Teaching, Gardening, Start of Summer

      I've been itching to get out in the garden all school year and actually had a little time to do so with my new job. I've been laterally moved to Targeted Literacy Instructor, which just means that I have two very small sections (no more than 15 students) of kids who read below grade level. My other responsibility is to test each child individually several times per year and then to collaborate with their teachers in other classes such as social studies and science where there is grade-level reading and writing that they might need help with. I really enjoyed this last year--one of the lowest stress years in my teaching career thus far. However, I was ready to add to it which is why I'm glad to have a new class this next year.
      For the 2015-2106 school year, I'll have two sections of targeted literacy, one semester section of 21st Century Journalism (fun!) and one year section of Teaching as a Career. For the teaching class, I will be the fourth instructor and four years, but I hope to hang on to it for a while. I really enjoy teaching the journalism class, but never get enough kids to sign up for it to have two sections--a whole year worth. I'm hoping the teaching class will keep me busy but not overwhelmed and I'm really looking forward to it.
     As to gardening, I've been working on weeding and clearing the fenceline. For some reason, our chain link fence attracts birds who love to "plant" all sorts of unwanted crap. My dog is not a great birder, though she did catch a rabbit the other day, and may or may not have caught a squirrel. So, the birds come and while I enjoy their song and plumage I really hate clearing the fence every single year. Plus, I'm really allergic to poison ivy and I pick it up every year, without fail because it will be hidden in amongst the other foliage and by the time I see it, it's far too late.

      I'll take some pictures if it every stops raining to post here because my front garden is starting to shape up really nicely. My kids are really helping out this year which is a true joy. When they are little, they "help" but you end up doing most of the work. My son (14) is old enough to use the crosscut saw and has more upper-body strength than me so has been hacking away at some old stumps on the fence, really making it look so much better. Like someone cares. And I do!