Never would I have imagined being worried about RIF as a public school teacher. However, I am seeing it unfold in front of my eyes. The headlines in yesterday’s newspaper had to do with 60,00 layoffs in various industries and sectors across the USA. We’ve been being warned for a month or so now. I [...]
Archive for January, 2009
23 Jan
Teaching Machine wonders
The Teaching Machine has been advised today at a faculty meeting and repeatedly reminded every recent day of a major system wide RIF. I have no comment at this point. Maybe on Tuesday night.
I will engage in weekend belly laughter and keep going forward. It was a pretty lousy day at the education factory; the [...]
18 Jan
Defining moments in History
Is it OK with you if women dress in a fanciful styles and dazzle the American public with dreams of our future? Is it OK for fashion critics to “tear” a women’s dress apart and “critique” it to the max? ( Well sure if that’s what they do best.)
I have always loved The First Ladies [...]
15 Jan
Drama Queens, Brats(z) and quiet mice
Just to keep you updated on The Teaching Machine; we have a long awaited 3 day weekend coming up. We’ve only been back in school for less than two weeks and we adults are already wishing for snow days and the like. Students are being unusually mean to each other and overly challenging to us. [...]
10 Jan
The Song: Say What You Feel
Negativity can be spread unwittingly. It also can be spread on purpose.
1. The Gov of Illinois has been impeached. Thumbs UP!!! A friend who recently taught public school in IL shared Rod’s nickname which is Gov Sonofabitch. Don’t you love it???? He stole/borrowed $$$ from the state teacher’s pension fund. He has not repayed it and [...]
6 Jan
Twins Galore- The Teaching Machine
Instead of Tales from the Cheesewagon, I am re-naming my “school talk reports ” as The Teaching Machine. I finally figured out why I am having trouble with the student’s names. Usually I have more names & faces committed to memory by January. We have 14 sets of twins in a school of 640! Most of the [...]
3 Jan
Computer crash and revival
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I discovered that my 2001 Dell was doomed after our return from DE last week. I shouldn’t have been so surprised, but I had a few moments of glee realizing that I couldn’t do my my full lesson plan regime until the old hard drive was somehow saved to [...]
1 Jan
Happy New Year 2009!
We had a very enjoyable Christmas holiday at First Landing State Park in VA Beach last week. The weather was mild and the cameraderie was wonderful! Thanks to all the family members that made it so simple and memorable!
Last night, we participated in a neighborhood progressive dinner. It was freezing outside, but luckily the wind [...]
