Talking Cats?

I finished the medieval mysteries and have started reading 'Joe Grey Mysteries'. Joe is a talking cat who lives in a small town in California.
There are three talking cats in the stories and four humans who know the cats can talk. I like reading these because I can picture the small towns we saw when we traveled from San Fransisco to LA last summer.

Computer age quilting

Today I met with Pam who is quilting my blue and yellow 'Summer block party' quilt. She ordered the quilt pattern so she could see all the different blocks. ( I could have given her my pattern.) She has spent some time on her computer deciding which quilting designs will look best on each block. I was amazed. She explained the different designs and I made a few minor suggestions. She is going to do the quilting with white thread. Pam said her husband will upload the design to the quilting machine. Then the quilting will begin. I'm excited. Can't wait to see the finished quilt. Pam deserved equal billing on this one.

Never stop learning

Reflecting on recent events, I've learned some things about myself. I was feeling down as I administered English proficiency tests the whole month of April. I had a presentation to prepare and couldn't get excited about it.

I asked for time off to go to the conference and just put the paperwork in the 'in box'. Should have known better. An explanation always goes down better but I was busy testing and didn't take the time.

Then I got fussed at for being gone too much. Wasn't given a chance to say I was going to present a session at an international conference. The selection process is very exacting and this was the first time that one of my proposals had been accepted by this international professional organization.

During the month I was singled out in staff meetings with the statement that if our enrollment increases I will have to move out of my room. Have you seen my room? Two sofas, five large tables, and thousands of books.

All this to say, I was not feeling very competent as a professional and especially not as a presenter.

I didn't realize how much I need affirmation. I guess everyone does. I don't have to be at the top of the heap but I do like to be given a pat on the back.

So I sent an email to all the bosses letting them know about being asked to present a session at an important conference.

And my friend Vicki took up the trumpet and sweetly announced that I was going to be a presenter at the conference and sent me off with gifts.

I had told myself that this would be my final presentation, that I was getting too old to keep this up.

After the session was over and participants thanked me for an informative and engaging session, I realized that I still have ideas to share.

I love to talk to groups of teachers.

I love to exchange ideas with other professionals.

I'm not done yet.

And I need the affirmation.

Waiting.... it's going to be a late night tonight.

Well, I finished preparing my presentation for IRA with 30 minutes to spare. Got myself to the right room early and found two Mississippi friends waiting there. The room held 280 and I made handouts for that many. My lovely assistant (Jo Prather) introduced me and gave out my one page handouts. The participants were attentive and no one left in the middle. Always a good sign, I think. I finished my prepared one-hour session in about 35 minutes, then asked for questions. There were many thoughtful ones, some clarifying ones, then we wrapped it up about 5 minutes early. I don't like to go over into someone else's time. A couple of people came up and asked more questions and one person wanted me to mentor her-long distance. That will be interesting.

Some other highlights of the conference were Debbie Silver-funny mom of five boys who has written a book called Fall down 7 times get up 8. I've got to get that book. Levar Burton was okay. Richard Allington was slow to warm up but fabulous once he got going. I'm on his team if there is a reading debate. I talked to him briefly about coming to MRA. Hope that works out. Today I heard the mayor of San Antonio-he has a bright political future. I would vote for him. His wife is a teacher. Then Mo Willem was HILARIOUS! Wish all my friends could have heard him. I learned to draw a character from his books and will share with students ASAP.

I went to several sessions that were really good. Got lots of ideas for apps to use with the ipads in summer school. Talked to the Lego rep and got a catalogue to order the robot kits for summer school.

My suitcase is full of books. And it wasn't over the weigh limit. I got one author's signature and was able to get another of her books for free by standing in a long line for a long time. I didn't get the office staff little goodies this time since it wasn't an official 'school' trip. I am going to donate some of my swag to the teacher/staff appreciation box, so some may get a free bag, book, or t-shirt.

Now I am waiting at the San Antonio airport. I have received four texts telling me the Houston to Jackson leg of the trip has changed. I may have a two hour layover or longer in Houston. Just hope I get home tonight and not in the morning. By the way this airport has free wi-fi. Great idea. Wish all airports had it.

Medieval Mysteries

It has been almost a month since I've posted. Sorry to my huge numbers of fans who have missed reading these pearls of insight. (Ha!)

I accidentally ran across four medieval mysteries at the library while looking for something else. The Queen's Man by Penway was the first book. I couldn't put them down. But there were only four of them. I haven't been able to find any others by that author.

Then I found or re-discovered the Owen Archer Mysteries by Candace Robb. I am fairly certain that I have read some of her earlier works. They are set in England in the 1300's and are similar to the mysteries of Ellis Peters who wrote Cadfael. I like learning some history and imagining what life was like before the discovery of the new world. The solution rests on the reasoning skills of the main character, not fingerprints and DNA.

Just got back from TESOL. Now it is just four days until Easter. I have several quilts that I want to begin but I really need to work on my presentation for IRA, get MRA speakers lined up, and send out a call for EEIS articles. WIDA testing begins in a week and two schools have surprisingly found students who might be ELLs, now that 3/4 of the year is over.

Also, can't wait to meet Molly (Guo Yong) as soon as she gets here to her new home.

Back to Kids' Books

I finished the Alex Rider kid spy series and then got busy reading Unglued for the women's book group at church. The Reading Teacher came and I got distracted by some interesting articles in it. Oh, yeah, somewhere in there I worked on the EEIS Newsletter which will be finished and emailed in the next week, I think.

Anyway, I needed an easy read to pass some time and found a kids book that had been sitting on the shelf for a while. Just finished reading it last night. Masterpiece was a clever story about a boy and a tiny beetle. I recommend it to kids who like fantasy with a little mystery.

Now I have started a kids book by John Grisham. Didn't know he was writing kids' books. So far I'm liking the book. It is about a small town thirteen year old who wants to be a lawyer, imagine that from John Grisham.

Ladies Book Group

I joined the Thursday night ladies book group at church. New activity for me. As much as I love to read, I have never been in a ladies book group. There were only five women including me last night. I didn't know what to expect and would have liked a few more details, like in which room they were meeting. Fortunately the building is small and I found them right away.

I bought the book, Unglued, and read the first two chapters. Turns out there was a workbook to go along with the video. The first two chapters were interesting. I hope it will be beneficial and help me with this season of life.

What may be the most beneficial is getting to know some women around my age at church. We have been going to the 'newcomer' Sunday school class and most of the members are at least twenty years younger. I like the class and it's good to have friends all different ages but sometimes it makes me feel ancient.

So, here's to trying something new in the new year!