Status Update

Bids for Page's demolition were due on March 20th.   The areas with the heaviest tornado damage were already removed from the site.   Today some of the past and present faculty gathered to dig up some daffodil bulbs...er...say goodbye to the building.  

No news on when the rest of the walls will come tumbling down.

The best part of the afternoon was when the high school (we only have one, y'all) buses drove by with some of our former students, and we got to wave at some smiling faces.

Perhaps last year's 8th graders didn't get as much credit as they deserved.

We were all so busy filling out claim forms, sorting through boxes, telescoping lesson plans and keeping one anothers' heads on straight that I don't know if we were able to express how grateful we were to the kids and families who shifted around their schedules and came to school with joyful, resilient spirits.   People were so good to us, and our children were truly overwhelmed and touched by the generosity of our neighbors.   The students, staff and faculty of Peasley Middle School could not have been more gracious hosts.

Since I'm still feeling lucky that I wasn't in a dark hallway trying to keep 25 kids safe from the storm, I bought a few Mega Millions lottery tickets.

I know the odds, but somebody's got to win it, right?

Book People

You know who we're talking about.   Perhaps we are even talking about you.

We are about a month away from the first year since our cherished school librarian passed away.   Yes, roughly a month before last year's devastating tornado, we were saddened by the loss of our good friend and ally for books and children.

When I was listening to the live storm coverage in April, I was straining to hear enough details to pinpoint where the destruction was.   They said that our school was in the direct path, but I wanted to know which parts, if any, were spared.   After the danger had passed, we drove by the school in the darkness.   It was difficult to tell just exactly was damaged without seeing an aerial view, but the library looked like it escaped a direct hit.  

We found out later that we were right.   Books bought by our students in memory of Mrs. Sally Demuth were in various phases of cataloging throughout the room, and none were damaged.   Aside from a bit of shattered glass and curious rain, the storm had spared the books we love so much.

With about a couple of months left in the school year, I was anxious to secure items that we would need to finish out this term and start again in September.   The people hired to pack up our belongings were professional and efficient, but once items were in boxes, I was unsure of how or when we would see them again.  

Thank you to Mr. John Hutchinson, Mrs. Shirley Chirch and Mrs. Donna Lassiter for understanding people who love books.   And for understanding that we like to believe that books love people back.

A friend of mine shared this short film with me.   I hope that you will continue to enjoy the magic of reading.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Starting from Scratch

On the evening of Saturday, April 16, 2011, a tornado ripped through the middle school where I have been a teacher since 1999.   Although my classroom did not seem to suffer wind damage, the contents were unrecoverable.  

Just about 40ish feet through these doors is where we duck and cover during drills.

If you know teachers, you know that most of us like "stuff."   We save anything we think we'll have the slightest chance of needing later for a potential lesson, no matter how obscure the item.   With the exception of one possession, which I will reveal to you at a later time, bits and pieces of my classroom will most likely have a new life fertilizing soil somewhere...an idea that I quite like.



Do you want to hear the best news?   No one was in the school building at the time.

Do you want to hear the next-best news?   My amazing friends are helping me restock my classroom already!

In order to have a quick and easy way to maintain a shopping list for my classroom, I first thought of Amazon.   I would be able to keep track of my purchases and have receipts when any insurance money comes back to me.  

Because so many people have offered to help me out right now, I created a baby registry, so they could shop easily as well.   Yep, a baby registry.   And you have to name the father.   That's Mister Tornado to you.

So what's with the blog?   I thought that it might help me consider what really makes a difference for my students.   Am I replacing everything?   Nope.   I'm starting with my greatest hits, and adding some new teaching tools as well.

What's in it for you, Dear Reader?   If you're a parent, you may also find some tools to use at home.   If you are a book lover, you may enjoy it as well.   If you have ever had to start anything over from scratch, you may be my audience.   If you're a teacher, bless your heart.   Take some of my ideas that you like and make them your own.   And teachers, if I list an item that you also have success with using in your classroom, let's trade some tips!

If you just like "stuff," I'm your girl as well.   For fun, I will also post items that I do not have a need to replace now and then.

Item #1 that does NOT need replacing: Green, plastic triceratops pincher toy.   No, I never used this in class.  I bought it because it reminded me of a long-ago trip to Walt Disney World during which I spent the day goosing my good natured grandmother with a similar toy.   Is this a must-have item for you?   It's available at http://www.dinosaurcorporation.com/grabbers1.html