Just my obervations

Yesterday in class we learning about the writing strategy "Observations". It can be done in a variety of ways as some people will write one lined sentences or poetry about many of the things around them, while others may describe one specific observation in great detail. Or, one person may make start making a list of random observations and then get more specific on one or two (or a few if they have the time!). We tried it out quickly and did quite well if you ask me. Here are some of the observations made yesterday in class, followed by some observations I made after school and early this morning. If you get the hang of it, try it yourself, you'll be amazed of some of the things you'll learn just from thinking over your own observations. Thanks for reading and enjoy your writing.

Student observations.

*Boys more than girls like to jump up and touch the middle of the doors (with the spinning thingy) in the hallway of our school.

*Leaves crinkle under my feet sound like paper being crumpled up (and hopefully recycled!)

*The ladybug on the alphabet chart is orange and not red.

*Mr. Feustel must like pictures as there are a lot of them throughout the classroom.

*If you are a boy in Mr. Feustel's class and you have an older brother who was also in Mr. F's class. You are more than likely to be called your older brother's name a time or two (or more, I'm so sorry). He also calls girls by their older sister's name from time to time, even if that older sister wasn't in Mr. F's class. Being a girl who had an older brother does not seem to make Mr. F. want to call you by your brother's name, and that's probably a good thing.

Some of my random observations.

*The association in which I live is getting ready for snowfall as the little fluorescent green flags to mark ends of driveways and walkways are out.

*The school district in which I work is trying to save money by leaving some hallways lights off during the hours the students are NOT in the building. This is fine with me, but it does get kind of dark in the morning and afternoon when the students are not here. Hope they are using that money wisely!

*Most of the students in my class are enjoying the book Rules by Cynthia Lord as it seems like they don't complain about reading assignments for this novel. There are also some students how have read ahead and that's a sign of enjoying the book in my mind.

*The basketball player who wore the warm-up suit I bought at the University of Iowa athletic sale was a lot taller than me. I feel like I'm swimming in his warm-up, but it is authentic and looks awesome. Go Hawks!

Gone to a better place.

I know I'm a public school teacher and am not supposed to talk bout God and religion, but today's post breaks those rules. With that said, I'm sorry to report that little Tommy passed away this morning at 4:02 AM. Although this is very sad, think of how he was feeling and realize that now young Tommy doesn't have to deal with the pain and suffering he was going through in his fight against caner. I found this poem on his Caringbridge website, and would like to share it with you. R.I.P. Tommy!

Little Angels

When God calls little children
to dwell with Him above.
We mortals sometimes question
the wisdom of His love.
For no heartache compares with
the death of one small child,
who does so much to make our world
seem wonderful and mild.
Perhaps God tires of calling
the aged to His fold.
So He picks a rosebud
before it can grow old.
God knows how much we need them
and so He takes but few,
to make the land of Heaven
more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult
still somehow me must try.
The saddest word mankind know
will always be "Goodbye".
So when a child departs
we who are left behind,
must realize God loves children,
Angels are hard to find.

~Author Unknown

Something to do over MEA Break. Break out your journals!

Good day! Today is the first day of MEA Break and I hope you are enjoying your day. What am I doing? I'm already thinking about next week at school and the strategies we'll learn during writing that will improve our writing. While thinking about this, I thought there might be some readers of the blog that might want something to do beings the weather isn't the greatest today, and playing too many video games can get to be boring (Yes, there is such a thing as too much video games!). If this describes you (or even it it doesn't and you are just reading this because), consider this your lucky day because I'll introduce you a strategy I learned from the book Notebok Know-How by Aimee Buckner. It's called Writing from a Name. All you have to do is put your name or a family name on top of your page, and write about it. Here are some questions you may ask yourself if you can't get started right away. What do you like about your name? What don't you like about your name? Would you pick a different name for yourself? Are you named after someone? Who? How did you (or they if you are writing about someone else) get this name? Do you have a nickname? I could go on and on, but I'm sure you are ready to write and I want to get out and do some errands go running (yes, I still run in this crazy October weather). I also have some reading to do (finished Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days last night!) for my Master's class and that will take some time. So, enjoy writing from a name and enjoy your MEA Break. Don't forget to read, exercise and get some good quality sleep. Thanks for reading!

