Smile with me

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Scotland’s Gritters

I love to learn.  Our class loves to learn.  We find intriguing bits everywhere we look as learners.

So here is one I had to share because I imagine it will tickle you too.  I subscribe to a quirky Upper Valley newsletter called Daybreak, and this is from Friday’s edition.  It fascinated me for a bunch of reasons, one being that it actually could be pretty handy to know where the plows are and how long it has been since they traveled over the section of the road you are venturing out on in a snowstorm.

“It’s not just that Scotland has a GIS map that lets you track the location of their “gritters,” or snowplows. It’s that they give each of them a name. Mary Queen of Salt. Lord Coldemort. Spreddie Van Halen. Wouldn’t you feel better knowing that that’s the Winnipesaltee handling the right lane over 89’s New London heights on an icy night? Or that Chomp is biting a path for you up to Montpelier through falling snow?”  (Rob Gurwitt, Daybreak)

Scotland’s Snowplow Tracker

(free image from Pixabay)

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Smile with Me

During our class party today, one student exclaimed out of the blue, “Don’t be putting any missile over MY head!”

Someone replied, “I think you mean mistletoe?”

A third chimed in, “Wait, does that stuff work?”

Following which was the most totally awkward mistletoe conversation I have ever had.

Oh, how I love being a teacher!

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Teachers Have the Most Fun

Today’s current events discussion included information on why you should NOT hold in a sneeze:

“A man in Leicester, England, turned up in the emergency room.  He had a hard time swallowing.  He felt a popping in his swollen neck.  Eventually, the patient lost his voice and spent a week in the hospital eating through a tube–all because he pinched his nose shut and closed his mouth when he needed to sneeze! . . . . . God designed sneezes to get viruses and bacteria out of our bodies.  And sneezes move at about 150 miles per hour! . . . .” (World Kids, Vol. 4, No. 4, March/April 2018)

Overheard as he was walking away from our discussion:

“Ewww, I SO did NOT need to know that!”

 

 

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Romance Points

So the followup on today’s history lesson on Shays’ Rebellion and other events leading up to the writing of the Constitution was to “pretend that you are George Washington. You must leave Mount Vernon and go to Philadelphia. Write about what you will miss.”

All of the letters were wonderful, but these three by third grade young men who shall remain nameless (except to say that Margaret, Alyssa, and Julie owe their husbands big time romance points for their outstanding modeling) left Mrs. Shedd and me in stitches all afternoon.

July 2, 1787

Dear Wife,

I am leaving Mount Vernon.  I will miss you and the children.  I will stay safe, and the Lord will give me strength.  You will always be in my heart.

Love,

George

 

Dear Martha,

I am leaving Mount Vernon to help my country.  I will miss the comfort of home.  You I will miss the most.  And the wonderful food.  The pets.  My children.  Everything!  I am praying for the trip that God will serve me well.

Love,

George Washington

 

Dear Martha,

I will miss sitting on the couch working and hugging you.  I bet my bed at home is much more comfortable than the beds in Philadelphia will be.  I will miss you.  I promise I will keep writing letters to you, Dear.

Love,

George

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Missing Them Already

So summer cleaning is always bittersweet for me.  I love the big housekeeping that brings a lovely, fresh start to each fall, but I miss the children so very much.  Here are a few peeks at today . . .

I keep a file of “keep forever” notes to look through when I need a shot of encouragement, and here’s one I’m adding in today.  “Your joy level is so high you could touch the sky.”  Seriously, these young people are irresistible!

So then I’m cleaning in the hall, taking down the ivy from the coat hooks, and there are hilarious surprises that I never knew the kids had put there.

A tiny frog, . . .

. . . and one of our rock climbing geckos!  I laughed out loud.  My kids delight me every day, even when they aren’t actually here!

Finally, this surprise made my day!  We had school tour visitors, and it was just what I needed.  My heart is full.