Cat

Naturally, Korra wanted to be a cat for Halloween. Not just any cat, an orange and white cat. This is the best I could do. 

Halloween Party for Two

Korra and her friend had a mini Halloween party today. There was supposed to be pumpkin decorating, but mostly they just ate lots of candy and played pretend like usual. 

7th Percentile!

Korra had her yearly check up today and she's made it up to the 7th percentile for weight and height!  We haven't seen that since she was an infant!

In less exciting news, she was supposed to get a TB test (for DFCS/adoption process) but because of the power outages yesterday, the clinic didn't feel their supply of vaccines was safe.  So now we have to wait a few weeks and go back or see if we can find another place to get a TB test for an 8 year old.  Fun times!

Zeta

Really strong wind and rain last night from the hurricane left a whole lot of people in the city without power or internet, which means... they cancelled online school!  Best of all, we have power and internet AND my sister-in-law Genevieve is in town for an appointment tomorrow so we get to have a fun girls' day!  Currently painting our nails while watching Addams Family with plans to bake cookies for the new neighbor that's moving in upstairs.

Banned Books

In the midst of my Media Literacy unit (fake news, media bias, etc), we're also talking about author's purpose. Discussing purposes like persuade and inform leads to writing persuasive essays and middle schoolers' favorite: debate. As I was looking through The Hate U Give for debate topics (naturally, it's the novel we're reading for this unit), I realized it's a banned book, which means we can discuss and then debate censorship- which goes perfectly with media literacy!  I feel like I'm really making use of my media specialist skills this year!

Not very engaged

Probably 25% of my students (so, 6 kids) we're totally checked out today. Cameras off. No responses in the chat. Not answering when I called in them. It was really discouraging and frustrating. I know I've had plenty of days like that in the classroom, but it feels extra challenging online. I can't pull them aside for a chat. I can't stand close to keep them focused. I can't send them to go get a drink of water to wake up. 

Overall, I still think I'm doing a really good job of this online teaching thing. And I still think staying online is for the best with cases as high as they are. But dang, I miss normal teaching. 

Even in the rain...

Last night, we had a fun outdoor hang-out on the front porch of some friends while it poured rain. We decided that during the fall and winter, we're just going to need to be prepared and dress appropriately if we want to keep seeing people.  

Korra's Awards

Today was the End of Quarter celebration/presentation for our school.  Korra got SEVEN awards.  Perfect attendance, All As, the Love award, the Leadership award, the Quick Keys Award, the Sunshine award, and the highest kickboard points earner. I'm a little proud. 

SEL applications

We teach a lot of social-emotional skills at our schools.  This virtual school year, I'm using it so much more.  Mindful minutes.  Breathing exercises.  Yoga and stretching breaks.  I'm doing these in every class and several times a day between classes.  I don't know how I'd make it through without these skills.

Wonderkid & Imaginarium

Tonight's dinner was as delightful and enjoyable as you'd expect from a restaurant called Wonderkid and a brewery called The Imaginarium. We enjoyed the best fried chicken I've ever had, corn on the cob roasted with bacon, crispy garlic green beans, creamy macaroni and cheese, a big slice of salted caramel cake, and a sweet potato coconut hand pie- all on an outdoor patio on a gloriously beautiful evening. Such a nice middle-of-the-week mood booster. 

Hankie Embroidery

I bought some hankies and embroidered this in the corner tonight. 

Apple crisp!

Made my first apple crisp of the season!  Yum! My oatmeal is going to be so delicious for the next week. 

Drug test

Nate and I peed in some cups today. Our DARE programs would be proud that we both passed our drug tests. Extra fitting since it's Red Ribbon Week. 

Social Butterflies

Had dinner with friends two nights in a row. It was so wonderful. 

Cabin Recap

 Went for a walk. Roasted marshmallows over the fire. Watched movies. Decorated pumpkins and trick-or-treating bags. Talked. Read. Ate. Napped. It was lovely.

Culvers

 On our way back from the cabin, we stopped at Culvers for frozen custard and fried cheese curds.  YUM!

12 Years

I have blogged continuously (almost daily) for 12 years as of today.  Nearly 9,000 posts.  You're welcome.

Girls Time at Cabin

 Headed to the cabin for a couple of days with my mom, my niece, and Korra!

Calvin and Hobbes/Korra and Tigey

All weekend Korra was either reading Calvin and Hobbes comics or drawing her own comics. 

