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

Tax Season and another Favor

The end of the tax season is upon me. Yes, I know that 15 April was a couple of weeks ago, however, tomorrow night 28 April is my last night to work. The extra money has been great. I really like having the extra cash flow. It made dating a little easier and all of the other things that come up throughout the month. Not to mention getting a little further out of debt. I wish it were as easy to get out of debt as it is to get in it. I will claim the stupidity that got into debt in the first place. Enough on the bad stuff.
I need a favor. I am putting together a book of story problems that I can use with my students. I need contexts for each of the operations. I can supply the numbers, but I have run out of ideas. I have about 100 or so, but need about 40 more. Some stories can have multiple operations.
Unlike my colleagues I am done with end of year testing. Does that mean I am all done teaching for the year?
I started my students on 2 mock trials. One trial is based on Hansel and Gretel. The other concerns the 3 Billy Goats Gruff. I let my students choose which trial they wanted. To my surprise they chose The State of Utah vs. Ms. Sand Witch. I am looking forward to seeing them. If you are interested, shows will be held between 18-22 May. Details will come later.
The Dodgers play their second game on Wed. I am so excited/nervous. It depends on the day. Currently, we are 1-0. I now that doesn't mean much, but hey it's a good start.
I love you all,

OLD Man

The Confession of an OLD Man

I must confess that though I prefer things on the cooler side of things, I have enjoyed the Sun the last couple of days. I will do the rest of my confessing to the Bishop. If I could stay this temp for the rest of the summer I would be very grateful. However, I know it will get a lot hotter.
We played baseball last night. It was pretty good game. The team did very well for not practicing for about 10 days. I did get a little nervous at the bottom of the 2nd inning. The other team had tied the game. We were able to get some steals to home in the last inning. The team we played is in the division just below ours. A lot of the kids are very young in the game and age. It gets hard to help extend my own players when we play the young guys.
Starting next week we play 2 games a week, and one practice mixed in.
I love being part of the boys of summer!!!!

OLD Man

Juli Larsen

As many of you know that today is Juli's birthday. She happens to be in the one of the places she loves most, if not the her most favorite place...Disneyland. I have thought about her a little more often the last few days than I normally do; and dedicate this post to her.
One of the biggest jokes that I have with Juli is that I took about 2 years to convince her that she owed me $6. When I would bring it up she would rack her brain trying to remember why she owed me money at all. On one grateful day she wrote me out a check for $6. I started laughing and gave her check back and said those wonderful words that pranksters use quite often, "Just Kidding!" She rolled her eyes and, I hope I remember correctly, her chuckling with me.
I remember one Sunday afternoon when she was dating Dave. She was sitting at the table and said, "I wish Dave would call." I asked what his number was. I called him and told him that Juli wanted him to call her. Then I hung up. He called a minute or two later. I never learned if Dave thought Juli asked me to do that or if he knew I did on my own.
My mind goes back to pictures in the photo albums of when we were kids. For along time she was the only girl among 4 boys. I hope that I didn't treat her too poorly.
I remember her driving the Ranchero. How she would work at the school district warehouse. I have fond dreams of going miniature golfing with Juli, Cindy Jones, a neighbor down the street, and Kelly Savage, my friend next door. It seems we went every other week for most of the summer. Juli would drive. We sometimes would go to Leatherby's (I think) for ice cream. Such great memories.
I am thankful that she lives close by. She is patient with me and loves me.
I love to hear her talk about taking pictures. It is fun to see the fruits of her labor. I love to hear about her trips she takes with Dave and even the ones she takes on her own; especially to do the scrapbooking thing.
I am not sure if Juli would admit it, but she would give you the clothes off her back.
The other day I was tickling Nathan. I can get on top of Nathan, hold his arms above his head, and get pretty close to tickle him, but not touching him, he starts laughing. Juli is worse than that. I could pin her to the floor put her arms above her head and do nothing more and she would start laughing.
Unfortunately for Juli, she and I shared a bed when I was little. The way it really worked...I was such a wild sleeper that she often found herself on the floor. There wasn't much sharing involved. I sometimes wonder if she just started on the floor so as to get a good night's sleep. Maybe that's why when she got up she would take a blanket, curl up in a ball and lie on the heat vent in the dining room. I had never put those two things together. Sorry Juli.
I can't say that I remember watching Juli dance, but I remember her enjoying it. I remember her telling about her last visit with Sandy before he died. She talked about standing at the front window and watching him drive away.
Juli is very brave. Let me explain. Juli lived in Clinton. Jen and I was living in Logan. Dave was working in Carbon County or near there. She asked me to fly her down there. I had just gotten my private pilot's license and needed the hours. It was a good flight. One of the smoothest flights I have ever been on. The brave part was the fact that she trusted me to fly her down and back. On the way home we were over Spanish Fork Canyon. I asked if she wanted to take the controls. She replied, "No." I showed her how the control wheel and pedals worked. I then put my feet flat on the floor, and I sat on my hands. I said, "If you don't take control of the airplane we are going to crash into that mountain peak over there." She took control of the airplane and did very well.
Juli, I could continue with many more memories, but I had better get to bed. Let me finish with this; I love you dearly. You have a good heart (though your physical one may some work, you know what I mean). I love the quiet ways you do things and really expect nothing in return. Though it has been a while, I like leaving "cold hard cash" in your fridge. I love your creativeness. You work hard. You are a great example of how to run a home. I need some of your self discipline, do you have any to spare?
I love you. May Heavenly Father's richest blessings continue to be yours. May you have all that you need and continue to give as you have. We are all greatly blessed to know and have you with us. And may Grammy's cookie jar always be full.
With much love and affection,

