August Meeting

Anyone there? If so, I hope we can all meet before school begins. Dates may be difficult as the time grows ever shorter. I am facing a challenge unless there are a few weeks to ask off from Krogers. Always have Tuesdays and Fridays off without question. So......... if you can work around that I can take a short notice! If I don't get to see you all, have a wonderful year back to the kids.
Our best thoughts especially to Anna and family. Cheerio, Carol Frey

Actors Guild - Godspell

Hello everyone. Here is the link to the Actors Guild of Parkersburg website.

www.actorsguildonline.org.

They haven't put up all of the information about the new season, but there is a listing. Godspell opens in mid November and opening nights are buy one/get one. Groups of 20 or more get a slight discount if you reserve in advance.

Next summer I'm directing "A Year with Frog and Toad" based on the classic books. It's a great little musical that I'm excited to do.

Take care - it was a great summer. Let me know how I can help coordinate the get together if you all decide to come to Godspell. There are some good restaurants up this way.

Thanks again!!!

I just wanted to say another big thank you for the generous gift you all gave me today...truly above and beyond!

Also, Don (or anybody), I tried to post on the NWP e-anthology and all I could get it to do was post a summary...I couldn't find a place for my actual post. When I hit "new post" it took me to a screen where I could title it, put in an optional summary, and optionally request notification if I received comments. Any ideas? I was so disappointed because I thought I was being so clever with my title and now I feel like kind of a doofus (spell?) with only a couple sentences following my fab title. I suppose I'll get over it.

Meet before school starts?

Hey all,

What do folks this about a potluck/party before school starts. Something like 5pm? It doesn't even need to be on the weekend, right? What does August look like for folks?

I'm volunteering mi casa for the event. I'll get you directions after we get possible dates. I suppose we can keep each other updated on this blog or the email front.

You all rock!

Survey Link

Here's the link: http://www.inverness-research.org/NWP-SI-Surveys.html

Black Magic Cake

Black Magic Cake by Doris Ramsburg

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup hershey cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup buttermilk or sub. (1cup milk and 1 tbs vinegar)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup strong coffee ( instant or regular) you could use decaffeinated but whats the point?

Bake at 350 for about 25 mins.. or until done in the middle

Icing:
3 cups sugar
1 cup canned milk
1/2 cup water
dash of salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 stick butter

Bring first 6 ingredients to a boil until the syrup reaches "hard ball" stage (sticks together when dropped into a cup of cold water.) Then add butter and pour over the cooled cake.

Out of words!

Well, it's day 19 of the institute and I've decided I'm officially out of words! It has been a wonderful four weeks folks and the friendships we've formed I hope will carry me through the next few years. I sure wish I hadn't run out of words until sometime next week but I suppose I don't get to make that choice.
This is a great lesson for me. Maybe if I'd have shut-up a bit during class I wouldn't have used up my band-width and would have had enough to get me through- I am very thankful that we have a few more days of silent inquiry to help me sort out my investigation. If I don't say anything today I'm just trying to get the words back!

Oh Pam...

You have inspired me. Last night I used my Swifter. You were sooooo right!

AWP Recipes

HAMMOND'S BOW TIE PASTA


8 OZ BOW TIE OR OTHER PASTA (COOK WHILE MIXING THE INGREDIENTS BELOW)

1 TABLESPOON VEG. OIL

2 MED. CUCUMBERS (THINLY SLICED)

1 MED. ONION (CHOPPED OR SLICED)

1 1/2 (MORE OR LESS) SUGAR (MAY SUBSTITUTE OTHER SWEETENERS)

1 CUP WATER

3/4 CUP VINEGAR

MIX ALL INGREDIENTS EXCEPT PASTA

ADD MIXTURE TO COOKED PASTA

ALL TO STAND IN THE FRIDGE FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE SURVING

Awesome day today all!

Sarah asked me if I had that whole theater reading planned. No way. I love the way things work out/fall together. That was special for me to honor both my family and my co-teachers (as you all are).

Thanks Mark and Carol for reading.

See you all tomorrow. (Aren't these essays powerful.)

Zach

11:40 PM

Well, it's 11:40 PM and I am still up working on my inquiry paper. I am sitting here taking my "break" and thinking about all the great educators that I have had the pleasure of getting to know. I am really going to miss you. How I would love to get together to see everyone. Robin has already proposed a theatre night out. I would love to come visit any of you and observe in your classroom. If anyone would let me come watch, let me know.

Already sad about Thursday.

Poetry, Sex, and Social Issues

Great job, Zach. I wanted to post this question so folks might see it and comment:

I saw so much sex in Blake and on the wall today--naturally, ha! (hope my poet-partner, Robin, wasn't too uncomfortable with my rather personal readings, lol)--but, how do you (do you) approach this issue/topic with HS students? I mean, "romance" is one thing, but then you have "blissful coupling" . . . Tonya's demo danced around sexuality as well . . . it certainly is quite a huge social issue that may, er, engage young minds . . .

Any thoughts? Or do we want to open that can?

More Thank Yous

Thanks, Bobbi Jo, for passing along some research that will fit very nicely with my inquiry. Thanks to all in the high school reading group for your encouragement and participation. The experiences you have shared will enrich my essay.

Feeling Good, sort of!

I am making lots of headway on my AnnoBib (as I have come to call her) and my research paper. There is still a bit of sorting out to do but I think the final product will be a combination of my usual "just the facts" approach and a thoughtful consideration of the qualitative factors beyond the hard data.

Release me!

I am having a harder time than I thought breaking away from a traditional research paper into this more interactive, evaluative inquiry paper. I understand and like the reasons for writing this way, and I always thought I was better at writing with my own voice interjected. Maybe I'm a product of "academic" writing overkill.

Deb N

Man, don't let her read your paper - she will drive you crazy with deep, deep questions that might lead you to feel compelled to look for deep, deep answers - I am afraid of water I can't see through...

Deb Edgar...the official blog post

I told Debbie that I was going to blog about her today because I knew she would hate it. Here are a few items of interest about her.

1.)She hates to decorate her classroom. In fact, several of us took care of that for her last year. It looked GREAT!
2.)She always knows what is going on at the school - even if she has to make it up all on her own.
3.)If she had her choice, she would have been a ballet dancer - she trained for years, but a freak elbow injury kept her from bending her arms in the right position and she just looked funny trying to do all of the moves.

Seriously though, she does a great job with the kids and she isn't the "anti" like she likes to let on that she is. She cares about her teaching and just seems to know what is right for her students...even though I may disagree with her from time to time.

The OFFICIAL Zac's Demo Thread

I'm challenging everyone to offer insightful, critical commentary on Zac's demo this morning. Here's the place to do it.

Research Resources

I just wanted you all to know that my brain is frazzled (just like my hair according to my children). I did get help from a great librarian on the 6th floor. We found almost every book that I wanted to look at. I am writing this Sunday from my kitchen desk, hoping to get some more guidance from our fearless leaders tomorrow.

See you all soon.

research

It seemed weird not to watch a teaching demo today. I enjoy 'em. The research time is nice. I needed it to relieve some of the anxiety that comes with the project.