Today I took the day off to spend time with both daughters. They have spring break at the same time this year, so I asked them to choose Tuesday (when I have only office hours) or Thursday (when I am not on campus) as the day to do something with Mom. They picked today, so off we went to Michigan City to the outlet mall, then to Valparaiso for lunch and a stop at Target. We found new maternity clothes for Megan, Vera Bradley purses for me and Hilary, and other items for Easter and birthday gifts.
At some point we began to talk about reading and the early age that both of them began to read. Megan is more of a reader than Hilary, and I think I worked more with her because she was my first child..more time, fewer distractions. Landon is 3 and knows how to spell his name, recognizes letters, and will probably pick up reading quickly...and soon. Megan and Matt's child will most likely be a reader since both of them are avid readers.
If parents encourage reading and model reading for their children, then the children will have a better opportunity to learn to love books as well. A child who reads well usually does much better in school. I know that many will disagree with me, that I have no research to support my views, and that my side of the argument is extremely weak, but this is what I believe.
Landon and I read together often. He reads with his mommy before bedtime. I am sure my new grandchild will have a collection of books in his/her little library.
If this Mamaw has anything to say about it, we will be starting early..and loving every minute of the process! Bring on the books!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Battle of the Books
My Daughter the Librarian has been busy at Clinton Prairie High School, both in the library and in the classroom. She said either her picture or quotes had made the Frankfort Times several times in the past couple of weeks. Things are hopping there!
One of the recent achievements has been winning the Clinton County championship in Battle of the Books. The four schools in the county participate: Clinton Central, Frankfort, Rossville, and Clinton Prairie. The students form groups/teams to read the books on the annual list. The titles range through a variety of interests, styles, and difficulty. A "Teacher Team" also participates.
In late February or early March the school competitions occur. Last year I was invited to participate as a proctor during the competition. My role was to monitor the pizza table and distribute drinks, plus watch the assigned team to ensure that they worked together, didn't cheat, and were honest in their scorekeeping abilities. Since the competition was on a Wednesday night, I had other plans, like teaching a class! Megan said I was missed though; several teachers and some of the students asked if her mom were coming to help again.
This year the same team that had emerged as the victors once again took the crown. One of the team members had been part of the winning team for three consecutive years. She was pumped for the county competition.
After a postponement due to heavy snow, the county competition date finally arrived, and Megan was excited because not only was she the hostess of the event, but she thought the CP team had an excellent chance of winning the competition for the first time.
Sure enough, a phone call came at 10:00 p.m. while we were in Myrtle Beach. Finally, after coming so close in the past years' competitions, the Clinton Prairie team came out as the #1 Battle of the Books team! Bragging rights for the entire year! Plus the girl who had been on the team for three years was graduating victorious!
What a great way to encourage students to read! How fun it is to also battle against a faculty team, which shows that adults do read books too!
Congratulations to the Clinton Prairie Battle of the Books team and to Mrs. Scott, aka "My Daugher the Librarian" for encouraging reading to all of the junior high and high school students.
One of the recent achievements has been winning the Clinton County championship in Battle of the Books. The four schools in the county participate: Clinton Central, Frankfort, Rossville, and Clinton Prairie. The students form groups/teams to read the books on the annual list. The titles range through a variety of interests, styles, and difficulty. A "Teacher Team" also participates.
In late February or early March the school competitions occur. Last year I was invited to participate as a proctor during the competition. My role was to monitor the pizza table and distribute drinks, plus watch the assigned team to ensure that they worked together, didn't cheat, and were honest in their scorekeeping abilities. Since the competition was on a Wednesday night, I had other plans, like teaching a class! Megan said I was missed though; several teachers and some of the students asked if her mom were coming to help again.
This year the same team that had emerged as the victors once again took the crown. One of the team members had been part of the winning team for three consecutive years. She was pumped for the county competition.
After a postponement due to heavy snow, the county competition date finally arrived, and Megan was excited because not only was she the hostess of the event, but she thought the CP team had an excellent chance of winning the competition for the first time.
Sure enough, a phone call came at 10:00 p.m. while we were in Myrtle Beach. Finally, after coming so close in the past years' competitions, the Clinton Prairie team came out as the #1 Battle of the Books team! Bragging rights for the entire year! Plus the girl who had been on the team for three years was graduating victorious!
