Giving Thanks

It is that time of year again.   The time of year in which everyone should be giving thanks for all that they have.     While I have tried to remain positive, I have spent a lot of time thinking about all the things that I wish I had.  For example, I really wish I had a clean desk.    Not only is my desk REALLY messy, but so is my computer desk, front demonstration table and whatever that table is next to it that is made for a  small child.     I also wish that I had more hours in the day to get work done, more time to sleep and the energy to tackle the growing mound of laundry.   And while I am wishing for  things, I also wish I had a robot that could grade all of my papers and a money tree that could grow a million dollars every spring.     My list could go on and on.

What I need to remember is all of the good things that I have.  I have three kids I adore, a dog that does not chew on my furniture and a husband who does ALL the ironing AND puts gas in my car.   I work in a beautiful new facility with teenagers that make me laugh every day.  ( I do laugh, I swear...I just laugh after I fuss at you.)    I work with great people and for great people.  I am truly blessed.

So the next time I fuss, whine, complain, etc. about losing my coffee cup under the sea of ungraded papers on my desk,  I need to take a step back and think of all the wonderful things going on around me.   I hope that you are able to do the same.     Find the bright spot in your day.   If you HATE science class, be thankful when it is almost over.   Give thanks for what you have....you have a lot to be thankful for.

Stress

A few months ago, good friends of ours (our next door neighbors), built a house on some land they have had for quite a while.        They own 22 acres in Lincoln County; part of it is wooded while the other part of it is pasture land.     They have owned the land for about 5 years, and would go up occassionally to enjoy the peace and quiet that "the country" brings before they decided to build.   Turns out that the people that own the land next to them is has some land that is up for sale, and we are able to purchase a few acres.       My husband's dream has always been to own some land...something about being "in nature" is comforting.

When I go out to this land, there is usually no noise.  I have never NOT heard anything before I started going up to this land.   The noise that I do hear from time to time is the buzz of the bugs flying many, many feet away.  I hear the frogs at night, the birds flying in the air and the coyotes "yip" at night.    I enjoy looking at the grass, the flowers growing in the wild and the many species of mushrooms feeding off of the dead.    I sit and look for deer, not for hunting, but just for fun.  I watch the bats fly in the early evening, build a fire in the fire pit and just enjoy the peacefulness that nature brings.     It does not matter what kind of day I have had, when I venture out there, the stresses of my life become a distant memory.

Every one needs a sanctuary...a place to go to in order to relieve some stress.    Teenagers have a lot going on, and it only gets worse as you get older.   You need to be able to handle the stresses in your life without resorting to violence, drugs, pills, alcohol, etc.     Whether your sanctuary is your room, a place in your backyard, etc. find "your place" that helps you cope.    Take a few minutes to sit, relax, enjoy your surroundings, and breathe.  

Just looking at pictures of my sanctuary makes me feel better.   

Photosynthesis Factories

If you have an electronic version of your factory that you would like to share with others, you are more than welcome to post it here for all to see.     Gliffy should have given you a web address for your creation.  You can comment to this post and put the link in your comment.   

Nice to see a few followers.  :)

When I rule the world...

Grades....why do they have to rule our lives? Why do the numbers 70-100 have to be as important as they are? When I rule the world, I am going to figure out a way to make these "numbers" less important. It should be about what you learn, not necessarily about the number on the report card. I can honestly say that all of you learned something...unfortunately, the something that some of you learned was not the something that you needed to learn. Until I become ruler of all the land, the "number" on the report card is important. It is important in different ways to different people. That "number" determines whether you repeat a class or not, whether you get into the college you want to or not, and whether or not you will get college money to help you through school. Whether we like it or not, that "number" will be important for a long time, because I really don't think I will become ruler of the world anytime soon. Boo...

Today was a yucky day. A day of reflection for me, and hopefully a day of reflection for you as well. I always want to know what I can do for you that helps you become more successful, so for those of you that offered suggestions, I truly appreciate it. I hope you understand what you need to get done for the next nine weeks and how important it is for you to make good decisions. Please let me know what I can do for you.

Procrastination

This evening, while eating dinner with my rugrats, I decided that tonight was the night to get out the Halloween decorations. A little early, I know, but when you have small children, it is easier to put up the decorations than to hear about putting them up night after night. So after all the grits were cleaned off my toddler's face, I cautiously made my way to the attic. I put on a brave face and opened the door. I ventured inside ( I can walk in my attic....well, only on one side of it), and began to journey to the back where I found all 4 of my Halloween decorations buried deep under the stuffed turkey. As I was digging through the mess to get out the ceramic pumpkin, I looked around at the horrible mess my husband created. This mess has been there for a while; in fact, it has been there so long, I can't remember what the attic looks like clean. Why haven't I cleaned the attic? I had all summer to clean it, yet I did not do it. Now I am probably providing a very nice home for some rodents. I am paying the price for procrastinating.