OLD Man
A.K.A.
You favoritest little brother
Bartley

Ah Dang...it's over!!!!

Though I love my job, I must take this opportunity to say that I am not ready to go back. I have enjoyed the staying up late, working for TaxHawk, and watching movies.
However, I do understand that this would get really boring if I were to do it all of the time. Work keeps me going. To quote a line from Return to Me: I'm blessed with work.
Both Nathan and I are nervous for tomorrow's game. It will be interesting to see how the team reacts working together. Which reminds me, I have to work out the rotation for riding the pine and batting order. I hope these guys don't freeze up and choke when batting.
As always, love you all.

OLD Man

I am officially excited

I distributed uniforms today. Our first game is on Monday. With a week off I was hoping that we could one practice before we officially started the season. It will be interesting to see how they play after 10 days off. I am so excited to start the season. I was able to meet some more of our parents it was fun, too.
I am also excited to BBQ something. Though I'd like that something to be a t-bone steak. That will have to wait for another day.

Spring Break 2009

Here we go.
If you read past posts you know that I got rid of the couches. Well, Spring Break in our house consisted of three mattresses on the floor in our living room. Nathan, Maggey, and Abbey have been sleeping in the front room. They/we have watched several movies, many of them more than once. With it snowing what else can we do. Maggey, Abbey, Jen and I went to see Monsters Vs. Aliens 3D on Monday. Because I am thinking I owe myself something for working how many ever hours I took us to Arby's for supper. I am almost ready for another sandwich.
Tomorrow we are heading to Grandma Mary's to play games. I told Jen to not wake me up, I'll get up when I'm ready to. I may get up read and go back to sleep.
As you have noticed Lindsey and Ashley are not mentioned here. They are in St. George with ALee. I hope basking in the sun.
This may not sound like a lot to many of you, but we have had a lot of fun. I forgot to mention that we projected the movies up on the wall. We also projected American Idol on the wall to. Ask Jen about American Idol comercials. Actually, you better ask the kids about it. Jen may see it as what happens on spring break stays with spring break.

As for the rest of spring break I will still be working on taxes and maybe doing things around the house.
The grass around the house has never been greener. I am trying to be better about maintaining it. I am trying to get it fuller. Due to my stupidity it has been really bad. I am paying for my mistakes, but still learning.
Thanks for reading,

OLD Man