Yearbook Field Day

I can't believe how hard the Journalism students work!  These girls "hiked up their skirts" and brought in over $1500 in sales in ONE DAY!!

I hope they can get to work on their follow up, and then we have a ton of work to do, designing ads and doing layout on the pages.  We have to ask the Josten's rep for additional pages, because we sold so many ads, and we are doing an ad section.

I'm so excited for them! Now if they could just be happy with each other. This was a great team effort, and it was a total success.

End of the week, start of a new one

It is Sunday night, 8pm, and I am just now looking at blogs! I hope everyone has them done!

I am really missing my car and my boyfriend. I need a ride to Sioux Falls SOON to get my car back, and spend some time with him and Trey, his 7 yr old.

We have so much to do in my Lit classes:

American Lit:  Grammar 101 --      we are going to spend a couple days focusing on this
                       Literature --            The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, for Accelerated Reader points
                                                      The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, by Mark Twain
                      Test --                     we will review Thursday, test Friday, for the end of the 9 weeks.

World Lit:        Grammar 101 --     we have to spend a day on this
                        Senior Project --    we will spend Monday looking at the Letter of Intent, due Wed.
                        Mini Term Paper --we will start a mini-term paper, 3-5 pages, that will be integrated into
                                                      the Research Paper for the Senior Project.  The rough draft will be due
                                                      November 6. The final draft will be due November 27.
                      Literature --             we will be reading Act II in class and going through our study guides
                      Test --                     we will review Thursday, test Friday, for the end of the 9 weeks.

So much to do!  I hope my kiddies can handle the load! I really want to throw them a big party at Christmas time!

Like Gilligan's Island

OK. We are sitting here with no power, no heat, and nothing to do. All we want is electricity. And a football game.

We just realized that there is a tree bent over onto our wires to our house. We called the power company and asked if they knew about when they would be coming through our area. They just said, "We'll get to it as soon as we can." I know these guys are working hard--there just isn't enough of them.

I put the ice cream out in the snow so it would stay relatively frozen. Then Rowdy came and shoveled us out so we could open our front door. I spent about an hour outside shoveling, and now Matt is shoveling and trying to get his pickup moved.

We have lots of broken branches, like so many people. I went through this stuff in April, when we had no power for 4 days, and cleanup for a month. I don't want to do it again!

I was hoping the cafe or the grocery store or somewhere would be open so I could get out of here for a while. But I guess we're safe and sound here. I'm not getting much work done, since my computer is on battery power and my hotspot too. If one or the other dies, then that's the end of my work!

We will survive!

Winter is Here!

For some reason I couldn't sleep in this morning -- one of a few chances to do so!  I was awake by 6:00 am, thinking about how the weather was coming in. I looked out the window and it was just raining. I checked on Keloland.com and saw the report of 70 mile an hour winds coming with this blizzard, and it made me think about the patio furniture blowing home to Sioux Falls.

I got up at 6:15 to put that stuff in the garage, and it was snowing.  I couldn't go back to sleep, so I talked to John  and Mom on the phone for a while -- an aunt of mine died yesterday, so there's a bunch of family stuff going on -- and then I decided to go for a walk while I could. I went to the Post Office, but the Bank was still closed because for some reason I was up and at it before 9:00 a.m.

So I stopped at the Grocery Store and had a free cup of coffee while I waited for the Bank to open.

From the Bank I walked to the school, where I am now, sitting in my classroom getting organized and blogging.  The lights keep going off, and I'm pretty sure they will go off one of these times and not come back on.
I got a phone call saying there is no Football game tonight, and Miss Schrank doesn't have to take the Middle School Volleyball to their game tomorrow. I hope that by Monday things are back to "normal" and we can do our activites--I have plans to do Yearbook Ad Sales in Belle, Sturgis, and Spearfish Monday, so I hope we don't have to reschedule!

I need to wrap this up and walk back home. I have a heavy load to take with me, but if I bundle it up in a garbage bag it should stay dry.

I hope all the kiddies stay safe this weekend!

Yearbook Workshop

Yesterday was our Yearbook Workshop in Aberdeen. What a trip! Five kids and me 400 miles overnight--not really what I thought of when I went back into teaching, but it was fun!

I think the group had a good time and learned a lot at the workshop. I'm tired today and trying to catch up. Now we have all you juniors and seniors in the old library doing career testing. BORING? I'd say.  Keeps me grounded in here I guess until you are all done.

I can't wait for the weekend. It will be good to get the auditions done for the play and cast roles.  Monday we start play practice, so I have to be ready for school extra early. Yuck!

Blog 1 of today

I'm so bummed that we lost the game Friday night.  But otherwise it was a great Homecoming! Especially when my boyfriend showed up at the Chili Supper!  It's great to have him around, and he started making friends right away.