What a great way to encourage students to read! How fun it is to also battle against a faculty team, which shows that adults do read books too!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Curl Up with The Great Gatsby!
Have you seen the weekend forecast? Snow, blowing snow, more snow, depending on where you live.
For Olivia and me, we are on the northern edge of the watch area. Seth may be on the southern edge and out of any significant accummulation, from what I have seen on the latest weather maps. However, the rest of you in the central band---watch out!
What a great time to settle into the couch, cover up with a warm quilt, start a fire (if you have a fireplace), brew a mug of hot tea or coffee, and crack open The Great Gatsby!
Since our favorite 3-year-old will be with us on Saturday, overnight, and returning home on Sunday afternoon (at least that is the plan), I will probably be catching up on my Saturday morning grading instead.
Stay warm. If you have to get out into the snow, be safe. Enjoy some reading time, if you can! Blog something too!
For Olivia and me, we are on the northern edge of the watch area. Seth may be on the southern edge and out of any significant accummulation, from what I have seen on the latest weather maps. However, the rest of you in the central band---watch out!
What a great time to settle into the couch, cover up with a warm quilt, start a fire (if you have a fireplace), brew a mug of hot tea or coffee, and crack open The Great Gatsby!
Since our favorite 3-year-old will be with us on Saturday, overnight, and returning home on Sunday afternoon (at least that is the plan), I will probably be catching up on my Saturday morning grading instead.
*Jay Gatsby (aka Robert Redford--swoon!)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Making Connections
Have you noticed that there are connections between history, or what is happening in the world at a certain time, and the literature of that time period?
Maybe you are thinking, "Well, duh, Mrs. S. Of course! Who wouldn't know that?"
Maybe you are one who just had the light bulb click on because that had never occurred to you before now.
Or maybe you are in the third group...."Uh...I don't know. What do you mean, connections?"
I just read Jake's post about poetry and his mention of Sandburg's "Chicago." The poem was published in 1916, which meant that the personification is tied to the early 1900s. Knowing that lends a different perspective when interpreting the passages and the imagery portrayed.
The Great Gatsby will shed light into the Jazz Age, the era in which F. Scott FItzgerald and Ernest Hemingway thrived. What will we learn about the Roaring 20s, the social expectations, and the Long Island party scene while reading the plight of Jay Gatsby for the love of his live, Daisy Buchanan.
Think about it. How have the literary selections this semester expanded your knowledge of an era?
Maybe you are thinking, "Well, duh, Mrs. S. Of course! Who wouldn't know that?"
Maybe you are one who just had the light bulb click on because that had never occurred to you before now.
Or maybe you are in the third group...."Uh...I don't know. What do you mean, connections?"
I just read Jake's post about poetry and his mention of Sandburg's "Chicago." The poem was published in 1916, which meant that the personification is tied to the early 1900s. Knowing that lends a different perspective when interpreting the passages and the imagery portrayed.
The Great Gatsby will shed light into the Jazz Age, the era in which F. Scott FItzgerald and Ernest Hemingway thrived. What will we learn about the Roaring 20s, the social expectations, and the Long Island party scene while reading the plight of Jay Gatsby for the love of his live, Daisy Buchanan.
Think about it. How have the literary selections this semester expanded your knowledge of an era?
Sunday, March 17, 2013
There really is no place like home!
Up and at 'em at 6 on Saturday morning! Quick showers, threw all of the leftover frozen fruit in the blender with the rest of the vanilla yogurt and a couple of splashes of OJ plus the one lonely leftover banana and whirred up a couple of smoothies, then nuked two remaining huge muffins, and out the door we went, following one of valet guys with a rolling rack containing our luggage and bags.
On the road by 7:30 a.m. We drove until 9:30 p.m. with a few stops for food, gas, and the inevitable RR breaks. Actually the threat of ice, sleet, and snow over southern Indiana into northern Kentucky propelled us further than we had originally intended, so we stopped at Our Daughter the Librarian's house near Frankfort for overnight. It was good to see her and Matt, share the news of the past week, view all of my photos on the iPad, and just visit. After breakfast this morning (homemade blueberry pancakes with REAL blueberries, not those dinky ones in the mixes), we did some 'baby talk' about the changes to the transform the bedroom into a nursery, our upcoming shopping trip for some clothes that will fit her now and in the next few months, and plans for spring and summer.
