Merry Christmas

I would like to just take a moment to say Merry Christmas to everyone. This year, it would be nice to take a few minutes and think about what this child means to us. I think of my job and how it correlates with what Jesus did for the many who follow him. I'm sure our "jobs" don't parallel much, but I feel that I serve my students much like He serves us. I love being there for the kids who need me, who resect me and who listen to what is being taught. In Language Arts, there are so many life lessons to be learned, along with history and connections to text, self and world, that it is my hope that my students can determine what is right and what is wrong, what is acceptable and what is not.
In our school there are so many in need. In one way or another, it varies...this world of ours presents so many temptations and pressure to do things that kids don't need to be dealing with at such a young age. It is very tiring at times dealing with such things, but when it is all worked out for them, in the end, it is such a gift.
Winter is here, it symbolizes the death of what we once knew was life (trees in full leaf, flowers in bloom, wild life here and there, the sun...)
It's time to rethink who we are, what we do, and what is to come.
It is my hope that this Christmas, we celebrate what is dear to us. Our lives, our families, and our loved ones.
"Life" is just a few months away, and we need to be ready for it- are you?
Time for tea-
E-

First Quarter

Today I informed my students that they are now expected to blog every week for class. I set up a blog on my school district's web site, so every week they will be given a question to ponder and respond to. I love it, and I think once they get going, they will too. 7th graders are funny. They love to share what they think, inside and outside of class- so this should be interesting.
I have such a love for those kids. They are all different shapes and sizes, and very unique in their thoughts and feelings. I love to see listen to them talk about their books. I learn form them what it is that keeps them reading, and what turns them off. I have seen so many transitions just in the first quarter of school-it's great!
I had parent-teacher conferences this week, and I had so many parents come to see me that I never had a moment to spare! That's a little unusual-but it's wonderful to see the concern from the parents. It is neat to see the similarities between the kids and their parents-and how different they can be as well. I had to laugh at one student, he looked like a "mini-me" of his father!
I am looking forward to a few days off for the Thanksgiving weekend-
It's been a long 10 weeks of school, and a long Fall with my own two boys! I am grateful that everyone is doing fine, and they are healthy and happy.

With that in mind-
Time for tea!
E-

Tea with a Friend

A lifelong friend took me to tea after school one day last week. It was a birthday gift! I was excited to go, since we would be going to a tea house I had never been to. It was a nice drive there, and the weather was pure FALL, my favorite season of the year.

As we pulled up, there was a huge teapot in the window advertising the establishment.

It was small, but overpouring with tea favors and essentials for a wonderful tea.

The owner served us, so we got to talk about the trials and tribulations of owning and running a tea shop. We all agreed that homemade items on the menu are the way to go! We have been to enough places to know that some tea houses don't always do that...

We enjoyed small tea sandwiches, soup, scones and delicious sweets.

The tea I chose was a loose tea with white chocolate and cherry flavors. It was delicious.

Being able to spend time with a friend like that is priceless. That sounds like the credit card commercial, but it is true! I had such a nice time talking about friends, family and our work. Having someone in your life who knows you better than you know yourself at times is a blessing. The reason I say this is because I had doubted our friendship at one time in the years gone by...but this tea made me realize that even though we had our differences, and needed time away for a while, she never forgot anything I deemed sacred. Nor I, her.

Time is definitely on our side. As women we have both gone through major life changes. We have been there for each other, and at times we haven't.

I believe friendship grows when one is left to ponder reasons why things happen, and what the significance is of having a friend there.

Now I'm not saying we talk 24/7, or call or talk every day-

I feel it is just great to know that she

is here - now.

Time for Tea!

E-

My Reading Students

I have charged my students with reading 40 books by year's end. I had many who fell out of their seat, many who didn't have a reaction, and some who took it as a challenge.
Every year I am confronted with students who tell me they just hate to read. They think it is boring and they won't read no matter what!
One girl said to me that she just doesn't like to read, and she will never make the 40 book goal-she kept shaking her head back and forth, saying she can't do it, her reading level is too low, and that's why she hates to read.
I had her read a very short mystery book, for her first book because it is the genre we are studying first. She did so, and then hesitated for a few days in reading her second. She kept getting a book and abandoning it. I asked her if she was having a hard time-she said yes...
She was so sure that pople would make fun of her because she has to read lower level books.
I found a great book for her on my shelf, and asked her to try it. She said, it's too thick!!! I just laughed and said, look at the print!
She said she'd try it.
She is half way done with it, and she loves it. I know this because she asked me to find the other books that were advertised in the back of the book written by the same author.

