Life at my desk is A.P.-musing

The summer is now in full swing. Students across the country are enjoying water parks, swimming and sprinkler systems. They are watching movies, playing sports and sent off to camps to be "entertained" for the summer. Millions of  parents by this time are probably thinking: "Is it time for the school year to start again?!" On the other hand: Educators during the dog days of summer are thinking: "Take a nap?! absolutely I will!" Summer also comes with one particular question on my mind: what do we do with students over the summer to combat the "Summer Slide"?? The "slide" is considered the academic learning that is lost as students are not in school for a considerable length of time. After spending some time with my sweet nieces and nephews this past couple weeks, I think I have a legitimate answer in one word: EXPLORE!!! Kids are naturally curious. I watched as all of them, including the 1 year old explored these last weeks and...

The day began like all the others: rushing because I woke up late, barely grabbing my coffee as I rushed out the door. Speeding through the yellow light, only to hit the next red one. It really was a typical morning for me. Little did I know this year the last day of school would bring tears. All. The. Tears. When I was in the classroom, the end of the school year with middle schoolers was always like "Bye Felicia" and we would try desperately to keep them from trashing the hallways with the loads of papers from their lockers. When I became an instructional coach, the end of the school year was just a locked office door and off I went on "travel" season (my nickname for summertime!). But this year, the end of the school year was all about the tears. Once I got to school, I began my normal routine: check my email, drink some coffee, and then grab the radio so I can head out to the parking lot to greet everyone as they arrive. That's where the tears star...