14 out of 31 SOL

"Let's try the new taco place," I said to Jeff as we pulled into town.

"That's a good idea.  I forgot they had opened up," answered Jeff.  He navigated his truck into the parking space outside the restaurant.  

We walked into the new taco joint.  "They have done a nice job decorating this place," I commented.  Jeff agreed.  We stood quietly reading over the menu display by the counter.  The four tables were full of patrons.  That's a good sign.  

"What are you going to have?"  asked Jeff.

"I think I'm going for the lite chicken burrito."

"I'm going to have the wet burrito."  stated Jeff.  We stepped  up to the counter to place our order.  

"Is this for here or to go?"

"We hope for here," I told her as I glanced around wondering if any of the other parties were about to finish.  

Next I heard Jeff, "Hello, Dale."  With a kind smile and a nod of the head Dale said hello.

I placed our order.  "Just have a seat and we'll bring it out to you." said the waitress.

"Thanks."

When I turned from the counter I saw that Dale and Jeff were engaged in a conversation.  Jeff was holding a small, glass bottle, so to speak.  It wasn't any bigger than my little finger.  I didn't think to much about it because Dale  is a neighbor and owns farmland, so I guessed they were discussing a soil sample or insect.  I was wrong.

As I step over to join the conversation Jeff handed me the little bottle.  I hesitated slightly.  I'm not much into studying soil samples or insects for that matter.  

"Look what Dale has," said Jeff. 

I carefully took the little bottle.

"That's gold.  The prospectors gave Dale some of the first gold they found in his gravel yard."

I was captivated.  "Turn it on its side and spread out the dirt and you'll be able to see the gold better," commented Dale.  His face was covered in pride.

"This came for your place?" I asked.

"Yep, they also found rubies, two small diamonds and amethyst," Dale added.  "The prospectors work must days."

We continued with some additional small talk, while waiting for our food.  Dale's pride just shone from his face.  We said good-bye.

Because I'm not sure of all the farmers in the area I asked Jeff where Dale lived. 

"Kel, his place is on the way to mom's.  It's where the gravel for our driveway came from, right off of Keefer Hwy."

"You mean to tell me the gravel in my driveway came from a gravel yard where they're prospecting for gold?" 

Jeff's simple answer, "Yep."

Just then the waitress brought our dinner and we began to enjoy the food from our new taco joint in town.   As we ate I thought to myself, maybe I need to start prospecting for gold right in my own driveway!

13 of 31 SOL

Today's SOL:  Lingering with a book

I checked the time several times as I drove the last couple of miles to the parking ramp.  Was today's start time 8 or 8:30?  I mentally beat myself up for not checking my registration papers.

I parked, quickly walked through the ramp and crossed the street to enter the DeVos Place Conference Center.  I scanned the many signs in the main lobby for direction.  I noticed a cluster of people and took a chance.  While waiting in line I dug through my bag hoping to locate my conference pre-registration.  Found it!  Today's start time 8:30.  I wasn't late.  I hate being late.

I progressed through the line, received my name badge and found a seat in the main ballroom for the opening keynote speaker, Laure Robb.  After introductory remarks Laura began her keynote.

"Gone are the times of just spending time in the library."  Laura continued, " we no longer take the time to browse or savor a book.  Browsing through a library should be like savoring a good glass of wine."

Her remark has stayed with me all day.  Isn't that the truth?  For me I rush my students down to the library for our 30 minutes of alloted time and rush them through selecting a book, being sure it matches his/her ZPD.

What do I like the most about bookstores and libraries?  I like the time I spend browsing. Those times are like good wine.  You linger.  You savor.  You reflect about the contrasting flavors.  You study the pictures, charts, and captions.  You read sections of the text  You linger.

