My Summer Snapshots



Welcome Friends!

I have about two more hours of work in Room 2 on Monday before I can say that I am "officially" on summer break!  My last day with students was May 27th.  My district work day was May 31st.  My quest to clean, purge, and rearrange my classroom has been an arduous one.  One that has stopped, started, and then stopped again due to family, friend, and pet emergencies over the past few weeks.

Life has finally settled down a bit now though, and hopefully the rest of June, July, and part of August will have me...in the words of  Simon & Garfunkel...."slowing down, not moving so fast, looking for fun, and feeling groovy!"

I am not sure how much time I will have to devote to blogging and creating for TpT this summer because of some important commitments, so I wanted to share this picture-filled post and let you know just what I will be up to.....


Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.








Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
MORNING MANTRA:  Weekend days will find me waking up slowly on my deck with a cup of coffee in my hand and this lovely, quiet view of my rose garden.  



Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME:  Traveling to Chicago and eating ballpark franks, peanuts, and cracker jacks while cheering on the Cubs last weekend was great fun!



Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.SCHOLARLY STUDIES:  On May 9th, I began the first course in the online series of five that
are required for me to earn my Reading endorsement.  Managing my time, doing the reading, and
 completing assignments has been quite a 
"balancing act," but I am learning so much about at-risk, diverse learners!


Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE:  Next week I will be attending a leadership conference sponsored by the Ohio Education Association, and later on this summer I will be serving on my school's PBIS committee.  It is time for me to be proactive!



Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
SHOWERING THE PEOPLE:  On June 30th, my children will sit on either side of me at Wrigley Field while we listen to James Taylor and Jackson Browne in concert.  The tickets were their Christmas gift to me.  Other concerts at local outdoor venues with some of my best friends will color my summer world with more musical happiness!


Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
BEING A CHILDREN'S LIT CHICK:  These two novels for young adults have been on my nightstand for a long time.  Quiet summer nights will be the perfect time to finally 
experience their magic.


Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
JUST FLOAT:  I haven't tried this new raft at my friend's pool yet, but
it looks like the perfect place to be refreshed and relaxed!  I imagine that I will
capsize many times before landing in it successfully! :)


Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
READING NINJA POWER:  In late July, my friend Em from Curious Firsties will be my partner in presenting at the Mazza Museum Summer Institute.  We can't wait to share the
comprehension strategies of
Tanny McGregor with fellow teachers and librarians!


Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
IT'S A BIRD!  IT'S A PLANE!  IT'S A NEW CLASSROOM THEME!:  Room 2 will embrace all things superhero-related in the fall!  I recently won a classroom makeover from my local
teacher store!   In late July,  three employees will come and put up all new bulletin boards and
displays for me! 

Watch for my "classroom reveal" post in early August!
I am beyond excited!  

And yes......I cried when the store owner called
to tell me!

And then.....I created this Pinterest board to collect ideas
that can be used and adapted!





Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
TOO MUCH STUFF:  Yep.  Twenty-four years worth of resources to purge, organize, and store.  
The custodians just
stand at my door and shake their heads....




Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
KEEPING CALM AND CARRYING ON:  "Be brave!" are two words I often say to my students.....and to myself, so the superhero decor theme in my classroom will carry over 
into our everyday lessons as we compare and contrast fictional, comic book characters with 
non-fiction, real-life heroes.   We'll use this unit to get started in August and
refer to the positive character traits emphasized there throughout the year. 


Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.

See it {HERE}!



Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
MARY, MARY....QUITE CONTRARY:  I've simplified the pots I usually plant for 
my front and back porch areas, and am trying succulents in my "container garden" that are hardy and
will host some new fairy garden accessories!  I became a little 
addicted while writing this POST, and just get a real kick out of
how cute they are!



Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
WHO RESCUED WHO?  
My Rosie is aging, and this past week we weathered some scary vet visits together.
She's currently on a course of meds that will hopefully keep her comfortable and
mobile for a little while longer. 

Our walks are slow and short now, and I've cried many tears into her collar lately.  Her eyes are foggy and she doesn't hear me come in anymore, but her tail still wags when I rub her ears 
and kiss her nose.  

She and Brutus made me proud to
become a Basset Hound Mama five years ago, and I will continue to be her loyal caregiver--as she has been my loyal companion--until it is truly her time to go...


Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.



Summer should be a time of reflection, fun, family, friends, and professional development for teachers.  Read about how to bring balance to your time away from your classroom.
SONGS THAT TELL STORIES:   On rainy summer days, I often pull my guitar out 
and dust off the song sheets that used to make-up my college coffeehouse playlist.

The memories that the familiar chords and melodies bring back make
me smile.  Folk music always has, and will forever be, medicinal and therapeutic for me.

May your summer be full of special stories and songs, my friends.  As always, thank you for sharing mine.  

Peace out,










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