Scrappy Hearts

Tuesday in Second Grade

Just so you know that it wasn't a fluke, my desk was still in decent shape before the long weekend!

As we begin the second month of school I am anxious to start teaching science and inspiring my second graders to explore and experiment. To help me along, I have pulled out a couple of my favorite professional books. The first, A Place for Wonder, is a wonderful book filled with practical activities that can be linked to purposeful nonfiction writing in the primary grades.

The Mind-Up Curriculum encourages a curriculum that teaches primary students about the working of their brains. The core practice described in the book is designed to help students gain control of their mental and physical energy. Creating a classroom of students that are more focused, more in tune with their senses, and mindful about their actions is one of my goals for this year!

Tuesday in Second Grade

Just so you know that it wasn't a fluke, my desk was still in decent shape before the long weekend!

As we begin the second month of school I am anxious to start teaching science and inspiring my second graders to explore and experiment. To help me along, I have pulled out a couple of my favorite professional books. The first, A Place for Wonder, is a wonderful book filled with practical activities that can be linked to purposeful nonfiction writing in the primary grades.

The Mind-Up Curriculum encourages a curriculum that teaches primary students about the working of their brains. The core practice described in the book is designed to help students gain control of their mental and physical energy. Creating a classroom of students that are more focused, more in tune with their senses, and mindful about their actions is one of my goals for this year!

Back Into the Game

I would love to do the Bridge Run on the first Sunday in November and that means that I will need to start running again. Tonight I decided that I couldn't put it off any longer so off to the gym I went. I am starting slow, using the elliptical to work up my leg strength and stamina. The bonus of going to the gym on a Monday evening is a chance to catch some of Monday Night Football. Tonight the Patriots were in Kansas City and I was able to catch most of the first quarter in my 23 minutes of fat burning on Level 2. Now I am icing my knees and getting back to school work, slowly. 

It is easy to get distracted on this table. I have facebook in the background, my new supernova block from Julie to my right and a wonderful professional book that I would love to be reading. Oh well, back to filling out paperwork, grading papers and planning some engaging writing lessons! Woohoo!

Perspective

One of the things I love about traveling with Mark is the opportunity to see his perspective of our journey through his photos. The other thing I really love is that I can count on him to remember to take a shot when I forget, or don't get to it.

For example, I was afraid that I hadn't gotten a shot of the Crooked Rooster on Friday night. I quickly stopped and took a shot, well after the sun had set.

My shot turned out okay, but I didn't get the sign which I loved. When I was going through the photos on our network I noticed the photo above. Mark had captured the shot I would have wanted, and included me in it. It works out well for me as a scrapbooker because I have the benefit of two photographers pictures!

The View From the Weekend, Finger Lakes Edition

Throwback Thursday, Camping in the Redwoods

Today, as we drive up to the Finger Lakes in NY, it is fun to remember the last time we were able to camp. 

This is the view from our tent on that trip. We traveled across country to meet up with some friends in the Redwood Forest just north of San Francisco. What a wonderful adventure that was. The trees are exquisite and the experience was incredible.

Although we didn't have time to cook on this adventure, our campground would have been the perfect place to host a picnic. Just look at that idyllic setting.

We hiked for hours and never grew tired of the sights. It was simpy breathtaking. Among our companions were two other photographers and we spent so much time taking pictures, you just wouldn't believe it!

The trees stand like skyscrapers against the sky and the landscape bursts with color. I have never seen anything so magnificent. 

I think what we all found most captivating was the way the light played against the trees. Streams of dappled light cascaded down from the sky and each moment our view changed. We were truly mesmerized! It was truly one of my favorite experiences.

I {heart} September Days

I am packing the car for our first camping trip this year and boy am I excited! The picture above is of our little tent and our home away from home when we camp. I love it!

Tonight I am packing our car for a little camping adventure. I am blessed to have two days off in September and we are taking advantage of the time by taking a little sojourn to the Finger Lakes in NY. Destination, Watkins Glen State Park. We are anxious to hike the three mile Gorge Trail and witness 19 different waterfalls. We first discovered this little gem when Mark's screen saver popped a picture of a beautiful waterfall photographed in this park. We made a plan right then and there to visit before the year was out.

Mark pulled down the two large camping bins from the garage and I sorted through our camping paraphernalia while he cooked dinner. After dinner, I packed up the car. Tent, sleeping bags, camp stove, mess kits, all the essentials. Not even sure if we will cook at our site, we have plans to visit a brewery and a quaint restaurant downtown Watkins Glen. But, better to be prepared!

I am anticipating a 4.5 hour drive but with the anticipated rain, perhaps it will be longer. No matter - we are packed and ready!

Tuesday in Second Grade

This is how my desk at school has looked since before school started on September 2nd. Just this past Friday, I was able to take some time, stay at work until 6 and clean it off. Friday, when I left school, my desk looked like this:

I am most proud of the fact that my desk was still clear when I left work tonight.

Hopefully I will be able to keep it clean as we move forward in this year. Now, if I could only clean off the computer table!

Around Here

My desk at work is finally usable!

As the weather begins to cool we are loving soup and salad for dinner. Yum!

Sundays still mean "football" even when the Giants aren't televised.

I've set up a table with a puzzle thinking that it would help me to relax in the evenings.

I still have some school work at home, but the piles are getting smaller and smaller.

I finally finished my September Supernova block. It will be in the mail tomorrow!

Project Life 2014, Week 19

Moving forward on Project Life, slowly - very slowly! Week 19 was the week of Cinco de Mayo, the carnival came to the town center and it was also Brittany's last week in my classroom. An emotional week. A fun week. A week just like so many...

I had received flowers from my students on Friday so I placed them on my favorite little shelf in the hallway. They made me smile each time I walked by! Mark and I took a long walk on Monday, reminiscent of the walks we used to take when we first met. The carnival had arrived at the town center and it gave us plenty of opportunity for some great photos. Tuesday my hubby surprised me with roses and anniversary cards. I kept teasing him because our aniversary was spent in the emergency room of NYU. He is so cute sometimes!

I spent most of the evenings during Week 19 working on a school bag for Brittany. I really had a hard time with it and I never seem to realize how long projects really take. It turned out beautiful and was ready for gifting on Thursday. Wednesday Brittany and Carolyn surprised us with gifts. It was really hard to get used to being in school without them. Thursday was their last day and we took some really silly photos before the end of the day. Carolyn, Brittany and I ended up at happy hour over at On The Border - gotta love those $4, 18oz, margaritas!

All in all it was just another great week. The school year was winding down and there didn't seem to be as much stress in general. I am off to put the finishing touches on the next couple of weeks in Project Life. Catching up is hard to do!