Nature, quiet?!
Friends will ask us how we can camp every summer out in nature where it is so quiet at night. First, I try to explain that with our crew it …
All the Classroom’s a Stage: Third Grade Thespians
Children are natural born actors. Think about it. Aren’t children always looking for an audience? A two-year-old follows you around to give her rendition of “tantrum” or a nine-year-old offers …
The Need for a Fourth Grade Math Tutor
From competence to incompetence. The difference a substitute day can make. Like I said before, I always try to demonstrate to students on the board how to do the mathematical …
Grammar Geek Turns Algebra Nut
I’ve found that I love demonstrating those long algebra problems on the board for the students when I substitute for math classes. You know the problems. They go all the …
When in a Different State, Do as the Locals Do
“Do I have to?” I shrank back into the dirty laundry in the trailer. “It’s free, Vic,” my husband reminded me. Once again, six eager faces smiled at me. In …
Cluttered Desks, A Substitute’s Nightmare
Substitutes don’t have time to mine the teacher’s desk for classwork or the correct textbooks to use for the lesson plan at hand. Students need to be on task, …
Time to Trust an Animal: Horseback Riding in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There is nothing like riding a thousand pound animal. But there is a difference between loving a horse and riding a horse. Most children love horses, at least mine do. …
Tubing Down the Rapids, Part 3
The rapids can be dangerous. You need full attention of where you are on the stream and what is coming up ahead. A death grip on the ropes around the …
Go Play Outside
A typical mother statement. Whenever the weather was fine–or just not raining–my mother sent us outside to play. And we were happy. At my house, when it is not raining, …
Tubing Down the Rapids, Part 2
Our two older girls finally decided to drag their own tubes up the pathway. Good thing the rubber is thick! This just left three young children, two adults, and five …