Next stop was up the road to Pyrmont to see DD#2 and her husband. Landon had been with Grandma Jan and Don (her husband) on a weekend adventure with Don's daughters, their husbands, and children to celebrate a birthday at an indoor water park in Shipshewana. When Landon finally came in the door, he was so excited to see everyone....and went straight to Papaw, much to his Mommy's distress and Papaw's delight! More good time spent visiting with everyone, catching up, making plans for babysitting in the next few weeks, and planning April (both daughters have birthdays, a meeting with a cousin from Ohio in Ft. Wayne, and a b-ball all-star game, plus other usual stuff). After early dinner at Monical's in Delphi, we finally headed north again. It was SO good to finally pull in our driveway and be home!
Now I am trying to catch up. The sounds are comforting. The washer is filling for the first of many loads. My husband is putting away his stuff, couting his leftover cash, and fixing himself a cold glass of Diet Pepsi. I am in the recliner, in PJs, and pecking away at the keys on the laptop, anticipating the 'back to a routine' that I must ease into.
It is always good to get away. It is fun to see new sights, try new restaurants, experience new climates, and seek new adventures. But it is always good to be home, in comfortable surroundings, sleeping in one's own bed. I have to admit that I was getting a little bit homesick for my daughters, my sons-in-law, and Landon by the end of the week. I am so glad that we drove the extra couple of hours to Frankfort last night so we could see both sets of kids then and today.
I am even excited about getting back into the routine of classes again. We have a Blackboard IM session on Tuesday--I hope I don't forget!!! Before we know it, the end of the semester will be here, some will be graduating, and I will be thinking about summer session.
No lit related post tonight. Just a 'happy to be home' thought and a reminder that we will be chatting on Tuesday! See you then!
On the road by 7:30 a.m. We drove until 9:30 p.m. with a few stops for food, gas, and the inevitable RR breaks. Actually the threat of ice, sleet, and snow over southern Indiana into northern Kentucky propelled us further than we had originally intended, so we stopped at Our Daughter the Librarian's house near Frankfort for overnight. It was good to see her and Matt, share the news of the past week, view all of my photos on the iPad, and just visit. After breakfast this morning (homemade blueberry pancakes with REAL blueberries, not those dinky ones in the mixes), we did some 'baby talk' about the changes to the transform the bedroom into a nursery, our upcoming shopping trip for some clothes that will fit her now and in the next few months, and plans for spring and summer.
Next stop was up the road to Pyrmont to see DD#2 and her husband. Landon had been with Grandma Jan and Don (her husband) on a weekend adventure with Don's daughters, their husbands, and children to celebrate a birthday at an indoor water park in Shipshewana. When Landon finally came in the door, he was so excited to see everyone....and went straight to Papaw, much to his Mommy's distress and Papaw's delight! More good time spent visiting with everyone, catching up, making plans for babysitting in the next few weeks, and planning April (both daughters have birthdays, a meeting with a cousin from Ohio in Ft. Wayne, and a b-ball all-star game, plus other usual stuff). After early dinner at Monical's in Delphi, we finally headed north again. It was SO good to finally pull in our driveway and be home!
Now I am trying to catch up. The sounds are comforting. The washer is filling for the first of many loads. My husband is putting away his stuff, couting his leftover cash, and fixing himself a cold glass of Diet Pepsi. I am in the recliner, in PJs, and pecking away at the keys on the laptop, anticipating the 'back to a routine' that I must ease into.
It is always good to get away. It is fun to see new sights, try new restaurants, experience new climates, and seek new adventures. But it is always good to be home, in comfortable surroundings, sleeping in one's own bed. I have to admit that I was getting a little bit homesick for my daughters, my sons-in-law, and Landon by the end of the week. I am so glad that we drove the extra couple of hours to Frankfort last night so we could see both sets of kids then and today.
I am even excited about getting back into the routine of classes again. We have a Blackboard IM session on Tuesday--I hope I don't forget!!! Before we know it, the end of the semester will be here, some will be graduating, and I will be thinking about summer session.
No lit related post tonight. Just a 'happy to be home' thought and a reminder that we will be chatting on Tuesday! See you then!
Friday, March 15, 2013
The Wonders of Nature
If you haven't figured it out already, I love nature. I live in the country. My husband is a farmer. We have a camper. I like to walk in the woods, watch the ocean waves, and enjoy a good thunderstorm, as long as there are no tornadoes.
