Reflections...

It's Friday.  It has been a relatively 'easy' week. We had a snow day on Monday (yes!), and my Reading Recovery kiddos and some 6th graders were out on their Voyages (more on our Voyages in a future post) this week, so my schedule was very flexible.   I say relatively easy, because I would much rather be interacting with kids than doing paperwork and various other no contact tasks.  However, the quiet week did afford me the opportunity to reflect.

I know I have said this in previous posts...but I'm going to say it again.  I work in the best place EVER!  Where else can you find...

The most knowledgeable people...

Ms. Elisha

 
The most creative minds..

A Child's Artwork (Inspired by Ms. Pam)

                                        
The most supportive friends...

Andrea & Julie~ Two of my favorite people!

The most loving and creative learning environment...

Reading nook in Ms. Rebecca's Room

And the most adventurous kids on earth!!!!

Ms. Jill and her Crew leaving on their Voyage!

Only at RENAISSANCE!!!!

I'm truly blessed~Thanks Renaissance Famiyl!!

p.s.  I haven't had wine in four days...not that I'm keeping track.  Can wine cure a sinus infection?  I feel some action research coming on!

~Cab Lover

Seize the Day!

I'm a mood drinker, I admit it.  I know what you are thinking...why would she admit that to millions of people (ok, maybe 12 people)?  Well, the first step to recovery admitting that you have a problem.

So...here it goes.  I'm a mood drinker.  I absolutely MUST have the coffee mug that matches my MOOD or it just doesn't work for me (Starbucks is the only exception...as I am always in the mood for their stark white cup with the oh-so-cute green logo)!  This morning, after coming in from arctic temperatures (I had crosswalk duty), I looked in the cabinet to carefully select my mug for the day.  At first, things did not look good, and I prepared to take my frozen bones to my office~sans coffee.  However, I decided to persevere (it is one of our character traits, after all) and reached to the very back of the cupboard.  Ah ha!  I found it.  THE mug.  The only mug I could possible sip from today.  The beautiful phrase, one of my favorite in fact, printed on a porcelain white cup...Carpe Diem...Seize the Day! 

If you happen to read my blog on a regular basis (thank you), and read it yesterday, you know I had a rough spot in my day.  Well, I was still sulking a bit and needed something that said, "snap out of it, Marci.  Pull up your bootstraps and get on with it!"  And then, to my delight, Carpe Diem! 

So I did~ I seized the day. All of it.  I enjoyed the kids.  I enjoyed my friends.  I enjoyed myself.  And, needless to say, I enjoyed my coffee!

Words can be powerful...

(Again, no wine tonight...but I will make up for it soon.  Maybe some Dutcher Crossing) !

~Cab Lover

Teaching is just plain hard...

Today is Tuesday.  I thought it was Wednesday...all day I thought it was Wednesday.  The snow day, although a true and absolute blessing, left me a bit confused today.  I forgot about a meeting, and was going to the wrong room, for the wrong kiddo, at the wrong time.  In spite of all this, it was a good day.  Except for one huge blow...

Most teachers, I truly believe, have a heart for teaching.  It's not a job.  It's not work.  It's just what we do.  It's what we know.  It's a belief system and a passion.  I believe that Renaissance, where I have been for 5 years, is the epitome of great teaching!  We have the best of the best. 

At Renaissance, as I'm sure is true for your school, we work tirelessly to meet the needs of each student.  And we do a darn good job.  Our parents are amazing and we are usually on the same page.  But sometimes we aren't.  So what do you do when you don't see eye to eye?  What can we do  when we believe we know what is best for a child and the parent just doesn't see it the same way?  What can we do when a parent makes a choice that we feel will be detrimental to their child's education.

Nothing.  There is nothing we can do.  And it is not a good feeling.  It leaves a bad taste in our mouths.  It hurts.  It is frightening.  But, we must not blame ourselves.  We must not blame the parents.  We must come to work again tomorrow, and do what we do best.  Teach. Learn. Love.

Teaching is just plain hard sometimes...

(No wine tonight...Sprite, Lemon Lime Soda)
~Cab Lover

Snow Day!

Yes...we got it! Thank you to those who danced their hearts out...it worked.  I had a great day...never got out of my P.J.'s~except to shower (and then I just put on a clean set)! 

So, you are most likely here for a new post.  Sorry...teachers don't work on Snow days.  Not that this blog is work, but in principle, you know...

Please come back tomorrow...you won't be disappointed!

Sleep tight~

~Cab Lover

Let the Dancing Begin...

Let the dancing begin...the snow dance that is.  It's Sunday evening and a frigid 18 degrees outside!  The forecast is calling for even lower temperatures tonight and snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches.  Yes, inches!

If you are a teacher, or student for that matter, you know the drill.  Everyone gets up and does the snow dance!  The 'snow so much we have a snow day dance'!  As I'm writing this, I have 5 more windows open so that I can switch back and forth to see the forecast, current conditions, and school closings!  It's not that I don't want to go to school, necessarily...but there is something divine about a snow day.  It's like a forbidden treat.  An unexpected pleasure.  And I'm not the only one dancing and crossing my fingers, I know that for sure.

A few hours ago I was on facebook...and so were most of my colleagues.  I'm sure I don't have to tell you what the topic of conversation was.  Yep.  Snow day!!!  There were bets being made and forecasts from numerous television stations being compared and critiqued.  I even called my son, who lives near my school, to see how much snow there was so far.  I cannot share his words exactly, suffice to say, there is a lot.  Six to eight inches already.

There are inherent dangers to doing the snow dance.  Aside from possible physical injury (for those who REALLY get their groove on), there is the risk that school, in fact, will remain open. Not to mention the whole barometric pressure thing...(see post from Jan. 12th)!  The initial letdown is pretty tough.  But not because we have to work...at least that's not why for me.  It's just feels like someone ruined my surprise party...and all the plans I made for those precious 8-10 hours!  OH, think of the baking, reading, snowshoeing, tweeting, chatting, wine drinking (insert your vice here) I could do in 10 glorious hours.  Well, you get the picture.  So, help a fellow teacher (mother, blogger, etc) out...and get up and dance.  Dance until you're dizzy.  I will return the favor someday.

It's so cold tonight I can't even drink wine, but... (Mexican Hot Chocolate with a generous splash of Kahlua).

Stay warm,

~Cab Lover