We went to Belle Fourche yesterday and helped clean the community theatre stage area.  It was neat connecting with Belle, and the morning went by fast.  Then we went to Whitewood to the auction, and John got to meet my landlord Gene DeWeese.  We bid on a few items and spent about $38.  Then we got home and John met the neighbors.

Now today I have to get my week in order, grade blogs, and plan my trip to Aberdeen. And have fun with John!

Blogging

I'll be so glad when we don't have to blog anymore!  Just kidding, kiddies!  I just wrote that because I bet that is what at least some of you are thinking.

I wish I had more time to blog.  I love to write, and even published my own little book. You can view it on Amazon at this weblink:

http://www.amazon.com/Memorable-Family-Gathering-Tiddly-Volume/dp/1484191919/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380200130&sr=8-2&keywords=A+MEmorable+family+gathering

If you buy the book, read it, and do a summary of it, you can get 2 AR points!  Because this is the only way you will hear about this!

Let me know what you think of it--there are two stories in one, and it's only 24 pages long.

Homecoming Week

I just got done with Period 1 and these kids are going crazy over Homecoming Week! They usually are the quietest class, but today they talked nonstop.

Now Period 2 is coming in, and they will probably be mild. I hope.

There's the bell!

Later!

Three Day Weekend

I got the Career Corner cleaned up yesterday, and put up a couple other bulletin boards in the halls of the high school. I know I was stalling out on grading, but I just had to do something with those boards! They were boring, not being utilized, and wasted space. The career corner had information that was three years old.

Now everything is current, and I can cross that off my long list of things to do!

I spent the entire day so far trying to replace the ceiling fan in my bedroom. It shouldn't be hard -- I know a little bit about wiring. That's not the problem. I had both hands operated on this summer, and I found out today that I don't have the strength back like I thought. It was hard to hold my hands up above my head for extended periods of time, and then one of the screws was stripped out, so it caused me a ton of grief. Plus the old bracket looked like it was going to work but it was 1/4 inch too short for the new mount, so I had to take everything down and replace the bracket with the new one, which I should have done in the first place.

Now the neighbor got the stripped screw out of my way, and I'm ready to try one last time to get this stupid project done. Then I will have a ceiling fan operating once again. Just in time for the cold weather season.

After I get that done, I'm off to the volleyball game. I might have to play the role of photographer, as Courtney doesn't have the camera and didn't plan on going, I don't think. That's ok. I like taking pictures and even though I haven't done it in a while, I think it will be like riding a bike.

Another great thing to do to avoid grading your papers!

Sunday will be dedicated to that.  And finding some fun things to do to learn Rip Van Winkle and Macbeth.

See you at the game kiddies!

So here I am, taking a short break between writing the test for Beowulf and Sir Gawain, and thought maybe I should blog for a moment.

The seniors are going to whiz through this test, if they paid any attention at all to the review.  I'm pretty much just copying questions right out of the review information and making it into a test. It's not going to be hard at all. The only ones who will fail are the ones who don't try or fail to pay attention.

As soon as I'm done with the Sir Gawain part, I'm off to working on the test for the juniors!

It's hard to keep up with blogging!

My kiddies are working me too hard!

They get all of their work done, and they produce more than required. Thus, I have tons of stuff to read and grade before I can think about blogging.

Now they need to have a test. They are begging for it! So I have to prepare a test for them. They made me promise them a day of review, so that's what's going on today. Then for tomorrow I have to make these tests. Ugh!

Why are they working me so hard? Next week is homecoming and I just want to have some fun! I hope they decide to take a week off from reading and writing and grammar. They deserve a break themselves, after all!

Maybe I'll write out all the test questions on my blog and see how many kiddies catch on to it!

Oh Oh! I'm behind!

I can't believe I'm behind on my posts!  How hard is it to just journal online a few minutes each night? I thought I would easily have at least seven posts a week, and here this is only #3 this week, and it's Saturday night. What is wrong with me?!
I'm sure some of you can relate to that feeling. It's okay. Keep going. We can catch up tonight and even tomorrow.
My boyfriend got the part of Tom in the play, "To Kill a Mockingbird," which is being produced in Sioux Falls. He has never been on stage before, so he is excited and nervous. It's kind of fun to talk with him about this new adventure, since I am getting involved in plays for the first time myself, producing the Fall Production for our school.
But I'm worn out tonight, and trying to just relax. I have some grading to do, but it's not as big of a load as having those Rough Drafts to critique! I should be able to get everything done this weekend. Hopefully.

Try to keep up!

Wow kiddies!  I'm behind on my blogs! And my homework! I'm just like some of my students!  (Not any of you, of course!)

That is called the overuse of exclamation points, by the way.

I am behind, but I am determined.  It is 11:15 p.m., and there is no way I am going to get all the Rough Drafts read tonight.  You kids have been working hard, and thus making me work hard too.  It's good for all of us.

