The Teacher's Point of View

As the end of the school year approaches teachers are asked if they are ready for school to be out. Serious question no doubt.
Here is my perspective and I do not claim to speak for my colleagues. Teaching school is being on the stage for a good portion of the school day. The time on stage depends on the a teacher's assignment. For example, a first grade teacher will spend more time in front of a classroom due the attention span of the a first grader is not very long. Colleen is a music specialist for the Ogden School District and is in front of children all day except traveling between schools. I think she even eats her lunch while driving (I wonder if the same rules apply for eating in the car as they do for talking or texting on the cell phone?). Sorry, small tangent.
When students are older such as fifth graders I can give them an assignment and expect them to work on it independently. Regardless of the grade level, teachers are on stage. We are expected to be entertaining and educating at the same time. Sometimes that can be extremely hard. We don't have the graphics that those computer games have.
Getting back to the original question about school getting out. I do like summers, like the idea of sleeping in and a change in the environment/venue. Please note that for many it is not 3 months off. Many teachers take summer classes to enhance their educational arsenal. I will be in class 4 days a week for 4 weeks in the middle of the summer. Much of the time will be reading and writing. The work will be equivalent to 6 semester hours of post graduate work.
I have really enjoyed this class and I don't want to see them leave. So, this year I am sad for the school year to end. The have been rockin' awesome. We did the "Road to Success" sponsored in part by Ken Garff. The goal for the school was to read 1,000,000 minutes. This class set the goal to read 275,000 minutes. They reached that goal last week. Tomorrow I will take a final count to see how many minutes they read. Most of the time this class knows when it's time to settle down and get to work. Though I never moved to a new school and was the new kid on the block I do know that being the new kid can be hard. I had my original students all year long, with the exception of one.
One thing some parents do not realize is the importance of the first day of school. The tone of the classroom is set on the first day and can be difficult for a student the misses the first day. They can sometimes feel like an outcast; even if they are not new to the school.

A Surprise

Jen and I jokingly talk about a 25 year plan for upgrades/changes to our home. When something is mentioned about adding something to the house we respond with, "It's in the 25 year plan." We have asked Mike to put in whatever is needed for the secondary water system. He said, "Bart, I could put in a sprinkling system in your front yard and the north side of your house. It wouldn't be too much more than what it cost to put the stuff for the secondary water." Anyway he twisted my arm hard enough. So, we start trenching tonight and will continue on Sat. Two sections of the yard will have a sprinkling system. I am pretty excited. Jen is even more excited, she's in charge of watering to those two sections. I still get to water the back lawn. Actually, it is more weeds, but it will be the best manicured lot of weeds around.
It will be fun. After we get the backyard set the way we want it we can lay it with a sprinkling system.
I am waiting for my ship to come in so I can have the yard done in the next 2 years. One of the things I am looking forward to changing is patio. Who ever put it in the first place didn't do very well. If you don't pick up your feet the cement will trip up.
Thanks Mike.

OLD Man

Coke and Cookies

Sundays after church Jen and I would take the kids to Grandpa B's house for Coke and cookies after church. Grandpa's Coke had a certain taste to it. Though it came out of a 2 liter bottle, it always tasted better than when I would buy a 2 liter bottle. A few years ago, I discovered that Juli discovered Grandpa's secret. Her Coke tastes just like Grandpa B's. The thing that confusles me is that I am not sure she really knows the secret. I was at her house to get the tiller. It has been a long time since I have helped myself to her fridge. I did so on this visit. True to form her off brand cola tasted just like it should.
It certainly brings fond memories. Maggey was talking about it the other day. I really couldn't believe she remembers much. Ah, the simple things that spark fond memories of time gone by.

We planted some tomato plants. Come August we will have some tomatoes. I am looking forward to BLT's.
Also, FYI. I have named my two peach trees. The one near the front of the garden has been given the name of Bert and the one at the back has been named Ernie. If you happen to come by please talk with them and give them some encouragement.
I am going to attempt to go to sleep.
Love always,

OLD Man
P.S. Confusle is a word ask Lindsey. I am just not sure of the spelling.

Peach Trees

Because I'm no longer on the computer every night I don't find myself blogging much.
After 7 years of threatening to plant some peach trees I finally bought some and planted them on Sat. I bought them for me for mother's day. Don't worry I had Jen covered on that account as well. I will need to wait 3 more years to get some fresh peaches and some peach jam. Maybe I will learn how to make homemade bread to go with the peach jam.
Got to go

OLD Man