March Winds~~~~~~~~

One more day without school. Tomorrow I go back. I still have a headcold and spent most of the day reading, cooking and watching the leaves blow outside the window. It is to cold to go outside and enjoy it. Gray, windy and cold. Hopefully my spirits will lift when this cold goes away. The momentum of school will pick up now until the end. We finish May 22 at this point. We only lost one day of school this winter. Some lost up to seven.

Head Cold

Here I am, 100 miles an hour, Parent Teacher conferences, completing an online class and a cooperative project, Spring Break just in front of me and wham..........a headcold. Students took pity on me today and I digressed into a cold capsule fog. And to make matters worse, we are in a winter weather advisory until tomorrow noon. Possible eight inches of snow. I plan to sit on the couch, read a book, and do nothing this evening. I might not even cook. Maybe a bowl of soup, a cup of tea and call it good for the day.

Parent/Teacher/ Student Conferences

I got to school this morning at 7:45 a.m. I left school this evening at 8:00, twelve hours later. From 3:45-7:30 I had parent/teacher/student conferences. Talking, sharing, passing out grades, meeting parents and the families, and checking papers in the meantime. Generally my students did a fine job of fulfilling expectations. Only one tense moment with a parent. Not bad considering the number of parents and students I see. Tomorrow at 7:45 a.m. I will be back at school and a new day begins. Make art.

Last Snowfall

Could it be the last snowfall today? Once again, a calm quiet exists outside as snow regains the grassy texture that was the promise of spring. A new bed of snowy whiteness falls and turns all to black and white, lines and shapes. This snowfall is sweeter knowing that it will soon disappear with the falling rain predicted for this afternoon. It can be enjoyed in its fragility, in its temporary nature. Then once again, snow will become a faded memory for yet another year.

Chaos Ubiquitously

We are doing some home improvement. After the kids have grown up and left this year we have decided to recarpet the bedrooms. This is no small feat. It requires removing every artifact in the room, under the bed, in the closet, down the heat vent, taking down the curtains, and completely emptying the room. empty. Until it echoes. Now, all the furniture has been moved to other areas of the house. Some in other rooms, some downstairs, some in the garage. Once the carpet is laid in the first room we start with the other two.
We picked out paint for the room. Another major decision. Being an art major with a masters degree in Painting, I have a phobia about picking out paint colors. I try to stay middle of the road. I do not trust my judgment on something like room paint. It is so easy to go over to the far side and end up with something that is not for living in. Conservative actions are critical here. So, a nice warm MayDay (name of the color) somewhat like a yellow orange is now covering the walls. MayDay. A spring festival celebrating human fertility and the renewal of nature. Hmmmmm. Not the master bedroom.

Over the horizon

March has arrived, it is Friday, the quarter ends next week, daylight savings time begins,the scent of spring is in the atmosphere..... The forward momentum toward summer is beginning. The end is in sight. Summer vacation is just over the horizon!!
Must be Friday fever.
My 10th graders wrote their rough draft of their Art Criticism paper today. The fieldtrip was rather uneventful. The students always have various reactions to the works. The show was rather abstract but I thought it was well done. Students do not value what they do not understand. I think that is a general situation with adolescents. Keeping the inevitable "openmind" is what I hope for in this excercise of visual enlightenment.

The White Notebook

I stared out the window for some time this morning trying to decide how to describe the snow falling. It wasn't really like sugar because it was fluffier than that. It was more like small clumps of flour. Yet a clump of flour does not sound light and floaty. Without any wind the flakes just floated down softly and quietly as snow does.

We had a teacher inservice this afternoon. All the students went home at noon. At 12:45 we (the teachers)tackled the topic of Formative Assessment. We got into groups and talked and wrote and filled out forms and filed papers in our white three-ringed binders called "The White Notebook".

Afterwards, I sat at my desk and made subnotes. I take my 20 10th graders to the MacNider Art Museum tomorrow. Now that will be a topic to write about!

North Iowa Band Practice

Music. I learned to play the clarinet in 5th grade. Mainly because I had a crush on Benny Beautky who would then be obliged to sit next to me. I was always a bit of a schemer. Oh course, Benny quit. I pursued playing the clarinet into my first year of college. It was then I had to make the decision if I was to go to Europe with the band on tour.....or to Taos, New Mexico with the art department to take photographs and develop them in an abandoned tavern for a darkroom. I chose New Mexico and became an art teacher.
Now, years later, I am a member of two bands and play the church organ on alternate Sundays at the Methodist Church. One band is Sigs, where I am one of the younger players. We perform marches and polkas. We are especially good on parade routes where we have a trailer that is pulled by some volunteer. We are a volunteer organization, we simply get paid with a meal. The other musical group is the North Iowa Band. I am a new member of this organization. I sit third to the last chair clarinet. It is a good place to be. I feel comfortable.

KUDOS to Dad

My Father is 83 years old. He was substitute teaching 4th grade today. I am 53 years old and I was teaching 8th-12th graders. I barely made it to the end of the day. We had ITED tests today. So, our schedule was goofy. tomorrow the basketball players are gone to watch state basketball. Wednesday is a half day with a teacher inservice. Thursday is my trip to the MacNider Art Center with twenty 10th graders. Try my hand at some art appreciation.

Just in Case: Instructions for the Fish, Plants and Cats

Patches: Give her fresh water . (indoor cat)


Celia: She probably prefers outside to inside the garage. Give her fresh water on the front deck and check her food. If she is out, there is more in the garage near the back door. (outdoor cat)


Fish: turn on the fish tank lights and give the fish a little time to wake up. Give each tank a good pinch of food. Let them eat and then turn the lights out.


Plants: (outdoor plants) Usually one container of water does it for the outside back deck plants. I fill the green watering cans up at the back water spicket near the deck steps. Also, I dump the water out of the dishes on the deck rail and put fresh in them for Celia, the birds and squirrels.
In the front just use the hose and water the plants. Remember to shut the water off.