Sunday, April 30, 2017

Hope for the future — trees — get planted by our future

Hope for the future — trees — get planted by our future: My doorbell rings even though the hour is still early. Coffee sits on my dining room table with the newspaper spread out in front of me to read about folks I know and those I don’t. I scramble to the door knowing who is there before I answer.


Scott Hottell's class on Arbor Day at the
White Picket Gardens!


Here is the link to this week's column. As always, it was a labor of love to write. Thanks to the city of Angola, the Tree Board and this exceptional group of 7th graders for a job well done. Thank you also for reading. Just click on the above link and there is the column!!




Monday, April 17, 2017

Earth Day has become a natural part of my celebrations...

Earth Day has become a natural part of my celebrations: Shel Silverstein published “The Giving Tree” in 1964. It was a book that editors were wary to publish because they felt it was too sad for children and too childish for adults. Harper and Row finally took the project and decided on a limited publishing amount of 5-7,000 copies. Of course, we know the results! Currently, there are 5.6 million copies of this timeless book on bookshelves everywhere.


Reed Steele








This week we will be celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, April 22nd. There are many events, as you can see from this week's column. I am so excited to announce that Reed Steele will be sharing his expertise in Science with us at the Science Rally on the Square in Angola at 10:00. You won't want to miss this. Please come join us.

As always, thank you for reading. See you Saturday! 

Monday, April 10, 2017

Love is all around in Minneapolis...

Love is all around in Minneapolis: Minneapolis is a long way to travel to throw my hat into the air by the Mary Tyler Moore statue, but that is exactly what I did. With one small suitcase (and a hat to throw), I pulled into Union Station at midnight. Clicking my boots together I knew I wasn’t in Kansas or Angola anymore as the Minneapolis sky line loomed ahead and was full of color. When the country mouse travels to visit the city mouse, I must say the country mouse is all ears and eyes.

This past winter I visited Minneapolis by train. I love traveling by train and wanted to see a friend of mine. I loved visiting the city and took in all the sites, at least all that I could see for one weekend. I got behind in my posting this winter so this column is a little dated (February), but nonetheless, it was a great trip and there is lots of information in the column. Just click on the title or the first line. As always, thank you for reading!


 
Minnehaha Falls in the winter.
 
 
When visiting Minneapolis you should always stop by the house of
F. Scott Fitzgerald!
 
 
 
The Art Museum has a Jane Austin room. I could have spent the whole
day there cozied up with a book by the fire!
 
 

Friday, April 07, 2017

Today’s stories can bring tomorrow’s smiles...

Today’s stories can bring tomorrow’s smiles: I watch the students walk into the classroom one at a time or in groups. They are more chatty than usual, and I love that. I have a policy about cell phones. “Once under the lintel, the phones go off.” Sometimes the word “lintel” confuses them, but they understand the policy! If I see someone sneaking out their phone all I have to say is “Under the lintel, under the lintel.” It is Pavlovian.
 


Here is the link to this week's column. I love writing about my students, and here is the one on storytelling. The photo is a little blurry, but you get the idea. Just click on the title of the first line and you will have the story. As always, thank you for reading and enjoy!!


Here are the three students who shared Orpheus and Eurydice!


 
 

 
 

Spring break in St. Pete...

  Adam and his pups! The late-night flight is full. Everyone is heading out for spring break. Students and teachers, moms and dads, kids and...