It Sure Is Windy Today...

"I thought it was Thursday."  "So am I, let's go get a drink!"

 

Just another one of the witticisms of Jack Girtin.  I completed my first Walk to End Alzheimer's today in his honor.  I thought of him from the moment I got up, as I got ready, throughout the registration process and the wait to begin, throughout the walk, and truly... throughout the day.  It really was very cold and windy, so this joke he so often made was apropos.  Maybe he was up there laughing!

 



Sam was kind enough to take these pictures of the "flower" pinwheel I wrote on and "planted" for Mr. Girtin.





Sam wrote on this one for his Aunt June.



 



The color of your flower depended on your reason for walking.  Purple was the color for those who had lost a loved one to Alzheimer's.




As we started walking, we all raised our flowers.

Our flowers twirling in the wind

As we walked past the first point, we "planted" our flowers.

 

It was beautiful to see them all spinning in the wind.



 

Those who raised at least $100 received a t-shirt.  It doesn't matter that I'm the only one who donated for my walk, does it?

 

The first walk of many, I hope.  Remembering Mr. Girtin with respect, admiration, and love.

Just Makes Me Smile!

All about that bass!

Yeah, he's a tool... so just focus on Jimmy and his band.

Again, just focus on the band!

Finally!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks!  No copier functioning at school for three weeks, progress reports due, new curriculum for all reading, language arts, handwriting, writing, and spelling, district collaboration, "Dot Day", and Parent Academy!  Whew! 

Now getting ready to celebrate the weekend, and oh yeah... my birthday.  As I always tell the kids, "You never ask a lady her age!"  But I do love it when I don't have to go to work on my birthday (Thanks, Jim Gaffigan!)!

So, a very merry un-birthday to you!  Here are Reading Street Unit 2 Focus Wall Posters for anyone interested.  Yeah, I know... it's about time!

The Best Husband Ever

Why is my husband also my best friend?

Who else would go to school on a Saturday and hang up art with me?

Who else would hear that all of my life I wanted an old fashioned teacher's desk, schlep across town to get one I found on the internet, and then refinish it for me even though he had never refinished any piece of furniture before? 

Who else would go to Women of Rock at the Durham Museum with me just because they might have a Joan Jett exhibit?

They did!

 

July 2011

Who else would go with me every year for the last four years to see Joan Jett, wearing a JJ t-shirt and singing along with all of the songs?  Sitting through extreme heat or pouring rain?  Driving to other states for just one night?  No, he's not a huge fan, he just knows I am.

November 2012

 

November 2013

For the last two birthdays he has bought me JJ tickets, just because he knows I want to go (btw, her birthday is the day after mine).  Happy birthday to me!

Who else other than a best friend?  If I don't say it often enough... Thank you, Sammy.  Yep, I'm a lucky girl to have the best friend/husband ever!  And Joan... I'll be seeing you soon for "our" birthdays!





5th Grade Reading Street Unit 2

I cannot believe that this is the last week for Unit 1 of our new Reading curriculum!  Time has gone so quickly, and I still don't feel prepared on a daily basis.  The school year is speeding by, as usual.  But ready or not, it's time to get prepared for Unit 2!  So here you go, for all who are interested... Selection Titles and Questions and Amazing Words and Selection Vocabulary for Unit 2.  You may notice that I added the number of the unit and story at the bottom of each page.  I'm hoping that will help me stay organized and save me a few minutes each week when I change my focus wall.  I will continue to work on the skills and strategies this week, and hopefully have them up soon.  Please share any ideas you have on implementing Reading Street for this novice; any advice would be much appreciated!

 

On a side note, I want to congratulate our Reading Specialist (and my friend), Mrs. Skoff, for receiving the classroom iPads from our district!  I could not be happier for her; it is well-deserved, and I know she will make the most of them while reaching a greater and more varied population of students in our school.  Congratulations, Mindy!  It couldn't have happened to a better teacher or a nicer person!  Yay!

Teachers Love Technology!

Check this out from Attribution to OnlineUniversities.com!  I love this! 

 

 

I learned so much in AFT this past summer and am in the process of applying for 1:1 classroom set of iPads.  I am so grateful for the one I received; in a scant week and a half of school, the students are already putting it to good use.  I can only imagine what they could do with a class set!  School budgets are tight everywhere, so my students are appreciative for what they have been fortunate enough to have, however I do see a big difference in the students who had access to 1:1 iPads last year.  As all teacher do, I want to provide everything possible to create the best possible learning environment and the best possibilities for my students' growth.  Teachers love technology because it engages and benefits all students: meeting (and challenging) their individual learning needs, as well as fostering their individual strengths!  No wonder teachers love technology!

Jack S.

He wanted to make sure he didn't want to take himself too seriously. That was his joke about his nickname, Jack S.  He was, without a doubt, the kindest and most generous person I've ever met.  Oh, he was tight with a dollar!  But so generous with his heart and with his humor.  So intelligent.  Utterly genuine.  I'm pretty sure, no... I'm absolutely sure, I will never meet anyone like him again.

Mr. Girtin, I respect you so much, the way you lived and the way you treated others.  If only everyone shared your values.  What a world it would be.

If this is the very least I can do, I do it for you with much love and admiration.

Please support the Alzheimer's Association by donating to Walk to End Alzheimer's.  Hope to see you on October 4th. Jack S. will be there in spirit, asking where his washcloth went... <3

My Hero

ps. It's on his head!