  

  

   

12 out 31 SOL

13 Hours Exactly Today 7:23 am pull out of the garage, 8:23 pm pull into the garage.

7:23 depart home 25 minute drive to school

7:45 arrive at school

7:50 check email and voice mail

8:00 office mate arrives (haven't seen her in several days lots to discuss)

8:45 ICT meeting group activity 

9:00 conservation with first grade teacher about comprehension

9:20 continue conservation with office mate while trying to complete a task or two

9:30 discuss the list of suggestions on how to spend our district's stimulus monies

9:40 work on math vocabulary riddle for division (I'm the remnant.  What number am I?)

10:00 freak because I haven't prepared materials for lesson at 11:00

10:01 begin to prepare materials

10:30 depart for the school to teach demo lesson

10:40 arrive at school 

10:45 talk with school principal about book fair

11:00 fourth grade essay writers; building a cohesive draft  

11:50 discussion with colleague and friend

12:00 buy a fast food lunch 

12:10 arrive back at office 

12:11 eat lunch; pick up conversation with office mate 

12:20 share idea list with Title I director

1:00 delivery; more mentor texts for K-2 teachers

1:01 open and sort books to complete orders 

1:40 desk time: email, search book leveling

2:00 time with fourth grade teacher conversation about assessment for learning division unit

3:00 pack up materials for PLC tonight

3:10 depart for PLC

3:10 drive for 50 minutes

4:00 arrive at PLC

4:10 Dinner

4:30 class begins 

7:30 departing words with facilitator  

8:23 pull into the garage

9:00 hit the couch for some mind-turned-off time

10:00 bedtime; early morning headed off to the MRA (Michigan Reading Association)

For several reasons today's post is about my maternal grandma.  One of the main reasons is that life changes as you age, gracefully, of course.  

I grew up on a 200 acre farm where my mom was raised along with her two older sisters.  My mom was born in the room we called the TV room.  It was grandma and grandpa's bedroom at the time.  The farm has been owned by a member of my mother's family for over 120 years.  

Life changes with time and it appears quite likely that my mom and her sisters will be selling the farm in the near future (3 to 5 years).  Today would have also been my maternal grandfather's 100th birthday (March 11th, 1909).

Loosely related is the fact the my parents divorce was final yesterday, 43 years!  So, life as you know it doesn't stay the same.  

Because I so dearly loved my grandma and I miss her everyday, here's is a piece of her wisdom   I shared at her funeral.

Grandma always carried a silver dollar in her wallet.  It was from the year she graduated high school.  I remember her dumping her change out on the counter at the grocery store and the silver dollar rolling across the counter.  Many times the sales clerk would pick it up and admire it.  Sometimes she would let me carry it as we walked back to the car.  Poor grandma, I must have asked her a thousand questions about it as we walked across the parking lot.

The best that I can remember is that I was home from college one weekend and was visiting with her.  She lived right next to the farm house in a mobile home.  I must have been complaining  about life in general including being broke.  It's important to know that complaining was generally not accepted in Grandma's world.  So if you started she'd casually change the subject, but on this day she let me go on.

When I finished grandma went on to say that when she meant grandpa he carried a silver dollar in his wallet for good luck and so he was never broke.  Grandma said that she could remember times when he had to use the silver dollar to buy gas, always telling the clerk he'd be back the next day for it.  So, when they married grandma thought that she should carry a silver dollar too.

Next, grandma grew quiet.  She laid her bent, crooked finger on her chin.  She would do that when she was thinking.  After several minutes, grandma told me that she put Russell's silver dollar in his lapel pocket when she saw him at the funeral home.  She felt it was important that he have is good luck charm.  And just that quick grandma's expression changed and she sent me after her safety deposit box.  

That day grandma gave me a silver dollar for good luck and to be sure that I was never broke again.  

After we lost her the first thing I needed to do was find her silver dollar.  I went immediately to her wallet and dumped out the change.  There it was . . . her good luck charm.   During my final moments with her I placed her silver dollar in her hands.  Forever and always we will never be broke.  