Teenagers probably procrastinate the best. They are notorious for putting off something (cleaning their room, homework, etc.) for as long as possible. Then they have to be forced, bribed or blackmailed into doing what they should have been doing before they procrastinated. I could give you the "parental lecture"and tell you all day not to procrastinate, but you would anyway. We all do...myself included. But what you need to remember is that you are making conscience decisions when you put off doing things, and you will have to live with those consequences. Please make good decisions this next week; you have lots of grades up for grabs!!!! Make the most of your opportunities.

As for the rodents in my attic; you will see them in the spring when we dissect them. They will be nice and juicy by then.

Crunch Time

Well, it is about that time. You know, the time of the nine weeks where you feel like every teacher is piling on the work at the last minute. You are cruising along and then all of a sudden, BAM....you have tons of homeowrk, projects are due for at least half your classes and every teacher you have is giving you a test all on the same day. I do realize that it seems as though all of us teachers meet up and plan to have tests, projects and other various assignments due at the same time. This is to make you as miserable as possible. Once a week we all meet up at a local restaurant and decide what we need to do to make your life as hectic as possible. It is a special club that you can only belong to when you become a teacher of teenagers.

I hope you know I am kidding.

While I know that it is very busy right now, the most important thing you can do is plan ahead. Think a few days in advance. If you know you have a project due next Wednesday, don't wait until Tuesday night to do it. Think ahead, plan ahead, stay ahead.

As far as science class is concerned, get your notebook ready to be checked and review ( or learn if you never did it the first time) those word parts. The 6 lists are on the website. Practice, practice, practice.

Any ideas as to which restaurant the teachers should visit next? We are always looking for good ideas. :)

Biochemistry Test on Friday

In case you have forgotten, you have a REALLY BIG TEST this Friday on Chapter 2. (Isn't it nice how Anatomy and Biology are testing over the same material? I can enjoy it for 2 more days.)

I know that this is not brand new information for you, but your test this Friday is one of the hardest tests you will take all year. The macromolecules tend to give students fits. However, if you prepare for it, you will be fine.

Review your homework, your notes taken in class and READ the chapter. Reading will help...PROMISE. We have a little more to talk about tomorrow, but will spend time reviewing as well. You cannot do it all in class; it won't work. You will have to do some reviewing at home.

I will be around Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and Friday morning if you need some help.

Happy studying!!

Ouch

Well, we have just finished day 8 and I have yet another bruise. I am not sure why it is, but I am incredibly clumsy. I probably have some incredibly unlucky DNA sequence that codes for clumsiness, but I would like to blame it on the very large desks in my classroom. The desks are so big (which is great for comfort), but they take up so much room!!! I find myself bumping into a desk quite often. I am waiting to trip and land on the floor. It will happen one day, I am certain.

It probably does not help my natural clumsiness having all the science supplies coming in. There are about 3 mountains of empty boxes in the front of the room now that once had supplies in them. They were certainly in my way today, and if I do not move them tomorrow, there will be an accident waiting to happen. However, I now have almost all of the essentials to teach young inquiring minds some good science. My anatomy torso arrived (SO exciting) and was put together yesterday. I got all of his organs properly placed in him, and then attempted to pick him up to move him, only to have his head detach and fall on the floor. Somewhere in all the crazy head detaching, his brain came out and hit my face on the way down. There is no telling what will happen when I put the skeleton together.

Bruises aside, I am anxious to have our first "real" lab tomorrow. Using the equipment for the first time will certainly be enjoyable. Unpacking the test tubes today (despite my injuries) was so fun. I can't wait to see all of you using it tomorrow.

Now, stop reading and go do your homework!!!

Happy studying!!!

The First Day

What a wonderful day. I cannot imagine a better opening to a school than what we experienced today at GTHS. The enthusiasm and energy in the building was incredible. I am excited to know that there are students in the building that are happy to be at school. This is an educator's dream; I hope I never wake up!!!!

I understand that all classes were probably very boring today. Believe it or not, the first day of school is just as boring for the teachers. I cannot think of one teacher that likes to go over rules and procedures for an entire period and then repeat it 4 more times. Tomorrow will be better as we will actually talk about other things. However, if you have any comments or questions about today, please feel free to ask them. I just ask that you remain respectful and courteous as many people will read this entry. It is very easy to get "caught up" in "text language". Happy reading and I will see you tomorrow!!!

Here I go...

My first blog. Well, this is my first blog that will be "school related". New school, new school year, new blog. We will see how it goes. I am hoping that I can share all sorts of "cool science things" with anyone who is interested and wants to learn. Some people think that traffic on this "science blog" will be low, I would like to be a little bit more optimistic. We will see.



To get me started, here is a beautiful shelf fungus that I found in the woods at Fort Yargo. (Fort Yargo is a state park near Athens, GA.) Shelf fungus is a fungus that is related to the mushrooms that you buy at the grocery store, although you should not eat shelf fungus!!!!