This is what makes me love my job.

Time for tea-
E-

Amazing Graces

It's is amazing how a few hours can change things. Having a great talk with family is what cures all ailments. Everyone is now calmed down about money and worries for the immediate future-

I guess I was wrong about 17 year olds, they just need time to think things through-to see more than one viewpoint.

It also helps when you have someone to support you when explaining things that are difficult to explain. Even though I am usually good at converstation, when it comes to your kids, it isn't always that easy.

We can all rest easy tonight-

Tomorrow is a new day-

Tea time!

E-

Happy Days

I am sitting here after talking to my 17 year old about money-
Wow- how times have changed! I can't understand how a kid without a job can think that parents should just owe them money to have a social life. I don't mind helping out now and then, but I think it's getting a little out of hand!
I give to my kids all the time, it is my job to make sure they have whatever they need-but can it be pushed too far?
Baseball, hockey, football, dances, trips, gas, insurance, clothes, pictures, fundraisers, video games, birthday, holidays, and good grades...
The list goes on-
I wish it would end.
Knowing that one is graduating is exciting and scary-I don't know how he will do it without knowing the true value of hard work and money-
and how disciplined one has to be to educate yourself and spend money wisely.
I've had my share of money issues, still do! But these kids today who are so spoiled by their post baby boomer parents are in for a huge surprise!
This is one time I can honestly say that I am glad I am not a teenager again!

Time for some TEA!
E-

Back to School

I mentioned that I teach 7th grade Language Arts. I have always loved my job, teaching grades 6-8 when I began in the 80's, then elementary grades until 3 years ago when I ventured over to the middle school. I have absolutely loved the last 22 years in the classroom-how different they all were! This year I hope to create another group of kids who will love to know what it is to be a reader and a writer. My dream is to capture at least 75% of my students (around 130 of them) attention to where they can actually enjoy a book, and not look at it as boring!

How can anyone not like a job that requires you to help a student find THE ONE book that will make them a reader for life?? I've seen so many attitudes change from total defiance to giving recommendations for favorite books!

Writing is a little more challenging to teach, but I have hope that I make it fun enough for the kids to enjoy themselves. Their creativity is so rich-they just don't see it-so I have the pleaseure of waking them up to it!

I guess I am a true GEEK, I am ready for school to start. Yes, my summer went by all too quickly, especially since I tried my hand at being an elementary summer school principal! LOL It went well, and the kids were great! But it took away half of my usual summer break, and my writing and gardening and vacationing took a back seat-but I did complete my summer "To Do" List. (I feel good about that!)

So- off I go to finish my "Before School-To Do" List!

(That's me presenting at the MRA conference!)

Definitley time for TEA!!

E-

Do you Love Your Job?

I walked into my classroom today and saw several desks-maybe 40, a large table, bookshelves- 6 now!

My desk in the corner by the window.

It is a mess...nothing is where it should be, but that is because our maintenance crew works so hard to get our school back in shape for the beginning of school.



I know that I love my job because this scene I just described actually makes me want to be there and create a learning space no kid wants to leave. I love creating an atmosphere that will hold the kids in it's arms and have a peaceful day.



Last year I ended up having my quiet lunch in my classroom turn into a small cafe! Kids would stand at my door with lunch tray in hand and say,"Can we eat in your room? We don't want to eat in the cafeteria, your room is like being at home." If that isn't the best compliment, I don't know what is!



I wish I could snap my fingers and make the room a little larger, since my class sizes are rising, but we will make do another year with what we have.



Books to level and notebooks to make-

With this list of things to do now-



Time for Tea!

E-

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is one tradition that I have to thank our European and Asian ancestors for. The Europeans learned of the ancient art of tea from Asia, which was brought to Europe and eventually to America. Women enjoyed tea so much, they decided to hold afternoon teas and high teas and teas for all occasions for the sole purpose of spending time with friends.

