School Starts in 72 hours.

Back to school I go. I've actually been back to school this week getting ready for the 7th and 8th graders that will greet me on Monday. It's been fun getting ready this year. Not only am I still pumped from my Biosphere conference, I realized I have many things prepared already. I guess after 7 years of preparation, I think I may know what I'm doing. I just hope I don't jinx myself by writing that. :)

Biosphere Experience

Well these last two weeks have been quite the whirlwind. To make a long story short, on July 9, I got a call to replace a teacher who didn't show up to a summer training at Biosphere 2 in Oracle, AZ. So, after phone calls, rearranging my summer schedule, and last minute shopping at Wal-Mart, I started my adventure the next day.

I am one of 35 teachers from across the state that attended this conference. My first class was learning how to make a working model of the Biosphere using 2 liter bottles. I have a living plant, fish, worms inside 2 bottles and don't have to water it. Yes everything is still alive. I have a small area where I drop food for the fish, but that's it.

That started a whirlwind of activities, field trips, hikes (3 days in a row = sore muscles), and lots of teacher stuff. We went to Catalina State Part for bird watching, insect data collecting, and water testing. We went to Kurtchner Caverns near Benson. We have touched almost all areas of science to the point that I have units for my full curriculum.

I'll be adding a slide show of pictures that I've taken so far. But one thing that this has really done has got me excited about science and teaching again. Watch out PDSD students. Here I come. :)

Yakima WA - The Farmers!!!!

I went to visit Jessica and her family last week. It was a great time. Her boys are really cute and it was great to get to know them better. It was also great to get some one on one sister time. :)

Highlights of the trip:

1) Logan - "Where is Attle?" Jess told him that they were going to Seattle, and he wanted to really see attle (whatever attle is).
2) Hamburger Lunch from Major's in Park
3) Checking the growing garden (someone in this family had a green thumb) :D
4) Kick starting my fitness program with an hour long walk.
5) "Beauty and the Beast", "Bolt", "Cars", "Higley Town Heroes", and "Finding Nemo"
6) Remembering what the color of green "really" looks like.
7) The butterfly room at the Pacific Science Center.
8) Saw Lori and her kids (college roommate I haven't seen for 14 years!)
9) Boating with Eric's family. (Seeing Jess and Eric wake boarding - a big plus!)
10) Seeing the top of Mt. Ranier on the airplane above the clouds. (wish I took a picture)

There were also too many other fun little things to mention. I loved being around family and learning fun little antics of a 2 1/2 year old and 9 month old. Thank you Farmers for having me camp on your couch and get some needed R & R.

(P.S - I do have video of Eric and Jess wake boarding, but I need to buy a different connector for my laptop to download it.)