The return trip on Thursday to Brookgreen Gardens revealed something new to us....on the four original plantations that now comprise the Gardens were slaves who tended the rice fields. We hadn't known before that rice was grown in South Carolina. We wandered through the old slave quarters, listened to the recorded narrative at each spot that explained the role of the slaves, the overseer, the homes, and the tending of the rice fields. They were flooded four times, each time very crucial to the crop. The overseer and his slaves were full of knowledge about the planting and harvesting of the crop. Quite interesting! The picture below is of the former rice fields, now a marsh.
This morning we walked along the Boardwalk, out on Pier 14, and along the beach in both directions. Today was so sunny and warm, but windy, and the water was glistening like sparkling diamonds. The expanse of the ocean is always amazing to me---it stretches so far, and I know that there is no landfall for hundreds and hundreds of miles.
We have visited several beaches, but I think this has to be one of my favorite areas. I like the sea grass. I enjoy the unique restaurants. Even though there are many little shops that all feature the same items, such as sweatshirts and t-shirts and various other tourist type of memorabilia, many unique shops are available which feature local crafts, paintings, and sculptures. Seagrass baskets fascinate me, and on our next trip, we will stop at one of the many markets along Route 17 between Myrtle Beach and Charleston to check them out.
Saturday we bid a fond goodbye to Myrtle Beach and start the 14 hour trip home. I must admit that the weather was cooler than we would have liked, but we enjoy being on Spring Break before the public schools are just because the crowds are smaller. I have sighed several times when I see the temps predicted for the next few days---in the 70s. Oh well...there's always next year.
The return trip on Thursday to Brookgreen Gardens revealed something new to us....on the four original plantations that now comprise the Gardens were slaves who tended the rice fields. We hadn't known before that rice was grown in South Carolina. We wandered through the old slave quarters, listened to the recorded narrative at each spot that explained the role of the slaves, the overseer, the homes, and the tending of the rice fields. They were flooded four times, each time very crucial to the crop. The overseer and his slaves were full of knowledge about the planting and harvesting of the crop. Quite interesting! The picture below is of the former rice fields, now a marsh.
This morning we walked along the Boardwalk, out on Pier 14, and along the beach in both directions. Today was so sunny and warm, but windy, and the water was glistening like sparkling diamonds. The expanse of the ocean is always amazing to me---it stretches so far, and I know that there is no landfall for hundreds and hundreds of miles.
Saturday we bid a fond goodbye to Myrtle Beach and start the 14 hour trip home. I must admit that the weather was cooler than we would have liked, but we enjoy being on Spring Break before the public schools are just because the crowds are smaller. I have sighed several times when I see the temps predicted for the next few days---in the 70s. Oh well...there's always next year.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
A Ship. A Boat. A Vessel.
Today we visited Charleston....my husband's choice of activities. He wanted to see the USS Yorktown and Fort Sumter. I wanted to explore historic Charleston. One of those stops was crossed off the list----the USS Yorktown. We missed the boat for the cruise out to the fort, and after Gary saw the HUGE bridge we would have to cross to go to the town proper, he opted not to drive it.
Since I have been relating everything to literature in some way, I was hard pressed to make a connection today. Hmm...what to do? What to say? There have been many poems about boats, ships, and other vessels. Much has been written about the wars. We just finished reading Red Badge in this class, but that was the Civil War, not WWII, and there were no aircraft carriers, subs, or destroyers on Henry's battlefields. I finally came up with...heroes, wars, and boats.
My dad is a WWII Navy veteran, one of my heroes. He died three years ago from mesothelioma, a disease he contracted from the asbestos that had lain dormant in his lungs since he was on the Destroyer Escort, DE Eldridge. The visit to the USS Yorktown was one that put me close to my dad and his stories. He would have loved the walking tour we took (four of the six within the ship, then the DD Laffey which was also docked next to the aircraft carrier). Actually our visit would have been double or even triple in time had he been with us because he would have had stories about the bunks, the galley, the bathrooms, the torpedoes...all of it he would have shared. Even though the ship (and I often called his DE a 'boat' and was promptly corrected each and every time) was much larger than Dad's, some things were the same and he would have shared all of the details. I wish he had been with us.
