Just finished my coffee...

so I'm awake. I have been getting up when DH gets up so I get used to it again before school actually starts. Even though school has not started yet, I am doing school things. Yesterday I went to our "Data Retreat." A retreat usually is enjoyable- maybe they call it that to try to make us feel we enjoy it. I go because I have to go. As department head for social studies I am in charge of writing our department goals. I was able to complete that yesterday (as a draft- I will discuss it with my department, but knowing them they won't have any changes), and also figure out how I would use department meetings to discuss strategies that we are supposed to be using, and encourage their use. I did have help from an ELL teacher (English Language Learner) who teaches 6th grade SS, so that was good. She's a person who is really on the ball. She's on the Curriculum writing committee with me, too. We have THAT all day meeting tomorrow. At least I get paid for those meetings! Today I am meeting with a teacher who will be teaching both 7th and 8th grade social studies this year but hasn't taught it before. I gave her some things to take home over the summer, and today I am going to talk to her about what I do to teach 8th grade so she can get an idea of what to do. I will share any of the activities I do with her if she wants. You really do have to adapt things to fit your own personality. I am sure that some other teachers couldn't pull off some of the goofy things that I do in my classroom. A couple of years ago I had two high school students come to visit me. One of them said, "You know what, Mrs. V? Sometimes my HS SS teacher says things and I think, 'I already know that. I learned that from Mrs. V.' " Then she said, "I was learning things, and I didn't even know it because I was having so much fun!" That made me feel GREAT! =-)

I am still trying to get things done around the house before my teaching bogs me down. Yesterday I started rearranging my closet. I have been doing things to help DH out (like mow the lawn, which he usually does) since I want him to keep working on the basement. He did more wall boarding last night. He is almost ready to plaster.

One thing I have been procrasinating about is painting fabric for my challenge quilt. My former quilt buddies in Two Rivers and Manitowoc have a quilt show at the Rahr Art Gallery in Manitowoc every couple of years. This year it will be the month of Dec., into January again. The challenge was to take a painting (that will be displayed with the challenge quilts) and make something that it inspires. It is a water color painting, so right away I thought of painting on fabric. After being taught how to do it last summer by a friend, I had some fabric I could use. I decided I needed some darker "water" fabric and I have the things to do it, but right now my confidence is flagging and I am wishing my friend lived a lot closer! I will have to boldly step out and do it, but I have to wait until I feel bold! Soon, very soon. I am going to take the painted fabrics and use pieces to make my quilt which I will call "November Sky Over Lake Michigan." I am also using a new technique to put it together that I was also shown by the same friend. She makes gorgeous quilts, art quilts, and mine won't match her expertise, but it will be something new, which I think a challenge should be. Just have to get my Star Trek courage up... to boldly go where I have not gone before! LOL

Time to hit the shower. Oh yeah, and get in it to clean up, too. Wish I could sit in my jammies all day and read. That's what I REALLY feel like doing today!