Thank goodness I checked my calendar of unusual holidays this morning. Tomorrow, my friends, is Chocolate Day! This summertime celebration is not to be confused with National Chocolate Day, which is celebrated each year on October 28, a few days before Halloween. Chocolate Day is celebrated annually on July 7. If you’d like a recipe…
I love it when I find an idea for good health that I can actually succeed at. I applaud you if you are one who drinks beet juice and fills your plate with kale, collards, and mustard greens. Would you believe I’m actually allergic? Okay, perhaps I’m stretching the truth a teeny bit. I’m not…
What would our world be like without trees? I shudder to even imagine! There’s a good chance we might all be gasping for air! Trees provide us with enormous amounts of oxygen, they absorb carbon, they give us shade, they reduce noise pollution, and the list goes on and on. Why all the tree talk?…
Tomorrow, the beloved children’s author Beverly Cleary turns 100. A couple of weeks ago, I watched Ms. Cleary being interviewed by Jenna Bush Hager. At first I thought the interview was a rebroadcast of a conversation that had taken place several years ago. But no, it was a current interview with a woman who was…
I’m feeling a tad bit tired this morning. I don’t usually stay up past 10 o’clock, and last night, even though our North Carolina Panthers, were losing, I couldn’t give up on the Super Bowl. This morning, my tangled hair is clasped firmly behind my head and my beverage of choice—since I don’t drink coffee—is…
I’ve yet to see the new blockbuster “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” However, I do have a fun teacher-related tidbit to share. The original character of Maz Kanata, the wise space pirate, is based on director J. J. Abrams’s high school English teacher, Rose Gilbert! Abrams brought the idea to an early story meeting, explaining…
A few days back, I was asked a question that I couldn’t answer. Now I have absolutely no trouble at all admitting when I don’t know something. It happens a lot! However, this is a question I felt I should have been able to answer. Here’s what I was asked: What were your five best…
Have you ever done something wrong when you’re teaching? Said something that was worded badly? Not trusted a child when you should have? Been weak when you should have been strong? We ALL have. And have you ever had a difficult time getting that mistake out of your mind? We’ve ALL done that too. So…
I’m not one to order people around. However, I’m making an exception today. This is an order for every teacher reading this blog. Grab a mirror, look eye to eye with the teacher in mirror, and say these words: “You are making a difference. You are appreciated.” Then give yourself a hearty pat on the…
August arrives tomorrow. I’m willing to admit that August is not one of my favorite months of the year. By August, I’ve had my fill of hot and humid weather, yard work, bugs, and cranky drivers. I’ve also eaten my quota of summer salads, and I’m ready for some hot chocolate and mashed potatoes. But…