garden, originally uploaded by Amity Beane.
Here is the garden–if you go to my flickr you can see the notes. I’ll explain, though: there are beans, radishes, spinach, onions, garlic, potatoes, and peas in the ground! There is talk of renting a rototiller to put in corn, squash, pumpkins, and cukes. There doesn’t seem to be enough time on the weekend to get everything accomplished–at least not this weekend, it was so very busy that we really only worked on Sunday.
apple blossoms, originally uploaded by Amity Beane.
Today was a good day. Is still a good day. The sun is out and it is warm and breezy. It’s humid.
School was absurdly warm in the afternoon. Usually my room is freezing, but not today.
Several good things happening in classes. My dreadfuls are no longer. I’ve turned the tables on them–given them something to be accountable for. Today’s goal-setting review using the LCD projector, new blogs up on the board for everyone to see–it was excellent. Kids are doing work outside of class, too! Kids who normally just sit there are talking to me. It’s refreshing.
And in the upper levels? I’m giving them Neruda. A couple of his odes that I love and a new poem about a plant. And we’re watching “Il Postino” and writing our own poems for the final. And doing symbolic story representations. I am packing it in, cramming as many ways of thinking as they can keep up with. Lots of writing!
I’ve been working more with my school websites, mostly because of grad class motivation. My class (Integrating Technology in the Classroom) is ending this coming Tuesday.
I planned a new unit based on an essential question: what drives us to follow our dreams? I made some good assessments and learned a lot about how I think and how I want the kids to think–that is truly my job, teaching them how to think.
Asking good questions is the beginning.
The other day when I was down about the dreadfuls, Joe said that I take everything so seriously, that when things aren’t working out, I am deeply affected. He reminded me that I cared deeply about the outcomes of my time with the students. I want a creative, dynamic classroom where everyone is thinking. It takes a big commitment on my part and I want equal commitment from the students. And I want to get to know them, each one is so unique and special. It is taking some time in my current placement but things are happening.
Oh, one more thing about school: it’s prom season. I love the prom. I admit it. When kids dress up they are transformed. Saturday night Joe and I have a date at the prom.
proof, originally uploaded by Amity Beane.
I know, I know. It’s a sprout. There are more interesting things on this earth. But I like the beginning of things. I love spring. Everything has promise.
Exciting news. Some of the onions have poked through. I checked last night.
The gardens look really good. The peas are about an inch tall. There are two new beds that Joe turned over. He really is quite earthy, doing the work barefoot (!) and nimbly turning soil and pulling weeds. He made neat work of it. He also went around the yard with a hoe and took out a lot of thistles that he had been stepping on while barefoot. I had to laugh as I saw him hoeing out this weed–he did it right-handed (he is a lefty) with a beverage in the other hand.
I have been placing the seedlings outside every day. Yesterday they looked dry so I watered them for today’s stint outdoors.
spring is here, originally uploaded by Amity Beane.
Change is in the air. It feels good. Things are growing–the onions are not up yet but I saw one bulb had a lot of roots.
This is the dress for the beach wedding…a month away!
Isn’t the grass nice and green?
narcissus, originally uploaded by Amity Beane.
Today was a decent day at school. I am slowly gaining perspective about what to do with my classes for the final push. Spanish 1’s will next do a visual vocabulary. Spanish 2’s are doing project-based blogs. Spanish 3 and 4 will do Neruda and if time permits my new unit on dreams.
I was actually energized by my last class today. Students asked for help all period and that made me feel good. No pulling of teeth today. Everyone worked and helped each other!
(Isn’t the flower gorgeous? The evening light was so mellow and sweet.)
potatoes, originally uploaded by Amity Beane.
It was a warm evening with no wind, so the tates went in.
the peas are up, originally uploaded by Amity Beane.
I planted them the Monday of break, so ten days ago. And here they are. The rain this week was great for the garden.
I’ve never grown peas. This is kind of exciting for me. I am definitely a grower by nature. There is something about the plant cycle that wows me every time.
The onions are in the ground as well as a row of garlic. Next will be the potatoes this weekend. Perhaps even as early as tomorrow if the weather is not too windy. I prefer to plant in the rain.
sky at libby ridge, originally uploaded by Amity Beane.
Not bad, eh? A spring sky.