10 out of 31 SOL

A song adaptation of It's Raining On Prom Night

Grease Soundtrack  (Cindy Bullens)

It's Raining on Conference Night 

I was deprived of a veteran teacher's dream 

By the cruel force of nature from the blue

Instead of a night full of parent-teacher meetings

All I got was a soaking wet classroom carpet

It's raining on conference night, my hair is a mess

It's running all over my Herringbone suit

It's wilting the stack of assessment forms

And mascara flows right down my nose, because of the storm

I don't even have my diet Coke, oh gee

It fell down a sewer with my teacher's ID

Yes, it's raining on conference night, oh my Mitch (principal's name)

what can I do?  I miss my parents so

It's raining rain from the skies

And it's raining real tears from my eyes, over them (parents)

Oh dear God, make them feel the same way I do right now

Make them come out on this rainy night - oh what can I do 

It's raining rain from the skies,

it's raining tears from my eyes over them

Raining, ooh tears from my eyes over them 

Raining, ooh raining on conference night 

Ooh raining, ooh tears from my eyes over them 

Ooh raining, ooh raining on conference night...

9 out of 31

When I walked into my office today there was a brown box sitting on my desk.  What a way to start the week?  Who doesn't love deliveries?  Upon closer examination I saw that it was from Amazon.  Even better.  I just recently ordered over 200 mentor texts for our K-2 teachers.  

I moved the box aside and got on with settling in for the day.  A few hours later, I noticed the box again.  Oh, I need to open that box.  I rummaged around in my desk drawer for the box cutter.  Just as I opened the lap and removed the packaging materials Katie walked in.

"Hey, what did you get? she asked peering into the box.

"Mentor text books for the lower elementary teachers."  I stepped back to my desk to return the box cutter to its rightful home.  I thought to myself, maybe next time it won't be so hard to locate if I put it back where it belongs.

"These are some great books," shared Katie as she flipped through the stack.

"There are some real classics in there, along with some I've never seen.  I need to find the individual order slips, so I can start sorting them."  

Both Katie and I stood there silent for a moment each holding one of the new books.  I love the aura of new books: the unbroken spine, the shiny, sleek cover and the smell of paper and ink.

 

Slice of Life 8 of 31
My first thought today when I entered the church parking lot was; wow, there's still a lot of cars in the lot.  Just a bit frustrated, I circled around to find a spot while belittling myself about being put out that the church parking was full.  It's a good thing the lot is full not an inconvenience.  I quickly blame the dreary, miserable weather for my impatience.

As I walked into the lobby I found myself struggling to find a way through.  Why are all these people still milling around?  All I knew was that I needed to get through to the sanctuary for praise team rehearsal.  As I made my way I sensed an out-of-ordinary buzz.  What were they all talking about?  

"Is it new?"

"Did the church buy it?"

"Do we have enough money to buy something of that stature?"

What in the world were they talking about?  I was just here on Wednesday evening and I didn't notice anything new, albeit we are in the middle of renovations, maybe they laid some new carpet or put in a new window.

As I walked into the narthex and made the turn into the sanctuary.  I saw it sitting center stage. A black, baby grand piano.  Several members were gather around it admiring its beauty.

It took my breath away.  There it stood next to the alter with the stained-glass window for a backdrop.  The colors from the window bounced and danced off its glass finish.  A lovely red and white floral arrangement accented the gentle curve of the piano.  A massive, yet elegant presence

The sound crew finished setting up the equipment and Sherry announced that it was time for sound check.  The group broke up and drifted away.  There she was, little Jena standing on her tip-toes peeking inside at the strings and hammers.   Her face was filled with complete fascination.  

We all took our places and Sherry began the first song.  Jena remained; transfixed by the movement of the felted hammers.  It was as if you could see the wheels of her mind processing, saying, 'how does that work?'

We finished our first song.  "Jena, what do you think of the piano?" asked Sherry the keyboardist. 

"Well, I'm not sure about how it works, but it matches my shoes."  Holding her dress out of the way and sticking out a foot so we would all be sure to see, Jena gracefully showed us her black, patent leather Mary Janes.  With a bright smile and a wink of an eye Jena skipped off.

The baby grand was upstaged by the wondrous mind of a six year old.