SOL for Day 13 environmental education

Toady at work I watched a free webinar about environmental education on Blackboard, presented by Green Teacher. The presenters, Jeff Chandler and Christine Voyer were great, they provided lots of good resources about environmental education week. EEWeek usually coincides with Earth Day.This year EE week is April 19 through 25. You can register to participate at EEWEEK.org. Free materials abound, many can be used to incorporate non-fiction reading with all subjects and provide a real life application. I'm finding it difficult not to make this an advertisement, but this topic is what I do!

Their discussion focused on invasive species. The information was just what I needed. I'm planning a presentation on citizen science projects this summer and they covered so much of what I should include. Now I have more to add to my talk. I also found a book I need to to purchase. 

Christine suggested If you are interested in starting a citizen science project with your students, you should start small. I agree. You can find great information at several web sites: scistarter.com; Inaturalist ; budburst; birds.cornell.edu; projectnoah... Christine works in Maine with a project called vital signs. You can find lots of lessons there too. 

I ended the webinar thinking this topic would make a great teacher workshop this summer! 

SOL 12 for #15 another post of currently

Currently I'm relaxing on the couch, stretched out to rest my legs. 

Currently I'm sorting my thoughts, focused on a new SOL.

Currently I'm waiting for a new episode, tired of reruns of Big Bang Theory.

Currently I'm typing with my pointer finger on my IPhone, placed eyeglasses aside.

Currently I'm planning my work day, scheduled a meeting.

Currently I'm procrastinating, typed 750 words a day for the past 6 days.

Currently I'm petting my Golden Retriever, cleaned her dish after dinner.

Currently I'm hearing trucks speeding past, parked our vehicles side by side. 

Currently I'm sharing bits of my day, visited a Boys & Girls Club.

Currently I'm listening to my husband, planned a trip on Sunday.

SOL # 11 Whoa! Let's enjoy spring.

Finally it seems that spring arrived. Temperatures are nearing 60 and the sun is shining down on the muck left from all the snow. I took it as a nudge to put a spring wreath on my gate. I wrapped the light post with silk forsythia blooms. I cleaned the garage. I did this all on my lunch break. I don't usually come home during lunch, but the glorious weather was calling to me. I'm excited to get the patio ready for more time spent outside. The radio announcer said summer was 102 days away. Whoa! I want to enjoy every day of spring. Let's not rush this season. I'll mark the Vernal Equinox with a celebration. First I must figure out what I can do. I know traditions abound, so I will search the web, read some books and get an idea that is meaningful for me. I'll get back to this blog when I have selected how I can celebrate the onset of spring.

SOL #10 active women's club

My sister and I belong to a local women's club. It was formed back in 1959. Only a couple of the founding members are still living. My mother-in-law was a founding member. One lady who was a founding member gave the devotional and led us in prayer at our monthly meeting tonight. The club members range in age from 85 to 30. Some are great grandmothers, others are grandmothers, while the youngest members have children in Kindergarten. I think this range of ages makes the club feel authentic. It really is a tight knit group. Tonight secret pals were revealed and hugs were seen all around the room. 

Business consisted of donating books to the Head Start, making Easter Baskets for children who are in the Children's Home, and donating to Project Graduation. One last item was to agree on a money making project. It was decided to sell homemade ice cream at the annual car show.

For the past two months we have been trying to schedule an outing for the entire group. The older members want to attend if someone else will drive. That works out perfectly because we have enough younger women to drive. We finally selected a play at a college one hour away. We plan to leave early in the day so the ladies can shop, have dinner, then attend the play. 

This group seems to focus on the needs of community. It makes me proud to be part of such an organization.

SOL #9 changes in the Post Office

Going to the post office is no longer fun. We had a wonderful, caring postmaster for several years. He spoiled everyone in our small community of 750. If you forgot your box office key, no worry, he would hand your mail to you. Now a sign is posted that reads, "We will not hand mail to you across the counter, it is illegal." The people working there do not know my name. They give me my sister-in-law's mail even when it is properly addressed. We just happen to have the same name. I politely introduced myself to them as I handed her mail back to them. I told them her correct address was on the package. And I told them our small community has three people with my name. And we all have different addresses.

The local (50 miles)sorting facility was closed. Our mail travels150 miles one way before it is delivered and sometimes it has to travel that distance back.  Whew, it isn't really fun to go in the post office. 

SOL #8 A treasured memento

Yesterday while looking for something, I found a letter from my Grandmother. It was written just 3 days before Mom passed. I could still read Grandmother's handwriting, years later it became difficult to read. I saved letters from her, in various places, some are collected together. This one was in an old Bible. The contents took me way back to 1978. Grandmother was apologizing for not recognizing my graduation from college. She said I was the first grandchild to graduate and hoped there would be many more. She said I went to teaching and time got away from her. She enclosed $10 and told me she couldn't pick out a gift. I wish I knew what I bought with that money.

Then she wrote about how she taught me to roll out pie dough. She said she never let the other girls do that. She said I was good at it and she wondered if I still like to make pies. I do, but I never remembered that part. It makes me cry now as I read it. I treasure her letters. It is funny she only lived 7 miles from me.

SOL # 7 Celebrating Birthdays

SOL # 7 Birthday Celebrations

March ushers in a deluge of birthday celebrations. Between my husband’s family and mine we have a dozen birthdays. Many times we celebrate the adult birthdays with one huge family gathering. But the children must have their own party. Celebrations have already started, I received a group text last night.  The fun will continue throughout the month.  For the kids, we might skate, bowl, offer horseback rides, or simply play games outside, depending on the age of the honoree. For the adults we usually visit, eat and open gifts. And gifts for children should not be a book. I found that out after bringing a book to one nephew turning 4. He took the book and asked, "Where is my gift?" I saved our relationship by telling him I had included some cash for him to shop and choose his own gift.

We always have birthday cake and ice cream. Sometimes we have homemade ice cream. The menu is usually tailored to the tastes of the honoree. My father-in-law usually barbecued until he could no longer stand on his knees that long.

We’ve had cakes in the form of Spiderman and the little guy came dressed as Spiderman. Another young lad was dressed as Batman so Gotham City was the design on the cake.  Sometimes the guests are characters! Mickey and Minnie showed up once.

Last July, for my father-in-law’s 90^th birthday, we invited friends from far and near. We hosted almost 100 people. That took the whole family working together to make that happen.

All this celebrating originated with my mother-in-law. She felt it was especially important to honor each person on birthdays.  It is a tradition we have continued. In doing this we honor her memory, her love for life and her daily celebrations.