After spending a chunk of this beautiful Spring Break day working on my progress reports, I thought it might be a good idea to give Spring Break its own.

Spring Break Progress Report

Rests Fluently: Approaching grade level standard
Pleasure Reads: Approaching grade level standard
Applies skills and strategies to comprehend what a Break is: Not yet meeting grade level standard
Spends time with Family: Approaching grade level standard
Evidence of Chore To Do List being completed: Not yet meeting grade level standard
Writes to share an opinion, tell a narrative or give information: Meeting grade level standard
Communicates Mathematical Thinking by getting Taxes Done: Not yet meeting grade level standard
Demonstrates Signs of Spring: Consistently
Gather and apply information from maps to travel: Not Currently Emphasized

Comments: Spring Break has consistently been working hard to show signs of spring. The warm weather is appreciated by everyone! Spring Break is working on knowing how to rest fluently but it’s hard for it to totally detach from work, or truly know what a break is. Continuing to practice its pleasure reading skills will go far in making it more confident to put off the pressures of the upcoming school week, and relax with a book. Although Spring Break has spent some time with its family, it would need all children home in order for it to meet the standard. I am impressed by how Spring Break keeps writing even when it’s tricky, or it is tired! I will continue to encourage Spring Break to check things off of the to do list including the tax mathematics. Getting these things done will go far in helping Spring Break have the confidence it needs to continue growing. Maybe next year Spring Break will be ready for a new unit of study: Using Maps for Travel.

I think I have the dust from 500 old books under my nails and in my nose
but
there are
so
many
things
(not just books)
in a school closet

post its
magnets
foam rectangles
yarn (in tangles)
buttons, beads
soil, seeds
toilet paper tubes
and unifix cubes
exactly how many popsicle sticks does one grade level need?

I have wise words for anyone who, like me
can’t concentrate on report cards until a closet is clean—
don’t do it yourself, you need to be a we, a team!
sorting, storing, supporting
throwing away trash, moving bin upon bin
hoping the trash can still has room for more trash to fit in
finding more popsicle sticks at every turn
(the amount of stuff in this closet was a real concern)

lucky for me
I teach with Becky
who seems to agree
that a big job is an adventure
and adventures are better with laughter

I’m accepting gold stars for making myself go to my canceled, rescheduled, canceled, rescheduled dentist appointment today.

I really didn’t want to go. My day was already a day. Plus it’s a new dentist since my dentist retired and he’s’ nice enough but he’s not my dentist. I mean, he’s my dentist, but he’s not . . . My dentist. Just my new dentist.

My new dentist asked me what I teach, and then he threw me off. He asked me if I was Pennsylvania born and bred, and then, get this, he said “Oh, great! And you’re still working?”

Um. Do I look like I’m retired? How old do you think I am?

It was a long day, that’s all. I might be in my pajamas because it was pajama day at school today, but I’m not retired! It’s the kind of day it’s been. I’m just plain tired.

Speaking of planes.

My son is on one flying to Zurich after being stuck in Philadelphia since yesterday. Then he’s off to Spain.

So maybe I’m a little on edge.

I apologized to my student teacher today, I explained I was feeling the anxiety creep in. He said, “I can tell,” with raised eyebrows.

Cool, cool, cool.

It’s the kind of day it’s been.

But, it was pajama day which I fully support. (Suggestion: Maybe once a week would be appropriate.)

Lucky for me, I got to go to the dentist today, in my pajamas, with my anxiety. That’s sarcastic luck, friends. It’s the kind of day it’s been.

The hygienist, making conversation, as they do, said “Oh when my son, he’s 19 now, a few years ago he convinced me to watch Sweet Magnolias. Have you watched that? It’s a really sweet show about a group of women who are there for each other through all the ups and downs of life. The little town they live in is just full of people looking out for each other.”

I laughed, even though her hands were in my mouth, and she took a break, as they do, so I could respond.

“Well I guess there are different kinds of teenage sons,” I started, “because my 18 year old son, a few years ago, he convinced me to watch Breaking Bad. I feel like that might be the opposite kind of show.”

She asked me if it was a good show, and what it was about. I told her the basics, and then said, “it’s actually a really great show once you get past the episode where they have to get rid of the body with the acid. And you have to be okay with the violence and the drugs and the language.”

“Oh, so just those things to get past?” She said, and we laughed.

I don’t think we talked much after that. It’s the kind of day it’s been.

But, when I was leaving she said, “Breaking Bad? I’m going to try it.” The hygienist in the next room looked out at us and said, “Breaking Bad? Are you corrupting Renee?”

I am. It’s the kind of day it’s been.

Wait until I tell her about Better Call Saul.