Children Learn What They Live

While going through and organizing some old teacher folders, I ran across a sheet of paper with a poem on it. It was entitled Children Learn What They Live. After reading (and then REREADING it) the paper, it became evident why I kept it in the first place. I truly believed in the message and wanted others to have the opportunity to see what they felt. So what you think. I feel it is very powerful. Enjoy.

Children Learn What They Live

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live the hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice lace in which to live.

By Dorothy Law Nolte

As always, let me know what you think. Thanks for reading my blog, I think it will be updated more often in October of 2009. Going to have some guest writers on the blog. Stay tuned!!

Y.E. Yang: Haleztine Hereo!

While watching the PGA Championship and getting back into "school" mode today, I thought of creating a blog post in time order fashion. Y.E. Yang (I know, I've never heard of him before today as well) and the ever famousand touted Tiger Woods are finished through hole 15 as many surprised PGA people are seeing Y.E. Yang hang in there with a one stroke lead. He could become the first born Asian to win a PGA Championship. Anywho, I'm sitting at my table on my Apple and wanted to collect a few thoughts on this year's PGA Championship held in Minnesota (wish I was there, was fun in 2002!).

5:16 Y.E. Yang (-8) leads Tiger Woods (-7) by one stroke going into hole number 15! False, would be my first response, but we are not playing true or false right now, we are updating you with the 2009 PGA Chamionship at Haleztine.

5:20 Sure wish I had a huge HD tv right now. To all those who do, I'm jealous. Seriously, especially knowing college football is right around the corner.

5:23 Tiger's bad shots would still be more than my best. Yang is trying to end this (or is really, really lucky?). He came very close to finding trouble. A game of inches, bounces, and nature.

All Day Don't you just love David Feherty's voice? I wonder if he does any poem or book readings. Would be fun to listen to for sure.

5:32 Tiger putting...and they head to 17 & 18 one stroke apart.

5:39 Y. E. Yang has very cold blood flowing through his veins as he gently places his ball on the green. Should 2 putt from there. Tiger seems nervous. Ferherty's making jokes (about the amount of grass Tiger has thrown this week to get a gage on the wind here in MN) and I'm loving it. Enjoy that LONG grass Tiger. South Korea golf guru would have told you so.

5:43-5:49 I don't know where you'd be if playing this hole with Tiger and Yang, but I'm guessing I'd be in the water right now. Tiger is NOT in the Kentucky Bluegrass, but more of the Haleztine rain feed grass (to my facebook friends, I told you so.) Yang's water temperature is creeping up to triple digits as he shots his putt (slowed by the rain soaked greens? Could be.) Tiger's putt....waiting......good rhythm......good swing......good read.....not good enough! Tiger seems to be talking to himself, OR SENDING little messages to make Yang miss his short putt and not increase his lead.

5:52 On 18 tee off. Yang drives one straight down the pipe. Tiger hammers one to the edge of the fairway with a little extra effort.

5:54 86% battery life left. Thought someone might want to know.

5:55 Asian golf just got a boost. Like my post title states, Y.E Yang is becoming the Haleztine Hereo (I should really copyright that right now.)

5:56 Yang just gave the "golf shot" of the decade so far!!! Seriously, he used his 3 hybrid to just make ESPN's Play of August, the Summer, the PGA Championship, whatever you wish.. he simply just went at the pin and erase a lot of question on who would win this championship. Tiger loves the Hazeltine fast growing grass....NOT. Needs to whole it here to make things interesting.

Verne Lundquist (I'm pretty sure it's him) with call. "Y.E.. .SSSSS." Clever.

