Thursday, August 31, 2017

Harvey has finally moved on....

Harvey has finally moved on and with it comes dryer weather. Now that does not mean DRYER non-rainy weather but at least less rain and just maybe my yard can dry out somewhat. I can at least take the dog out in the mornings and sit in the rocking chair on the front porch for a short while.

I might get to finally go somewhere to eat later today, my son's restaurant, our favorite restaurant or two or three or four, any place just to get out of the house after a week of being cooped up inside. I have been going "stir-crazy".

When I have taken the dog out, the ground is mushy and the yard is full for limbs, branches, leaves blown down by Harvey's winds. But for now the tree is still standing, for now.

I really just want to go over to Walmart just to walk around. I don't really want to BUY anything just walk around, meet people I know, visit with strangers, just talk to someone else for a change.

I have to go put my shoes on and get ready to take the dog out for his early morning constitutional trip.

Did that, now planning for our 'lunch' trip to CiCi's, my son's store, for a little pizza and salad plus just a time away.

Monday, August 28, 2017

Why do I need to study history?

I taught history for 27 years and loved most of my years - except for teaching world history. I did love American history and my own Louisiana state history.

"And it was then that I realized why I am a HISTORIAN.  I am a historian because each child that learns about American/Louisiana History from an outdated textbook, or is taught to believe that the study of history is only a grudging requirement for academic purposes, is being short-changed.  The history of our country/state is complicated, so chillingly complicated, that certainly there must be a parceling-out of that knowledge or a student would be overwhelmed.  But, to negate the reasons for studying our nation’s/state's past by not giving a better justification of why we study it is terrifying.

I hope my students will someday appreciate why their historian teacher made the effort to provide a fuller historical picture for them, countering the arguments presented in their limited school texts with each homework assignment.  If nothing else, the lesson I learned at school (albeit my student’s middle school) is that as a historian, sometimes it isn’t the big philosophical questions that matter, but the small, everyday questions that are critical.  That it is important to convey that History is not singular, but plural.  That point-of-view matters.  That History is a constantly evolving field, dependent upon curious scholars.  That History is more than old textbooks full of the long-dead; History is also our future.  And that is why we study History."

I know I need to get out to the country to cut grass again but it rains almost every day. I did get most- only most - of my city lot cut on Monday before it rained again.

I'm tired of looking at all the "going back to school" pictures on FB. I kills me because I can't be there with the kids of my former students. It just makes me sick.

So I just sit here creating one item after another for my store online. I have created about 15 different items in the past two to three weeks. Some have lead to others and those have lead me to - well you get the picture,

I've done several monthly activities celebrating its such as women, the Honey Bee, Military, Asian, Jazz,  etc, etc, etc. I have done a long list of them. See them at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mres-History-Emporium/Category/Celebrate-the-Month-251062 I also created several for festivals. See them at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mres-History-Emporium/Category/Festivals-300454

I've also been creating a big list on general history items plus I am running sales at TPT for these and most of the rest of my online store.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Blogging TpT teachers again....

I just sent this email to all my followers and fellow teachers at TeachersPayTeachers....

Hello Fellow Educators and Followers,

It is mid August and let the fun begin.

The school supplies are in the stores, the children/students will be/are entering our classrooms now/soon.  This is my favorite time of the year – always has been, always will be!

There is no telling where you are in the opening of school – first week, two weeks away, been in school a week,, preparing for school, into first chapter – who knows. But I do know you "may be" looking  around TpT for items that will help you throughout the weeks, months, the year and here they are. Here is a big 25% off Sale and I would do larger if I could – promise me, I've been in your shoes. Anything helps. Email me personally if you need help and I will see what I do/create/prepare for you.

This means ALL items in my store are marked down 25%.  Yes, over 575 items on SALE!

Also, I've been busy updating and uploading many new items over the summer.  Please take a minute to check out a few of these items. I even uploading some yesterday and today. They are all on SALE now.

Finally, I want to thank you for your support and wish you a SUPER start to your 'new' year.  I hope I can continue to help you and your students throughout the new school year with new and innovative lessons, activities and projects. Be sure to email me or comment on my TpT site.

Best of luck with the start of the school year, and like I always say, "Work smarter, not harder!"