I am going to give everyone a break, and extend the Final Draft submission to Monday for all English III and English IV students.  I know some of you are so disappointed, but I just feel you need more time.

I will have them done Thursday, somehow.  And I will have 4 posts to my blog by Friday. Guaranteed!

Have a good night!

Weekend is here!

Hey kiddies!
It's the weekend! We survived a second week of school.  If it weren't for the heat, things would be great.  So if that's all we have to complain about, that's pretty good.

I hope to find a card reader and a cable to a Kodak camera this weekend for the Yearbook class. We have pics but no way to upload them. 

The Yearbook staff is so excited about producing an award winning book for you.  So make sure you order one.  They will go to competition and blow the other schools out of the water. Just wait and see!

Keep up the blogging--I am looking forward to reading all weekend!

Tomorrow's Friday!

Well, when we are done tomorrow, we will have two weeks behind us.  Isn't it amazing? If it weren't for the heat, we would have no complaints.

I am going to spend my weekend WORKING. I want to get ahead of the game, and have at least 2 weeks worth of lesson plans COMPLETELY done.  That way, if you have to go somewhere for several days, I know what to give you for homework, etc. Right now, I know what I plan to be teaching, but I don't necessarily have all the assignments, projects, essays, etc., planned out specifically. 

I have been working almost non-stop today, and it's now 10:00 and I'm done. I'm going to bed. I hope the classroom is a little cooler tomorrow!

See you there!

Dad's Birthday

Today was my dad's birthday. If he were still with us, he would have turned 80 years old. He was my favorite teacher.

First Week, First Post

So this is officially my first blog of our assignment.  Remember, I said I would do this with you, so here I am!
I was awakened this morning to the sound of hammering.  My neighbor is building a big building, and the roof was being completed today. I'm sure they started at 6:00 a.m. to get a jump start on the heat, but now it's 9:00, and they are done.  Did they really have to wake me up at 6:00?  It looks like a nice roof.
Since I was awake, I noticed we had no power.  I learned it went out around 3:00 this morning.  It was off for about 4 hours. I wonder if the roofers used too many power tools.
So now I am sitting in my front yard, trying to hold a small rummage sale. I hope I can make $50, but the traffic isn't here yet.  Maybe I needed to advertise!
This is a good one:  I went to church yesterday, and afterward, I went up to the priest and introduced myself. I said, "I'm Nancy Winker," and he replied, "Of course, you are."  As if he knew me?!  Is he Jesus? I said, "Oh, are they talking about me around here already?" to which he smiled and said, "No, you were my English teacher in Wall." 
He seems to have learned something from me, since his sermon was excellent. He spoke well, and had perfect grammar.

Labor Day Weekend

It feels good to relax!  And the weather isn't quite so hot, and I'm not in my classroom today.  I'm getting other things done, and getting organized at home.

American Lit and World Lit are right on target as far as our schedule goes. We need to spend some time on Grammar and Writing, just a little beyond these blogs.  We'll get to it.  I have an online Grammar course that I'm looking into, called Grammar 101, and we will probably be using it.  If you want to check it out, it is at:
http://englishgrammar101.com/ so you can make comments on it when we discuss it later.

Thanks for being such a great bunch of students! You have been tolerating the heat so well, and have been very respectful in the classroom as a group. It is very much appreciated!

Well, kiddies, it's the weekend!

Great game, guys! I stayed until half, then collected my winnings at the gambling hall - just kidding - and went to karaoke in Vale. I just got home, and I am TIRED!

Big weekend in Newell, so I better rest up -- gotta check out the rodeo, parade, free food, and all the great entertainment. Hope to see you all around town!

Getting out Early

You would think that because we got out early today, I would be done working by this time tonight. Not so!  I am trying to figure this Blogger site, and I have a bunch of students I'm following, but it's difficult to know whose blog is whose. We'll have to sort them out tomorrow!

Looking forward to another hot day tomorrow.  I'm hoping we can find some relief somehow!

Hi students!

OK, so this evening I have finally gotten all of your email addresses collected into groups so I can mail you information class by class. 

Now if I can just get this Blogger figured out -- I'd like us to be able to invite each other to see our blogs.  But I'm thinking I may have to ask each of you for your URL.

Mine is winkern.blogspot.com

Thanks for being good students!  Stay Cool!

I am just ending my first day of school.  Wow, what a day! I haven't been a teacher since 2001.My seniors were in 1st grade!

It's exciting for me.  I have been in Sioux Falls for 5 years, and I have been struggling to find my niche.  Getting back into classroom teaching feels completely right.  The move went well, the community is so welcoming, and the students are -- well, they are SMART!

Yes, I have students who are reading this blog, so I had to pump them up.  But they are smart, and eager to learn, and willing to work hard.

My classroom is hot still -- it is 90 degrees in here, and it is full of bugs.  So I'm going to close up shop for the night and be ready for another day tomorrow.