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We watched on TV as the hurricane Idalia moved up through the Gulf and lands an hour north of our home in Crystal River. It hit Wednesday. We watched as Jose Diaz Balart, was standing in the Plantation hotel’s parking lot showing 3 feet of flood water. Our neighbor, Tony, sent us a picture ofContinue reading “Love Water…, but Floods? Part 2”

Last January, Fred and my house in Iowa had water damage. We got a call from John, who was checking on our house every week. It wasn’t due to frozen pipes or an over flowing sink. A small section of pipe, going from the boiler to the radiant heat burst. John caught it within theContinue reading “Love Water…, but Floods?”

22 years ago I completed a course at Healthbuilders Massage and Bodywork School in St. Augustine, Florida. I absolutely loved the work and helping people. Over the years I have massaged quite a few people, adults and children, and gained so much satisfaction in my work. Last week while worrying about what I will doContinue reading “22 Year Dream”

I know that one school year goes fast. I have determined that this is my last year of teaching at the elementary level. This summer we bought out primary residence in Florida. You see, I am not a cold weather person. I never have been since moving to Florida in 1985. Having spent 13 yearsContinue reading “Looking forward…”

I applied for a couple of professor jobs that are an hour from my ‘retirement’ home. I can now imagine and write my pros/cons lists about what I might do next fall. Yes, I want health insurance, so I will work, but what interest area will get my attention next. In the education area, IContinue reading “Imagine What’s Next”

I am counting down…days to retirement, days to the end of the fall semester (university courses), and counting down to warmer weather. It seems that of these the count down to the end of the fall semester is the most relevant or helpful. There are only a couple of months left, but most of theContinue reading “Count Down”

Wow…59 days of the school year is done. Today is a conference day and the week prior to the Thanksgiving break. There are 15 papers to grade for one of the University classes that I’m teaching. Saturday we go to Ankeny for our Clara’s 2nd birthday party. Fred will be gone all day next SundayContinue reading “1/3 of the Year is Done”

A student called me a “f__ b__” when he struggled. There was also some physical aggression toward me. This has happened multiple times in my 24 years of teaching special education, some years more than others. At this time, during the pandemic, when my emotional state seems more fragile, I projected these same words towardContinue reading “Toothpaste Activity”

Reading Mastery (RM) is a curriculum that I have used for 22 years of teaching students to read. Of course I add to my instruction in order for students to learn to enjoy reading, writing, and to become literate. I was trained last summer in the Orton-Gillingham (OG) method and utilized it over the courseContinue reading “Teaching Reading”

Preparation for a new school year can be anxiety producing in a regular year. In this last year of teaching special education at an elementary school, I have been assigned 3 students on-site (so I have a classroom), and 5 online students. It took until Friday to receive 3 of the IEPs (Individual Education Plan).Continue reading “School Prep”