Greg "MrE"                                   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mres-History-Emporium

My email                                                                              latraveler@bellsouth.net

My blog                                                                                                          http://mres-historyemporium.blogspot.com/

My FB page                                                                     https://www.facebook.com/mre01

My Twitter page                                                           https://twitter.com/@louisianateach
 
I just wanted them to know that I currently have all my online store on sale. That means all 575 items even the ones I uploaded yesterday are on sale. I would love to do them 50% off but TpT won't let me.
As I looked I realized just how long I have been on TpT and just how man items I have created over the years. Mostly middle school history items but I have been branching out over the past year.
I haven been creating more high school items more art items and more ELA type items. I have been on since 2010 and even more so since my mini-stroke in 2013.
I want a "job", no I don't want a job, yes I heard about a "job", yes I emailed about the job, then I sent my resume, then I got a phone call. and was told the position was already filled. But I did learn they did want me but I'm on the waiting list - HIGH on the waiting list.
The job is "teaching" job of sorts. Mentoring high school students working on their final credits towards graduation - just like my grandson did before he went off to the Marines.
But if I can get this job it would get me out of the house 3-5 days a week, 20 hours a week, no duty, no lesson plans, nothing but helping kids (students) black, white, Asians, etc who really want to learn and finish school. No trouble makers, no disturbing class, just workers.
Neat.
 
 

Friday, August 4, 2017

After 27 years.....

After teaching 27 years I was never tired of teaching, never drowning in paperwork, never sick of the day-to-day of teaching, never timed of my students, never just ready to quit, give it up, or stop what I was doing. I loved teaching. I loved my daily grind so to speak. I just was never ready to quit teaching But then I suffered my mini-stroke and use forced to 'rethink' my life's work. God had another plan for me.

After five years, I never knew God's plan and I really still don't. But I think I might be getting an idea. I still love the idea of teaching students, still have the dream of helping young people see what their own future has in store for them. I still have that burning desire to help "pay it forward", doing what someone else did for me all those years ago.

Even a mini-stroke can't slow me down. I have put in the years of retirement crafting my skills, creating lots, and lots of lesson ideas for someone else to use, I have worked almost daily on my webpage for other teachers to use to give them ideas for our subject matter - history, I have watched hours and hours of history-style shows crafting ideas that could make a teacher's life better.

In other words, I never stopped teaching. Oh, there have been UP days and DOWN days but all were helping me get better at my own 'craft' and I still have the feeling that God is/was preparing me for something better.

I still don't really know what he has in store for me but I think I MAY know what is next for me...the Simon Youth Foundation (Academy). It is designed to help students who struggle to connect with material to finish high school and get on to college/university somewhere. The program was created by Simon Malls in 12 states and I have one right here in our own area.

Our own SYF serves only 30 students each working towards their own goals and need older adult mentors to help them succeed. My own grandson went there and now he is an upstanding, strong, and proud U.S. Marine. And maybe this is my own calling, to pay it forward, to help those in need of help in their time of need.

God, if this is your calling, please help me answer your call, give me strength to answer your call, give me strength to 'get up and go' towards your call, give me strength to go forward in this endeavor.

I just checked my old blogs and it has been 4 years since my mini-stroke, four years of boredom.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

It may be....

It maybe just some time off but it means there is just something that needs to be done. I tend to have time to think when it is nice outside. The weather is COOL, not cold but cool at least for July as a front moved thru and push out the humidity which is/was nice. I even got to rock out on the front porch with the cat and dog and it was NICE. I hated to come inside.

I have been working on another TPT lesson idea about Social Media in Social Studies. It is going well for now but not near finished.
I have lots to do to complete this but the ideas are there now I just need to finish it. I spent nearly all night thinking about this and got up early to start on it. The cover is there, the teacher info is done and part of the worksheets are done. I just need to sit down and finish it - which is tuffer than you might think.
 
My grandson and his wife just posted some of their wedding photos which are very cool. I really like this one from the end of their wedding. It is so Marine of him and his fellow Marines. He said they got over 750 photos but he only posted about 100 of the best.
 
I spent part of the day out in the country cutting grass again until it just got to HOT to keep going.
 
My wife is work kid's day at CiCi's for my son but generally she will make nearly nothing but she enjoys her day there. She will bring our granddaughter home to spend the night since her mom has to go in to work early tomorrow. But that's okay with me.
 
I have been to Wal*mart to pick up a few items plus I went by Dominos Pizza (but not for pizza) and when I get out later I will go up to Walgreens to pick up my meds for the month.
 
After I eat lunch I plan to go take a short nap, or as I tell my - a catnap. After that I will take the dog out and maybe sit out on the front porch and rock myself to near sleep again.

Ten things I am thankful for today

It does not take a lot of time to tell you what I am thankful for - not today or this week or.... 1. I am happy because my wound care doc...