Author Archives: teachlearnlaugh

No Fuss Crockpot Chili Stew

There are summer recipes and there are winter recipes.  Chili Stew is one of my favorite winter recipes.  It takes only minutes to assemble and always has a thick, spicy sauce and oh so tender chunks of meat.  Sometimes I serve it … Continue reading

Posted in Home-cooking | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Drowning In A Sea of Photos

I’m finding retirement is a constant battle of what I want to do and what I know I should be doing.  Things I ignored around the house, during the 19 years I worked full time, have filled the void once occupied by work … Continue reading

Posted in Notes from the teacher's desk | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Young Writers and Inventive Spelling

Once upon a not too distant time I had a parent who felt her first grader should be taught only second grade work.  She felt he was way beyond our first grade curriculum and as proof she brought to our … Continue reading

Posted in Notes from the teacher's desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Do You Mean You Don’t Understand?

Sometimes TMI is a good thing especially when it comes to directions. Often important pieces of information are missing for the audience reading or listening to the directions.  I don’t think it’s on purpose.  It’s more a causality of doing something … Continue reading

Posted in Everything I need to know to go to kindergarten, Notes from the teacher's desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do you believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, Leprechauns or the Tooth Fairy?

My worst nightmare is when a child comes up to me and asks, “Is Santa (Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Leprechauns) real”? No matter how you answer, the next words out of their mouths are……” Tommy says Santa (Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Leprechaun) isn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Notes from the teacher's desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Monkey See, Monkey Do

A few weeks ago I was sitting in the garden behind Notre-Dame in Paris waiting for my daughter to finish climbing to the top of the Cathedral towers.  All was peaceful until two boys decided they were bored and started … Continue reading

Posted in Notes from the teacher's desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Valentine Bags

Love me some Pinterest!  The other day I was checking out some new pins and I saw some really cute valentine boxes for the classroom.  Being late to the party, or in other words, waiting until the last minute to … Continue reading

Posted in Notes from the teacher's desk | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Potato Soup

I had a wonderful mother.  She was an excellent cook, especially when it came to comfort food.  One of my favorite things she made was potato soup. The hardest part of making potato soup in my house is the challenge … Continue reading

Posted in Home-cooking | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Snow Day, Part II

Winter weather hit the south with a vengeance this week.  Snow in the forecast along with low temperatures.  But, for once, the school districts didn’t announce school closures 2 days in advanced.  They actually waited to see what the weather … Continue reading

Posted in Notes from the teacher's desk | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Calling All Turkeys

I’m pretty sure most of the parents hate me on the day we get out for Thanksgiving vacation.  The children love me though, for on that day we finish up our Thanksgiving activities and we make …………………Turkey Callers! Imagine a … Continue reading

Posted in Notes from the teacher's desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment