesday of that week.  And I do not ever recall there being a high rate of absenteeism.  When I started teaching in 2008 (for the same district I graduated from), students had gained Wednesday off.  I remember being so wowed.  But, the truancy was high for Monday and Tuesday.  Really, those two days had so many absences at my school that they were like planning days.  Then a few…

Happy November!  November is my favorite month.  The weather here in my Sunshine State has begun to cool so my AC is not coming on as much, which is of course very helpful for the electric bill.  Many homes have fun inflatable turkeys in their yards for the dogs and I to enjoy as we walk around the neighborhood.  And Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday.  It’s such a simple holiday to me.  Food and family and rest.  Though I suppose I can say rest because I have a rather large family and we do a pot luck meal, so it’s not like I’m in the kitchen days beforehand.  I make cookies or a sweet potato casserole and…

It is hard to believe that first quarter in my district, and surrounding districts, is already over.  The big start of the year doings are a distant memory (at least for the students), and my hot and humid Florida weather has given way to a dryer cool to let me know that Fall has officially arrived.  Even if he does not ultimately stay very long.  Many homes have open doors and windows, inviting Fall to sit and stay awhile, though I know he won’t. It’s in the fall that I use some of my favorite short story lessons.  I already did a post on Edgar Allan Poe, but here are some other fun and…

It is Hispanic Heritage month!  Well, we’re halfway through it since it spans a portion of September and October, without taking up all of either month.  My husband is Puerto Rican and only in the last few years did he even know there was a Hispanic Heritage month!  We’ve been married over seven years and I recently went to Puerto Rico for the first time.  He was very excited for me to finally go.  Some beautiful topography.   If, you are looking to add any units by Hispanic and Hispanic-American authors, I have some here! “Ode to a Large Tuna” in the Market by Pablo Neruda This is such a fun poem.  It takes a very creative…

I’ve always found that quote from “A Streetcar Named Desire” funny. I certainly would not say teaching English is a misfortune, but it definitely has some challenges other subjects don’t have (essay grading, anyone? 150 essays anyone???).   I’ve not had the pleasure of teaching Tennessee Williams, but I have had the pleasure of teaching Hawthorne, Whitman and Poe.  Though I must admit, I do find Whitman to be my least favorite of the three.  I enjoy Hawthone.  I’d like to one day teach his Scarlet Letter, but it generally isn’t a part of the curriculum that I work with. Poe is my favorite.  And his texts, though great for any time of year, are especially…

Rapport with the modern student definitely takes more preparation than it used to; it used to be so easy. So easy in fact that it was nothing I even had to try to do, because so long as I was my normal self, then organic conversations and lessons ensued. And that was enough to allow me to glean common fertile ground.  But now, the jury definitely takes some strategy to figure out. A while back I taught a sophomore Reading class, which a lot of teachers shy away from, and I get that, but this year started out particularly smooth.  I did though, have one student in one of my classes that…

Here in Florida we are a few weeks into the new school year, and it’s generally around this time that the Honeymoon period comes to an end and behavioral issues begin to arise.  Sigh.  Early and organized parental contact for any behaviors, both wonderful and ill, is crucial.  However, even when I’m completely on top of this rapidly rotating ball beneath me, it can still be a rough ride.   Several years back I had an extremely quiet and meek girl in my freshman Intensive Reading class.  I found her to be an absolute delight. She was optimistic, engaged and so sweet.  I called her parents after school to tell…

I am good at running.  I used to be good at the literal running, but now I’m very mediocre at the literal running.  I am, however, still really good at the metaphorical running of time management.   I fully understand how to budget time in order to accomplish a variety of tasks within a specified time frame.  I enjoy making lists and checking things off.  There is just something about the simplicity of looking at a crossed off to-do list that brings a certain sense of satisfaction to me.   In fact, I enjoy checking off my list so much that when I was in college I started writing really easy things on my lists, just…

He knew it first when walking downtown. Tom grabbed his arm and pointed gasping, at the dimestore window. They stood there unable to move because of the things from another world displayed so neatly, so innocently, so frighteningly, there. “Pencils, Doug, ten thousand pencils!”“Oh, my gosh!”“Nickel tablets, dime tablets, notebooks, erasers, water colors, rulers, compasses, a hundred thousand of them!”“Don’t look. Maybe it’s just a mirage.”“No,” moaned Tom in despair. “School. School straight on ahead! Why, why do dime stores show things like that in windows before summer’s even over! Ruin half the vacation!” ― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine It’s hard to believe that the end of July is here.  Let the lament begin and…

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