Another view.

100_0895.JPG, originally uploaded by lit teacher.

I’m not sure why the date on my camera was 4/6/06. I guess I need to reset it. 

This is a dishcloth pattern from the January Issue of Creative Knitting.  I like that it isn’t the same thing over and over again like the last discloth I made.

Dishcloth

100_0896.JPG, originally uploaded by lit teacher.

Okay, I’m finally getting brave enough to show some of my knitting. I’m teaching myself, and I’m not sure that I’m doing my Yarnovers correctly. If there is anyone out there who can look at this and give me any advice, I’d love to hear from you. I feel like my holes are way too big. Are they supposed to be that big?

Surfing Again.

I couldn’t resist the tag surfer today.  I’ve been blessed with a day off, and instead of using my time wisely to get caught up on any of the many things I am behind on, I find myself tag surfing the blogosphere.  I can’t help myself.  It is like a big party, I get to mingle and meet interesting people.  The difference is that I don’t have to get dressed up and I don’t have to talk to anyone unless I really want to.  Today I ‘met’ Lydia Teh who is celebrating her 1st bloggiversary.  She introduced me to Dane at Business Opportunities who created this neat little applet that will tell you how much your blog is worth. 

My blog is worth $3,387.24.
How much is your blog worth?

I have a hard time believing my blog is worth $3,387.24  but it is kind of fun to think about isn’t it? 

I suppose I should pull myself away from the computer and find something a little more productive to do.  I can’t sit around partying all day.

Tag Surfer

I just discovered the Tag Surfer feature here at WordPress and surfed into writerchick’s very entertaining blog.  I love how she puts words together.  I then of course had to check out my blog stats and was surprised to find that most people are still connecting to my blog by searching for Daily Oral Language.  I’m sure they are all very disappointed when they get here.  I somehow ended up on mousetracks where my friend Beth gave a great review of a book she picked up at Kroger.  I don’t remember the title of the book, but I do remember that it reminded me that I am very upset with the local Kroger store.  I went in the other day to pick up a few groceries and noticed that the red reading chair that has been sitting in front of their magazine rack is gone.  I wanted that chair in my classroom, and had contemplated begging them to give it to my.  Alas, now it is gone.  I can’t help but wonder where it is and if it is receiving as much love as my students and I would have given. 

Well, my darling husband is telling me that blog time is over.  I think he would like for me to join him in bed.  So, goodnight blogosphere.  Sweet dreams.

Beth and Deborah

Beth and Deborah, originally uploaded by lit teacher.

Beth and Deborah enjoy a few minutes between sessions. I really enjoyed being with all my WTWP friends today. I always do.  I wish all professional development was this rewarding.  When I leave a WTWP event, I come home refreshed and renewed and ready to take on the world.  I’m already looking forward to our next event.  If you are a teacher who would like a life changing experience, you should check out the National Writing Project site in your area.  If you are in West Tennessee, check out West Tennessee Writing Project. 

Sandi – the self professed computer geek!

Sandi, originally uploaded by lit teacher.

Thanks Sandi for your session on blogging in the classroom. It was great!

Blah, Blah Blogs –Everyone has something to say

I am sitting in a session about blogging in the classroom and I decide to blog while I’m sitting here.  I have all these great notes and I click publish.  What happens?  They all disappear.  Why?  I have no idea.  I guess I will start over.  Sandi, our facilitator asked us to write what we thought when we heard the word blog.  I wrote, “When I hear the word blog, I think OMG I need to update my blog!”  Which is why I decided to blog while I was sitting in the session.  I figured I could just take notes straight to my blog. 

 Sandi just showed us Spaghettibookclub.org .  It is a really neat site where kids are reviewing books.  The question came up, “What do you think parents would say about them posting their city and state?”  Here in rural Tennessee, if a student put in the city and state, anyone could probably find them.  We decided that it might be a good idea to have students choose the biggest city near them and list it instead of the small town. 

I am so glad I came to this session.  Sandi just showed me what was wrong with all my links!  I can’t believe it is something so easy.  I just have to go back in and put http:// in front of all the links.  

Blah, Blah Blogs –Everyone has something to say

Routines

I have been struggling for the past week and a half to get into the groove of routine.  I know that my life and the lives of all who depend on me would be much better if I could just get into that groove.  I use to be one who resisted the groove and fought against routine behavior.  I find that the longer I live, the more I need routines.  I have come to realize that my nonroutine actions were actually routines,  just chaotic ones. 

Cool Cat Teacher says,

Routines can allow life (and your classroom) to be a little bit predictable. I have always hated and fought routine although I am finding that their presence in my classroom frees me to be more creative and effective as a teacher.

She articulates so well what I feel about routines.  The older I get the more I want routine in my life because I know that it will free me up to be creative not only in my classroom, but also in my home and family life. 

I am still struggling to get the routines set in my classroom this year, but I am so happy that I have the routines to set.  In a few weeks, maybe my students will be in the groove with me.

Busy Busy Busy

I can’t believe it has been so long since my last post.  I was excited to find 7 lovely comments waiting for my approval when I logged in this morning.  School is going well.  I have the best group of 8th graders.  It is a joy to go to school everyday and spend time with a great group of kids.  I’m spending a lot of time getting to know my students this year.  I had them write three declarative sentences and three interrogative sentences on the first day of school.  It took me a few days, but I read and responded to every single comment and question.  It was fun to pass the papers back out and hear them say things like, “She answered our questions” or “She responded.”  I want them to know that I do care about them.  I care enough to take the time to respond to them, each and every one of them. 

 I need to be getting ready.  I’m just rambling anyway, so I’ll end this with the Emily Dickinson poem that I’m reading to my students today. 

A Word Is Dead

A word is dead

When it is said,

Some say.

I say it just

Begins to live

That day.

 

It’s time for me to go give life to some words.  I hope they are all good ones.