6:03 Y.E. Yang becomes the first born Asian PGA Champion. You'll be hearing this a lot the next week or so if you watch any type of sports shows.

6:05 "Get in the hole!" has to be a saying Tiger has on his pet peeve list. Two putts. Not a happy camper.

Okay. This started getting hard to do once I started using my DVR a wee bit much. This was a fun writing exercise and will have to do more watch/writing in the future.

Well done, Y.E.Yang. You took care of the Tiger and made the underdog victorious again.

This is my father Mark (on the right) after he shaved my head this past summer.

Waiting in the parking lot this fine summer morning was made difficult beings I knew my father would be surprised when he saw me. He wasn't expecting me to be in town until later that day, but my morning plans had shifted and here I was, smack dab in the middle of the Mason City Aqua Center parking lot, thinking of how I might react someday if my child surprised me with a earlier arrival time then planned on. I don't have children yet, but it's hard not to imagine being a father in the near future. In fact, in a few minutes, my dad and I would be in the swimming pool swimming laps side by side. Every once in a while we would wait for one another at either end of the pool, exchange a high five or hug, and then continue on as we only had an hour to swim. Although my dad and I didn't live in the same house for an extended time in my life, I think the last few years we've both made special time for each other where we can spend some good quality father & son time. I only hope I will be doing this years down the line.

The Memories Box by Mary Bahr Illustrated by David Cunningham.

Today I was given a wonderful gift. The gift of a book is one of the greatest gift's you could give someone as it can open so many doors. Now, I could go on and on about this book and how much I love it, but I'll make this short and sweet because it's really nice outside today and I want to enjoy the weather while it's nice (I live in Minnesota if you didn't know already). The children's picture book entitled The Memory Box by Mary Bahr and Illustrated by David Cunningham is a wonderful read for many reasons. For starters, it will serve as a great resource as my students and I delve into writing next year. Another reason this book is great is because it makes you think about your own family relationships and how special those can be. Third, wait, wasn't I supposed to be getting outside? Okay, the third and last reason this book is so great is because you could create your OWN memory box and put items in it that meant something to you. I've started thinking about what I'd put in my memory box (I'm using a shoe box right now). It serves as a great resource for writing and ......nevermind.. I'm heading out. Go out and read the book and let me know what you think.

Do the Dew Run!

Are you looking for something to do this weekend? Do you enjoy running? If you said yes to the previous two questions, then do I have an activity for you. The annual Dew Run will be held this Saturday morning. There are different race distances (1 & 4 mile runs) you can participate in. You can sign up the day of the race starting at 7:00 a.m. (I know, for some people, that's a bit early on a Summer Saturday morning). If interested, please follow the link below. I'm planning on running in the 4 mile race, but will be watching the 1 mile finishers before final preparations for the 4 miler. Maybe I'll see you there!

Farmington Dew Run 

Friday Scrabble Club

For all those interested, there will be a Scrabble Club meeting at the Ugly Mugg on Friday morning from 10:00-11:00 a.m. I'll also try to remember to bring Scrabble apple & Bananagrams in case anyone might want to try those games. Maybe we'll see you there.

New Book & Scrabble Club

Greetings all! Just wanted to post the book I'm reading as it is a good one. My father suggested this same title to me a while back and I'm finally following up on it as my time is a bit more open due to school ending. My wife bought it for me and is reading it right now as well for our little book club.  Get to the title already? It's the Young Reader's Edition of Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin. It is a New York Times Best Seller and although I've just started this book, I know it will be a quick read as the message is very powerful and Greg (the author) does a great job of telling his story about his mission. I highly suggest this book and also recommend keeping a journal to jot down your thoughts as you read this book. Finally, I'm sorry about Scrabble Club last Wednesday. On Thursday I was there, but no one showed up. I'm up for any day this week, but will wait to be contacted by any interested parties. As always, thanks for the post and let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.