The Importance of Safety

Yesterday was a first...I spent some time in a Safe Room.

My Main Take-away: the kids (a bunch of them...from two buildings...I hear, across the district, we had all our kids in Safe Rooms)...the kiddos sat and chatted and pulled out and played games (I guess these games were just hiding in the backpack?! Who knew!)

Then, we went back to class...and calmly had class for 20 minutes for who has time to get behind (thank you, Mother Nature...our days are seriously numbered until Summer Break!).

Because...feeling safe is important and calming.

Parents, allowing us to take your babies to a safe room...that is the best decision you can make when Mother Nature decides to have a moment. (And...thank you to our district for ensuring we have these safe places!)

Before we knew we were going to the Safe Room, one of my boys who often thinks he knows-it-all asked if I would keep them safe if a tornado came, I said, yes, because I have connections (shhhh...was not actually talking about Mother Nature nor the Safe Room......and then I said that the Safe Room was the best place for all us of to be...and then the Intercom began to talk and sent us to that very spot. Nice timing.

ChatGPT and I worked on the following sketch (okay, I bossed, and ChatGPT finally followed most of my directions...picture many more kids in the background and two teachers playing the game with the group of what was actually all girls in the front!...but I need a nap...so we agreed to just agree!).

Stay safe.

26 in 2026!

Several years ago, I read a blog post where the writer presented her argument for writing intentions, instead of resolutions, as intentions are more forgiving and much more achievable.  I liked her way of thinking; therefore, I complimented her and imitated her jargon.  Thus, I now write intentions...and...I, also, write one for number of the current year.  Hummmm...those year numbers are adding up!  

Without further ado...my 26 Intentions for 2026:

1. Read every day...something besides my phone.
2. Spend less time on my phone.
3. Read an average of one book a week.  
4. Finish all the books I started in 2025.  
5. Buy fewer books for myself...as I have quite the supply.
6. Write more:  blog, journal, and poetry.
7. Read the Bible chronologically.
8. Lose weight.
9. Move more.
10. Drink much more water...less sodas. Ugh.
11. Teach with more focus on those who want to learn, hoping to inspire those who need more interest along the way.
12. Continue to grow professionally. 
13. Give books as gifts for birthdays. 
14. Send birthday and thank you cards much more diligently!  
15. Finish all the quilts I currently have started or promised to others.
16. Paint.  
17. Put away and pick up...especially in my car and house! 
18. Focus on my One Word:  Sing  
19. Continue making time for my friend groups:  Meeting of the Minds and the Wildcats.  
20. Enjoy the end of ALA.
21. More Tammy Time.
22. More focus on being a TamTam.
23. Declutter...some...maybe!
24. Organize...and keep organized...my storage building.  See #22.
25. Try out 60 new things...as I will turn 60 in 2026.
26. Read this list more than when I create it...and then at the end of the year.  Need these reminders much earlier on and more frequently throughout the year!

Made it...at some point, my intention may just be to finish writing the intentions!  

Happy New Year!  Here we go!

A Contest for National Poetry Month

Take the TG National Poetry Month Challenge! Join in! 

Dates:  April 1-30 - Yearly

Choose an Option:

1. Challenge 1 - The Epic:  A poem a day...yes, everyday!  You choose the topics and types of poetry you prefer.
2. Challenge 2 - The Sonnet:  A poem every other day (evens or odd) and write at least 14 days this month.
3. Challenge 3 - The Limerick:  A poem at least five times, for you are just here to have a good time and learn about yourself as a poet (aren't we all, though?)
4. Challenge 4:  The Haiku:  Three poems...as short as you would like them, for you just prefer to dabble a bit and want to attempt this challenge.

Winners!

One winner from each category will be awarded a prize!


How to Sign UP!

Sign UP Here!

OR

Just post a link in any TG Poem Post in the comments, being sure to include a link to your blog.  Add another comment when you have completed the challenge.

I look forward to your endeavor and the spirit behind the challenge being met.

Good luck!

Snow Many Blessings

In preparation for the snow that blessed us last night and today, I shared my mom’s recipe with my kiddos…you know….analyzing evidence and other such literacy jargon! (and proof you might always want to write neatly…as who knows who might post your writings years later! BUT! I sure do love having this recipe in my mom's handwriting!)

Snow Day Poll:

• A = serve Chocolate Gravy over whole biscuits
• B = tear those biscuits up first and cover with Chocolate Gravy

Let’s see if your thoughts match up with teenagers of today. (Originally posted this poll on my Facebook page).

I will say some almost convinced me to change my answer. Until! I looked them in the face and remembered they are teenagers and like to argue with any evidence on the table!

