Friday, May 25, 2007

Schooooool's Out For Summer!

Remember that song?

Grades averaged.
Running records recorded and analyzed.
End of year assessments graded and recorded.
Report cards filled out.
Books shelved.
All materials removed from walls and bulletin boards.
All living materials and food removed from school premises.
Closets stuffed to overflowing.
Keys turned in.

Yes, yes, and yes!

I spent today cleaning up my classroom and putting things where I can (hopefully) find them again in two months.

I have a question, though. I have something like 37 red pens, three E-Z graders, and 19,000 paper clips. (I know this because I personally put each pen, E-Z grader, and paper clip back into its proper place as I cleaned off my desk this afternoon.) How come I CAN NEVER FIND ONE OF THESE OBJECTS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR?

Also, rubber bands. I can remember searching for one, just one, rubber band earlier this month. I just needed a rubber band to keep a set of books together. Also, I wanted to go home. It was late. I needed to find a rubber band so that I could put the books together and go home.

I looked in my desk, my storage cabinet, under my desk, in the closet. I looked everywhere in that room. No rubber bands. Not one.

Today? After I discarded old papers, put away books, packed up hundreds of little plastic bins, and stuffed the closets full--there were rubber bands everywhere.

Suffice it to say I now have a jar dedicated to rubber bands. No more rubber band crises for me. No sir.

Do you see why teachers NEED the summer?

Anyway....

We had quilt guild last night and I won the fat quarter pot. Each month our LQS owner donates a yard of fabric, and if you want to participate you can add a coordinating fat quarter to the basket. We draw a name and winner takes all. I got this group of goodies:

...which I am thinking of using in this pattern:


It is a Judy Martin pattern from a Quilter's Newsletter issue a year or two ago. I love the ways she uses stars. I'm going to have to go dig out my copy eventually, but right now I'm enjoying the birds singing, the kids playing in the wading pool in the house behind us, and the beautiful holiday weekend just starting...


BTW: for those not in the teaching biz an E-Z grader is like a cardboard slide rule. You find the number of problems in the little window at the top and you can read down a list to find the percentage grade for the number of problems missed. No teacher's desk is complete without one. Without one she can FIND, that is.


13 comments:

Ms. Jan said...

LOLOL...without EZ Grader you'll have to do the percentages by hand! I never knew how to do them until I was in college and had to figure out my grades. =)

molly said...

Your classroom sounds like my sewing room. I know the stuff is in there, but when I need it I have to hunt, and get frustrated, and then manage without it, only to find it, days later, when I no longer need it, hiding in plain sight...Sigh. Hope you have a wonderful, relaxing quilty, beachy summer.

atet said...

It's the gremlins. They hide the stuff and think it's funny to put it back later just to annoy you. Really.

Leigh said...

Have a great break. Hope you get lots of sewing done.

Helen said...

Sound's about right. You find the thing you are looking for just after the need for it has passed. Have a great summer break. I am jealous. We are at the beginning of winter here and halfway through Term 2 (of 4). thanks for explaining what an E Z grader is. Being a maths teacher I can work a calculator, but we now have standards-based assessment in secondary schools (age 13-17) so no more percentages (for grading anyway!)

Unknown said...

Lucky you! - here in the UK we have next week off and then back again until 23rd July! The kids (and I) are then off til the 1st September. Enjoy your break!

Darlene said...

You deserve the break - I hope that you'll spend lots and lots of time with a needle and thread.

Rose Marie said...

Now that you have lots of time on your hands, we'll be seeing lots of goodies? :o) Enjoy your summer!

Libby said...

Great pattern - I can never get enough Americana *s*

Jeanne said...

Enjoy your summer break amd make lots of quilts! I love the star block from Judy Martin.

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Yep, sounds like my sewing room as well! Look forward to a lot of great quilts, betseen holidays and the new prize stash! Tracey

Marla said...

Welcome to the schools out club! It is such a great feeling. Sometimes I think that the teachers are more excited for summer vacation then the children!

meggie said...

I hope your break is filled with everything you want- or dont want-to do!
Lovely fabric pot you won! Have fun with that.