I need to do some work in my garden this weekend. Perhaps a snip or two of the hedges and tugging out wicked weeds who make the lawn look unkempt. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with my plans, but we shall see how it turns out. I guess there’s always next weekend, too.
Mrs. Johnson <><
Yep, I can write backwards, too!
We are learning virtually right now for the first three weeks whether parents opted for in person or virtual academy. As a result, I use Zoom to conduct my classes. Today I wanted to demonstrate the words “push” and “pull” factors. I realized I had to write them backwards so they would mirror properly on my Chromebook. Education is always learning and trying something you didn’t realize you could do. I will add this to my skill set. My virtual academy kids will get a kick out of seeing how well I write backwards one day soon. More anon.
–Mrs. Johnson <><
After watching my students’ FlipGrid videos, I learned a little about them. They are just precious young people, and I look forward to working with my still new-to-me kiddoes this year. It will be fun to watch them grow, learn, and work.
Mrs. Johnson <><
It is the first day of the eighth month of the year 2020. I will return to work full-time next week. I plan to enjoy these last few days with very little planning for my day.
Mrs. Johnson <><
I’ve started doing some work to prepare for returning to school. I attended a workshop on Tuesday, and yesterday found me starting to go through the curriculum updates. I will sit down later to go through more of the updates but am pacing myself. Next week will find me working on my classroom with out new furniture. It will be cool to do some decorating. More anon.
Mrs. Johnson <><
I’ve completed some of my summer time homework. We have workshops to attend each summer, and I’ve taken care of the ones I can complete this month. The feeling of accomplishment warms the heart. There are some new plants blooming in my yard; this too is an accomplishment. Each year Mama wants me to make homemade ice cream, and I took care of that two weeks ago. I’ve read at least three or four books since the school semester ended, and yesterday found me baking banana bread and blueberry bread. They taste delicious. More anon.
Mrs. Johnson <><
A student wanted me to be jealous of her cool handshake with one of my colleagues. I looked at her and went into my classroom. I picked up a mirror and said, “Look into the mirror.” She did so. I quipped, “Now you see who’s jealous.” Mic dropped.
Mrs. Johnson <><
I’ve enjoyed my time at home with my family this summer. We drove south to the Rio Grande Valley to visit my husband’s family. I’ve been cooking, baking, reading, and gardening, all for fun. If you get a chance, drop me a line or visit my Twitter feed @MrsJsClassroom to let me know how things are going for you this summer.
Mrs. Johnson <><
Please be kind to one another in the hallways. Walk on the right side of the hallway because we’re not in the United Kingdom or Australia where driving on the left is the norm. We read Babushka Baba Yaga by Patricia Polacco this week in our social studies classes. The lesson was to not judge a person simply from what we heard or saw but from what we actually knew of her. Be kind in the hallway to your fellow students, your teachers, your librarian, your nurse, your counselor, and your beloved custodian. The adults in the building are there to help. Please keep that in mind as you practice kindness.
Mrs. Johnson <><
I will not have team tubs in my classrooms any longer. Too many of my supplies were misused. Pencils went missing as though it was all right to just take something meant to be shared. My post-it notes were used as a means to write notes and comic strip style animation. I have a limited amount of budget to use for my supplies, and I do my best to use it wisely. This will be a life lesson.
Also, I will most likely not respond to an email sent after 6:00 P.M. unless it involves an emergency of some kind. One of the tasks I do in the morning when I arrive in my classroom is respond to email. This is after I turn on the lights, put away my lunch, and turn on my workstation computer. I look again to make sure I have the correct date, lesson target, and supplies needed written on my whiteboard. Once I settle myself in, I make sure my Google Slides with the daily agenda are ready, and then I check my email with my requisite mug of coffee in hand. To go along with that, I will endeavor to send my Remind texts no later than 6:00 P.M. unless it is absolutely necessary.
Mrs. Johnson <><