Fancy

A little boy who was in my class last year came up to me in the hallway and said, "I just can't see you driving a jeep. You're too fancy for that."

CAMP OUT

TAKS is here. Tomorrow. Say a prayer for those babies, I hope they learned something this year.

To finalize our preparation for the TAKS tests, we had a reading "camp out" today. The kids brought blankets, pillows and books. They were supposed to read while I called them up for conferences.

After a while, one boy came up to my table.

He said, "Okay. Now, don't get mad, but come look at our fort! And we have two emergency exits!"

Retreat Quote # 1

Kathryn: Oh, I have lots of Coach.

Me: Oh, yeah? I've never owned anything Coach.

Kathyrn: See, Lauren- This is my littler one. My clubbin purse.

Me: Kathryn. Your clubbin purse? What clubs are you goin to?

Kathryn: Oh, you know. The Christian kind.

Me: There are Christian clubs? Like what?

Kathryn: You know. Starbucks.

Throwing Starfish

There is a story we told in our class:

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"



In our class we have a "starfish bulletin board" where the kids can "throw" starfish to one another, giving compliments. I read a few today and wanted to share them!


You were my first friend at this school. You told me everything I needed to know. That’s why I’m throwing a starfish.



You are a great friend. Good Sarcasm, good personality.


You are 100.9 percent brain. The other half is humor.


We met first at this school. You’re a funny duck.



You are my best friend in the class! You are like no one else. Keep it up!


You are a good friend and you always keep promises.



You clean like a machine!


Remember at recess when we were digging up those rocks? You are a great digger.


You are a great friend and an amazing draw-er.


You are a great friend and when I need company, you are always there for me!


We are going to be best friends forever. I’m glad I moved here.

You're a great friend! It's like you make the world spin. You have a smile that brightens the whole day. That's what makes you my best friend.

Now, doesn't that just warm your heart?

Real Women

It is the week before TAKS. (I can hear the jaws theme in my head when I think of this dumb test.)

Needless to say, stress is running high for principals, teachers and students. Today, I was reviewing a TAKS reading passage with a group at my table when another child ran up to me and reported,"Ms. Waggoner! __________ and ____________ said a really bad word!" (I'm going to leave the names of these sweet and innocent girls a secret.)

I didn't really believe that these two accused could have done something of that nature, but I continued with, "And, what word was that?"

The responsible reporter answered,"A-S-S-H-O-L-E".

I nodded and planned to investigate later, though I didn't think it really happened.

I pulled the girls in question into the hallway and began my interrogation.

"Girls, I am receiving reports that you have said an inappropriate word. Why am I hearing that?"

Wide eyes, and silence. THEY WERE GUILTY!

"Did you say it?" I pushed.

They nodded.

"Why did you feel compelled to say something like that?" I was curious now.

Silence.

Then, one fessed up, "We decided...that if we could say that word... that we would be real women."



LOL... the question is, are YOU a real woman?

Ants in my Pants

Rainy day... I cleaned the blinds, mopped underneath area rugs, vacuumed stairs at 9:30 at night.

Be still and know that I am God.


Baby shower, tired of small talk, ready to leave.

Be still and know that I am God.


Teaching partner, 25 weeks pregnant, on bed rest, leaving me taking over a new subject in April, 31 children.

Be still and know that I am God.


Grade papers, work out, get gas, pay bills, take Hurley out.

Be still and know that I am God.


Waiting, Waiting, Waiting.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Bipolar

For me, there are two kinds of weeks.

1. I wake up, I'm never late, and I leave my house immaculate. Coffee maker rinsed, pillows back on the couch, bed made, the kind of departure that sets you off in the right path.

2. And then there are weeks like this one, clothes on the floor, laundry folded in the hamper from last weekend, pillows on the floor, and dirty dishes in the sink. Rushing to get out of the house, no time to care.


Even as I write this, I'm thinking of all the many things I should be doing.