Migraine

Spent 9 hours of my day in bed because of a migraine. At least it's a rainy day to match how I feel. 

43 lbs

Korra, at 8 years old, finally weighs more than the amount I gained during my pregnancy with her. 

Relief

Even though the public schools in our district are all reopening to in-person learning in some capacity, our school has decided to remain virtual for all of October and November. 92% of staff, 72% of parents, and 67% of students said they felt unsafe returning. This is bound to be unpopular among some families and we might have financial consequences (enrollment) in the future, but I am so thankful. The plan as of right now is to go in-person in shifts (staff and students) in December just for testing. I think I can handle that, especially since I know they have 2 months to make a solid plan for those 2-3 weeks. 

Town Hall

Just starting the staff "Town Hall" about if we're going back to school and what that will look like.  I'm absolutely freaking out. 

Katy

My principal has spelled my name wrong for 3 years.  Katy.  Every time.  No matter how many times I sign emails with it spelled correctly.  Today, he actually sent me an email where he spelled it Katy at the beginning and Katie at the end.  Then sent an apology for spelling it two ways.  Which tells me he STILL has no idea which way it's spelled.  

Why are people who are trying so hard hurting so badly?

I read these quotes today and they resonate in my soul. 

There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they're falling in. 

-Archbishop Desmond Tutu

When I started looking upstream, I learned that where there is great suffering, there is often great profit. 

-Glennon Doyle

These Kids

A student just called to tell me SHE is disappointed wity ME because I called her mom about missing class for 2 weeks and failing.

In other news, the fake Clickbait assignments they turned in (showing understanding of connotation, author's purpose, and sensationalism) are on point. 

My classroom

I don't remember if l posted it this year, but here's a picture of my "classroom" this year. 

Please, no

We're finding out on Wednesday if we'll be in person in November and December. I don't want to go. The kids really do (in part because they don't realize it's not going to be like "normal"). This morning a teacher said the kids were looking sleepy and one said in the chat "I have a fever" and another said "my throat is sore."  Inside I'm freaking out. I don't want to go back into a classroom with these sick kids. 

Food then Nap

 Today we went to lunch at a local burger place with a big outdoor seating area.  Burger, cheese fries, milkshake... all while sitting outside in this beautiful weather with the sun warming my back.  After eating all that delicious food, I had the best nap.  Really, just about the perfect Sunday afternoon.

2 hours for cookies

Nate and I decided to treat ourselves to a late night Insomnia Cookies delivery. It's been an hours since we ordered so I called. They said it'll be another hour. Super bummed. And hungry. 

Crocheted Hat

A hat I made for Korra a few years ago was a little too small so I took some of it apart and then added a new bottom (and flowers).

Zoom Wedding

Today we are bridesman, bridesmaid, and flower girl at a virtual wedding. 

Kathryn and Rachel have postponed their wedding a couple of times for various reasons but we are SO excited to celebrate with them today!

We're all dressed up, we have a cheese board, popcorn, M&Ms, cake, and a rainbow candle, and we're Zooming in!

Jesus?

A very simple one question quiz at the end of class:

What are 5 things a complete sentence needs?

I even left up the slide with the answer while they took the quiz.  

One student wrote:

5 needs are food, water, Jesus, money ,and clothing. 

Jesus, help me. 

Crockpot Applesauce

Korra's been getting the free bagged breakfasts and lunches from the school each week.  They come with LOTS of apples and plums so today we're using up the extras and making plum applesauce in the crockpot.  It smells AMAZING on this fall morning!

Happy birthday

Today is my sister's AND my father-in-law's birthday. 

I'm so lucky to have them both in my life. 

Reading over FaceTime

Our good friends' daughter who is 5 asked to call Korra and me today so she could read us her first book (she's just learning to read). It took about 10 minutes (for 6-8 simple sentences) but she was so proud and it made me so happy she wanted to share it with us. The only thing that could have made it sweeter was if her 2 year old brother hadn't been screeching the entire time. Kids are endlessly entertaining. 

Surprise

I told the kids all week that today at 3:00, I would replace all "missing" assignments with zeros and then email their parents their grades. About 5 kids complete d assignments (out of 45) before 3:00 I just checked my school email and I have 20+ emails about make up assignments- all sent after 4pm. No one is surprised. 

9 volt batteries

I'm about to purchase a case of 9 volt batteries and mail them to a couple dozen of my coworkers and students because every time they come off mute I can hear their fire alarm chirping. It's annoying and just plain dangerous.