Very seriously!

Survey Results Say:

• In class, 50/50. Some were adamant that the gravy should be poured over whole biscuits, while others said do the work ahead of time and just be ready to eat.
• On Facebook, all but two voted B, with one wanting to dip her biscuit in the gravy and another wanting to place butter between the two sides of the biscuits before adding the chocolate gravy. Hummmm...

What a beautiful day! This was a beautiful snow...just the perfect snow. Snow on the trees, large flakes, at time. Just beautiful.

Should I have accomplished more than I did. Probably. Maybe?

#MakeThoseMemories! #SnowDayOne2025

SCHS Reads: Our Winter Picks

Off and on our high school faculty....well, another English teacher and I...have hosted a book club.  When she decided to not return to teaching and as a commitment to meet and chat and drink coffee and talk books, we decided to meet read a book each month over the summer and then to continue meeting even after school started.  

Our group has grown some...another English teacher sometimes meets with us and one of the history teachers is somewhat committed.  But...regardless...we love meeting and drinking coffee and chatting...sometimes, about the current month's book!

Our first three picks for 2025 are as follows: 

• January:  The Snow Child, which I saw recommended on some Facebook online book club...and because I soooo love a good snow in January (we are out tomorrow for our first snow day!  Yay!), so I suggested this title.  So far?  Interesting...seems to have a connection to a fairy tale, which I am going to need to read.
• February:  James, which I received as an Audible gift (a first for me)...because I have never listened to a book.  No.  Never.  Hummm...now, I must!  But...I went ahead and bought a hard copy, as I can see maybe wanting to use excerpts in my class?  This is a telling of Jim's side of the story, a character in Huck Finn.  This title is also the chosen title for The Girlfriend Book Club...and I chose for Friends and Fiction for January for a book that begins with PB or J...yes, my J book!
• March:  The Magician's Nephew - we chose this one after a discussion about my friend having read CS Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe...and that this was actually the first in the series...and that she had just asked her husband for the series...and my saying I had two copies of this series...and the decision was made to read the first one in the series.  Yay!

Now, I need to share this with our building/district...maybe another one or two will join us!

Friends who love to read books, aren't they just even more special?  I think so!

_________________________

Also, posted at TG's Book Thoughts.

Why Do We Read?

As my students and I chatted about resolutions/intentions for 2025, I shared that I had read 81 books.  A curious student asked, "Do you remember all the books you read?"

No.

Some.

Some more than others.

This got me to thinking...should I remember them all?

My answer:  no.  Many books I read for just the pure entertainment, for the moment, for the quick journey that particular book takes me.  Much like movies or TV shows...I do not remember all the characters;  sometimes, I even lose the plotlines, for I watched them for the moment, for the pure entertainment, for the journey.

I hope I am asked this question again sometime...now that I know the answer to the question...or, at least, I know my answer! 

_____________________

Also, posted at TG's Book Reviews.

25 Intentions...for 2025

Several years ago, I read a blog post where the writer presented her argument for writing intentions, instead of resolutions, as intentions are more forgiving and much more achievable.  I liked her way of thinking; therefore, I complimented her and imitated her jargon.  Thus, I now write intentions...and...I, also, write one for number of the current year.  Hummmm...those year numbers are adding up!  

Without further ado...my 25 Intentions for 2025:

1. Read every day...something besides my phone.
2. Spend less time on my phone.
3. Read an average of one book a week.  
4. Finish all the books I started in 2024.  
5. Buy fewer books for myself...as I have quite the supply.
6. Write more.
1. Blog
2. Journal
3. Poetry
7. Read the New Testament...twice. 
8. Lose weight.
9. Move more.
10. Drink much more water...less sodas. Ugh.
11. Teach with more focus on those who want to learn, hoping to inspire those who need more interest along the way.
12. Continue to grow professionally.
1. Professional books
2. ELA PLC
3. Achieve Instructional Lead 
13. Give books as gifts for birthdays. 
1. The Man...Jan. 15...wants First Blood.  :) 
14. Send birthday and thank you cards much more diligently!  
15. Finish all the quilts I currently have started or promised to others.
16. Paint.  
17. Put away and pick up...especially in my car and house! 
18. Focus on my One Word:  Renew  
19. Continue making time for my friend groups:  Meeting of the Minds and the Wildcats.  
20. Enjoy the end of ALA.
21. More Tammy Time.
22. More focus on being a TamTam.
23. Declutter...some...maybe!
24. Organize...and keep organized...my storage building.  See #22.
25. Build a gingerbread house. :)

Made it...at some point, my intention may just be to finish writing the intentions!  

Happy New Year!  Here we go!