I had an afternoon tea in early June with family members that I haven't seen in a long while. Friends of my mother also joined us, but they are now like family, so it was good to spend time with them as well.

When I was young, I never thought tea would mean so much to me. It is an event that I pour my whole self into. I have made numerous types of scones, several tea sandwiches, and a great garden vegetable quiche! (For the first time!) Every bite, every tea is a special moment for your guests. The gathering and the conversation are wonderful, but the food is what makes it a memory.

My aunts looked so shocked when they walked into the dining room. Every delicate place setting, every piece of china, all the silverware in it's place...this is what I love to present to my family. It is me-offering up to them-what I want them to take home with them.

The table was so inviting-
I was so proud to have had the ability to share what I feel was a memorable afternoon of love and friendship.

There will be a day in my life when tea will be what I do-and who I am.
It is a dream that I hope will come true-

With that on my mind-

Time for Tea!

E-

Life's Changes

There are times when I look forward to going

out on the boat to just observe. The water, the sky-

so blue. Another gift taken for granted each day.

Sailboats and lighthouses, seagulls and sun-

these are treasures I savor now, when before

they were just there- not fully appreciated.

People bring about changes in our lives. Sometimes

unexpectedly. Sometimes for better, sometimes

for worse. I am fortunate to say that I am one

whose life was changed for the better midlife-

and am grateful-

for it

all.

Time for Tea! E-

A Day in my Yard

This is my baby- it is our first hydrangia planted at the house. I have worried over it for a year now and it looked wonderful this summer. It turned a beautiful pink. Now that fall is on it's way, the color is diminishing...
this is a photo of a bloom before the color appeared.
It was truly a gift!

Time for tea!
E-

Sweet Six Year Olds

I was in Toronto, Canada. It was the end of a long day, and the kids coerced me to go down to the pool on the 3rd floor. I wasn't really in the mood to swim, so I ventured over to the hot tub. The salt water felt soothing, and there weren't many people there, so it was really enjoyable.
A few minutes later, a small, youg girl came into the hot tub with her grandmother. She began to talk to me about her day, and asked me about whether or not I did what she did that day...as we talked, she said that Nathan was smiling at her. I noticed another young boy in a lounge chair beside the pool. I asked if that was her brother, and she said, "No". I then asked if he was her cousin, she again said,"No".
Her grandmother was laughing hysterically, and said, "He's your brother! Your twin brother at that!"
The little girl laughed and said, "Oh yeah- I forgot!"

We laughed so hard!
It's these little stories that make our day-

Makes me wonder how many important things I "forget" in a day!!

Time for Tea!
E-

Traveling With Your Kids-

Traveling with two 12 year old boys (soon to be 13), requires more patience than I will ever need to teach 120 7th graders for an entire year!

Between the "I wants" and the "mom, mom, mom's", I think I have officially gone berserk!

The constant fooling around between my son and his friend while on a wonderfully structured/planned trip to Toronto- Canada, Niagara Falls, Cooperstown N.Y. and N.Y.C. has been uprooted from my expectations and turned into shreds.

If it's not fast enough, slow enough, cool enough or just not exactly when, where or how they want it, it's not good enough.

Anything and everything that my fiance and I thought would be exciting and enjoyable- is being criticised, chewed up and spit out by the hyenas...

At this point, we are half way through our journey- tomorrow we go on the Maid of the Mist and hike the Walk behind the Falls. I'm wondering if it will be loud enough to where I CAN'T HEAR anyone!??

Funny...after the 301st complaint, I asked my son if he was enjoying himself...

The answer??????

"Yeah! This is great!!"


Time for tea! :)

E-

Good evening-
I am blogging for the first time. The purpose of this blog is to share stories (life stories, work stories, and humorous stories). I am a middle school language arts teacher, and I feel that I have a thousand stories to tell...I also love to entertain by having afternoon teas which I bake everything from scratch and serve various tea flavors.
I read a lot when time permits, but I just never seem to read as much as I really want. My bedside stand is piled high with books and magazines just waiting for me.
So, I will return in a week with my first story. It should be a good one, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I like writing them!
Good night!