While we were walking on the flight deck and looking at the planes there, I spotted a group of sailboats in the water between the Yorktown and Charleston. There was a motorboat, I think, in front of the group, and as they approached the bridge, they seemed to stop and perform a type of routine. Finally I guessed that those steering the sailboats were taking 'sailboat sailing classes' of some sort and learning different moves. Someone in the main motor boat must have been transmitting commands because the sailboats would move in a circle around the motorboat, then split off into groups of two or three, then move in a straight line. It was rather comical watching some of the boats tip so far over that I feared they would capsize, but then they seemed to right themselves and all was well, until the next move! What seemed so simple to me as a spectator was probably frustrating and difficult to the individual sailors. I could compare this activity to my experience with my husband, canoeing down Sugar Creek at Turkey Run State Park a few summers ago. Paddling the oars a certain way made the canoe travel in a specific direction, and I am sure the sailors were struggling with their sails and the wind also. Longfellow in "A Psalm of Life" (ENGL 222) said 'Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!" Each one of those sailors today was striving to succeed and not follow the others as they tipped and swayed in the water!
A different connection to lit was found in the Medal of Honor room. Here I learned several things---O'Hare Airport was named for a Medal of Honor recipient, and a post office in New York was named recently for another one. Obama has awarded just one Medal during his presidency. I began reading Seal of Honor last night, and Michael Murphy came to mind, plus the play on words for the title of the non-fiction book.
There you go! Connections! I can make connections to just about anything....just give me some time and I will do it.
In the pictures today you will see my husband in front of the USS Yorktown, a picture of a Navy helicopter, and the sailboats-in-training and the HUGE bridge. Enjoy!
Since I have been relating everything to literature in some way, I was hard pressed to make a connection today. Hmm...what to do? What to say? There have been many poems about boats, ships, and other vessels. Much has been written about the wars. We just finished reading Red Badge in this class, but that was the Civil War, not WWII, and there were no aircraft carriers, subs, or destroyers on Henry's battlefields. I finally came up with...heroes, wars, and boats.
My dad is a WWII Navy veteran, one of my heroes. He died three years ago from mesothelioma, a disease he contracted from the asbestos that had lain dormant in his lungs since he was on the Destroyer Escort, DE Eldridge. The visit to the USS Yorktown was one that put me close to my dad and his stories. He would have loved the walking tour we took (four of the six within the ship, then the DD Laffey which was also docked next to the aircraft carrier). Actually our visit would have been double or even triple in time had he been with us because he would have had stories about the bunks, the galley, the bathrooms, the torpedoes...all of it he would have shared. Even though the ship (and I often called his DE a 'boat' and was promptly corrected each and every time) was much larger than Dad's, some things were the same and he would have shared all of the details. I wish he had been with us.
While we were walking on the flight deck and looking at the planes there, I spotted a group of sailboats in the water between the Yorktown and Charleston. There was a motorboat, I think, in front of the group, and as they approached the bridge, they seemed to stop and perform a type of routine. Finally I guessed that those steering the sailboats were taking 'sailboat sailing classes' of some sort and learning different moves. Someone in the main motor boat must have been transmitting commands because the sailboats would move in a circle around the motorboat, then split off into groups of two or three, then move in a straight line. It was rather comical watching some of the boats tip so far over that I feared they would capsize, but then they seemed to right themselves and all was well, until the next move! What seemed so simple to me as a spectator was probably frustrating and difficult to the individual sailors. I could compare this activity to my experience with my husband, canoeing down Sugar Creek at Turkey Run State Park a few summers ago. Paddling the oars a certain way made the canoe travel in a specific direction, and I am sure the sailors were struggling with their sails and the wind also. Longfellow in "A Psalm of Life" (ENGL 222) said 'Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!" Each one of those sailors today was striving to succeed and not follow the others as they tipped and swayed in the water!
A different connection to lit was found in the Medal of Honor room. Here I learned several things---O'Hare Airport was named for a Medal of Honor recipient, and a post office in New York was named recently for another one. Obama has awarded just one Medal during his presidency. I began reading Seal of Honor last night, and Michael Murphy came to mind, plus the play on words for the title of the non-fiction book.
There you go! Connections! I can make connections to just about anything....just give me some time and I will do it.
In the pictures today you will see my husband in front of the USS Yorktown, a picture of a Navy helicopter, and the sailboats-in-training and the HUGE bridge. Enjoy!
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