Summer Break from School

Today is the first official day of summer break for me.  Yeah!  I've got many plans in my head, but my goal is to actually get them down in writing.  My goal is a little each day.

I am hoping to do more professional development I want to do this summer than I did last summer with classes.  I do have one day-long training with the archdiocese for our new graded course of study.  I am excited about what I see on paper.  I am more curious to learn what I don't see on paper.

Student Answer About Anne Frank & Heaven

Friday, I was my student-teacher's substitute--Yeah!  I do not like NOT teaching and was excited to fill this role.  The students were wrapping up reading the play about Anne Frank.  We had approximately ten minutes left in class on a Friday afternoon, so we had a general discussion.

Someone asked, "Do you think Anne Frank would be mad if she looked down [meaning--from heaven] and saw all of us reading her diary?"

One beautifully faith-filled student immediately said, "No.  You only feel love in Heaven."

End of discussion . . . and all with smiles of agreement!

Evaluate vs. Valueing

I was at a school function the other day in which I ran into many parents, one of which I sent an email to earlier in the day.  I asked her if she received my email . . . blah, blah, blah . . .  and I passed along a sincere and genuine compliment about her son.  She stopped suddenly and said, "Thanks.  That means a great deal coming from someone who evaluates my son."

VERSUS

I was equally shocked at her remark and added, "I VALUE your son.  I EVALUATE his work."  I think as busy teachers we forget to let our students and parents know this.

I'm thinking about adding this to my beginning of the year parent-night information.  I'd much rather know a teacher values my child.  It is expected that (s)he evaluates him or her.